Far From Noise

I had over 40 songs last week but for some reason, on a second listen through I didn’t like most of them. Oh well. Just means the ones that make it to the final mix are that much better. A relatively high energy mix without many slow downs. Enjoy.
You can purchase this mix (or individual songs) from here:

1. Mason Proper – Lock and Key
   From: Alpena, MI
   Album: Olly Oxen Free   
   This band is on tour right now with one of my other favorites, Cloud Cult. I recommend checking out this album. I liked several tracks off of it. A fun crisp sound that weaves in some unusual elements.
   
2. The Banshee – People Around
   From: Genova
   Album: Your Nice Habits   
   The bass line in this song draws me in and then I’m just shocked that you can use a siren over the lyrics and it can still sound good.
   
3. Stars – 14 Forever
   From: Montreal
   Album: Sad Robots EP     
   Stars have really grown on me. The first time I heard them was just recently at the Outside Lands Festival and I wasn’t all that impressed. Knowing that Liz <hearts> them I figured I needed to give them another shot. I’m glad I did because this EP is really good.
   
4. Bound Stems – Happens to Us All Otherwise
   From: Chicago, IL
   Album: The Family Afloat   
   Just a fun indie track. Some harmonies, a snare drum, and some clapping. What more could you want?
   
5. Ruby Isle – Hey Hey Hey (That Kid’s Okay)
   From: Minneapolis, MN
   Album: Night Shot   
   I probably should be embarrassed to say I like this song, or in fact that I like the ENTIRE album. It is such bubblegum teen pop, but it’s a ton of fun.
   
6. Okkervil River – Pop Lie
   From: Austin, TX
   Album: The Stand Ins   
   I’ll try to get some street cred back with Okkervil. I posted a song from these guys back on my Treasure Island mix, but it wasn’t one off their new (awesome) CD. They put on such a great live show, I just had to include them once more. Of course the song kinda makes fun of me for liking it. I guess I am a power pop fan.
   
7. Death Vessel – Jitterakadie
   From: Providence, RI
   Album: Nothing Is Precious Enough for Us   
   Not a death metal band as you might suspect from their name. In fact, this track has a folk/country sound to it. Can anyone tell me what the song title means?
   
8. Rafter – Juicy
   From: San Diego, CA
   Album: Sweaty Magic   
   With the first bah-bah, I fell in love with this song. And then the overlaid falsetto just sealed it. Obviously a great producer as he blends a simple guitar sample with dance-beat synthesizer action.
   
9. Kanye West – Love Lockdown
   From: Atlanta, GA
   Album: 808s & Heartbreak   
   It’s my understanding that this song and Kanye’s performance at the VMA’s is divisive. Apparently you hate it or love it. I fall in the love category and I don’t even like Kanye. This is the type of song that makes me wish I had a serious hi-fi stereo with a giant subwoofer. Although my upstairs neighbor might not agree.
   
10. Stereolab – Neon Beanbag
    From: London
    Album: Chemical Chords   
    Slightly brighter than the last song, it makes me just want to go skipping down the street and smile at everyone I pass by.
    
11. Chairlift – Bruises
    From: Boulder, CO
    Album: Does You Inspire You   
    Apple found another great hit for their commercials. The simple lyrics have some good imagery and I really like the album title too.
    
12. Thievery Corporation – Sound The Alarm
    From: Washington, D.C.
    Album: Radio Retaliation   
    A nice track to get you moving. Seems like a good driving tune to me. I can feel the cars flying by.
    

Apparently it’s a slow week in music and I was having the hardest time finding songs I liked for this week’s mix. I have been wanting to post a mix of all the great bands that will be playing on the second day, September 21st, of the Treasure Island Music Festival and I took this as a sign to finally do just that. Most of these bands I have covered in previous mixes but this gives me an opportunity to post my second favorite tracks.

I’m not a festival fan in the slightest, but the line-up was just too good to pass up. If you’re going, this should get you in the right mood for the show and be sure to let me know in the comments and maybe we can meet up. If you weren’t planning on going, this mix will give you a good taste and you may feel compelled to be there, and then you can buy tickets here. It should be a great show.
You can purchase this mix (or individual songs) from here:

1. The Morning Benders – Waiting For A War
   Album: Talking Through Tin Cans   
   When I first posted this Berkeley band on my third mix, I had only heard the one single. Now that I’ve heard the rest of the CD, Talking Through Tin Cans, I’m looking forward to seeing them live. I think they have good potential to get things started right.
   
2. Port O’Brien – Fisherman’s Son
   Album: All We Could Do Was Sing   
   This song doesn’t have quite the same energy of “I Woke Up Today” that I posted on mix 9 but it has a soulful feel that can draw you in. Another local band out of Oakland this time, their new LP is called All We Could Do Was Sing and deserves a listen.
   
3. The Dodos – Undeclared
   Album: Visiter   
   Now we hop across the bay for a band out of San Francisco. This song was my second choice for New Music 5 when I posted “Park Song.” It’s a short but pretty song and still doesn’t really show the energy that The Dodos will bring to the stage. I’m looking forward to seeing their driving, almost spastic percussion on stage.
   
4. Fleet Foxes – Ragged Wood
   Album: Fleet Foxes   
   This folk, gospel, pop band from Seattle can pull off amazing harmonies. I definitely prefer “White Winter Hymnal” included on New Music 13, but this one shows that they can do a slight upbeat when they want to. They released their self-titled LP in early June of this year.
   
5. Dr. Dog – The Rabbit, The Bat & The Reindeer
   Album: Fate   
   On tour from Philadelphia, this indie folk group released their newest LP, Fate, in late July. If you like their sound, you can hear some more on mix 15 track number 6.
   
6. John Vanderslice – Kookaburra
   Album: Emerald City   
   This is my first time really giving John Vanderslice a good listen and I like what I’m hearing. Definitely some interesting lyrics. This is the opening track on his last CD, Emerald City. The entire LP appears to tell a story about a man that commits a terrorist act and his emotions and actions afterwards.
   
7. The Kills – Tape Song
   Album: Midnight Boom   
   Midnight Boom is still one of my favorite CDs of 2008. I first posted “U.R.A. Fever” on my fourth mix and there are plenty of other great songs besides these two. I was bummed when I missed this band at Slim’s earlier this year so I’m super excited to finally see them live. You can really hear the Pixies influence with this song.
   
8. Tokyo Police Club – In a Cave
   Album: Elephant Shell   
   There are only three songs on Elephant Shell that I like so I’m hoping this Toronto band plays more of their older stuff. This song is off their new record and you can hear “Your English Is Good” on New Music 2.
   
9. Okkervil River – Our Live is Not a Movie or Maybe
   Album: The Stage Names   
   I’ve been wanting to post an Okkervil River song for awhile now and I randomly came across this song because it was used on the sound track for Tropic Thunder. A folk/indie rock sound out of Austin Texas, they have a new LP due out in the next week, The Stand Ins. You can hear a song from that release on The Blisslist.
   
10. Spiritualized – I Gotta Fire
    Album: Songs In A&E   
    On New Music 7 I chose the more unusual song off Songs In A&E, “Death Take Your Fiddle.” This was my second choice and definitely has a bit more commercial appeal and might even get you dancing in your seat.
    
11. Vampire Weekend – M79
    Album: Vampire Weekend   
    If I could post the entire contents of this NY band’s self-titled debut album, I would. There isn’t a song I don’t like. I chose “M79″ because when I saw them at the Rickshaw Stop it stood out to me and had a lot of people singing along. I’m also hoping they can have their entire string section for Treasure Island because Rickshaw was too small to include them on stage.
    
12. Tegan and Sara – Back In Your Head
    Album: The Con   
    Twins from Canada, these ladies pull off the type of harmonies that only family can. I really like their last CD, The Con, and I’ve been wanting to see them live for awhile.
    
13. The Raconteurs – Salute Your Solution
    Album: Consolers Of The Lonely   
    The headliner, and rightfully so, I can’t wait to see these guys tear it up. I saw them two years ago at The Warfield and was blown away by Jack White. The guy is a monster on stage and plays the guitar like no one else I’ve seen. And I’ve been a Brendan Benson fan for a long time too so I just love this band. The Raconteurs were on my first mix I made and their CD, Consolers Of The Lonely, was one of the catalysts for wanting to start this site. It was so good I felt like everyone I knew needed to hear about it.