mixtape songs /

Below is a trailer for a documentary called Let me be fictional which was filmed during the recording of Ladyhawk’s new album “Shots”

A comment by a fellow reader Sven made me realize we haven’t talked about La Blogotheque yet. La Blogotheque is a mp3 blog from France. Aside from quality content and reviews they have a section that really makes them stand out called Take Away Shows. Live performances by excellent musicians in natural environments. Walking down the street, sitting in a school gym and as featured below, standing on a roof. The cinematography and audio is spot on and really captures the moment. Below I have embedded (a first for mixtape songs… do you like it embedded?) a video of Sufjan Stevens performing The Lakes of Canada.

First off, tell us a bit about yourself. Who you are, where you’ve been,
and where your going.
I grew up in the Northern suburbs of Boston. I started playing drums
when I was 12, and I picked up more instruments as the years went by.
I put a couple solo records out between 1999-2002. I stayed in Boston
until I was 28, at which point I moved to Seattle to join a band.
That didn’t work out, so I came back here when I was 32.

(Continued)

I can’t and don’t claim to be a musician, I can’t and don’t claim to be a music connoisseur, I can’t play music and I don’t know what’s cool in music (until Dustin tells me about it, that is). What I can claim is Brett Dennen’s album, So Much More, really is so much more better than any other album I have heard in a so much longer while than ever!

I must add, that being cut off from music, also means I’m cut off from the radio and “music TV” with all those flashy, noisy, fast moving pictures. The reason I’m telling you this is, Brett Dennen; I couldn’t tell you if he is on the radio or MTV or Much Music, or if he is some singer-songwriter that is well known in the singer-songwriter crowd…I just don’t know.

(Continued)

The latest Madlib podcast made me realize I can’t get enough of Stones Throw. I thought the joy would come and go, but they continuously surprise and keep me hooked. From the amazing line-up of artists, to the free albums, and the amazing podcast these guys offer everything (they even have a damn mac desktop widget). In my mind Stones Throw is one of the forefront labels out there right now. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I haven’t come across another record label that gives away as much music or podcasts as regularly as Stones Throw. If you want to support where labels are surely going, go to your local record shop and pick up a Stones Throw record.

Blonde Redhead has publicly released the working files of the track Signs Along The Path from their upcoming single Silently. What does that mean? The separate parts recorded for the song are available for download as individual mp3s for your remix pleasure. On your next mixtape you could have a one off version of a Blond Redhead song.

This isn’t the first time working files have been publicly available as Nine Inch Nails did it a few years ago. If artists are going to release a few songs from upcoming albums to the public, why wouldn’t they release the working files?

Blonde Redhead Remix Page

I’ve added a new featured band to Mixtape Songs. The older Kelowna crowd will know who I’m talking about when I mention that it’s The Metic. For all the people not familiar, The Metic was the amazing two piece formed by Darcy Hancock (Ladyhawk) and Carey Pratt (Sparrow). The entire album minus one song that Darcy doesn’t like is available to download for free. Check it out!

The Metic’s Profile on Mixtape Songs

TW Walsh’s first release as The Soft Drugs is available for free online, it’s complete with album art and everything. In Moderation is licensed under creative commons- which is totally awesome of him. If you are wondering who TW Walsh is, he used to play and write with David Bazan in both Pedro The Lion and Headphones (neither of which exist anymore), he also released a few solo albums under his own name. You’ll for sure dig him if you are into Pedro The Lion or Headphones, and it’s both free and legal so there’s no harm in giving it a chance. For more info on TW check him out on wikipedia or on his blog.

TW Walsh - Don’t Sweat It

Go to The Soft Drugs site
Download The soft drugs in moderation

When I come across music sections on “corporate” sites I am always skeptical. I assume the only thing they have to offer are reviews about top 40 artists and shows I could care less to see. AOL’s The Interface offers quite the opposite.

Just thinking of AOL makes me think old school, cheap, and shitty tv ads, however the artists showcased wiped those thoughts clean. They feature live sets and interviews with artists such as: M. Ward, The Hold Steady, Grizzly Bear and TV on the Radio. Granted not all the artists are worth checking out so take this site with a grain of salt, but free live sets from awesome bands are something no one should pass by. Below I have linked the individual live TV on the Radio songs, the full podcast and a link to subscribe to The Interface.

Listen to the entire show (live performance and interview)
TV on the Radio - Wash the Day Live
TV on the Radio - Young Liars Live
TV on the Radio - Province Live

Subscribe to The Interface Podcast

First off, lets start with the video. Watch Grizzly Bear - Knife. While watching, try to answer these questions:

1. Are they trying to get something across?
2. Do I care about these questions?
3. Does the music video match the song?
4. Will I tell someone to “listen to the song first, the video isn’t very good”?
5. Should this be dropped in the fractal forest at shambhala?
6. Does this video rip my face off?

I don’t remember where I came across this video but its by the awesome website: encyclopediapictura.com make sure to check it out. Check out some of the making of photos as well.

I asked a couple fellow mixtaper’s to review the video, heres what they had to say:

“This video makes me think of those old science fiction movies you see from the silent era. It should be in black and white stop-motion animation, with dramatic changes to the music when the villain appears. Or, just some gentle freak-folk and no plot. Either way.” - Nathan

“This video is quite interesting but I was sure in for a surprise. I thought this was supposed to be a movie about a guy who makes a suit so he can live in harmony with bears. I realized pretty quickly that I was in store for something much more disturbing; they don’t keep many bears in the desert, it’s much too hot for them and there isn’t enough honey comb. This documentary makes public the story of Astar, a robot that can put his arm back on, who tried to stop Walt Disney and his crew from building The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I had heard that someone died on this ride, but I thought they were too tall or just weren’t wearing their seatbelt.” - Brant

What do you think?