Millions of Sunsets: A Summer Mixtape

I have to admit that some other summer mixtapes on the web have inspired me, so some of the songs might be familiar if you read a lot of blogs. However, the overall compilation is put together by me. I tried to put songs that define summer both by content and by sound, so I hope it's agreeable. But who cares?! It's summer and you should listen to what makes you feel good! With that said, I hope you enjoy.

Millions of Sunsets: A Summer Mixtape


1. Summer - Modest Mouse buy

2. The Way We Get By - Spoon buy

3. Summertime - Coltrane Motion buy

4. Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes buy

5. The Summer Song - YACHT (ft. Claire L. Evans) buy

6. The Party - Justice buy

7. Hang Me Up to Dry - Cold War Kids buy

8. Nothing But You And Me - Yo La Tengo buy

9. Staring at the Sun - TV On the Radio buy

10. July, July - The Decemberists buy

11. Summer Baby - Pavement buy

12. Joggin Gorgeous Summer - Islands buy

13. Dance Music - The Mountain Goats buy

14. First Single - The Format buy

15. California Stars - Billy Bragg & Wilco buy

16. Canada - Peter & the Wolf buy

17. 1979 - Smashing Pumpkins buy

18. Dashboard - Modest Mouse buy


P.S. Yes, it's epic.

Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe

The said title is the new Okkervil River song from their upcoming The Stage Names. However, what I mean by upcoming is two months from now, so don't get too excited (I made that mistake). I first came upon the live version of this song, which I liked right off the bat. Like "Black" from Black Sheep Boy, the song manages to be big and upbeat while still maintaning the thickness of the angsty lyrics. Much of the rage stems from the lyrics and the vocal. If there is such thing as tone in singing then Will Sheff would probably win first place. I just downloaded the album version of this song today and was really disappointed by how different it sounds to the live version. For some reason, the distant effect they did on the drums lends an 80's feel to it and the energy that was so raw in the live version is diffused in the studio. However, I'll leave it up to you to decide. I posted both, let me know what you think.

The Stage Names will be released on August 7.

Okkervil River - Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe (live at the Bowery Ballroom)
Okkervil River - Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe