Aug 5, 2009

The Mixtape 8/5/09: Four For Flying

Major movement. That's the theme for this version of The Mixtape. After seven new songs made their way on board last week's 'Tape, it was pretty much implied that some of the tunes would be climbing upward this week. What wasn't implied was how many (four) would make such huge leaps this week, let alone, who would make the biggest. Funny what can happen when songs marinate in your head for a week.

The Roots' "How I Got Over" was a given to make a decent move. After all, it's The Roots. ?uestlove, Black Thought, and the rest of the Roots crew bust into the top ten in their second week on, landing at #9 after debuting at #27 last week. Not too shabby, but not the biggest move this week either.

At first listen, The Noisettes seemed like another act hitching on the Mark Ronson/ Amy Winehouse aesthete that has spawned a movement the last couple years. "Never Forget You" is not just another soulful song with a Sixties throwback approach though. Shingai Shoniwa's vocals have the soul all right, but they also have a personality about them. Enough personality to help the song split the distance from it's #34 debut last week by jumping up to #17.

Bradford Cox employs Jack White's work ethic. Cox leads Deerhunter - last year's Microcastle and "Nothing Ever Happened" were both in the top 5 of The Mixtape's Best Albums and Singles of 2008 respectively - and also cranks out Atlas Sound albums and EPs like the dude is hooked up to a Red Bull drip. Based on Atlas Sound's 2008 album, Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel, there might have been a bit of morphine coming through the IV line as well. Atlas Sound's next album, Logos, is set for release on Oct. 20, 2009. First single, "Walkabout," which features vocals from Animal Collective's Noah Lennox, goes light on the morphine and heavy on the Sunny D. The song is as accessible as anything Atlas Sound has released and Lennox's (aka Panda Bear) influence is all over the track's layered vocals and free floating vibe. Last week's quiet debut at #35 is this week's loud leap to #15. See you in the top ten soon boys.

Finally, the biggest jump of the week. From a band that isn't even on iTunes yet. Yet. Neon Indian's "Deadbeat Summer" goes batshit crazy, jumping 27 spots from #39 to #12. The song feels old and new; poppy and indie at the same time. Synths rule the terrain, but it's Alan Palomo's vocals and melodies that sell the song. Best listened to while sitting on a beat-up couch on the front porch, staring at the sun and sippin' on the syzzurp of summer. Drink it in people. It goes down real smooth. Even on the 20th listen.

As for next week's potential big movers, the bottom five of this week's Mixtape is where the new entries live this week. Debuts from Port O'Brien (36), Metric (37), and Muse (39) represent the Mixtape vets. There is also a new entry from first-time 'Tapers, Internet Forever (40). And some guy named Julian Plenti (38) who is better known as Interpol lead-singer, Paul Banks. So that secret's out. See y'all next humpday.
  1. Cryin' Lightning / Arctic Monkeys (3 weeks @ #1) iTunes MySpace
  2. Life In Marvelous Times / Mos Def iTunes MySpace
  3. Summertime Clothes / Animal Collective iTunes MySpace
  4. Easy / Deer Tick iTunes MySpace
  5. Stillness Is the Move / Dirty Projectors iTunes MySpace
  6. Casa Bey / Mos Def iTunes MySpace
  7. Two Weeks / Grizzly Bear iTunes MySpace
  8. How I Got Over / The Roots iTunes MySpace
  9. Bull Black Nova / Wilco iTunes MySpace
  10. Got Nuffin' / Spoon iTunes MySpace
  11. It's Nice to Know You Work Alone / Silversun Pickups iTunes MySpace
  12. Deadbeat Summer / Neon Indian iTunes MySpace
  13. Catch and Release / Silversun Pickups iTunes MySpace
  14. The End Is Near / The Fiery Furnaces iTunes MySpace
  15. Walkabout / Atlas Sound iTunes MySpace
  16. Temecula Sunrise / Dirty Projectors iTunes MySpace
  17. Never Forget You / The Noisettes iTunes MySpace
  18. Upside Down / Banjo or Freakout iTunes MySpace
  19. Lost Words / Ganglians iTunes MySpace
  20. Song For No One / Miike Snow iTunes MySpace
  21. You'll Disappear / The Phenomenal Handclap Band iTunes MySpace
  22. My Unusual Friend / Fruit Bats iTunes MySpace
  23. I Can't Get Away / Stardeath & White Dwarfs iTunes MySpace
  24. 21st Century Breakdown/ Green Day iTunes MySpace
  25. Radio Kaliningrad / Handsome Furs iTunes MySpace
  26. Caterpillar Playground / Nurses iTunes MySpace
  27. Seasun / Delorean iTunes MySpace
  28. Murder City / Green Day iTunes MySpace
  29. Chosen Armies / Children Collide iTunes MySpace
  30. Skeletons / Yeah Yeah Yeahs iTunes MySpace
  31. Feel Like Taking You Home / Brendan Benson iTunes MySpace
  32. You Never Know/ Wilco iTunes MySpace
  33. Sun Was High (So Was I) / Best Coast iTunes MySpace
  34. Silver Trembling Hands / The Flaming Lips iTunes MySpace
  35. L.A. Guitar Dream / Spanish Prisoners iTunes MySpace
  36. Sour Milk, Salt Water / Port O'Brien (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  37. Gold Girls Guns / Metric (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  38. Games For Days / Julian Plenti (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  39. Uprising / Muse (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  40. Break Bones / Internet Forever (NEW) iTunes MySpace

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