Monday Mixtape, Vol. 123

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It’s a Monday, but this one will be filled with upbeat jams to keep your spirits high. None exemplify an optimistic take than this first track, a remix of ODESZA’s “Falls” by The Knocks, one where the remix destroys the original.

Toro y Moi released a new album (his 7th!) a couple weeks ago, and this is his best album since 2013’s phenomenal Anything In Return. In keeping with this week’s mixtape, this album is a club banger, I highly recommend it.

Maggie Rogers, the musician who achieved overnight success because of Pharrell’s face, finally released her debut (didn’t that Pharrell thing happen 3 years ago?? NO GOOGLE, I will not ask you to verify.) Anyways, the album is good, I might have to listen through again, but these two tracks jumped out to me.

SOAK is an Irishsongwriter who I’ve posted a number of times and has some incredible talent and originality. She could be someone special, or just a continued indie ingenue.

Have a good week all!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 110

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This opening track from Rayland Baxter should uplift you from the dreary feeling of another Monday with the understanding that beauty can constantly be created and sound is one perfect avenue to see that. Gorgeous song, and a pretty darn good album too!

The Dead Tongues are somewhat of an acquired taste, and I'd recommend to give them a little time. Open up a bit and be more willing to like other stuff. This has twang and bluegrass and country, all things that I typically avoid, but not here. I love it. This song sounds like it could be played during a Braveheart montage as William Wallace trains his troops and grows as a man beside the babbling brook. What a cool song.

If you haven't noticed yet, this week's mixtape is pretty chill. It's this week's theme! Shallou, who I'd have to say is an Odesza wannabe, makes good Odesza wannabe songs. So just nod your head to the rhythm. 

Everyone has their own preconceived notions of Mac Miller, and I think they're usually either wrong or dated opinions that may have applied to him years and years ago. He gets flak because he's a white rapper who was somewhat goofy in his come up days, but that was actually just who he was.

He since then got famous, dated a pop star, and got (maybe still?) addicted to drugs which can CLEARLY be heard in the change in sound from his debut album Blue Slide Park to his groggy and spaced out (while still enjoyable and more artistic - ALTHOUGH his biggest issue as a rapper has always been his lyrics. They're usually either silly, stupid, both, or just plain. He's just not a good lyricist. Maybe he'll grow into it, but I doubt it. The only thing he can do is be honest and write from that perspective, which is what he's doing on his new stuff) Watching Movies with the Sound Off. 

All that being said, I've always followed him since his days of "Nikes on My Feet," a 90s throwback that I'm ALWAYS a sucker for (the Nas hook might help):

Song starts at 1:40. Yeah the rapping isn't the best, but it was my beginning to think he's got some places to go. Cut to his fifth album which was just released, Swimming, and he's come a long way and more serious, and sadly, more sad. "Buttons" was included as a single before the album release, and surprisingly, not on the album. I love the beat, and like most other rappers, he's singing now. Which sounds like a guy who can't sing sing, but if it's coming from some place sincere, it's a way of expression. I oddly like it, so we'll see if you agree. 

Ahh Drake. I've listened to his new album a ton. It's two sides, a rap side and his R&B/rap-ish side. I love the R&B side, and this song was a creeper. I listened to it many times, not paying it much attention, then all of a sudden I realized who catchy it was. I just can't hate on Drake, I love him. 

FINALLY, Diamond Thug - AND ACTUALLY I should first give a big shout out to my buddy Dave who put me on to a number of the artists on this mixtape since they were on his Best Albums of 2018 list. We are about as close as you can get to music dopplegangers, so shout out to Dave! - who really reminds me of Little Dragon with a bit more of the Odesza-like sounds. Really digging this album.

Ok, that's it. Enjoy!  

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 86

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I was looking back at my playlist of Top Albums of 2017:

THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY GREAT ALBUMS THIS YEAR! 

This has been a fantastic year in music. I can't say there was a life changing album, BUT it's still been so consistent across the board and much better than last year. 

That tangent has nothing to do with this week's music, it's more of an observation that we're very lucky mohave Kendrick Lamar, Ryan Adams, Hippo Campus, Future, John Mayer, Chris Stapleton, Fleet Foxes, Vince Staples, SZA, Washed Out, Haim, Foster the People, Electric Gues, LCD Soundsystem, and so many more, creating such great music. 

#blessed. 

ANYWAY, this week's mixtape is weighted by Alvvays, a band whose 2014 debut was really impressive yet their sophomore album even more so! You know me and sophomore albums: they're usually regurgitations of the previous album at half the quality and originality. This album is an exception, and the two tracks from them on this mixtape are my faves from their new album about a certain love lost. "What's left for you and me? I ask that question rhetorically...There's no turning back / after what's been said," Molly Rankin sadly states on "In Undertow."

Alvvays gets a bit more upbeat with the catchy "Saved By A Waif" that all comes to a crescendo with that amazing chorus.

Bully relased one of the more raw rock releases this year. A kick ass album with no sheen, just distortion and a bit of yelling. I really dig, "Spiral."

Slackers Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile made their own record and it's about what you'd expect: a bit unfocused and rambled, a bit by the seat of their pants, but it's got some good tracks, highlighted by "Over Everything."

ODESZA is one of those huge bands adored by the EDM crowd that I'll get on board with. They relax me, they bring me up, they just do it for me. You too?

This mixtape is ended with King Krule, a young kid (I think he's now 22 or 23) and critical darling, who just released a new album. Some may immediately turn away at his voice, but his music and production is always on point and original, and I just love the beat of this track. ]

Have a great week all!  

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 50

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This will be short and sweet. First off, it’s the 50th Mixtape! Second off, this mixtape is focused on a specific genre which I will call electro-wave - it’s chill and feels like floating in a boat in the ocean as the waves and rhythms rise and fall. This type of music really calms me down and helps me focus. 

I saw Giraffage in a small tent when I was at Outside Lands in SF, and he had a number of us really groovin’ out to his jams. He’s a local guy from the Bay Area (as is Ark Patrol) so hopefully you dig him!

That’s all I got! Have a great week.