Kim Taylor is a better candidate for incessantly repeated airplay than Sara Bareilles. I wrote about this song over a year ago stating that I had heard it a year before that. Unfortunately, the studio mp3s are no longer hosted on her site, but I was lucky enough to catch her demo version when it came out, then her album version, as well as a live version. Her live sets are available with good listening quality at archive.org.

Tegan and Sara are another pair of females that I have been flooding into my August ears. Their latest album The Con is probably one of my favorites of the 2000s. Minnesota’s radio station The Current was gracious enough to capture a drum-free version of the title track for us.

Tegan & Sara are at it again in the same session with “Back in Your Head.” The simplistic piano reminds me of a criticism against David Albarn’s easy pop-like piano instrumentation. To me, it all sounds good. I would put up half their CD if I wanted to ruin the fact that a mixtape should have a mix of artists.

Andrew Bird is brilliance. I can appreciate his style more than Sufjan Stevens (I admit the skills, but it sometimes doesn’t do it for me), although they both have that special virtuosity to their compositions. I think it is because Sufjan can’t whistle like a hybrid bird/theremin. If Andrew Bird didn’t have a behind-the-scenes mastermind mixing in the live pieces, he is one of the best arrangers I’ve ever come across. He seems really in tune with the motion of his work. This live cut is utterly different sounding from the version on Armchair Apocrypha. How about a another take closer to the original?

The Sea and Cake “Jacking the Ball” at their alleged first gig in 1993. I love this kind of instrumentation. It really grooves. The audio cuts out a bit in the video, but not enough to write letters to music policemen. It is worthy enough to dance to though.

And here’s a clip of “Abandon” by French Kicks. They come from the same locality as the Walkmen and their garage rock sound is certainly relational. A great little riff in here, with a touch of reverb to diffuse it all. Stereogum offers this mp3 for free.

Tres Chicas singing “Drop Me Down.” Call me hokey for liking a gospel country song, but I like the delivery. It feels more authentic than a congregation singing a contemporary P&W song. I might be showing my musical age by liking a trio of middle-aged women, but I guess I’m too old for my age. They remind me of Lucinda Williams. You can have this song as an mp3 too courtesy of SXSW 2006.

Insta-download of So Shy Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket.

Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth with his very own “fri/end.” Almost out of the 90s. But really out of the 00s. A bit prettier production (no feedback!?!?) than usually scratchy Sonic Youth.

Broken Social Scene with “Cause = Time.” Comments have suggested a likeness to Dinosaur Jr, which is somewhat detectable in the voice, but I speculate somewhat of a Sonic Youth/Pavement influence. I feel great when this is playing.

Aqueduct has a colorful and old-school looking video for “Hardcore Days and Softcore Nights.” The song found its way to television screen from various sources. I like to listen to it without TVs around me, unless someone has The O.C. on.

Mazzy Star’s “Take Everything” on her undervalued album Among My Swan. No legitimate video footage available though, so you get to cycle through a picture show on this one.

Paul the Westerberg doing “Valentine” for my August playlist. Do you admire my ability to mold these songs into my musical calendar?

Eli “Paperboy” Reed & The True Loves – “Take My Love With You”
R&B Soul stuff that gives a sensation of the Rolling Stones and Otis Redding. This song induces happiness and is a nice salute to the 60s sound. The horn section also brings a touch of swinging style that qualifies it for a sequel to Swingers. Check out another crisp song in a more intimate vocal/guitar setting called “It’s Easier“. Eli has got a fine set of lungs.

Fats Domino has a special skill to captivate me. This song was written in the 50s but it is delivered on this video in 1985. “Walking to New Orleans” is a calming song from a rock and roll innovator. This is just as good as any of his upbeat hits.

Too Obscure:
Challenger – “Unemployment”
Favorite lines:

Can I get a cigarette? I need a new habit
My old ones just don’t seem to cut it anymore