mixtape songs /

Check out the mixtape that features all of these bands.

1. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
Zack Condon is the brains behind Beirut and from New Mexico. Allmusic.com called him a “one man cross of Jeff Magnum, Conor Oberst and Sufjan Stevens.” It is remarkable and justified for a kid (he is younger than me and I just turned 21) from to debut with this album and to be put in the same sentence as those names. The European sounding music with ukuleles and rhythm and accordions and trumpets and tambourines is so thick on this album and so is Condon’s crooner voice. I’ve used “de-beauty” in print before but, this is a de-beauty!

Beirut -Mount Wroclai (Idle Days) Live Video

2. Ladyhawk - Ladyhawk
Ladyhawk has a reputation of their live show. I saw them at the Cake Shop in New York City back in the summer at an engagement party. It was the best live music performance I have ever seen. Try to forget that this band lives in Vancouver and are on Jagjaguwar with Black Mountain. Don’t get high and listen to this album. Don’t get drunk and listen to this album. This album has music, as jammy and stoner as it is, that is tight and precise with every sound feeling purposefully placed coupled with heart breaking lyricism. I was in a car accident in Ohio in the summer and I had to replace this album which wasn’t a problem, I re-bought it on CD and then I bought it on vinyl. I’m looking forward to getting the EP in 2007.

Someone once told me to walk, if I had to, to see Andrew Bird
Run, if you have to, to see Ladyhawk.

Ladyhawk - Dugout
Ladyhawk - My Old Jacknife Video

3. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
This is the first major label release for The Decemberists. The album art really sticks out. It’s a farmer who finds an injured crane and marries it. I think it based on a Japanese folk tale. I like it when the percussion kicks in for the Crane Wife 1 chorus.

4. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
I watched Grizzly Bear sing Knife A cappella while walking down a street in Paris thanks to youtube.This albums grows on you. I think in a video they sing in a shower.

Grizzly Bear - On a Neck, on a Spit
Grizzly Bear sings Knife A cappella

5. Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I am Dreaming
I am not a fan of Wolf Parade or Swan Lake. I saw Frog eyes play with Pink Mountaintops two years ago and didnt really dig them either. This album will have you reading along with the lyrics. I wish all side projects sounded this good.I think Spencer Krug’s aunt lives in Peachland, she always buys his music from work. I wish Stadiums & Shrines II could have been track one on Rough/Gem. Thats where it belongs—its a side A track 1 song

Sunset Rubdown - Stadiums and Shrines II
Sunset Rubdown - Us Ones In Between Live Video

6. M. Ward - Post-War
I love listening to M. Ward’s voice stumble on “spoonful” in the song Poison Cup. And when the percussion kicks in at the 1:20 mark and we learn that love is the poison cup. Drink it up.

M. Ward - Chinese Translation Video

7. The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
I don’t really get the cover of this album. John Darnielle’s voice is not as nasal or aggressive on this album. It sounds like Sunset Tree but instead of his father’s abuse it is him after a break up. I’m pretty sure he’s married so I wonder where he got the ideas for these songs. He has this real high set falsetto that climbs up the chorus of Woke Up New. There is a lot of good sounding string and keys on this album. This is not lo-fi like his other stuff but that is not a bad thing. The video for Woke Up New was directed by Rian Johnson who directed Brick which was my second favorite movie this year.

The Mountain Goats - Woke Up New Video

8. Danielson - Ships
I thought this album was released on Asthamtic Kitty. But it was released on Secretly Canadian and is another testament that they have one of the strongest line-ups in independent music. One of my friends loves the album and another hates it. His voice would be the biggest wall for some and a large hook for others. There is also some sweet freak-folk breakdowns and a really great video for Did I Step On Your Trumpet. Lyrical moments to wait for are when he wishes us “good luck” , “body basket” and when he asks us “to take care of his pet parrot please” and then the girls repeat his request but ask us to “kill it.”

Danielson - Did I Sleep On Your Trumpet Video

9. Bonnie “prince” Billy - The Letting Go
Opening this album you get to see a big picture of Will Oldham saying “THANKS!” for buying the album. I cant pronounce almost all the supporting names on this album. I think they are all Scandinavian. I wish I could though, because the girl’s voice sounds really pretty and the strings really add to the whole Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy experience. I read an interview with Will Oldham and Dwight Yokam where they both referred to Bonnie as a different identity and I’m not sure if that’s because Yokam didn’t know Oldham and Billy actually are different and Oldham actually thinks of Bonnie as someone else or not. I don’t think I would pay to see Will Oldham live because I would be so concerned he would do something “avant-garde” and hand out candy or play house instead of playing alt country from his albums.

Bonnie “prince” Billy - Cursed Sleep Video

10. Hot Chip - The Warning
I heard Colors when I was buying girls jeans in the Gap, which is great for Hot Chip because that means they are getting more money but I wish they were still a hidden secret. I love their voice and when someone at work asks about Postal Service I think that they should buy this album instead/as well (but we almost never have it in stock).I really enjoy singing Boy From School out loud. I think it is great final track for a mixtape.

Hot Chip - Boy From School Video