sum the greater mixtape #6 (10/25/09)
Hey all -
Apologies for the week off — been traveling around the country and getting sick and such. All is well now, though, and this week’s mixtape is ripe with new tunes for your every mood. Remember, email subscribers get the individual MP3s sent each week, so don’t forget to sign up at right.
As always, let me know what you like and dislike, and how Sum The Greater can better serve your music needs :)
<3 / ∑>
Music Go Music - “Thousand Crazy Nights”
Music Go Music’s Expressions has been on steady rotation in my iTunes for the last month. I still don’t really know what to make of them, but for the moment I’m just thoroughly enjoying each and every track. Listen to more (and watch some funky videos) on their MySpace.
The Very Best (Violens remix) - “Warm Heart Of Africa (ft. Ezra Koenig)”
The hottest band ever to come out of Malawi, The Very Best put together a pretty solid record, even (especially?) on tracks without Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig. New York’s Violens did this remix, which is my favorite among those floating around the webs. Violens themselves have some pretty rad tunes to check out on their MySpace.
Evan Voytas - “Give It Back”
I’ve posted a track from Evan before (and frankly, can’t get enough of his music), but this tune had fallen through the cracks til I got it off a friend’s mixtape. Now I can’t get it out of my head (my friend was thoroughly confused when I started singing “I just played a joke on you, a-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha” as we walked down the street previously in silence). Listen to more here, and do yourself a favor and buy more of his tunes.
Orba Squara - “The Trouble With Flying”
George Harrison would approve of Orba Squara’s melding of eastern and western structures and sounds. If you prefer your tunes set to pictures, they have a nifty time-lapse video for you.
Your Nature - “Triangle Eyes”
I posted another track from Brooklyn’s Your Nature a while back, but I haven’t gone a day since buying this EP a month ago without listening to it. Rumor has it, they’ve got a lot of labels chasing them, and I imagine they made a pretty big splash at CMJ. They bring psychedelic guitar rock without losing the pop, which is no small feat. Pick up their EP on Amie Street, where it’ll set you back all of $0.95 — best dollar you’ll spend all day.
Deastro - “Moondagger”
My friends had been big on Deastro for a while, but I admittedly only recently gave them(/him?) a shot. Great mix of sounds, from clean guitars and electronics to dirty bass, drums, and voice. Get 28 tracks free at RCRD LBL (how I first heard of them).
Yawn - “Toys”
I heard about Chicago’s Yawn from my friend and fellow San Franciscan over at Ears of the Beholder. They’re clearly very heavily influenced by Animal Collective, but they bring bongos and a guitar solo to the party, which I’m generally in favor of. Better yet, they’re giving away their EP free on their website.
When I Was 12 - “Explicit Content”
Hailing from Philadelphia, When I Was 12 are a tandem (Adrianne Gold and Dan Houwen) who write silly happy love songs, which happen to be among the catchiest ditties out there. They’re cutesy, but in that guilty-pleasure-that’s-really-not-that-guilty sort of way. Listen to more on their MySpace (and they’re looking for members!).
Mumford & Sons - “Little Lion Man”
More from these British swoon-rockers — with a bit more intensity this time, which gives them yet another opportunity to showcase their deep, rich harmonies. The record’s been doing quite well over in the UK — hopefully it will be out in the states soon. In the meantime, you can enjoy the video on YouTube.
Official Secrets Act - “Mainstream”
These Londoners sound like they could be the bitchinest band at a zombie prom. They’ve got the catchy choruses and hooky guitars, and that little bit of warble that makes their pop sound almost sinister. Check out more on their MySpace.
Cymbals Eat Guitars - “And The Hazy Sea”
This track is a little bit heavier than most we’ve covered on sum the greater, but you can’t ignore great songwriting. It’s the first track off their debut LP Why There Are Mountains, and it hints at the journey that is the rest of that record. The super-fans can pick up a signed print of the album cover and slap bracelets (!!!) from the band on their site.
Hotel St. George - “All The Rich Folks”
Maybe it’s that time of year, but this is the third track in a row on this mix that has something a bit haunting about it. At its heart, it’s just good ol’ fashioned punk-based rock, but the way the heavy guitars and bass articulate the notes gives the impression of zombies approaching a rich family at dinner (with a short tussle at the end). You can download this track on the sum the greater blog.
The Brothers Movement - “Sister”
These Dubliners aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but they’re giving the old one a pretty good spin. They embody all the best elements of all the British rock bands who came before them, as Oasis has been to all the bands before them, and The Stone Roses before them. Check out more tunes on their MySpace.
Brazos - “Day Glo”
Too much dark rock means a need for a happy mixtape respite. Austin’s Brazos (previously heard on Mixtape #3) delivers just that with this loving romp. Their debut LP comes out November 15th, and you can hear more great tunes on their BandCamp page.
The Dimes - “Celia’s Garden”
I can’t get enough of The Dimes. Portland’s finest (previously heard on mixtape #5) have a new record out soon, and there’s just something so soothing about it that makes me feel like I’m back in Wisconsin in the late fall, curled up by (or dancing around) a fire. You can pick up this track free on the sum the greater blog.
The Middle East - “Blood”
Queensland’s The Middle East have something inherently peaceful that I find quite endearing. They sound a bit like Bon Iver, but with a more traditional folk songwriting take. They’ve ever been gracious enough to give away this track through their website (where you can get their EP for only $1).
The Mountain Goats - “Samuel 15:23”
Often praised as one of the best songwriters of the last decade, John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats is also one of the most prolific, churning out an impressive 12 full-length records (to say nothing of countless EPs, cassettes, side projects, and the like) over the last 15 years. They’ve developed a large cult following, and have another new record out soon. You can pick up a few MP3s free from their website.
