Summer Mixtape Vol. II

It’s time for another mix tape. Here’s what we’re listening to:

Friendly Fires – I’m Good, I’m Gone (Lykke Li Cover)
Passion Pit featuring Ellie Goulding – Sleepyhead (Starsmith Remix)*
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Hysteric (acoustic)
Grizzly Bear – Ready, Able
Blue Roses – I Am Leaving
Peter Bjorn and John – Young Folks (featuring Kanye West)
Phoenix – Girlfriend
Bibio – Lover’s Carvings
Kid Sister – Right Hand Hi

*Just a great remix with radically altered vocals. Ellie Goulding (of no prior fame really) has a sharp and delicate voice that seems on the precipice of cracking. The ocean of synth is pretty much opposite the “organic” instrumentation of recently written-about “Let The Beat Build.” Without a doubt this is where pop music is moving [back?].

Summer Sounds Mixtape I

More than any other season, summer seems to naturally grow into its own soundtrack. This kind of natural association that forms between a track or album and a time was the primary motivation for this blog when it began. I really can’t explain why summer is the most likely season to become its own musical genre, maybe it’s major chords, or maybe it’s just sunshine.

So here it is, with as little pretense as possible, after all, a mixtape like this makes itself.

Grizzly Bear and Dead Prez – Two Weeks of Hip-Hop (The Hood Internet Mash-up)
Dirty Projectors – Stillness is the Move
YACHT – Psychic City
The Hundred in the Hands – Dressed in Dresden
Phoenix – Lisztomania (Classixx Remix)
Passion Pit – The Reeling
Santigold – Lights Out (Tepr Emo Remix)
Kleerup featuring Lykke Li – Until We Bleed
Camera Obscura – French Navy
St Vincent – The Party
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll

Manners, Where Are Yours?

I’ve been intentionally side-stepping the Passion Pit craze that’s been going on for the past few months, trying to avoid hearing the endearing story about how Chunk Of Change was written as a Valentine’s gift, but sometimes you have to just give in. I enjoyed “Sleepyhead” and “I’ve Got Your Number” ever since they appeared in podcasts, but even after two songs I was already nervous about all that falsetto.

Enough. We know who they are, and today via @amazonmp3 I learned that the new album is on sale for a pittance of $3. I should have posted this a bit earlier in the day, but I wanted to make sure I’d heard it all before I went off and recommended it. I’m digging it; it may get old quickly, and it’s not worth raving over, but it’s a fun summer sound that you’ll probably hear even if you don’t buy it.

It’s ONLY 3 DOLLARS! That’s almost as good a deal as the dollar the first Bat For Lashes cost me on Amazon.

Not sure? At least it’s a better value than your morning coffee.

Passion Pit – The Reeling