Despite a minor hiccup last month, Mike Mix production rolls on with the twenty-eighth installment in the series. This might be a bit of a stretch (and somewhat dramatic), but Mike Mix 28 reminds me of a gentle Midwest thunderstorm. Let me explain.

Storms in Wisconsin typically have three distinct phases. During the first phase, a dark, ominous cloud looms on the horizon. Everything is still and eerily quiet. As the storm slowly approaches, a few drops of rain start to fall and the wind begins to swirl. The sky flickers faintly with distant lightning. This is the calm before the storm (tracks 1 and 2).

• 1. Sufjan Stevens – All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands
• 2. Animal Collective – Loch Raven

In the second phase the storm finally hits. Flashes of lightning become brighter and more frequent. Thunder builds from a low, muffled rumble to a deafening, house-rattling cacophony. The heavens open, inundating the earth with sheets of torrential rain. In short, all hell breaks loose (tracks 3 trough 8).

• 3. Meursault – The Dirt & the Roots
• 4. Jaill – The Stroller
• 5. Yeasayer – Madder Red
• 6. Twin Shadow – Castles In the Snow
• 7. The Walkmen – Juveniles
• 8. Modest Mouse – Ohio

In the third phase the storm starts to break. The rain eases and the lightning and thunder fade away. Birds slowly begin to emerge from their nests. The air is cool and fresh. This is the calm after the storm. Off in the distance, however, looms another dark cloud (tracks 9 through 13).

• 9. South San Gabriel – Inhabitants
• 10. Sharon Van Etten – Much More Than That
• 11. Bad Books – I Begged You Everything
• 12. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – Boneindian
• 13. Joanna Newsom – Does Not Suffice

Despite being presented in three distinct parts, I strongly encourage listening to Mike Mix 28 in its entirety. Stream the mix using the player embedded in this page. Download a zip file with all thirteen songs using the link below.

• Download entire mix

After posting nearly two dozen Mike Mixes over the course of three years, I’m pretty sure you guys know what to expect by now: a collection of amazing songs by some of my favorite artists. Beyond that, there’s not a whole lot more to say, unless, of course, I wanted to catalog and discuss in detail every track on the mix (which I don’t).

Yet each month I struggle to find different ways to say pretty much the same thing. It’s gotten so bad it’s killed my motivation to write about anything else on my site (aside from New Releases).

I think I’ve finally reached my limit. Which doesn’t mean I’m done posting new Mike Mixes. I still love making them – I just hate writing about them. So in the future I think I’ll pare down the text to only a few sentences and let the music do the talking.

With that said, here are a couple sentences about Mike Mix 27. Most artists on the mix should be pretty familiar by now with the possible exception of two: Foals and Lower Dens. I discovered both bands last year and had pretty high hopes after reading favorable reviews for their latest albums (Total Life Forever and Twin-Hand Movement, respectively). However, aside from the two tracks posted below (which are amazing), neither album really grabbed my attention. In other words, I cautiously recommend checking out either band if you like what you hear.

As always, I strongly encourage listening to Mike Mix 27 in the order presented below. Download or stream the entire mix using the links after the track list. Enjoy!

• 1. The National – Terrible Love
• 2. Interpol – Memory Serves
• 3. Foals – Spanish Sahara
• 4. Lower Dens – I Get Nervous
• 5. Carissa’s Wierd – Die
• 6. Sharon Van Etten – One Day
• 7. Deer Tick – Unwed Fathers
• 8. Delta Spirit – Children
• 9. The Walkmen – All My Great Designs
• 10. The Love Language – Summer Dust
• 11. Seabear – Hands Remember
• 12. S. Carey – Broken
• Download entire mix

I’m not trying to justify the four month delay in my year-end coverage, but I’ve always found it slightly disingenuous to talk about the year’s best music in December. A little extra time can provide a lot of perspective, allowing for complete digestion of everything the year had to offer. I probably didn’t need four months to do so but I think you get the point.

So without further delay I present my Top 15 Songs of 2010. Not surprisingly, the list culls a large number of songs from my favorite albums of 2010 (which can be found here), but there are almost an equal number of tracks from albums that didn’t make the list. And it is this latter category of songs that really shines. “Out Go the Lights” might be my favorite Spoon song yet. Joanna Newsom’s “Baby Birch” is epic, gorgeous, and devastating. And the violin on Seabear’s “Cold Summer” practically brings me to tears.

I could go on like this for each song but I think it’s better to let the music do the talking. Trust me when I say they’re all incredible. The playlist below is not ranked in order of preference but instead sequenced in a way I think flows best. Use the links at the end of the post to either stream individual songs or download the entire list.

• 1. Yeasayer – Madder Red
• 2. The National – Sorrow
• 3. Broken Social Scene – Sweetest Kill
• 4. Spoon – Out Go the Lights
• 5. The Walkmen – All My Great Designs
• 6. Joanna Newsom – Baby Birch
• 7. The Love Language – Summer Dust
• 8. Seabear – Cold Summer
• 9. The Tallest Man On Earth – Love Is All
• 10. Surfer Blood – Anchorage
• 11. Titus Andronicus – Theme From “Cheers”
• 12. A Silver Mt. Zion – Kollapz Tradixional (Thee Olde Dirty Flag)
• 13. Kanye West – Runaway
• 14. S. Carey – Broken
• 15. Sharon Van Etten – Love More
• Download entire mix

If you thought the previous Mike Mix was a downer (which it was), wait until you hear Mike Mix 15. I don’t know what inspired it, but holy crap is it depressing. It’s also one of the longest mixes to date. Better buckle up…

Mike Mix 15 kicks off with “Untitled,” the opener from Interpol’s classic debut Turn On the Bright Lights. The track, much like the album, perfectly captures the seediness of the city after the sun goes down. “Ghost of a Shark” by Tom McRae, on the other hand, would make an excellent soundtrack to escaping the city limits at the break of dawn.

I could continue like this for the rest of the mix but I think you get the idea: the songs of Mike Mix 15 are the opposite of happy. Some of my favorites include the fiery “Bought a Bride” by Brand New, the monstrous “Dance Little Liar” by Arctic Monkeys, the dejected “Things Fall Apart” by Built to Spill, and the wistful “Forests and Sands” by Camera Obscura. If these tracks seem familiar, it’s because they all made my Top 10 Songs of 2009 list. I loved them back then and still love them today.

As always, I strongly recommend listening to Mike Mix 15 in the order presented below. Download or stream the entire mix using the links below! Enjoy responsibly.

• 1. Interpol – Untitled
• 2. Tom McRae – Ghost of a Shark
• 3. Shearwater – Rooks
• 4. The National – Squalor Victoria
• 5. Radiohead – All I Need
• 6. Radiohead – Climbing Up the Walls
• 7. Brand New – Bought a Bride
• 8. The Walkmen – The Rat
• 9. Arctic Monkeys – Dance Little Liar
• 10. Monsters of Folk – Temazcal
• 11. Built to Spill – Things Fall Apart
• 12. Modest Mouse – Bankrupt On Selling
• 13. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Strange Form of Life
• 14. Shearwater – Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine
• 15. Camera Obscura – Forests and Sands
• 16. Portland Cello Project – Travel
• Download entire mix

Much like its older siblings, Mike Mix 10 is packed with tons of great music. And while I always recommend listening to the mix in its entirety, a few tracks stand above the rest.

The first is “Sublime” by The Twilight Singers. Drifting dangerously close to adult-contemporary, the song features sultry vocals, whiny guitars, and some unbelievably cheesy whispering during the bridge. In anyone else’s hands this song would be a train wreck, but The Twilight Singers make it sound heartfelt and sincere.

The second is “Trailer Trash” by Modest Mouse. Replete with depressing lyrics and fantastic guitar work, the song is vintage Modest Mouse. If you enjoyed “Broke” on Mike Mix 09, you’ll love “Trailer Trash.” Self-loathing never sounded so good.

And the third is “Love Vigilantes” by Iron & Wine. Originally recorded by New Order, the song tells the story of a soldier returning home after war. I would say more but I don’t want to give too much away. Just listen to the song. You’ll quickly discover why I love it so much.

But don’t forget there are 12 more songs on Mike Mix 10. I’ve written about a handful of them previously, but several are appearing on my site for the first time. There’s the sinister “DLZ,” the creepy-but-achingly-gorgeous “Borrowed Your Gun,” and the heartbreaking “Miss Me.” Listen to them all and let me know your favorites!

Download or stream the entire mix using the links below. Enjoy!

• 1. Tom McRae – Walking 2 Hawaii
• 2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Runaway
• 3. The Twilight Singers – Sublime
• 4. Modest Mouse – Trailer Trash
• 5. TV On the Radio – DLZ
• 6. The Notwist – Consequence
• 7. The American Analog Set – Aaron & Maria
• 8. Belle and Sebastian – A Century of Fakers
• 9. Iron & Wine – Love Vigilantes
• 10. Bon Iver – For Emma
• 11. Spiritualized – Borrowed Your Gun
• 12. The Walkmen – Another One Goes By
• 13. Joe Purdy – Miss Me
• 14. Old Crow Medicine Show – Wagon Wheel
• 15. Justin Rutledge – Alberta Breeze
• 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

In order to return my blog to its usual format, I need to clear out the backlog of music created by my summer hiatus. This post should bring you up to speed on some of my favorite albums released in the past few months. It won’t be poetic, but then again, housekeeping rarely is.

MY MORNING JACKET

After the massive disappointment that was Z, I expected very little of My Morning Jacket’s latest album Evil Urges. After several months of listening, I can honestly say Evil Urges doesn’t suck. In fact, it’s pretty solid. The band continues to distance themselves from the sound they perfected on At Dawn, which, at least for me, is disappointing because that’s the sound I originally fell in love with.

I think, however, I’ve come to terms with their new direction. Seeing them live at the Greek two weeks ago definitely helped. These guys put on an amazing show. One of the many highlights that night was an incredible version of “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2,” the epic closing track on Evil Urges. The studio version of this song is posted below.

• My Morning Jacket – Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2

THE WALKMEN

On You & Me, The Walkmen not only perfect their sound but finally feel comfortable with it. And they sound as if they’ve just shaken off an epic hangover: their new album contains a sense of weariness and regret not present in previous albums. Maybe The Walkmen have grown up.

If so, it’s for the better. You & Me is their most consistent, and ultimately, their most rewarding album to date. Ironically, its consistency might also be its biggest turn-off. Songs sometimes bleed too much into each other. It takes repeated listens before tracks distinguish themselves. After nearly two dozen spins, I’m finally there. Right now, “On the Water” is my favorite track, but this will probably change on a weekly basis.

• The Walkmen – On the Water

SHEARWATER

Similar to The Walkmen, Shearwater sounds like they’ve finally figured themselves out. With the release of Rook, Meiburg and his band fully step out of the shadow of Okkervil River. I’m only disappointed it took so long.

There is a lot going on under the surface of Rook. The shear gorgeousness of the music often masks a strong undercurrent of anger and frustration. Which is part of the reason I like Shearwater so much: their ability to combine beauty and violence is striking. The title track from Rook, which is posted below, captures this balance perfectly.

• Shearwater – Rooks

SIGUR RÓS

Sigur Rós has yet to release a disappointing album. With every new CD, they manage to explore new territory while at the same time maintaining their core sound (My Morning Jacket should take a lesson from them). The first few tracks on Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust, for example, can almost be described as joyous, which is definitely new territory for the band.

This mood, however, doesn’t last long. Soon the band retreats to familiar ground, slowing the flow of music to that of a glacier. “Illgresi,” the track posted below, resides on the slower second half of Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust and features the band at its simplest: a pretty acoustic guitar riff, some violin flourishes, and Jónsi’s plaintive vocals.

• Sigur Rós – Illgresi

As my blog quickly approaches the ripe old age of one, it’s fun (at least for me) to look back on my old posts. Nearly a year ago, I posted an article called My Top 5 Favorite Bands. A lot has changed since then.While I still consider all 5 of those bands to be among my perennial favorites, several amazing bands have since worked their way into my collection. I realize I’ve blogged about all these guys before, but I feel compelled to share once again why I love them so much. In no particular order, here’s the new list:

MONO: Music beyond words

I am still obsessed with this band. Despite having only 39 Mono tracks in my iTunes library, I’ve listened to them almost 800 times. It doesn’t matter what mood I’m in, I keep coming back for more. The track posted below is from their debut LP Under the Pipal Tree released in 2001. In it, you can clearly hear the band honing what will soon become its signature sound: layers upon layers of guitars soaring to climaxes so high you’re afraid of what’ll happen when it all comes crashing down. One of my favorite Mono tracks, period.

• Mono – The Kidnapper Bell

THE NATIONAL: Elegantly-wasted Americana

In all reality, The National probably should’ve made the list the first time around. Never have I heard a band combine beauty and sadness so effortlessly and yet so successfully (see “About Today” and “Slow Show” below). I’ve been listening to The National steadily for the past year, which I can’t say for too many other bands. And with the release of their excellent new LP Boxer, the band has proved without a doubt that they belong on this list.

• The National – About Today
• The National – Slow Show

THE WALKMEN: Inelegantly-wasted Americana

I never expected to like The Walkmen as much as I do. I honestly can’t explain what drew me to them, let alone what keeps me from ever wanting to leave. Maybe it’s the Dylanesque vocals, maybe it’s the drunken guitar pieces, or maybe it’s lines like this: “Don’t know what to offer you I’m only broke and lonely / And another one goes, and another one goes by / Sometimes when I walk outside I see it right in front of me and so / Bright.” Amazing lyrics to an incredible song, which is posted again for your convenience below.

• The Walkmen – Another One Goes By

MENOMENA: The absolute pinnacle of indie rock

Words cannot describe my love for this band. After seeing them live a few weeks ago, I can honestly say indie rock doesn’t get much better than Menomena. All three members are incredibly talented musicians; at the concert I quickly learned that they all share lead vocals and can play just about any instrument under the sun. Tracks from Friend and Foe rocked with even more intensity than on the album, while older material greatly benefited from the live setting. Below is the standout track (well, one of many) from their debut album I Am the Fun Blame Monster, whose title can be rearranged to spell The First Menomena Album.

• Menomena – The Strongest Man In the World

CAT POWER: The only cat I’ll ever like

I definitely consider myself a dog person, but Chan Marshall, with her gorgeous voice and haunting melodies, has struck a chord in my dog-loving soul. I seem to get a lot of feedback on my Cat Power posts, which leads me to believe many of you have already come to appreciate her music. So I’ll keep this blurb short, enjoy a terrific piano dirge from Moon Pix called “Colors and the Kids.”

• Cat Power – Colors and the Kids

As is becoming routine, I apologize for the lack of activity on my blog. After a month or so of relatively calm waters, the hurricane that is grad school has finally gained strength, knocking me and my blog well off course. At the moment, I believe I’m in the eye of the storm, so bear with my if I don’t resurface for another few weeks.

But enough of that. I’ve been sitting on this month’s Artist Spotlight for quite some time. I started listening to them at the beginning of 2007 (thanks to eMusic), though I had known of their existence for several years. I’m just disappointed it took me so long to get into them.

The band is The Walkmen and they have a sound that’s difficult to categorize. The one thing I can tell you with certainty is that the singer sounds like Bob Dylan. Their older material reminds me of Interpol (but not really), while their latest stuff is very bluesy. You should probably just listen to the tracks posted below.

You may recognize the first song from a Saturn car commercial (which I never saw) that garnered The Walkmen a modest amount of attention a few years back – similar to how the VW commercial revived interest in Nick Drake (but not really). The second song posted is the stunning title track from my favorite Walkmen album, Bows + Arrows. And the last song beautifully closes their most recent LP A Hundred Miles Off.

• The Walkmen – We’ve Been Had
• The Walkmen – Bows & Arrows
• The Walkmen – Another One Goes By

PS – Don’t let the poor quality of this post influence your opinion of The Walkmen. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!