Monday Mixtape, Vol. 229

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I’m not sure where Washed Out (aka Ernest Greene) ranks in the pantheon of artists since 2000, but I have him in the Top 50, not as good as MGMT but in the same ballpark.

Washed Out has consistently released good albums for 15 years now, which is REALLY HARD TO DO. I’d give a similar compliment to MGMT although they’ve had more highs and lows. The highest compliment I can pay Washed Out is there is no one else out there who sounds like him because no one can perfect the rhythm and vibe of his chill shoegazey music.

AND GUESS WHAT? Washed Out just released a new album. I’m still digesting it, but I like it a lot, and while his sound generally stays in the same lane, there are enjoyable departures, like “The Hardest Part.”

I had to include my favorite Washed Out song, one of my favorite songs written in the past 15 years (maaaaybe Top 10??).

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 227

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This week’s mixtape is a banger. Let’s start with my favorite new band of the year: The Belair Lip Bombs.

They hail from Australia and that’s about as far as I’ve gotten on biographical information. All I need is the rock.

“Look the Part” is their best song, and their whole debut album is mesmerizing, easily in my top albums of the year.

They have the tenacity and intensity of Bloc Party, spastic sounds like Talking Heads while also giving some David Byrne-esque vocal deliveries, and nods to Bombay Bicycle Club (who also released a new album, the lead track which is on this mixtape!).

The band also shared this playlist, a MUCH more official way to understand the band’s influences than my biased ear:

Next, we have Claire Rosinkranz, one of my favorite pop artists since BENEE and Olivia Rodrigo. Her debut album is so catchy, and nothing exemplifies this better than “Wes Anderson,” arguably the catchiest chorus I’ve heard all year.

Speaking of catchy choruses, Biig Piig (not arguably, but truly, the worst artist name of the year), who I heard on a track by Kojacque, rules the airwaves with “This Is What I Meant.”

Another great indie rock band I’ve recently discovered is Karen Took The Kids. “Witch Hazel” is their best song, looking forward for more.

If you like Bon Iver, you’re gonna like Ilsey.

That is all for this week’s mixtape, have a good week and godspeed.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 226

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I wanted to write a OMG have you heard Olivia Rodrigo’s new album, but I may cover that in a separate post unrelated to the Monday Mixtape.

In the meantime, another OMG: Have you listened to Zach Bryan? This guy is taking the music world by storm with fearless and vulnerable songwriting, bellowing tunes many times with just him and his Gibson. He is inspiring me to write again.

Fear and Fridays (Poem)

I'd say I've seen some beautiful days, I've walked countless coastlines, awoken on mountain tops, I've seen death and birth and kissed good lips…
I have ridden in fear, although, I was afraid every single time.

I've learned that every waken moment is enough and excess never leads to better things, it only piles and piles on top of the things that are already abundantly in front of you like breathing and chasing and slow dancing and love making and fighting and laughing.

I am unhinged, unworthy, and distasteful to mostly everyone I meet, however I am loyal to a fault to anyone I find kindness in…

I do not and will not fear tomorrow because I feel as though today has been enough…

And I think fear and Fridays got an awful lot in common, they are overdone and glorified and always leave you wanting.

Tourniquet

You've been playing your guitar from arenas to the bars

Since you were old enough to rhyme a word

But your face is getting thinner

And you're praying for the winter

And I heard you fucked it up with her

I bandage up your body and your bones and your bad days too

Take care of the blood that your love runs through

I know all the damage that some days in this dark world does

You were laughing last evening at something I dreamed of

A bunch of other great tunes to get your week off to the right start. My guy Kojaque is back with “WOOF,” and I can’t wait for his new album.

If you don’t know Bibio, he’s a gem of a songwriter whose been writing good music for two decades now, and has always been under the radar. He’s worth your time!

Speaking of worth your time, I’m diggin’ these newbies, Great Big Cow, and Dana and Alden are a great jazz duo in the mold badbadnotgood.

Enjoy the week!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 225

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225 volumes should be some sort of celebration, a few balloons and whistles to lead in this week’s first track, “CABRA DRIVE”, by Kojaque. Damn, this song is tight, and I’m diggin the lingo. The transition into the bridge (starting around 1:30) is jaw dropping, and the move back out (2:04) is flawless. This dude’s due to blow up.

Kojaque is an Irishman hailing from Dublin, blending storytelling and style spanning soundscapes, resulting in music transcending the boundaries between the bars.

Nas released a new album, and although it’s nothing amazing, it’s still crazy to hear a rapper his age still killin’ it. Two tracks from Nasty this week! Jay Rock and Anderson Paak round out the rappers this week.

Post Malone dropped an album. His lyrics have always been boring and uninspired, but he knows how to sing a hit.

The Beaches, a band of female rockers, got me intrigued. I gotta look back on their previous couple albums and see if there’s any hubbub to intrigue further.

I’ll report back. Over and out.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 224

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A great set of tunes beginning with the one and only, Youth Lagoon.

Emerging from the depths of Boise, Idaho in 2010, Youth Lagoon is a band that encapsulates the essence of introspection and nostalgia. Helmed by the enigmatic Trevor Powers, Youth Lagoon weaves together intricate layers of electronic textures, emotive lyrics, and poignant melodies.

The first two tracks on this mixtape are the first two tracks from his first album in eight years. The album is haunting, beautiful, delicate, disturbing, catchy, challenging, and an album no one else makes. It’s phenomenal and is my #1 Album of the Year thus far.

Some other great tracks, including the Deftones-like bdrmm and a fantastic singer-songwriter, dv4d.

That last voice you hear is the lead singer from Fontaines DC’ solo album.