Mixtape Vol. 19
August 26th, 2008
3 comments
This is pretty close to a non-stop mix with several songs that should get you bopping in your seat or maybe even dancing around the room. It slows down a tad in the middle but then picks back up for the finish. Enjoy.
You can purchase this mix (or individual songs) from here: 
Kristoffer Ragnstam – Sorry For Being The Man Of 1000 Questions
Album: Wrong Side Of The Room
When I post a singer/songwriter it’s usually a folk song but I guess the Swedes do it differently. Definitely more of a indie pop/rock. Please listen to his new LP, Wrong Side of the Room, because the whole thing is really good.
The Dandy Warhols – Mis Amigos
Album: Earth To The Dandy Warhols
Why didn’t anyone tell me that I love The Dandy Warhols!?!?! I agonized over which song to pick of their latest LP, …Earth to the Dandy Warhols…, ultimately going with the one that made me bop up and down in my seat the most. I love how eclectic the album is but somehow it all sounds like it’s the same band. Very good stuff.
Matt and Kim – Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare (link to rcrdlbl.com)
Album: Grand
More indie rock, this time from a Brooklyn, NY, duo. It feels like a relatively sparse track with some simple sounds but they put it together just oh so nice. This comes from their upcoming release, Grand.
Fredrik – Black Fur
Album: Na Na Ni
More Swedish invasion. I definitely have a soft spot for their indie pop. I came across this sextet thanks to Stereogum’s Band To Watch which rarely steers me wrong. The track comes off their July release, Na Na Ni, and has a slight wistful sound to it but still makes you move in your seat.
Ra Ra Riot – Can You Tell
Album: The Rhumb Line
This Syracuse band is considered indie rock with chamber pop…I guess that’s the violins although I feel like that could describe most bands these days. This great little song with lyrics that I think we can all relate to can be found on their August release, The Rhumb Line.
Donavon Frankenreiter – Your Heart
Album: Pass It Around
Originally a professional surfer from Downey, CA. (isn’t that place landlocked?) He actually rented a home from Jack Johnson’s parents and they surfed and played guitar together while growing up. I would say his new record, Pass it Around, is a bit more into the pop/rock style than I usually like but this track stood out to me.
Shwayze – Mary Jane
Album: Shwayze
Apparently Shwayze is just one guy but every time I’ve seen him perform there is someone else on stage so I’m sure I’m missing something. Anyways, he/they come from Malibu and do a decent job of combining acoustic guitar and rap in the self-titled LP. Not that I would actually purchase it since the lyrics are obviously aimed at a younger crowd.
Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream
Album: Walking On A Dream
Australian duo with a self-titled debut out this fall (check for it under imports). I think these guys fit in the electronic alternative genre. I have to have one song per week with some decent electronica. You can also enjoy their intentionally silly video over here.
Pepper – Freeze
Album: Pink Crustaceans And Good Vibrations
Hawaiian band with heavy ska and reggae influence. This song just makes me laugh every time because it sounds like they sampled Arnold Schwarzenegger. Obviously just a funny party song, not a whole lot of depth and I have to say the rest of LP, Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations, falls into the same category.
The Stills – Eastern Europe
Album: Oceans Will Rise
I must have listened to Oceans Will Rise four times trying to figure out if there was anything on it that I liked. It wasn’t until Steregum put up this track that I finally heard it. Odd how that happens. If you don’t know The Stills, they’re from Montreal (more talented Canucks) and this is their third album. Another pop/rock sound that I think needs to lose the indie badge, but still a decent band.
The Briggs – Mad Men
Album: Come All You Madmen
A drinking song if I ever heard one. You might think this band was from the UK but you’d be wrong. They hail from a different two letters, LA. This opening track off Come All You Madmen is fun but the rest is pretty much just more of the same. And I think it’s odd to hear an Irish fighting song about LA.
The Apples in Stereo – Onto Something
Album: Electronic Projects for Musicians
Sunny pop band from Denver that doesn’t make excuses for it’s sugary catchy songs. Their most recent release, Electronic Projects for Musicians, got the Colbert Bump when they performed a song about the famous TV host, “Stephen Stephen” on the show.
