It’s no revelation to regurgitate Friedrich Nietzche’s quote “Without music, life would be a mistake” at this point. We know this. The music geeks and audiophiles and song snobs all agree that there is music in everything, but the art form itself, from whatever genre cocoon it emerges, is transcendent. This is the first installment in what, we hope, will be a recurring journey into musical discovery, both old and new, familiar and foreign, popular and underground (insert other applicable antonyms here to show mastery of written language). Let’s begin with the new stuff. While some of these artists may ring a bell, or currently be gaining radio airplay, others may not be so recognizable. All the songs, I feel however, are enjoyable and possibly represent a future emergence by their creators. Then again, we may never hear from them again. Regardless, here are 90 minutes of suggestions to fill up dual sides of a blank cassette (or you can just listen to the pre-made Mixcloud mix linked at the bottom). Links to their iTunes or Amazon stores are provided. Please download responsibly.
Welcome to the first Geekscape Mixtape. As Bob Dylan said at Newport: “Play it fucking loud!”
Side A
1. The Hot Sprockets “Soul Brother”
This rock’n’soul blues quintet from Dublin, Ireland possess all the qualities that should begin a good mix. They rock, they roll, they soul (?) and they get right to the point. Their bare bones approach and effective minimal harmonies shake hips and nod heads. “Soul Brother” will appear on their yet untitled forthcoming sophomore effort and if you’re not pounding the steering wheel or beating your thighs raw to the beat by the fifteen second mark, you’re either dead inside or deaf all over.
2. Emily Bell “Back to the Way I Was”
From her debut album “In Technicolor,” this musical theater veteran combines everything from the 1960s that defined a decade while redefining Texas pop soul for a new millennium. This track may sound a bit melodically like KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree,” but it sounds like everything that was missing from that track was given a defibrillator jolt of down-home electric Delta blues and then, just for fun, hooked the nipples to a car battery and cranked it to 11. See why she was voted No. 1 artist to watch at SXSW 2013 here:
3. Elastic Bond “Pierdo el Control”
You don’t need to speak the language to find the groove infectious as this Miami four-piece proves on their album “Real.” Combining folkloric rhythms, Latino tradition and classic soul (with a hint of electronic beats) to make a truly original sound vocalized through Honduran singer/songwriter Sofy Encanto.
4. Flox “Right Here”
“Doubts is the reason that I feel, darkness makes everything so unreal.” This Parisian-based Englishman performs what some consider “nu-reggae-electronica,” (which is why I despise labels, because we get stupid combinations like that…) The point is, just listen, drop the labels and enjoy the vibe.
5. The Front Bottoms “Funny You Should Ask”
Bergen County, New Jersey natives recently released their album “Talon of the Hawk” and it couldn’t be a better sophomore effort. The song has a way of making you rethink some relationship mistakes you’ve made in the past, and allows you to blame your discretions on youth and inexperience and move forward, but in a fun, bouncy, garage rock way.
6. Shannon and the Clams “Ozma”
The guitar work sounds like a Santo & Johnny song getting kicked in the balls by Ray Davies while Kathleen Hanna revisits her youthful riot grrl attitude under the pretense of a doo-wop cover. Howling and beautiful, the chorus “I think I love you. I know I love you. I always loved you” reminds you that maybe you should’ve just trusted your gut a few years ago and that good things come to those who wait.
7. John Oates “Don’t Cross Me Wrong (feat. Vince Gill)”
Half of the Philly blue-eyed soul duo Hall & Oates is taking us on a musical journey for the next year with “Good Road to Follow” by working with special guest artists and producers and releasing new music. For the first single, he worked with Hot Chelle Rae, and now he’s teamed up with Vince Gill for this bluesy-horn-filled back porch rocker.
8. Dawes “From a Window Seat”
After playing alongside Jackson Browne at Occupy Wall Street, jamming with Chris Robinson and Conor Oberst and co-headlining with Blitzen Trapper, Dawes is back with their third album “Stories Don’t End.” This headphone-cancelling flight song is perfect for cruising at any altitude in any vehicle.
9. Caro Emerald “Back It Up”
This track may be from 2009, but it’s worth bringing back for your listening pleasure. Caroline Esmeralda van der Leeuw (thankfully, she has a stage name) is a Dutch jazz singer who adds some wonderful modern elements to her music for spice.
10. City Rain “The Optimist”
Philadelphia natives Ben Runyan and Scott Cumpstone have returned as City Rain with a new single and, like its title suggests, it’s brimming with positivity. They’ve even started an internet campaign to have people hold up the song’s mantra “There’s an optimist in me” signs on various social networks. And with all the negativity out there, it just might be a small ingredient in the soup to keep our societal spirits up.
11. Atomic Tom “Music Makes The Heart Grow Stronger”
Another group with great internet presence, you might remember them as the band that had their “instruments stolen” and performed their song “Take Me Out” on pubic transit, or from their awesome The Human League cover of “Don’t You Want Me” from the “Take Me Home Tonight” soundtrack. Maybe you’re completely unfamiliar, and that’s okay too, because Atomic Tom is back with a love letter to the positive power of music to not only heal but also inspire. And they’ve done both beautifully on this song.
12. Mumford & Sons “Hopeless Wanderer”
There’s such an unwarranted backlash against these Brits, and I still don’t understand why. Sure, they didn’t grow up in the dustbowl, but that doesn’t dilute their music. Luckily they have a sense of humor about it and made a video that allows us to laugh with them for one of their best songs on “Babel.” Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, Ed Helms and Will Forte team up to make what is quite possibly the video of the year (yes, even over “Blurred Lines”).
SIDE B
1. Dr. Dog “The Truth”
Philly indie rockers are releasing their eighth album “B-Room,” in the fall, and, if this first single is any indication, it promises to be more soulful than past records. With a new recording studio and only their third release on the Epitaph Records sub-division Anti-, this new side to the three dotted psych-poppers (fun fact: their three dot logo is a guitar diagram for a D chord) may prove to be their most introspective and accessible yet.
2. Nanna.B “Sum O’ Sometimes”
Scandinavian soul artist Nanna.B is a playful and gentle songbird who pulls influences from all over the world to create her unique R&B that builds a wonderful bridge between Dusty Springfield and D’Angelo.
3. The Lumineers “Submarines”
I heard three different Lumineers songs the other day in three different stops in one shopping mall. I don’t know if it’s the Colbert Bump they got recently, the re-release of a deluxe edition of their debut, or if the music is just that good for their crossover potential, but they are definitely everywhere right now. This is the song I couldn’t stop repeating when I first got the album last year and for some reason it reminds me of the Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg comedy “1941”.
4. Avicii “Wake Me Up (feat. Aloe Blacc)”
Responsible for the biggest EDM hit of the past 2 years, “Levels,” Avicii is back with a folky-soulful anthem that confused (and pretty much infuriated) a festival earlier in the year, acting almost as a mirror effect of Bob Dylan going electric at Newport Folk. Aloe Blacc is a completely under-appreciated vocalist, and the lyrics are about as universal as a road trip film.
5. Meek Mill “Levels”
Robert Williams is a Philadelphia hip-hop artist better known as Meek Mill. He was briefly with Atlanta rapper T.I.’s label before becoming part of Rick Ross’ Miami outfit Maybach Music. This one is off the upcoming Maybach compilation “Self Made Vol. 3”.
6. A$AP Ferg “Shabba (feat. A$AP Rocky)”
All I can do is think of the old “In Living Color” sketch where Marlon Wayans parodied Shabba Ranks and sang “Mr. Ugly Man… SHABBA” when I hear this. But if Andy Warhol’s Factory were set in modern day Harlem, you’d have the A$AP Mob. Almost a New York D12 for this decade. A$AP stands for “Always Strive and Prosper” and with the talent so far revealed in this crew (along with contemporaries Kendrick Lamar and Drake), hip-hop may be making the comeback it needs to validate the crew’s motto.
7. Jarren Benton “Cadillacs & Chevys”
Hilarious and talented are not usually things that go together in rap music, but Jarren Benton gives about as many fucks as there are ATMs in Antarctica. Possibly less. The album called “My Grandma’s Basement” is riddled with tracks and skits to back up this argument and even the spoken intro on the track claims “by the way, I finally sucked my own dick… Leggo!” With references to “Home Alone”, Jason Vorhees and Comic-Con, this surprisingly belongs on a “Geekscape” mix more than any other track.
8. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “White Walls (feat. ScHoolboy Q & Hollis)”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis got a huge jump into the mainstream with “Thrift Shop” and had an extremely timely release of “Same Love” to correspond with the Supreme Court’s ruling against the constitutionality of Prop 8. They’re everywhere right now and this is a great example of why they not only deserve to be appreciated, but stands out enough to prove their future staying power.
9. Saturday Looks Good to Me “Sunglasses”
Forming in 1999, this indie group has been a Pitchfork darling for a while. Their new release “One Kiss Ends It All” doesn’t disappoint. This track particularly works great for a nice summer day whether you’re chilling on a porch or just lying in bed staring out the window. Either way, you’re gonna be tapping your toes… the vibe is vibrant and uplifting.
10. Wildmen “20,000 $”
With song titles like “Haters Gonna Hate”, “Bitch”, “I Spit on Your Graves” and “D.R.U.N.K.”, this Italian rock duo pulls no punches. They exude a raw garage punk sound that would not be out of place opening for a Black Keys concert 5 years ago. Follow them on Twitter @ShitMusic (how perfect is that?).
11. Pearl Jam “Mind Your Manners”
It seems like the biggest band to emerge from the Seattle scene have been crate digging through their early influences of Dead Boys and Ramones. Their upcoming album “Lightning Bolt” is counting down to release on October 15 and for fans of their previous rockers like “Spin the Black Circle” and “Hail Hail” this should be a record to embrace. I’m hoping they bring bands like Social Distortion and Bad Religion back on tour with them.
12. Last Good Tooth “Gambling”
If Nick Cave fronted Murder by Death, you’d be close to Last Good Tooth. Getting girls to dance to songs about 9/11 and paying homage to frontman Penn Sultan’s Appalachian roots might seem like a lot to tackle, but it’s effortlessly effective. “Take only what you need, and quit taxing me.”
You can also check out all of this week’s picks in one uninterrupted mix
A.J. Santini has been an audiophile since pre-natal care. Having 15+ years DJ experience, a brief stint in terrestrial radio and an extensively diverse collection of books, vinyl, cassettes, VHSs CDs, DVDs and MP3s (plus one Led Zeppelin 8-track) qualifies him to rant nonsensically and wax poetically about popular culture. He also hosts QUIZZO trivia nights to feel superior to the masses of the population. Check out some of his DJ mixes.