1) Favorite - Austin City Limits - Neko Case

When Case says “We’re very happy to be here,” obviously she means right here, on this January mixtape. Love the way she sings the letter I at the end of the first verse. IIIIIIIIIIIIIII (voice crack) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2) The One I Love - These Friends of Mine - Rosie Thomas

This slow burn cover is pretty much the same arrangement that Sufjan Stevens used when he covered it. Yes, Sufjan is one of These Friends of Mine.

3) That Was My Veil - Peel Sessions - PJ Harvey

This was probably the only song I really loved off Dance Hall at Louse Point, and I remember putting it on SO many mixtapes back in the day because I wanted to extract it from the general mediocrity of that record.

4) Happy New Year - Covers Project - eric Metronome

Hey happy new year to you too, dude.

5) All This Time - All This Time - Heartless Bastards

The vocal and the music seem to be competing hard for supremacy here, and the effect is great… and LOUD.

6) Sons of Cain - Living With The Living - Ted Leo / Pharmacists

I dropped a demo version of this on one of my earlier mixes but it’s back with newfound polish and shine. Never noticed before… but there’s a little “American Girl” from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in here somewhere.

7) Same Old Drag - New Magnetic Wonder - Apples in Stereo

Bob Schneider somehow mines more ecstatic euphoria out of ennui. He almost whines the “same old drag” part only to pep it up right after.

8) Sleeping Lessons - Wincing the Night Away - The Shins

I find this song a bit deceptive… it really is the perfect sleeping song for about 2 and half minutes and then these drums come in and totally wake me up. NOT COOL, SHINS.

9) Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - Carousels and Music Boxes - Magic Whispers

Not the greatest cover ever, but I think this one of those songs that you just can’t ruin. It’s too damn good.

10) Plasticities - Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird

New Andrew Bird… the string section he rolls out at the end is really killer.

11) No Cars Go - Neon Bible - Arcade Fire

The internet broke when Neon Bible finally leaked, but for me most of the best material was the stuff I’d heard before. Originally found on Arcade Fire’s eponymous EP, it’s still a highlight. The intro also sounds like cartoon fanfare.

12) Rhythm and Soul - B-Sides and Rarities - Spoon

That one single bass note that repeats through the song is like distilled Spoon. Sparse beats and negative space have always marked the bands arrangements, but this is just minimalist perfection.

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