The “Miscellaneous” Mixes: Circa 2010, Smoke and Mirrors

Today I’ve got yet another best of 2010 mix for you, this one coming compliments of my bestest pal in the great Northwest, Mike. You might remember Mike from his previous Circa mixes, as well as his John Locke mix. (Again, have I mentioned how much I miss LOST?) Well, he was at again in 2010, this time offering up Smoke and Mirrors.

Over the years, I’ve noticed that Mike’s taste has grown more and more dissimilar from mine. I think he’s always leaned a bit more to the “electronica” than I have. What’s more, living in a musical mecca like Seattle, he’s been inundated with a slew of great local music. In reviews his tracklists from this year, we shared only five bands/performers (Best Coast, Wavves, Fang Island, No Age and Avi Buffalo), down from eight in 2009. Stranger still is that, despite having five common bands, we have none of the same songs on our mixes. Now, I have to take issue with Mike’s inclusion of Pomegranates’ “Everybody Come Outside” and The Antlers’ “Bear,” as both are technically 2009 releases. (And, yes, I already called Mike out on it via email, so he knew this was coming.) Nevertheless, give his mixes a whirl. I think you’ll find the (dis)similarities to mine pretty darn clear.

Smoke cover art.

Smoke interior art.

Mirrors cover art.

Mirrors interior art.

[Note: the cover art features the photography of our mutual friend, Louise Ingalls Sturges, whose kick-ass blog you can find here.]

Circa 2010, Smoke:

1. The Radio Dept. – “The New Improved Hypocrisy” (Clinging to a Scheme)
2. Warpaint – “Undertow” (The Fool)
3. Pomegranates – “Everybody Come Outside” (Everybody Come Outside)
4. Best Coast – “Goodbye” (Crazy For You)
5. Surf City – “Crazy Rulers of the World” (Kudos)
6. Thee Oh Sees – “I Was Denied” (Warm Slime)
7. Augustines – “Book of James“
8. Yuni in Taxco – “King of Borneo“
9. The Soft Pack – “Mexico” (The Soft Pack)
10. Wavves – “Baseball Cards” (King of the Beach)
11. Menomena – “TAOS” (Mines)
12. The Fresh & Onlys – “Waterfall” (Play It Strange)
13. Unbunny – “Winning Streak” (Moon Food)
14. Tame Impala – “Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?” (Innerspeaker)
15. The Head and the Heart – “Sounds Like Hallelujah” (The Head and the Heart)
16. The Beauties – “Hearts Are Down” (The Beauties)
17. Pepper Rabbit – “None Shall Sleep” (Beauregard)
18. The Mynabirds – “Numbers Don’t Lie” (What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood)
19. Owen Pallet – “Lewis Takes Action” (Heartland)
20. The Walkmen – “All My Great Designs” (Lisbon)

Circa 2010, Mirrors:

1. Avey Tare – “Lucky 1” (Down There)
2. Caribou – “Leave House” (Swim)
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – “Nothing But Our Love” (Horse Power EP)
4. The Antlers – “Bear” (Hospice)
5. Fang Island – “Life Coach” (Fang Island)
6. Wavves – “Green Eyes” (King of the Beach)
7. Quasi – “Repulsion” (American Gong)
8. JEFF & The Brotherhood – “Heavy Days” (Heavy Days)
9. The Absolute Monarchs – “Sharp” (The Absolute Monarchs)
10. The Lights – “New New“
11. No Age – “Skinned” (Everything in Between)
12. Pomegranates – “Skull Cakin’” (One of Us)
13. Bear Hands – “What A Drag” (Burning Bush Supper Club)
14. Cloud Nothings – “Can’t Stay Awake” (Turning On)
15. Deerhunter – “Desire Lines” (Halcyon Digest)
16. Woods – “Blood Dries Darker” (At Echo Lake)
17. Plants and Animals – “Tom Cruz” (La La Land)
18. Highlife – “Tuareg Dancehall” (Best Bless EP)
19. Surfer Blood – “Neighbour Riffs” (Astro Coast)
20. Avi Buffalo – “Where’s Your Dirty Mind” (Avi Buffalo)

Well, that’ll just about do it for Mike’s Best of 2010 mixes. More importantly, a special congratulatory wish to Mike and his wife, who just had their first child, a baby girl, only two weeks ago. So until Cousin Matt gets me his Best of 2010 mixes, have at it, you vultures!

BD