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

Amidst Chaos, an Oasis

How very thrilled was I to have opened a package with this:

That is the cover art (a William Eggleston piece) of Joanna Newsom & the Ys Street Band EP. The EP is recorded one night when Joanna and her band sat down and played a short-live set. It's quite remarkable for how fast and candid they recorded the songs. Three songs: "Colleen," "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie," and "Cosmia." Any coincidence with the C's? "Colleen" is the most polished I've heard of Newsom, it follows the same songwriting structure of her previous songs, but the use of multiple string instruments (banjo, harp, guitar) makes for a very theatrical melody. My favorite, however, is her reinterpretation of "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie," her voice is softer, more resonant, and the vocal harmony and slower tempo refines it as an unforgettable ballad, reminiscent of the best Simon & Garfunkel songs.

Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie - Joanna Newsom & the Ys Street Band

Introducing PEEL

Peel is not so new, after all, they've been a band for about three years, but their recently released self-titled LP is their first and like any first LPs, it is full of unyielding energy like the pop of a cork coming out of the bottle. The first song from the record "Oxford" really grabbed my attention, it shouts "listen to me, I'm about to be huge." They started with the line: "If I had my way I'd demolish every building of rock polished to shine so bright like headlights in the daytime." If that is not an assertion, I don't know what is.

In that same attitude, their music continues to be. Soundwise, they are every bit poppy, full of the sunny elements commonly found in your average Elephant 6 band. With that said, what makes Peel truly appealing is their ability to take a pop song and make it all sorts of disorganized. Only when the sweet chorus comes, do the cymbals crash to distort everything; guitar parts, horns, and synths whooze in and out, deconstructing the very bare bone they are suppose to support. It sounds exactly like five people who all have great instincts in songwriting working together, but also, throwing cautions to the wind and having a good time. Overall, a very exciting debut and a classic already.

Peel - Oxford

Testing, Testing

I will spare you the words. This is a test upload.

The Blow - Parentheses



Thank you.

If I Can Keep a Major Longer Than this Blog

As a newly Mathematics-major-turned-English-major, I have full energy and faith for this blog. I want it to flourish, blossom, and inspire people to listen to new sounds and embrace present ones. As much as this is good for my writing skills, it's mostly a pet project of mine-- something that comes from the heart, a deepest love for music.