ONCE February 2008 Mixtape

The month of February almost got by me! I have been asked repeatedly in the last few days, “Has there been a February mix yet?”. Well better late than sorry. This mix may be late but it certainly doesn’t show. Some great new tracks here. We got an Oscar winner, an actress who hasn’t won an Oscar yet, and singers from India, England, Canada, Ireland, Denmark, Brooklyn and Australia. This collection is diverse and delicious! Enjoy!


Track #1
She and Him
Volume One
“Why Do You Let Me Stay Here”

Zooey Deschanel, the actress from such movies as Mumford, Elf, Hitchhikers Guide To the Galaxy, Bridge To Terabethia and Failure To Launch, branches out into singing with this debut from her project called She and Him. M. Ward is the “him” in the title providing vocals as well as instrumentation. The song is a bouncy little number that seems to be perfectly suited for her. The album comes out this month.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=i15bOlgffn0 – Bad quality live video of them singing the classic “Lonesome Town”


Track #2
Glen Hasard (ft. Marketa Irglova)
ONCE
“Falling Slowly”

If I had been able to get this out earlier this month, it might have been good enough to get you to go see the movie “Once”. But now I waited too long and it won an Oscar this year for best original song in a movie. So hopefully this isn’t old news and you will still want to check out the song. And if you have seen the movie yet, your life is sadly deprived! Real life couple Glen and Marketa sing about working your way back into a relationship and turning that sinking ship around.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XzQRuTwaFI8 – Clip from the movie Once where this song is composed and sung

Track #3
Buck 65
Situation
“1957”

The song starts like a Michael Myers soundtrack with it’s awesome piano loop. Then comes Buck 65 a Canadian hip hop artist. This album returns him to his more hip-hop roots after briefly visiting the dark side with his country tinged album. What I like about this album is the infectious loops and beats. His delivery is smooth and keeps you bobbing your head. After this song you will walk around for hours singing to yourself, “No joke, hit the low note, we all go to heaven in a little rowboat”.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9wyyVh3uc5Y – Video for “Wicked and Weird”


Track #4
The Whigs
Mission Control
“Right Hand On My Heart”

This band is straight out of Athens, Georgia. Their new album Mission Control is quickly become the darling of the music critics. With the catchy hooks and dirty guitars the album is a great listen. Here we have a great track off the album that really shows off their own southern version of garage rock.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mcZgh9l6PO0 –“Right Hand On My Heart” performed live on Conan O’Brien

Track #5
The Raveonettes
Lust, Lust, Lust
“Dead Sound”

Feeling moody? Maybe a little disconnected? The Raveonettes may be your answer to those feelings. This Danish duo take the Nancy Sinatra type girl pop from the 60’s then update it in all their gloomy glory. Comes out like a Nancy Sinatra song twisted with The Cure. Awesome feedback and overblown amps make this song the most feel good song of the year.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7SMPjXsnD8k – Video for “Dead Sound”

Track #6
Dillinger Escape Plan
Ire Works
“Black Bubblegum”

Math metal returns with DEP at the helm. This time around they decide to play nice and reign in their hectic sound. The result is one of the coolest albums of the year. With their third album they are slowly beginning to carve a place for themselves in the music world. Maturity is really what stands out and “Black Bubblegum” is a perfect example of this. But don’t purchase the album and expect every song to side this structured. They still have the madness that their fans have come to love.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-B0sPZ_QqeA – “Black Bubblegum” performed live on Conan O’Brien

Track #7
Wu-Tang Clan
8 Diagrams
“The Heart Gently Weeps (ft. Erykah Badu, Dhani Harrison and John Frusciante)”

Ok! Wu-Tang Clan have finally put aside their differences and put out a new album. No one does East Coast rap like the Clan. On this album the boys all return without ODB who died two years ago. RZA produces the album with fantastic results allowing all the boys to let their talents shine. So how can you make a Wu-Tang Clan song even better? Well use a interpolation of a Harrison penned Beatles song, have Erykah Badu sing the hook, ask George Harrison’s son to play the guitar on it, and then just to go the extra mile, get Red Hot Chili Peppers guitar virtuoso to perform the guitar solo! The song tells the story of a day that included shopping and murdering. Ahhh good to have the Clan back!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GDfToFcJ2J4 – Classic Wu-Tang video for “C.R.E.A.M”

Track #8
The Twang
Love It When I Feel Like This
“Wide Awake”

This band out of England made my mix back in June before their album ever dropped. It was a remix done by my favorites The Streets. But since that was essentially a Streets song with Twang lyrics I thought it would be good to visit the stripped down band. The album is a great mix of spoken and sung lyrics with incredible hooks. This song is all about what makes us who we are. And once you know that that then you are truly wide awake!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QjnsWeQnz0A – Official video for “Wide Awake”

Track #9
Gym Class Heroes
As Cruel As School Children
“Clothes Off!”

Gym Class Heroes second album really hits the mark. It is everything the first album should have been. Here we have great collaboration with Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy. Their next project is taking this album and their first one and remixing it all with Hall & Oates songs. Wow that could be cool.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6NUxMgzHdic – Official video for “Clothes Off!”

Track #10
Hot Chip
Made In the Dark
“Ready For the Floor”

Hot Chip, the British electropop band, is hard to pin down. At one point they are disco kings, then lounge crooners and the next pop singers. The new album is diverse collection of beats and dance floor classics. They are highly respected for their remixes of different artists music. But with their new album they show that they can shine all by themselves. Case in point is the dance floor ready song, “Ready For the Dance Floor”.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AW94AEmzFhQ – Official video for “Ready For the Floor”

Track #11
M.I.A.
Kala
“Paper Planes”

This Indian\British singer is back with her sophomore album “Kala”. The first single “Bird Flu” was a big hit internationally. Each song on the album is crafted using the strangest beats. The chorus of “Paper Planes” includes a super cool double action sidearm with a cash register ring.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7sei-eEjy4g – Official video for “Paper Planes”

Track #12
The Weepies
Say I Am Yours
“World Spins Madly On”

This great indie band out of Massachusetts gave us a great album full of syrupy lyrics and beautiful harmonies. It is a solid album all the way through. The video is awesome! What happens when monsters fall in love?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=L4sa2HoXpsE – Official video “World Spins Madly On”

Track #13
Sia
Some People Have Real Problems
“Buttons”

This quirky song comes off the seventh album from Australian singer. It has simple feel to it that makes you feel like you know it the first time you hear it. They crafted a perfectly quirky video as well. The chorus will stick with you for a long time, “Get away from your lover!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=71-p7HlqpfY – Official video for “Buttons”

Track #14
Yeasayer
All Hour Cymbals
“2080”

This song has almost a Paul Simon feel with the modern influences of someone like !!! (Chk Chk Chk). Maybe even a little bit of 90’s folk outfit “Rusted Root”. When they performed this song on Conan he declared it his new favorite song of the year. The band, which hails from Brooklyn, describe their music as “Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel”. Now if that doesn’t make you want to go check out this band then nothing will!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dhW8dH7txeU – Band performing “2080” live in their living room