If it’s December, then you know it’s Mixmas time at You Ain’t No Picasso! Each year I get a bunch of my favorite bands to contribute themed mixes and share their thoughts about each of the tracks

MP3:

Not only did Alex Schaaf of Yellow Ostrich put out a great record this year, but he’s turned in a Mixmas contribution worthy of hours of debate in record stores across the world. Feel free to add your own in the comments!

“Top Five Album-Ending Tracks” by Yellow Ostrich

I chose this mix because I think that in certain circles of the music universe, people don’t care about “albums” anymore, and they just want to hear the hits. Especially these days, if you don’t get someone hooked within the first 10 seconds of the first song, they’re gone forever. I know I’m not saying anything new here, and it’s just the way things go, but that doesn’t prevent me from fighting back…in the form of a five-song MP3 mix. i’m trying at least.

Because of the current state of things, I always get really excited when artists choose to close their album with a track that could arguably be the “single” of the album, or one that is at least as interesting/great as anything that has come before. Rewarding the patience of the listener, rather than closing the album with a bunch of duds, assuming that no one will get that far along anyways. Some of these tracks succeed because they are a summation of all that was great about the album, and could stand on their own as a single. Some of them succeed because they do something new, something that we haven’t heard yet, and thus provide a fresh perspective right before the end. Either way, these are some of the great album-enders on my record shelf.

YT Link: The Beatles – A Day In The Life (Sgt. Pepper)
There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said about this track/album/band, but this is just a perfect example of an album-closer. And it’s one of the first true album-closers, since Sgt. Pepper was one of the first “concept” albums, that got everyone thinking about albums in a different way. It kind of sums up Sgt. Pepper, by giving us a bit of John, a bit of Paul, a symphony orchestra, and a roomful of pianos. AND! this is a true rarity, in that it appears AFTER a “Reprise”, the Sgt. Pepper reprise that comes right before. They finished the album with the reprise, and then they finished it again, trying to do it even better.

YT Link: The National – Mr. November (Alligator)
Another example of a “summary” track, but one that pulls it off better than anything that had come before it. It takes everything that was good about Alligator up that point, and ratchets it up a notch to go above and beyond. And while Alligator has a bunch of great songs, this is the one that I connect to most. It probably has something to do with the band’s live translation of the song; knowing how they do it live brings a bit more energy to the recorded version. But regardless, this could have been the single and yet they put it last on the album. Well done.

YT Link: Elliott Smith – I Didn’t Understand (XO)
This one falls into the “something new” category, as Elliott discards his guitar and piano and fills the entire track with nothing but his vocals. A beautiful way to end an album which, while it was sparse and acoustic, never got to the kind of place that “I Didn’t Understand” achieved. A similar vibe to the Beatles’ “Because,” which Elliott covered for some movie soundtrack, I can’t remember which one but it’s on the end credits.

MP3: Sharon Van Etten – Love More (Epic)
Another album-closer that does something new, this was the first song I heard by SVE, and I loved it. Then I listened to the rest of the album, and while I really enjoyed the whole thing, there is just something about this last song that succeeds in a different way than the rest of the tracks. This song actually gives the rest of the album a different kind of feel: once you know how it ends, you may re-evaluate how you thought about the rest of the album, and come back to it with a fresh perspective. That’s really what an album closer should do, and she pulls it off beautifully.

YT Link Radiohead – Motion Picture Soundtrack (Kid A)
The KINGS of album-closers, I could have put almost every one of their album-closers on this list (sorry, “Separator”). But I chose this one. Kid A is such a varied album that this track doesn’t exactly do something totally new, but it’s not a summary either, it’s somewhere in between. You’re not initially surprised by the track, but yet it takes you to a place that you haven’t quite been to before, and it lets you go on a higher plane than you thought it would. Let’s be honest here, I don’t usually stick it out for the four-minutes-of-silence-then-a-beautiful-drone ending, but even that can’t hurt.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Sufjan Stevens – Impossible Soul (Age of Adz) – The ultimate “summary” closer, this takes everything he has ever done in his career and puts it in one song. One LONG song. But it rules.
Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place (Speaking In Tongues)
Fleet Foxes – Oliver James (Fleet Foxes)
Neutral Milk Hotel – King of Carrot Flowers, pt. 2 (In The Aeroplane Over The Sea)
Wilco – Reservations (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)

The only downside to all these Bandcamp discoveries I’m making is that the site’s minimal design — a plus in all other areas — means I get next to no information about the group. So enjoy this track from Sister Cities and then check out the music video for “White Dress” down below.

MP3: Sister Cities – Your Heart
This song is a great example of one of the things I love most about pop music: the interplay between the delicate and the powerful. Sometimes it’s two vocalists, but in this case it’s the great production and dynamic range found in the song.

Sister Cities on Bandcamp

Sister Cities: “White Dress”

If it’s December, then you know it’s Mixmas time at You Ain’t No Picasso! Each year I get a bunch of my favorite bands to contribute themed mixes and share their thoughts about each of the tracks

MP3: Guards – Sail It Slow

Richie actually did this Mixmas for LAST year’s collection. But like the recovering-from-kidney-transplant fool that I was, I forgot to include it. He was understanding enough for me to save it for this year’s go-around. It’s fitting, since both of his bands exploded this year!

“Heavy holiday grooves that aren’t about the holidays” by Richie Follin of Cults & of Guards

MP3: Demon Fuzz – Hymn To Mother Earth
The first time I heard the intro to this song I thought it was the Beach Boys…now that I know about the group that is really funny to me. This song came out on their album “Afreaka” released in 1970 and it is by far my favorite track. Some of the best super psych funk ever released. Check out the album cover too…more bands should have album covers like it.

YT Link: Selda – Mehmet Emmi
Only heavy grooves from this Turkish born psych folk funk political activist lady. My favorite singer ,that lyrically I can’t understand a single word from. You can pretend she is singing about the holidays if you like.

YT Link: Serge Gainsbourg – Ballade De Melody Nelson
I heard this album, and the whole story behind it, the first time I toured France and have been enjoying it since.

YT Link: Frank Zappa – Willie The Pimp
I really wasn’t all that into Frank Zappa until I heard his “Hot Rats” album ,and now I am a huge fan. Captain Beefheart sings on it too which is a plus…some of my favorite drumming and “rock” violin playing here…hehehe.

YT Link: Phil Upchurch – Black Gold
Chicago born guitar shredder shredding…savagely open your xmas presents to this one.

YT Link: Twin Sister – Milk & Honey
For some reason this song fits on this playlist in my mind. Lost Can song maybe with girl singing…I got to tour with them recently and they are wonderful live.

YT Link: Henry Mancini – Lujon
I actually found out about his song from the Big Lebowski soundtrack…but i guess it has been on a bunch of soundtracks and was originally a theme song to a 50′s television show. You should be able drink egg nog to it.

YT Link: Cem Karaca & Kardaslar Apaslar – Tatli Dillim
I just found this on my ipod one day it was part of a comp…so, I looked it up and he apparently was a prominent Turkish-Armenian rock musician and one of the most important figures in the Anatolian rock movement. I enjoy the guitar solo…maybe you will too.

YT Link: Bob Dylan & The Band – Yazoo Street Scandal
I believe this is Rick Danko on bass…he is one of my favorite bass players…so stoned, so many brown notes.

YT Link: David Axelrod – The Smile
This is Ted’s (the Guards drummer) favorite artist. Best tones ever…for stuffing your stockings.

#30: Trailblazer @ Al’s Bar [Original Post]
Man, what a great first Trailblazer show for me to catch. On record he can occasionally get a little noisy for my taste, but this set didn’t get too far from his solid guitar rock base. Solid songs and a great performance made this one of the best local band performances I caught this year.

#29: Justin Townes Earl @ Bonnaroo [Original Post]
I was already pretty won over by JTE’s set at Bonnaroo, but his surprise visit by Ben Sollee really kicked this up into a new realm of greatness.

#28: Real Estate @ Cosmic Charlies [Original Post]
Real Estate sounded absolutely fantastic in our mid-sized local venue. It’s impressive that they could craft such a great record and then put it back together equally well live.

#27: Phosphorescent @ Bonnaroo [Original Post]

#26: Sleigh Bells @ Bonnaroo [Original Post]
If the sound had been better at this show, Sleigh Bells would jump about half a dozen places. As is, it was a really powerful show that was a sonic and visual bulldozer (strobe lights will do that).

#25: R Stevie Moore @ Natasha’s [Original Post]
Seeing this lo-fi godfather in Lexington was an incredible treat. He’s a funny, skillful performer with a great back catalogue. Here’s hoping he makes the trip up to Lexington again soon.

#24: Florence and the Machine @ Bonnaroo [Original Post]
Florence Welch really is going to wind up as our generation’s Stevie Nicks. She’s got the pipes, the mysticism and some great songs to showcase it all.

#23: Drive-By Truckers @ Busters [Original Post]
I’m not really a Drive-By Truckers fan, but I can’t deny that they put on a great show. Having a beer and watching this show was an undeniably fun time.

#22: Guided By Voices @ Pitchfork [Original Post]
I committed the grave error of expecting GVB’s age to show on stage. So completely not true. Even with years of praise under their belts they still give their all to win over the audience.

#21: Kishi Bashi @ Headliners[Original Post]
While not quite the best opening act I saw this year (more on that soon), K Ishibashi was outstanding. He takes the Andrew Bird/Owen Pallett idea of solo performance and adds even more spice to the mix.

Read the rest of the list after the jump

(more…)

Ivana posted this Nick Cave cover as a Christmas treat a week or two ago. She does a great job reworking this beautiful, classic song.

MP3: Ivana XL – Into My Arms (Nick Cave)

She’s also posted some other new songs and goodies at her bandcamp.

“Auld lang Syne” excluded, what was the first song you heard in the new year? I’m away on vacation, but I’ll share mine when I get back.

I’m on vacation, so I hope you’ll forgive a couple “classic” videos to pad out the days. I randomly stumbled upon this one the other day and loved it as much as the day I first saw it.

If it’s December, then you know it’s Mixmas time at You Ain’t No Picasso! Each year I get a bunch of my favorite bands to contribute themed mixes and share their thoughts about each of the tracks

MP3: Little Scream – Cannons

Little Scream was my huge surprise discovery of 2011. She blew me away when she opened for Owen Pallett at MusicNOW. She’s not only magic on the stage, her album is a near-perfect work. So I’m beyond excited to have her contribute to Mixmas this year.

“Top 5 songs over 10 minutes in length I wish would go on forever,
or A list that allows me to showcase something by Sandro Perri” by Little Scream

The 2 minute instantly catchy internet song is so OVER! Once again it is time to embrace the looooooong song. One day, I hope to take this to a new level and make a 12 hour long album of 45 minute long songs. Historical ballads mostly. Til then, here is a list of a few of my favorite songs over 10 minutes in length.

YT Link: Sandro Perri – Wolfman [10:35]
Ok, I’ll admit, I started this whole list business thinking ‘what will allow me to showcase something from Sandro Perri’s new album, Impossible Spaces?’. That whole album, and this song in particular iseverything, kind of has everything in it. “Wolfman” is coursing with all different sorts of impulses. It’s got the fullness of Bon Iver’s take on yacht rock, but it’s somehow slipperier, less easy to categorize, more gentle, and more quirky. You can get “Wolfman” on iTunes only by purchasing the whole album. Which is totally worth it. [plug!!!]

YT Link: Cat Stevens – Foreigner Suite [18:21]
What was he thinking? What the hell? “Foreigner Suite” is like 5 different songs in one. It’s a collection of individual songs and fragments that fit together in such an unexpected way that it makes you wonder how it could ever work. But somehow it does. And it’s a strange and complicated love letter. At over 18 minutes, I always giggle a little when the song ‘ends’, because it just fades out on a continued jam. In my imagination, the song they played in studio that day is at least an hour long, with 6 more distinct melodies and a few uninterrupted minutes of synth jams. Lots more synth jams.

YT Link: Sufjan Stevens – Impossible Soul [25:35]
On a very long drive recently I listened to this song a few times in a row and it shocked me how quickly it made a few hours pass. This song reminds me that anything is possible, that there are no rules, and that we can make this music thing whatever we want it to be.

YT Link: Kate Bush – Lake Tahoe [11:08]
In contrast to the song above, DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM WHILE DRIVING. I made that mistake recently and I almost killed 7 people. Well not really. I just got really tired and had to wait til I was somewhere I could completely zone out and just listen. 50 Words for Snow is hypnotic and beautiful and absorbing, and the operatic baritone parts to “Lake Tahoe” get me every time. Just listening to it now as I write makes me feel that words are slipping beyond my grasp, my tongue is getting very numb, and I might leave my body at any moment. I will take the form of a snow owl and eat field mice, gently ripping apart their tiny bodies only to cough them up in pill form later. You know?

YT Link: Pharoah Sanders (with Leon Thomas) – The Creator Has a Master Plan [32:45]
Anyone who has spent any time on the road with me this year has probably had to listen to this song, on repeat, more than a few times. I got really obsessed with this record (Karma) as an early teen, but then shelved it until earlier this year, when I found myself listening to this track A LOT. You’ve never heard a vocal delivery like Leon Thomas’s on this record, I guarantee. It is one serious soulful yodel. Maybe it’s just #dadsrecordcollection style nostalgia, but this song really makes me feel like everything is gonna be ok.

Read all of the contributions to Mixmas 2011

Challenge: write 100 words about this video without using the words “cute,” “adorable,” or “charming.” Don’t bother starting, because you’ve already failed.