Quite naturally, I’ve been searching for more albums like Cold Roses. Josh Ritter’s Golden Age of Radio came pretty close. But a few weeks ago I found something even better: Transcendental Blues by Steve Earle. If that name sounds familiar it’s because I’ve mentioned his son Justin Townes Earle a few times before on my site.

Much like Cold Roses, Transcendental Blues features a remarkable range of sound. There are country rockers (”The Galway Girl”) and barroom bawlers (”Lonelier Than This” and “Over Yonder”). But that’s where the similarities end. Transcendental Blues is an entirely different experience. It sounds grittier and more mature than Cold Roses. Earle’s gravelly southern drawl provides the perfect accompaniment to the tales of hardship, disappointment, and regret that abound in his music.

The two tracks posted below anchor the middle of Transcendental Blues. Despite their side-by-side placement on the album, the songs couldn’t be more different. “The Galway Girl” makes you wanna dance while “Lonelier Than This” makes you wanna cry, highlighting Earle’s impressive range.

Transcendental Blues is my first experience with Steve Earle. It certainly won’t be my last; the man has 13 studio albums to his name. Looks like I’ve got some work to do!

[mp3] Steve Earle :: The Galway Girl
[mp3] Steve Earle :: Lonelier Than This

Much like its older siblings, Mike Mix 10 is packed with tons of great music. And while I always recommend listening to the mix in its entirety, a few tracks stand above the rest.

The first is “Sublime” by The Twilight Singers. Drifting dangerously close to adult-contemporary, the song features sultry vocals, whiny guitars, and some unbelievably cheesy whispering during the bridge. In anyone else’s hands this song would be a train wreck, but The Twilight Singers make it sound heartfelt and sincere.

The second is “Trailer Trash” by Modest Mouse. Replete with depressing lyrics and fantastic guitar work, the song is vintage Modest Mouse. If you enjoyed “Broke” on Mike Mix 09, you’ll love “Trailer Trash.” Self-loathing never sounded so good.

And the third is “Love Vigilantes” by Iron & Wine. Originally recorded by New Order, the song tells the story of a soldier returning home after war. I would say more but I don’t want to give too much away. Just listen to the song. You’ll quickly discover why I love it so much.

But don’t forget there are 12 more songs on Mike Mix 10. I’ve written about a handful of them previously, but several are appearing on my site for the first time. There’s the sinister “DLZ,” the creepy-but-achingly-gorgeous “Borrowed Your Gun,” and the heartbreaking “Miss Me.” Listen to them all and let me know your favorites!

Download the entire mix here or stream it using the player below. Enjoy!

• [mp3] Tom McRae :: Walking 2 Hawaii
• [mp3] Yeah Yeah Yeahs :: Runaway
• [mp3] The Twilight Singers :: Sublime
• [mp3] Modest Mouse :: Trailer Trash
• [mp3] TV On the Radio :: DLZ
• [mp3] The Notwist :: Consequence
• [mp3] The American Analog Set :: Aaron & Maria
• [mp3] Belle and Sebastian :: A Century of Fakers
• [mp3] Iron & Wine :: Love Vigilantes
• [mp3] Bon Iver :: For Emma
• [mp3] Spiritualized :: Borrowed Your Gun
• [mp3] The Walkmen :: Another One Goes By
• [mp3] Joe Purdy :: Miss Me
• [mp3] Old Crow Medicine Show :: Wagon Wheel
• [mp3] Justin Rutledge :: Alberta Breeze

A couple years ago I briefly mentioned the Swedish band Loney, Dear on my site. You probably don’t remember this because the few sentences I wrote about them were pretty pathetic. I’d just discovered their album Loney, Noir and didn’t yet know what to think of it.

As it turns out, I never really made up my mind. That didn’t stop me from downloading their previous album Sologne. But after nearly a dozen listens, I still couldn’t decide whether I liked it or not.

So when Loney, Dear released Dear John earlier this year, I didn’t rush out to buy it. In fact, it sat on my “Save For Later” list on eMusic for several months. Then one random day I decided to give it a try. I don’t remember what prompted me to do it, but it was a fantastic decision.

Darker and more complex than its two predecessors, Dear John is an incredible album. Its shiny pop veneer masks feelings of loneliness, regret, and melancholy. I’ve never heard an album that bounces around so effortlessly between happy and sad. It might take a few spins before the album’s greatness hits you, but when it finally does, you won’t want to listen to anything else. For these reasons, Dear John has undoubtedly secured a spot on my year-end list.

I’ve posted three tracks below. The first two (”Summers” and “Distant Lights”) are my favorites from Dear John. The last one (”Sinister In a State of Hope”) is the song that got me into Loney, Dear in the first place.

[mp3] Loney, Dear :: Summers
[mp3] Loney, Dear :: Distant Lights
[mp3] Loney, Dear :: Sinister In a State of Hope

Every time I make a new Mike Mix I’m amazed by how much good music falls through the cracks over time. After all, only a small number of songs on each mix have been featured previously on my site. There simply isn’t enough time to write about them all.

Which is why I love making these mixes so much: songs that otherwise would’ve remained permanently buried finally see the light of day. The 14 tracks of Mike Mix 09 are no exception. Many of them are appearing on my site for the first time; most of them should’ve been posted months ago.

With all that said, it’s time to introduce Mike Mix 09.

Despite its quiet start, Mike Mix 09 packs quite a punch. “Lookout Mountain” by Drive-By Truckers rocks incredibly hard; “Else” by Built to Spill bounces around nervously; and “Only In Dreams” by Weezer builds to an epic climax. At the opposite end of the spectrum, “My Lady’s House” by Iron & Wine plods along gently while “The Blackest Crow” by Justin Rutledge quietly refuses to end (in a good way).

As always, I highly recommend listening to Mike Mix 09 in the order presented below. Download the entire mix here or stream it using the player below! Enjoy!

• [mp3] The Antlers :: Kettering
• [mp3] Hayden :: My Parent’s House
• [mp3] Iron & Wine :: My Lady’s House
• [mp3] Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson :: Buriedfed
• [mp3] Cat Power :: Good Woman
• [mp3] Heatmiser :: Half Right
• [mp3] Pete and the Pirates :: She Doesn’t Belong to Me
• [mp3] Built to Spill :: Else
• [mp3] Brand New :: The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows
• [mp3] Drive-By Truckers :: Lookout Mountain
• [mp3] Weezer :: Only In Dreams
• [mp3] Bloc Party :: SRXT
• [mp3] Iron & Wine :: Sodom, South Georgia
• [mp3] Justin Rutledge :: The Blackest Crow

As my previous tweet hinted at, I’m priming Mike Mix 09 for release sometime next week. So check back soon. There’s going to be a lot of good stuff on it!

To hold you over until then, I’ve decided to post a song that I should’ve a long time ago. The track is “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show. It’s a cover of an old Bob Dylan song called “Rock Me Mama” (though I don’t think Dylan ever officially released it). But that last sentence is irrelevant. Old Crow Medicine Show has made the song theirs.

And what a song it is. I don’t even know where to begin. Perhaps I should start with the obvious; the song makes me happy. It’s everything a summer anthem should be: upbeat, catchy, and fun. It also has everything a good country song should have: acoustic guitar, upright bass, banjo, and of course a fiddle.

But don’t let labels scare you. Even if you don’t like “country” music, I think you will like “Wagon Wheel.” It’s one of the best songs I’ve heard in a long time.

[mp3] Old Crow Medicine Show :: Wagon Wheel

Despite its obscenely ugly album cover, Mike Mix 08 features some great music. It’s also the most upbeat mix to date – even the sad songs sound kinda happy. But don’t worry, it’s not all sunshine and puppy dogs. Beneath the surface lurks an undercurrent of sadness.

The mix contains so many amazing songs I can’t possibly write about each one. So instead I will focus on a select few.

The first is “Broke” by Modest Mouse. One of the darkest songs on the mix, “Broke” features a pretty guitar riff and some of the finest (and most self-loathing) Modest Mouse lyrics ever recorded. At the other end of the spectrum is “Two Kids” by Strand of Oaks. Though slightly self-deprecating, the lyrics are also undeniably sweet. Lastly, “Bones” by DeYarmond Edison captures the mood of the entire mix: the cheerful instrumentation masks feelings of longing and regret.

These three songs are only the tip of the iceberg. The other eleven lie waiting to be discovered. I highly recommend listening to Mike Mix 08 in the order presented below. Download the entire mix here or stream it using the player below! Enjoy!

• [mp3] Josh Ritter :: Girl In the War
• [mp3] Vampire Weekend :: Oxford Comma
• [mp3] Justin Townes Earle :: Can’t Hardly Wait
• [mp3] Blur :: Good Song
• [mp3] The Antlers :: Two
• [mp3] Silversun Pickups :: Three Seed
• [mp3] Drive-By Truckers :: My Sweet Annette
• [mp3] Modest Mouse :: Broke
• [mp3] Radiohead :: Jigsaw Falling Into Place
• [mp3] Andrew Bird :: Anonanimal
• [mp3] Strand of Oaks :: Two Kids
• [mp3] DeYarmond Edison :: Bones
• [mp3] Sun Kil Moon :: Pancho Villa
• [mp3] Okkervil River :: Seas Too Far to Reach

My site has been pretty quiet for the past week. That’s because I just got back from an 8-day trip to Iceland (as my previous tweet hinted at). It was an incredible experience. The country boasts some of the most unique geologic features on the planet, including volcanos, geysers, glaciers, fjords, and waterfalls. I’ve posted a few of my favorite photos from the trip. Hopefully they convey the awesomeness of the landscape.

Before leaving I had no idea what to expect. Luckily, I watched Heima on the flight to Reykjavik. The film chronicles the homecoming tour of Icelandic band Sigur Rós. In 2006, the band toured Iceland, playing free shows in unique settings and tiny villages. The film features breathtaking scenery and, of course, beautiful music. It is a great introduction to Iceland. It also made me kick myself for not seeing them live when I had the chance.

During the trip we did an insane amount of driving. To pass the time, I listened to boatloads of music. Sigur Rós definitely provided the best soundtrack for this journey. The Icelandic landscape is unbelievably gorgeous, but also desolate and unforgiving. The band’s music perfectly captures this duality. “Untitled 8″ is epic and intense, like an endless field of lava. “Andvari” is serene and soothing, like a gorgeous sunset. Because I can’t understand the lyrics, I can assign to the songs whatever meaning I want (which is why I love Sigur Rós so much).

Should you ever get the chance, I highly recommend visiting Iceland. But if you can’t, listening to Sigur Rós is the next best thing.

[mp3] Sigur Rós :: Untitled 8
[mp3] Sigur Rós :: Andvari

Sometimes I can’t help but think of all the amazing artists and albums that have slipped through the cracks over the years. Luckily these thoughts don’t keep me up at night. But they probably explain why I listen to so much music. I’m always browsing the interweb, searching for my next obsession. But this insatiable appetite also could be my undoing. By listening to tons of new music, I probably can’t fully appreciate the stuff I have, which causes more artists and albums to slip through the cracks. It’s a viscous cycle.

This almost happened with Annuals. The first time I listened to their debut album Be He Me I hated it. After nearly a dozen listens, my opinion hadn’t changed much. Eventually I forgot about the album.

Then a few weeks ago I randomly played Be He Me in my car. I don’t know if it was the better speakers or the time spent away from the album, but it sounded completely different. It sounded alive. Beautiful, soaring melodies had emerged from the overwhelming chaos. It was unbelievable.

Album closer “Sway” is a great example of this transformation. The song features a cacophony of seemingly random sounds and noises. With repeated listens, however, this unholy ruckus transforms into one of the most gorgeous moments on the album. It’s the perfect ending to a stellar album, and also the perfect introduction to Annuals, my latest obsession.

[mp3] Annuals :: Sway

Despite a hectic 4th of July weekend, I’m excited to get back to work. And by work I mean writing about music. Which is convenient because I suddenly have lots to write about. Who knows, I might even settle into my old routine: posting a Weekly Download every week and an Artist Spotlight every month. Imagine that. We’ll see what actually happens.

One thing I know for certain, however, is that I’ll post a new Mike Mix every month. And it is with great pleasure that I present the latest installment: Mike Mix 07.

Darker and moodier than its predecessor, Mike Mix 07 might require a few listens before it grows on you. It starts quietly with beautiful songs by Tiny Television, Hurray For the Riff Raff, and Spiritualized. City and Colour’s “What Makes a Man?” transitions the mix to a louder section of music, which is anchored to two fantastic songs by Brand New. Following this intense emotional apex, the mix mellows out big time (and stays that way until it ends). I could talk specifically about the next eight tracks but don’t think it’s necessary. Each song is fantastic, otherwise it wouldn’t have made the mix. The only thing left to do is give it a listen! And then maybe another…

As always, I recommend listening to Mike Mix 07 in the order presented below. Download the entire mix here or stream it using the player below! Enjoy!

• [mp3] Tiny Television :: I’m On Fire
• [mp3] Hurray For the Riff Raff :: Daniella
• [mp3] Spiritualized :: Sitting On Fire
• [mp3] City and Colour :: What Makes a Man?
• [mp3] Brand New :: Jesus Christ
• [mp3] Brand New :: Degausser
• [mp3] Interpol :: NYC
• [mp3] South San Gabriel :: My Goodbyes
• [mp3] South San Gabriel :: The Arc and the Cusp
• [mp3] Ida :: Late Blues
• [mp3] The Gaslight Anthem :: Here’s Looking At You, Kid
• [mp3] Grand Salvo :: I Am Dead
• [mp3] J. Tillman :: Vacilando Territory
• [mp3] Hurray For the Riff Raff :: Junebug Waltz

As you may have noticed, I’ve been updating my Twitter page on a fairly regular basis. Sadly, the same cannot be said for my actual site. Despite listening to lots of new music lately, I haven’t come across anything worth writing about.

So once again I find myself digging through the archives. Except not really. Two months ago, I wrote about The Antlers. In that post (which can be read here), I gushed about the song “Two.” Now I want to gush about the album Hospice. Especially now that I’ve had some time to digest it. But before I start, I must disclose something: I’m completely obsessed with Hospice. With a fair amount of confidence, I can say it will top my year-end list. I realize 2009 is only half over, but it’s that good. Here’s why.

Much like Blind Pilot’s 3 Rounds and a Sounds, Hospice is a complete album. As much as I love “Two,” the other nine songs on the album are just as good. “Kettering” sounds ethereal, “Sylvia” soars to ridiculous heights, and “Epilogue” features some of the most gorgeous vocals I’ve ever heard. With the exception of the opening track (which is ambient), there is no filler.

And much like Frightened Rabbit’s Midnight Organ Fight, Hospice has many layers. Most tracks reveal their beauty only after repeated listens. The album is packed with so much emotion it’s almost overwhelming. I can’t imagine the events or experiences that inspired some of these songs (nor do I want to). But while there is an abundance of sadness and heartbreak, the album also contains moments of inspiration and joy. In short, Hospice is a roller coaster of emotion.

Below I’ve posted my two favorite songs from Hospice (”Kettering” and “Two”), though it was difficult narrowing it down to only two. I’ve also included the title track from The Antler’s debut album Uprooted, which clearly hints at the band’s enormous potential. Potential that has been fully realized with Hospice.

[mp3] The Antlers :: Kettering
[mp3] The Antlers :: Two
[mp3] The Antlers :: Uprooted

By the way, you can download the iTunes bonus tracks “Sylvia, An Introduction” and “Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing” for free here.