To be perfectly honest, I never thought my Mike Mix idea would make it this far. I figured after only a few mixes I’d run out of good songs, at which point in time the idea would quietly disappear from my site.

I guess I was wrong. Mike Mix 22, the seventeenth installment in the series (because I started with Mike Mix 6), is just as amazing as its predecessors. Somehow I continue to unearth hidden gems – songs I loved back in the day that have long since been buried in the depths of my iTunes library. Mike Mix 22 has uncovered some true beauties, including “One Big Holiday” by My Morning Jacket and “Love to a Monster” by Okkervil River.

In addition to these old favorites, Mike Mix 22 also features some of my favorite songs from 2010. I don’t want to give away too much before I post my year-end list, but I can’t resist leaving a few clues: verbal guns, sudden darkness, ice on water, and clocks. Any guesses?

As always, I highly recommend listening to Mike Mix 22 in the order presented below. Download or stream the entire mix using the links below. Enjoy!

• 1. Surfer Blood – Floating Vibes
• 2. Akron/Family – River
• 3. Delta Spirit – Strange Vine
• 4. Deer Tick – Easy
• 5. Titus Andronicus – Upon Viewing Brueghel’s “Landscape With the Fall of Icarus”
• 6. My Morning Jacket – One Big Holiday
• 7. Vampire Weekend – Horchata
• 8. The Rural Alberta Advantage – Don’t Haunt This Place
• 9. Seabear – I’ll Build You a Fire
• 10. Okkervil River – Love to a Monster
• 11. Josh Ritter – Change of Time
• 12. Frightened Rabbit – FootShooter
• 13. Spoon – Out Go the Lights
• 14. Horse Feathers – Heaven’s No Place
• Download entire mix

This post is dedicated to my grandmother, who passed away May 27. She was an amazing woman and will be missed dearly.

When I first launched Mike Went West nearly 3 years ago, one of my site’s main features was a monthly podcast of music. Sadly, I abandoned this feature after releasing only 5 mixes. I felt like each podcast took an inordinate amount of time and energy. I also felt like the quality of each mix was sliding steadily downhill.

As it turns out, I lacked the proper motivation. About 10 months ago, I started dating my girlfriend. To help her better understand my crazy little world, I decided to make monthly mix tapes for her (which I coined “Mike Mixes”). So far I’ve made ten and I’m still going strong. I hope to post a new mix every month. I decided to start with Mike Mix 6 for one simple reason: the first five are decent but nothing special. Also, it seems appropriate that I should pick up where my podcasts left off – with number six.

Now a few quick words about the pacing and sequencing of the mix. Mike Mix 6 starts off with “If Only It Were True,” a slow, lumbering song by The Walkmen. Two consecutive tracks by Brand New help transition the mix to a slightly faster pace, which is maintained by the next four songs (fantastic tracks by Okkervil River, Frightened Rabbit, MGMT, and Arctic Monkeys). Following this upbeat middle section, two tracks by The Rural Alberta Advantage help slow things back down. The mix ends with three of my all-time favorite songs: “3 Rounds and a Sound” by Blind Pilot, “A Desolate Angels Blues” by Justin Townes Earle, and “Okkervil River Song” by Okkervil River.

I highly recommend listening to the songs in this order (a full track listing is provided below). Download or stream the entire mix using the links below. Enjoy!

• 1. The Walkmen – If Only It Were True
• 2. Brand New – The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot
• 3. Brand New – Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis
• 4. Okkervil River – Another Radio Song
• 5. Frightened Rabbit – Square 9
• 6. MGMT – Kids
• 7. Arctic Monkeys – 505
• 8. The Rural Alberta Advantage – Edmonton
• 9. The Rural Alberta Advantage – In the Summertime
• 10. Blind Pilot – 3 Rounds and a Sound
• 11. Justin Townes Earle – A Desolate Angels Blues
• 12. Okkervil River – Okkervil River Song
• Download entire mix

SHEARWATER
Rook

It’s official. With Rook, Shearwater has fully stepped out of the giant shadow cast by Okkervil River. This isn’t the first time I’ve said this, but it’s definitely true. It’s been fun watching the band’s progression. With each new release, Shearwater continues to put more and more distance between itself and Okkervil River. Hopefully, Rook is just one of many more albums to come from this incredible band.

• Shearwater – Rooks

GRAND ARCHIVES
The Grand Archives

This may sound a little strange, but Grand Archives’ self-titled debut is like an old friend. No matter how much time passes between contact, conversations continue as though you’d just talked to your friend yesterday. And the time you spend together only reminds you why you liked this person so much in the first place. Every time I listen to The Grand Archives, I wonder why I don’t listen to it more often.

• Grand Archives – George Kaminski

THE WALKMEN
You & Me

When I wrote about You & Me a few months ago, I said, “Right now, ‘On the Water’ is my favorite track, but this will probably change on a weekly basis.” As it turns out, I was right. My favorite song this week is “If Only It Were True.” I consider this to be the hallmark of a great album – one that reveals itself slowly in layers.

• The Walkmen – If Only It Were True

THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE
Hometowns

Hometowns was a last minute addition to this list. If I had a little more time with the album, it probably would crack my top 5. But the mere fact that it even made the list stands as a testament to its amazingness. Normally I wouldn’t even consider an album I just started listening to 3 weeks ago, but The Rural Alberta Advantage is one of the best new bands I’ve heard in a long time. They definitely deserve this spot.

• The Rural Alberta Advantage – Don’t Haunt This Place

BON IVER
For Emma, Forever Ago

Technically first released in 2007, For Emma, Forever Ago was easily my most anticipated album of 2008. And it did not disappoint. Bon Iver (aka Justin Vernon) manages to do a lot with very little. He makes sounds with an acoustic guitar I didn’t think possible. He loops and layers his gorgeous vocals to haunting effect. It all adds up to one of the most original and innovative albums of 2008.

• Bon Iver – For Emma

THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH
Shallow Grave

The most impressive thing about Shallow Grave is how effortless it sounds. There must be something in the water in Sweden. Using just an acoustic guitar and occasionally a banjo, The Tallest Man On Earth (aka Kristian Matsson) walks a narrow line between intensity and beauty. It’s an impressive debut from a talented singer-songwriter.

• The Tallest Man On Earth – Where Do My Bluebird Fly

SIGUR RÓS
Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust

I’m getting a little worried. I’m starting to hear Sigur Rós everywhere: commercials, TV shows, movie trailers, soundtracks. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. Their music is disgustingly gorgeous. And Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust is no exception. If anything surprises me, it’s that it took the TV and movie people so long to discover this amazing band.

• Sigur Rós – Illgresi

FLEET FOXES
Fleet Foxes

The first time I heard Fleet Foxes I got a little angry. They sounded eerily similar to early My Morning Jacket, which I did not appreciate. But because I was desperate for some classic MMJ, I decided to give them a try. I’m glad I did. The more I listen to them, the less they sound like MMJ. It took a little time, but Fleet Foxes’ soaring vocals and melodies definitely grew on me. Much more than I ever imagined.

• Fleet Foxes – Your Protector

SERA CAHOONE
Only As the Day Is Long

For the record, Only As the Day Is Long could’ve easily held down the No. 1 spot on this list. 2008 was the year I discovered the beauty of Americana/folk music and, without a doubt, Sera Cahoone was the highlight of this incredible genre. Sadly, I never featured her on my Artist Spotlight series as I originally planned. I just couldn’t find the right words (and doubt I ever will). Just know that Sera writes simple, gorgeous, heartbreaking music.

• Sera Cahoone – You’re Not Broken

FRIGHTENED RABBIT
The Midnight Organ Fight

There’s not much more to say about these guys that I haven’t already said. Maybe the only thing left to do is justify why they grabbed the top spot. On a typical album, I usually figure out my favorite track(s) within the first few listens. But on The Midnight Organ Fight, this didn’t happen. It is truly a complete album, which in the age of the digital single is a remarkable achievement.

• Frightened Rabbit – Head Rolls Off