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MIX TAPE

Sleepyhead Makes MAGNET A Mix Tape

Sleepyhead

MAGNET fave Sleepyhead formed in a basement of an NYU dorm in 1989. The indie-pop trio released its first single in 1991, followed by four albums. Sleepyhead is releasing long-time-coming fifth LP Wild Sometimes this month. We had the band make us a mix tape. Check it out below.

The Bevis Frond “The Garden Feature”
A friend of mine put the Bevis Frond’s “That’s Why You Need Us,” from 1997’s North Circular, on a mix tape for me some time in the late ’90s, which is the reason Sleepyhead started covering it in the first place. We decided to record it last year for the new album. Each of the last two Bevis Frond albums contains a song that was one of the best new songs I heard that year. On 2011’s The Leaving Of London, is was “Stupid Circle.” On 2013’s White Numbers, it was this track. Video

Deerhunter “The Missing”
Monomania is one of my favorite albums from 2013, and this song just swirls around inside my head every time I hear it. Video

Fairport Convention “Tale In Hard Time”
Is it really possible that What We Did On Our Holidays, Unhalfbricking and Liege & Lief all came out in the same year, 1969? That is just crazy. This song just rocks. Video

Judee Sill “That’s The Spirit”
I really really love Judee Sill’s first two records, released on Asylum in the early ’70s. This is the first track from her “lost” third album, which didn’t see the light of day until three decades after the tracks were originally recorded, and long after her death in 1979. It was released by Water Records as a two-disc set in 2005, including demos and lovely packaging. Jim O’Rourke’s mix is phenomenal. I know many Sill fans will disagree, but if I could only listen to one of her records for the rest of my life, this would be the one. Luckily, I don’t have to choose. Full of beauty, sadness, and joy. Video

Terry Reid “Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace”
The Cheap Trick version is also fabulous, but I’ve really been feeling the original lately. Video

Antietam “Numbered Days”
Tara Key is a brilliant guitarist and songwriter, and Antietam is a fiery live band that everyone should see at least once before they leave this world! This is the first track from the excellent-all-the-way-through Tenth Life, which was released in 2011. We were labelmates on Homestead in the ’90s and are thrilled to be labelmates with them again on Carrot Top in 2014. Tara’s talents extend to the visual arts—she did the cover for the new Sleepyhead album. Video

The Incredible Casuals “Your Sounds Yourself”
The best place to see a band is, without a doubt, The Beachcomber in Wellfleet, Mass. (I was born and raised on Cape Cod, and I will admit some bias here.) It is a former lifeguard station nestled at the top of a sand dune overlooking Cahoon Hollow Beach and the open Atlantic Ocean. On a clear day, you can see Spain, just north of the Portuguese border. Kidding. Since 1980, the Incredible Casuals have played The Beachcomber every Sunday from Memorial Day though Labor Day. Their shows are joyous celebrations of rock ‘n’ roll, loud and full of life. Kooky people dance and sing along. Every song they play sounds like the best song you’ve ever heard. I really don’t know how they do it. This song, written by guitarist Aaron Spade, always seems to bring the house down live. The past few years has seen them pare down their schedule to a handful of summer Sundays at The Beachcomber, but you are in for a treat if you can make it to one of their shows. Video

Otis Redding “The Match Game”
This is from the posthumously released album Tell The Truth. I have always loved this album, and this song in particular. It may be my very favorite Otis Redding recording. The little piano riff is sublime. Video

The Only Ones “Miles From Nowhere”
The studio version from Even Serpents Shine is excellent, but I think I like this version from the Peel Sessions more, if that’s even possible. “I used to reach for the stars, but now I’ve reformed.” Indeed. Video

The Neighborhoods “Prettiest Girl”
Just in case you’ve never heard this. You’re welcome. Video

Pretty Things “Grass”
I am “regifting” here. A friend made me a mix tape (yes, an actual cassette!) some time in the early ’90s that included this song, and I was hooked. Video

Scrawl “Ready”
These Columbus, Ohio, legends were always a band that you would just automatically, without a single second thought, go to see every time they played in your town. If they played in Boston tomorrow, you would find me there. Sleepyhead has covered this song a few times over the years. Video

NRBQ “It Was An Accident”
After “Ready,” it seemed like this mix needed something a little more bouncy. One of my all-time favorite bands. Video

Animal Collective “Applesauce”
Animal Collective has nothing in common with NRBQ, but they also happen to be one of my favorite bands. Album after album, they create rich, gorgeous, exciting music that rewards repeated listening. Video

Gillian Welch “Hard Times”
Every time I see them play, my breath is taken away. The Harrow & The Harvest is a stunning album from beginning to end. Watching David Rawlings play the guitar makes me want to quit my job and play guitar all day. Or just quit playing the guitar altogether and leave it to him. Video