Best Of Year One: Mixes, Giveaways & Events
In addition to our birthday shows, we’re celebrating our one year anniversary by looking back over our favorite news, reviews, features, and mixes, as Joseph, Kristen, Mariana, and Sonam make their picks for Best of Year One. And to show how far we’ve come, we’re also switching back to our original look for the week. It’s been an amazing twelve months, and we look forward to what the next twelve will bring. Thanks for reading.
There’s something intensely special about giving someone music, in any form. It could be via mix, gifting a record or tape, through making your friend listen to a song you love. Over the past year, we’ve shared music in every way we know how. Besides writing about it, we’ve made you seventy-six mixes—whether it’s compiled by the staff, a themed videogram, or put together by your favorite band. We’ve given away over a hundred records, tapes and concert tickets. Here’s to another another year of giving as much as I can to the people who’ve given me the best thing I could’ve asked for—a reason to get out of bed every morning.
Compiled below is a list of some of our favorite giveaways, events and mixes. If you want to contribute, contact me. - Sonam Parikh, Managing Editor
Staff Mix: Year One Stories - Getting to GET BENT
In addition to our birthday shows, we’re celebrating our one year anniversary by looking back over our favorite news, reviews, features, and mixes, as Joseph, Kristen, Mariana, and Sonam make their picks for Best of Year One. And to show how far we’ve come, we’re also switching back to our original look for the week. It’s been an amazing twelve months, and we look forward to what the next twelve will bring. Thanks for reading.
For this month’s staff mix, we’ve decided to choose songs to tell our own stories of how we got here and why we love it. What’s the song that changed your life? Tell us your story in the comments below!
Guest Mix: Can Con Killers
Ketamines’ Paul Lawton is a busy guy, between touring (dates here), the recent release of Spaced Out, and running Mammoth Cave Recording Co. So it’s pretty neat that he found some time to make us a mix of his current favorite Canadian bands. Download the mix here and check out our other guest mixes here.
1. Cousins (Halifax, NS) - Speech - Cousins released this song on a 7” last summer, and I just redescovered it on their brilliant new LP The Palm at the End of the Mind (Saved by Vinyl). Speech was my Summer jam last year, and it is getting me right back in the proverbial mood…
Mix: Cinco De Mayo A-Go-Go! Mexican Garage, Oldies, and Psych
By Ruby Perez
Cinco de Mayo is here! And we all know what that means: No, it’s not about getting black out drunk, but celebrating the fact that the Mexican army, despite all odds, kicked some serious French ass at la Batalla de Puebla.
Although it was a small victory, and Cinco de Mayo has been commercialized by the United States, I firmly believe that this day should be used to recognize that there is something spectacular within the heart of these people.
Some of the bands featured are from Mexico, but others derive from various parts of Latin America as well. The time has come to pay some tribute to not only the sounds of Mexico, but all of Latin America for showing the world that yes, Si Se Puede.
Guest Mix: Call Me On The Telephone
Nightmare Boyzzz last put out a split and the Nuclear Summer 7”, after which they toured around the states and played some superb shows at SXSW. They’re currently working on some new songs and planning a summer tour - don’t miss ‘em if they happen to come through your town! Download their mix here and browse our other mixes here.
Remember when you actually called your friend up just to chat…? Nightmare Boyzzz do, and they put together some music for the occasion!
We’re here to wipe the tear drops off your telephone and keep your ears ringing. These twelve phone related tunes are sure to keep you connected to the one you love, and hung up on rock n roll…
Tracklist after the cut.
Mix: Music Is The Only One
By Lisa Parisi
Prolific and influential, today is Jay Reatard’s thirty-second birthday. As a celebration of his work, we made a mix of his projects. Snarky, loud and rude—just how he’d like it. Many’a rock and roll fan will cite Jay as an influence. His gusto was empowering and influenced many to pick up a guitar, grab a bucket, bang the shit outta it, and then record it all in your bathroom. His influence lives on and so, we honor it. Listen to Reatards, Angry Angles, Nervous Patterns, Bad Times and Final Solutions. Tracklist after the cut.
Staff Mix: 4/20 Baby!
Regardless of whether you smoke a lot, a little, or none at all, marijuana has influenced many a song. Here are just a few.
Mix: Spring Cleaning
By Zach Braun
Guest Mix: Chromewaves Radio
Chromewaves Radio is a music blog and online radio stream based out of Los Angeles, featuring indie, garage, electronic and alternative music. They’re all about “shiny new music,” and so are we! Today we’re swapping guest mixes - here’s a sampler of what Ariel listened to during his formative years. Check out our mix for them here, download his mix here and listen to our other guest mixes at 8tracks.
Big thanks to Get Bent for asking me to do a guest mix. I picked a set of songs that represent what has influenced a lot of my tastes today. They’re mostly what I was listening to in my teens/early 20’s, and some are what I probably would have been listening to if the internet was around then. I hope you enjoy.
