This week’s mix features some names we’ve mentioned before, including Mystery Jets and Alex Winston. But the purpose of these revisits is not just to listen to these reliably brilliant acts, but to showcase their dizzying range. Also look out for new tracks by the Arcade Fire and Au Revoir Simone, as well as a promising solo debut by New Pornographers’ singer-pianist Kathryn Calder. Don’t forget to Right Click + Save As the next ten at your own pace or scroll to the bottom to download the entire mixtape after the jump.
British singer/songwriter Kate Nash comes out of the gate with horns blaring, strings soaring, and hands clapping on her ’60s-pop laden sophomore album, My Best Friend Is You.
Produced by Bernard Butler, the former Suede man who has helmed records by everyone from the Libertines to Duffy, the record marries shimmy-inducing retro-pop with Nash’s whip-smart lyrics and delivery. Hurtling past the singer’s extremely promising 2007 debut, My Best Friend finds her vacillating between speak-singing, serenading, and full-on rants, indulging her dark and light sides with equal fervor — often at the same time.
Famous friends is the running theme this week, whether it be in the background (Sufjan Stevens/The National), in the foreground (Kate Nash/Chiddy Bang), or by association (I Am Arrows/Razorlight). These friends with “instrumental” benefits end up joining forces — like unofficial supergroups — and deliver track after track of pure harmonies. So if you’re in the feel-good, name-dropping mood, take a listen to the next ten after the cut, and let us know what you think!
There have been enough Valentine’s Day-themed mixes to overwhelm lately, so rest assured, this isn’t another one — though there are a few love songs to satisfy your fix. This week brings updates from singers who were off doing their own thing (Kate Nash, Yes Giantess) and fresh faces that deserve the light of day (Baby Monster, First Aid Kit). So without further ado, prepare to click ctrl + left click and “save as.” And as always, leave a comment to let us know what you think.
Finding the common ground between Arctic Monkeys, the Streets, and the Clash, Jamie T encapsulates modern English life on his new album.
The South Londoner initially came to attention in the same scene that birthed Kate Nash, Lily Allen, and Jack Peñate, but with the release of sophomore record Kings & Queens,he sprints ahead of the pack, speaking for a generation of British youth in a much more enduring way. Plus, the single "Sticks & Stones" is the catchiest song you’ll hear all year. Read More »
With his second album, Jack Peñate shrugs off London-centric singer/songwriter tropes in favor of elaborate, moody pop.
While Peñate’s 2007 debut saw him lumped in with fellow city dwellers Kate Nash and Lily Allen, his partnership with Bloc Party producer Paul Epworth for the appropriately named Everything Is New channels everything from Afrobeat to the Cure. Casting aside self-knowingness, Peñate has shifted to a more evocative mode, equally evidenced by the stunning video for “Tonight’s Today.”
Sure, we’ve been talking about her for a while, but this week was a special one for our number-one Scandinavian sweetheart: at long last, Ida Maria’sdebut record has arrived (it’s been out abroad for ages!). On the power-popping album, Maria makes good on the promise of her demos, ingeniously revamping summer party anthems like “Queen of the World,”“Better When You’re Naked,” and the unassailable “Oh My God.” And live she’s even more inspired: Whether rolling around the stage, slopping blood all over her strings, or just howling like a madwoman, Maria imparts her tales of sex and insecurity with unhinged emotion. In the wake of her long-coming ascendancy, we rang Maria up in her native Norway to talk sexual liberation, synestisia, and sore throats. Read More »
