February Mix

If February was like any other "normal" month, it would still be February now... It's not my fault it is now March and my mix is a couple days late, blame February!

Anyway, I'm going to try and do something a little different this month; someone suggested that I describe each track, and give a sort of explanation as to why I chose it for the month's mix.  Hopefully you like it, if not, let me know...

This month's mix is a little bit....(dare I say?) mainstream.  But, I think it's still eclectic and smooth, and fingers crossed there are a few songs you haven't heard just yet.

Download here

1.  Hot Sand - Shocking Blue
Shocking Blue's biggest hit was "Venus" (which was later covered by Bananarama), but I think this fuzzy guitar (sitar?) jam is almost just as fun.

2.  Can't Seem To Make You Mine - The Seeds
I love his voice in this song.  He sounds completely desperate and on edge, but it's really cool how the rest of it is so slow-paced and lazy, creating anticipation and anxiety throughout the song, not only for the singer, but for the listener as well.

3.  Play With Fire - Twice as Much
A cover of a Rolling Stones song, but a good one (The Dum Dum Girls cover isn't bad either).

4.  You Showed Me - The Turtles
Slower than "Happy Together," but a just as good, if not better, song.  Especially true if you're a big Kinks fan.

5.  Brief Candles - The Zombies
Odessey & Oracle, the album this track is off of, was released after The Zombies had broken up, which was a shame because it's such an amazing album!  I don't think there is a track on it I don't like. "Brief Candles" is one of my favorites.

6.  I Had A King - Joni Mitchell
Not from Blue, but another fantastic album, Song To A Seagull, "I Had A King" is so pretty and poetic I think Annette Bening would probably sing this song at an awkward dinner party too.  No one can convey such beauty and emotion into a song like Joni can...

7.  Middle Cyclone - Neko Case
This what country music is supposed to sound like, right? Maybe it's just country-folk-pop-core.

8.  The Strangers - St. Vincent
Every time I hear a St. Vincent song, I can't help but think of my favorite feminist bookstore.  Also, the bass at the end of this song is great.

9.  The Rip - Portishead
When I first started my radio show, a few years ago, I was really into Portishead, and when Third came out I think it was heavy on my rotation for months.  I'm embarrassed of some of the songs on my old playlists, but I am not embarrassed of this one, or any other track by them.  Radiohead does a nice cover of this song too.

10.  BASF ace - Com Truise
I don't know anything about Com Truise, but I know that if you like instrumental tracks with a chill-wave vibe, you'll probably like this one.

11.  6699 (I Don't Know If You Know) - Neon Indian
This song has a mood/tone that is sadder than the rest of the album (which I still like...)

12.  Natural Causes - Nite Jewel
I know that this is the second Nite Jewel song in a row, and it's from the same 12"...but I think I like this one even better than the previous track I posted.  I love the lyrics, I love the sound, I love everything about it.  It's smooth, but hazy, slow, but danceable, and just the right amount of melancholy...

13.  I Want You - Summer Camp
When I first started listening to this song, I wasn't a huge fan of the music or the lyrics, but as it became darker and more intense, I began to like it more and more.  Around the 2:00 mark it turns into the type of song I love, building bass, desperate sounding vocals, and a hook that you can't get out of your head.

14.  Rosa - Grimes
Vocal melodies that overlap and a good bass line, sounds like a good combo to me.

15.  Tip Of Your Tongue - Porcelain Raft
If you like the Pains of Being Pure At Heart, you'll probably like "Tip Of Your Tongue."

16.  Spirit - Arc in Round
Also like the Pains of Being Pure At Heart, but the more shoe-gazey Pains of Being Pure At Heart.

I obviously lost a little steam at the end there, but hopefully it will give you a better idea of what you are about to listen to! (should you choose to download)