1. Good Love- Bat For Lashes
29 year old Natasha Kahn is a british singer-songwriter born in Pakistan, to a professional squash player and an english mother. Once in England she became a nursery school teacher, where she began writing her music. This dreamy and melodic track is off of her album Two Suns, released this April.
2. Buildings and Flags- The Cave-Ins
Try to stay awake throughout this song. Not because it's boring, but its relaxing and hazy sound can produce relaxation on any summer day. It sounds as if it has been recorded from playing on a record player, as the voices are distant and the song has evenly spaced scratches as if a needle were going over an old record. Interesting to listen to.
3. This Is How We See In The Dark- City Center
Starts out sounding like Buildings and Flags, which is a good way to carry on the feeling that you'll already be in. City Center reigns from New York City, and consists of Ryan Howard and Fred Thomas. This track reminds me of Fleet Foxes, maybe its the sleigh bells ringing faintly in the background.
4. Crystal Stilts- Crystal Stilts
Pitchfork gave Crystal's Stilts' self-titled album an 8.3/10, and for good reason. The psychadelic band, from Brooklyn, New York, and has five members. This is a fun track. I can see it in some indie film starring Zoe and Ben.
5. Gwenasobya- Frida Sonko
This track might seem out of the blue but it is my second to favorite on the entire mix. Frida Sonko released this track on her 1960's Ugandan Dance music CD, The Kampala Sound, under the genres of folk, world, jazz, country, and pop in the style of afro-cuban jazz and afrobeat. Fun fact: these tracks are Ugandan, but they were recorded in Nairobi at the time because there were no recording studios at the time.
6. Two Weeks- Grizzly Bear
Take this track from their performance live at Letterman show, I think it sounds pretty good for a live performance. All I can say is again, they sound like Fleet Foxes but more upbeat and poppy. I describe this song as breezy. download it.
7. Good bye Horses- Harlem
Harlem consists of two guys from Austin. This song is actually a cover, originally by Q. Lazzarus, and the duo does a good job at doing it justice. The song brings some attitude to the mix. Its not clean and not exactly the most melodic, but still serves the right amount of punch.
8. Fangela- Here We Go Magic
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Here We Go Magic has a pretty magical sound. No I'm not just trying to sound smart, this track is nostalgic and, simply put, really pretty. Sounds like Grizzly Bear, a little bit of The Shins (vocals), and Department of Eagles. Get lost in this song.
9. Breakaway- Irma Thomas
Like the title, this songs is a complete breakaway from the rest of the tracks on this mix. I mean, think about it, it's Irma Thomas! This track is in here to have fun. Get out of that hazy summer feel that the rest of this mix has put you in. party like it's 1964. And if you like this I recommend "Cry On", "Good to Me", and "Its Raining".
10. Sing Wide- Little Wings
If you can figure out all the lyrics to Sing Wide, more power to ya. His voice and the untimely guitar picking in the background is almost unsettling, but it takes good concentration to focus on each part of the song. Concentrate now.
11. I Die, You Die- Magnetic Fields
This is my favorite song on the mix. This is one of my favorite songs in all time. Off of their box set 69 Love Songs, I Die, You Die is so mysterious and beautiful that you will have to listen to it more than once. It almost sounds like a lullaby, which vocalist Stephin Merritt definitely adds to most of his music. Just do yourself a favor and download this song.
There ya go kids, 11 must-haves for this summer so you can run back to school come fall boasting about all the new indie artists you've discovered over your break. Go on, boast.
