mix a mix a mix tape!

I've decided to try my best to post a mix tape once a week, not only for *your* enjoyment, readers (all 2 of you!), but also as a sort of record of what songs I particularly enjoyed in a given week. It'll be pretty random -- new stuff, old stuff, poppy stuff, weird stuff -- but hopefully FUN.

Here's week 1:

01 Memory Cassette // Surfin
02 High Places // Head Spins (Extended Version)
03 Sally Shapiro // Anorak Christmas
04 Air France // Maundy Tuesday
05 Billy Joel // It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
06 Izza Kizza // Walk the Dog ft. Missy Elliott
07 The Supremes // You Can't Hurry Love
08 The Ruby Suns // Birthday ft. Esau Mwamlaya (The Beatles cover)
09 Pnau // Embrace ft. Ladyhawke (Fred Fawke & Miama Horror remix)
10 The Blow // Fists Up

sept 21 mixxx

memory cassette

Memory Cassette's music is pretty chill, but more importantly -- how can I recreate that eye make-up?

Download: Memory Cassette // Sleep On the Roof

Full EP here.

the ruby suns & esau mwamwaya

Download: The Ruby Suns // Birthday ft. Esau Mwamwaya (The Beatles cover)

This track incorporates three things I love: The Beatles, New Zealand, and Africa.


I've been listening to Esau Mwamwaya for a little while now, and I'm really excited for the album he's been working on with Radioclit. Some more Esau:

Download: Esau Mwamwaya, M.I.A., Santogold, + Radioclit // Get It Up
Download: Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit ft. M.I.A. // Rain Dance

More tracks over at Winnie Cooper.

BOO, 'YE.

WTF is up with the new Kanye track? The recorded version "Love Lockdown" leaked this week, giving us a slightly better impression of the song than his raucous rendition of it at the VMA's. And to clarify: I use the term "slightly better" solely in terms of our ability to gauge the merit of this track -- because after listening to it, I think the overall impression is far worse. I was really hoping that the studio version would have incorporated some crazy beats, heavy bass, or even some RAPPING, Kanye? But no, no, and no -- the recording is equally as bland and unimpressive as the VMA performance.

So seriously -- WTF is up with Kanye right now? Why is he shunning his roots as an amazing hip-hop producer and witty MC to make watered-down pop music that sounds like a reject JT track? I'm holding out hope that maybe, just MAYBE, he'll come to his senses before releasing a mediocre album that all but destroys his credibility in the music world. Until then, I'll just try to happy with the fact that I caught the Glow in the Dark Tour before 'Ye fell so far from grace.

Sad.

Download: Kanye West // Love Lockdown

I feel passionately about Passion Pit.

These guys have been popping up here and there recently, so I finally got around to giving them a listen. Turns out that not only are they from Cambridge, Mass. (represent!), but their music is super catchy and fun. I'm really excited to hear more from them -- I'll be enjoying this track in the meantime.

Download Passion Pit // "Sleepyhead" at Neon Gold Beat Company

santogold + diplo = YES

If you haven't heard about the Santogold / Diplo mixtape by now, you must be hiding in a hole somewhere, far from the Internet. If you've heard about it but haven't yet given it a listen,
you MUST! It's super fun, and full of pleasant surprises: Aretha Franklin, B-52's, awkward little interludes, Panda Bear mixed over Santogold, etc. (There's also an appearance by my boy Cudi - hollaaaa)

You can download a couple tracks here, but I suggest you git your hands on the whole thing ASAP.

a mixtape named cudi

man on the moon, KiD CuDi

Cleveland's KiD CuDi, whose obsessively good "Day N Night (Crookers Remix)" dropped earlier this year, just put out a free(!) mixtape that's making its way around the music blogosphere as of late. I finally downloaded it, and my initial impression of it is good. Given that my first exposure to CuDi was the considerably upbeat Crookers remix, the mixtape is a lot more slow-jam/R&B-influenced than I expected, but I think the chill vibe suits CuDi -- just listen to the chorus of "Day N Night" or the track "Maui Wowie" and I think you'll see why. And we can always leave it to the blog-house circuit to upgrade the tracks to bangers, I suppose (lol). There's also a sick Band of Horses sample on one track that I really enjoyed, and CuDi also name-drops Justice, Google, and Barack Obama at points -- I chuckled accordingly.

Get KiD CuDi's "A Kid Named CuDi" mixtape HERE.

**End-note**
Based on the photo above, is it not glaringly obvious that KiD CuDi's signed to Fool's Gold? (heh)

siren fest 2008, coney island, nyc (aka, surface of the sun)

photo courtesy of... Google image search?

Last weekend, some friends and I headed down to Coney Island to catch the Village Voice's annual Siren Fest Music Festival and roast ourselves in the nearly unbearable 100° heat. Despite a few unfortunate circumstances and mishaps -- overlapping set-times, a long trek between stages, and friends were dropping like flies due to dehydration -- I managed to squeeze a decent concert experience out of the day. Highlights:

- We first caught Parts & Labor at the main stage. They were fun, though I can't say they blew my mind.
- Tracked down my roommate while waiting for the Dodos to get started. They ended started a half hour late because they took an eon to set up. I ended up catching just a slice of their set, though my friend reported back that they could only manage to squeeze in three songs. Bummer?
- Next, Beach House: I was super excited to see them, but rather unfortunately, 30 seconds into "Gila" one of my friends passed out. We managed to get him on his feet and on his way home in time for the last few songs of their set.
- Islands was my favorite of the day. They're genuinely good performers, and I loved the array of instruments on-stage -- including a violin, a xylophone, an accordian, and a garbage can.
- Stuck around after Islands and spied Ted Leo inconspicuously DJing up-stage. I've always loved Ted Leo, and it was kind of funny to see him just chilling and singing along to whatever it was he was spinning.
- Caught the first half of Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks. I've heard plenty of Pavement but I can't say I've heard much of Malkmus' solo-(ish?) work, but I did really enjoy seeing him and the Jicks. He's also a pretty funny guy, which made for some entertaining banter between songs.
- Headed back to the other stage to see the end of Broken Social Scene. They sounded great, but their were so many friggin' people! I actually regretted not sticking around for more of the Jicks' set, as I had a much better vantage point and plenty more elbow room over there.

Overall, it was an interesting day. The distance between the two stages was pretty frustrating, though, and I lost a lot of time shuffling between the two. It will be interesting to see what happens with Siren Fest next year, as the amusement park is shutting down at the end of the summer.

Next up on the summer festival line-up -- ALL POINTS WEST, August 8!!!! (read: RADIOHEAD!!!!!!!!11!1OMFG!)

new bodies of water LP is refreshingly cool (lol)

When I first heard Bodies of Water, I admit I sort of wrote them off as a poor-man's Arcade Fire. However, being a bit of an AF fanatic, I wasn't entirely opposed. Their newest album, A Certain Feeling, pushes any of my doubts about their authenticity aside. The orchestrations are tight, the vocals are soaring, and epicness abounds amidst hint of Americana. I *love* the two tracks I've snagged thus far, and can't wait to get my hands on the full album - I'm a sucker for modern baroque pop.

Bodies of Water // Under the Pines (via la-underground)
Bodies of Water // Gold, Tan, Peach, and Grey (via gorilla vs. bear)