October ‘08 Mix

October 31, 2008

1) Fernando – Acid Tongue – Jenny Lewis

One of the few upbeat jams on Acid Tongue is a real handclapping, footstomping hootenanny. It’s an absolute blast.

2) Gold For Bread – Furr – Blitzen Trapper

Few songs have more non-sensical lyrics per capita than “Gold For Bread,” but there’s a great rush in its fever dream momentum. Monkeys, midgets and road trips, man.

3) Show Me Your Life – Lunglight 128 – The Shaky Hands

The slackadaisical shamble of this track reminds me strongly of Pavement. THAT, is a good thing.

4) Poor Man’s Ice Cream – O – Tilly And The Wall

I have no fucking idea what this song is going on about. I clap a lot though.

5) Days Of Elaine – Always The Bridesmaid: A Singles Series – The Decemberists

I admire your commitment to alliteration, Colin Meloy.

6) Wildwood Flower – Rambling Boy – Charlie Haden

Charlie Haden brings in a ton of different singers on his folk record, including his daughters, but nobody’s better on it than Roseanne Cash. Laura Veirs did a nice version of Wildwood Flower last year but it doesn’t hold a candle to this.

7) Calling And Not Calling My Ex – The Stand-Ins – Okkervil River

I wonder if Will Scheff goes through a lot of relationship pain. It translates to amazing lyrics, so I don’t mind, but I’m just curious.

8) I Got Your Number – Rapid Response – Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

I really liked the immediate punch of Leo’s protest EP. It was turned around super quickly and sounds it, but the protest punk is everything it should be.

9) The Package Is Wrapped – This Is It And I Am It … – Marnie Stern

I tried to learn two handed tapping on the guitar once. I looked retarded.

10) Lullaby Haze – Re-Arrange Us – Mates of State

Mates of State keeps sneaking onto my playlists. I never feel like I’m listening to their records but they randomly pop up and they are always a breath of fresh air.

11) Corazon – The Broken String – Bishop Allen

While it’s certainly a metaphor for grander things, Corazon is also very literal. The band actually found a broken piano, fixed it up and cut a record with it.

Posted in Mixtape