Guest Mixer - Evan Fox [KNESSET]

Time to drop some knowledge. (In no particular order.)

AUTOLUX - Turnstile Blues

SONIC YOUTH - Sunday

AMERICAN ANALOG SET - Hard to Find

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE - Cause=Time

MOGWAI - The Sun Smells Too Loud

DINOSAUR JR. - Almost Ready

GRANDADDY - Now It's On

SPARKLEHORSE - Sea of Teeth

MY BLODDY VALENTINE - Sometimes

KNESSET - Bitter Hearts

........Tones, Tempos, and Time Signatures = A Life Worth Living

G E T /// S P I R I T U A L

SO FRESH

This mix is SO FRESH. A bunch of tracks that give me that uncontrollable urge to just MOVE. SHAKE THAT ASS!

1. Daft Punk - Aerodynamic

Do I lose cool point for using such a recognizable song? Who cares. This is by far my favorite Daft Punk song and never ceases to get me PUMPED.

2. Telefon Tel Aviv - My Week Beats Your Year

This song is SoooOooOOoo FRESH. The title/chorus is probably the most bad ass thing you could say to someone ever.

3. Modeselektor (featuring TTC) - 2000007

French rapping over some sick ass beats. Dark as hell. LOVE IT.

4. Ratatat - Party & Bullshit (Biggie remix)

Such a great remix of an already great song. FUCK UP THE PARTY BEFORE IT EVEN START!

5. The Cool Kids - Bassment Party

Besides this being completely flawless, when are these boys coming out with another record? So eager to hear more from these super talented Chicago artists.

6. Mos Def (featuring Busta Rhymes) - Do It Now

Its great to hear busta doing some more contemporary tracks. Especially great because its on a killer Mos Def track.

7. Tobacco - Creepy Phone Calls

Side project of Black Moth Super Rainbow. If you haven't heard Tobacco's newest album, Maniac Meat, you are missing out. Infectious fuzzy beats that possess your whole body. So good.

8. Battles - IPT2

Short and sweet. Can't wait for their new record this June!

9. Bumps - Sniper Growl

Groove Shark link.

Sorry, I couldn't find a video. Bumps is a side project of the dudes in Tortoise. 3 drummers. Only percussion comprises the entire record. Some pretty sick beats are on their self titled, Sniper Growl being my favorite for its deep and dark vibe.

10. Earl Sweatshirt - EARL

This dude is 16. DIRTY AND DARK. the video is NSFW by the way. In fact, Earl is the kid who was grounded from Odd Future. Tyler, the Creator is getting a ton of the press lately, but Earl deserves just as much in my opinion. You can download the whole album at the Odd Future blog. If you can stomach the lyrics, you can't deny the skill for kids so young making their own beats and raps.

11. Major Lazer (featuring Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze) - Keep It Goin' Louder

Major Lazer - "Keep It Goin' Louder" from Downtown Music on Vimeo.

Eric Warheim directed this mind melter. Any track by Major Lazer will make one's ass involuntarily shake, but I just chose this one. A little B96ish I know, give me a break. It's just damn good, man.

12. Teriyaki Boyz - Kamikaze 108 (酉年　Mix)

I'm sorry. Its hilarious, but I also have fond memories of dancing like a nutcase to this song at house parties.

13. MF DOOM - Potholderz

HOT SHIT.

14. Savage - Swing

If your party is dead put this track on. If shit does not go down, your party is literally dead. Like... you are all fucking dead. not living. SWING!

15. Washed Out - Feel It All Around

Nothing better than this slow jam. A perfect wind down song to any night filled with sweat on the dance floor. Makes me feel like I am moving in slow motion.

Guest Mixer-Matt [The Blue Pages]

Hello all,

My name is Matt and I am a member of The Blue Pages based out of Brooklyn(still scary)NY.  We moved here in September from Boston to try and expand our base.  So far it's been interesting (a few bumps), and very successful! We released a new record called 'Anthropology' and you can grab it here! 

Okay enough shameless self promotion, onto the purpose of this post.  I call this mix Gray Clouds.  Sometimes when it's gray outside, I'm in the mood for slower and typically sad music.  Sure not everyone wants to hear sad music, but to me, it has a way of being uplifting.  It kick-starts my creativity and makes me connect to the mood mother nature dictates.  More importantly, in a world of top 40 recycled BS, it helps me remember that there are still beautiful, strong, and intelligent songs out there.  Here are a few that you know, and maybe some you don't.

1) Feist- 'Lonely Lonely'-the arrangement is for lack of a better word, Perfect.

2) Chet Baker-'the Thrill is gone'-the phrase gets me every time. He's known for trumpet, but man can he sing!

3) Basement Jaxx-'Stay Close'- The organ is so sick! "Stay close to me, don't go nowhere"

4) Cat Power-'I Found a reason'-Her version of the Velvet Underground song...so simple a very beautiful.

5) Adele-'First Love'- First time I ever really noticed a song about the acceptance of love lost...def not the first time it was written about, but she does it in a very direct way...I dunno, i like it.

6) Bon Iver-'Woods'-First song I ever heard from him.  So damn beautiful. This is how autotune should be used btdubs

7) As Tall as Lions-'Maybe I'm just tired' (acoustic version)-Harmonies are so pretty.

8) Antony and The Johnsons-'Another World'-The repetition of these phrases and the emotion behind his singing are so powerful.

9) Dntel-'Breakfast in Bed' (featuring Conor Oberst) The lyrics are great.

10) The National-'Sorrow' speechless.

11) Bjork-'All is Full of Love' This Version is the better one.  Her belting is insane and always amazing.

12) Kings of Conveience-'Cayman Islands' So so so so so so so so so beautiful...

Obviously I could go on and on, but this works for now.  Kudos to David from [What Laura Says] for the youtube suggestion.  It was super easy, although some of these might be cheesy...but who cares?!  Thanks for reading/listening, and I'll leave you with this!

13) The Blue Pages-'Keep Me Dreaming'-This was filmed by Donald Rasmussen.  He's looking to do more, so hit him up if you'd like!!

 

Guest Mixer - David [What Laura Says]

Greetings!

My name is David, and Mitch, depending on the day and other assorted variables of equally low importance, and I am a player in the music band what laura says. I was elated to get an invitation for this mix extravaganza (thanks Ashley!) since I absolutely crave making mixes for others to enjoy. Another special shout-out must be given here to all of the creativity and personality that has been displayed by my fellow scenesters, as well as to life and all of its funny ways… I’ve once again made a deadline by the skin of my teeth!

So anyone who is close to me knows that I am head-over-heels in man-love with Madlib. For one who has yet to be (knowingly) exposed to this LA-based musician-producer, his style and production is unique and second-to-none. Having produced for most all of hip-hop’s finest; Madlib also creates his own spastic fast-paced, ADD, sampled soundscapes. He moves from one groove to the next and sometimes only hanging on a hook for thirty seconds, only to blast you with another heavy beat before you realize what is going on. What I love most about him, though, is that his musical creations have added up over the years to a veritable audio encyclopedia of the hippest music in world history… something I strive to achieve in my music as well. Pick up any of his records – from the Beat Konducta series to Madvillain to Yesterdays New Quintet to Quasimoto and the new Madlib’s Medicine Show series – and you will see exactly what I mean. Hip-Hop, Brazilian, Rock, Bollywood, Jazz, Funk, Motown, Chanson, Reggae – if it's good, it’s most likely in there.

At times though, the music that Madlib presents in his mash-ups make such an imprint on my mind that I have to seek out the full song and production info in order to satisfy my curious mind. But due to his elusive nature, tracklists NEVER accompany his work. For this, and since the invention of Shazam, I am a happy person.

As of earlier this year, I have been enthralled by Madlib Medicine Show #10: Black Soul. The album is a freaky mix of late-70’s to early-80’s R&B, Disco, and Fonk… yes, fonk. Perhaps it’s a cerebral thing, as I am very much a child of the 80’s, but this music grabbed MY soul and made it heightened; not to mention it took my ass and set it in motion! I mean… DAMN!! It reached a point where I absolutely had to find out who the original composers of this music was, and how much of this new creation was them verses what The Beat Konducta had added. I was able to decipher enough tunes to create this mix, but there is so much more to mine with this, and all of Madlib's other work. Either way - this shit has shaped me.

As guest mixer, I am proud to present some of the most movin’ music that ever was… a slice of Black Soul, if you will:

Junie Morrison: Super Spirit

Central Line: You Know you can Do it

Mtume: Love Lock

Freedom: Dance Sing Along

Archie Bell & The Drells: Dont let love get you down

James D Hall: I Wanna Get Into You

Roy Ayers: Everybody

Ingram: We Like To Do It

Minority Band: Tasty Tune

One Way: I Didn’t Mean To Break Your Heart

Dynasty: Here I Am

Logg: I Know You Will

Don Blackman: Never Miss A Thing

Mutiny: The Ballad Of Capt'n Hymbad

I must also mention that in obtaining these tracks I found it so much easier to find exactly what I was looking for on YouTube rather than hunting down recordings... Kudos goes out to this forum of human collective consciousness. Not only is the lovely music presented here, albeit rather low quality audio, but the images that accompany give a visceral aspect to one's consumption.

CHECK THOSE STYLES!!

much love ~ d

Guest Mixer - George White [Recorded History]

Hello, music fans! I'm George. I make records. I also run a brand-spankin' new indie label here in Arizona called Recorded History (like us on Facebook, won't you?). Also, I play bass for Saddles (who, coincidentally, has a new EP out on iTunes, Amazon MP3, and Bandcamp). So, yeah, I'm pretty awesome.

I've noticed that some of the guest mixers have mentioned how they know Ashley, so I feel like I should disclose that I haven't yet had the pleasure. However, in perusing the blog, I did see that she included Five Iron Frenzy in one of her mixes. In high school, I had a different FIF shirt for every day of the week. So, that makes her A-ok in my book.

That brings me to my mix. It's much more chill than I intended. I meant to pay homage to my punk rock roots when I started poring over my iTunes library, but as I whittled down my initial 30-ish songs, just about anything with a distorted guitar ended up on the cutting room floor. I'm old. So, I guess that's the theme here.

My "I'm Old" Mix

Hope you all enjoy! Thanks!

Guest Mixer - Stan (Santah)

Hapsounds, March, 2011

Hello, I'm Stan from Santah. We're a band from Chicago. If you like these tunes, check us out at santahmusic.com. We're about to rerelease our first full length record, White Noise Bed. I named this mix after our van, Hap, because he did a very handsome job getting us to SXSW and back. Most of these songs are from records that we had in heavy rotation while driving. Others are songs we were privileged enough to see live. Enjoy.

"Taos" - Menomena

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrWxS8FM0mQ

We played the greatest house party ever in Omaha, NE. Only slightly less amazing then our set was when Vivian hijacked the DJ’s set afterwards. The highlight was this barnburner, when out of my blurry, headbanging peripheral, I saw all of Santah shaking it like blistered demons. Following our lead, the crowd threw down hard. So hard. So drunk. It’s worthwhile to note that Menomena was also in my top 3 at SXSW, just days earlier.

"Just A Growin" - Young Man

http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/young-man-concert/20031381-51555.html

This might have been my favorite concert of all of SXSW. I would check out this entire Daytrotter session if I were you.

"Downtown" - Destroyer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkB5Ba8SWxU

It’s easy to cruise into a random city with this song: “there was a four-leafed clover, red roveronhiswayovertoyourplace!

"Mermaid Parade" - Phosphorescent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8J1mK3jats

This is one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard. Our drummer Steve and I always love the stories in country songs because they take you places, and this song takes you to a shallow ocean where you drown in the perfect sunshine of a past love. “Oh Amanda”. It’s a jam, and every instrument simultaneously matches the dynamic of the vocal delivery. I think everyone connected with this one.

"I Get Nervous" - Lower Dens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEQl3vD0kco

What an anthem. The band soundchecked with this song a few times. It was fun sneering into the microphone with Vivian and doing a caricature of Jana’s voice.

"Cloudy Shoes" - Damien Jurado

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1t6m0WruMQ

We shared a bill with Damien for the second time at the Nicodemus Agency showcase at SXSW. He has a captivating voice, a candid delivery, and reminds us that cloudy days can be beautiful. Nicodemus knows how to book talented songwriters with cool D names (see Denison Witmer and David Dondero, too). They also know how to book a great tour. Thanks for everything, Nicodemus.

"Neighbors" - Now, Now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeRV_YDjYC8

Now, Now were our petite tour mates from Minneapolis. I picked this live video because the band appears actual size on the screen. They are an incredible band, but rummer Brad pretty much outshines the whole group (just kidding girlz).

"Be Brave" - Strange Boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hEQd-1XdIs

We’re brave.

"Codex" - Radiohead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cIbpokk4dc

Our favorite song from the new Radiohead record. The vocal melody at 1:16.

"I Don’t Wanna Go There" - Dinosaur Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qwWbVjKBR0&feature=related

Sometimes the only thing that can keep you driving is a “mind blowing” guitar solo from J Mascis. I was going to describe it more but according to this very youtube link “the solo can only be described as mind blowing”.

"Du Mal Á" and "Lato and Juti" - Kingston Springs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b7q6m9hAYo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoLBhDgbna0

When we picked up Vivian and Otto from a literal castle in Austin where they were partying, they had this CD in hand. Thank you for partying on animal furs, drinking ale, and ascending turrets, because this dude has a cool voice. Also, Colin Taylor and Erin Erdman got soul.

“Under Control” – The Strokes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gluGlVioNd8

I fulfilled a small dream of mine when I saw the Strokes at SXSW. For this song, Julian Casablancas and Nick Valensi peformed the first verse and chorus without the rest of the band, hightening anticipation for the song’s iconic drum fill (make sure to check out the real song if you are square: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT8gx5cgx4Q ). The concert ended with “Last Nite” and a fireworks display. I should have liked to bring a date, but Vivian was my date.

Twelve Songs From Twelve Albums To Which You Should Be Listening

Here are twelve songs from twelve albums that need to be in your music collection.

1. Grouplove “Colours” from Grouplove EP
I saw this band live last night in Salt Lake and they were amazing. I’ve loved this track since a radio friend first introduced me to the band in early February. The group has only been together about a year, and they are looking to have a big 2011 having signed to Atlantic and releasing their debut LP later this year. The currently have a self-titled EP available which features this song.



2. Foster the People “Helena Beat” from Foster The People EP
Another group that is looking to have a huge 2011, Foster the People was a buzz band last summer with their song “Pumped Up Kicks.” This band sounds like Passion Pit being remixed by MGMT, and it works really well. “Helena Beat” is the third track on their self-titled three-song EP, and is my personal favorite. They will be releasing their debut LP later this year, and the songs they performed here in Salt Lake definitely make me excited to hear their new music.



3. The Naked and Famous “Spank” from Passive Me, Aggressive You
The group released their debut LP in September last year. They had previously released two EPs, but their sound seems to have found its pace on Passive Me, Aggressive You as it is a more consistent release than either of their EPs (both of which are recommended). On this song the group is at their most aggressive with sharp synth layering over a pounding rhythm. The vocals of Alisa Zayalith are both soothing and alarming, and the dichotomy works with aplomb.



4. Gypsy & the Cat “Time To Wander” from Gilgamesh
I discovered this band while doing my “Countdown To Coachella” series of blog posts. The duo creates spacey, indie electro-pop that is both soothing and danceable. Their debut LP is full of great, catchy songs, but this one is definitely my favorite.



5. The Joy Formidable “Cradle” from The Big Roar
This band is starting to get some radio play with their song “Whirring,” and while that is a great song, and an accessible one, this is the real gem of the album. Lead singer and guitarist Ritzy Bryan’s voice is reminiscent of a pixie, but has surprising power. The Welsh group is currently touring the US, and I have only heard great things about their live show. I’m looking forward to seeing them here in Salt Lake on April 9th. They will also perform at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.



6. Duck Sauce “Barbara Streisand” from Barbra Streisand
This DJ and production duo is comprised of A-Trak and Armand Van Helden. They currently have an EP, Greatest Hits, available, and are expected to release a full album this year. This track samples Boney M and is an electro-house smash that has blown up in clubs all over the world.



7. The Rural Alberta Advantage “Barnes’ Yard” from Departing
This Canadian trio is not, surprisingly, from Alberta. They are actually from Toronto, Ontario. Their album is comprised of some great folk influenced indie rock, and this is one of their more up beat tracks, musically, though the lyrics are darker than the sound might indicate.



8. Fences “Girls With Accents” from Fences
This group from Seattle is the brainchild of singer/songwriter Christopher Mansfield. After getting a hold of their self-titled 2009 EP Sara Quin of Tegan & Sara produced and recorded the band’s debut LP, also self-titled. This song was brought to my attention by an old college friend in Seattle and it has seen consistent play in iTunes ever since. The self-loathing lyrics over a wispy synth line with charging rhythms makes for a great tune.



9. Young the Giant “My Body” from Young The Giant
I think just about everyone is in love with this song. It was a hit on alternative radio, peaking at #5 on that chart, and the California band has plenty more great songs on their album. If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, there’s still room. Here, I’ll help you up.



10. Cut Copy “Need You Now” from Zonoscope
This Australian band’s third album was a sonic leap forward for them. “Need You Now” is a new wave throwback track that could easily have been recorded by Duran Duran in the early 80s. The bass-heavy synth rhythms and the textural layering make for a fantastic track from one of the better indie electronic acts around today.



11. Does It Offend You, Yeah? “The Monkeys Are Coming” from Don't Say We Didn't Warn You
This high-energy song is a tune that one can’t help but smile while listening to it. When I first downloaded the song, on the mountain mid-way through a day of snowboarding, my friends and I listened to it on repeat the rest of the day. The band’s new album is quite good, too, with a few other party jams and some songs that are cutting a new path for the English dance punkers.



12. Art Brut “Axl Rose” from Brilliant! Tragic!
Teaming up with Frank Black yet again, Art Brut continues to bring a level of snark to indie rock not seen in many corners. “This world is fucked, and you’re an idiot” is the opening salvo lobbed by front man Eddie Argos. A positively fantastic tribute to the Guns ‘n Roses lead singer, this song gives “the world the finger” with the only exception being Argos’ “favorite lead singer.”



Need more music in your life? Find out what is in my ear at grantruby.com.