Vol 11 / Trk 06 / Think That You Might Be Wrong / Great Lake Swimmers

I wanted to follow “River” with something equally upbeat, but something kept pulling me away to the gorgeous lushness of this Great Lake Swimmers track. It sounds like a lot of summery things—open windows, lightning bugs wandering by, standing in a river—all of which inject a certain amount of peace into this volume. Its airiness is elegance personified; it brings back the delight of the indie pop I saw earlier and marries it to the graceful Americana that we’re just starting to delve into.

The heat’s broken, dusk is coming, let’s turn the lights down low so they burn a soft yellow instead. Let’s move to the floor and close our eyes and sway together.

m. joosse

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Filed under: Mixtape, NEIMT, Vol 11, Great Lake Swimmers

Vol 11 / Trk 05 / River / Akron/Family

Perhaps its simply the swelter of the midwest summer and the unending drought in the air, but I could not shake the buzzy campfire imagery every time I listened to All Washed Out. There’s something distinctly American about it. And by American I mean Appalachian. And by Appalachian, I mean to suggest it’s like a scene out of the soon to be made Wes Anderson version of Coal Minor’s Daughter.

To build on that mystique, I offer up the Akron/Family. No one in my mind delivers the atmosphere of cicada buzz and country sweet melodies quite like them. Yet it never veers into parody and always maintains a unpredictable, modern edge.

r. smigielski

Filed under: Mixtape, NEIMT, Vol 11, Akron/Family

Vol 11 / Trk 04 / All Wash Out / Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

[audio https://neverendingmix.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/allwashout.mp3|width=500|bg=0xFFFFFF|bgcolor=edebdc|leftbg=0xCCCCCC]

Life’s been tough over the past couple of months—devastating lows paired with incomparable highs. Unexpected change intertwined with ugly anticipation. I’ve lived through the full spectrum of human emotion, often on a daily basis.

As I find myself approaching the end of this period of fazed hesitancy, I enjoy a certain calmness in both Maple Leaves and All Wash Out. They’re both undoubtedly pop. The latter comes from a perspective of unreserved reflection, and accepted defeat. I have to admit that it’s somewhat comforting.

For the first time in weeks, I’m relaxing in my living room. This track is playing on repeat, with an undertone of fireworks sporadically sounding off in the background. I realized about ten minutes ago that Alexander perfectly sums the collective feeling of the nation. “Free is something to believe in.”

Enjoy your independence.

t. woodford

Filed under: Mixtape, NEIMT, Vol 11, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Vol 11 / Trk 03 / Maple Leaves / Jens Lekman

Oh, we going pop now? Well I just happen to have a decade’s worth of bubblegummy, sugary, rickenbacker-guitary LPs to pull from and I honestly couldn’t be happier.

I’m a little shocked Jens hasn’t graced the NEIMT already. 3 solid albums, (though I’d argue You’re So Silent Jens—the compilation this cut is pulled from counts as a forth) a slew of amazing EPs, some remixes and the best live show I’ve seen in years—it’s time the guy received the NEIMT bump.

This version of Maple Leaves is a subtle remix of the original 7″ version recorded primarily to replace some obvious samples that might have landed the increasingly popular singer in some legal trouble. I have  You’re So Silent.. on vinyl and I’ve managed to wear a short skip in this track. Just. Perfect. Pop.

b.klops

Filed under: Mixtape, NEIMT, Vol 11, jens lekman