I have to admit I was slightly disappointed with LaMontagne’s last effort, Gossip in the Grain, but I believe that we have yet to hear the best that this timeless troubadour has to offer.  Ray recently told Rolling Stone that  “I want to write music that will out live me.  And I haven’t done it yet.”  While I would disagree with that statement, I love to hear that he isn’t satisfied with what he’s given so far and it makes me all the more excited to hear not just this new record but the many that will assuredly follow.

And that’s how I got here. So I got to work one more time. I worked real hard to fill the CD the first time; with a whopping 23 tracks and 78 minutes of music, that sucker was chock full of goodness. I decided that this time around, I was going to go for quality over quantity.

Track 1.  I’m Actual – The Format

While this song is the second track, of The Format‘s album Dog Problems, I found it a good opener to my mix for two reasons. First, was the opening line, “Can we take the next hour / And talk about me / Talk about me, and we’ll talk about me/ Talk about me, and we’ll only talk about me”. I liked this, because from the end of this song, the mix is approximately an hour long. The second reason is that I just love this song. It sets a tone of beautifully orchestrated music, preparing your palate for what is to come.  It’s like the hostess seating you at the table, and handing you the menu.

Track 2.  To the Dogs or Whoever – Josh Ritter

The transition between songs is perfect. The guitar comes in from out of nowhere, and before you know it you’re right in the middle of the song without even noticing that it really changed. This song doesn’t really follow a theme from the first song, it’s just here because I like it. It’s fun to sing in the shower, and in the car. It’s a good mix-cd song, so it’s on here.

Track 3. Float On – Goldspot

I don’t want to diss on Modest Mouse, but I really love this cover. Now this song is a spring-ish kind of song. The full name of this mix is Someday Soon Spring Shall Surface So Sing Some Songs, so this is the first song that starts to set the theme of the mix. This is the shortest “song” on the mix, and ends almost as abruptly as it starts. It’s an enjoyable listen, and is a great addition to the mix.

Track 4.  I Can See The Pines Are Dancing – A.A. Bondy

This one goes off theme, for almost a complete change of pace. Had I not already burned a few copies, and made fancy artwork/cases, I might reconsider the placement of this song. This song feels more… fall or winter to me than spring. But that’s almost the point of it all, that someday spring will come, but as for now we must enjoy the winter while it lasts. Or maybe not. Do pines dance in spring? I guess you just have to listen and decide for yourself.

Track 5. Remain – Tyrone Wells

Back on track with more spring-ness now. I first heard Tyrone on the internal Starbucks radio CD/mixer, and went home and bought his album on iTunes. His voice reminds me of a musician from Tulsa named Ben Kilgore, and the people familiar with both artists seem to agree with me. A solid track, and another great mix-CD song.

Track 6. Ramona – Guster

I think it should be a law that every mix-CD contain at least one Guster song. Nathan (our site founder and editor-in-chief) introduced me to them years ago, and I have since fallen in love. This song works well for this mix in both the sound/feel department as well as lyrically. I live in Oklahoma, as does the recipient of this mix, so when I found a great Guster song that mentions this great state I got a little giddy. “Ramona, you’re Miss Oklahoma /and you miss Oklahoma.” It’s a great line, and a great, great, GREAT song. Perhaps my favorite song on the mix, and the one I really wanted to leave an impact with.

Track 7. Life in Disguise – The Slip

This song pairs wonderfully with Ramona, and is great in it’s own right. A great spring-time night-driving song if I ever knew one. It finds great company between tracks six and seven, serving as the proper transition between the two. This song is amazingly soothing, and always makes me feel better.

Track 8. Cartwheels – The Reindeer Section

If you listen to this track, you’re probably going to say, “Hey that voice sounds familiar!” Well you’re right! You’re hearing the voice of Gary Lightbody, front-man of alt-rock band Snow Patrol along with some other Irish indie rockers as part of the super-group The Reindeer Section. It’s a great song. Just beautiful. This is the kind of night-driving song that WILL make you start day-dreaming. Consider yourself warned.

Track 9. Pills – The Perishers

I really loved the album Let There Be Morning by The Perishers. I mean, really love. I probably listen to at least one song off it every day. But enough about me, and more about this song. It’s kind of dark, talking about being dependent on substances to be able to sleep because a relationship is going so poorly, but not telling their significant other the truth about the root of it all. I just like how it sounds. Oh well. Next song

Track 10. Somerville – The Pernice Brothers

I was gifted this album by a friend, and I love it. This song is about being stuck in a dead end town and getting out of it with the person you care about. While I’ve never been there, Courtney is from a small town in Oklahoma called Harrah, so I figured why not have a song about small towns. It has a spring-y feel to it. It feels good. This is the kind of song you sing when you’re driving down the highway with the windows down. It’s cathartic and simple, but I love it.

Track 11.  Life is Beautiful – Vega4

This track is another key song of the mix. I was really aiming this one at her tastes, and I hope I got it right. The song is magnificent, and paints a beautiful picture in my mind. The pre-chorus just sucks you in, and then when the chorus hits that first time you just explode with wonder. When the song finally climaxes, your mind is doubly blown. This is the kind of song that needs to be at about the the halfway mark of a mix, and that’s just where you find it. The song keeps my listener hooked, and will surely keep listening after such a great song.

Track 12. You Do – Until June

Now we slow it back down. This song starts soft, light vocals and the sound of train cars. The piano and heavily-fx’d guitar wash over the audial canvas in a motion that will relax every thought in your mind. The song’s lyrics are christian based, but at it’s root appeals to the higher notion of just being able to understand the unexplainable. I like to imagine the night sky, stars and satellites overhead as I sing the hook over and over to myself.

Track 13. Julia – The Beatles

I love how delicate this song is. It sets up the mix for a much bigger song to follow, and The Beatles just really rock the subtly of this one. I suppose this song could have been better place if Courtney’s name was actually Julia, or if I was in love with her, but neither are true so we just take it at face value.

Track 14. I Ran Away – Coldplay

This next treasure is a rare Coldplay b-side to their hit single The Scientist. It’s a shame that it got lost amongst the hype of it all. For Coldplay haters, this song follows a predictable structure that can grow tiresome as it continues. If you like Coldplay, this is a great rare track; otherwise, skip it.

Track 15. Middle Distance Runner – Sea Wolf

This band is on my list of artists that belong on every mix I make. I wish more people were aware of their stupendous awesomeness. In retrospect I should have chosen a song off their newest album, but this one just kinda stood out to me. I’ve dangerously danced in the shower to this one a few too many times. This song sounds a bit like musical raining. I had the chance to listen to it in the rain a week ago, and it was awesome. Perfect rainy songs are perfect spring songs. Done and done.

Track 16. Morning Light – Graham Colton Band

Here’s the climax of the mix! You finally made it! This is such an appropriate song for the climax because of the first line, “Sometimes I think I pass you walking on the street, and I believe it.” What does this have to do with me or Courtney? Well, Courtney moved back home to Harrah and I had no idea. I had thought for the last three weeks that she was still living on-campus at my school. So I guess the song was true in that aspect that I thought I was seeing her on the street when I really wasn’t. This was merely coincidence, I found this out after I had made the mix. Trust me, its a better story than the real one.

Track 17. One Last “Whoo-hoo!” For The Pullman – Sufjan Stevens

Seven seconds of Sufjan. Are you ready?

Track 18. Within You – Ray LaMontagne

AAAAAaaaaaannnd that wraps it up. This great track from Ray is a brilliant close to his album, and now to my mix. This song is beautiful and just does a great job of tieing up all the musical loose ends, leaving the listener with a feeling of completeness as the song fades into empty sound.

And that’s it! I was so proud of it that I had to come share. I want to come back and share my greatest playlists more often, as well as get back into the remix saddle very soon. So be on the lookout for more great posts coming your way.

Until then, I hope your ears bleed someday soon. Ω

Ray LaMontagne – Vigilante Man (Woody Guthrie)

Hailing from Long Beach, CA, utilizing the sounds of british bands, and add a heavy dose of Freddie Mercury (Queen) inspired singing styles and you have the Cold War Kids.  Performing “Relief,” off of their second and newest album, Loyalty to Loyalty, this grungy, dark song truly illustrates what separates them from all of the pop music being produced today.  With heavy use of keyboard, drums and no guitar, it provides a great foundational beat, partnered with the very different vocal styles of lead singer Nathan Willett; you have their performance that showcases who the Cold War Kids are on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  I have personally been impressed with all of the work the Cold War Kids have created, enjoy this great performance!  I hope it causes more interest in listening to the great music the Cold War Kids have become known for.

Wednesday 4.1.2009: Ray LaMontagne on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Friday 4.3.2009: Cold War Kids on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

I greatly anticipate these performances this week, I hope they do not disappoint and we will make sure to post links and share our thoughts after each performance.

Enjoy!

Anyway. Back to the matter at hand.  Engine Room Recordings has announced the release of the second edition of the Guilt By Association cover series. The cd is set to hit stores on February 17th, but it has already been released for download on Itunes.  But for those of you short on cash, you can go ahead and stream it over on the Engine Room Recordings web-site.  Also here is My Brightest Diamond’s installment in the series. I know that I just wrote about here not too long ago and that I had thirteen others to choose from.  But I was just so excited that she chose to record this song, because I actually saw her play this song when I saw her open for The Decemberists a couple years ago and it was seriously the highlight of the show. Shara Worden is an incredible performer, with one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard.  I cannot recommend seeing her live enough.  Or the Decemberists for that matter.  Well to wrap things up, here is the tracklist for Guilt By Association Vol. 2.  I hope your ears bleed (but not really).

1 My Brightest Diamond – Tainted Love (Gloria Jones/Soft Cell)

2 The Bloodsugars – Self-Control (Laura Branigan)

3 Robbers on High Street – Cool It Now (New Edition)

4 Frightened Rabbit – Set You Free (N-Trance)

5 Matt Pond PA – I’m Not Okay (My Chemical Romance)

6 Takka Takka – In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins)

7 Kaki King – I Think She Knows (Justin Timberlake)

8 Francis and the Lights – Can’t Tell Me Nothing (Kanye West)

9 Lowry – Africa (Toto)

10 The Forms – We Didn’t Start the Fire (Billy Joel)

11 Rafter – If You Leave (OMD)

12 Cassettes Won’t Listen – Need You Tonight (INXS)

13 Jukebox the Ghost – It’s a Beautiful Life (Ace of Base)

14 Max Vernon – I Kissed a Girl (Katy Perry)

I think one of the main reasons is that there has been more emphasis on the celebration than the ceremony, which is the way I think it should be.  Now I believe that marriage is a very sacred thing that should be taken very seriously.   And assuming it doesn’t drag on forever I really enjoy a lot of the traditions that we have regarding the marriage ceremony, and would never want to get rid of it or diminish its importance and value.  But I love that with the last several weddings I have been a part of, the whole weekend has just felt like one big party.

Another reason I have come to enjoy weddings lately is that people have felt the freedom to be creative with the music that they use during the ceremony.  Hearing the music that people choose to have everyone in the wedding party walk down to or what they pick as their first dance has become one of my favorite parts of the wedding. And since Eric and Ashley did such a great job of picking music for all of these things I thought that it would make a great playlist worth posting for my faithful readers.

Devotchka – The Winner Is (removed 2/13/09)  (Grandparents)

Coldplay – Life In Technicolor (removed 2/13/09) (Bridesmaids)

Ray Lamontagne – Shelter (removed 2/13/09) (Bride)

David Gray – The One I Love (removed 2/13/09) (Mr. and Mrs.)

Ray Lamontagne – You Are the Best Thing (removed 2/13/09) (First Dance)

Music

Ray LaMontagne – Gossip in the Grain

Ray LaMontagne – Let It Be Me (removed 2/13/09)

This is sure to be one of the best albums of the year.  One of the best performers and songwriters of our generation. He hasn’t disappointed me yet, and I think we can expect nothing but greatness on LaMontagne’s third release. I mean it even has a love song that he wrote for Meg White.  What more could you ask for?

Keane – Perfect Symmetry

Keane – Spiralling (removed 2/13/09)

I feel like I should say the exact same thing about this band as I just did about Ray.  These guys are truly pop geniuses.  Now I’m not trying to say that their music is really complex and that they are super talented.  Quite the contrary.  They make very simplistic music with familiar chord progressions, but they manage to make it sound very intricate and brand new.  I highly encourage you to go out and get this as soon as you can.

Copeland – You Are Sunshine

Easily one of the best Christian bands out there.  Their sounds never ceases to amaze me.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to hear a bit of this new album, but I am really looking forward to it.  The whole album is available to be streamed from their myspace. You should check it out. I know I would be if myspace wasn’t blocked on our server here at work.

Ingrid Michaelson – Be Ok

I have only heard the title track, and I actually didn’t care too much for it. But I still felt that his release was worth mentioning because of how incredibly catchy and enjoyable her debut from last year was.  If wouldn’t rush out and buy this one. But if you’ve never heard her before she is definitely worth a listen.  I recommend the songs Breakable or Die Alone.

*

Film

W.

“A chronicle on the life and presidency of George W. Bush.”    Really?  This movie is already being made? I mean his presidency hasn’t even officially ended yet.  This just blows my mind.  Almost as shocking as the fact that a movie has already been made about the events of 9/11.  At least all of those gave us at least a year or two to look back upon what had happened and gain some perspective.

I am definitely curious to see this film and find out what they have to say, but I am just afraid it will only piss me off.  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not about to tell you that Bush is perfect and that he’s been a fantastic President.  But I just don’t understand what makes Oliver Stone think that he has such great perspective on his life and presidency as to make a movie like this.  I don’t know, maybe he isn’t trying to make a statement and it will actually have a tasteful plot line and ending.  We’ll see.

I hope that your eyes and ears bleed all week.

In all seriousness I think one of the easiest ways for me to describe him would be an American version of Fionn Regan.  I can’t believe that it took me this long to hear one of the best alt-country albums of the past decade.  Had I heard it just a couple months earlier, it would have had a real good shot of making my top ten list.  So please check it out. I have here for your listening pleasure, the title track from American Hearts and then a traditional track he recorded for Daytrotter that he heard from a guy named Blind Willie McTell.  I have no doubt that after hearing these songs that A.A. Bondy will end up on your must-see list for ACL.

A.A. Bondy – American Hearts (removed 2/13/09)

A.A. Bondy – You Got To Die (Daytrotter Session) (removed 2/13/09)

“When you hear this song, I hope your ears bleed.”

tracklisting:
1. let it be me
2. hey me, hey mama
3. sarah
4. i still care for you
5. winter birds
6. meg white
7. achin’ all the time
8. henry nearly killed me (it’s a shame)
9. a falling through
10. gossip in the grain

if the gnarls barkley cover i posted a few weeks ago wasn’t enough to convince you to buy all of his records, this video surely will.

ray lamontagne – sarah (live) (removed 2/13/09)

ray lamontagne – crazy (gnarls barkley cover) (removed 8/28)