MIX TAPE

The Goodnight Loving has been making listeners wonder what year it is throughout its short-yet-prolific career, masterfully incorporating classic sounds and genres into each release. With its fourth album, the Milwaukee quartet takes on a musical time warp to beachy ‘60s garage pop, with twangy guitar riffs, psychedelic organs and vocal harmonies. We’re really not surprised to see lots of rock ‘n’ roll classics on this mix tape the guys made for MAGNET. The Goodnight Loving Supper Club is available now on Dirtnap Records. "Doesn't Shake Me" (download): [audio:DoesntShakeMe.mp3] "The Pan" (download): [audio:ThePan.mp3] Reigning Sound "The Bells" This is from their newest album, which has very slowly become my favorite Reigning Sound record. The songwriting is as always top notch, but for me the interesting thing is the no-nonesense production. Most new music seems to be full of studio bullshit that hides the songs in delay and reverb, but I like how the vocals are right out front in this one. It's very refreshing and kind of a brave thing to do this day and age. Video Linda Ronstadt And The Stone Ponies "Different Drum" A song written by Mike Nesmith, but I've always loved Linda Ronstadt's version. I like the sunny combination of baroque pop and Linda's country-style singing. Video Thin Lizzy "Whiskey In The Jar" Phil's got a voice that can make you cry. When you combine that with harmonizing lead guitars, it sort of makes your chest open up. We didn't have any Thin Lizzy on our last tour, which was a big mistake. Whenever the chips are down and you need to buck up morale, this'll do the trick. Video Thomas Function "Filthy Flowers" A favorite current band that writes really great songs that are personal, funny, sad, etc., but they are also a really great rock 'n' roll band of the unique sort that makes comparison descriptions kind of useless. Video Head On Electric "Unknown Song" A live video from a Milwaukee band. They are belligerently out of control and heavy, but they mix it with a sort of folk sensibility and, at times, pretty melodies. Video Beatles "Bad To Me" This is the demo of a song that John Lennon gave to Billy Kramer. It is probably lacking a verse, as it's a demo, but even at only 1:26, it is perfect. The intimate lo-fi atmosphere somehow makes this potentially vapid song touching. Video Bruce Springsteen "No Surrender" I'm sure Springsteen, and especially the Born In The U.S.A. record, is a deal breaker for many people. These people are terrorists. Video Creedence Clearwater Revival "Effigy" An overlooked and raw b-sider from a band that doesn't need anything more written about them. This song is kind of meandering but menacing at the same time, like a drunk guy staggering around looking for trouble. Video Gene Pitney "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" This song was written for the John Wayne movie of the same name. It was on a tape that my dad had and we would listen to in the family car, and it would just hypnotize me. I know now it is sort of a novelty-genre song, but that doesn't soften its impact on me. Video Link Wray "Hidden Charms" Link Wray recorded his own music, sang with one lung and played the wildest guitar of all time. R.I.P. Video

Over the years, the Thermals have proved that they’re not afraid to write about some serious subjects, including religion, politics and death. The Portland, Ore., trio’s fifth album, Personal Life, is all about love, baby—and all the ups and downs, backs and forths, and hots and colds that go with it. The LP, produced by Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla (who also helped out on second album Fuckin A), will be out September 7 via Kill Rock Stars. Drummer/vocalist Westin Glass and bassist/vocalist Kathy Foster split MAGNET Mix Tape duty, with their own wet and dry opinions on the perfect summer playlist. "I Don't Believe You" (download): [audio:IDontBelieveYou.mp3] Side A: The Dry Side (a.k.a. Westin's side) The Cribs "Men's Needs" The sound my ears crave the most lately is a very dry recording where all the elements are right there in your face. I think this Cribs record is mainly to blame; when I first heard it, I suddenly realized what I'd been missing in today's swamp of overused reverb. This song is so awesome! My favorite part is Ross's 16th-note beat in the chorus, especially where he switches from hi-hat to ride cymbal halfway through. It's so deadpan, so genius, so ... English. Video Thin Lizzy "Running Back" Phil Lynott was a sentimental bastard: the classic "tough guy" who's soft on the inside. This is such an awesome song, so personal and full of realistic emotions—and killer riffs. One of the few songs in which I actually like saxophone. And I love the dry, in-your-face recording of the whole Jailbreak record. Video ZZ Top "Waitin' For The Bus"/"Jesus Just Left Chicago" What do ZZ Top and Thin Lizzy have in common, besides sporting double zeds in their names? Super-dry recordings! The one/two punch of "Waitin' For The Bus" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago" kicks off their third record Tres Hombres. A really great, minimal three-piece rock band at the top of its game, playing those white-boy Texas blues. Video Queens Of The Stone Age "If Only" Another really dry recording! QOTSA have always been one of my favorite bands. Their first album has turned out to be the one I keep going back to. It's super stone-y, and all the sounds are really dialed in and textured. They are geniuses at adding/removing minimal elements to keep the song simultaneously engaging and hypnotic. Video The Congos "Wrong Thing" OK, after all those really dry recordings, I bet your throat is aching for a nice cool drink of reverb. Let us turn to one of the masters of reverb; with Lee Perry at the helm of the Black Ark, you know you're in store for a delicious, thirst-quenching slake of spacy verb-wash. The best part is that this was recorded on a four-track—that was considered low-tech even in 1976. I love this song! The singing is gorgeous, and the groove is unshakeable. "Wrong Thing" expresses a difficult emotion: caring deeply about people you love and their struggles, while being frustrated at their inability to recognize how their own habits contribute to their problems. Video Side B: The Wet Side (a.k.a. Kathy's side) The Pharmacy "Coldest Morning Light" Thank you, Westin. Let's keep it wet with this rad, '60s-sounding recording from 2009! Drenched in hot, humid New Orleans reverb (this album was written and recorded there, and it sounds like it), these songs transport me South and out of the present to a stone-y, sun-soaked '60s (minus that pesky racist tension). Video Best Coast "Something In The Way" Stoner, beach-blanket, dance, make-out music. Love it! Video Wampire "Orchards" Still stoned, still making out. Hard. Audio The Whines "Insane OK" Kind of burnt out now and a little raw. Just kinda laying there on the beach, sun in the eyes, waves in the ears. Audio White Fang "Grateful To Shred" Now we're partying again! Passing joints and thrashing. Video

!!! Order adipex no prescription, is a band that’s hard to Google and hard to pronounce (for the record, it’s commonly said “chk chk chk”), but that’s somehow perfectly suitable for a band that invades your ears with intense, hypnotizing grooves until your forget where you are. This time around, the California six-piece looked to the club scene in Berlin for inspiration, comprare adipex, setting up shop in a German club’s basement to jam for hours on end, Colorado CO Colo. , and the result is the dark yet insanely dance-worthy fourth album Strange Weather, Isn’t It? (out August 24 via Warp). Says vocalist Nic Offer, Køb discount adipex, “Most of the DJing I do is on the bus just for the guys, Order adipex online, so my style is kind of iPod shuffle-esque. I like the songs to be totally different from each other. Anyways, comprare adipex sconto, these are some of my mindblowers.” Our minds are officially blown.

"AMFM" (download):
[audio:AMFM.mp3]

The Martin Brothers "Rocket Surgery"
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Denim "Middle Of The Road"
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Joao Donato "Lunar Tune"
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Les Rita Mitsouko "C'est Comme Ça"
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Little Walter "Mellow Down Easy"
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RD Burman "Duniya Mein Logon Ko"
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Lenny Williams "Riding The High Wire"
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Robert Wyatt "The Age Of Self"
Order adipex no prescription, Maybe Robert Wyatt is my other favorite male singer. I haven't really gotten into his albums yet, Order adipex overnight delivery, but I've always loved his voice, and this song is great. Audio

Minnie Riperton "You Gave Me Soul"
You know how old people are always trying to say some old square-ass shit is so sexy and you just can't understand that, adipex without prescription. Well, Adipex sale, here's an old song that I think is so sexy. Maybe kids won't understand it, but I think she sounds fucking marvelous, ostaa halvalla adipex. Audio

M.I.A, order adipex no prescription. "Internet Connection"
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Ohio Players "Ecstasy"
I bet you can make Mario pause mid-sentence if you play this song. Order adipex no prescription, Cuz he will have to pause to say, "I love this song." Video

Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge "I'm Down (But I Keep Falling)"
You know who you should get into. Kris Kristofferson. This is from Full Moon, my favorite album I've found by him. It's the first LP he did with Rita, and I think they had just married. A killer chill-out record. Apparently, that's what you do when you get married, order adipex no prescription.

Lost Boyz "Music Makes Me High"
And this will do the trick. I can play this several times in a row. Video

The Berg Sans Nipple "Weatherman"
Gorman met one of these guys and got this album from him. I don't think it's out yet, but I just love it, and this is one of my favorite tracks on it.

Swell Maps "Big Empty Field"
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James Blake "Postpone"
Track four from that EP everyone's talking about. I'm on this dude's dick. Video

Womack & Womack "Baby I'm Scared Of You (Mark E Edit)"
One time me and my ex gf listened to this like 10 times on ecstacy. The original version is great as well. Video.

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By the turn of this new decade, the increasingly big tent that is "indie rock" had become more a part of the popular conscious than ever before, and with artists like the National recently charting in Billboard next to Justin Beiber, that trend doesn't seem to be receding anytime soon. While this shift certainly makes viable creating music that once was considered unlistenable, we can't help but lament the loss of a certain kind of danger that came along with indie's heretofore underground standing. Fortunately, L.A.'s HEALTH has defied this dynamic entirely, amassing scores of devotees while composing with undeniably intense textures that are at the same time guttural and strangely beautiful. Listen to "Crimewave" from its eponymous debut followed by "USA Boys," the new single from its second remix album DISCO2 (Lovepump United), and you'll find that like Liars, Fugazi and Nine Inch Nails, the young four-piece can smartly channel angst on multiple levels, "Crimewave" penetrating with ferocity, "USA Boys" with seduction. In the midst of a hectic touring schedule, HEALTH was kind enough to compile a mix tape for MAGNET, which revels in the same rough and affecting spirit that underscores its music. Enjoy. "USA Boys" (download): [audio:USABoys.mp3] 2Pac "Hit 'Em Up" Jupiter: This is one of my favorite songs of all time despite the shitty rapping of the guest MCs. I'm not aware of rage ever being articulated with this kind of razor sharp precision in music ever; before or after this. I get chills every time I listen to this song. People died over this shit. Video Nirvana "Milk It" BJ: My favorite band of all time. The reason I got into drums and not saxophone. I can't stop loving every song this band ever erected. Video Suicidal Tendencies "You Can't Bring Me Down" John: Just cuz you don't understand what's going on don't mean it don't make no sense, and just because you don't like it don't mean it ain't no good! And let me tell you something: Before you go taking a walk in my world, you better go take a walk in the real world, cuz this ain't no Mister Rogers neighborhood! Can you say feel like shit? Yeah, maybe sometimes I do feel like shit. I ain't happy about it, but I'd rather feel like shit then be full of shit! And if I offended you, oh I'm sorry, but maybe you need to be offended. But here's my apology and one more thing: Fuck you! Video Crass "Have A Nice Day" Jake: This band is the fucking Ornette Coleman of peace punk. So chock full of distortion and screamingly naive politics that the army of crust kids with the Crass symbol sewn to their filthy black hoodies don't even know that they have been recruited to participate in an undeniably avant-garde musical experiment. This track opens their opus, Christ The Album, and begins with samples from British national television programs before dropping into a bizarrely cheery riff that sounds like I.R.S. era R.E.M. Then, of course, the whole shit-house goes up in flames. Video Nicki Minaj "Your Love" Jupiter: Minaj has it. And her newest single cements her potential to become huge. If Minaj's debut album delivers, you're going to have to make some room at the top, Gaga. This Barbie has massive star quality. Video D-Lo "18" BJ: D-Lo and DJ Fresh, coming atcha with gas! This album is an inspiration. The dark hooks, crazy psychedelic, ambient undertones and solid lo-fi beats. I'm goin' dumb on some mothafuckin D-Lo. Video Gold Panda "Back Home" John: I feel artists like Gold Panda, Pictureplane, Salem and more are part of a wave of cool alternative electronic music the kids have been subconsciously craving for ages. It's what the kids want and most don't know it yet. It's like you're a caveman, and I just showed up with some chocolate cake. What they call supernormal stimuli. BTW, this track is awesome. There is hope for the children. Video Fleetwood Mac "Beautiful Child" Jake: Most people don't have the discipline to read Remembrance Of Things Past. Even fewer people have the diligence to listen to Tusk in its entirety. This track is near the end, and it's worth the wait. Simple and heart-breaking. Stevie at her best. Video AIDS 3D "Because Of You" Jupiter: I developed a pretty strong emotional connection to this track recently. Some songs get real heavy when they drag, and this is definitely one. When it moves this slow, the helplessness and willing desperation feels so much more real. Just because all AIDS 3D did was slow the song down doesn't mean it should be dismissed. Audio La Roux "Cover My Eyes" BJ: After suicidal grunge and gansta rap, I like to cry like a bitch. "So would you hold me please?/I'm trying hard to breathe/I'm just surviving" ... mmmmmm! Video Rusko "Hold On (Sub Focus Remix)" John: Pretty sweet-ass song, plus a big highlight for me is Dirty Projectors vocalist Amber Coffman's singing on the track. She's a great singer, but the real gravy is that there's reverb on her sweet vocals, which I always find craving when listening to the bone dry-ness of a Dirty Projectors record. This version is a remix by Sub Focus. I love the original as well, but this remix has a little goodie at 1:05 that's pretty awesome. Video The Band "I Shall Be Released" Jake: Nina Simone's version is incredible and vocally virtuosic. However, there is is something about the Band's interpretation that just makes me want to cry like a little bitch. The warped-and-faded production, along with the high fragile whine of the vocal line, sounds like the perfect soundtrack to 10,000 night-long vigils seated on tear-stained formica tabletops. I know ... crying like a bitch again. Video

2010 marks 10 years since Elk City’s first release, and the band is celebrating with a new album, House Of Tongues, which was just release via Friendly Fire Recordings. Unlike some groups that lose creative edge and flounder over time, this outfit proves with this LP that it’s more cohesive than ever—and the addition of a fresh face with new keyboardist Carl Baggaley didn’t hurt, either. Elk City’s founding members, singer/songwriter Renee LoBue and drummer/producer Ray Ketchem, made this mix tape for MAGNET. Plus, check out this video chronicling the recording of House Of Tongues. "Jerks On Ice" (download): [audio:JerksOnIce.mp3] Wire "Lowdown" Ray: Wire do so much with so little. Little grooves, little sounds, little ideas that become huge when assembled in the right order. It's what they don't play that makes the songs work. Then there's the whisper-to-a-bellow voice of Colin Newman. You can be more bad-ass with clean guitars than distorted ones. I learned that from listening to Wire. Video Erykah Badu "Tyrone " (Live) Renee: Anyone who writes a song with the opening line "I'm getting tired of your shit" is a genius in my book. This song has the same effect on me that the Jerky Boys do: I want to stop listening, yet I can't. Video Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti "Bright Lit Blue Skies" Renee: This is a cover of the Ramrods' song from the '60s. Sheer pop, positive-vibing in less than three minutes: part Brian Wilson, part David Johansen. I saw Ariel Pink live recently. He was so sweet, in a strung-out way, until he said, "I think it sounds pretty good up here!" Some guy in the audience retorted, "It doesn't sound that great," which was followed by Pink's "Fuck you!" It still thrills me to tape concert tickets to my wall. Ariel Pink's went up as soon as I got home. Video Love "A House Is Not A Hotel" Ray: Arthur Lee warns us about the collapsing world around us, "The water's turned to blood/And if you don't think so/Go turn on your tub." The neuroses displayed on Love's 1967 classic Forever Changes is certainly defining, but in the end, Lee's positivity wins out. Video Big Star "Kangaroo" Ray: We chose Kangaroo as our first band name, with this track being the namesake. The moniker didn't stick, but that's no reflection on the brilliance of this recording. The cowbell that "wrecks" the last verse is stoned inspiration for neo-psych to this day. Did you think the Flaming Lips invented that stuff? Video Brother JT "Be With Us" Ray: Brother JT is an underground treasure. A truly genius songwriter. Elk City had the privilege of working with Brother JT on many of the songs on our 2007 LP, New Believers. "Be With Us" is a great example of his pop sensibilities and distinct voice. Audio The Breeders "Don't Call Home" Renee: While I love this song and the entire Safari EP that it hails from, "Don't Call Home" always makes me uncomfortable. Kim seems understatedly angry and, perhaps, strung out. Is that really John Murphy's voice we hear as the song vamps out? What's wrong, Kim? If you're upset, I'll take you out and buy you a carton of cigarettes. My treat. Video John Cale "Fear Is A Man's Best Friend" Ray: "Life and death are just things you do when you're bored," sings Cale in his calm baritone before the track implodes. Cale manages the neat trick of being avant and poppy at the same time. Video Steely Dan "Kid Charlemagne" Renee: There is a parallel universe that exists between Steely Dan and indie rock. Yes, I'm fully ready to be pummeled with all of your black-rimmed glasses right about now, but hear me out. "I was dressed for success/But success it never comes": classic Pavement lyrics that could have also been sprouted out of the mouth of Donald Fagan. Elk City are big Dan fans. We saw them in the second row at the Beacon Theatre last summer. Oddly, Jerry Seinfeld was sitting behind us, and as if he were in an episode of Seinfeld, Jerry had to keep getting up as people found their seats, used the restrooms, etc. He was so polite, and no one pushing past him even seemed to notice who he was. Video T.Rex "Cosmic Dancer" Ray: "I danced myself right out the womb/Is it strange to dance so soon?" Marc Bolan sings in the first verse of this classic glam track only to follow the next verse with "I danced myself into the tomb." That sums it up, doesn't it? Video The Mendoza Line "Thirty Year Low" Ray: I produced four albums for the Mendoza Line between 2000 and 2007. "Thirty Year Low" is an outtake that was recorded on a sunny afternoon with just Tim Bracy, me and John Troutman playing the simple instrumentation. John giggled his way through the backing vocal and lent some stunning lap steel. One of my faves. Audio Jefferson Airplane "Today" Ray: The definition of beautifully haunting psychedelia. Video The Jesus And Mary Chain "The Living End" Ray: I always think of The Jesus And Mary Chain as an "idea" band. "We'll blur everything we do with deafening white noise." Period. Works for me. Video Wham! "Everything She Wants" Renee: This song makes me feel clean. Just showered, while dusk descends on the undisclosed adventure of the evening. The night is mine to consume, and I'll do it with a black blazer on. Pardon me while I slick my hair back, slip into my 380ZX and grab a Sade CD. So clean and chic, this song is cologne for the soul. Video Phish "Backwards Down The Number Line" Renee: If someone asked me who I'd want to work on a song with, my usual answer might be Patti Smith or John Cale or Bobby Pollard, but lately, I'd respond "Trey Anastasio, of course!" His soft voice and unapologetic melodies say, "Trust me, these melodies will open up to you and you'll love me for it." And then, then, who can forget the guitar wankfest on this number? Call me, Trey. Video Os Mutantes "Panis Et Circensis" Renee: The intoxicating harmonies and cadence of this song make me want to release doves from a cage. Wait! This song makes me want to release myself from a cage! Ah, the Beatlesque breakdown and waltz at the end! Take me on a trip. Put me and my uptight personality in a blender, and, please, feed me ... to myself. Only this time as a smoothie. Video Lime "Angel Eyes" Renee: Embedded in my head since I was 14 and going to teen dance clubs like Butterfield's in Lodi, N.J.. Lime is different than other dance music. Lime has staying power. A studio project, done quickly, but, oh, the years of joy these songs have given to countless dancing feet! Lately, I listen to Lime every day. It's about being unapologetic. I am your song and you're going to love me and listen to me and dance to me, and then you're going to come back for more and it's going to get better and better. Video

Is there anything that goes better with impending summer than fresh Americana folk music, complete with banjos, slide guitar and heart-wrenching lyrics? Luckily, Denton, Texas, native Doug Burr is here with his third record, O Ye Devastator (Spune/Velvet Blue Music), just in time for long drives with the windows rolled down and days lounging on the beach. We have a feeling that by August, our copy of the album will be pretty worn out. Burr himself will be spending his summer playing shows throughout his home state in support of the release. Here’s the mix tape he made especially for MAGNET, which will also be getting lots of summertime listens. "A Black Wave Is Comin'" (download): [audio:ABlackWaveIsComin.mp3] "Red Red" (download): [audio:RedRed.mp3] Pleasure Club “High Five Hit Me" I met James Hall, frontman of Pleasure Club, when he came through Dallas to play a show. A friend had burned me some of his unreleased demo tracks about a month before the show, and I became a fan. Watch James let loose in this record store! Video Lift To Experience “These Are The Days” Josh Pearson, frontman of Lift To Experience, is a former Dentonite and a friend, and James Hall/Pleasure Club has had a heavy influence on Josh's music I've come to find out. This song is the first song from Lift's near-legendary The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads album. Video 16 Horsepower “American Wheeze” David Eugene Edwards of 16 Horsepower (and Woven Hand) was probably born in the 1960s. But I think he's been making music since about 1860 or so. Video Mississippi Fred McDowell “Goin Down To The River” One of the greats. Throwing down on an amazing song, vocals and slide guitar. Video Milton Mapes “Lonesome Town” It's quite ridiculous that I literally just stumbled across this since I know the guys in the band well. This is a cut from a video-game compilation soundtrack (Stubbs The Zombie) they were on, where all the bands were asked to do a cover of ‘50s/’60s music. (In this case, Ricky Nelson.) The particular video sequence playing along is actually a tribute to another videogame (Bioshock), but I thought it a nice touch. Video Elvis Costello “A Good Year For The Roses” I love this George Jones song and this rendition. I also love the understated video. Video Tom Waits “Waltzing Matilda” Classic Tom Waits. A gorgeous tune and splendid performance from 1977. Video Bruce Springsteen “Used Cars” This song is a heartbraker. It conjures a feeling anyone can identify deeply with, whether or not you can afford new cars. Video Blind Willie Johnson “Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground” Sometimes words fall short. Video Bonnie "Prince" Billy “Raining In Darling” This gorgeous Bonnie "Prince" Billy diddy seems to fly under the radar of the under-the-radar artist. Video

Athens, Ga., quintet Venice Is Sinking recorded its third full-length, Sand & Lines, live in an intense four-day session onstage at the legendary Georgia Theatre, which once housed shows by R.E.M., Pylon and Widespread Panic. Now, the minimalist, dream-pop masterpiece has become somewhat representative of the theater, since it burned down in a tragic turn of events last year. Venice Is Sinking immediately decided that all proceeds from Sand & Lines (out on June 15), as well as a fundraiser originally meant to help put out the album, should go to the Georgia Theatre, which is being rebuilt and will reopen in 2011. We can’t help but love a band that’s so willing to give back, especially when it makes such an awesome mix tape, like the one below. "Falls City" (download): [audio:FallsCity.mp3] Galaxie 500 cover "Tugboat" (download): [audio:TugboatVIS.mp3] Alabama "Dixieland Delight" Daniel: This songs reminds me of my childhood. For a time, my parents only listened to AM country radio, so there is a specific period of country music that I am a way too familiar with. The thing I’ve always liked about Alabama is that they are (and always have been) a real, functional band, which is a rare thing in country music. Also, I recently realized that their guitar player plays all of the fiddle parts on the songs, which is impressive to me. Video New Order "Every Little Counts" Lucas: Never has a song started so goofy and ended so majestic. Bernard Sumner's lyrics are almost always laughable, and in this case, he actually does laugh at them: "I think you are a pig/You should be in a zoo." What I like best about this is that it really humanizes New Order, a band that up until this point hid behind spartan liner notes, Peter Saville's cold and beautiful artwork, and obtuse music videos. Here is a band–a very successful band–cutting up on record, letting loose on record, then rallying toward a big finish, complete with rad floor-tom fake timpani. Not many bands let themselves get silly anymore, and that's too bad. Silliness can lead you to some pretty interesting places if it's not forced look-at-me hijinx. Video Odawas "Harmless Lover's Discourse" Daniel: Karolyn and I met these guys at a show here in Athens years ago and have been following them ever since. Their latest record, The Blue Depths, sounds like a blend between Bruce Springsteen's best ballads, Phil Collins-style drum programming and the worst of Windham Hill's catalog rolled into one. Admittedly, my description makes them sound like they might be kind of terrible, but their music is really incredible. I caught one of their sets at SXSW this year, and they absolutely killed it. Somehow the songs were more menacing and muscular live, and even the "meow bass" that comes in toward the end of the song sat perfectly in the mix. Video Stevie Wonder "You Haven't Done Nothin'" Lucas: Daniel gets mad because I'm always playing this one, but it's just a serious, serious jam, from the crusty analog drum machine to the Jackson 5 backing "doo doo wops" to the "Superstition"-esque clavinet work to the fact that Stevie is able to wring a ton of funk out a drum track that basically amounts to a hi-hat on the 2 and the 4. It garners bonus points because it's anti-Nixon. I actually prefer it to "Superstition," truth be told, and Fulfillingness' First Finale might be my favorite record of Stevie's "classic period." It's certainly in the conversation, though I feel like it's a bit overlooked now, which I understand sounds pretty stupid, considering it had two number ones and won "album of the year" at the Grammys (remember those?). Video Thayer Sarrano "Jump In The Water" Daniel: Thayer is a good friend of ours and has even filled in on keyboards for James at a couple of our shows. Somehow her songs are immediately familiar and comfortable upon first listen, which is not an easy thing to accomplish. You can buy her debut, King. Video Jeannie Reynolds "The Phone's Been Jumping All Day" Lucas: I feel like the unfortunate circumstances of Jeannie's death (she killed her two kids, then herself in an apparent drug-fueled rampage) have relegated her to a footnote in R&B history, but I think it's high time she got a reissue or a reappraisal or something. Her biggest hit, "The Fruit Song," is a great addition to the naughty disco song canon. She had some other lost classics, but this one is my favorite, casually driven by a bouncy piano riff. Video Okay "Now" Daniel: All of us adore this band from California, led by Marty Anderson. We even wrote a song on our last album, AZAR, as a sort of tribute to his songwriting, and we’ve been playing a couple of his songs at our shows for years now. (Two of them were on our Okay EP.) Anyway, this is the song after which our own "Okay" is not so loosely modeled. Video Prince "I Would Die 4 U" Lucas: I'm currently undergoing a heavy-duty Prince-aissance that started when I saw him play a surprise charity show at Paisley Park last year. (There are no human words to describe its awesomeness.) I know it's an obvious classic, but I can't stop listening to it of late. It's like I'm nine again! Like so much Prince of this era, it's hard to figure out what kind of song it is because it sits on this strange corner of R&B and new wave. Not to impugn an entire nascent subgenre, but I think this is what "chillwave" should sound like. Video Keri Hilson "Return The Favor" Daniel: This is probably Karolyn and Lucas’s favorite jam on the last year's Keri Hilson record. We all loved the song she did with Timbaland a few years back called "The Way I Are," and I think this one might be a little bit better. It’s probably because I’m obsessed with the MIDI pan-flute arpeggio at the beginning. The song is definitely at least a minute too long, but it’s still amazing. Video The Beach Boys "Be Still" Lucas: Though tonally quite different, I'd like to think that Dennis Wilson did Suicide before Suicide. This is one of Dennis' earliest compositions and besides a shot of reverb on the hippie-dippy line "life begins," it's just him accompanied by organ. He wasn't the strongest singer of the group, and I think that, along with the simplicity of the arrangement, works in its favor. When you put this on, people just stop what they're doing because it's so ... naked. See also: Fleetwood Mac's live version of "Farmer's Daughter." Video

Eclectic might not be strong enough a word to describe Franco/Finnish duo the Dø (as in, “doe, a deer”). Vocalist Olivia Merilahti and multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy create music influenced by just about every genre there is, ranging from mid-20th-century pop to techno to jazz to Finnish folk and everything in between. On top of that, the pair’s debut album, A Mouthful (out now via Six Degrees Records), became the first French record sung in English to hit number one on France's charts. Here’s the Dø’s equally eclectic mix tape, made especially for MAGNET. "On My Shoulders (Chamber Version)" (download): [audio:OnMyShouldersChamberVersion.mp3] Elizabeth Cotten "Shake Sugaree" Olivia: I heard this song a short while ago, and I could not tell if it was a young boy or an old lady singing. Her musical interpretation is the purest and simplest. No show off—so honest. Video Arcade Fire "Ocean Of Noise" Dan: This is one band that turned my head upside down. When I first heard Neon Bible, I hated it, I thought the sound was crap and wasn't sensitive to the songs. Then I heard it at another moment in my life, and this particular song struck me deeply. I couldn't listen to anything else for weeks. Now Arcade Fire is one of my favourite bands, and I’m looking forward to see them live soon. Video Joanna Newsom "Good Intentions Paving Company" Olivia: I was a little disappointed with Have One On Me, though it is rich and clever and interesting. Too many similar songs; nothing really got me off my chair. Until I heard this song, which stands out in the album since it is rhythmical, and there is no harp. It is almost danceable! I still love her very much, though ... Video Gaggle "Hidden Army" Dan: I discovered Gaggle during the last Trans Musicales de Rennes in France. We love choirs, and these girls are wild. We'd love to tour with them. Video Umalali "Fuleisei" Olivia: The Garifuna Women's Project is a brilliant album! Each voice is stunning, and the sound is amazing. It could be afrobeat or Senegalese music, but it comes from somewhere in the Caribbean and Central America, Belize or Venezuela, where the Garifuna minority lives. Video Liars "Scissor" Dan: Punch me now! This is just a great band, and the video for this song is a masterpiece. Video PJ Harvey & John Parish "Pig Will Not" Olivia: A pretty extreme track. Aggressive shrieks and vocals—it's all brimming. Very noisy, wild and daring. Video Tōru Takemitsu "Ran" Dan: I love this music. Takemitsu's music in a movie is very important; it's never in the back. He brings another dimension to a movie, as in Woman In The Dune. When I was a kid, Ran hit me. I thought it was 3D! Video Leo Brouwer "Estudios Sencillos" Olivia: I played some of these pieces when I learned classical guitar. They were very dear to me. I guess these are part of the things that made my ear enjoy dissonances. They still inspire me today. Video Nina Simone "Plain Gold Ring" Dan: Nina Simone never did compromises. I love every song she's written or performed. She's a goddess, a queen or a mother to me! Video Kings Of Leon "Milk" Olivia: I thought this was just a stadium band until I heard Aha Shake Heartbreak, and I felt my teenage emotions suddenly back. This album is brilliant. I love the very dry and sharp guitar riffs. It's all very accurate, plus he's got a hell of a voice, that man. This song has a nice rhythm change in the middle and an eerie keyboard floating in the back. It all goes straight to the point, and that feels good. Video

One listen to 24-year-old Texas native Sarah Jaffe’s music and you’ll feel like you’ve known her for years. Her debut full-length, Suburban Nature (out May 18 on Kirtland Records), will take you on a walk through her life. It features songs written from when she was a teenager until now, lyrics so intimate you’ll feel like you’ve read her diary and a focus on her lovely, smoky voice (as if she’s whispering directly into your ear). Plus, this mix tape she made for MAGNET definitely makes us feel like we’re in best-friend territory. Fresh off tours with Midlake and Norah Jones (which included performances at SXSW and NX35), Jaffe will play several dates in her home state during the month of May in support of Suburban Nature. "Better Than Nothing" (download): [audio:BetterThanNothing.mp3] Serge Gainsbourg And Brigitte Bardot "Bonnie And Clyde" A couple years ago, I came across Serge Gainsbourg after a film I had seen. Since then, I've been somewhat obsessed. "Bonnie And Clyde" is one of my go-to tracks by Serge. Video Harry Nilsson "Everybody's Talkin'" When I moved to Denton, my good friends turned me onto Harry Nilsson, since I clearly missed the boat. He's now one of my favorite artists. Genius melodies. Wonderful writer. Video Readymade FC Featuring Yael Naim "The Only One" Readymade FC is a composer that I met through Robert Gomez, who plays with me. Robert showed me this song, and then the video, and I just fell in love. Video Björk "Joga" I remember hearing this song when I was about 10, and it rocked my little world. It was nothing like I'd ever heard. Gave me indie cred in the fifth grade. Video Nina Simone "Wild Is The Wind" Someone asked me the typical question, "If you were trapped on an island, what's the one song you'd choose to be stuck with?" "Wild Is The Wind" was my pick. Moves me every time. Video Passion Pit "The Reeling" My friend Paul turned me on to this band about a year ago, and I haven't stopped listening to Passion Pit since. I really love electronic music. And they get me where I need to be gotten in that realm. Video Toro Y Moi "Talamak" My friends and I make mix CDs for each other on occasion, and this song was on a mix CD a friend gave to me. I just think it's a wonderful song by a very cool emerging artist. Video Grizzly Bear "While You Wait For The Others" There's nothing good that hasn't already been said about this band. They're golden. This song and album are probably in the top five for the year. Video Shelley Duvall "He Needs Me" Again, love Harry Nilsson, who wrote this. Obviously was not old enough to catch the movie Popeye when it came out, but found out Harry wrote the music for the film. And loved it. Video The Ronettes "Be My Baby" A classic go-to song for me. Makes me feel happy and loved, and then I impulsively wanna call everyone I love. Video

Seattle's Black Nite Crash, whose name is an homage to Ride’s last single, is a band that pretty accurately describes itself as being “a little too post-punk to be psychedelic, a little too psychedelic to be post-punk.” But it’s 100-percent awesome, as you’ll hear on the quintet's latest EP (the follow-up to 2008 album Array), which is a split 12-inch with L.A.’s Sky Parade (on Custom Made Music). Up next for Black Nite Crash are plans for a West Coast tour in July and a second album slated for a fall release. In the mean time, check out this killer mix tape vocalist/guitarist Jim Biggs and guitarist Joel Bergstrom made for MAGNET. "Jonah Dive" (download): [audio:JonahDive.mp3] Crime & The City Solution "The Dolphins And The Sharks" Joel: Mick Harvey is a musical hero. This song by Crime is my favorite. Simon Bonney's voice has more of a Scott Walker-type of intensity to Nick Cave's tortured Faulkner hallucinations. First saw them in the Wim Wenders film Wings Of Desire, and they really made an impression on me. Video Sunset Valley “Shanghai Shelly” Jim: I moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1995: a really diverse scene with a bunch of bands that were every bit as good as their famous regional predecessors but destined to fall short of the national spotlight. Seattle’s best (IMHO) was Juno. Portland’s best was Sunset Valley. Sunset mainman Herman Jolly went on to solo works and has since resumed his pop perfectionism in his new band, Little Pieces. We have been known to cover this particular classic when sufficiently intoxicated. Iggy And The Stooges “Gimme Danger” Jim: I first heard this in the generally ignored/forgotten film Up The Academy. It sounded cool and kind of terrifying and made me seek out this record, which was also cool and kind of terrifying. Actually, it still is. Video Nightmare Air "Who Who Lies" Joel: They're our roommates, and we dig these guys' energy. When I'm feeling stuck trying to write the new record, I just hang out with Dave Dupuis and I'm right back on track. He's chock-full of great ideas. He'll randomly mention stuff where you'll be like, "Why didn't I think of that?" Video The Replacements “Unsatisfied” Jim: My favorite song by my favorite American band. This one can still leave me a sobbing mess under the right—or wrong, depending on how you look at it—circumstances. Video Truly "Blue Flame Ford" Robert Roth was an early supporter of Black Nite Crash, and it kind of felt like your older brother giving you the thumbs up. Just don't call it "post-grunge." Video Divinyls "The Good Die Young" Joel: I still have this on a mix tape. I listened to a lot of Australian pop music growing up, so it's definitely nostalgic. That chorus has been seriously stuck in my head for years and years, but I'd never seen this old-school music video! Chrissy Amphlett looks a lot like Cat Power in this. Video Echo & The Bunnymen “Heaven Up Here” Jim: My favorite song off of my all-time favorite album. 'Nuff said. Video X “Los Angeles” Jim: When I was in high school, I read Less Than Zero (great book, terrible movie). They talked about X a few times, which aroused my curiosity. Later, I played this in my car for some friends on the way to the mall and they all immediately started complaining about it. I realized then that I would probably be needing some new friends. Video Swervedriver “Scrawl And Scream” This was the flip side to their “Never Lose That Feeling” single and is sort of a rare track on these shores. Swervedriver was the perfect mix of atmosphere and attitude without ever losing sight of the melody. We have played a few shows with Adam Franklin, who is one of the nicest guys we’ve come across. His new material fits seamlessly with the Swervedriver stuff. Video ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead "Clair De Lune" Joel: A long while ago, I went down to Austin to hang out with them for a couple gigs. They are phenomenal live, and I suggested they put this song in their set, to which Conrad replied it was not going to happen. I'm glad they changed their minds. Video

More often than not, when a band splits up, we are forced to bid it a fond farewell and are left only with our old records and memories. However, if that band is Radar Bros., we only have to wait a couple years before it returns with a new name, lineup and album. Yes, Radar Brothers are back, featuring original singer/guitarist Jim Putnam with his two new partners, bassist Be Hussey and drummer Stevie Treichel. After spending some time on tour and building a tight bond, the band began to write new material, and on March 23, Merge will release The Illustrated Garden. To celebrate, here’s a mix tape Putnam made for MAGNET. "Horses Warriors" (download): [audio:HorsesWarriors.mp3] "For The Birds" (download): [audio:ForTheBirds.mp3] Elvis Costello And The Attractions "Beyond Belief" Beautifully quirky song that rocks. Drummer Pete Thomas earned his paycheck that day, as well. Video Warpaint "Elephants" Local L.A. faves with the sounds you need. Video Alice Coltrane (Turiyasangitananda) "Om Supreme" Pure '70s Guru California. Video Lou Reed "Satellite Of Love" Because it came up the other day, and it's great. Video Kevin Ayers "Butterfly Dance" When this song kicks in and I'm driving, I can't help but to crank the volume and beat the crap outta my steering wheel. Mission Of Burma "Einstein's Day" A gut-wrenchingly beautiful song I heard as a youngster in the early '80s just after watching the TV movie The Day After. Powerful moment. Video Dennis Wilson "Moonshine" The voice of a dying man at its most beautiful. The Beach Boys should have recorded more of his songs. Video Caetano Veloso & Gal Costa "Coração Vagabundo" Laid-back vocal perfection. Video Leonard Cohen "Sisters Of Mercy" What can we say? It's Leonard Fucking Cohen. Video Tom Waits "Innocent When You Dream" Perfect mix-tape number. I like it as the last song. Video

Since its inception in MAGNET's hometown of Philadelphia in 1998, the New York-based matt pond PA has undergone numerous renovations in lineup and sound, but while that can be the kiss of death for some bands, this one’s still going strong. In fact, matt pond PA is busier than ever, between last year’s gradual release of The Threeep (a set of three seven-inch singles with three a-sides, three instrumentals and three b-sides each) and the April 6 issue of a new full-length, The Dark Leaves (Altitude). Plus, frontman Matt Pond and engineer/co-producer Chris Hansen composed the soundtrack for the film Lebanon, PA, which will premiere this spring, and Pond spent last fall as a member of the Wooden Birds. Pond can even make an awesome mix tape, complete with some insightful and eloquent commentary. "Starting" (download): [audio:Starting.mp3] Neil Young "Philadelphia" MAGNET always sends me reeling back to the town I designated as the universal symbol for "beginnings" and, further on down the road, "loss." Out flies the semi-slow jams. If you hug yourself tight enough, it kind of feels like you're holding on to someone else. Video Spiritualized "Let It Flow" This song is supposed to be played real loud. In the middle, it explodes so that your cupboards lose their pots and the windows crack their glass. Video Versus "Shangri-La" It takes a pansexual set of balls to mess with Jeff Lynne. Beach House "Used To Be" Even if everything here ends up being about loss, that doesn't mean it can't be a party. Video Cass McCombs "I Went To The Hospital" I want to buy Cass McCombs a trophy for this song, as well as a huge cake with a fancy lady from the city inside. In fact, all his music is so good it's almost hard to hear. Video The Magnetic Fields "Born On A Train" This song reminds me that some certain blonde lady-person taught me more about music than I'll ever know. Also, it can make the ache of running face-first into the Rockies a little more agreeable. Video Linda Perhacs "Hey, Who Really Cares?" These aren't dark vibes. It's cool. You can still move your shoulders to the bass. Video The Glands "Fortress" The greatest band of all time. I'll arm-wrestle anyone over this one. Interpol "Rest My Chemistry" I really don't mind partying alone. Video Sharon Van Etten "Consolation Prize" There probably isn't a cooler person or a better singer around, which makes it difficult when she plays her songs. The music crawls inside your spine and makes an everlasting home. Video Blur "Tender" Then you wake up in Tucson, Ariz., rubbing your knuckles against the hotel-room stucco, thinking about how you'd make a suitable sidekick to Damon Albarn's sheriff. Video Knife In The Water "Party" Some people are getting sloppy. The segues begin and end with a needle scraping across the grooves. The Wooden Birds "Bad" Andrew Kenny has a whole mess of soul beneath his orderly exterior. He's like the doctor from Prince's Revolution. Video Prince "The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker" I wouldn't totally call it sad or a slow jam, but there's a broken bird call somewhere down in this song. Video John Lennon "Hold On" Click. Video Angelo Badalamenti "Twin Peaks Theme" I don't believe anyone should ever stop going big on the weekends. All the way to the end. Video

An ortolan is a tiny bird that can sing a sweet tune, and it makes a fitting namesake for this band comprised of three sisters and one sister-in-law from South Jersey. Ranging in age from 16 to 23, the members of Ortolan produce a lovely feminine sound woven into charming and strangely familiar melodies. The quartet's debut full-length, Time On A String (Sounds Familyre), will be released March 9, and the record-release party will be held in MAGNET’s hometown of Philadelphia. This mix tape was a collaborative effort; each sister contributed her own set of songs, with a surprisingly cohesive result. Must be sisterly intuition. "Sticky Situation" (download): [audio:StickySituation.mp3] Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" Jill: It's nostalgic, but fresh and as simple as Cheerios. When I hear it, I know that life is good. Video Regina Spektor "Samson" Brianna: Regina is one of my favorite artists. All her music is composed so well. This is a song I will never get tired of hearing. I sing to it every time it's on. Video The Animals "House Of The Rising Sun" Lara: I just recently started listening to the Animals. I love them. Eric Burdon has such a strong voice. The way the song was written, it was just brilliant. Video Johnny Cash "It Ain't Me Babe" Stephanie: Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash are both such great artists. To have a song with a little bit of Cash and Dylan, it just makes it such a wonderful song. I also just enjoy the simpleness of it. Video Blind Melon "No Rain" Jill: It takes me back to grungy flannel shirts and awesome MTV videos. It's just fun. Video I Was A King "It's All You" Brianna: This song has a great intro to it; the piano in the beginning is great. It's the best when I listen to it as loud as possible. Doris Day "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" Lara: You might laugh, but I really love this song. It's from my favorite scene, in one of my favorite movies, Strictly Ballroom. Every time I hear it, I just want to dance. Video Lisa Mitchell "Coin Laundry" Stephanie: I enjoy finding new artists by looking at different band pages. That is how I found Lisa Mitchell; I bought her CD right away. She has such a unique voice, and this song is just so fun. No matter how many times I listen to it, I never get sick of it. Video The Beatles "Hey Jude" Jill: It's beautifully sincere and powerfully moving. I get goosebumps every time I hear the "na-na-na-na"s. Also, my mom's name is Judy, and my dad would sing it to her. Video Priscilla Ahn "Dream" Brianna: This was the second song I heard by Priscilla Ahn. As soon as I heard it, I fell in love. The lyrics are my favorite. Video Cat Power "The Greatest" Lara: She is such an amazing artist, and this song was written so beautifully. It just makes me sing every time I hear it. Video Sigur Rós "Sé Lest" Stephanie: One of the reasons I love Sigur Rós is because their music is so different and creative. I could just sit down and do nothing but listen to them and be so satisfied. Video Ray Charles "America The Beautiful" Jill: It reminds me that I'm part of something bigger; it's honest and hopeful. It's got soul and roots. Video mewithoutYou "The Fox, The Crow And The Cookie" Brianna: I'm a big fan of this song. Mostly because every time I listen to it, I literally picture the story he's singing. It's almost like a picture book. Video Markéta Irglová "The Hill" Lara: It is such a sad song, but it's got such a sense of beauty and love to it. If you were to listen to my CD mixes, you would always find this song. Markéta's voice is so incredible. Video Camera Obscura "James" Stephanie: This band is pretty rad. They somehow captured the "oldies" sound, while keeping a new sound, too. This song reminds me of sunny days or anything summer-ish: sundresses, sunglasses, sun tea and sunscreen. Video Jars Of Clay "Love Song For A Savior" Jill: It strengthens my faith and reminds me of how intimate my God is. Video Cat Stevens "Where Do All The Children Play" Lara: I love the live version of this song. (Not that I was there to hear it, but I watch it on YouTube all the time.) My mom was a huge Cat Stevens fan, so growing up, we would always listen to him. All my friends would be like, "Who?" His music just makes me smile when I listen to it. Video Eisley "Marvelous Things" Stephanie: I have liked Eisley for a pretty long time and never grew tired of them. This song is so whimsical. It just makes me happy when I hear it. Video

Australian quartet the Temper Trap first captured the attention of American audiences at last year’s SXSW with its soaring, dreamy melodies and throbbing beats, so much so that the band’s breakthrough single, “Sweet Disposition,” was later featured in the teaser trailer for (500) Days Of Summer. Since then, the band has released its debut album, Conditions (Glassnote), to critical acclaim and is now set to embark on its first headlining North American tour in March. Drummer Toby Dundas took some time out of his now-busy schedule to make MAGNET this very eclectic mix tape, ranging from smash pop hits to obscure Aussie rock. "Down River" (download): [audio:DownRiver.mp3] The Joy Formidable “Greyhounds In The Slips” Great song from our old touring partners. Video Fever Ray “When I Grow Up” Eerie vocals at sea in a swirling, hypnotic drone. Video Rowland S. Howard “(I Know) A Girl Called Jonny” Opening track from Howard's latest (and final) solo offering. The Boys Next Door “Shiver” Australian classic featuring Nick Cave and Rowland S. Howard. Video Radiohead “Idioteque” Inspires spastic dancing from the first beat. Video Beyoncé “Sweet Dreams” Banging pop hit from Beyoncé. Video Depeche Mode “Enjoy The Silence” "Words are very unnecessary/They can only do harm." Awesome. Video The Walkmen “Revenge Wears No Wristwatch” Slow burning wake song from New York five-piece. Video Australian Crawl “Reckless” Forgotten gem from the vaults of Australian rock. Video Empire Of The Sun “Walking On A Dream” Uplifting pop gem from the mind of the Steele. Video Lady Gaga “Paparazzi” Check out the video to double your appreciation for the song. Video Massive Attack “Angel” Dark and brooding. A trip-hop classic. Video

Portland, Ore’s Matthew Cooper has been making ambient records as Eluvium since 2003. Like previous efforts, the new Similes (due out via the Temporary Residence label on February 23) was recorded at Cooper’s home studio, though the eight-track album marks the first time an Eluvium record features percussion and singing. With this excellent mix tape he made us, you'll get a sense of what it's like hangin' with Mr. Cooper. "Leaves Eclipse The Light" (download): [audio:LeavesEclipseTheLight.mp3] "The Motion Makes Me Last" (download): [audio:TheMotionMakesMeLast.mp3] Aphex Twin "Xtal" Mark Smith from Explosions In The Sky gave me a mix of Aphex Twin a few years back; somehow most of his work had escaped me. This was the opening track of the mix. Mark is a dear friend and a mean mix-tape maker among other things. I thank him for properly opening my eyes to the AFX world. Video Arthur Russell "Losing My Taste For The Night Life" I owned First Thought, Best Thought for quite a while before getting to this track. I guess I was just too busy listening to "World Of Echo" instead. When I finally found this piece, it seemed to sum up so much of what I loved about Arthur Russell both musically and lyrically. Video Brian Eno "On Some Faraway Beach" Probably not so near my favorite Eno song (though I'm not sure I'd know where to begin with that list), but the lyrics are just so lovely and the way the instruments are just barely holding it together—falling in and out of time slightly—is really wonderful. Video Broadcast "Tears In The Typing Pool" I'm not sure what it is about this song; it seems so very matter of fact in its delivery, I suppose. But whenever I think of Broadcast, I seem to autopilot mentally to this song every time. Video Leon Fleisher "Sheep May Safely Graze" Many people have played Bach, but this is the one for me. I believe the title says enough. I thank my brother Philip endlessly for showing me this piece and all of the album, Two Hands. Video The Books "Vogt Dig For Kloppervok" I could probably put anything from Lost And Safe here; the ingenuity of this record is astounding. I would have liked to have placed the last track of this album somewhere in this mix—as the words are just beautiful—but for the sake of mix-tape flow (even in the hypothetical sense), this is the one that made it. I consider the Books to be one of the most important things happening in music—or art of any form, for that matter—these days. Perhaps they might laugh at that statement. Video Cluster "Zum Wohl" Oh, Cluster—how I love thee. If you ever find yourself in the wooded mountainous region just before the coast of the Pacific Northwest—slowly weaving along through bits of sun and leaves, chasing a little creek through the damp to the ocean—this quite possibly could be the song for you. David Byrne/Terry Hinely "Glass Operator" Truly wonderful men. A truly wonderful song. Video OMD "Of All The Things We've Made" It was very inspiring to me at the time to hear a single open guitar strummed endlessly and a single drum hit over and over again to create such powerful music. My wife showed me this album when we first met at a record shop here in Portland maybe nine years ago. She knows what's up. Video

MAGNET faves Quasi return February 23 with American Gong (Kill Rock Stars). We asked the trio—Sam Coomes, Janet Weiss and Joanna Bolme—to make us a mix tape, and boy, did they not disappoint. These guys know their shit. "Repulsion" (download): [audio:Repulsion.mp3] Arthur Lee "Everybody's Gotta Live" Sam: Listen to it a million times, and it sounds great every time. Not exactly sure why. Video Kim Fowley "Bubble Gum" Janet: The man responsible for the Runaways defines "cool" with this stylish track. Sounds like a sleezy Thurston Moore. Video Tamam Shud "Music Train"/"Evolution" Joanna: A brunch-size helping of psych. Audio Chrissy Zebby Tembo & Ngozi Family "Coffin Maker" Sam: Mid-'70s Zambian rock scene—rad, rad, rad. 999 "Emergency" Janet: Aggressive pop single from the early British punk band. Rumor has it Chrissie Hynde answered an ad to join, but they turned her down. She didn't need them after all. Great track if you're DJing. Video Kevin Ayers "Town Feeling" Joanna: Guitar on the left, oboe on the right. Heaven! Video Sic Alps "Everywhere, There" Sam: Rock 'n' roll can still be great. Video Morgen "Of Dreams" Janet: Stunning psych song with acid fuzz guitars and a wicked groove. I find myself wishing I was in this band, playing this song, often. Video New Order "Age Of Consent" Joanna: Sounds completely desperate and totally uplifting at the same time. Video Serge Gainsbourg "Cannabis" (Instrumental) Sam: Best instrumental rock song I can think of right now, by far. Video Shocking Blue "Mighty Joe" Janet: I love this record start to finish. The production is perfect, the singing is awesome, the songs are amazing. Video Gary Glitter "Do You Wanna Touch Me? (Oh Yeah)" Joanna: Yep, he's gross, but this song is killer. Video The Music Machine "Talk Talk" Janet: Eat your heart out, garage bands. It doesn't get much better than this. Crafty and rugged, with gravelly tough vocals. Priceless. Video The Angry Samoans "Right Side Of My Mind" Joanna: P-U-N-K. Video Elyse "House" Janet: Probably my favorite song I've heard in the last two years. A hidden gem from 1968, this plodding, thumpy masterpiece features an unforgettable vocal and biting, killer guitar by Neil Young. Audio Evie Sands "I Can't Let Go" Joanna: '60s girl-group goodness. Video

Ancient Lover, the self-released debut album from Tigercity, takes an irony-free approach to cheesy '70s/'80s soul and new wave. Yes, the Brooklyn band plays "smooth rock." So when frontman Bill Gillim made MAGNET a mix tape, we weren't too surprised by the inclusion of the likes of Chic and Luther Vandross. "Fake Gold" (download): [audio:FakeGold.mp3] Chic "Happy Man" Chic has always been one of our favorite bands. This song has been on heavy rotation in our van for the past couple months. Aside from being just a ridiculously tight, amazing song, lyrically it's everything we love about this band—seemingly simplistic and overly positive, but actually really dark and creepy. Video Prefab Sprout "Wild Horses" Another one of our biggest and earliest influences. The perfect combination of smoothness and darkness. As far as I can tell, it's about being old and lusting after teenage girls. Also, the chorus sounds like DJ Premier, when it's really just some dorky Scottish dudes. Awesome. Video Band Of Horses "The Great Salt Lake" Drive through Utah and blast this in your car. Video George Harrison "Gone Troppo" George Harrison gone blissfully insane on a tropical island. This is what Tigercity will sound like in 2018. Video Neil Young "Cinnamon Girl" Joel and Andrew recently spent a weekend in Vermont camping with 20 dudes on ATVs + acid. At one point, there was a fireworks fight, and I think 300 beers were consumed. Neil Young on repeat. Video Phoenix "Long Distance Call" We played the Monolith Festival at Red Rocks in September and got a chance to see Phoenix play on the main stage. They were totally amazing. We wore out this record when we first started touring. Video Oneohtrix Point Never "Physical Memory" Synth sculptor Daniel Lopatin is one of our best friends and biggest influences. His new album Rifts is out soon on No Fun. Check him out here. The Beach Boys "Feel Flows" By far one of our favorite bands. Their post-Brian-meltdown records are so good and really underappreciated. Carl Wilson's songwriting and production are beautiful. Video Cocteau Twins "Cherry Coloured Funk" Wet. Video Luther Vandross "Never Too Much" Exploding synth diamonds. And the best singer ever produced by the best slap-bassist ever. Video The Stone Roses "Waterfall" Perfect for whiskey-induced optimism. Video Scritti Politti "Small Talk" White British dudes trying to be black American dudes. Which, in this case, is better than white American dudes. Steely Dan "Gaucho" "Who is the gaucho amigo?/Why is he standing/In your spangled leather poncho/And your alligator shoes/Bodacious cowboys/Such as your friend/Will never be welcome here/High in the Custerdome." Video