Secret Mixtape Review: Mix #16 (10-31) is up!

[Norah]

track 6 is weird in the most 90s of ways, i dig it

[stip]

you know, I may have posted that 'this is too long' comment too soon (that was only 4 minutes into the song or so). it's 8 minutes right now and I'm still enjoying it, albeit in a background music kinda way. Lets see how I feel in 12 more minutes

[Kaius]

Track 14 is pretty stellar the whole way. I was impressed. Solid finishing kick.

[stip]

okay, i'm getting a bit bored with the organ solo

[Norah]

I'm on track 9 and this mix is pretty solid so far. Only two I didn't really care for so far.

[Kaius]

11: not bad. I'm a little indifferent about this one. I like the song, but think it's a little boring at the same time

I'm coming around on this one a bit. I think I would appreciate it more within the context of an album, just to hear the space around it. It's a cool mood/setting piece, and I can't deny it's head-bobbing or sing-a-long worthiness, there's just something keeping me from loving it.
Maybe it's a lack of depth or dimension to the song. It sounds flat against the wall. Every beat, note, harmony, or accent comes bursting out of the same point in space. I suppose his could be an indictment against the quality of the recording, or just this particular file, as opposed to the arrangement or song itself. Is this making sense to anyone else?
I wouldn't care so much, but I really want to like it more, and am actually pretty interested to hear more from this artist.

[Norah]

track 11 sounds great to me

[Kaius]

okay, i'm getting a bit bored with the organ solo

curb your ADD

[Norah]

Really like the female vocals on the second half of this mix.

This is pretty well put together, I like it a bit better than the first mix we got.

[Kaius]

12 & 13 was my favorite 1-2 punch

[stip]

It's just that the middle sequence of tracks was SO bad...

This ended nicely

[Norah]

It's just that the middle sequence of tracks was SO bad...

not really

[Jorge]

I really liked Mix #1. It has a very laid-back, easy-going breeziness to it but is also pretty soulful and earnest. Goddamn that Band of Horses song is good. And the Shins song really works in context with the other tracks. Good job.

[Lament]

track 12: Is this Jenny Lewis. It sounds like her, and her kind of storytelling--she's got a sad sexy voice (the voice is great), and she's hot as hell (assuming this is her), and so you don't notice that the songs aren't very good. Whoever this is should get someone else to write their songs.

It's not. And if you're suggesting the songs Jenny Lewis writes aren't very good I will burn this whole place TO THE GROUND.

[Norah]

I've never listened to any Jenny Lewis, to be honest. But last night I downloaded her first two solo albums.

[Lament]

Start with Rilo Kiley before you go into her solo stuff. The Execution of All Things is one of the best things in the world, ever.

[Norah]

Yeah?

[Lament]

Yeah. I mean, the two Jenny Lewis solo albums are fantastic (especially Rabbit Fur Coat), but Rilo Kiley was just on another level. Blake Sennett is a criminally underrated guitarist (one of my five favorites of all-time).

It actually surprises me to hear you haven't listened to any Rilo Kiley, cause I can hear their influence quite a bit (especially the album More Adventurous) on the first Mynabirds album. Now that I say that, More Adventurous might be a good place for you to start considering your devotion (love seemed like too weak a word) for the Mynabirds.

[Norah]

I usually just go chronologically when I dive in like this.

[Lament]

That's not a bad idea. The first real studio album, Take Offs & Landings, has some stunning songs on it. It's not as strong all the way through as the next three, but the stretches of greatness are gorgeous (especially Pictures of Success, one of the very best things they ever did). It's a little slow in the middle, but still a very solid debut.