September ‘07 Mix

September 23, 2007

1) Sunday Sounds - New Magnetic Wonder - Apples In Stereo

Drummer Hilarie Sidney gives a dreamy vocal performance but Bob Schneider throws in a fantastically wonky guitar solo.

2) Fortune - Challengers: B-Sides, Demos, Alternate Mixes - New Pornographers

The New Pornographers have slipped quite a few gems onto their “executive edition,” including this track that just barely got cut from the official release. Kathryn Calder (I think, it may be Neko) has some lovely undercutting backing vocals on that chorus.

3) Click, Click, Click, Click - The Broken String - Bishop Allen

I will be shocked if this doesn’t get picked up for a commercial for digital cameras. Every time you hear the words “take another picture with your click click click click camera” you will want to buy some photo equipment.

4) Plus Ones - The Stage Names - Okkervil River

Okkervil River does some lyrical math rock here, co-opting number based lyrics from the Mysterians, Nena, REM, The Zombies and Paul Simon, among others. The result is a classic love letter to classic love songs .

5) Hot Knives - Cassadaga - Bright Eyes

I got on a big Janet Weiss kick this month, and check how much life she gives the song, which is at its core a pretty mopey track with a flatline vocal.

6) Our Happiness Is Guaranteed - “Featuring Birds - Quasi

More classic Weiss work here, from the jazzy intro to freewheeling melodicism of the verse and a crushing backbeat all the way through.

7) Ode To LRC - Cease To Begin - Band Of Horses

The new Band of Horses sounds a lot like the last record, big and shimmery with touches of seductive quiet.

8) Come My Sunshine - Spells - Comas

I love a good fuzzy guitar.

9) Devil With the Green Eyes - Altered Beast - Matthew Sweet

Flashback! Somehow I always forget how good Sweet’s studio bands were during this era. Yes, the refined power pop is there, but those are some serious guitar licks too.

10) Polyester Bride - whitechocolatespaceegg - Liz Phair

Another early 90’s callback here. This was almost certainly the most overplayed song in my apartment circa 1998. Maybe 1999 too.

11) Don’t Stop Believin’ - B-Sides and Rarities - Petra Haden

I’ve been resisting this Journey cover for awhile, since Haden takes the easy way out on the chorus, talk-singing her way through. How can I hate the vocal take on that guitar solo though?

12) A Sunday Smile - The Flying Club Cup - Beirut

Is everyone ready for some gypsy rock?

13) 15 - Under The Blacklight - Rilo Kiley

“15″ is one of the few likeable songs off Under the Blacklight, with a strong country twang and more of the Memphis soul aping that Jenny Lewis got so good at.

14) Release Me - B-Sides and Rarities - The Like

Z Berg’s performance here is breathtaking, as she breaks down further and further into the track, full of the back and forth pain of the relationship she describes.

Posted in Mixtape