The Mixtape 8/7/18: Six weeks at #1 for "Heat Wave" by Snail Mail

By the thinnest of margins, Snail Mail keeps the top spot after a solid week of "Scorpio Rising" more-or-less owning my headphones. Soccer Mommy made the jump from 6 to 2, but couldn't quite dislodge the juggernaut that is Lindsey Jordan and Snail Mail, who again has two songs in the top five. Those two beautiful female voices are what's defining summer 2018 for me, but they're far from the only ladies in my ears.

This summer has given me everything from Beyonce (EVERYTHING IS LOVE by The Carters is the gift that keeps on giving), Beach House, and Courtney Barnett - each a completely different genre and vibe - to a glut of straight up ass-kicking rock: Camp Cope, THICK, Gurr, illuminati hotties, Blushh, Hop Along, electric citizen, Screaming Females, Muncie Girls...the list goes on. So many different and interesting vocal shades and styles, each rocking in their uniquely awesome way. Unfortunately, I'd bet against most of them ever tasting mainstream stardom and, for that, I question the mainstream's taste. I usually do, Beyonce excepted. Cuz Beyonce.

All good things must come to an.

This is the week where the trio of songs that first appeared on The Mixtape back in January finally take their bow, never to be seen again...until I reveal my top 100 of 2018 sometime in December. Given their longevity on the 'tape, as well as how many times I've listened to each, it's safe to say we will see those three January jams (How Simple – Hop Along, All This Useless Energy – Jeff Rosenstock, and Baby I'm Bleeding – Jpegmafia) sitting high come year's end.

Goodbye

Hasta la vista to a bunch of songs that had been regulars on the list for the last several months:

Alcohol – FIDLAR
How Simple – Hop Along
All This Useless Energy – Jeff Rosenstock
Baby I'm Bleeding – Jpegmafia

Four Out Of Five – Arctic Monkeys

and a few that weren't:

Best Hugs – DRAM
Hide It in the Night – electric citizen
Meteorological – Guerilla Toss

Hello

It's a 'spring cleaning' kind of weeks where new replaces the familiar, but this week we get a couple of returns with the new in the form of new Robyn and Neneh Cherry (where you been hiding out in your Buffalo Stance?!?) tracks. Also, Death Cab for Cutie keep serving up pretty dang good lead singles while a couple of collabos enter at the bottom, but bring with them much intrigue.

28) Grow into a Ghost – Swearin'
30) Autumn Love – Death Cab for Cutie
34) Missing U – Robyn
35) Hope You're Happy – Baked
37) Kong – Neneh Cherry
38) What's the Use? – Mac Miller
39) #NeverUseTheInternetAgain – Homeboy Sandman, Edan
40) Hoodrich Disco – Rome Fortune, Toro y Moi

Will all this 'new' hang around long, or will it make way for newer new in the form of these four songs that have been creepin' on my radar the past couple days:

Bruce Banner – Mick Jenkins
Rank & File – Moses Sumney
Complicated – Mura Masa, Nao
Soft Stud – Black Belt Eagle Scout