Monday Mixtape, Vol. 219

Hello! I’m still running through a backlog of songs I’ve liked in the past couple months to add to the mixtape. Ton of great stuff this week, and starting the good vibes is Leland with an assist from pop trio, Muna, in a catchy, St. Lucia / Penguin Prison -like jam.

If you haven’t heard of Royel Otis yet, you will. These guys will be big.

Etta Marcus’ “Crown” reminds me a ton of Radiohead’s“Jigsaw Falling Into Place.” She’s got some mystique and rebelliousness in her voice, I’m intrigued to hear more of her stuff.

Bayonne is coming out with a new album, and I’m stoked. No one sounds like these guys, and their music blends in with the atmosphere. Maybe I’d say they have an earthy sound.

Arlo Parks is following up her fantastic debut with this single, “Weightless,” and it’s more layered and electronic yet keeping a head bopping beat. Look forward to a new album.

Young Fathers, those weirdos from the UK, made a new, maybe less weird, album that is worth a listen to get outside of your comfort zone. “Rice” is the most accessible track so see what you think.

Turnover is a cool band I just fell upon, and I love the rhythm to their tracks.

Kota the Friend has been putting out great rap music for a while now.

Finally, Blondshell with the 90s grunge sound. Looking forward to her new album.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 102

Happy Monday all! And apologies to all, I haven't posted for at least three weeks, so I'm sorry for my absence because there has been a TON OF MUSIC released in the past month or so. There's been so much music to camp to that I have musical ammo for many weeks :)

Let's start with Shakey Graves. I can't get his new album out of my head, one I keep coming back to. It's atmospheric, it's raw, it's rock, it's its own animal. But it's not for everyone. I'll post a few of my other favorite tracks in the next couple weeks. 

Childish Gambino's "This Is America" is the topic du jour, a piece that's generated a ton of publicity and analysis and misinterpreted by god knows how many people already. The video is one of the best music videos I can remember (cue the Grammy music for Single of the Year and Video of the Year), an intentionally uncomfortable and symbolic video of the representation of Gambino's  America.    

Speaking of lyrically poignant rappers, Wale released his second EP this year, both of which I've thoroughly enjoyed. This recent one's got a more political lean, particularly "Salary Kaep," but Wale's flow has improved dramatically over his (now) long career as evidenced best by "Negotiations."

LOVE the new Leon Bridges album. It's a bit more pop and dancey than his debut album which was too much exactly like the Sam Cooke / Marvin Gaye sound. "Shy" is easily my favorite song on the album.

A few other notes: Janelle Monae has made her best album, Young Fathers continue to get the award for weirdest yet interesting band, and DJ Koze with the feature from one of the dudes from Arrested Development (the band - not the show)!

Enjoy the week. 

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 100!

We did it!! 100 Monday Mixtapes! All I can say is I'm happy I got Layers & Sounds to this point. I initially started this blog in the hopes that I could share my musical tastes and potentially become somewhat of a quasi popular music blogger whose range of musical tastes brought all sorts of different people to the fray. I knew that was always a stretch, but I did get a press pass to a My Morning Jacket show and almost got Michael Rapaport to tweet links to my playlists of my Best of Jay-Z and Best of Nas to see which playlist was better. Rapaport couldn’t figure Spotify out at that point so it all fell through :( We’ll always have the laughs  

But I started this blog as Spotify and all the other streaming giants began to really gain steam, and it seemed like humble blogs became irrelevant because Spotify and others would recommend music to listen to (and TBH Discover is a pretty cool playlist!).

Nonetheless, I kept writing and sharing stuff because it helped me keep my creative mind alive while I slaved away at a job that was very stressful and not exactly creative. A few blog posts got a lot of views for some weird reason: An Intervention for...The Weeknd maybe the most so because I wrote about "I Can't Feel My Face" before it became a huge hit so my SEO came up on a lot of people's searches (or something like that.)

Of the hundreds and hundreds of poems I've written, I've shared about five of them since those are the only ones I think are worth a damn. I'm proud of them and glad I was able to find an outlet to say those things.

I wish I wrote more stream of conscious musings on books I’ve read since I ultimately forget so much of what I liked in books. I only have two books on my blog but better than none, I suppose.

I shared photographs and other things, it's all been an adventure and great to look back on as I hit this numerical milestone since Layers & Sounds started three years ago.

(We won’t talk about the fashion blog. A bit misguided but still glad I tried).

Anyways, here's some more music, my 100th Mixtape, god knows if I'll be able to do another 100 of these, but I can promise you the music will always be playing. 

Cheers!  

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 3

If Joywave's "Tongues" doesn't at least wake you up from your Monday stupor, then I suggest downing at least four more 5 hour energies. But seriously, don't do that. 

Now that Joywave has enlivened you, may I provide the White Denim fans out there with a track from lead singer James Petralli's solo project? (If you don't know White Denim and are into slightly southern rock with a dash of jammyness (NO idea how to spell that but I am certain it's not a word - or is it jamminess? That actually looks better), listen to their album D). The piano that starts "Dani's Blues" sounds straight from a dueling piano bar.

Now that you've woken up, it's time to get a little weird. I have no idea how to describe "Rain or Shine" by Young Fathers. Is it, like, sort of rap? Is it, like, sort of not? Whatever it is, it's totally their own, and I respect the hell out of that. The start SHOULD make you start bopping your head. If not, time for another 5 Hour Energy. 

Love the guitar work on "Sequence," especially at the 2:18 mark as the guitarist rides (what my amateur ears hears) six chords up the fretboard then back down one. 

Anytime Alex Turner (one of my favorite songwriters, lyricists, and lead singer/guitarist to one of my favorite bands, Arctic Monkeys - while we're here, check out my Best Of for them!) is a guest on a track, I will listen. Mini Mansions is actually another solo project, this time from the bassist of Queens of the Stone Age. I'm putting two and two together here: Josh Homme, also of Queens of the Stone Age, produced Arctic Monkey's third album, Suck It and See, so I'm guessing Alex Turner had a favor to return? Or they're just good buds, who knows. 

I hate to say it, but the recent Death Cab for Cutie album just isn't very good and feels pretty uninspired, which is crazy because Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deschanel got divorced before this record was made. Doesn't heartbreak bleed creativity? Though I should also point out that guitarist Chris Walla left the band too. Sometimes when an integral guitarist (Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante is the best example I can think of off the top of my head) leaves, the band is never the same. That being said, I still think "Ingenue" is a classic Death Cab song. Hope you agree.