SAN FRANCISCO – In a recent public statement the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criticized the popular music blog Mike Went West over its “wasteful and unsustainable practices.” The agency specifically mentioned the Mike Mix production process, in which company policy strictly prohibits the recycling of songs. The EPA alleges that this policy has “resulted in dozens of perfectly good tracks being thrown away simply because they’ve been used once before.”

Mike Went West has not officially responded to the EPA’s allegations, though in past statements the blog justified its anti-recycling policy, saying it was “essential to satisfying customers’ insatiable appetites for new music.”

Recent activity on the blog, however, hints at a possible shift in policy. The track list for Mike Mix 17, the latest installment in the series, features only songs from previous mixes. Some are calling it a ‘best of’ compilation. Others are calling it a cheap ploy intended to appease the EPA and calm skittish investors. Either way, Mike Mix 17 has been wildly successful. Rolling Stone writes, “The mix effortlessly blends seemingly incompatible genres of music to make a delicious and strangely-satisfying sonic smoothie.”

In unrelated news, the blog is rumored to be redesigning its website. If true, it will be the site’s third iteration since launching back in 2006. True to recent form, Mike Went West has remained silent on the issue. Analysts predict a launch date sometime in August. Perhaps this rumored redesign explains the recent lack of activity on the site. One can only hope.

[Editor's Note: Just in case it wasn't entirely obvious, the above story is completely fabricated. Mike Mix 17, however, is very real. Download it here or stream it using the player below. Enjoy!]

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 the entire mix here or stream it using the player below. Enjoy!

Every time I make a new Mike Mix I’m amazed by how much good music falls through the cracks over time. After all, only a small number of songs on each mix have been featured previously on my site. There simply isn’t enough time to write about them all.

Which is why I love making these mixes so much: songs that otherwise would’ve remained permanently buried finally see the light of day. The 14 tracks of Mike Mix 09 are no exception. Many of them are appearing on my site for the first time; most of them should’ve been posted months ago.

With all that said, it’s time to introduce Mike Mix 09.

Despite its quiet start, Mike Mix 09 packs quite a punch. “Lookout Mountain” by Drive-By Truckers rocks incredibly hard; “Else” by Built to Spill bounces around nervously; and “Only In Dreams” by Weezer builds to an epic climax. At the opposite end of the spectrum, “My Lady’s House” by Iron & Wine plods along gently while “The Blackest Crow” by Justin Rutledge quietly refuses to end (in a good way).

As always, I highly recommend listening to Mike Mix 09 in the order presented below. Download the entire mix here or stream it using the player below! Enjoy!

Before starting, I must confess: I don’t know much about the south beyond the typical negative stereotypes (which I will not enumerate here). But for a region plagued by such a controversial and turbulent history, the south sure inspires gorgeous music.

And while only some of the artists featured in this mix call the south their home, all the songs conjure up images of sitting on the front porch at twilight watching the sunset and fireflies, which I imagine they do quite often in the south. I know I would.

This mix was largely inspired by my obsession with country-tinged indie music. Far from the typical Toby Keith garbage you hear on the radio, the songs below borrow the best parts of country music to create something that tugs at your heartstrings.

Some call it alt-country, some call it folk, I just call it good music (with a twang).

[mp3] My Morning Jacket :: Where to Begin
[mp3] Palace Music :: New Partner
[mp3] The Black Keys :: The Lengths
[mp3] Iron & Wine :: Resurrection Fern
[mp3] Ryan Adams :: Oh My Sweet Carolina
[mp3] The Acorn :: Glory
[mp3] The National Lights :: O, Ohio
[mp3] The Everybodyfields :: Good to Be Home

Once again, I recommend listening to the songs in the above order. Check the comments for a link to a zip file containing all 8 songs.

So now that I’ve removed the “pressure” of doing a podcast every month, I feel more relaxed and better able to deliver quality music to you as it comes to me.

This month’s podcast was originally conceived on Halloween night, but the only scary thing about it is how good the songs are. Did I really just type that? Oh well, no going back now. I created this mix as I sat alone at home wondering why I can never think of any good costumes.

But it’s actually fitting that I call this the Halloween mix. Fans of My Morning Jacket may be familiar with their excellent live EP Acoustic Citsuoca. The EP, which features Jim James solo on the acoustic guitar, was recorded at a Halloween party.

All of the songs on this podcast are hushed acoustic numbers. If you pay close attention, the only cracks of the drum you’ll hear are near the end of the mix. Now do you understand why the title is appropriate?

Before I get too carried away, here’s the track listing:

1. Gary Jules :: Mad World
2. Elliott Smith :: Angeles
3. M. Ward :: Let’s Dance
4. Bishop Allen :: The Chinatown Bus
5. The Mountain Goats :: Moon Over Goldsboro
6. The Decemberists :: Red Right Ankle
7. Ryan Adams :: Tomorrow
8. Sufjan Stevens :: To Be Alone With You
9. Iron & Wine :: Upward Over the Mountain
10. The Mountain Goats :: Pale Green Things
11. Weezer :: Butterfly
12. Elliott Smith :: Pitseleh
13. Calexico :: Removed
14. Voxtrot :: Sway

Bonus points to anyone who can tell me which two songs on the mix are covers, and also which song is the only one to feature the drums.

Directly download my podcast here. Visit the archives here

The moment has finally arrived! Mike Went West proudly presents its first podcast (aka Mix Tape). Mix Tape 01 features the Top 10 Songs of 2005 according to Mike Went West.

I know it’s about 8 months late, but this mix has gotta be one of the best I’ve ever made. I enjoy it as much now as I did back in December 2005. Every song is top-notch – I wouldn’t change a single thing. I hope my future mixes can top this one!

Here’s the track listing:

1. Wolf Parade :: Shine a Light
2. The New Pornographers :: Sing Me Spanish Techno
3. Spoon :: I Summon You
4. Ryan Adams & the Cardinals :: Let It Ride
5. Sufjan Stevens :: The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!
6. Akron/Family :: Running, Returning
7. Sigur Ros :: Hoppi­polla
8. Iron & Wine :: The Trapeze Swinger
9. Okkervil River :: A Stone
10. My Morning Jacket :: Dondante

Directly download my podcast here. Visit the archives here. Make sure to tell all your friends and leave comments if you appreciate my efforts.

Enjoy!