For those that are keeping track, April was quite possibly the month of quality releases this year. And I’m lucky for that because the new releases will hopefully be my saving grace after doing this mix last minute. I hope you’ll forgive me for doing a quick roll call of the included bands, because it’s getting late and I ‘m tired like I’m in the center seat on a red-eye flight and the 2 guys flanking me are named “Sneezy” and “Dopey.”
I shouldn’t have to mention Frightened Rabbit, but their new album is really amazing – and lived up to the unreal expectations I had of it. It goes against my better judgement to make outlandish predictions like “ZOMG! Album of the year!” – but if I wasn’t of sound mind at this moment, I’d be shouting that all over the place. I very nearly put “Old Old Fashioned” on this mix, but with an album filled with a full sequence of ridiculous tracks, “Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms” managed to be this month’s selection. I’m a sucker for the slide guitar action. But the surprise of this year may go to EMC, the album out of 41 year old hip-hop legend, Masta Ace, along with his accomplished tourmates; Punchline, Wordsworth & Stricklin. I love “The Grudge” for its honest memory of youthful spite, and in a month where my favorite local cuisine has been threatened by some ill-intended city legislation and my cellphone was stolen by an airline employee, I definitely have a grudge (and I’m not gonna budge). I also thought there was supposed to be a Les Savy Fav live album out yesterday, but it turns out that it’s a digital-only release.
I’m finally sticking the unbelievable Walter Rocktight track, “Make Love” on here, along with some of the most upbeat drum programming you’ll hear me listening to. The Hectors are making a second appearance on the monthly mixes after Octavius finally gave me their new EP that I asked him to pick me up probably about 6 months ago when I wasn’t able to make their release party. The blog world is familiar with Alaska In Winter as being a pseudo-side-project of Beirut, but I think it stands on its own and “Your Red Dress” is a testament to that. The Sound of Arrows is so upbeat and poppy you have to know it has to be a new Labrador signing. And capping of the selections is Under Electric Light – a band from Montreal that recently sent me along some tracks that are fucking awesome in a Radio Dept/New Order sort of way, but totally mature in a way that you wouldn’t expect of a band with those sort of influences. Ok, I’m off to bed.
[banner photo by stadtbild]
May 2008 Mix
01 EMC – The Grudge
02 Frightened Rabbit – Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms
03 Big Star – O, Dana
04 The Hectors – I Drove All The Way From Bridgeport To Make It With You
05 Alaska In Winter – Your Red Dress
06 Walter Rocktight (feat. Chauncey) – Make Love
07 Leadbelly – Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
08 The Sound of Arrows – Danger!
09 Tsunami – Hockey
10 Under Electric Light – Your Rainy Days
