In My Headphones Mixtape #2 (Fall 2005)
Back in April I featured an online exclusive "mix tape" of my favorite tracks from that time of year. Due to frequent requests for a sequel, I've decided to put together eleven tracks I think everyone should be listening to. Some are very recent, others are from older independent releases. Read about them here, then download the songs … and as always I welcome your comments. Enjoy! But please, if you like any of this music, consider purchasing the albums released by said bands. I'm not putting these songs up so you can have "free music" ... these are meant as samples, to give you an idea of the vast amount of great music still out there. It's up to you to support them by buying the albums which supports the bands making more music.
The Zutons - "Pressure Point"
Liverpool's The Zutons sound a lot like label-mate The Coral, which perhaps has stunted their album's impact here in the states. But "Pressure Point" is a mind-bendingly addictive track featuring a fat bass line, syncopated guitars and horns and a vocalist whose voice will be bounding around in your head long after the song is finished.
Akon - "Trouble Nobody"
Aliaune Thiam, better known as Akon, was born in Senegal and raised in New Jersey. He lived a life of crime as a teenager, then used the time he spent in jail to write what may be the best hip hop album of 2004. His song "Belly Dancer" may be getting the most airplay, but this track -- which discusses the fact that he's a felon and will never be able to fully avoid the affects that has had on his life -- is both musically and lyrically a stunner. For those who don't own his album yet, Akon will be releasing an expanded version of Trouble, including a second disc of collaborations, on November 22.
Jamie Cullum - "London Skies"
A folk pop gem off his latest album, jazz popster Jamie Cullum fleshes out the simple melody with a solid guitar piano and percussion orchestration that highlights his raw sandy vocals. This comes almost wrapped and tied with a bow for American radio, but we still seem to be missing the boat, which is disappointing. For those of us who wish Cullum would play a few US dates, we can tide ourselves over somewhat when The World Cafe airs a live performance by Cullum on November 18.
Wyclef Jean - "President"
Jazzy hip hop with a Caribbean twist, this was Wyclef's pre-election bid for radio airplay. While stations never picked it up, the track is an exquisite example of how a song with political undertones can still rebel without losing ear-catching qualities. The song was part of a Haitian Creole album released by Wyclef in 2004 on Koch Records.
Steve Earle - "Amerika v. 6.0"
Another politically tinged track, this was off Steve Earle's 2002 album Jerusalem. Blending a touch of country flavor to his roots rock, Earle takes a look at post-September 11 America. The song itself relies on Earle's semi-spoken vocals to add impact, and the background music is as good as anything on his more-famed Copperhead Road album.
Blood of Abraham - "Only The Wise"
This track is an example of how a track can be successful in the hip hop genre without relying solely on today's cliché sound. It successfully draws listeners back to early-90s hip hop style musically, which is a welcome change of pace. It's also got an addictive hook you'll have a hard time forgetting.
Saul Williams - "List of Demands"
This one's hard to sum up in a short blurb. Saul attempts to expand his spoken word hip hop sound with a track featuring live punk rock guitar and vocals presented in the style of a rant in order to make a point about inner city struggles in our culture. The blend of hip hop with punk rock is a success, and makes this worthy of a listen. Saul is well-known in the poetic community as a revivalist of sorts; his website encourages youth to turn to poetry as a valid form of expression. It's definitely worth a world wide web visit.
Rilo Kiley - "Portions For Foxes"
You may have heard this one before -- Bloomington's WTTS loves to play it still, even a year after it came out on the band's Warner release More Adventurous. This is a solid example of how alterna-rock can also feature pop-oriented hooks. Try not to get hooked on this song, I dare you! Oh, and the band's lead singer (Jenny Lewis) will be releasing her debut solo album in January, so that's also worth looking forward to.
Citizen Cope - "Sun's Gonna Rise"
This one flew under the radar until it was featured, of all things, in a car commercial. But if the exposure helped bring Clarence Greenwood's music to the forefront, it was worth it. This song is perfect driving music: upbeat, sunny and you'll have the chorus down to sing along almost immediately. Check it out, then go buy his two major label albums. They're well worth the time. Greenwood is still packing them in for his solo tour (just him and a guitar) ... four of his five solo dates in November are SOLD OUT. If you've got time to travel to New York's "The Knitting Factory" on Sunday night, you might luck out and find a ticket.
Alanis Morissette - "Crazy"
Alanis has a greatest hits album coming out November 15, and this cover of Seal's "Crazy" may be her best shot at a #1 since Jagged Little Pill. Enough said.
Barenaked Ladies - "War on Drugs"
A buried album track on their latest effort, Everything To Everyone, "War on Drugs" features a simple melody and a brutally honest lyric about struggles with drugs, depression and suicide . Unless you're a fan you may have missed this one entirely, but it's perhaps the best song they've ever recorded (Rolling Stone called it the only decent song on the entire album). The band has a new holiday EP out entitled Barenaked For Hanukkah, and lead singer Steven Page released his solo album The Vanity Project earlier this year.
Back in April I featured an online exclusive "mix tape" of my favorite tracks from that time of year. Due to frequent requests for a sequel, I've decided to put together eleven tracks I think everyone should be listening to. Some are very recent, others are from older independent releases. Read about them here, then download the songs … and as always I welcome your comments. Enjoy! But please, if you like any of this music, consider purchasing the albums released by said bands. I'm not putting these songs up so you can have "free music" ... these are meant as samples, to give you an idea of the vast amount of great music still out there. It's up to you to support them by buying the albums which supports the bands making more music.
The Zutons - "Pressure Point"
Liverpool's The Zutons sound a lot like label-mate The Coral, which perhaps has stunted their album's impact here in the states. But "Pressure Point" is a mind-bendingly addictive track featuring a fat bass line, syncopated guitars and horns and a vocalist whose voice will be bounding around in your head long after the song is finished.
Akon - "Trouble Nobody"
Aliaune Thiam, better known as Akon, was born in Senegal and raised in New Jersey. He lived a life of crime as a teenager, then used the time he spent in jail to write what may be the best hip hop album of 2004. His song "Belly Dancer" may be getting the most airplay, but this track -- which discusses the fact that he's a felon and will never be able to fully avoid the affects that has had on his life -- is both musically and lyrically a stunner. For those who don't own his album yet, Akon will be releasing an expanded version of Trouble, including a second disc of collaborations, on November 22.
Jamie Cullum - "London Skies"
A folk pop gem off his latest album, jazz popster Jamie Cullum fleshes out the simple melody with a solid guitar piano and percussion orchestration that highlights his raw sandy vocals. This comes almost wrapped and tied with a bow for American radio, but we still seem to be missing the boat, which is disappointing. For those of us who wish Cullum would play a few US dates, we can tide ourselves over somewhat when The World Cafe airs a live performance by Cullum on November 18.
Wyclef Jean - "President"
Jazzy hip hop with a Caribbean twist, this was Wyclef's pre-election bid for radio airplay. While stations never picked it up, the track is an exquisite example of how a song with political undertones can still rebel without losing ear-catching qualities. The song was part of a Haitian Creole album released by Wyclef in 2004 on Koch Records.
Steve Earle - "Amerika v. 6.0"
Another politically tinged track, this was off Steve Earle's 2002 album Jerusalem. Blending a touch of country flavor to his roots rock, Earle takes a look at post-September 11 America. The song itself relies on Earle's semi-spoken vocals to add impact, and the background music is as good as anything on his more-famed Copperhead Road album.
Blood of Abraham - "Only The Wise"
This track is an example of how a track can be successful in the hip hop genre without relying solely on today's cliché sound. It successfully draws listeners back to early-90s hip hop style musically, which is a welcome change of pace. It's also got an addictive hook you'll have a hard time forgetting.
Saul Williams - "List of Demands"
This one's hard to sum up in a short blurb. Saul attempts to expand his spoken word hip hop sound with a track featuring live punk rock guitar and vocals presented in the style of a rant in order to make a point about inner city struggles in our culture. The blend of hip hop with punk rock is a success, and makes this worthy of a listen. Saul is well-known in the poetic community as a revivalist of sorts; his website encourages youth to turn to poetry as a valid form of expression. It's definitely worth a world wide web visit.
Rilo Kiley - "Portions For Foxes"
You may have heard this one before -- Bloomington's WTTS loves to play it still, even a year after it came out on the band's Warner release More Adventurous. This is a solid example of how alterna-rock can also feature pop-oriented hooks. Try not to get hooked on this song, I dare you! Oh, and the band's lead singer (Jenny Lewis) will be releasing her debut solo album in January, so that's also worth looking forward to.
Citizen Cope - "Sun's Gonna Rise"
This one flew under the radar until it was featured, of all things, in a car commercial. But if the exposure helped bring Clarence Greenwood's music to the forefront, it was worth it. This song is perfect driving music: upbeat, sunny and you'll have the chorus down to sing along almost immediately. Check it out, then go buy his two major label albums. They're well worth the time. Greenwood is still packing them in for his solo tour (just him and a guitar) ... four of his five solo dates in November are SOLD OUT. If you've got time to travel to New York's "The Knitting Factory" on Sunday night, you might luck out and find a ticket.
Alanis Morissette - "Crazy"
Alanis has a greatest hits album coming out November 15, and this cover of Seal's "Crazy" may be her best shot at a #1 since Jagged Little Pill. Enough said.
Barenaked Ladies - "War on Drugs"
A buried album track on their latest effort, Everything To Everyone, "War on Drugs" features a simple melody and a brutally honest lyric about struggles with drugs, depression and suicide . Unless you're a fan you may have missed this one entirely, but it's perhaps the best song they've ever recorded (Rolling Stone called it the only decent song on the entire album). The band has a new holiday EP out entitled Barenaked For Hanukkah, and lead singer Steven Page released his solo album The Vanity Project earlier this year.
posted by Jonathan Sanders @ 10:12 PM
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