The Rosebuds

I'd forgotten all about this song - from what I think is by far my favorite Rosebuds album, Make Out:

The whole album is worth a listen. Lots of good mix fodder on there - Back To Boston, Boys Who Love Girls and Kicks in the Schoolyard have all made it onto mixes of mine over the years.

Rilo Kiley & Pinback

Kickin it 2004 style this week. Rilo Kiley had arguably their biggest moment in the sun with the album More Adventurous and Pinback reached what most fans consider the pinnacle of their sound so far with Summer in Abaddon.

Kate Bush

Kate Bush falls in love with a snowman in a nice return to form.

mojave 3

There are two popular versions of this song - I prefer the second but they are both lovely. It is a perfect tune for this time of year when everything is turning cold and grey.


Just pray for us, pray for sunshine
These days are cold and I´m missing you
This letter was meant for your eyes
Destroy it and then just go hide
You´re the only thing left that makes any sense
Please don´t blow it

Five for Fighting

Before they had their 15 minutes with the ballad Superman, Five for Fighting was putting out pretty good rock and roll.

bjork

OK, here's the thing. Bjork has a new album out. Fantastic, I like Bjork. But there's also a series of iPad apps and a 90-minute documentary. Wait, what? I don't think anyone even watches music videos anymore! I don't think we're looking for more immersive experiences, you know? I just want to listen to some tunes while I work. How about just focus on the music, ok?


I suppose if this process was like super-fun and inspiring for our icelandic friend I don't really object, I just don't think it is necessary for music to evolve into being something else (being music is enough) - and if I'm not mistaken, most of the attempts to do so haven't really caught on. Bjork has made a career out of being different so I suppose if anyone was going to go there she was, but I think I'd have preferred 5 more good tracks over a bunch of multimedia that will be obsolete and forgotten in 3 years. What do you think?

Karen O

Karen O does a sparse interpretation of "Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys" in support of a family-farming movement.

Fiona Apple & The Watkins Family Hour

I was a little skeptical when a friend told me about this, but it is pretty good. Fiona Apple and The Watkins Family Hour cover Dolly Parton.

Solomon Burke

While this blog could, in fact be just a long series of embedded Gillian Welch videos, I promise not to do that. Still, I just found out about and enjoyed this song by Gillian & Dave that they did with Solomon Burke:

I didn't discover Solomon Burke until a couple years after this was made, when I stumbled onto this fantastic song of his from Don't Give Up on Me:

Releasing tomorrow

Andrew Bird's soundtrack for the movie Norman drops tomorrow; I'm excited about it.

Ryan Adams has a new album dropping tomorrow as well.

Call and Response

If you liked the bubblegum pop of The Free Design, here's a modern equivalent.

They even have a bubble song! You can check out their 2001 (lord, 10 years old) album on amazon.

The Free Design

And now for something completely different: the free design. Sort of cheesy 60's group famous for "Kites are Fun!" which is a pretty funny song. Still, even they have gems. Bubbles is probably their best track:
Oh, OK if you must hear Kites are Fun, here it is for you.

Blitzen Trapper

If there were still "freedom rock!" commercials this band would certainly be featured. Here's a track from their new album that drops tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it.

Bon Iver

Bon Iver is one of those artists that I sort of love and hate; the precious few songs I like by the guy are songs I like sort of more than average, and everything else he does pretty much just grates on my nerves. I only let you know this because it just so happens that two good songs are available as a single today in case you hadn't already picked them up piecemeal.

Beth Sorrentino

Beth Sorrentino fronted a band called Suddenly, Tammy! which I really fell in love with in college. They got a record deal with WB who promptly screwed them and their third album was never released. Beth dropped off the radar for a number of years and resurfaced a few years ago with some new stuff.

Here's a video from Suddenly, Tammy!


And a song from a few years ago


Pick up some of her stuff. Show WB how wrong they were to shelve her band.
Hiding Out
Nine Songs, One Story

Clem Snide

God bless him he can even make Journey sound profound.


There's a whole album of these at amazon.

Tom Waits

You can't beat him.



New single drops today.

Gillian Welch

This is my favorite song right now.

Watch the full episode. See more PBS NewsHour.

Cat Power

Hmmm. So here's a cover of Wonderwall (that Oasis song everyone loves to do):


and here's "Maybe Not" which appears to be where she got the riff:


but Maybe Not is way better than Wonderwall, so let that be your lesson for the day.

Beachwood Sparks

From Scott Pilgrim last summer. Nice late summer anthem.

Paul Simon

Still got it.

Broken Social Scene

Song of the day:

Spoon

Here's an old Spoon track I stumbled onto on an old mix cd today, from "Wig in a Box"


I probably don't have to tell you that Spoon is all about restraint - what isn't there is really what makes their music so special.

Scattered Trees

I don't know much about this band, but this sounds good to me.


Single out tomorrow at amazon.

Fruit Bats

The Fruit Bats have a new record out today. The first single implies that they are pushing even harder to be mistaken for a 70s supergroup.

Fruit Bats - You're Too Weird (OFFICIAL VIDEO) from Sub Pop Records on Vimeo.

Here's the title track to their previous effort:

Abner Jay

Here's another dark one for you. The twist is that Abner Jay isn't a standard blues man, instead he was a multi-instrumentalist; a one-man band. Banjo, harmonica, bass drum, high hat, boom!



And of course let's not forget the man who made this tune famous: Louis Armstrong.

José González

Here's a nice song from José González. His guitar is really nice and seemingly effortless, which is always impressive to watch.



If you'd prefer something slightly faster, this is a nice one too.

playlist: midsummer

Here's my latest mix.



full disclosure: I changed that song by The Wooden Birds because I couldn't find Cross My Heart on the tubes. A couple of these are also maybe different versions based on what I could find online. I was surprised at how easy this was to do, look for it again.

midsummer
1. I'm a Trainwreck - Old 97's
2. I Might - Wilco
3. Annihilation Eyes - Maritime
4. Monday Morning - Death Cab for Cutie
5. Old Black Dodge - Sean Rowe
6. Hard Time Killing Floor Blues - Chris Thomas King
7. Holocene - Bon Iver
8. Goshen - Beirut
9. Montezuma - Fleet Foxes
10. Ghosts - The Head and the Heart
11. Dance So Good - Wakey!Wakey!
12. Sugar - The Wooden Birds
13. Hard Times - Gillian Welch
14. I Remember You - Eilen Jewell
15. Wreckage - Jolie Holland

arcade fire

Speaking of bands that people feel strongly about but I don't totally get, I like Arcade Fire but just don't have the crazy strong feelings about them that so many people seem to have. This video is perhaps the first step in changing my mind, a beautiful piece played in a crowded elevator. Love it.

Take Away Show #41 _ THE ARCADE FIRE from Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes on Vimeo.

Sadly, the elevator will not translate when you're making your next mix, so you'll be forced to judge them on music alone.

Tomorrow's New Releases

Wilco has a new single. I should get around to doing a Wilco post because they seem like the sort of band that people feel strongly about, but I've never felt strongly about them. I find them pleasant but haven't ever really grokked them somehow.

Another interesting release tomorrow is the self-titled by a pop band called Locksley.

Beirut

Man, do I want a new album from Beirut. Here's a track from the upcoming Red Hot + Rio 2 compilation.



Here's the B-side to a single released last week in anticipation of Beirut's new album due August 20.

Tomorrow's New Releases

They Might be Giants has a new effort dropping tomorrow, Join Us.

Maritime

A couple of posts ago I linked to a video by the Onion A.V. Club. The theme music they used was a great song released in April by a band called Maritime.


Maritime had a nice pop release in 2006 called "We, the Vehicles" that featured this song (well, at least my mix at the time did):

Cults

Here's your breakout band of the summer, Cults.

Go Outside, by Cults from Boing Boing on Vimeo.

This is also one of the creepiest videos I've seen lately.
Cults is available on Bandcamp.

She & Him

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward have teamed up as the group "She & Him" for a while now. I saw them do this one at the Ryman last year in Nashville, where they asked Big Al Anderson (the man who wrote this song) to put together an impromptu band and open for them. They called themselves "The Headliners." Everyone was sort of puzzled as to who those guys were before they came out and explained.



Big Al came out and said "I asked my son if he'd heard of She & Him and he said 'Oh, Dad, you'd better do that one!' so here I am." Here's the original:



I recommend both wholeheartedly.

She & Him do Pooh

M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel are featured on the soundtrack to the new Winnie the Pooh movie.

They Might Be Giants

Still crazy about covers. Here's a feel-good cover suitable for Friday.

They Might Be Giants covers Chumbawamba

This might be notable if only for the number of people they tricked into admitting they knew the words to this song.

The Smiths

Just links today:

1. What Difference Does it Make? on Top of the Pops - a funny view of The Smiths being very calm while really at the peak of their powers.

2. What Difference Does it Make? - Artist's Rendition - beautiful.

St. Vincent

St. Vincent doesn't get as much attention as she deserves. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here to see the wrongs righted, the darkness made light, the truth made plain. So here are a couple of wonderful St. Vincent covers for your next mix.

Here she is doing a very pretty cover of These Days by Nico:


And another I've used on a mix recently, a cover with Beck of INXS' Never Tear Us Apart:

Record Club: INXS "Never Tear Us Apart" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

I really love finding an artist someone might already like or a song they might like and throwing in a cover as a way to shake things up. Perfect mix fodder.

Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird is the only person I've seen play the violin and guitar nearly simultaneously. He's impressive on the strings but his lyrics are small masterpieces as well. Here's an extended version of an old track of his that I think is quite good:


If you'd like a nice long track somewhere in the middle of your mix to act as a landing point, this would be a nice track to include.

Led Zeppelin

A party for Independence Day with the greatest rockers of all time. Another obvious choice, but I'm hoping you'll take to heart that there's a lot more to Zep than II and IV:


This track in particular highlights how balanced these 4 were. Throw away vocals done with real passion, beautiful prominent bass line, wailing guitar solo, the works. Listen to Bonham pound on that ride cymbal and tell me that doesn't move you. I dare you.

Eilen Jewell

Eilen Jewell is a fantastic, sort of strange singer that does a lot of stuff I think Tom Waits and Jolie Holland fans would be into. Here's a track from her new record:

Eilen Jewell - Queen of the Minor Key from Signature Sounds on Vimeo.

Here's a great track from her 2007 effort Letters From Sinners & Strangers:

Billy Bragg

Today's mix fodder is a sweet song by Billy Bragg, Tank Park Salute. Show your sensitive side and put this on your next mix.

Gillian Welch

Nice track from Gillian Welch's new album:


If you want something a bit darker and frenetic, try this gem:

I wish I could get a recording of this last video - I go back and watch / listen to it a lot, it is a really good rendition of that song.

Justin Townes Earle

It is extremely difficult to pick a couple of favorite J.T. Earle songs. I saw him down on the riverfront of Nashville a couple of summers ago and was blown away at his stripped down style. This is a nice version of Halfway to Jackson and even comes with an explanation to boot so I suppose it is a good start:

Justin Towne Earle - "Halfway To Jackson" Live At Paste from Paste Magazine on Vimeo.

His performance of the same era material at Amoeba in L.A. is pretty spectacular, too:


If you ever get a chance to drop in and see him, do yourself the favor. His material makes excellent mix fodder if you have room for some good storytelling.

Chris Thomas King

I just put this on this month's mix, right between Sean Rowe and a J.T. Earle song. Fits pretty well. You might remember it from Oh, Brother Where Art Thou, Chris was the guitar player they picked up at the crossroads.




I like the old-time sound more but if you're into blues Chris does a good job of it:

Sean Rowe

Sometimes you need something a little darker. I occasionally have a mix sort of hit bottom just past the halfway point to give myself someplace to build from. Well, ladies and gentlemen I present for your consideration the great baritone Sean Rowe:


If this doesn't give your listener pause, then you'll have to just go all the way and throw a Tom Waits track on there, I guess.

East River Pipe

Here's a guy that came up in the late 90's on Merge Records alongside other great indie artists like M. Ward and Spoon. East River Pipe is a sort of cool-down artist, but there's still something expansive about the tracks, I think it would pair nicely with a Jesus and Mary Chain track. Here's one of his more upbeat numbers:



Here's a track from his latest:


Also, head here and grab the track 'Baltimore' which isn't on an album anywhere that I can find but is one of my favorites.

M. Ward

I really believe that M. Ward is one of the best songwriters of our generation. I really can't figure out why he doesn't get more attention.

Here's are two great tracks, Roller Coaster and Chinese Translation:

Jim James & M. Ward at St. David's Church from Texas Music Matters at KUT on Vimeo.

And another of my favorites, Vincent O'Brien:


And you might recognize him as "Him" to Zooey Deschanel's "She":


Run, don't walk to explore M. Ward's entire back catalog, folks.

Kings of Convenience

Kings of Convenience is a fantastic duo (sometimes trio) that puts out beautiful, sweet folk-pop. If you want to show your sensitive side, you could do no better.



I have a couple of plastic discs with their songs on them from years ago. On one of them, in the liner notes it says "we really like going up into tall buildings where one can see a long way. if you have access to such a building and are willing to show us in, please contact us when we are touring your area." As a fan of tall buildings where one can see a long way, I really enjoyed that.

If you enjoy this but want something a little more pop with a slightly euro sensibility, check out The Whitest Boy Alive, who has the same frontman:

Bon Iver

Another artist I like to cherry pick - I really only like a handful of Bon Iver songs but the few I like I seem to *really* like. Here's one:

Bon Iver - Blood Bank [video] from MrMach7 on Vimeo.

He has a new album coming out tomorrow that is very Peter Gabriel-esque, check out Holocene on that (self-titled) record as well.

Mojave 3

Here's an older band that deserves a place among your chosen tracks. Mojave 3 had a very solid (if casual) pop release with Excuses for Travellers way back in 2000. If you need a blast from the past to put a final touch on your next playlist, give this one a try:



The frontman Neil Halstead has gone on to release some solo material since then which is also nice stuff to comb through:

Pearl and the Beard

My friend Hilda turned me onto this charming group last year. I saw them play at a tiny venue in Nashville where they were almost too loud for the room but everyone really had a good time.

Pearl and the Beard - Will Smith Medley from Goddamn Cobras Collective on Vimeo.

Their 2009 effort God Bless Your Weary Soul, Amanda Richardson and their recent Killing the Darlings aren't really at this level of hilarity but it is a fantastic album nonetheless. They have a really endearing sort of living-room sing-a-long style that works well for them.

Yo La Tengo

Here's a band that has skirted accessibility for years. They always release high-quality stuff but it is a mix of catchy pop gems and noisy rock that I find myself prone to cherry-pick.

Yo La Tengo - A Take Away Show - Part 2 from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Here are two great songs by Yo La Tengo, one old and one new. I've put Periodically Double or Triple on a mix and it worked well. Really enjoyable stuff.

The Rolling Stones

Obvious, of course. And my first choice for a mix is obvious, too - the iconic Gimme Shelter



Folks of a certain age will identify very strongly with this song, but I just think it is a rock gem and pretty much sums up the stones for me. Let it Bleed, needless to say is my favorite RS album.

Then again maybe you're looking for something a bit more uplifting. How about this one? This song stands up against any Bob Dylan track you were hoping to throw onto that mix of yours.


If you're not familiar with the Stones' canon, you need to get in there and give them a listen. They aren't ageless superstars for nothing.

They Might Be Giants

Ah, the inestimable They Might Be Giants. I don't know a man, woman or child alive that hasn't enjoyed a lovely TMBG song or two over the years. As such it is difficult to find a good song to include on a mix that your friend may not have heard or enjoyed, no? Well, ladies and gentlemen you know I'm here to help. Here's a fantastic track from their 2007 release The Else:

Dirty Projectors

We keep things dirty for another day with a song from a couple of years ago, Two Doves by Dirty Projectors. I really like this song on its own merits, but it appears to riff pretty heavily on These Days by Nico, which of course is a classic.



The "riff" is one of my favorite things in modern music. Take Gillian Welch's track "Elvis Presley Blues" - which is about Elvis but also riffs on some of his lyrics from All Shook Up, Run On, etc. as part of the song.



If you make a mix for a big nerd, the riff makes a powerful statement.

Dirty Gold

Well, summer is on us, isn't it? This was a big deal late last year sometime but you really won't do better for a little summer trinket than this pop gem.



Throw it at the beginning or at least in the first half before things cool off or get too serious.

Fleet Foxes

Well, this one might be a bit obvious but I really do like these guys. Here's their first big single from a couple of years ago.



And my favorite track off the latest effort.



So what is there to say about Fleet Foxes? They create some expansive songs, that's for sure. As such they are fantastic playlist fodder, something to provide you something big to chew on in the late middle portion of your mix.

The Rosebuds

Here's a band that has a new album and tour approaching right now. I just picked up the new one so I don't know it well enough to suggest anything from it yet but I was happy to see them resurface as I really liked them so long ago when they released this song:



A similar track came an album or two later which I also find really enjoyable:



If you see them touring this summer or pick up their new record, I also urge you to dig deep into their back catalog for these gems. After all, what mix isn't improved by an old or obscure track thrown in 2/3 of the way through as a pleasant surprise?

Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi

A more modern bent than I'm usually on, but I really dig this track from Rome



This is a great second song if you're like me and like to open strong and then pull back a bit.

The Low Anthem

A sort of twee folk band in the grand hipster tradition these days, The Low Anthem mines folklore and old-time music to come up with interesting subject material and unique instrumentation. This is a pretty accessible piece from their canon, perfect as a sweet song to throw in near the end of a mix to let that special someone know you're not made of stone.



Oh, ok my bad you're pretty hip and probably heard that one. How about this one? Sally, Where'd You Get Your Liquor From is an old blues tune that has been done by more than one folk unit over the years, but the instrumentation on this version is unique, at least as far as I know.



I put this one on a mix last month, but in retrospect it might have been a bit too long and slow to really fit. It is a bit of a droner, probably best just before you pick the pace back up.

Thao & Mirah

'Little Cup' is my favorite song off the recent self-titled Thao & Mirah album.



Thao is Thao Nguyen, Mirah is Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn, both big on the indie scene in San Francisco in recent years. I find this song to be perfect mix tape fodder. The 'sickita' thing really snagged me immediately. It is rhythmic and driving while also being sort of ethereal. You could put it three songs in, as you're starting to cool down toward the middle of the playlist, or you could throw it in after a slow song as you are ramping things back up.

The Tallest Man on Earth

Covers are always a double-edged sword on a mix. This one sits firmly on the fence between 'fantastic' and 'too much' but the video is nice and i can't find a video of my favorite cover by this guy (Dylan's I Want You) so this one is the song we end up with. You might turn the volume down a tad, his voice is loud.

Tallest man on earth - These Days (Nico Cover) - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

There's a quality to this guy's voice that really kind of gets up in your face, which is why I really like songs that have a conversational point of view. I've thrown in a song by him toward the end of two mixes lately, as a sort of big lead up to the final track. Note that even though I have talked about covers here, his original stuff is pretty solid as well. Here's a good one called "you're going back" -