Music-The Mixed Tape

The mixed tape, is there anything more personal than selecting tracks for someone that you think they will like? You try to be cool and find stuff they haven’t heard, you want killer tracks that will have them air drumming in the car. Maybe it’s a disc for your girlfriend or a buddy who’s living in another town, either way there’s a lot to consider, time must be invested, and it has to be just right.

Maybe it’s been a while since you made one, maybe you need a couple of great ideas, maybe a little inspiration…listen to a few of these diverse tracks, you’re sure to find something here that will get your musical motor running.

The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound
Comparisons to Bruce Springsteen abound and no one in The Gaslight Anthem camp is rushing to douse the flames. This New Jersey quartet puts a punk swagger on the Boss’s signature sound.

Fu Manchu – Written in Stone
Monster guitars lay down a huge pounding beat that feels as good as it sounds. This is the most under-rated heavy band on the planet.

Elliott Smith – Bled White
Brit Pop sound complete with swirly organ, great lyrics and infectious hooks. Elloitt knew how to craft the perfect pop ditty.

John Hammond – Push Comes to Shove
Blues is one of the few styles where the older the artist, the deeper the groove. Hammond lays down a groove so big and so deep it’s hard to see the sun.

Jamey Johnson - High Cost of Living
If you like your country a bit twisted and more Steve Earl than Garth Brooks check out this hard-scrabble cowboy.

Golden Smog – Radio King
This under-the-radar super group has members of the Jay Hawks, Soul Asylum, the Honeydogs and once in a while Jeff Tweedy from Wilco.

The Ting Tings – Shut-up and Let Me Go
Bitchy and slick, the Ting Tings bring their big attitude and sugary pop hooks.

Greg Brown – Spring and All
Folkies know Brown has been around forever, but unlike many of his contemporaries Brown is still making great acoustic music that remains rooted in America’s small towns.

The R&B Cadets – Check Your Bucket
Funky and fun the Cadets will have you dancing. Soulful, youthful and just plain entertaining, this is something your girlfriend or wife will love.

Shelby Lynne – Dream Some
Shelby had a big hit with her tribute album to Dusty Springfield: Just a Little Loving but this tune off an earlier album is divine.

Dave Weckl – Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
One of the world’s greatest drummers Weckl gives this Buddy Rich jazz standard a workout and in the process puts a smile on your face. Drummers just don’t get their due.

T.Rex – Bang a Gong (Get it On)
For all you classic rock fans you can never go wrong with a little Marc Bolin and T.Rex.

Isn’t it time you put a pile of tunes together and shared them with someone special? It’s a great ice-breaker when reconnecting with friends who you’ve lost touch with. After all who would not like to find a personalized mixed tape in their mailbox?

Go on, get started, email me your best mixed tape song list and maybe we’ll publish it in a future column.

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