EASE DOWN THE ROAD

Folks just don’t talk about mixtapes like they used to. Remember the days when any good road trip demanded a new mix? Same goes for a new summer of cutting the grass, a new winter of shoveling show, a new spring spent planning to go to the gym and a new semester of hoofing it around campus. By now anyone who really wants a CD burner, MP3 player or iTunes probably already has all of these things, and thus hasn’t thought about the fine art of mixtaping for some time. There are, however, a few reasons left to make a mixtape (or, for the practical, a mix CD).

First, there’s lost love: dealing with the pain of a breakup by listening to whatever it is that makes your tears taste the sweetest. Then, on a brighter note, there’s new love. One way to make someone think about you when they might not otherwise is to pick out 20 to 30 songs, write a telling (read: gushy) note and then, of course, pass the tape. Any relationship (especially long-distance ones) with a chance usually begins with dozens of these; they not only let the person know what you’re about, but often usually lead to the all-important first concert together. And finally – and by far my favorite – there’s the “Geek Tape.” These are usually either monthly or yearly compilations of – as that Dave Matthews fella would say – the “best of what’s around.” You can approach the Geek Tape many ways, the two most popular being the “Personal Geek Tape” (the best of what you’ve discovered, be it from the current year or any other year) and the “Geek’s Geek Tape” (the best songs of the current year or month, so as to provide an accurate document of the time). Come December each year I make a “Geek’s Geek Tape” for the year and inevitably pass it on (and inevitably regret doing so). This year, being as outstanding as it is, I’m making a “Teaser Geek’s Geek Tape.” Maybe you missed some of the songs I’ll mention, or maybe you know of some that I’m leaving off; either way, feel free to mail a copy of your own mixtape to the address on page 3.

Teaser Geek’s Geek Tape: 2007 (thru October): Side A

“The Opposite of Hallelujah” by Jens Lekman from his official sophomore album, Night Falls Over Kortedala. This song covers all the criteria an opening track demands: ear-catching intro; sing-along hook; great melody; and memorable, hilarious lyrics. The best of Morrissey and Belle and Sebastian are encompassed perfectly in this four-minute gem, but, more importantly, this is the kind of song you can play over and over again – which is the best thing an opening track can offer.

“She’s the One” by Caribou from Dan “Caribou” Snaith’s fourth and best album, Andorra. Easily the best shoegazer song I’ve heard since the heyday of Ride and My Bloody Valentine, the breezy, unbelievably textured “She’s the One” will most likely be used in Cameron Crowe’s next film.

“Backed Out On the …” by Kevin Drew from his solo debut, Spirit If. This track, which sounds as much like a celebration as it does a song, became one of my contenders for “song of the year” the first time I heard it. Utilizing J. Mascis’ guitar playing and the Broken Social Scene’s full instrumental (and sing-along) support, “Backed Out On the …” is the song long lost fans of indie rock’s glory days have been waiting for. Cue this one up and plan your fall party.

“My Dove, My Lamb” by Phosphorescent from their just-released third LP, Pride. This sprawling cut-and-paste indie/folk masterpiece might – at over nine minutes – sound like a slow death to some, but to the right ears it just might be the best song of the year. It’s sound moves from subtle to saturated effortlessly, as Matthew Houck croons a quality of poetry that should have the music media throwing words like “arrival” his way before the sting of January. Beautiful.

“A Girl In Port” by Okkervil River from their fifth album, The Stage Names. Considering that The Stage Names (which I admit not being crazy about initially) is one of my most-listened-to albums of 2007, almost any song from this excellent nine-song set would fit appropriately on my year-end tape, but this one – for whatever reason – is today’s pick.

“No Moon on the Water” by Magnolia Electric Co. from their amazing Nashville Moon. According to my posh little iPod friend, this classic rocker – taken from one of the three full-length albums included in the Sojourner boxset – is my most-played song of the year. “Tie my wings behind my back / Cut out my eyes and baby fill ‘em with lead / Cut off my head and put the black mules there / Trade my heart for a fire,” sings Jason Molina on what just might be the best song … ever. It’s the rare song that’ll make you question whether or not “Like a Hurricane” (or “Down By the River” or whatever your favorite Neil Young song is) really is the best of its kind.

“Bodysnatchers” by Radiohead from something called In Rainbows. This song, like “Paranoid Android” or “Airbag,” will sound better each time you play it for the remainder of your life. When Jason Molina talks about finding “one single reason to live” on the aforementioned Magnolia song, I have only one answer: “Bodysnatchers,” the best band in the world’s proper return to form.

“Sycamore” from Bill “Smog” Callahan’s Woke on a Whaleheart. This album, and pretty much every song on it, was my first love of 2007. I thought for sure it’d be my No. 1 album of the year (would’ve been last year, easy), but alas, this has been one amazing year for the indie-minded audiophile. Regardless, Whaleheart is Callahan’s best work since his 1999 classic, Knock Knock.

“Myriad Harbour” from The New Pornographers’ fourth and best album, Challengers. This Dan Bejar-penned pop song offers an elaborate and collaborative brand of vocal fun usually only found in the best bit of any given Broadway show. If I were making a completely accurate 2007 tape, it’d have to include at least seven songs from Challengers, the best purely indie rock album all year. Amazing and oh so much fun – the whole album, that is.

“Breakin’ Up” from Rilo Kiley’s fourth album, Under the Blacklight (which sounds like a huge sell-out the first 19 times you hear it). It’s true, Rilo Kiley went for it all in 2007. Blacklight, their first album for a proper major label (Warner Bros.), is big and shiny and, whether you want to admit it or not, a hell of a good time. A never-expected lush, theatrical pop turn for the usually modest California rockers, “Breakin’ Up” is one of six or seven essential tracks from a mixed-bag album that features J-Lew’s best vocals since the excellent The Execution of All Things.

Hissssssss-click! Side one just ended, and, call it a coincidence, but we’re all outta room this week. Side B next week? Maybe. Truth be told, we only made it through a tenth of Ease’s list of favorite moments from 2007. It’s been a pretty amazing year so far for fans of the indie rock aesthetic, one that would probably require a Nuggets-like boxset to document properly. Stay tuned next week (or maybe the week after that) for Side B, which will by no means house lesser songs than Side A.