Oct 31, 2009

The Mixtape 11-6-09

Yes. It's been nearly two months. Computer issues, illness, and work all played a part in the unplanned hiatus of The Mixtape. Mostly the computer thing. But just like Jon Gosselin and swine flu, we won't go away. It's been far too long. Let's get to the music.

The last time The Mixtape appeared, Arctic Monkeys were spending their eighth week on top with “Crying Lightning.” Truth be told, had we been cranking out a new ‘tape for the past six weeks, “Crying Lightning” would have remained on top…until this week.

Julian Casablancas, lead singer of the “what in the hell ever happened to” band of the last decade The Strokes, has a solo album and a quick ascent to the top with Phrazes for the Young’s first single, “11th Dimension.” The first week on the chart is the first week at number one for Mr. Casablancas’ entry into the resurgence of synth-driven rock that is more than merely dotting our landscape these days.

Reflective of the downtime we’ve experienced, there are twelve other new entries that, despite not being as high-charting and high-profile as “11th Dimension,” are indeed noteworthy. Rock is well repped in the debuting dozen; Surf City and Spiral Stairs deliver it pretty straight-forward, the Flaming Lips bring their spaced-out uniqueness to the table (with MGMT backing them up), and Frightened Rabbit do what they do best – sing of desperate souls and vivid imagery filtered through a Scottish accent and Scott Hutchinson’s poetic leanings. Atlas Sound…well, no one does indie/bedroom rock quite like Bradford Cox.

Big Boi, one half of the artist formerly known as Outkast, brings Gucci Mane along for the ride on "Shine Blockas" and joins Jay Z, Mos Def, The Roots, Drake, and Gucci Mane himself in reppin' hip-hop and rap on this week's 'Tape.

Hip hop is not the only genre aside from rock spending time in our ears. The last six weeks have brought an influx of dance music into the, errr... mix, and this is played out with new entries from LCD Soundsystem, Matias Aguayo, YACHT, and Peaches.

The 13 new entries this week look to be joined by Girls, Them Crooked Vultures, Tegan & Sara, and Death Cab for Cutie amongst others as the refreshing of The Mixtape continues. Six weeks is a long time and there is just too much good new music fighting for earspace. It's good to be back and back on Fridays.


  1. 11th Dimension / Julian Casablancas (NEW) (1week @ 1) iTunes MySpace
  2. Crying Lightning / Arctic Monkeys iTunes MySpace
  3. Deadbeat Summer / Neon Indian iTunes MySpace
  4. Life In Marvelous Times / Mos Def iTunes MySpace
  5. Walkabout / Atlas Sound iTunes MySpace
  6. You're a Target / No Age iTunes MySpace
  7. Cool Jumper / Wavves iTunes MySpace
  8. Dance Little Liar/ Arctic Monkeys iTunes MySpace
  9. At the Bottom/ Brand New iTunes MySpace
  10. Got Nuffin' / Spoon iTunes MySpace
  11. Empire State of Mind / Jay-Z (ft. Alicia Keys) iTunes MySpace
  12. Be My Girl / Smith Westerns iTunes MySpace
  13. Bye Bye Bayou / LCD Soundsystem (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  14. Forever / Drake (w/ Kanye, Lil Wayne & Eminem) iTunes MySpace
  15. How I Got Over / The Roots iTunes MySpace
  16. Casa Bey / Mos Def iTunes MySpace
  17. Summertime Clothes / Animal Collective iTunes MySpace
  18. Seasun / Delorean iTunes MySpace
  19. Two Weeks / Grizzly Bear iTunes MySpace
  20. Cheat On Me / The Cribs iTunes MySpace
  21. Stillness Is the Move / Dirty Projectors iTunes MySpace
  22. My Sweet Lord / Yim Yames iTunes MySpace
  23. Uprising / Muse iTunes MySpace
  24. Swim Until You Can't See Land / Frightened Rabbit (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  25. Flowers / Flight iTunes MySpace
  26. Sun Was High (So Was I) / Best Coast iTunes MySpace
  27. Quick Canal / Atlas Sound (ft./ Laetitia Sadier) (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  28. Shine Blockas / Big Boi (w/ Gucci Mane) (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  29. Rollerskate / Matias Aguayo (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  30. The Ruminant Band / The Fruit Bats iTunes MySpace
  31. Action/Reaction / Choir of Young Believers iTunes MySpace
  32. Something in Common / Free Energy (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  33. Mud/ Peaches (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  34. Summer Song / Yacht (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  35. Madagascar/ Lake iTunes MySpace
  36. Overboard/ Gucci Mane iTunes MySpace
  37. All Yr Songs / Diamond Rings (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  38. Worm Mountain / Flaming Lips (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  39. True Love / Spiral Stairs (NEW) iTunes MySpace
  40. Autumn / Surf City (NEW) iTunes MySpace
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