I remember the first time I heard “Steal My Kisses” by Ben Harper I was transfixed by the rhythmic hook that the song possessed, from its beat boxing intro to the slinky bass line and clean guitar hook. Fast forward a year later, and “Steal My Kisses” seems less of an original piece, due to hearing Bill Wither’s “Kissing My Love”. Both songs are great on their own and it’s an interesting piece of how music is informed by previous music.
Kissing My Love- Bill Withers
Steal My Kisses- Ben Harper
Tag: Bill Withers
Art of the Mixtape Presents: Hearts of Summer
Finally a day off of work and a new mixtape to celebrate the beautiful summer weather, this mix features some new releases and old favorites, all in 100 percent summer mode, some you might have heard of, others maybe not, but this mix is meant to be played in track order, a sublime summer celebration. The full mix after the jump.
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Mixtape Monday: Stolen Shoes, Cold Wars, and Love Fools
It’s time for another Mixtape Monday. This week has it all; great indies ( New Pornographers,Destroyer,Surfer Blood, Blitzen Trapper, Rosewood Thieves, Voxtrot, and the Morning Benders) some forgotten classics (Bill Withers, Jorge Ben, Paul McCartney, Freda Payne) and some great covers (Barbara, M. Ward). A little rain and a little sun and as always for free. Please check out the artists included because they’re all great bands that deserve some well earned cash. The full mix after the jump
Continue reading Mixtape Monday: Stolen Shoes, Cold Wars, and Love Fools
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
The Allman Brothers at their boozy, wistful best
You’ll recognize the backing track, but you’ll hear it in a clearer way than ever before
You can almost watch the sun setting from the porch in the midwest listening to these guys
Aretha Franklin may best be known for Respect, but I’ve never heard her more soulful
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
Wistful acoustic beauty
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
The best anthems are those that are the most simple in their message, and this makes simple look complex
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
Bob Dylan, in a bar, at 4 am, theres no other way to describe it
There is a certain familiarity and beauty in Bob Dylans meld of harmonica and guitar that the world hasn’t heard since
A criminally underrated Bob Marley song
This guy is pretty much unknown but this melody is timeless
Bruce Springsteen, sounding more forlorn than ever, and yet the songs beauty is on parallel to West Side Story
A stunning piano intro that melds into the most gorgeous acoustic guitar and piano interplay in the history of music
Frank Sinatra simply sounds better and more talented when he’s not trying to swing
For the cynic in all of us
As much as Bob Dylan wrote beautiful songs, Richie Havens interprets it as if it shouldn’t have been recorded any other way.
A nightcap to the end of a very late night, hell i can smell the bar
The Art of the Mixtape 