Categories
MIX TAPE

The Legal Immigrants Make MAGNET A Mix Tape

1931

Detroit garage-rock band the Legal Immigrants will release new album Drugs To Roses on July 3 and have previously shared first single “Fork In The Road.” Their sound is reminiscent of older White Stripes and the Black Keys as they play painfully catchy tunes rooted in blues and hard rock. Now, they have been so kind as to make MAGNET a mix tape. Check it out below.

Vox Vidorra “We’re So Lonely”
I’ll lead off with our studio-mates, Vox Vidorra. We were both recording around the same time at Goon Lagoon Recorders, and our producer, Dick Chiclet, gave us a taste of what was cookin’ in Vox’s kitchen. What I admire about Molly’s vocals is how much command she has over her voice. She makes going from delicate to razor sharp sound easy. It isn’t. Oh, and the vocals were recorded live. Take that, computers. Video

Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys “Standard American”
Another West Michigan band and close friends of ours, this GGB tune has that old country thump I really dig. I’m into story songs and clever lyrics, and this song has both. I’d much rather be a “standard” American than a “basic” one. They avoided some of the most hefty fines in country music by including a pickup truck in the video. Video

Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish “Lonesome”
Keeping with the theme, here’s a cut from our certified homeboys JRCC. “Put on that skirt, girl/Let’s flirt over whiskey” is a perfect line as far as I’m concerned. This song, and many others from JRCC, are hard to not dance to than to dance to. If they captured the energy they have onstage on a record, your stereo would explode. Video

Nicholas James & The Bandwagon “Saturday Nights”
This is a happy song. I picture them playing this outside somewhere in the county and me having a solo cup of beer that I’m occasionally spilling because I’m doing the lock-arms spin dancing move with strangers. Shoes off, of coarse. Video

Devin & The Dead Frets “Cut My Hair”
Last, but certainly not least from the West Michigan scene are our pals from D&TDF. The first thing I noticed from this song is the bass line. Devin’s voice is unique, and this track does a great job of highlighting its power and tone. Video

Johnny Thunder “I’m Alive”
The fuzz tone to start this song is nothing short of splendid and drew me in the first time I heard this rendition of “I’m Alive”. Johnny’s voice is so passionate in this tune, and it sounds like him being alive didn’t come without a fight. If you find a copy of this 45 in a record store, buy it. That, or send it to me; I promise I’ll pay you back. Video

The White Stripes “Party Of Special Things To Do”
This version of this Captain Beefheart classic is crunchy as a mug. It slams. The White Stripes are one of the few bands that sound awesome on blown speakers. This song further proves Lou Reed right with “One chord is fine/Two chords are pushing it/Three chords and you’re into jazz.” Video