After last week's unintentional vacation from these mixes, we're back, rested and ready. In NYC it finally got hot and humid and I think that stickiness permates Summer Fridays 2.6. At least until we get to The Duckworth Lewis Method, but by then it's almost over. I also raided my early-'90s CD collection for this one a bit, but tried to put a bunch of new stuff on here too. Cover photo is Coney Island at the end of last year's Siren Festival. I remind you: if you'd like to contribute cover art, I'd love to have you do it. Just drop a line via email.
DOWNLOAD SUMMER FRIDAYS 2.6
Tracklist:
1. Love and Rockets - It Could Be Sunshine
2. Erik Blood - Saved You
3. Spoon - Advance Cassette
4. The Clientele - I Wonder Who We Are?
5. MEW - Beach
6. Kings of Convenience - Misread
7. Wild Beasts - We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues
8. The Flirtations - Nothing But a Heartbreak
9. Novillero - The Hypothesist
10. The Smiths - What Difference Does it Make?
11. Suede- Metal Mickey
12. Lilys - Ginger
13. Lush - De-Luxe
14. Jay Reatard - Wounded
15. The Beatles - I'm Happy Just to Dance With You
16. Biblio - Ambivalence Avenue
17. Orange Juice - Hokoyo
18. The Duckworth Lewis Method - The Age of Revolution
DISCLAIMER: The songs segue together, so no shuffle please. I bet you're tired of me saying that. Liner notes after the jump.
1. Love and Rockets - It Could Be Sunshine
I don't do it on purpose, but there always seems to be at least one song per mix that has "sun" or "beach" or "summer" in the title. There's two this week. This is from L&R's classic 1986 album, Express, which still sounds awesome, saxaphone and all.
2. Erik Blood - Saved You
Toby and Finest Kiss has jokingly dubbed Mr. Blood's sound as "soulgaze" which is accurate if a bit too cringeworthy to actually use. The former Turn Ons guitarist and producer extraordinaire let's all his loves come through on his awesome solo debut, making it the ultimate makeout record for those who have both Swervedriver and Al Green in their CD collections. Maybe not, but that's what I just wrote and I'm not taking it back. It's currently only available digitally, but it's gettable at all the normal places.
3. Spoon - Advance Cassette
Back in the day, if you were a journalist or worked in radio, you got your pre-release versions of albums via the Advance Cassette. I've got a box at my parents' house full of them. It's a funny thing to write a love song about, but that's Spoon for you. I somehow doubt anyone will write a lovesong called "Rapidshare RAR" but you never know.
4. The Clientele - I Wonder Who We Are?
I wasn't as high on the last Clientele album as most people (I prefer Strange Geometry) but this first taste of their upcoming Bonfires on the Heath makes me pretty excited to hear the rest of it.
5. MEW - Beach
I can take or leave MEW to be honest, but I always check out the new record, because when they're on these Danes are capable of some amazing sounds. (Like most of Frengers.) I haven't drunk too deeply from their upcoming No More Stories, but this track is the way I like them: minimal math, maximum pop.
6. Kings of Convenience - Misread
It's been five years since Riot on an Empty Street which is way too long to be without new KoC music. Granted, Erland Oye has stayed busy with The Whitest Boy Alive and DJ mixes, but nothing is quite like the regal pop these two produce.
7. Wild Beasts - We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues
Like the Associates, the Veils or Antony, the vocals are the dealbreaker with Wild Beasts -- there's actually two singers, both of whom have their balls in a vice -- but if you can get into it, this is sexy, sublime stuff. Their new album, Two Dancers, may not have anything as immediate as "Devil's Crayon" but it's hands-down a much better (and more listenable) record. The guitarwork awesome; the lyrics filthy.
8. The Flirtations - Nothing But a Heartbreak
What a fantastic sounding single, no? A minor hit in 1968, "Nothing but A Heartbreak" is now a staple at Northern Soul nights wherever those are held. (England, mostly.) You can get it on the essential One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Groups Lost and Found, which is an endless well of obscure and semi-obscure gems.
9. Novillero - The Hypothesist
These guys are from Winnepeg, Manitoba and they rarely make it down to America but they played here for CMJ 2006 which is where I first heard them and they knocked me back enough to buy their CD at the merch table.
10. The Smiths - What Difference Does it Make?
I love just about everything the Smiths ever did -- even "Golden Lights" -- but it's the sound from their first nine months or so, the first album and those early Peel Sessions, that stick with me the most. It's amazing to think The Smiths were only together for four and a half years.
11. Suede- Metal Mickey
I saw Suede on their first American tour and for the last song, singer Brett Anderson was swinging the mike around his head like a lasso. On the final chord, he held one arm up, closed his eyes and let the mike cord wrap around his body with the mike eventually landing in his other hand. It remains one of the most amazing things I've ever seen someone do onstage.
12. Lilys - Ginger
The Lilys have adoped many styles over the years, but I was always partial to the Dinosaur Jr shoegaze they unleashed on their A Brief History of Amazing Letdowns EP.
13. Lush - De-Luxe
Probably Lush's finest moment. Like most UK indie-loving boys of the time, I had a huge crush on Miki Berenyi. Miki, where are you now?
14. Jay Reatard - Wounded
I avoided listening to Jay for some time because of his name. That's a dumb thing to do. His new album, Watch Me Fail, is pretty great and you can download this teaser from his website.
15. The Beatles - I'm Happy Just to Dance With You
Like the Smiths, the Beatles put out an incredible ammount of amazing music in a very short period of time. Also like Moz and co, I like the early stuff the best, even the "formula" songs like this one from A Hard Day's Night.
16. Biblio - Ambivalence Avenue
Tammy from local record store Sound Fix turned me on to Biblio who is sort of like a more structured El Guincho to these ears -- bliss out music with a tropical vibe. Makes you want a drink with an umbrella in it.
17. Orange Juice - Hokoyo
From Orange Juice's second album, Rip it Up, the first to feature percussionist Zeke Manyika and his influence is clearly a part of it, and he sings co-lead with Edwyn Collins here on this high life influenced track.
18. The Duckworth Lewis Method - The Age of Revolution
Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy has teamed with Thomas Walsh of Pugwash (me either?) for this concept album about the sport of Cricket. No other way around it, it's pure novelty but kind of a fun listen. This is the album's title track, sort of tip of the hat to Lord Kitchener and other Trinidadian musicians. And you don't have to understand the sport to like this track.
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