guitarslinger44 said:

Well if Anxheimer would get off his ass and visit these threads.....

guitarslinger44 said:

Never fear. I was late reviewing Moonbeam's mix, and I'm only now decompressing and gearing up for yours. Give me a couple hours or so. Looks interesting.

First off, kudos on tapping a genre that doesn't get much love here on the org -- country. I've had a love-hate relationship with it over the years. My mom has always been totally into country. And on the one hand, it was a bit of an embarrassment growing up (I knew of no other black country fans in Cleveland ), but I always did enjoy the certain lack of pretentiousness that country engendered years ago. It was just good, folky music. It's gotten too slick, too self-aware and alternately too poppy or too derivative of older country conventions in more recent years. But you seem to have mined some real gems.

Days Go By - Perfect that your mixtape arrives in midsummer. This track is an ideal summer roadtrip track. It's exhilerating, forward-looking and all about seizing opportunity. And yet it's not sappy and overly sentimental like so much newer country. (I have to admit, though, I originally thought the lyric "don't let 'em all go by" was "don't let a moth go by," and I thought it was an awesome -- if sappy -- lyric. ) I guess I'm prepared to cut slack for things I like. Very nice!

Love Vibration - Great buoyant beat, fantastic rhythm guitar, and the chorus effect gives the lead vocal a subtle, gritty texture to wrap around. I think the bridge could be a bit more satisfying, but the little breakdown and the dancing woodwinds into the final minute set up a fantastic flourish. I was stuck on this track: I listened to it about 6 times before moving on.

Golden Days - The lead singer's voice leaves me unmoved after the superior tone and texture of Josh Rouse's voice just before, and somehow the song overall gives me the feel of Fleetwood Mac filler. It's not an awful track, though, and I love the guitar (and whatever that weirdly phased, vibrating instrument is) during the breakdown.

We Could Be So Happy - Hated it. Kidding... Your track fits perfectly in this mix. Very simple tune. Totally accessible on the first listen, and, yes, you kicked butt on that guitar solo, which may be the single most striking musical moment in your mixtape. Excellent.

Night Birds - The only other song I know of Ryan Adams is "New York, New York," and while I do like it, hes always rubbed me the wrong way. I'm really liking this "Night Birds," though. It's definitely a bit of a diversion from the feel of your mix to this point, but it's a perfect halfway break, as you suggested. Really smart... and really pretty.

Money City Maniacs - I prefer anything I've heard by the Tragically Hip.

Love Don't Live Here - These guys remind me of what Nickelback might sound like if they didn't suck. The song is a bit odd... it is uplifting, but at the same time kind of bittersweet. It knocks the happy-with-abandon edge off your mix, but it doesn't at all rob it of a certain freeing quality. Maybe it just makes that freedom more genuine... by placing it in the context of a life that isn't always perfect. Smart. I love the male/female harmonies and the guitar work.

Golden - This song also strikes me as odd in your mix. It's just so stylistically different. That said, I do love this track. Folk have been ready to beatify Jill Scott for years now, but while I think that's way premature, I will say I think she's potentially legend... and I think this song is one of the better hints at that. It's not that this song is so singly dynamic from a gimmicky standpoint (like so much "neo-soul" ). But it's fresh, her own, not derivative, uplifting without falling into the tired trap of dissing the lame ex-boyfriend, and Jill is singing her butt off here without all the wannabe diva melisma.

She is Love - I was sold the instant I heard the Hammond. That aside, I hate to -- again -- invoke the Beatles in a comment about Oasis, but here they -- again -- rouse a certain familiarity that the Fab Four always did. Like the Beatles' stuff, this track is simply cozy, feel-good music, and the love Noel sings about actually feels like love... not some strange, lusty substitute. That's really refreshing and fits perfectly with your mixtape. I like everything from the guitar to the handclaps, and I have to agree there is something more sincere about Noel singing this instead of Liam. Noel's definitely the more brutish of the brothers, so when he professes the stuff he does here, it comes off less as stock poetry and more as confession.

Life is a Highway - I've hated this song since day one. The Rascal Flatts haven't changed that. Granted, the lyrics are pretty thoughtful and the guitar work cranks, but the song just feels a bit too "hillbilly" for me.

...This mixtape may be the toughest yet from which to pick a favorite. I like so much of it. If I were pressed, though, I'd say Josh Rouse's song is neck-in-neck with Oasis. I think I may prefer the craft of Rouse's song, but Oasis's cut might be more viscerally satisfying.
[Edited 7/30/08 14:00pm]

Lammastide said:

OK, imagine the gay bird of Southern California (me) in all his 65 pound glory (was that weight going into high school) going to shitkicker shindigs at Bluegrass festivals and off road 4 wheeling I was forced to do it! I have since made my peace with my country past

I agree that country has become too top 40 but there are still some amazing "Americana" experiences still out there and this mix reminds me of that


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[Edited 7/30/08 14:49pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

You too, eh? Man, my mother used to go annually to Jamboree in the Hills. I think it may have been easier to explain to my friends she was off in prison or rehab.

But, yeah, this mixtape does remind me that there are still some really worthy contemporary examples of America's folky legacy.

I just listened to this mix for the first time. The fact that it's so rootsy makes it stand apart from the previous comps. I liked it. Right now my fave is the Sloan track, but that could change. I'll give a more detailed review after a few more spins. Cool mix guitarslinger.

I liked this mix a lot. No surprise, it was very easy to listen to and I am definitely in a rock mode at the moment.

Some of the cuts are a little slick for my tastes, like Keith Urban or Rascal Flats, but both of them have impressed me in the past with their music. Urban is a really good guitar player & RF have very cool/fun arrangements.

I agree the Jill Scott took me by surprise, musically speaking. I like her a lot, but from the first few notes it stands out as, well, not rock. Maybe the lyrics were in line with the mood.

This mix was full of surprises, too. Artists I've never heard of or never heard (Ryan Adams--who I have heard a lot about, but assumed was a bit more pop. Maybe it's the name. I will have to listen more to him)

And I'll agree w/Sexton that the Sloan track really stood out as something I would like to hear more of.

I still have to listen to the last two, though, but this mix caught my attention from the get go. One thing I notice with these mixes is it's hard for me to get into them because I can't listen to them in my car--that's where I can listen the best. This was the first that I honestly got into. Not that I didn't enjoy the others, but this was just easier for me to digest.

NDRU said:

I guess I like the muxtape thing but still feel we should have uploaded mixes so we aren't tethered to the computer when listening. very distracting....

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

yeah muxtape is cool, but my computer has terrible sound, and since I'm on the computer all day at work (and can't listen here) I don't sit at the computer much at home.

NDRU said:

There should be some secret sign we could give that would let the comp owner know to orgnote us a link to a download. You know, like type a at the end of your post if you want the mp3s.

sextonseven said:

I have something in my eye! *wink* *wink*

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I will say that it's too bad that all guitarslinger's songs weren't accepted by muxtape. It's a little jarring having to stop the mix and go to youtube to hear one song and then go back to muxtape. I want the whole thing to play right through!

sextonseven said:

yeah that same problem made me change my mix.

sextonseven said:

it was distracting. I have a feeling that some of my stuff is going to present roadblocks

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Which reminds me I need to get to work on that. The next package of Paligap's, Matronik's and yours will have to be mailed to Moonsongs soon.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I predict your mix will have strong opinions and a cute fauxhawk

NDRU said:

I just realized, there isn't one male artist in my mix!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

You copied my idea!

guitarslinger44 said:

Hi Adam ~ Nikki here ~ sorry not have have been by sooner but it's crazy busy at work. When I received your cd in the mail along with the liner notes, I was a bit hesitant. I am a HORRIBLE snob about anything close to country music. It has just never connected other than Johnny Cash and a very few others. But this project requires an open mind so that is how I listened. Your description is absolutely accurate ~ a stunning musical treat for riding along country roads and loving our lives. A great companion for just being and, for thinking about who we are along the way.. I LOVED LOVED LOVED your track (four) and will listen to this any time I need to breathe and exhale the toxins of the day. The lyrics on many of the songs were beautiful and supa is right ~ the story builds and bestows thought, grace and an appreciation for being into our spirits. Thanks so much for sharing this with us and for taking the time and money to send it to me. I'll be back over the weekend with a sorted out list of my favourites.

I finally got a chance to sit down last night and listen to your mix - uninterrupted and without my co-workers coming in my office constantly

VERY GOOD JOB.....it not only reflects your personality, it is also just what you titled it....

I enjoyed your song and hope that you will serenade us at the Atlanta Invasion (hint, hint)

This project is all about sharing music - all different genres - I applaud you for having the courage to step out of the box....wise choices, and a great mix.

guitarslinger44 said:

If you were coming to our Invasion you would know what we do at the meetings

cubic61052 said:

do you know how bad I feel about that? that is the same weekend as my move!

so, you're a witch ey? Oh, I think you're the only one not in this project that has commented on a mix. I'm surprised more non-participants haven't chimed in.

slinger's thread is on fire!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Bitch, yes. Witch, no.

I wanted to particpate, however I did not have time to give it the attention it deserves....

Adam is an awesome person, so I am sorry you cannot meet him.....and I am sorry you cannot come to meet all of us.

Back to the subject at hand: guitarslinger's mix!!!

Holy shit I didn't read the liner notes. I am just realizing that this song is yours!

Well one of the great compliments (that doesn't really sound like one, unfortunately) I can give artists who aren't signed to million dollar deals is that your song didn't stand out. And not because it wasn't really good, but because it was so well done it blended in perfectly with the major artists around it.

The song might sound simple, but I can hear in the arrangement that it is not simple at all. You don't sound like Prince, but that's a common element of his music, too. That is a very tough thing to pull off. A pitfall I have hit many times as a musician is trying to do too much, and the song sounds like I'm trying to do too much. This track is effortless. Nice job!

NDRU said:

Check out his website and his Myspace page.....he has more of his own music there....

Enjoy...

cubic61052 said:

I am so excited because I got to learn something really great and really cool about an orger I didn't even know before! A witch who stirs the brew with a guitar!

seriously though, I did actually make a new friend through this

bookmark...trying to catch up with the others first...

I love how Lammastide is a 'muxtape fan' of every muxtape so far!