I absolutely love making new Mike Mixes every month but for some reason always dread writing about them. Maybe I’m overwhelmed by the shear quantity of music in each mix, or maybe I’m suffering through a debilitating case of writer’s block. Either way, it’s annoying and needs to end. Especially since I don’t plan on halting Mike Mix production any time soon.

With that said, the latest installment in the series upholds the fine tradition established by its older siblings. Mike Mix 13 is instantly accessible, uniquely diverse, and endlessly rewarding. Think I’m exaggerating? I might be, though you won’t know for sure until you check it out yourself. But first, here are some quick details:

The first half of Mike Mix 13 is surprisingly upbeat. It kicks off with a trio of bombastic, hypnotic pop songs by indie heavyweights Andrew Bird, The Dodos, and Annuals. Next follow a pair of lo-fi gems by The American Analog Set and Blur. I especially like “Caravan.” It sounds like a long, trippy journey through the desert. So pretty! Rounding out the first half of the mix are two amazing tracks by the late Jeff Hanson and one by Carissa’s Weird.

The second half of Mike Mix 13 is unapologetically twangy, starting with a country-fried slice of perfection by Justin Rutledge. The next song, “Quattro (Worlds Drift In)” by Calexico, is the perfect soundtrack to traveling down a lonely, dusty highway at twilight. Following this is Cat Power’s incredible cover of “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love WIth You)” by Hank Williams. A couple of epic barn burners by Wye Oak and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson lead into a pair of quiet Dylan-esque numbers by Deer Tick and Vandaveer, closing the mix on a very sweet note.

As always, I highly recommend listening to Mike Mix 13 in the order presented below. Download the entire mix here or stream it using the player below! Enjoy responsibly.

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 the entire mix 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!

Even though I haven’t posted new music in a while, I’ve been sinking a lot of time into my site. Much of it has gone into behind-the-scenes stuff, but some of it is visible. For example, I’ve reorganized my Archives and Links pages and redesigned the footer at the bottom of each page (also below for convenience).

I hope to roll out a couple new features relatively soon. The first will be a Twitter widget on the sidebar of my front page which should help me fill in the sometimes lengthy gaps between posts. The second will involve resurrecting (and rebranding) my monthly podcast. Stay tuned for further detail.

Regarding my recent lack of activity: I should be back to my normal self once the semester ends next week. In the meantime, enjoy the song posted below. There’s not much I can say about it except this: it will crawl under your skin with its simple, gorgeous melody.

[mp3] The American Analog Set :: Aaron & Maria