Words by Scott Curtis.
When PMA asked me to create a mix for them I immediately started putting something together that was all encompassing, a mix to show what Living Ears was about in the past, the present and where I see the future of the site going. I put together a playlist that had just over 40 songs. As I started playing through it what quickly stood out was the number of incredibly strong tracks from the past 3 months or so that stood up to much of what I was pulling from the past. Personal favorites from Panda Bear, The Streets, !!!, LCD Soundsystem and No Age were quickly cut and the list whittled down to a really strong 17.
These are 17 songs –all from this year, some still unreleased– that represent where I think the future of the site, and popular independent music are headed. From woozy dubstep, chillwave, and melodic lofi to pure pop, clouded bloops+bleeps+noise before closing with one of the most direct and beautiful pieces of straightforward indie rock I’ve heard all year.
It’s only a mix but it’s probably my favorite thing I’ve done as a blogger. Much of this music is still relatively undiscovered even by the big blogs and sites out there and I think that most of these tracks are going to be stepping stones for bigger movements that will emerge from their respective genres.
Put on a pair of really good headphones, turn it up and get lost.
Pretty Much Perfect by LivingEars 4644 downloads
Pretty Much Perfect: Tracklist
Joy Orbison – Hyph Mngo (Original Mix)
Guido – Way You Make Me Feel
Becoming Real – Let The Right One In
Blondes – Spanish Fly
SALEM – Frost
The xx – Infinity
Small Black – Despicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix)
Toro Y Moi – Blessa
VEGA – No Reasons
Gotye – Learnalilgivinandlovin’ (Passion Pit Remix)
Japandroids – The Boys Are Leaving Town
Times New Viking – Move To California
Girls – Lauren Marie
Memory Tapes – Stop Talking
Memory Tapes – Graphics
Universal Studios Florida – Clovers, Carpet Samples
Atlas Sound – Quick Canal (w/ Laetitia Sadier)
Contact:
iamscottcurtis@gmail.com
livingears.blogspot.com
@LiquidHeaven
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Honestly I'm no expert, but I think that the xx's “Infinity” is one of the more beautiful tracks on their album, let alone this list. That song and that band are just.. refreshing. They aren't grating on the ears, I love to sing along with them and they just chill me out when I need to be chilled out. love it, good job scott.
Honestly I'm no expert, but I think that the xx's “Infinity” is one of the more beautiful tracks on their album, let alone this list. That song and that band are just.. refreshing. They aren't grating on the ears, I love to sing along with them and they just chill me out when I need to be chilled out. love it, good job scott.
Scott,
At least we agree on the dancefloor then…
I did the mix because you asked for it. You said “I'd love to hear a response. I'll post it on my blog if it's any good”.
Not sure if I've taken your tone incorrectly here, but you seem to have taken some constructive opinions very badly.
Did you expect all the differing opinions that read PMA to comment about how much we adore your mix?
PMA has many readers, with a lots of varied tastes. You gotta expect some to not agree with your opinions surely?
Wish I'd never said anything…
Mike
I think ur just trying to get down on this so that you have a reason to post your own mix. That joker track is pretty ridiculously great. The Guido track is even better. This mix isn't meant 'for the dacefloor.' Post the track list on your own site.
OK Luis/Scott,
Perhaps I was a little harsh. Although I'm not back-tracking on my opinions, I certainly don't think it was rubbish, just a little, um, dull.
The beat on that opener, by Joy Orbison, is amazing, but you have to admit those two repeated chords are a little boring after their 48th time.
Guido, although beautiful, is again a little meandering, which is my problem with the mix overall you see. It's for the lounge, not the gig, and I wouldn't consider it for the dancefloor until later in the mix.
Thankfully it definitely picks up as it grows and gets all the more interesting for it, so I'm certainly trying to tread carefully with any constructive criticism.
As requested, in response I've completed a mini mix of eleven tracks, using the best tunes of 2009 that have featured on our blog, The Recommender. It's not mixed, so perhaps is more of a compilation in fairness.
Unlike a lot of mixes I didn't simply jump for the electronic and I stayed well away from any shoegaze. When it's slowed it should be gorgeous, when it's lively it grabs you, balls first.
I presume there will be tracks on there you disagree with, but that's why we blog I guess. Opinions are beautiful things….
http://8tracks.com/the_recommender/the-recommen...
At least I had a pop at it. If you want the tracklisting let me know….
Many thanks
Mike
UK
http://therecommender.net
the music sounds pretty good! thanks guys!
In what parts did it drift far too long?
The problem with your response is that of all the songs on that mix, and many of them will be in my year end list, is that The xx have one of the best albums of the year; possibly the best. So it's difficult for me to let the critique have any weight.
BUT. I'd love to hear a response. I'll post it on my blog if it's any good
Haha wait, so in other words “I didn't like this, I can make one
better”?
Honest response – I thought that it drifted for too long in parts so I began to lose interest. Oh and The XX are so very overated with their shoegazing self-indulgent pulp. Was that honest enough? Let us know at The Recommender (http://therecommender.net) if you want us to do a mix tape response to it. Would be happy to to…
Mike
UK
mixtapes with hot girl cover art = successes
thank you sir
If it were me I'd download the MP3 version and call it good.
Thanks for asking me to do this, this has been fun.