THE WRITING ON THE WALLS // Fall 2010 Mix

Despite the heat wave we're experiencing here in California, it is indeed fall, which means that it's about time I put some new music up. I have to say that I'm slightly disappointed in the selection of music out this year, but the albums that do stand out are rather fantastic. Arcade Fire, Spoon, and Tyler James being a handful of those. Those guys and others have made it into the mix.


Tracklist:
01. Motion City Soundtrack - Stand Too Close
02. Spoon - Out Go The Lights
03. Frightened Rabbit - Foot Shooter
04. Lucky Soul - Warm Water
05. Arcade Fire - Modern Man
06. Tyler James - Stay Humble
07. Beach House - Lover of Mine
08. David Sinclair Robison - Free Radical
09. Belle & Sebastian - Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John
10. Vampire Weekend - I Think UR A Contra
11. Dan Black - Life Slash Dreams
12. Jimmy Eat World - Mixtape

Download 'The Writing On The Walls'

AM MUSIC BLOG VALENTINE'S DAY MIXTAPE: It's Okay With Me

I could go on about the problems I have with Valentine's Day, but I decided to put together a mix instead. For those without a love to call their own, this is a somewhat melancholic compilation with some new artists I've been diggin' the hell out of these past few weeks (and some older ones as well).


Tracklist:
01. Lightspeed Champion - Dead Head Blues
02. Dashboard Confessional - No News Is Bad News
03. Maximo Park - Calm
04. Dan Black - Cocoon
05. Beirut - Venice
06. Blind Pilot - 3 Rounds & A Sound
07. The Twilight Sad - Seven Years Of Letters
08. Manchester Orchestra - It's OK With Me
09. The xx - Stars
10. Howling Bells - Nightingale
11. Frightened Rabbit - My Backwards Walk

(ZIP File)

AM MUSIC BLOG FALL/WINTER MIXTAPE: Fall's Hope

I know this is a bit later than usual, but Southern California doesn't really experience fall until around November. In any case, better late than never I suppose.


Fall's Hope is a mix of heartbreaking songs that I think capture the season rather beautifully. There are some new artists on here, along with some blog favorites, and I hope you enjoy the hell out of every last song. If you do, please consider supporting the artist by buying their album or at least the song!

Edit: from now on, I won't be posting individual links to the songs (for mixes) as the DMCA seems to be pretty retarded at figuring out the difference between live links and dead ones.

01. Travis Oberg - Bloodlines
02. Greg Laswell - This Woman's Work
03. Imogen Heap - Half Life
04. The Veils - It Hits Deep
05. The Swell Season - I Have Loved You Wrong
06. Snow Patrol - The Planets Bend Between Us
07. Jack's Mannequin - Lullaby
08. Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - Someday
09. The Temper Trap - Soldier On
10. Jon Foreman - Somebody's Baby
11. Robert Francis - Do What I Can
12. Eef Barzelay - True Freedom
13. Dear Reader - Great White Bear
14. Piano Magic - A Fond Farewell
15. Mew - Start

(Zip File)

Mute Math & As Tall As Lions / Club Nokia / 10.10.09

Last weekend, I saw a couple of the best musical acts around share the stage over at Club Nokia in L.A. I'd seen both bands previously, but this happened to both bands' best show to date... at least in my opinion.


As Tall As Lions took the stage first. If you've never heard these guys before, let me tell you that they are the kings of discordancy (I'm quite possibly making up that word). The ability these guys have to stitch together melodies with discordant harmonies isn't simply incredible, but inspiring to anyone that's musically inclined. Even though I was there to see Mute Math, the 45 minute set played by these guys was the perfect precursor in talent as well as energy. They have a new album out, and if you're interested in checking it out, there's a link below.


Mute Math took the stage next, and though there were people in there that had seen them before, I don't think most of the crowd knew what to expect. Starting off with 'The Nerve' and 'Backfire', it seemed as though they were going to run through Armistice in its entirety, but they quickly threw a wrench in that idea by jumping over to 'Chaos' from their self-titled debut. The set was a replica of the album cover, which made for the perfect electric drum-kit for 'No Response'. I have to say that of the 4 Mute Math shows I've seen to date, this one had the best lighting by far!


Following that, the guys jumped into 'Plan B' all the way from the Reset EP, and this is when the fun started. Jumping off and over the keyboard, rocking the keytar, and Paul's dancing that I would love to learn someday, dispersed throughout the rest of the set. 'Stare At The Sun' was greeted by cheer at the familiar bass line, and featured an extended instrumentation with Roy, Paul and Darren doing some crazy stuff with the percussion.


'Electrify' and 'Armistice made for some energy-filled songs, and 'Burden' was where the guys made their pre-encore stand. With Greg rocking an amazing solo and then getting on the xylophone, and Paul's haunting yet playful yelps filling the vocal emptiness, there wasn't a better way for them to exit the stage... just to make it back a few minutes later. A couple more songs later, Mute Math decided to end the night with 'Break the Same', one of my favorite songs of theirs, and one where they went all out. Paul was somersaulting back and forth over the keys and while the other guys were holding down the rhythm, Darren grabs the bass drum into the audience, gets on top of it, and jumps backwards into the crowd to surf. By far one of the most memorable moments in my Mute Math live experience.


As I was exiting the venue, I lost track of the number of people I heard talking about how they were entirely blown away. So if you haven't seen them yet, and they're coming out to a venue near you, grab some tickets and some friends, and go check them out. You won't regret it.

Setlist:
The Nerve
Backfire
Chaos
Clipping
No Response
Plan B
Stare At The Sun
Electrify
Armistice
You Are Mine
Odds
Notice
Typical
Burden

Encore:
Pins And Needles
Spotlight
Reset
Break The Same




Mute Math - Armistice (2nd Line Version) feat. Rebirth Brass Band

As Tall As Lions Website | MySpace Page | Buy You Can't Take It With You on iTunes

Mute Math Website | MySpace Page | Buy Armistice on iTunes

Mute Math Armistice Lithos Contest

Well, Mute Math are on their headlining tour, on the way to L.A., and in celebration of the tour and the new album, the folks over at Warner Music Group sent over a handful of Armistice lithos to pass out to the readers here at AM Music Blog.


So to get your hands on one of these, send an e-mail over with the title of your favorite track on Armistice as well as the address to mail it out to. In the meanwhile, enjoy this version of Armistice... I've been diggin' it.

Mute Math - Armistice (2nd Line Version) feat. Rebirth Brass Band

Official Site | MySpace Page | Buy Armistice