sys70 :: I KNOW MY FIRST NAME IS MATTHEW

Submitted for the approval of the Mix Tape Appreciation Society, I humbly present ... "I Know My First Name is Matthew":

1. Future Antiques - "Relapse" [LISTEN HERE]

Rift Magazine said: "I surprised myself a bit, halfway into the second song of this CD, I really started digging it. Something about the counter melodies spinning in the background which really stand out and make the music really interesting." So I said: "I'll do Rift one better -- at the beginning of the FIRST song, 'Relapse,' I realized this was an album I'd immediately want to go tell everyone about."

2. Beck - "Bonfire Blondes"

I love Beck, I really do, but why did he keep his best material off  "Modern Guilt"?

3. The Impossibles - "Widowmaker" ("Back for the Attack" EP vers.)

I love this lyric: "My heart was in the right place / At the wrong time again." (Download a free MP3 of this song's original version here.)

4. System of a Down - "This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm on This Song"

... And this Ian's Pizza makes me feel like I own the Midwest/shouldn't regret anything that happened on State Street!

5. The Very Best feat. M.I.A. - "Rain Dance" [FREE MP3]

I don't mind M.I.A. leaning on high-priced studio trickery from time to time, but it's quite interesting to hear her talents in front of a more-organic wall of sound.

6. Ray the Wolf - "Superior Crimes"

This enthralling/wholly unnerving track from Equal Xchange's Rain Elfvin (aka "Ray the Wolf") features a number of Superior-originating crimes, including, most notoriously, the guy who had sex with a dead deer. ("Yikes!" is right....)

7. Sims - "Here I Stand" [FREE MP3]

"So Beak and I are working like crazy. Been that way, and we’re not gonna stop," Sims writes on Doomtree.net. "So here’s a little manifesto track for you, just a little snack until we serve up our record. You might recognize the beat."

8. fun. - "The Gambler" (Live at Fingerprints) [FREE MP3]

While I missed their recent performance in Duluth, I still consider these ex-Format guys to be some of my favorite musicians on the planet. And this live track, from a Record Store Day release, is utterly beautiful.

9. Deaf School - "What a Way to End it All"

Their fellow Liverpudlians in the Beatles never approached the usually taboo subject of suicide so cheerfully, now did they?

10. Ween - "The F----- Jam"

Because sometimes that's just how you feel. (This song is actually an instrumental, by the way.)

11. Lifter Puller - "The Candy Machine and My Girlfriend"

Can you imagine a world without Craig Finn's story-songs? Not rad at all.

12. The Young Fresh Fellows - "Mad John's Escape" (Donovan cover)

I've known about these guys for ages (primarily because of Scott McCaughey's connections to R.E.M. and the Minus 5), but this single track is making me question myself: Why don't I own more Young Fresh Fellows records?

13. Leo Sayer - "Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)"

Knowing how much I adore the Scissor Sisters, this song being featured here was really quite inevitable.

14. Bone Appetit - "In My Arms Tonight" [FREE MP3]

Back together for Homegrown, and it's gonna feel so good!

15. Rilo Kiley - "Portions for Foxes"

Wow, holy crap, I never realized Rilo Kiley's lead singer was the same Jenny Lewis who starred opposite Fred Savage in "The Wizard." Totally random.

16. Pedro the Lion - "Penetration" [FREE MP3]

I know it goes without saying, but ... David Bazan, you're the man. (p.s. Did anyone else pick up a copy of "Live at Electrical Audio" on Record Store Day? Good stuff.)

17. Big Star - "The India Song"

My cheeks are red for how belated this has become, but it's sincere to the fullest extent: Alex Chilton forever changed my outlook on life when I was introduced to the sounds of Big Star in high school by my friend Briana (of Best Friends Forever fame). Rest in peace, William Alexander.

18. Brett Dennen - "Closer to You"
This guy's going to be playing Red Rocks soon with Spearhead = I want to go to there. (I found this image on Brett's blog. What a fancy approach to the fabled set list!)

19. The Mages - "Don't Let that Hammer Fall on Me"

If you like what you hear (and I'm sure you will), this Minneapolis outfit will be playing a free show July 23 at Fitger's Brewhouse.

20. Pete Bernhard - "Warning"

Having already professed my love for the Devil Makes Three in one of the Budgeteer's "Song of the Week" features (I fell in love after they opened up for Trampled by Turtles at Madison's High Noon Saloon), I thought I'd shine the spotlight on the group's extremely talented frontman, whose solo hit featured here is simply unbeatable.

21. Rooney - "I Don't Wanna Lose You" [FREE MP3]
Enjoy!

22. Mates of State - "Laura" (Girls cover) [FREE MP3]

This one too!

  

23. Dessa - "551" (Live at Daytrotter) [FREE MP3]

In case you're unfamiliar with Doomtree's Dessa, she is the epitome of the "you've got the voice of an angel" come-on.

24. The Replacements - "Back to Back"

From the album that inspired this and the 3,000 other "Don't Tell a Soul" mix tapes of mine.

Thus concludes your seventieth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul."

---

WANT TO MAKE THE NEXT AWESOME MIX TAPE?

Send me your track

Trampled by Turtles at Madison's High Noon Saloon

Trampled by Turtles "Palomino" from ryan heraly on Vimeo.

Mates of State covers Death Cab, Fleetwood Mac, others on 'Crushes'

Free Download of "Laura" Now Available atMatesofState.com

Mates of State confirms the completion and track listing of Crushes (The Covers Mixtape), a covers album to be released this summer and consisting of the following songs by some of the Mates' personal favorites:   1. Laura (Girls) 2. Son et Lumiere (The Mars Volta) 3. Sleep the Clock Around (Belle & Sebastian) 4. Technicolor Girls (Death Cab for Cutie) 5. Long Way Home (Tom Waits) 6. Love Letter (Nick Cave) 7. Second Hand News (Fleetwood Mac) 8. 17 Pink Sugar Elephants (Vashti Bunyan) 9. Roller Coaster Ride (Dear Nora) 10. True Love Will Find You in the End (Daniel Johnston)   Crushes... is the first full length recorded and produced by Mates Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner themselves, with a mixing assist from longtime collaborator Peter Katis (The National, Swell Season, Interpol, etc.). Arguably their most vibrant effort to date, Crushes... has been preceded by a free download of the album opening version of Girls' "Laura," currently available at matesofstate.com. Every one of the album's ten tracks is equal measures bold choice and affectionate celebration. The Mars Volta's brooding psychedelic epic "Son et Lumieire" segues seamlessly into an ever breezier re-interpretation of Belle & Sebastian's "Sleep the Clock Around," while Tom Waits' "Long Way Home" is transformed from a sparse ode to tough luck love into an adrenalized anthem, and so forth.   Commenting on the inspiration behind the genesis of Crushes..., the Mates said, "We've been talking about doing a covers record for a long time.  We'd hear a great song at 2 AM while driving the straight line from one part of Texas to the next, and all we'd want to do is play that song as if we had written it.  There are so many artists we considered, some for the mere fact that they wrote a perfect song, some for nostalgia's sake, some because more people need to hear them, some for the challenge, and some to shed a whole different light on a song: Our light... make it a duet, more optimistic or maybe less traditional."   The completion of Crushes... also had the unexpected after-effect of jumpstarting the creation of the next Mates of State record: "When we were finished, we couldn't wait to write our own songs again.... We hadn't counted on this covers project making us approach our own songs in these new ways.  Too often in the past, we'd get stuck writing in a certain structure.  In dissecting these songs, taking out the biggest creative component--actually writing the song--we were more thoughtful of other musical aspects.  We considered design, tones, patterns or lack of patterns, the beauty of simplicity and simply put, different artistic impressions of music.  And then most of the time we'd come to the conclusion that you just can't analyze and you can't deny a good song, it's just magic... In a sense, these other great bands made us a better band." ~Information courtesy Nasty Little Man

sys69 :: THE MUSTER OF THE LAST WATCH

Submitted for the approval of the Mix Tape Appreciation Society, I humbly present ... "The Muster of the Last Watch":

1. Free Energy - "Free Energy"
Because in the latest issue of Rolling Stone, a member of Free Energy asserts that they're kindred spirits to Alex Chilton re: Big Star's magnificent power pop sound. I can hear that, but even more immediately I also sense the vibe of fellow Big Star disciple Brendan Benson (The Mood Elevator, The Raconteurs) in this highly contagious track.

2. The Ataris - "The Cheyenne Line"
Because back when I was living in Denver's smallest suburb (the teenie Federal Heights), I would occasionally escape to Cheyenne. I can't say for sure that this song is actually about Wyoming's blissful capital city, but it evokes the same feelings. And I'm the one with the keyboard, so I can say whatever I want! ha ha

3. The Lonely Forest - "We Sing in Time"
Because if Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla says a group is good, it is. Thanks for introducing this fantastic group to the masses, C.W.

4. Fugazi - "Waiting Room"
Because I recently heard it in the standup-comedy documentary "Selling Laughs" (which features my boy Andy Beningo). And because it's a great song, of course.

5. Backyard Tire Fire - "Good to Be"
Because when I was blessed with the opportunity to interview Cracker's Johnny Hickman, this is one of the things he told me: "I’ve been listening lately to a band called Backyard Tire Fire, which I really, really like. They opened some shows for us, and I’m still crazy about their record 'Vagabonds & Hooligans.'"


Again, when one of your favorite musicians tells you they're into a certain band, you check said band out.

6. Bonedome - "Better"
Because high-octane rock 'n' roll (that you actually want to listen to again) is hard to come by these days.

7. T.L. Barrett - "Like a Ship"
Because getting down with Jesus and his disciples is akin to spiritual money in the bank.

Am I right?!

8. The Budos Band - "Chicago Falcon" [FREE MP3]
Because the best part of murky '70s films was always the music.

9. Atmosphere - "Watch Out" [FREE MP3]
Because Slug will always be the king: "If you don't like the sound, f--- you / I'm just trying to put it down for my hometown."

MPLS... MPLS... MPLS...

10. Rusko - "Da Cali Anthem" [FREE MP3]
Because this "bass-heavy track, which samples 2Pac and Dr. Dre’s 'California Love,' just screams to be included on your next party-starting mix tape — especially if you’re a fan of Rusko’s Mad Decent labelmates Major Lazer, Diplo or Crookers." (Yes, I'm totally OK with ripping myself off from time to time.)

11. Happy Birthday - "Subliminal Message" [FREE MP3]
Because it was featured in my fourth Song of the Week featurette for the Budgeteer. (Follow the link to see why it was picked!)

12. Archeology - "Memorial"
Because I've already expressed my love for Archeology's "White Walls" this week, and I wouldn't want to include too many of my Song of the Week selections on this here mix tape, now would I?

13. INXS - "Not Enough Time"
Because Michael Hutchence and crew never "lost it" -- despite "Welcome to Wherever You Are" receiving a two-star review in Rolling Stone when it was released in '92....

14. Phoenix - "Girlfriend" [Live in Sydney] [FREE MP3]
Because vocalist Thomas Mars urges his group's Aussie fans to strike up a dance party before they jump into this terrific single, and dance parties are cool.

15. Tokyo Police Club - "Breakneck Speed" [FREE MP3]
Because of all the obnoxiously buzzed-about bands, this TPC (not to be confused with the Plastic Constellations) actually lives up to the hype.

16. Lifter Puller - "4 Dix" [FREE MP3]
Because it's Craig Finn's favorite LFTR PLLR song. And, as the now-Hold Steady frontman told Cloak and Dagger, "the one that goes the furthest in telling people that if they party too much, they die."

17. Orangutang - "Best of Enemies" [Live on WMBR]
Because I didn't know anything about this Toadies-esque group, so I turned to Google and found this gem from a Jae-Ha Kim article in the Chicago Sun-Times (circa 1993): "When a Boston newspaper nominated Orangutang for best local heavy metal band, the group didn't expect to win, and it didn't. There was a good reason, too: They don't play heavy metal music. (Of course that didn't stop Jethro Tull from beating out Metallica at the Grammys. But that's another story altogether.)"

18. Theft by Swindle - "NEON!" [FREE MP3]
Because frontman Tony Rubin is the young whippersnapper behind AM rubin -- with his "pop," Mark Rubin, of course -- and Pacific Phonograph Co. And he's got a sense of humor: He told me this early demo was recorded live in an "underground laboratory in Upper Smithville."



19. Marc Robillard - "So Much More" [FREE MP3]
Because this song was used in a SunChips commercial, and I have fond memories of munching down on Harvest Cheddars with my buddy Andrew. (To wash it down? OK Soda. Oh, yeah!)

20. Cheap Trick - "Reach Out"
Is this really "Heavy Metal"? Not quite, but a must-have non-album track for all your Cheap Trick diehards out there.

Just me? Oh well....

21. OK Go - "I Want You So Bad I Can't Breathe"
Because even though they've turned their backs on pure pop bliss (thanks, Dave Fridmann...), I'll never forget Denver.

22. Acumen Nation - "Never the Bride"
Because it sounds like something me and my buddy Matt of Skillsaw Symphony would've been into in high school. (Think KMFDM meets Static-X.)

BONUS VIDEO TRACK: She & Him's "In the Sun"
Because M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel know how to party:


She & Him - In The Sun from Merge Records on Vimeo.

Thus concludes your sixty-ninth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul." I hope you enjoyed yourself immensely.

---

WANT TO MAKE THE NEXT AWESOME MIX TAPE?

Send me your track

Circa Survive is gonna rock your face off, MPLS!

  

Circa Survive will be playing short acoustic sets at four shows on their "Road To Record Store Day." All stores will be selling the Doylestown, PA group's new album "Blue Sky Noise" pre-order as well as physical copies of the vinyl record. See below for store locations.

"Blue Sky Noise" will be released on Tuesday, April 20th and was produced by three-time Grammy winner David Bottrill (Tool, Muse, King Crimson).

Don't miss Circa Survive on the road later this month, touring with Coheed & Cambria and Torche. 

Road To Record Store Day:

4/12 - 7pm - Siren Records - Doylestown, PA

4/13 - 7pm - Vintage Vinyl - Fords, NJ

4/16 - 7pm - Bullmoose Music - Portsmouth, NH

4/17 - 4pm - Newbury Comics - Norwood, MA

On tour w/ Coheed & Cambria, Torche: 
4/22 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore Charlotte
4/23 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
4/24 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House Of Blues
4/25 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
4/27 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
4/28 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s
4/29 - Dallas,TX - Palladium Ballroom
4/30 - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom
5/1 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
5/3 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
5/4 - Pomona, CA - Fox Theatre
5/5 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield Theatre
5/7 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
5/8 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
5/10 - Salt Lake City, UT - Murray Theater
5/11 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
5/13 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue5/14 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theater
5/15 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
5/17 - Boston, MA - House Of Blues
5/18 - Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
5/19 - Toronto, Ontario - Sound Academy
5/21 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory

5/22 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
5/26 - New York, NY - Rumsey Playfield
5/27 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

5/28 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

http://www.circasurvive.com

~Information courtesy Atlantic Records

Cloud Cult EP 'Running with the Wolves' gets Earth Day release

Cloud Cult Set to Release Running With the Wolves EP to Coincide with Earth Day – April 20^th 2010 as Band Readies new Studio Album – Light Chasers – due out August 2010

New York, NY – On April 20th, 2010 Cloud Cult will be releasing a new EP – Running With the Wolves – to coincide with Earth Day.  The 4 song digital EP includes one new song “Running With the Wolves” that will appear on the new studio album the band has been busy working on the past few months.  Set for a mid-August release – Light Chasers – is the band’s first new full-length studio album since Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) which was released in April of 2008. 

The Running With the Wolves EP will give fans and friends a little taste of what’s to come on the upcoming album and it also marks the return for Cloud Cult from their longest break from touring as well as the longest span between full-length releases – more than 2 years!  The EP also includes Cloud Cult’s version of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” an alternate version of this track appeared on KEXP’s 2007 compilation Live at KEXP Volume Three, alongside tracks from The Shins, Grizzly Bear, Peter, Bjorn & John and Beirut. 

“Easily a highlight from the 2007 Live at KEXP Volume Three compilation, if not from the entire series thus far, is Cloud Cult’s unique electronic/acoustic hybrid version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Mr. Tambourine Man.’…” – KEXP Blog (http://blog.kexp.org/blog/ - where they premiered the EP Art, album title and will preview the EP on Earth Day!)

In addition, the EP features “A Place” and “Where Are You Now?” two songs that appeared on the 2009 hand numbered limited edition Lost Songs from the Lost Years, which included several b-sides from Cloud Cult’s previous releases.

>>> Read my interview with Craig Minowa about "Lost Songs" HERE.

~Information courtesy Stunt Company

Details emerge about Band of Horses' third album, 'Infinite Arms'

BAND OF HORSES REVEAL INFINITE ARMS TRACKLISTING THIRD ALBUM OUT MAY 18TH ON BROWN/FAT POSSUM/COLUMBIA "COMPLIMENTS" AVAILABLE AS FREE VIDEO DOWNLOAD AT BANDOFHORSES.COM

Having just "killed it" at SXSW, according to the New York Times, Band of Horses, the Low Country's premier rock n' roll outfit, release their third full length LP, entitled Infinite Arms, on May 18th through Brown/Fat Possum/Columbia. Infinite Arms' track listing is as follows: 1)     Factory 2)     Compliments 3)     Laredo 4)     Blue Beard 5)     On My Way Back Home 6)     Infinite Arms 7)     Dilly 8)     Evening Kitchen 9)     Older 10)  For Annabelle 11)  NW Apt. 12)  Neighbor The band have made a video for the song "Compliments" available as a free stream and download via their website, bandofhorses.com. Produced by Band of Horses with additional production from Phil Ek and mixed by Dave Sardy,   the songs on Infinite Arms project the essence of the different locales across America that became the setting for the recording and songwriting process behind the album. The rich musical heritage of Muscle Shoals, AL, the sublime beauty of Asheville's Blue Ridge Mountains, the glamorous Hollywood Hills and the vast Mojave desert all influenced the sounds on Infinite Arms and helped yield the group's most focused and dynamic recordings to date. The serene woods of Northern Minnesota and the band's native Carolinas inspired the songwriting, lending the compositions an air of comfort and familiarity. Band of Horses is Ben Bridwell, Creighton Barrett, Ryan Monroe, Tyler Ramsey and Bill Reynolds. Long time touring members of the group, Infinite Arms marks the recording debut of Ramsey and Reynolds, while Barrett and Monroe graced the last album, Cease to Begin. Through touring together in support of Cease to Begin and during breaks in the Infinite Arms recording process, the band have become a cohesive force with all members making invaluable contributions to the unmistakable sound that founder Bridwell has crafted since the band's inception. Look for the band to support Infinite Arms with tour dates across the globe in 2010. A current list of dates is below, with many more to be announced very soon. Visit www.bandofhorses.com for ticketing information. TOUR DATES April 8th - Paris, France - La Fleche D'or April 9th - Brussels, Belgium - Orangerie April 10th - Rotterdam, Netherlands- Motel Mozaique, Schouwburg April 12th - London, UK - Koko April 14th - Koln, Germany - Kulturkirche April 16th - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller April 17th - Gothenburg, Sweden - Tradgarn April 18th - Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega April 23rd - Raleigh, NC - Walnut Creek Amphitheater (with Widespread Panic) April 24th -  Raleigh, NC - Walnut Creek Amphitheater (with Widespread Panic) April 26th - Athens, GA - 40 Watt April 28th - Miami, FL - Fillmore April 29th - Orlando, FL - House of Blues May 1st - New Orleans, LA  - Jazzfest May 2nd - Memphis, TN - Beale St. Music Festival May 3rd - Kansas City, MO -Sprint Center (with Pearl Jam) May 4th - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center (with Pearl Jam) May 6th - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena (with Pearl Jam) May 7th - Noblesville, IN - Verizon Wireless Center (with Pearl Jam) May 9th - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena (with Pearl Jam) May 10th - Buffalo, NY - HSBC Arena (with Pearl Jam) May 13th - Washington, DC - Verizon Center (with Pearl Jam) May 15th - Hartford, CT - XL Center (with Pearl Jam) May 17th - Boston, MA - TD Garden (with Pearl Jam) May 21st - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden (with Pearl Jam) May 27th - Davis, CA - UC Davis Freeborn Hall May 30th - Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphitheater (with She & Him) May 31st - George, WA - Sasquatch Festival June 4th - Dublin, IE - Academy June 5th - Bangor, IE - Ward Park (with Snow Patrol) June 7th - Cambridge, UK - Junction June 8th - Manchester, UK - Ritz June 9th - London, UK - Roundhouse June 11th - Oxford, UK - Academy June 12th - Glasgow, Scotland - Bellahouston Park (with Snow Patrol) June 19th - Toronto, ONT - Olympic Island Concert (with Pavement and Broken Social Scene) September 25th - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theater ~Information courtesy Nasty Little Man