The Monday Mixtape

Summer is in full swing...
As part of the rejuvenation of this blog, I present the newest, latest mixtape.




Gobbledigook – Sigur Rós
Released exactly one week ago, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust is an exercise in a more organic Sigur Rós. A huge departure from the operatic, grand schemes of Sigur Rós’s previous efforts, their latest LP, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, and first track, "Gobbledigook" is chalk full of acoustic guitars, and pulsing percussion. Released in the advent of (my) summer, “Gobbledigook,” is an excellent June confection. Have a listen.

Agoraphobia – Deerhunter
A smooth, almost Beach Boys-esque song from the yet-to-be-released Atlanta five-some’s forthcoming third record, Microcastle, “Agoraphobia” abandons the shoegaze of Deerhunter’s second record, Cryptograms, in favor of a brighter, summery sound. Although the band has departed from their reverb soaked songs, the pleasant, soft melody of “Agoraphobia” leaves little to complain about.

Inside a Boy – My Brightest Diamond
“Inside a Boy” is My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden at her finest. Crushing guitars armed with Worden’s soulful, sultry voice represents My Brightest Diamond’s epic, classical sound at its pinnacle. “Inside a Boy” is the first track off Worden’s latest (second) LP, A Thousand Shark’s Teeth. Although much of the material on Shark’s Teeth differs greatly from her debut album, “Inside a Boy” is an amalgamation of the sonic landscape Worden carved out in 2006’s Bring Me the Workhorse and perhaps one of the strongest songs to come from the indie outfit.

The E Street Shuffle – Bruce Springsteen
What can be said about Bruce Springsteen in a singular paragraph that can’t be better garnered from a five minute Google/Wikipedia search? Assuming everyone has heard of Bruce Springsteen, “The E Street Shuffle” is the opening track off Springsteen’s second album, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle. Released in 1973, “The E Street Shuffle” and the majority of The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle is a showcase for Springsteen’s more full-bodied, almost orchestral sound. When listening to “The E Street Shuffle,” it’s possible to hear inklings of Illinois-era Sufjan Stevens or any other artist that’s embraced a variety of instrumentation and bombastic musicality.

The Shape Is in a Trace – Thurston Moore
Foregoing waves of distortion and the noise of nothingness, Thurston Moore’s 2007 solo release, Trees Outside the Academy was a pleasant surprise of acoustic guitars and verse-chorus-verse structure. “The Shape Is in a Trace” is an exemplary track from the aforementioned album and displays Moore’s acoustic guitar talent coupled with a weighted string arrangement. With Sonic Youth’s 2006 LP Rather Ripped showing the band downplaying their avant garde tendencies, Trees Outside the Academy and “The Shape Is in a Trace” demonstrates Moore’s continuation of this welcomed new trend.


Hurly / Burly – Man Man
Blazing, schizophrenic, boisterous, bludgeoning, percussion, pop, and perfunctory are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind when listening to Man Man’s “Hurly / Burly,” the second track off their third record, Rabbit Habits (2008). Bursting with a wide variety of instrumental ornamentation and a plethora of different instruments, “Hurly / Burly” is sonically all over the map. However, the track retains momentum, never operates at too breakneck of a speed and never loses its listener, which will be entertained by the almost incoherent nature of “Hurly / Burly.”

Light of Love – Music Go Music
What begins as a Jens Lekman-infused pop song, transforms into a Queen-influenced ballad in “Light of Love,” a track from California’s Music Go Music. “Light of Love” sounds like it comes from eras past. More than anything, the band plays off Abba templates, but the up-tempo and optimistic song is littered with nostalgia, which makes for an ideal summertime listen.

Post-Paint Boy – Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
Much like all of Stephen Malkmus’ finest post-Pavement material, “Post-Paint Boy” retains all the quirky, catchy sentiments that helped define the 90’s indie staple. The track is the third to last from Malkmus’ 2005 album, Face the Truth. “Post-Paint Boy” is made up of forward moving rhythm guitar, chirping percussion, and a lead guitar melody that matches Malkmus’ soft, sing-a-long lyrics, all of which culminate into a pleasant, easy-going sonic digestion.

California – Joni Mitchell
Well, as previously stated, I’m in California. How could that theme not creep up in an issue or two of the mixtape? “California” is off Joni Mitchell’s beautifully sparse, emotionally excellent third record, Blue. Not only is the album a brutally fantastic piece of folk music, “California” is the definition of early, bright Mitchell. The track is pleasant and warm. Try to imagine the sun high above the Pacific, with sand tangling your feet. “Oh will you take me as I am?/ Will you take me as I am?,” sings Mitchell, and ultimately smilingly encourages, “Take me as I am.” Take me as I am.