Muxtape

Something that's been missing from all of our jumps to a more digital and "connected" life is the craft of mixtaping. It's something I've been really trying to bring with 8-Trck Engineer. Someone else has been thinking about it and they come out with Muxtape. Muxtape started in March of this year and it's a place for users to create mixtapes in a super simple way without going through a ton of loops. All you need is 12 songs to upload and your set. I love the minimal and bright colors which make it feel very 8-bit and non-intimidating. They even get musicians and celebs to post up some mixes which I think I'd be pretty interested in listening to.

I think I'll give Muxtape a try with my 8-Trck's and see how it all works out. I'll make sure to include the link beside the next 8-Trck so you can check it out.

If you decide the same, send me your link!

8-Trck Engineer Ep.09, The Wonder Years

This mix is inspired by my high school years. Every track on this mix was heard countless times throughout my middle school and high school career. I'm not sure if any of you have tried doing this but it's pretty freekin hard. The problem is I still like tons of the music I liked back then and trying to choose the right songs to make this list work was pretty tough. I'm going to say this is like the inch tall nipple-tip of the mile deep ice-burg. I had to choose the most important ones as well as the ones I can still stand listening to...the timless ones.

Some honorable mentions? : Air, Black Heart Procession, Broadcast, International Noise Conspiracy, The Murder City Devils, Pedro the Lion, Pinback, Sunny Day Real Estate, Weezer.

What are some stand out tracks of your highschool years?

8-Trck Engineer Ep. 09, The Wonder Years

8-Trck Engineer Ep.07, The New Radio

With the past few 8-Trck's I've been constructing the mix in response to some kind of current event. 

This 8-Trck episode doesn't have a theme though. 

Well... I guess it does. The theme is great new music you need to check out. This is all music that's been released in the past few months that's been on heavy heavy rotation in my auditory life.

There should be something for everyone in this episode because no matter what side of the planet your on, there is music being released that will speak to you. Sometimes you just have to wade through the boring-but-strong current of life to find those special things that excite you. Here's to the new radio; press play and walk away.

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1. No Age, Cappo - Nouns

2. This Is Ivy League, London Bridges - This is Ivy League

3. Fleet Foxes, Blue Ridge Mountains - s/t

4. Animal Collective, Street Flash - Water Curses Ep

5. Jamie Lidell, Green Light - Jim

6. The Kills, Last Day of Magic - Midnight Boom

7. Cut Copy, Strangers In The Wind - In Ghost Colours

8. The Black Ghosts, Repetition Kills You (ft. Damon Albarn) - s/t

songs are here.

8-Trck Engineer Ep.06, Donde Esta ChulaJuana?

Junia and I are flying down to Chula Vista to visit our families for the weekend. I was going to finally post some new indie stuff, but I think I'll save that for when I get back. I've got the urge to get a little Nortechno on your ass.

This is an 8-trck Nortec and Nortec affiliated mix.

This should make my one-hour plane ride pretty smooth.

To those of you who stumble across this, Enjoy.

8-Trck Engineer Ep.03, my swedish sigh

In celebration for the new track by The Radio Dept, this 8-Trck Engineer is strictly Swedish. Over the last 2 weeks I got a hold of the new Action Biker and an older album by The Bridal Shop. I realized that I keep running into these Swedish albums and then a few days ago I get the new Radio Dept track and then I just couldn't stop myself. I had to share my Swedish friends with all of you. My Swedish sigh begins as a burst of electric air but as I exhale it calms to barely a few night-time piano strokes. Enjoy.

trck-1. The Knife, Forrest Families... the album Silent Shout was on EVERYONE's top lists for 2006. I was no exception. This album is one of the freshest electronic album in a while. it felt super dark but sometimes made you feel slightly uncomfortable, but had amazing hooks and use of vocals that picked you right up from it's intense imagination. It didn't try to make anyone happy and seemed to exist within the genre without the support of the genre itself.
trck-2. The Legends, Play it For Today... this is from The Legend's last release in 2006 Facts and Figures. Where previously they had this great british pop shoegaze sound, the now have a euro pop shoegaze electronic sound. That seems like a pretty good evolution right? Well, they made the jump extremely well and I'm looking forward to see what else they come up with.
trck-3. The Bridal Shop, From Seas... from 2007's From Seas, this song is a great hint at the 7 track album that really hasn't received much attention, or at least as much as it should have by people who love this genre. You like old New Order? You like the airy vocals and modest-pop? you like the Bridal Shop.
trck-4. The Radio Dept, Feddie and the Tojan Horse... What can I say? this band is track for track pure enjoyment. They seriously make me feel special when I'm listening to them. Does that sound stupid? fuck it. I'm excited about this song because it's off their new album scheduled for September. CAN'T WAIT.
trck-5. Action Biker, Love for Sure... This is Sarah Nyberg Pergament's little solo music. This is off 2008's Hesperian Puisto, Action Biker's first official album release. This album better catch on here in the States. If it doesn't I'll be really surprised. Maybe I should write to Pitchfork and tip em off... nah. they suck.
trck-6. Jens Lekman, I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You... One of my favorite songs of 2007! This album, Night Falls Over Kortedala was on rotation for MONTHS here at home and at work. This album was impossible not to like.
trck-7. Jose Gonzalez, Cycling Trivialities... Another top 2007. This is off Jose's second full length, In Our Nature. You need to own both albums if you already don't. Seriously
trck-8. El Perro Del Mar, From the Valley to the Stars... This song is off of Sarah Assbring's 2008's From the Valley to the Stars. This also is a great hint as to the rest of the album. I love the feel of this album as it is completely connected to the name. I would love to be laying at the bottom of a beautiful valley looking up watching the stars. El Perro Del Mar is hard to catagorize because conceptual-folk-pop doesn't do her justice. I'll just say I'm a fan and keep it at that.

8-Trck Engineer Ep.02: It Will Never Die.

Seriously. Rock and roll will never end. Take a few minutes and listen to this quick mix and you'll know what I'm talking about. THIS IS FRESH and this is 50 years old!

For my girlfriend Junia's upcoming 25th Birthday party I've been neck-high with Rock and Rockabilly music from the 50's and 60's. I've been wading through tons of songs finding good ones for all those Guys and Gals to boogie to this weekend. I'm not much of a Rockabilly myself, but I do really enjoy old rock and roll just like the next music lover. Actually, when I was talking with my dad recently playing him 2007's Little Barrie he said "you haven't changed! You know what your FIRST tape was from Music Trader? You were in elementary school!" "No, I don't remember, what was it?" "your first tape was the Stray Cats!"

Shit! I was cool back then too! Enjoy. You can download the full mix (song-by-song..sorry still figuring it out) by clicking riiiigggghhttt....here!

8-Trck Engineer: May 23rd 2008

It will never die Rockabilly Mix

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