Alrighty. Here is Darryl's mix review (in two parts, one part for each disc). And by god it's a good one: the mix as a whole was well-pieced-together, the songs complimenting or contrasting each other with a real musical oomph to the whole thing.
Disc 1 - Lets! Go! Shopping!
1. Katonah - Apollo Sunshine : A strange little synthy number, in fact, more of an introduction than a song in its own right. But very odd: I keep thinking I hear bits of songs by the Octopus Project or some similar band, when in fact, it is doing that amazing thing of making you associate the music you are hearing with music you know you like.
2. The Plan - Built to Spill : very upbeat. rock but with a touch of informed lyric... I like it, but I'd have a hard time explaining quite why. it's... it's the gunshot drum rolll that punctuates each section of the track I think. I'm not sure.
3. Oceanbound - 764-Hero : I didn't really understand this one. Although I like it, and it's a perfectly good smoothie rock song, I thought the sudden downturn in tempo didnt suit the start of such a bouncy mix... still, I love the chorus section with "turn around... oceanbound..." sliding out into the microphone, to the rhythms behind it.
4. A.M. 180 - Grandaddy : So great. I love the 80s-videogame-esque intro, I love the chord accompaniment, I love the melody, I love the lyrics, I love its wacky-tube bridge, I love its lively but angry tone. Technically, I already knew this song, though only from snatches I caught played on TV or at sixth form college - but it didnt change the fact, that when heard all the way through, it was purest awesome.
5. So Begins Our Alabee - Of Montreal : This starts very glitchy, and I was considering even skipping it, but then this weird fruity synth bass line came in, and then Of Montreal start singing harmonies, and everything was alright. I especially like the "little friendly abject failure" line. The chorus, I'm afraid to say, is sort of grating.
6. Fair Touching - Guided by Voices : changga changga pseudo-drumacoustica, yes, but of a very high quality. The melody is nice to listen to, and I enjoy it. It feels... I think, much like the middle of the band's repartee, where they are keeping everyone ready and lively before the big ending.
7. Dynamic Calories - Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks : There was something very nice and gentle about this record that I had a hard time putting my finger on, especially as the music itself isn't particularly quiet or gentle ... I have a strong feeling it is something in the vocalist, that he sounds like whatever he is saying is intensely important but, hey, don't worry about it.
8. Debaser - Pixies : The first grinding, bittersweet vocal hits your ears and you know it's Pixies. I love this song, and the band, from very good memories of 'Where is My Mind' at parties. This is a song that is perhaps more grindy than that one, but still, the melody is a good thing indeed.
9. One Heavy February - Architecture in Helsinki : feels like it ought fall under the twee pop genre heading, but only shares its aesthetic. This little instrumental is different - it's puppies with mullets.
10. Seems Fine - The Concretes : God, I love this vocalist. The band's Swedish roots are very very subtle but just tangible under layers of gorgeous fruity riffs, electro thuds and that beautiful voice. I can?t get enough of her.
11. Huddle Formation - The Go! Team : Very funky, and very... very school! Can something be just "school"? It's not old school, it's not nu skule, it's just - school. It's popular, but not cloyingly so, and with a funk element that is easily traced under the crazy noise-pop and cleverly used playground chants.
12. The Body Says No! - The New Pornographers : If this had to be a genre, it'd be 'Fuck'. It's funk, it's rock, but there is also this Nena-like 99 red balloons thing to Newman (the main writer guy)... it's very good, whatever it is.
13. Set Yourself On Fire - Stars : Rushed tempo, but the fast pace adds this fervour to it which actually compliments the bleep bloops really well, and the vocals are nice and... floaty. Actually, it reminds me a huge amount of that Super Mario Bros level in space with the stars and the bubblegum pigs. I always liked that level.
14. Remember Me - British Sea Power : very epic and winding. but then, I've had a little place for British Sea Power for a while now. This track feels like Heroes + The Smiths ^ 80s rock = awesome. And the breathy vocals just make it, too.
15. Speak Slow - Tegan & Sara : Crikey! After British Sea Power, the "ah-ow!"s and chaka chaka maraca guitar are like a little black power coffee, with caffeine pill chaser! Very up and grr!
16. On To You - The Constantines : I've always had a soft spot for a throaty growl, and this song is a throaty growl set to some melodic Springsteen guitar which is really breathless and hot. I really like where all the background melts away and there is just the vocalist huskying at us, then we are led back into the riff gently, and then ... blues ... bourbon whisky melody ... bitterness ... boom! Ending!
17. Hot Air Balloon - Apollo Sunshine : Light and free. This last track fits just right, like a jukebox saying goodnight, there are little country guitar whine-outs, that work completely brilliantly with an opera rock middle, leading into xylophonic percussion work... it's like being inside a young kid's mind, almost, experiencing everything through night time sounds, except the young kid is going to sleep above a downtown bar and the country jukebox and electro band are still playing way past bedtime. Finally, we zap into an electric dream, all neon-bright primary colours and eternity background. And, like all dreams, the track ends in a pensive fizzle.
Poll
6 (19.4%)