::REVIEWS:: 2013 Secret Mixtape project

[super nintendo chalmers]

The first and last three. I swear that band, The Rutabega put out one of the best records not only of this year but from like the past five. I've seen them take a room of hardened noise punks and pretty much bring them to the verge of tears.

I put the Bronson on there cause you're a NY, guy right? And I figure you'd appreciate what they did with those shitty Peter Gabriel and Mellencamp songs.

Funny, I tired to be a straight forward as possible, limiting the really weird and out there stuff. You mentioned earlier you had some driving to do and I thought, maybe I'll get through to him on a handfull of these. Cause it really rocks doing 80.

Thanks for taking the time for go though this, didn't sound like it was the easiest ordeal for you, but I appreciate the effort and that you thought it nice sequence. But I guess thats like telling a drummer, hey the kick drum sounded pretty great after witnessing a shitty show.

[Kevin Davis]

Stip, you should check out that Bill Callahan record--I know you say you're not into the voice but you're such a lyrics guy I would think the voice would be worth trying to warm to. These are some of the best lyrics I've heard in a long, long time, and unlike many song lyrics they read brilliantly on the page even without the music (though the music certainly gives them another dimension of power). This album was my first exposure to his music and I didn't even get through the first half of the record before I was on Drag City's website ordering more.

I will be checking out SNC's mix for sure. I made a comment in the original thread that (understandably) gave Jorge the impression that I planned to participate in the mixtape project, so he drew a name for me, and it was SNC. I will admit I was a little intimidated--definitely a "what do you give the man who has everything?"-type moment.

[super nintendo chalmers]

Stip, you should check out that Bill Callahan record--I know you say you're not into the voice but you're such a lyrics guy I would think the voice would be worth trying to warm to. These are some of the best lyrics I've heard in a long, long time, and unlike many song lyrics they read brilliantly on the page even without the music (though the music certainly gives them another dimension of power). This album was my first exposure to his music and I didn't even get through the first half of the record before I was on Drag City's website ordering more.

I will be checking out SNC's mix for sure. I made a comment in the original thread that (understandably) gave Jorge the impression that I planned to participate in the mixtape project, so he drew a name for me, and it was SNC. I will admit I was a little intimidated--definitely a "what do you give the man who has everything?"-type moment.

Bummer. I would of loved to hear one of yours, esp if you went all jazz with it. Oh well, maybe next time.

[VinylGuy]

i would have thought Stip liked Bill Callahan....

[Jorge]

i would have thought Stip liked Bill Callahan....

Yeah, color me surprised by this as well.

[stip]

i would have thought Stip liked Bill Callahan....

Yeah, color me surprised by this as well.

i didnt dislike it. he is getting enough recommendations to look into if i can find the time. really it was the loud fast indie punk where this fell down for me

[LetMeSleep]

PHATJ – Rift Mix

Song 1 - I’m pretty sure this is Ween – The Rift. I haven’t heard much Ween since the Country album or Mollusc, that era. This is good although the vocals go somewhere annoying. Nice atmospheric start.

Song 2 – Lazy Bones - ??. I didn’t like this guys voice at first. It’s an okay track but not one I’d put on. After a few listens I’ve warmed to it.

Song 3 - ??. Some Patton-esque falsetto type vocals and 90’s sounding alt funk. Not my cup of tea at all. Good pattern to first 3 tracks.

Song 4 - ?? Some indie pop which I think is The National. I liked their first 2 albums but not immensely. Like it.

Song 5 - ?? This singer takes a nice enough track and throws in an annoying cascading down melody that just annoys the hell outta me.

This mix feels like I’ve flipped onto a 35-45yr old male aimed radio station. There’s nothing that is grating enough to turn off but so far it’s only track 4 that I would probably revisit.

Song 6 -Muse (Newborn?). I used to like Muse but their bombastic-ness wore thin after awhile. I last listened to an album maybe 8yrs ago. This is a really good track with unusual restraint. Some nice backing vocals too.

Song 7 - ?? Female vocals and a nice atmosphere. Sounds like an 80’s ballad (Cars – Drive etc) that I fear will turn into a 90’s dance track, but it doesn’t. This is a good track but again not one I’d choose to put on. The woman has a great voice. I wonder if this is indicative of her music or a side step.

Song 8 - ?? Maybe Gaslight Anthem with some woman. If it is them I liked a couple of tracks of their first few albums. If not, then the guy sounds just like him. This would be good live. Has a slight Stereophonics feel but it is an American band for sure. Grohl type build to end this one.

Song 9 - ??. Nice acoustic but over wrought vocals. I would usually like this style but that voice is not for me. Is it the Mmmm band of the 90s? I like this style when done by 16 Horsepower or John Murry. Pity.

Nice segue way into the next track. PHATJ has done a great job of crafting this mix.

Song 10 - ?? Promising. 90’s alt metal sounding with some interesting textures. There’s a high quality (over)production quality to a lot of these tracks that isn’t my taste but the general music is pretty good.

Song 11 – Flaming Lips THE WAND. I hated this when it came out and little has changed. I loved Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi and bits of their early stuff but this album turned me off them actually. BUT it works with this mix.

Song 12 – Beck (think this is off Odelay). I haven’t heard this album recently and that should be addressed. I’ve always preferred his mellower stuff. Might have to dig out Sea Change again too.

Song 13 - ??? Sounds like a cross of Foo Fighters and ATDI. The vocals have an interesting tone but tend towards a commercial melody. I like the rhythm section on this.

Song 14 - Mark Lanegan – Phantasmagoria Blues. I like Lanegan a lot. Great.

Song 15 - ??? Really like the music but then the vocals kill this. Arrggghh. And it doesn’t get better. I want to skip this one.

Song 16 - ??-Real Human Being. Synth intro with soft female vocals. This sounds like a piece that will be used a lot in tv shows.

Song 17 – Instrumental track with great rhythm and nice repetitive guitar line. The drums have that swingy loose feel that worked so well on Yoshimi. Some dub ish drum treatment. I like this one.

Hidden track - ?? Garage guitar pop. Lo-fi. I prefer this production to most of what came before. Okay song.

There’s a sheen to a lot of these tracks, a production style that I don’t particularly like. It goes hand in hand with the commercial vocal melodies and over pronunciation of most of these singers. The songs are mostly pretty strong but spoiled by the frame. This is a good mix that could easily be on digital radio. The seque-ing was well done too. Good job PHATJ and Jorge.

[Jorge]

PHATJ – Rift Mix

For the record, this isn't the title of the mix, it's just the name I gave the file when I saved it on my PC. I should've probably just titled it "LetMeSleep's Mix".

[Jorge]

And here's the tracklist to PHATJ's mix for LetMeSleep.

01. Ween - The Rift
02. Soul Coughing - Lazybones
03. OKGO - WTF?
04. The National - Abel
05. Mike Doughty - I Hear The Bells
06. Muse - Madness
07. Lana Del Rey - Young And Beautiful
08. Against Me! ft. Tegan Quin (of Tegan & Sara) - Borne On The FM Waves Of The Heart
09. Crash Test Dummies - The Unforgiven Ones
10. Cloud Cult - 1x1x1
11. Mute Math - After We Have Left Our Homes
12. The Flaming Lips - The W.A.N.D.
13. Beck - Jackass
14. Thrice - Yellow Belly
15. Mark Lanegan - Phantasmagloria Blues
16. Jimmy Eat World - Mix Tape
17. College & Electric Youth - Real Hero
18. Mute Math - Reset

Secret Track - Moistboyz - Paperboy

[LetMeSleep]

PHATJ – Rift Mix

For the record, this isn't the title of the mix, it's just the name I gave the file when I saved it on my PC. I should've probably just titled it "LetMeSleep's Mix".

You did a good job Jorge. It was hard to guess who did this. The Lanegan, Beck, Ween etc made me belive it was VinylGuy (apologies if offended) and then I rememberd that Ruddo liked that Muse track.

It's a strong mix but not for me.

[LetMeSleep]

And here's the tracklist to PHATJ's mix for LetMeSleep.

01. Ween - The Rift
02. Soul Coughing - Lazybones
03. OKGO - WTF?
04. The National - Abel
05. Mike Doughty - I Hear The Bells
06. Muse - Madness
07. Lana Del Rey - Young And Beautiful
08. Against Me! ft. Tegan Quin (of Tegan & Sara) - Borne On The FM Waves Of The Heart
09. Crash Test Dummies - The Unforgiven Ones
10. Cloud Cult - 1x1x1
11. Mute Math - After We Have Left Our Homes
12. The Flaming Lips - The W.A.N.D.
13. Beck - Jackass
14. Thrice - Yellow Belly
15. Mark Lanegan - Phantasmagloria Blues
16. Jimmy Eat World - Mix Tape
17. College & Electric Youth - Real Hero
18. Mute Math - Reset

Secret Track - Moistboyz - Paperboy

Good transition or poor listeners attention. Ahh well.

[Jorge]

You did a good job Jorge.

It's all PHATJ. All I did was slap the songs together for him.

[LetMeSleep]

Have you listened to all the mixes Jorge? When all reviews are in it'd be interesting to hear/read your thoughts.

[Jorge]

PHATJ, if you wanna hear how your mix turned out, you can stream it here
or download it here: http://jorgefarah.files.wordpress.com/2 ... ft-mix.mp3

[Jorge]

Have you listened to all the mixes Jorge? When all reviews are in it'd be interesting to hear/read your thoughts.

I haven't, just ones I was especially curious about (and the few I helped build). I hope to get to listen to all of them eventually.

[stip]

of all the crap I say on this website, that's what you put in your sig, platy?

[Self]

That's actually a pretty good one, stip. I smirked.

[stip]

well i'll defer to the audience

[stip]

what bill callahan record should i get?

[Heathen]

what bill callahan record should i get?

the one where Eddie Vedder sings all the songs