Mixdit round 5: Mix from Thomnomnom

Lesson No. 1 - Glenn Branca

You know you're dealing with good tastes (or at least a music nerd) when they start a CD off with Glenn Branca. Haven't heard this one before and I absolutely love it. I always felt like track 1 of a CD is the one of the most important because it serves as a manifesto for what the rest of the CD will be like. In that respect, this is great - hugely atmospheric and exciting - I can't wait to hear the rest of the mix.

Rumpus - Karen O & the Kids

It starts with James Gandolfini telling me I'm going to be king (I'm guessing this is from Where the Wild things are OST) and then I get two minutes of poppy, glockenspeily fun with kids singing in the background. It's kind of reminiscent of the Glenn Branca track if it was recorded at a playground. Not really my sort of thing, but a nice tune.

Purple Bottle - Animal Collective

This track is a lot of fun, sounds like it was written while the guys were drunk - in a good way. Keep expecting this track to kick off a bit more, could be a great party song if it was a bit more dancey, but it defies my wishes (which is good, really, keeps me guessing.) A cool track, but a little bit long and samey in my opinion.

Double Groove (unfinished Outtake) - Talking Heads

Yeah! This is more like it! Love Talking Heads but haven't heard this one. I think by now I'm starting to see Thomnomnom's personality a bit, and I'm getting a feel for his musical tastes - he like's trippy, emergent, reverby stuff (all very cool, and all up my alley, too). This number is too cool, I could listen to that groove all day and never get bored. I've got it going on my headphones right now and the stereo map is all over the shop! I've got guitars, drums and keyboards zooming about creating a very trippy vibe. Best track so far.

To Be Objectified - Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard

The sound of the ocean ushers in a bit more of a down to earth atmosphere now with a lovely song by Jeffrey Lewis, who has one of those great 'bad' singing voices. 'Going bald is the most manly thing I'm ever gonna to do' - this lyric made me smile straight away and I really enjoy this song, it's a lovely breath of folksy air after the space-madness of the first few tracks.

An Arrow in the side of Final Fantasy - Final Fantasy

Very catchy violin/viola (maybe fiddle, I'm not sure) riff in this song. Not my usual tastes but quite nice - especially the trumpet in the chorus. It really picks up around the 2 minute mark when the outro kicks in (that sounds like a mean joke, I just liked the outro, cool pads and synths)

So Begins Our Alabee - Of Montreal

This is a band I hear a lot about but have never listened to so I'm interested straight away. They don't disapoint with an otherworldly vocal sample and glitchy processed beats. More synths layer in and I'm liking it more and more. The chorus is little... I'm not sure, I don't want to say commercial because that makes me sound like a douche but... I just don't like the chorus, catchy though it is. Overall, a very, very cool chunk of synth pop - I can see why they've been recommended to me before, I reckon my hipper older brother would love them!

Serbian Cocek - A Hawk and a Hacksaw

Wahey! Love this straight away - makes me want to break out the vodka. Vaguely eastern European (maybe even... Serbian?) sounding folk - definately not what I expected to hear after what's come before. Will have to look into this band to see if this is a departure or the norm for them but I dig it a lot. I can see breaking this out at a party and having everyone either dancing like idiots or having them all think I'm an idiot in seconds. Just looked it up on wikipedia and the accordian player was the drummer in Neutral Milk Hotel - cool!

The Cowboy... -Godspeed! You Black Emperor

Already have this record but I love it. So atmospheric, with beatiful guitar playing. Sink down into my chair and close my eyes.. I need a rest after my mad cossacking to Hawk and a Hacksaw! Highly recommend this band (as does most of Reddit, it seems)

Exit Music (for a film) - Scala and Kolacny

Was worried about hearing this one as I'm a huge radiohead fan and there really is nothing worse than someone attempting the Head and not doing justice. This one is, thankfully, fantastic. What's the one thing spookier than Thom Yorke singing the soundtrack to Romeo and Juliet? A Choir of Belgian school-girls singing it. Inspired

Tarnation - Mat Avery Lichtenstein

A nice instrumental - Acoustic guitars, strings, piano - great arrangement. didn't love this one but it was nice. Sound's like film music to me, which is sometimes good but I found this a little boring.

People II: The Reckoning - Andrew Jackson Jihad

Another great bad singer! Cool folksy stuff again, hilarious lyrics about how shitty the world is - I literally Lol'd at 'In fucking fact, Mrs. Robinson they probably hate to see your stupid face' - but earnest enough to be quite touchingly sad too. Like a clown with a drinking problem. One of my favourite tracks - will definately look up some more of this guy's stuff.

Man Made Lake - Calexico

Quite an atmospheric one, this (not sure what the atmosphere is but it involves a lot of reverb). Was starting to bore me at first but I like the way it builds in intensity and the crazy-freakout guitars that kick in in the background about 2 minutes in.

Go your own way - Fleetwood Mac

Was surprised to see this on the track list, bit of a 'Dad-Rock' classic and sort of a departure from the rest of the CD. No matter, it's an absolutely great song and I can't help but smile at the chorus (bonus points for prompting a sing-along from my girlfriend). Everyone should bust out a little Fleetwood from time to time - especially rumours. Great stuff

Taste the Last Girl - Sons & Daughters

Quite a cool piece of bluesey glam-rock. Like the intergender vocals. Not the most exciting song I''ve ever heard but follows on nicely from the last track. Again my favourite bit is at the two minute mark when breakdown kicks in. Good fun song, could definately see throwing it on when driving.

TL;DR Overall a very cool CD with some new bands for me to check out. Nice and varied without being too all over the place, and a pretty good drawing of the Reddit alien on the cover! Thanks a lot Thomnomnom!