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

10FTW - The early days of Grunge

As Stereogum reported, Grunge unofficially turned 30 yesterday with the anniversary of the first Sub-Pop Mudhoney single, "Touch Me, I'm Sick." Yesterday was also the 37th (?!?!?!) birthday of the channel formerly known as Music Television, MTV. I'm thankful to have experienced it during it's prime, when it showcased music videos, music-related news, concerts...you know, MUSIC. Before I go off on a 'back in my day' rant, I'll just drop this line of discussion right here. Right now. Back to grunge.

The Mixtape 7/31/18: Five weeks at #1 for "Heat Wave" by Snail Mail

If anything, July has been consistent. For each of the five Mixtape Tuesdays that occured during the first month of 2018's backside, the top two have been #1) Heat Wave / Snail Mail and #2) How to Socialise & Make Friends / Camp Cope. The # 3 slot was held down either by one of two different KIDS SEE GHOST songs or, for the past three weeks, Vic Mensa and G-Eazy's "Reverse."

The Mixtape 7/24/18: Snail Mail, Camp Cope, Vic Mensa (again)

It's the same top three as last week, but there's plenty of action elsewhere on this week's Mixtape.

Snail Mail sits comfortably on top for a fourth week with Heat Wave while another track from their album-of-the-year contender Hush, Full Control, climbs from 16 to 8.

My Five Favorite Things This Past Week

A Chance Return

Chance dropped four new songs this past Thursday and they're all really different, but all really good. The aptly named I Might Need Security is my standout. Chicago's prodigal son is back with a bang, announcing his purchase of city culture catch-all blog, The Chicagoist and calling out the Windy City's Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, all with a sped-up, pitch-shifted Jamie Foxx hook that I dare you to unhear.  Chance is an advocate for Chicago and for its people and it's great to see him back with a fire in his belly.

The Mixtape 7/17/18: Snail Mail, Camp Cope, Vic Mensa

The Heat Wave continues at the top as Lindsey Jordan aka Snail Mail continues her dominance. The top 10 looks a bit different with all things Kanye finally falling out to make room for a few big movers, namely:

Movin' On Up

Bleeding / Thick (10-6)
Fuck Yo Club / 'Lgado, Valee (13-7)
Hot Pink / Let's Eat Grandma (14-8)

The Mixtape 7/10/18: Snail Mail, Camp Cope, Kids See Ghosts

The Summer slowdown is in effect.

This past New Music Friday was the first one that I can remember this year where there wasn't anything that excited me. No new albums. No new singles. Nada.

The Kanye effect is similarly slowing down. Instead of being on three of the top five tracks as he has been the past few weeks, Kanye represents the top 3 with Kid Cudi on the title track off their KIDS SEE GHOSTS while other KSG and Ye tracks are starting to begin their descent down the Mixtape.

What's not slowing is the upward movement for Late Bloomer's "Sleeve," (6) a rockin' romp reminiscent of The Replacements as interpreted by the Goo Goo Dolls when they started to discover songcraft (around their third full-length album). Vic Mensa's collabo with G-Eazy, "Reverse," (5) moves in to the top five this week, taking one of those Kanye vacancies. Courtney Barnett, one of my favorite artists of the past five years, is approaching the top 3 with "Charity," (4) one of several standouts off her latest album, Tell Me How You Really Feel.

I don't see much on this Friday's new releases that excites me at face value, so here's hoping some random singles come around and provide some of that new tunes feeling I've been missing in July.