Monday Mixer

Oh wow.  Where did summer go?  It’s almost mid-July…and what do I have to show for it?  I guess that summer class at community college and a backpacking trip to Europe is enough for now!  These tunes should be more than adequate to see you through the week, and hopefully, you’ll keep them in mind for much longer than that!

1. ”Devil Town” — Tony Lucca:

My family and I just finished watching the TV show Friday Night Lights (which definitely shouldn’t have been cancelled, by the way), and this song was played both in the first and last episodes.  Maybe it’ll make you reflect on your hometown or something like that.  Who knows?  I just know that this song makes me want to play high school football!

Listen Here:

2. “Flashing Lights” — Kids These Days

One of my mixtapes wouldn’t be complete without a track from Kids These Days.  They just infatuate me with their sound.  This track, which was released just a couple of weeks ago, is a re-imagination of Kanye West’s original track.  Add some of Nico Segal’s and J.P. Floyd’s horns on there, and you’ve got a pretty damn good song.  Don’t miss them for free at the Taste of Chicago on Thursday!

Listen Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q9HpkyePu0

3. “King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1” — Neutral Milk Hotel

I know that it’s a crime to pick only one of the three-part song that leads off In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, but this song is definitely one of my favorites.  I just dig that acoustic guitar too much.  Jeff Mangum’s voice doesn’t hurt, either!

Listen Here:

4. “Glenn Tipton” — Sun Kil Moon

Never mind that the only words I can understand from this song are “Cassius Clay”, this song is just so relaxed and full of energy all at the same time.  Sure, I can’t understand a word that Mark Kozelek mumbles, but I’m not even mad about it because everything else about it is so perfect.

Listen Here:

5. “The Wonder Years” — The O’My’s (Featuring Nico Segal and Chance the Rapper)

This is a new jazzy blend coming out of Chicago.  If you want any info on Chance the Rapper, just look at previous Monday Mixers.  The O’My’s on the other hand, are making their first appearance on the Mixer.  This jazz-soul-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink group has some of the most interesting sounds I have heard in a long time.  The fact that they can blend this type of music with rap is especially intriguing.

Listen Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NWGjH25_BY

6. “Die Die Die” — The Avett Brothers

This may sound ignorant, and for that I apologize, but are the Avett Brothers really brothers?  Either way, they make some good tunes.  This song, off of their 2007 release Emotionalism, is an upbeat journey with some contemplative lyrics.  Supposedly they have a new album on the way…and I can’t wait to hear it.

Listen Here:

7. “Lose You” — Pete Yorn

Music For The Morning After doesn’t have a single bad track.  That’s the truth.  It’s a bold statement, but I’m confident that if you look it up and listen to it, you won’t be disappointed.  This is one of my favorites, though it was hard to pick only one.

Listen Here:

8. “Bixby Canyon Bridge” — Death Cab for Cutie

This song has a very Northern-California-esque vibe to it.  I’m not sure why it does, but it definitely does.  On a side note, you can see Death Cab for free on Thursday, July 12th in Millenium Park.  I’m going to be there, and I’m not sure why you wouldn’t want to be.

Listen Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4St1fiq2F8I

9. “All of This” — The Naked And Famous

This song goes through so many stages…from calm and almost talking at the beginning to an up-beat, dancetastic middle and end.  This band was on my top 5 of the ones that I saw at Lolla last year, and I hope to see more releases in the future!

Listen Here:

10. “MCA Tribute” — Coldplay:

We will all miss MCA, and the Beastie Boys as a whole.  At their show in California immediately following his death, Chris Martin and Co. put on one of the most emotional and artful covers of a Beastie Boys song I have ever heard.  Rest in peace, Adam Yauch.

Listen Here:

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