Tuesday, May 16, 2006

All Things Go Night Drive Mixtape

I'd been wanting to put together this mixtape since our blog was formed back in January. To me, there is nothing better than the perfect music on a long drive home after a late night. I've compiled a 15 song mixtape to help you find your way back home. With that, here is the All Things Go Night Drive Mixtape. All Things Go Night Drive Mixtape (.rar) 1) Jens Lekman - Black Cab Ok so normally you wouldn't consider a song like this to be night drive-esque, and neither would I, but try it. I was driving home from a party in the suburbs and put this song on, and lets just say it was an experience. Jens is hard not to like. I also used this song as my choice for the Themed Thursday: Colors. 2) Kyle Andrews - Amos in Ohio I posted about Kyle a few months back, but I decided to put "Amos in Ohio" on because I'm afraid some of you overlooked him. Not only is this song laid back and smooth (a perfect combo for a night drive song), but it also features little whistles and beeps, and as I said before, any song with whistles and beeps is alright by me. 3) Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - The Gold Finch and the Red Oak I wanted to put Ted Leo on this mixtape because he is, after all, my favorite musician and somehow he's yet to be featured on a mixtape (though I have no idea how). "The Gold Finch and the Red Oak" exposes Ted's more soft side in an acoustic masterpiece, complete with violins and Ted's signature meaningful lyrics. Possibly the best song on this mixtape. 4) Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister While "Sleep the Clock Around" by these guys might've fit better on the Night Drive mixtape than on the Sleep Mixtape, I made my choice and I'm sticking to it. "If You're Feeling Sinister" is soft, quiet, soothing and beautiful. Those four adjectives could be used to describe most all old B&S work, but I believe this song stands out, for whatever reason. 5) Iron & Wine / Calexico - 16, Maybe Less Much like the previous choice, I could've easily gone with "The Trapeze Swinger" here, but really that could work for anything involving sleep, nighttime, love, or anything even remotely beautiful. "16, Maybe Less", off of Sam Beam's collabo with Calexico In the Reins, has all the typical Sam Beam style with a little twist. The soft drums really make this song night-drivable. 6) Jose Gonzalez - Crosses I know Jose has been blogged to death, and I know this is my third Jose song to be mixtape-ified, but "Crosses" is too perfect to pass up. Stunning vocals and passionate guitar make for, if not the best overall, at least the best night driving song on this mix. 7) The Shins - Pink Bullets I mean, c'mon. It's the Shins. In my mind, these guys can do no wrong. "Pink Bullets" is my absolute favorite Shins song, and couldn't fit the theme more. This song was such an easy decision. 8) Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulasky Day I know I should've probably chosen more obscure artists for this mix, but I went with quality over coolness, and took this beautiful gem off of Illinois. This song is just too emotional and powerful to be passed over, and there's always room for Sufjan on a mix. 9) Jimmy Eat World - Cautioners Now I know many of you in the indie community have to hate Jimmy Eat World just because they were on MTV, but you can make an exception here. I happen to love Jimmy, and am completely unashamed to say so. This song, off their 2002 release Bleed American, features an incredibly interesting drum beat with a bassline that sort-of echoes the drums. "Cautioners" is another song I've tested on a long night drive, and it without a doubt passed. 10) Death Cab for Cutie - Brothers on a Hotel Bed Death Cab is night drive music all alone, and "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" definitely fits the bill. Slow, soft, and beautiful. Also features piano's, which is just icing on the cake for me. 11) Electric President - Insomnia I will admit that Derek introduced me to these guys and this song, and I am forever in his debt for that. "Insomnia" sounds like it could've come straight off of Postal Service's Give Up, with the same bleeps and bloops. Something about this song conjures up a long winding road at night and deep thoughts. 12) The New Amsterdams - Idaho I love The New Amsterdams, and while I love their 2004 release, Worse for the Wear, the most, I have a soft spot for the more acoustic Never You Mind. Matt Pryor's almost whiny voice seems to work perfectly here, and the harmony, along with the simple pianos, make for an emotional long drive home. 13) Modest Mouse - Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset This mixtape was started because of this song. You may not believe it to be a great night drive song, but you have to try it out. The voice, the guitars, the melody, everything. The point where the melody completely changes (at the 3:28 point) may be one of my favorite parts in a song ever. Also, one of my favorite lyrics comes from this song; "change my mind so much I can't even trust it, my mind changed me so much I can't even trust myself." 14) Stars - Celebration Guns Stars are the kings (and queens) of night drive music, with the soft male and female vocals. "Celebration Guns" just flows so elegantly, and the goofy banging noises in the background, teamed with the dramatic violins, make this song one of my absolute favorites. 15) The Long Winters - The Commander Thinks Aloud Did I say that "The Gold Finch and the Red Oak" was the best song on this mixtape, because I lied. "The Commander Thinks Aloud", off the Ultimatum EP, is one hell of a masterpiece. The song is about the Space Shuttle Columbia, and is an incredible mix of depressing and uplifting. The chorus of "the crew compartment's breaking up" take this song out in epic fashion. I hope you all enjoyed our fourth mixtape. I had so many songs to put on this one, so if you all really enjoyed it I would love to put together another Night Drive Mixtape. Also look out for a mixtape coming soon from my girlfriend, the lovely and talented Sabrina. Let me know what you guys think of the mix in the comments, and drive safely. -Zack

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love night drive mixtapes....if you guys are interested here is the one that I use...

Mae - All Deliberate Speed
Kings of Convenience - Misread
Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Slowreader - Every Part of Nothing
Bob Marley - Could You Be Loved
Cat Stevens - Peace Train
Death Cab - Marching Bands of Manhattan
Jack Johnson - Taylor
Ben Harper - Excuse Me Mr.
Better Than Ezra - Desperately Wanting
Get Up Kids - Mass Pike
JEW - For Me This is Heaven
Bone Thugs & Harmony - Home
Anberlin - Naive Orleans
Counting Crows - Omaha
Rocky Votolato - White Daisy Passing

Anonymous said...

great mix zack, good choice with the sufjan song. and i love "the commander thinks out loud", despite it being so sad

Anonymous said...

Excellent mix and mix idea. Also, for the sake of historical accurateness, Bleed American was released in 2001 rather than 2002. I only know this because of the complete insanity of the record label changing the album to self-titled following September 11th.

--Josh

Anonymous said...

aww no death cab's passenger seat? but i love all your mixtapes anyway (Y)

The Game said...

GREAT PICKS!

although i think some tracks off The Avalanche wouldve fit better for your Sufjan pick, bu ti lvoe that song.

Anonymous said...

awesome songs, as always. totally in love with eletric president.

Anonymous said...

I like this kind of mixtapes. It's so nice to get some hints for this moments - being tire and on the road at home again. thx for jens lekman - I overlooked him. ;)

Anonymous said...

meh

Miles said...

"The Commander Thinks Aloud" Hells yeah. Utterly brilliant song. Good pick. And a nice tape over all, I'm just a little dissapointed as much of it is stuff I already have ;-)

Anonymous said...

interpol- nyc

Anonymous said...

I made an hour long mixtape for my sister for night time driving just last week. I think the tone of it is a little bit different to your selection though.
TV on the radio - Staring at the Sun
Peaches - The Inch
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y control
My Bloody Valentine - Sometimes
Felix da Housecat - Read 2 Wear
M83 - Unrecorded
Mogwai - Hunted by a freak
Tom Vek - Nothing but Green lights
Explosions in the sky - To west Texas
Jesus & Mary Chain - Just like honey
Pixies - This monkey's gone to heaven
Postal Service - The District Sleeps alone tonight
Sigur Ros - Myrkur
Interpol - Obstacle 1
Tom Vek - On the road.

I guess mine is more electro and synth orientated than acoustic guitar. I dont mean to say I dislike yours, I like Deathcab,Shins,Sufjan Stevens and B&S a lot.

I have a blog, but on livejournal [http://thomtakesphotos.livejournal.com/

Anonymous said...

Love it! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

personally i think this mixtape sucks...

Anonymous said...

Thanks, this will be perfect for my LONG drive home from the gorge after Sasquatch next week!

Anonymous said...

good music overall, but as a night driving mixtape? not so much. it's hard to stay awake when driving at night and this just puts me right to sleep...

Anonymous said...

ok, so not bad, but i've got to quibble over a few...

Why "brothers on a hotel bed" when you could have the superior "405" which is a song involving driving? BONUS.

I would throw on "The Funeral" by band of horses, probably somewhere in the middle, to wake me up.

Anonymous said...

I love the ending part in Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset. It really is a perfect driving song.

A+

Anonymous said...

No Mogwai? Helios? j/k Nice mix!

Anonymous said...

Also, might I add:

r.e.m.-Night Swimming
Clannad-Harry's Game (anybody remember the Volkswagen commercial a few years ago?)

A. B. Chairiet said...

Hi Zack,

I'm commenting on the Night Drive Mixtape, so hence my directing this towards you.

I found this blog three weeks ago, I think it was. I love the writing, the music.

This post, though...WOW.

Death Cab and Sufjan Stevens and Modest Mouse, I love. I knew some of the other artist (Jimmy Eat World: of course I know. That one song [yeah...that one] was huge back when in was high school), but every single song, I had never heard. They were all new, and all great.

Black Cab? I think it's perfect for a night drive! Nothing like not wanting to go home, but wanting to go home...not caring either way.

Casimir Pulasky Day: This one kills me.

Insomnia: Perfect for late night writing too.

Idaho: I love it.

Talking S--- about a Pretty Sunset: I've adored every song of theirs, but this one just might be the best. There's something damn magical about that second half, the title line, and I change my mind so much...It floors me every time.

The Commander Thinks Aloud: Definitely my favorite of the entire list.

...

I know this comment's a bit late. I downloaded the mix over the course of a few days (or nights), and then didn't get back around for a while. But I listen to all of these songs so much, and love 'em all so much...it truly is a great list!...that I just really wanted to come back to this post and thank you.

So thanks. :)

Happy Wednesday!
~ Ash

Anonymous said...

this mix is positively wonderful--- a perfect blend of bittersweet mellow. just keep making more. your mixes have introduced me to new stuff like Stars