Mix Tape #11

So since the holiday season is in full swing and the countdown to Christmas and Hanukkah ends this week, I thought I would do a special mixtape this week and post my favorite 15 Christmas songs remixed by a few of my favorite bands.  Note, these are just remixes of traditional songs, if I tried to go into songs bands actually wrote about the holidays the list would have been huge!

August Burns Red: "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

Rest of the Mixtape:

• Brand New: "O Holy Night"
• States: "All I Want for Christmas is You"
• New Found Glory: "The Christmas Song"
• VersaEmerge:"You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch"
• Anthony Green and Mindy White: "Baby It's Cold Outside"
• The Almost: "Little Drummer Boy"
• Death Cab for Cutie: "Christmas(Baby Please Come Home)"
• Copeland: "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
• Hellogoodbye: "Happy Christmas(War is Over)"
• Mae: "Carol of the Bells"
• Diamond: "Christmas Time is Here"
• Craig Mabbitt: "Making Christmas" *
• Balance and Composure" "Away In a Manger"
• VersaEmerge: "Santa Baby"

 *Okay so I know this is not a "traditional" holiday song, but I am in love with that movie and that version!

The Kings of Indie are Back...

It's safe to say Death Cab for Cutie have made a career on being eternally, well, sad.  Through out their six studio albums, the band have created a sound based upon being lost and low with life and especially love.  To Death Cab, the sentiment of love seems more important then the object of it.  The band's seventh LP, Codes and Keys, will be released on May 31.  Despite front man Ben Gibbard finding love and clarity, Codes and Keys proves why Death Cab for Cutie should be credited with the recent success of Indie Rock.

Codes and Keys is Death Cab's most balanced record yet.  Where Stairs was a very morose album, this one is very emotionally equal on all sides.  To see the proof, take a look at the record's first single, "You are a Tourist".  Sonically, the single is a happy track.  The lyrics however, are true the band-dark.  The reverse can be said for the piano driven song, "Unobstructed Views".  The music is much darker but the lyrics seem more optimistic.  Codes and Keys takes on sorting worldly views lyrically.  With that being the task, Death Cab for Cutie seems more lost then ever.  Taking on the task of showing how comforting home is when a person does not know where home is can do that to a band.  The point is though, Death Cab wants to seem lost, it's what works for them.  The band's rhythm section pairs beautifully with the lyrics for the point to be shown, making songs like "St. Peter's Cathedral" chilling.  It should also be mentioned that guitarist Chris Walla is a musician and producer on the album is well.

Everyone should check out Codes and Keys and Death Cab for Cutie as fast as they can.  They are innovators in their genre as well as the music business.  Their staying power is proven with the fact that in an industry right now that tomorrow is questionable, they have seven albums.  Codes and Keys is an ode to alienation.  Death Cab's constant conflict between heart and head is their key to success, and they continue struggling and winning with this album.

Mixtape Volume 1

So usually during the middle of the week I have established the songs, or even albums, that I am going to burn into memory. The play list takes me to school, through a horrible college algebra class, and back home. Its what I blast while cleaning, taking a shower, or avoiding whatever adult like responsibility I do not want to take care of at the moment. Now a days we all have media players, music on our phones, no need for a cassette or even a CD. But back in the past, you made CDs/tapes with these play lists-mix tapes. A mix tape is a collection of songs put in an order, specific at times, to show the maker's taste. Some have even said a mix tape is a form of art; showing the artist's feelings and a form of expression. Since the namesake of this blog is based on this art form, I felt it is only right I paint on my canvas once a week. So here is Volume One of Megalina's Mixtapes: 

All Time Low-"I Feel Like Dancin'": The first single off their upcoming album, Dirty Work, ATL released the single today. Rivers Cuomo from Weezer helped the band write the track. Fun and catchy like all ATL songs. Only available on Amazon and ITunes.

Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows-"Sex Life": Off of the self titled debut from the band. Any reason to listen to sexy Craig Owens is okay with me and the song has been stuck in my head with the release of its music video today.

Katy Perry featuring Kanye West-"E.T.": Fourth hit off of Miss Perry’s latest album. this is my shameless radio hit of the week. I'm not a fan of Yeezy personally, but musically he is a genius and his rhymes are on point. The beat gets stuck in my head as well.

Sugarland-"Stuck Like Glue": Single from their recent album, Incredible Machine. As I stated when I started this blog, my musical taste is all over the map. I could dance around to this song all day! It makes me feel girly and giggly and cute!

Darius Rucker-"This": Off of Mr. Rucker's album Charleston SC 1966. As you could have just guessed I enjoy a little country here and there. My brother is a "good ole boy" as well and he plays this just about every day. Country songs are always about lyrical content and this song delivers.

Snoop Dogg-"Sweat(David Guetta Remix)": Who ever thought you could fist pump to the d oh double g? Being a girl from the east coast, I have been a jersey shore patron way before it was an overrated reality show. With that being said, I love me some good techno beats. This mixture between Snoop and Guetta is the perfect taste of summer right before it begins.

Foo Fighters-"Rope": Off the highly anticipated upcoming album, Wasting Light. I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS ALBUM. Nuff said in my book haha

Mike Posner feat Lil Wayne-"Bow Chicka Wow Wow": Okay, okay. I have two shameless radio hits this week. But the combo of Posner and Weezy is awesome. The beat is sultry and sexy and its catchy.

Death Cab For Cutie-"Home is a Fire": Recently released off their upcoming album, Codes and Keys, the kings of Indie rock are back! This is another album I am looking forward too and the first single does not disappoint.

The Kills-"Satellite": I am a new fan of The Kills! The single is rocking and I can not wait to sit down tomorrow to actually listen to the entire album, Blood Pressure.

Jamie Foxx featuring Drake-"Fall for your Type": What girl can not resist a good slow R&B serenade every once in awhile? I am obsessed with Drake firstly(can you tell musicians are my weakness?) and the lyrics of his rap and Foxx's verses for some reason speak to me right now...

*Note-the last songs of my first mix tape and the next two will be artists preforming at this year's Bamboozle Festival in New Jersey. I am a six year veteran of the festival and I tend to start listening to music that will be played there this time of the year.*

• Taking Back Sunday-"El Paso": With the release of the video earlier this week, I have already overplayed this song. Can not wait for the rest of the self titled album from the reunited band!
• A Day to Remember-"It's Complicated": I am probably most excited to see this band play the festival. This is the third song off their latest album, What Separates Me From You, and the one I relate to the most personally.
• Forever the Sickest Kids-"Keep on Bringing Me Down": Off their recently released self titled album. This song just gets stuck in my head and I am looking forward to see FTSK preform.
• Chiddy Bang feat. Mac Miller-"Heatwave": This is my find of the day! Stalking a.k.a tweeting this morning I came across the new single from Chiddy Band and I am in love! They are riding a wave of success off their recent win at the MTVU Woodie Awards and their album, Breakfast, is gaining a lot of hype for its summer release.

That’s it for this week...hope you check some of them out...or keep playing them if you already have :)