Eventually I will break this vicious cycle of posting nothing but Mike Mixes on my site. But I fear it won’t come soon enough: good music is piling up way too fast. I’ll try my best to write about it all eventually, but in the meantime here’s a short list of amazing albums: High Violet by The National, Astro Coast by Surfer Blood, The Monitor by Titus Andronicus, and Kollaps Tradixionales by Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra. And that’s only half of what I hope to post. I have my work cut out for me.

While the introduction to Mike Mix 18 may be short on words, the mix is definitely long on good music. It’s also fairly upbeat, slowing down only a few tracks from the end. Highlights include “I Can Feel a Hot One” by Manchester Orchestra, “If Work Permits” by The Format, and “Satellite Skin” by Modest Mouse. But who am I kidding, Mike Mix 18 is one big highlight.

As always, I strongly recommend listening to the mix in the order presented below. Download the entire thing here or stream it using the player below! Enjoy responsibly.

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!]

When I posted my first Mike Mix a year ago, I promised to release a new one each month. You might’ve noticed, however, that I’ve posted only ten mixes so far (excluding this one). Normally, I’d apologize for being lazy, but given the general lack of activity on my site, I’m actually pretty pleased with myself. Ten out of twelve ain’t too shabby.

Perhaps you’ve also noticed that Mike Mixes usually follow one of three patterns. They either: (a) start happy and end sad; (b) start sad, become happy in the middle, and then end sad; or (c) start and end sad. Judging from these patterns, it appears as though I can only handle happiness in short bursts. One of these days I’ll make a mix that is entirely happy, just don’t hold your breath.

With all that said, I’d put the latest installment in the series in the (a) category. After two consecutive mixes full of dark and dreary songs, Mike Mix 16 provides a much needed shot of happiness to the series. Just in time for summer!

Mike Mix 16 kicks off with “Next Exit,” the opener from Interpol’s sophomore album Antics. This might sound a little cheesy, but I really like listening to “Next Exit” as I’m driving to the city for a night out with friends. I’m not a big partier, but the opening notes of the organ always get me pumped. The next few tracks keep pace with (and even eclipse) the opener. “Poison Cup” by M. Ward is the benchmark by which all love songs should be judged. “Walkabout” by Atlas Sound features a melody so catchy you’ll need a lobotomy to get it out of your head.

By now you might be wondering when Mike Mix 16 transitions from happy to sad. Look no further than track 8, the über-depressing “Lost Cause” by Beck. Other highlights from the second half include Horse Feathers’ delicate cover of “Orphan Girl” and Deer Tick’s heartbreaking “Smith Hill.” Despite the shift in tone, the second side of the mix punches just as hard as the first.

As always, I strongly recommend listening to Mike Mix 16 in the order presented below. Download the entire mix here or stream it using the player below! Enjoy responsibly.

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

Initially I didn’t think I could write this post. It seemed like an impossible task. How on earth was I supposed to come up with and then rank my favorite albums from the past decade? I have enough trouble doing it for just one year. There’s simply too much good music out there (despite my occasional whining to the contrary).

But when I really started thinking about it, I came to the following conclusion: a decade is a terrible thing to waste. In all reality, I may not get another opportunity like this. After all, who knows what I’ll be doing ten years from now. Also, musically speaking, the past decade was an important one for me. Over the course of ten years, my muted appreciation of music gradually transformed into a full-blown obsession. I now spend most of my free time searching for, writing about, and listening to music.

In the end I guess it was a pretty easy decision. I would’ve been extremely foolish to let the decade pass without weighing in on my favorite albums. It was a lot of work, but I managed to compile a list of my 30 favorite albums from 2000-2009. Not necessarily the best or most important albums, but those that had the greatest impact on me.

With all that said, I proudly present the Top 30 Albums of the Decade…

ALBUMS 30 – 21

ALBUMS 20 – 11

ALBUMS 10 – 1

Like I said, compiling this list was no easy task. In the end, tons of amazing albums got axed. Check the comments to see which ones barely missed the cut. And leave comments to let me know which albums I missed completely!

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!

Despite its obscenely ugly album cover, Mike Mix 08 features some great music. It’s also the most upbeat mix to date – even the sad songs sound kinda happy. But don’t worry, it’s not all sunshine and puppy dogs. Beneath the surface lurks an undercurrent of sadness.

The mix contains so many amazing songs I can’t possibly write about each one. So instead I will focus on a select few.

The first is “Broke” by Modest Mouse. One of the darkest songs on the mix, “Broke” features a pretty guitar riff and some of the finest (and most self-loathing) Modest Mouse lyrics ever recorded. At the other end of the spectrum is “Two Kids” by Strand of Oaks. Though slightly self-deprecating, the lyrics are also undeniably sweet. Lastly, “Bones” by DeYarmond Edison captures the mood of the entire mix: the cheerful instrumentation masks feelings of longing and regret.

These three songs are only the tip of the iceberg. The other eleven lie waiting to be discovered. I highly recommend listening to Mike Mix 08 in the order presented below. Download the entire mix here or stream it using the player below! Enjoy!

2007 was a great year for music. New albums from Radiohead, Interpol, The National, Andrew Bird, Okkervil River, and Spoon all rocked hard. My discovery of The Acorn, Kings of Leon, The Everybodyfields, and Menomena, coupled with an impressive debut from Deer Tick, made the year that much more amazing.

So when it came time to assemble my annual Top 10 Songs of 2007 list, I just couldn’t chop it down to size. As a result I’ve decided to expand the list to 15 songs. Plus I’ve already blogged about 9 of the 15 songs on the list, so the 5 extra slots allow me to post some new mp3’s.

Continuing to break with tradition, I’ve decided to categorize the 15 songs into 5 separate categories based on their mood and style. Enjoy!

Songs I listen to when I am happy (aka pop songs):

[mp3] The Shins :: Australia
[mp3] Okkervil River :: Unless It’s Kicks
[mp3] Modest Mouse :: Missed the Boat

Songs I listen to when I am sad (aka bawlers):

[mp3] Andrew Bird :: Cataracts
[mp3] The National :: Slow Show
[mp3] The Acorn :: Glory

Songs I listen to when I party (aka rockers):

[mp3] Interpol :: Rest My Chemistry
[mp3] Spoon :: Eddie’s Ragga
[mp3] Kings of Leon :: McFearless

Songs I listen to when I drive (aka rollers):

[mp3] The Everybodyfields :: Aeroplane
[mp3] Deer Tick :: Dirty Dishes
[mp3] Magnolia Electric Co :: Nashville Moon

Songs I listen to whenever (aka great songs):

[mp3] Kings of Leon :: On Call
[mp3] Radiohead :: Reckoner
[mp3] Menomena :: Rotten Hell

Get ‘em while they’re hot! Check the comments for additional lists…

This week’s post features of set of songs from the past, present, and future.

But first, as an addendum to last week’s post, here’s yet another excellent version of “Moonshiner,” this time by Uncle Tupelo (there are many other fantastic versions of this song – I think I could dedicate my entire blog to only that song). Remember, my previous disclaimer is still in effect: only binge-drink if looking for musical inspiration, or something like that.

[mp3] Uncle Tupelo :: Moonshiner [live]

Oldie but goodie:

Not many bands can pull a complete 180 like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club did back in 2005 and survive. With the release of Howl, BRMC abruptly transitioned from Interpol-esque bombastic prog rock to rollicking, jangly Americana. Turns out they can write a pretty good country tune.

[mp3] Black Rebel Motorcycle Club :: Howl

Currently rocking my socks:

I’ll be the first to admit I was a little late hopping on the Modest Mouse train. My first exposure to them came with “Float On” from the extremely polarizing Good News For People That Love Bad News.

I really liked the majority of that album (“Bukowski,” “The View,” and “One Chance” are instant classics), and I also liked the majority of their older albums. So I guess that’s what I’ve come to expect from them. And I’m fine with that, because the songs that hit are, most often, incredible.

The song posted below hits the mark big time. I’ve listened to We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank several times through and I’m pretty happy. While it’s not quite as good as Good News, it’s definitely not as bad as some reviews make it out to be. If you’ve been reluctant to give it a try, I suggest you just listen to it and form your own opinion.

And while at it, give the band Loney, Dear some attention. I discovered them a month ago thanks to cokemachine. Their sound is hard to describe, but fans of mellow indie pop/rock should like what they hear.

[mp3] Modest Mouse :: Little Motel
[mp3] Loney, Dear :: Sinister In a State of Hope

Will soon be rocking my socks:

I can’t explain what’s been going on recently, but I’m worried about a pattern that seems to be developing. Maybe I should stop listening to music because every new album released by a band I already listen to has been disappointing. Or in other words, if I like a band most likely their new album will be mediocre (see My Morning Jacket, Built to Spill, The Shins, Akron/Family, Explosions In the Sky, Bloc Party).

Now do you see why I’m concerned? That’s a pretty long list of bands, and I even left off a few. But despite the recent string of disappointments, I’m holding out hope that the new National album Boxer will break the pattern. If the track posted below is any indication, I think I can safely continue listening to my favorite bands.

[mp3] The National :: Fake Empire

PS – With this post, I believe I have cleared out the backlog of music worth mentioning, so future posts should be much shorter.