Tuesday, April 1, 2014

"Two" Mixtape Review


I've never done a review of a mixtape, but there's a first for everything. It's only fitting that I'm listening and reviewing, right? After listening to the mix over a dozen times, in order and on shuffle- I think I've had sufficient time to develop an opinion about it.

Will, you and I have very different and very similar music tastes. You pointed out the other day that they're complementary, it's true! You fill the gaps of music knowledge that I miss like "dad music." Or MOPEY ROCK (you listen to a lot of mopey rock Will). Okay, okay, okay back to reviewing.

Overall, I thought it did open a door to number of artists and a genre that I frankly wouldn't listen to otherwise. Listening to Pavement makes me feel like I'm driving in my car to West Texas. If you haven't noticed, I'm not very good at critiquing music...musically. I do it by how it makes me feel when I hear it. I couldn't get into "Bed." It's just so dark, dirty, and not me. Native America would probably my highlight. And for whatever reason, I've listened to this a ton, but I still get thrown off by "My Second Hand Heart" by Lay Low. In a good way, it's soothing in a mixtape that I found to be alt-rock driven. And most of the vocals sounded the same to me, they all had this same quality, but I don't have a word for it.

You know, I feel like I would see a lot of these bands at something like 'backyard togetherness.' Maybe that's just me.
  • Not-so-good vibes: Sparklehorse, Grandaddy and Brand New
  • Good vibes: Pavement, Built To Spill 
  • Great vibes: Native America, Vetiver, Chris Rehm and Pains