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.

When I first launched Mike Went West nearly 3 years ago, one of my site’s main features was a monthly podcast of music. Sadly, I abandoned this feature after releasing only 5 mixes. I felt like each podcast took an inordinate amount of time and energy. I also felt like the quality of each mix was sliding steadily downhill.

As it turns out, I lacked the proper motivation. About 10 months ago, I started dating my girlfriend. To help her better understand my crazy little world, I decided to make monthly mix tapes for her (which I coined “Mike Mixes”). So far I’ve made ten and I’m still going strong. I hope to post a new mix every month. I decided to start with Mike Mix 06 for one simple reason: the first five are decent but nothing special. Also, it seems appropriate that I should pick up where my podcasts left off — with number six.

Now a few quick words about the pacing and sequencing of the mix. Mike Mix 06 starts off with “If Only It Were True,” a slow, lumbering song by The Walkmen. Two consecutive tracks by Brand New help transition the mix to a slightly faster pace, which is maintained by the next four songs (fantastic tracks by Okkervil River, Frightened Rabbit, MGMT, and Arctic Monkeys). Following this upbeat middle section, two tracks by The Rural Alberta Advantage help slow things back down. The mix ends with three of my all-time favorite songs: “3 Rounds and a Sound” by Blind Pilot, “A Desolate Angels Blues” by Justin Townes Earle, and “Okkervil River Song” by Okkervil River.

I highly recommend listening to the songs in this order (a full tracklisting is provided below). Download the entire mix as a zip file here, or download individual songs below. Or listen to the entire mix using the player below!

• [mp3] The Walkmen :: If Only It Were True
• [mp3] Brand New :: The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot
• [mp3] Brand New :: Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis
• [mp3] Okkervil River :: Another Radio Song
• [mp3] Frightened Rabbit :: Square 9
• [mp3] MGMT :: Kids
• [mp3] Arctic Monkeys :: 505
• [mp3] The Rural Alberta Advantage :: Edmonton
• [mp3] The Rural Alberta Advantage :: In the Summertime
• [mp3] Blind Pilot :: 3 Rounds and a Sound
• [mp3] Justin Townes Earle :: A Desolate Angels Blues
• [mp3] Okkervil River :: Okkervil River Song

PS — I just finished integrating Twitter into my site. Make sure to check out the sidebar widget for my most recent updates!

I hope to roll out a couple new features relatively soon. The first will be a Twitter widget on the sidebar of my front page which should help me fill in the sometimes lengthy gaps between posts. The second will involve resurrecting (and rebranding) my monthly podcast. Stay tuned for further detail.

Regarding my recent lack of activity: I should be back to my normal self once the semester ends next week. In the meantime, enjoy the song posted below. There’s not much I can say about it except this: it will crawl under your skin with its simple, gorgeous melody.

[mp3] The American Analog Set :: Aaron & Maria

So to help gear up for all the fun in the sun, my latest Mini Mix highlights 3 albums that are poised to get a ton of plays as the temperature rises. Also, this post should purge the backlog of music created by my recent lack of activity. Enjoy!

PETE AND THE PIRATES
Little Death

I must’ve debated buying this album for over a month. Looking back, I don’t know why I waffled so much. Over a dozen glowing reviews on eMusic should’ve clued me in to what I was missing: effortless, off-kilter indie pop from the UK. In their debut, Pete and the Pirates have crafted an album brimming with infectious hooks and clever lyrics. “She Doesn’t Belong to Me” is a fantastic example. In just under two minutes, the band packs in more hooks and one-liners than most can fit in an entire album. The rest of Little Death is just as good.

Learn more about Pete and the Pirates at the following sites:

         

[mp3] Pete and the Pirates :: She Doesn’t Belong to Me

HARLEM SHAKES
Technicolor Health

I just started listening to Harlem Shakes but already I can tell their debut has a lot of potential (and also a beautiful album cover). The band has generated a fair amount of buzz and it is well deserved. Technicolor Health is both energetic and engaging. And while it might not break any new ground, it sounds great from start to finish (which itself is quite an accomplishment). It’s a little too early for me to say much more about the album, but I definitely look forward to blasting it in my car as I cruise around this summer.

Learn more about Harlem Shakes at the following sites:

         

[mp3] Harlem Shakes :: Strictly Game

MILES BENJAMIN ANTHONY ROBINSON
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

I’m surprised by how quickly I’ve warmed to Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. After my first few listens, I felt overwhelmed and somewhat put off by the chaotic nature of his music. The 10 songs on his self-titled debut seemed to lack both structure and melody. At the same time, however, I was also intrigued by the chaos. After the next few listens, melodies began to emerge. Right now, my favorite track is the epic opener “Buriedfed,” though I’m sure this will change as I continue to untangle this gem.

Learn more about Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson at the following sites:

       

[mp3] Miles Benjamin Anthony Davis :: Buriedfed

I am not a spontaneous writer. When I come up with an idea for an article, I usually spend several days (or even weeks) tweaking and polishing it before posting it on my site. The extra time helps me better organize and focus my thoughts.

I think this approach has worked out pretty well so far. When I look back on older posts, I’m usually pretty happy with what I read. I’m even happier to see that, for the most part, I still like (and listen to) the music I wrote about.

But tonight I am abandoning this approach. I discovered a song and I need to write about it. Now.

As I made the usual rounds on the internet this morning, I caught a feature on eMusic called “2009 Sleepers.” I noticed Hurray For the Riff Raff on the list so I decided to check out some of the other bands. One of them was The Antlers. After reading a few reviews of Hospice and listening to some clips, I jumped over to last.fm to see if I could stream some full tracks.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) there were only two full songs posted: “Bear” and “Two.” I listened to both tracks as I hung up some shirts in the other room. The sound was a little muffled, but through the wall I heard an incredibly beautiful and haunting melody. It was the song “Two.” I had to listen to it again, except this time give it my full attention.

During my second listen, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t know what to focus on: the slow, gorgeous build of the instrumentation or the heartbreaking lyrics. After nearly a dozen listens, I still don’t know what to focus on. It’s one of those songs that causes paralysis: when it comes on, I stop whatever it is I’m doing and just listen. It’s also one of those songs that ends way too soon (despite being almost 6 minutes long).

Ultimately, however, the words I write will fail to convey just how remarkable this song is. Maybe I should spend a few more days tweaking this post. Kidding of course. Just give the song a listen.

[mp3] The Antlers :: Two

As I sit here thinking about the angle I want to take in writing about my latest obsession, a million thoughts race through my head. How do bands come up with their names? Can I finish this article in the next few days? What will I write about next? Have I run out of good ideas for my site? Will I eventually lose interest in music? Why am I never satisfied with the music I have?

I forgot to mention that when I’m stressed out, my mind refuses to shut off. It bounces randomly from thought to thought, unable to focus on anything. As a result, I worry a lot and accomplish very little. So if the previous paragraph hasn’t already given it away, I’m a little overwhelmed with life right now (which, coincidentally, explains the recent lack of activity on my site). But at least it has given me an angle: during stressful times, I rely on music more than ever. Especially relaxing music.

Luckily, a few weeks ago I stumbled upon Hurray For the Riff Raff, an amazing little band from New Orleans. Their debut album, It Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You, is the perfect escape from a stressful world. It sounds timeless — like what music from the south must’ve sounded like at the turn of the 20th century.

After listening to the gorgeous intro of “Daniella” for the first time, I knew I had found my next obsession. The song, which starts with a simple banjo riff and beautiful vocal harmony, melts away all my problems (at least for a few minutes). “Junebug Waltz,” another one of my favorites, plods along at a snail’s pace, reminding me of a hot, muggy summer afternoon.

Both songs are posted below for your enjoyment. If you like what you hear, I highly recommend purchasing the entire album — it’s fantastic. I’ll definitely have it on repeat over the next few weeks as school continues to bear down on me. With that said, I’ll try my best to post again relatively soon, but can’t promise anything.

[mp3] Hurray For the Riff Raff :: Daniella
[mp3] Hurray For the Riff Raff :: Junebug Waltz

I can hardly believe it. This is the 100th post on my site. I never thought I’d make it this far. And to celebrate this special occasion, I’ve decided to do something I normally avoid at all costs: posting tracks without first writing about the artists.

The 10 songs below have dominated my speakers over the past few months. But for various reasons, I haven’t featured any of them on my site (until now, of course).

[mp3] Peter Broderick :: And It’s Alright
[mp3] Mark Farina :: Dream Machine (featuring Sean Hayes)
[mp3] Lil’ Wayne :: Tie My Hands
[mp3] Frontier Ruckus :: Dark Autumn Hour
[mp3] Phosphorescent :: Wolves
[mp3] William Fitzsimmons :: Find Me to Forgive
[mp3] Spiritualized :: Sitting On Fire
[mp3] Titus Andronicus :: No Future
[mp3] The Gaslight Anthem :: Here’s Looking At You, Kid
[mp3] Andrew Bird :: Take Courage

As the above track listing indicates, the mix is a little eclectic. Download all 10 songs in a zip file here. And as always, if you like any of the above songs, please support the artists!

This honestly surprises me. With all the music I listen to, I thought there’d be at least one album in my collection that fits the bill. But no. Even my all-time favorites contain a few tracks I could live without. In 2008, Frightened Rabbit came pretty close with The Midnight Organ Fight. And in 2007, Menomena’s Friend and Foe flirted with perfection. But as good as these albums are, I still skip a few songs on each.

I’m starting to think I should lower my expectations. With the music industry fully embracing the internet, focus has shifted from albums to singles. Pretty soon, I envision some musicians abandoning the album format altogether. After all, if most people download only one or two tracks, why waste time and money recording the entire album?

Maybe I shouldn’t be so cynical. Every now and then I stumble upon an album or band that renews my faith in the music business. This time it’s 3 Rounds and a Sound, the stellar debut album from Blind Pilot, a tiny band from Portland, Oregon that apparently only tours via bicycle.

Musically speaking, 3 Rounds and a Sound breaks little new ground. I’d describe the album as a straightforward mix of rock, pop, and folk. But what it lacks in complexity it makes up for with raw emotion, beauty, and catchiness. Further proof that the best music is simple and direct.

And while 3 Rounds and a Sound still isn’t perfect, it’s damn close. I can’t remember the last time I heard such a confident, effortless debut. Maybe Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago. Anyways, I’ve posted two tracks from the album below: “Oviedo” (the opener) and “3 Rounds and a Sound” (the closer). Pick up the rest of the album to find out what happens in between. You won’t be disappointed.

[mp3] Blind Pilot :: Oviedo
[mp3] Blind Pilot :: 3 Rounds and a Sound

PS — I want “3 Rounds and a Sound” played at my wedding, along with Beirut’s “Postcards From Italy.” So romantic.