The Art of the Mixtape

After hours

Last call for drinks everybody pull up a chair, this mix is for those late nights whether you’re alone in a bar or in a haze or just wanting to be whisked away by the power of music, enjoy

Drunk Hearted Boy

The Allman Brothers at their boozy, wistful best

Tears Dry On Their Own

You’ll recognize the backing track, but you’ll hear it in a clearer way than ever before

Nice Day

You can almost watch the sun setting from the porch in the midwest listening to these guys

Baby, Baby, Baby

Aretha Franklin may best be known for Respect, but I’ve never heard her more soulful

Yes it Is

A beautiful understated melody and lyric by the Beatles, sometimes called a rehash of This Boy by jaded critics but it has its merits and its all the more sweet

La Mar

Wistful acoustic beauty

Earthquake Weather

This song belongs in a Wes Anderson movie, or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, after a character has gotten to a drunken/drugged stupor and the world around him is unfolding

Lean On Me (live)

The best anthems are those that are the most simple in their message, and this makes simple look complex

New York State of Mind

Is their anything better for those late lonely nights than a pianist with chops, i think not

Things Ain’t Like They Used To Be

Beautiful melody

Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands

Bob Dylan, in a bar, at 4 am, theres no other way to describe it

You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome

There is a certain familiarity and beauty in Bob Dylans meld of harmonica and guitar that the world hasn’t heard since

Put it On

A criminally underrated Bob Marley song

Evangeline Tonight

This guy is pretty much unknown but this melody is timeless

Meeting Across the River

Bruce Springsteen, sounding more forlorn than ever, and yet the songs beauty is on parallel to West Side Story

New York City Serenade

A stunning piano intro that melds into the most gorgeous acoustic guitar and piano interplay in the history of music

Dancing on the Ceiling

Frank Sinatra simply sounds better and more talented when he’s not trying to swing

Political Science

For the cynic in all of us

Just Like A Woman

As much as Bob Dylan wrote beautiful songs, Richie Havens interprets it as if it shouldn’t have been recorded any other way.

New Coat of Paint

A nightcap to the end of a very late night, hell i can smell the bar

A dash of Jazz

It would seem silly of me to write a piece about jazz, those that are interested in jazz know about it and those who aren’t choose not too, regardless here are a few of my all time favorites.

Love for Sale–

Cannonball Adderley’s Somethin’ Else featured one of the most prolific lineups to ever be featured on a jazz record. Miles Davis, Hank Jones, Sam Jones, Art Blakey and of course Cannonball Adderley who in my honest opinion has a tone equal too, if not greater than Coltrane, course I say this because Coltrane got the reputation he deserved and is well known outside jazz circles while Cannonball Adderley is not. A lot of people point to Autumn Leaves as being the best track from this album but I feel it wanders too far. Love for Sale begins with a beautiful piano intro that seems to be giving the track its first breath before it opens up into a perfectly executed ensemble piece. Miles Davis proves his excellence at carrying a melody on this track and the changes in percussion are dynamic if not sublime along with the piano that still sways in the background.

Moment’s Notice –

This song, off of Blue Train by John Coltrane was recorded as the title suggests, on a moments notice. As much of a skill as it is in jazz to interpret standards and make them live anew, there is also a place for those who can improvise and make something completely original and beautiful spur of the moment. The melody and horn arrangments on here are fantastic, the band has a tight dynamic groove that shows just how skilled the musicians are and how well they can play together. Off the cuff as this song was, it doesn’t feel that way listening to it.

Mood Indigo

Charles Mingus was a hell of a jazz bassist, but perhaps his greatest strength lay in arranging music. Mood Indigo was a standard from days gone by, a favorite of Duke Ellington when he was at his performing peak. Everything about Mingus’s take on Mood Indigo is breathless in its beauty, from the sweeping piano at the beginning to the perfect harmony of the horns through out, and even the spacious bass solo in between, it is understatement at its most elegent. If there is a better song that expresses the feeling during a slow rainy day, or the end of a very late night, I haven’t heard it.

Central Park West

John Coltrane could definitely impress with a rapid pace solo. But it was in his slower songs that he was his most beautiful. Soft and elegant, it is easy to picture a beautiful fall day in Central Park, with the leaves falling, guided only by the wind and Coltrane’s drifting saxaphone, the piano is also beautifully done. A real slow burner, but a real beauty.

Bonus:

Turn it Out

Soulive is a modern day jazz organ trio and this is probably their finest song featuring great guitar and organ interplay and a great melody. This recording is taken from a live setting.

New Music Sunday- Temper Trap, Rosewood Thieves, The Union Line, Bishop Allen, Army Navy

Three new bands for all of you out there to check out today. The radio sometimes makes me want to give up on music but here are three bands that are keeping it fresh and yet remind you of all those good old bands that we used to remember when it was talent and originality that dominated the airwaves instead of vocoder hooks.

Temper Trap-

Temper Trap reminds me of a lot of things, they’ve got the energy that British imports like the Arctic Monkeys and the Kooks featured before them, as well as a taste for beautiful slow ballads and feature a vocalist more similar to Thom Yorke of Radiohead than the brash aforementioned brethren, low praise this is not.

Soldier On

a slower style ballad of theirs, beautiful singing

Sweet Disposition

flashes of Radiohead, The Cure, and a little of U2

Hearts

heres that energy i was talking about

Sirens

more of that Thom Yorke touch, with a melody thats hard to beat

Rosewood Thieves-

I don’t remember how exactly I heard of this band, but I’m sure glad I did. Similarities abound between this group and famous rock heroes such as John Lennon and Bob Dylan. In fact many times I’ve been asked by Bob Dylan fans if this band is indeed Bob Dylan. Great Melodies, great songwriting and great influences.

Murder Ballad in G Minor

basic arrangement of acoustic guitars and acoustic percussion, the story is among the best dylan could have dreamed up.

Bullet Painted Red

A song that feels like an age old drinking tune, about adultery and featuring the chorus. Down at the tavern, where the drinks they taste just like fire, I told you I loved you and you kissed my lips like a liar. Sometimes the best melodies are the most simple ones, and this one sticks with you.

Junkyard Julie

This song is pure Bob Dylan delivered with the intensity and sarcasm worthy of John Lennon.

When My Plane Lands

Great piano and guitar interplay, another Bob Dylan meets Lennon song. Intensity in the delivery and a nice hook.

The Union Line-

As much as simple arrangements work best for some, The Union Line doesn’t pride itself on following basics. With a singer similar to the likes of Modest Mouse, they manage to be just as different yet better with hooks. Great taste in arrangements is their signature and its a treat to listen to their songs develop, this is really a band to watch. They sound experienced beyond what their one album discography would suggest.

Bishop Allen-

I first heard this band in the movie Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist which featured a strong soundtrack and a good story but I feel Adventureland tops it in pure awkward feel and accuracy. Nevertheless I heard this band say we’re Bishop Allen before launching into a live version of Middle Management, and when the movie ended I felt like I had to check this band out, the results don’t disappoint, they feature textured arrangements that are unusual in an indie band.

Things Are What You Make of Them

Army Navy-

Another band out of the Nick and Norah soundtrack. This band has an eye for sweet melodies and a dynamic live sound and subtle harmonies that slip into their tracks from time to time, another band to keep an eye out for.

My Thin Sides

Saints

Snakes of Hawaii