I just realized it’s been well over a month since I last posted an mp3 and almost 3 months since my last Mike Mix! I sincerely apologize. Now that my year-end coverage is officially complete, I will return to my normal schedule. And I have a lot to write about. Over the past few months, I’ve become obsessed with a handful of amazing albums. I hope to write about each one in the coming weeks. I might even come up with a catchy title for the feature. Stay tuned.

But before I do that, I have a brand new Mike Mix to introduce. A quick glance at the track list (below) reveals that nearly half of the songs come from only two bands: Loney, Dear and Annuals. If you’ve never heard these two artists before, Mike Mix 12 will serve as an excellent introduction to them. Make sure to check out the track “Always Do.” The pedal steel and soaring middle section of the song are truly incredible.

Scattered between these tracks are dusty gems by some of my all-time favorite bands. Highlights include: “Metal Detektor,” an effortlessly cool number by Spoon; “Uprooted,” a slow-burning anthem from The Antlers; and “About Today,” a slice of late-night perfection by The National.

As always, I highly recommend listening to Mike Mix 12 in the order presented below. Download or stream the entire mix using the links below! Enjoy!

• 1. Spoon – Metal Detektor
• 2. Loney, Dear – Distant Lights
• 3. The National – About Today
• 4. My Morning Jacket – The Bear
• 5. Annuals – Always Do
• 6. Annuals – Ida, My
• 7. The American Analog Set – The Postman
• 8. Bishop Allen – I Get Along
• 9. Loney, Dear – I Was Only Going Out
• 10. Loney, Dear – Summers
• 11. Annuals – Sway
• 12. Devin Davis – Deserted Eyeland
• 13. The Antlers – Uprooted
• 14. Hayden – You Are All I Have
• Download entire mix