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