Highly Rec'd's July '09 Mix Tape

Friend of DJdc, Jon Wolf, puts together a nice mix each month, and after a few months of being on hiatus(me, not him), I'm back reposting it here. If you've like to get on his mailing list (which includes the all links you need ... if you get my drift) email Highly Rec'd here

From Highly Rec'd:

HIGHLY REC'D - THE MONTHLY MIXTAPE
Because good music is a right, not a privilege.


July '09: "I Wanna Drink Too Much!"
1. Eels - Lilac Breeze
2. Dinosaur Jr. - Over It
3. Spoon - Got Nuffin
4. The Joel Plaskett Emergency - Fashionable People
5. Eugene McGuinness - Fonz
6. Miniature Tigers - The Wolf
7. The Color Wheels - Green Means Go (special thanks: Tom @ Radio Exile)
8. Boycotts - Beat On The Dancefloor
9. Lissy Trullie - Boy Boy
10. Japandroids - Wet Hair
11. So Cow - Casablanca
12. Apollo Ghosts - Palm of My Hand
13. Apollo Ghosts - Day By Day
14. Apollo Ghosts - Little Yokohama
15. Frank Zappa - No Not Now (1982)
16. Wheels On Fire - I'm Turning Into You
17. The Sweet Serenades - Mona Lee
18. The Soirée - Perfect Crimes
19. The Honey Brothers - Demonstration (special thanks: Pasta Primavera)
20. The Honey Brothers - Moonlight
21. Regina Spektor - Folding Chair
22. Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - Shampoo
23. Young Orchids - Tonight (Be With Me) (Highly Rec'd exclusive!)
24. Andrew Bird - See The Enemy
25. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - 40 Day Dream
26. The Maccabees - William Powers

New If You're New Feature: ATL Rocks!
I have attempted to show-off an up-and-coming Atlanta band every month this year, so far so good, and this month brings us Young Orchids, a collection of Atlanta-scene veterans with a talent for lo-fi living room sing-along anthems, which is not an actual genre, at least not yet. But the YO were nice enough to donate an exclusive mp3 off their new Take One EP. The first full length is currently in the works, produced by Kris Sampson (Coathangers/All The Saints/The N.E.C), so get on the bandwagon early.


New Feature: Two Minute Drill!
You may have noticed an inordinate amount of mixtape real estate dedicated to one band this month. A certain band from Vancouver (wow, Canadian, what were the chances?) who have apparently traveled abroad in Asia, a lot.

I first heard of Apollo Ghosts earlier this year with their Joey Ramone-esque track "Land of the Morning Calm", but I was amazed to find that they were not some punk throwback band, but one of the most versatile bands I have come across in a long time. Most of their songs clock in at under two minutes, but in that two minutes they cover more ground than any other band I have heard this year: the ever-popular male/female vocals, upbeat 60's pop, quiet B&S style acoustic, trendy use of the ukulele, Kazoo accompaniment, and just good ol' catchy-as-shit garage rock.

So HR'd has offered you four tracks total, and if you like even one of those, do yourself the favor of ordering the rest of the albums (one full LP and a brand new EP) direct from Catbird Records for the low-low (lower than the iTunes Store) price of $5 for the full-length Hastings Sunrise and $3 for the Forgotten Triangle EP! Craziness!


Another New Feature: Best Deal in Town!
If Apollo Ghosts' direct-from-the-label deal wasn't good enough, another favorite from earlier this year, Fanfarlo, is offering their entire album "Reservoir", plus 4 bonus tracks, for ONE DOLLAR! For reals, $1, for one of the most solid albums you will find this year, the offer is only good until July 4th, so please take advantage, you will not be disappointed, and I would not be going to this much effort, or this many exclamation points, if it sucked!! Swear!!!

http://www.fanfarlo.com

Highly Rec'd Fanfarlo preview


Permanent New Feature: Ketch Harbour Wolves
So if these two deals are still too rich for your blood, do yourself the favor and download one of the best albums you're going to find in this or any year, Ketch Harbour Wolves' "Dead Calm Horizon", for the mere price of an email address! Partake!

http://www.ketchharbourwolves.ca/media/audio/dead-calm-horizon-free-download

Highly Rec'd Ketch Harbour Wolves preview


News Feature: R.I.P. MJ
And just in case this once monthly mp3 newsletter is your only source for news: Michael Jackson has passed away. I'm sorry I had to be the one to break this to you.

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal


Really Really New Feature: It's the 25th Anniversary of Purple Rain!
I'm not actually sure how you celebrate this (it was by request), now go purify yourselves in the waters of Lake Minnetonka. (Although, aside from already being a kickass track, the the second verse on Edwarde Sharpe's "40 Day Dream" has an outstanding Prince homage in the lyrics and delivery).


Regular Feature: Cover Art
As always: Thank you, VS!