Monday Mixtape, Vol. 214

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Remi Wolf bursts out into this week’s mixtape with panache, rhythm, and some choice words for the ladies,

All these little bitches telling me what to do
They really gettin’ me hot
I got a bone to pick
Ain’t got a bone to lick

Her flow is phenomenal. She rides the rhythm in every direction and controls the whole song vocally. This was recorded live and is a testament to her talent. I wrote about her many months ago on her track “Disco Man,” another track to check out.

My recent obsession goes by the name of The Backseat Lovers. The vocals remind me of a mix between Bombay Bicycle Club and The Kooks. Other sonic influences I hear include Bloc Party, lots of Kings of Leon (mainly the guitars, that little riff that starts “Kilby Girl” as well as the reverb in the background), Two Door Cinema Club (the quick transition made to clean guitars at 3:03 and the soaring riff that follows is exactly like TDCC’s “What You Know”) .

Speaking of TDCC, they released a new album! I’ll note again that the last live show I saw of them a year ago was really, really good, like knocked-my-socks-off good. The kids are professionals now. I gotta listen to the album more, it kinda feels like it’ll grow on me over time like their last album.

I love their smidges of silence, and the use of quiet to contrast their loudness, and they do this well on their more introspective tracks (check their 2019 major label debut for more).

Julia Jacklin just released her highly anticipated new album, and I think this is the best track.

Extra points if you recognize the voice on the Amtrac song :)

Beabadoobee is awesome. Really awesome. Her album this year is so damn good. Gotta be Top 10 this year.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 211

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I can’t say I’ve fully digested Arcade Fire’s new album, but the first two tracks resonate. These first two tracks, which are the first two tracks on this week’s mixtape, are in two parts, flow like one track, sound like four acts. Their transitions (listen at 3:15 and 1:21 of “Age of Anxiety I” and “II,” respectively, and Win Butler’s topical lyrics, have always been reasons I’ve followed Arcade Fire for so many years.

His lyrics to start “Age of Anxiety I”:

It's the age of doubt
And I doubt we’ll figure it out
Is it you or is it me?
The age of anxiety
(Are you talking to me?)

Fight the fever with TV
In the age where nobody sleeps
And the pills do nothing for me
In the age of anxiety

Speaking of good lyricists, Julien Baker has made quite a name for herself on the indie scene for her songwriting. “Guthrie” is one of her most recent tracks, another sad beauty, the songs she may be best at. Here are the verses she starts and then ends the song on:

I only say
What I really mean
When I start talking
To you in my sleep
Oh, I can be honest
When I think it's a dream
I can make promises
Sober I'll never keep


Oh, I miss when I was certain
About every little thing
So scared of forgetting that I put it down in ink
Used to call upon the Spirit, now I think Heaven lets it ring
Wanted so bad to be good
But there's no such thing

Ethel Cain, at her worst, sounds like a wannabe Lana Del Rey, and at her best, sounds like she does on “American Teenager.”

Flipturn and Julia Jacklin grace this week’s mixtape along with Orville Peck.

Have a good week!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 179

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A few notable musical events this past week:

  • Kings of Leon released their eighth album. While after a listen, I thought maybe this one is a mellow release, but no, it’s a snoozer. Caleb Followill is STILL PLAYING THE SAME GUITAR WITH THE SAME TONE AND THE SAME BAR CHORDS THAT HE’S BEEN PLAYING SINCE Only By the Night. WTF.

    • "The Bandit” is a totally regurgitated track in almost every sense and instrument from previous outings, but I can’t deny that chorus.

    • KOL used to be one of my favorite bands. Their first three albums still kick ass and sounded nothing like I had heard before. I will always love those albums (and really, their two albums after that are pretty good too.)

  • Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak created a supergroup, Silk Sonic, and all that can be said is DEAR GOD YES.

  • M.A.G.S. gives me indie rock Frank Ocean vibes. Really interested in this artist.

  • The bass line on the first track, “Slowly” by the young Irish band, NewDad, is a heaping of 90s grunge and a dash of shoegaze. Some Nirvana with a bit Pixies and a smidge of DIIV. Good stuff.

  • I can’t hate on Post Malone. I’ve been giving this guy love since 2015 when I had “White Iverson” on Monday Mixtape, Vol. 15! And when he covers Hootie for a Pokemon movie, I mean come on, let’s all just enjoy it.

  • I don’t know who she is, but Julia Jacklin is pretty badass.