1. The Russian Futurists - Paul Simon
I think I've heard this before, but I'm not sure. I like the vocals and it's just overall catchy. This is a pretty dead-on example of a lot of the music I like.

2. The Court & Spark - Rooster Mountain
This is alright. I get a vibe from this that I'll probably like them. But this song doesn't tell me too much other than that I need to check out more.

3. Iron & Wine & Calexico - Prison On Route 41
Sam Beam is becoming one of my favorite musicians of the new millenium. I have everything he's released, except for the Calexico EP. So I've been interested to hear something off it.
This isn't that different from standard I&W. It doesn't feel like Calexico's addition makes much of a difference.

4. The Cash Brothers - Night Shift Guru
This is decent, but nothing too special.

5. Tom Russell - Tonight We Ride
This is pretty awesome.

6. Cat Power - The Greatest
I've heard more about this new Cat Power record than I have about every other Cat Power release together. That said, I love almost everything I've heard of her. Despite how good this new one is, though, I still intend to pick up You Are Free first.

7. Eleni Mandell - Action Is Action
I didn't really pay attention to this song.

8. Clem Snide - Action
I love his voice. And I've yet to really hear a Clem Snide track that doesn't warm my soul.

9. T-Bone Burnett - Over You
Ehh, I don't really like this.

10. Iron & Wine - Freedom Hangs Like Heaven
See track 3.

11. Air - Alone In Kyoto
I have two Air records. I don't listen to them often, but I enjoy them when I do. This is one of their better songs.

12. Marah - Sooner Or Later
I don't know. I'm starting to lose concentration.

13. Esmerine - Why She Swallows Bullets And Stones
Decent, but instrumental music is lost on me. It always feels incomplete.

14. Doves - Some Cities
This is okay. I get the Dears and the Doves mixed up. I find both alright, but not really interesting.

15. M. Ward - Here Comes The Sun Again
Another guy who's voice I love. A unique voice raises everything up a level from mediocrity.

16. The Mountain Goats - Baboon
See track 15. But they have tracks I like more than this.

17. Laura Veirs - Galaxies
I thought this was Metric at first. Decent, but not unique enough.

18. Josh Rouse - Streetlights
This is good too, but the length of the album's taking a toll on me.

19. Belle And Sebastian - String Bean Jean
Love.

20. John Cale - Paris 1919
I enjoy this.

21. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - (Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me?
I've heard tracks I hate (because I don't like his voice) and one track I love (thanks to FT's mix). His voice isn't terrible on this but he still kind of bugs me.



A lot of stuff I like off this. I only knew a couple of songs previously, even though I was familiar with many of the aritists. My only criticism is the same that I had for dnorwood's, FT's, and billyg's. It's just too long.

Around the halfway point I was already having trouble remaining focused on it. Unless it's a band I know and love, anything longer than 45-50 minutes usually loses my attention.

1. The Russian Futurists - Paul Simon
I love this. Great start to the mix. This song gets better and better after every listen.
OPA! RATING: 7.0 (…out of 10)

2. The Court & Spark - Rooster Mountain
Something’s just not clicking for me with this song. I like the music very much but the vocals aren’t doing it for me. It’s still rather good though.
OPA! RATING: 5.5

3. Iron & Wine & Calexico - Prison On Route 41
This isn’t one of my faves on the EP but it’s still very good. I like the mix so far.
OPA! RATING: 6.0

4. The Cash Brothers - Night Shift Guru
This is alright I suppose. Decent but not very memorable.
OPA! RATING: 4.5

5. Tom Russell - Tonight We Ride
Tacky lyrics yet there’s something about this song that grabs you. I like the music very much.
OPA! RATING: 5.0

6. Cat Power - The Greatest
I’m convinced that I will never get into Chan. She’s talented but her music has never grabbed me. And I’ve given her chance after chance.
OPA! RATING: 4.5

7. Eleni Mandell - Action Is Action
Ugh. Those vocals are a bit annoying. But I like the music. All in all, nothing too exciting. Also, too short to even make an impression.
OPA! RATING: 4.0

8. Clem Snide - Action
One of the best songs on the mix. The vocals are amazing.
OPA! RATING: 8.0

9. T-Bone Burnett - Over You
This sounds like the singer of Live. Nothing too impressive. Decent enough.
OPA! RATING: 4.5

10. Iron & Wine - Freedom Hangs Like Heaven
I like this one too. Not one of his best but very good nonetheless.
OPA! RATING: 6.5

11. Air - Alone In Kyoto
I don’t quite get this band. They seem like something I’d like yet they never grab me. It also seems out of place on this mix.
OPA! RATING: 4.0

12. Marah - Sooner Or Later
This is better than the Marah song FT put on his mix. They still don’t make an impression on me.
OPA! RATING: 4.5

13. Esmerine - Why She Swallows Bullets And Stones
Ugh. OK, now this is crap. What possessed Matt to put this on his mix, I don’t know. It’s mind-boggling. This song will drastically bring down the overall rating.
OPA! RATING: 1.5

14. Doves - Some Cities
OK, back to normal. I like this a lot although I can only take the Doves in small doses. In the context of a mix, they feel right at home.
OPA! RATING: 6.0

15. M. Ward - Here Comes The Sun Again
That voice. This guy just makes me cream my pants he so good. Excellent.
OPA! RATING: 7.0

16. The Mountain Goats - Baboon
Attention Attention…so far, my favorite song of all the songs I’ve reviewed. Absolutely stunning.
OPA! RATING: 9.0

17. Laura Veirs - Galaxies
Harmless little gem of a song. Nothing too exciting, just pleasant.
OPA! RATING: 5.0

18. Josh Rouse - Streetlights
This guy does nothing for me. Very non-descript.
OPA! RATING: 4.0

19. Belle And Sebastian - String Bean Jean
Fantastic. One of my favorites on the mix. The music, the vocals, the melodies, the emotion…the perfect pop song.
OPA! RATING: 7.5

20. John Cale - Paris 1919
Yay, showtunes! A little too over the top for me.
OPA! RATING: 4.5

21. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - (Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me?
I don’t like these two together. I liked the song FT put on his mix but this one doesn’t much for me. It ends the mix on a nice pleasant note.
OPA! RATING: 5.0

With the exception of a few minor missteps and one huge one (Esmerine), the mix really delivered. There were quite a few excellent songs and some great ones, and more impressively, only one awful song.

What was most impressive about this mix is that there weren’t any lulls that annoyed me and I find that remarkable considering the variety of the songs. The overall rating would’ve been much higher if it weren’t for the Esmerine song.

All in all, a very soild mix.

OPA! RATING: 5.40 (…out of 10)



Red – Mix #2
5.57

So Real - 18 For The Obners
5.50

Max – Obner Road
5.40

Naked – Feel My Heat
5.36

FT – Mister, We Could Sure Use A Man Like Sheriff Lobo Again
5.18

Z – Obner Mix
3.95

Back_space – Obner Mix
3.32

NOTE: The highest rated mix will get a special bonus mix from me.

I'll be reviewing this later today.

5.0 Scale
1. The Russian Futurists - Paul Simon
Great opener. Lots of fun mixed with a psychadelia. 2nd song I've heard from them and I've liked them both. Wish I would have gotten this when it came out. 3.5
2. The Court & Spark - Rooster Mountain
This song is nice. I enjoy but I it doesn't get me super excited about it. Kind of reminds me of Blacky Ranchette but not as good. 3.0

3. Iron & Wine & Calexico - Prison On Route 41
I think OPA review is pretty accurate on this. 2.5

4. The Cash Brothers - Night Shift Guru
Alongdrive and OPA missed the boat on this one. Great song. Nice gentle melody. Good lyrics too. I've been wanting to hear some Cash Bros. Reminds me a little of a Jayhawks mixed with Josh Rouse but maybe not as polished as those bands. 3.5

5. Tom Russell - Tonight We Ride
I freakin' love this song. OPA is on crack. This is outstanding. I've never heard Russell before. Country flavored Zevon. I want more of this. Is the rest of his stuff this great? 4.0

6. Cat Power - The Greatest
I was a big fan of You are Free but I rarely listen to it anymore. Heard alot about this one and I kind of stayed away. Don't get all the hub bub because this song would fit easily on You Are Free except that it has a better mood and isn't quite so unsubtlely depressing. 3.5

7. Eleni Mandell - Action Is Action
Song had nice music but I was left waiting for some climax that never came. I think they could have done more with this song. Unfinished idea.
2.5

8. Clem Snide - Action
Why don't I own more Clem Snide. I absolutely love this shit. Love the vocals, phrasing, and songwriting. And their always at their best when they're having a little fun like on this song. 5.0

9. T-Bone Burnett - Over You
Sounds nothing like the singer of Live. Simple straight forward song and that's a good thing. Not enough of that in Indie Rock anymore. 4.0

10. Iron & Wine - Freedom Hangs Like Heaven
This is my favorite Iron & Wine song. I must admit the only Iron & Wine I like is this EP. Great Stuff. The rest of the catalog is a little boring. 5.0

11. Air - Alone In Kyoto
Not sure if this belongs on the mix. Even if it did, I wouldn't like it. Takes forever to get anywhere and when it does, I don't like it. Only absolute turd on this mix. 1.0

12. Marah - Sooner Or Later
Another great straight forward song. Why don't people like straight forward anymore? Pull up to a bar drink domestic beer and enjoy not being pretentious 4.0

13. Esmerine - Why She Swallows Bullets And Stones
This and the Air both seemed out of place to me. I like this one alot more but it's a little too "go to sleep" for me. 2.0

14. Doves - Some Cities
You pick music up all over the place. I have heard bit and pieces of Doves many times but I've never really sat down with a song. I'm glad I did because this completely changed my impression of them. Good tune. It's mellow and driving at the same time. Really dig the end. 3.5

15. M. Ward - Here Comes The Sun Again
I hate to agree with OPA when he's talking about creaming in his pants over guys, but he's right. How can someone not love the voice and delivery. If I knew his phone #, I would call it just to hear his voice on his answer machine. It's very comforting yet vulnerable.

16. The Mountain Goats - Baboon
I've only been exposed to Goats on Obner mixes and I have loved it. One of the best things to come out of this whole deal. Vocals sound like Daniel Johnston if he ever grew up. Modern mercurial era vitrolic Dylan lyrics. I will have every Mountain Goat disc by the end of the year. 5.0

17. Laura Veirs - Galaxies
okay, I guess. Could see it growing on me with alot more time. Cat Power?

18. Josh Rouse - Streetlights
Josh Rouse has been somewhat of a dissappointment to me. Usually I'm sympatico with Loogs and Yail but this just doesn't do it for me. I like his voice and his songs but in the end they always come off a little too sacchrine to me. But this song is very good. My fav from the album. 3.0
19. Belle And Sebastian - String Bean Jean
Good tune. I like it when their a little more passionate like they were on Tigermilk but they know how to write a song. 3.0

20. John Cale - Paris 1919
Not a fan. I do like some of his stuff on fear but it was kind of spotty to me . I've always thought of delving more but this will probably keep me away for a while. Lacks all the bite I expect from any VU member. 2.0

21. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - (Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me?
Opposed to Alongdrive, I love his vocals. Kinda of like the way you let it end. 2.5

The coolest thing about the mix exchange is learning who has similar taste to you. From now on I'll pay more attention to your year end list and stuff because I think our taste are more similar than I realized. Mix Rating - 4.0

Wow, thanks for the reviews guys! I should really start writing some reviews of my own...

1. The Russian Futurists - Paul Simon - now this is an opening track! the fake horns own it. i really like this song.
2. The Court & Spark - Rooster Mountain - this is alright, a bit of a downer after the last song, but i like it. something about the vocals is a little irritating as it goes on, though.
3. Iron & Wine & Calexico - Prison On Route 41 - hmm... so this is obviously losing tempo as it goes on. i hope this doesn't become a trend or there'll be, like, 3 bpm by the end of this. this song's pretty good. a little dull. i was expecting a bounce back.
4. The Cash Brothers - Night Shift Guru - okay, so i'm getting the feeling that the song i liked most is the odd one out on this mix, at least so far. still, i like this, even if i was wrong on what the first track would lead into. as it goes on, i like it a lot. it picks up a little steam. dig it.
5. Tom Russell - Tonight We Ride - i can't get into this.
6. Cat Power - The Greatest - this sounds very familiar, but i can't place it. the instrumentation is pretty good, but the vox are a different story.
7. Eleni Mandell - Action Is Action - this is pretty much boring me. it sounds like she's trying to tell a story, but i don't really hear a good one.
8. Clem Snide - Action - i don't like these vocals. this song is okay apart from that.
9. T-Bone Burnett - Over You - is this a cover? it sounds like a dry version of something else that i've recently heard. even if it's not, it's good.
10. Iron & Wine - Freedom Hangs Like Heaven - it sounds like there's something off about this song at first, but i can't really pin it. and then i ended up liking it, especially the banjo and the little breakdown around 3:20ish.
11. Air - Alone In Kyoto - this is the first song i knew beforehand. i haven't listened to this in awhile. it sounds pretty good and sparse. i probably wouldn't've expected this to follow any song with banjo, but it works.
12. Marah - Sooner Or Later - yeah, i like this... until it dies soon after the 3-minute mark. a good 3-minute pop song was too short for them? come on.
13. Esmerine - Why She Swallows Bullets And Stones - so this is what people are feeling through that brad mehldau track i threw on my covers mix? ok. i'm sorry. this isn't really going anywhere for me.
14. Doves - Some Cities - i didn't care for this album, but this song works apart from it. although, i guess it's a little disappointing to not hear that infectious "black and white town" drumming follow it.
15. M. Ward - Here Comes The Sun Again - this isn't a bad cover. i like it.
16. The Mountain Goats - Baboon - i don't like these vocals. the music's alright.
17. Laura Veirs - Galaxies - again, this sounds very familiar, but i can't figure out what it is. the vocals are a little annoying, but i do kinda like the music.
18. Josh Rouse - Streetlights - i'm not sure why, but i really like josh rouse's voice. he's pretty vanilla now, but he comes through.
19. Belle And Sebastian - String Bean Jean - not my favorite b&s song, but enjoyable.
20. John Cale - Paris 1919 - is that clicking supposed to be there? i have a feeling it's not. at least it's in time with the music. the vocals are alright. the music's a little bland, even with orchestral arrangements that i like.
21. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - (Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me? - okay, now the clicking's not really in time and it's distracting. and the skips. i can't get through this. technical difficulties. sorry.

that start put me in a mindset where i was thrown off by the next few songs because they weren't what i was expecting to follow. i finally snapped out of that and started to really like portions of the mix. it's very apparent from this what max's wheelhouse is, though. i did appreciate the few surprises too. overall, it's a pretty safe mix. i can't imagine anyone really not liking it, but i also don't see anyone really being blown away by it. i'll be listening to this again. i could definitely hear a few of these songs coming on strong for me after repeated listens.

1. "Paul Simon" - The Russian Futurists
I like the horns, but this song is pretty repetitive. And by "pretty," I mean "very." So much so, that it's probably going to keep me from picking up their "Art Garfunkel" single, when that hits record store shelves.

2. "Rooster Mountain" - The Court & Spark
Now this, I like...a lot! Great vocals, great lyrics, great instrumentation -- great everything!!!

3. "Prison on Route 41" - Iron & Wine w/Calexico
The slide is excellent, but his vocals are just SO hushed. Still, this is good.

4. "Night Shift Guru" - The Cash Brothers
Former NFL tight ends Keith and Kerry? Nah, can't be...this has too long a shelf life. I really dig it! This is that rare song which is totally radio-friendly, yet still very good.

5. "Tonight, We Ride" - Tom Russell
At first, I thought this was the guy who used to do all those tired political parody songs on PBS, but that was MARK Russell. I really need to do something about my pop culture identity confusion. This makes me want to saddle up and gather the posse. Of course, every song makes me think about gathering posse...

6. "The Greatest" - Cat Power
Solid heartwrenching piano ballad from Crazy Chan. Not my favorite song from her latest album, but still good.

7. "Action is Action" - Eleni Mandell
Hard not to like a song where a breathy woman asks, "Don't you want to get some?" Again, thoughts turn to gathering posse.

8. "Action" - Clem Snide
Back-to-back action, eh? I prefer midtempo/upbeat Clem Snide stuff like this much more than their narcolepsy inducing slow songs. I could definitely see the Old '97s doing this one. This is probably my favorite song of theirs, aside from "Ice Cube."

9. "Over You" - T-Bone Burnett
He's a great producer. Singer? Not so much.

10. "Freedom Hangs Like Heaven" - Iron & Wine
His voice is stronger here than on the Calexico track. I like this a lot better.

11. "Alone in Kyoto" - Air
The mere fact that this has ANYTHING to do with Scarlett Johansson gets a thumbs-up from me, regardless of what the song actually sounds like. There really isn't much to the song itself, though, so it's a good thing it's got the Scarlett connection to fall back on.

12. "Sooner or Later" - Marah
A good old-fashioned Philly hoedown! It's impossible not to bob your head and tap your foot to this one.

13. "Why She Swallows Bullets and Stones" - Esmerine
I probably would have liked this song better if the title were truncated to just the first three words. It's just too overwrought for my liking.

14. "Some Cities" - Doves
Good album, good song. good call.

15. "Here Comes The Sun Again" - M. Ward
I loves me some M. Ward, and this is no exception. He's fast becoming one of my favorite solo artists.

16. "Baboon" - The Mountain Goats
There used to be a band up in Denton for years and years called Baboon, but to the best of my knowledge, they never had a song called "The Mountain Goats," so no need for me to be confused here. I know my boy John Vanderslice is tight with these guys, but I still have yet to hear a single Mountain Goats song I enjoy. I'm not sure if it's Darnielle's voice or what, but their stuff just never grabs me.

17. "Galaxies" - Laura Veirs
This is A LOT like "He War"-style Cat Power stuff. I like it.

18. "Streetlights" - Josh Rouse
I like Rouse even more than M. Ward, so I have nothing but praise for both Josh and this song. Everytime he sings "streetlights, people" I think of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing," which is good nostalgia for this 39-year-old.

19. "String Bean Jean" - Belle & Sebastian
Is she the wife of The Jolly Green Giant? Nice spaghetti western guitars on this one. I've only recently started getting into B&S, but rhyming "on the rag" with "sleeping bag" will keep me coming back for more.

20. "Paris 1919" - John Cale
Lyrically, this is something I could hear Ray Davies writing and singing. It's not bad.

21. "(Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me" - Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
Outside of a couple of tracks, I really don't care for this Campbell/Lanegan album. This ain't one of those couple of tracks, though that's the first time I've heard "go down on you" in a song since Marty Balin was still fronting Jefferson Starship.

A few missteps here and there, but all in all, a pretty nice effort. I'm DEFINITELY up for hearing more Court & Spark and
Cash Brothers. I shall award Max the highest possible B-.

1. The Russian Futurists - Paul Simon
One of my pet peeves is synthesized horns - but then again I've got a petting zoo of pet peeves. Anyway, the synth horns on this have GOT to go. The rest of the song isn't bad - kinda sub-grade Beulah, innocuous enough not to inspire hatred, but inconsequential enough to skip while incurring zero guilt. C-

2. The Court & Spark - Rooster Mountain
I like this, but I find the big '80s drum sound an ill fit with the otherwise conventional C&W. B

3. Iron & Wine & Calexico - Prison On Route 41
Good song. Good ep. I recently dove into some e-music downloads of Iron & Wine and it's all good - but I've gotta say that Sam's whisper-singing has reached its sell-by date. Nuff already. Mix it up, my man. B+

4. The Cash Brothers - Night Shift Guru
This is one of the best songs the Cash Bros have ever done. Great melody and lyrics that are perfectly matched with that 4am only-human-alive vibe of the moozik. Takes me straight back to '87. when I was a security guard in Southern Ontario and had just bought Andrew Cash's solo debut and, just like this song, it's similar vibe helped those 4am doldrums slip buy a little easier. A

5. Tom Russell - Tonight We Ride
I know Tom gets worshipped by modern day folkies like Dave Alvin and Peter Case - and I can hear why - but this sorta thing reminds me of the special guest on Don Messer's Jubilee and, honestly, I never did buy overall-style jeans, even when the ugly fucking things were trendy, so no disrespect intended, Tom, but, like, I'm not coming along with the posse. C

6. Cat Power - The Greatest
I've previously been on record as a Cat Power doubter, taking the stance that she's all about indie fear-of-success rather than talent, but it looks like I stand corrected. On the songs I've heard off this album her voice has been stunning, brimming with gorgeous melancholy. This one might be the best yet. A+

7. Eleni Mandell - Action Is Action
I always want to like Eleni Mandell more than I do, but this song actually lives up to the female Tom Waits promise of her press blurbs. B

8. Clem Snide - Action
The official band of the Topeka Revenge Of The Nerds Convention 2006. I dunno. I like Clem Snide, but Eef's voice starts to sound like Arnold Horschack's laugh after a while. B-

9. T-Bone Burnett - Over You
What was T-Bone's band way back when? The Alpha Band? They had that album called The Statue Makers of Hollywood, as blatantly Christian as rock dared to get in the mid '70s. His subsequent solo stuff has been a lot like this though - simple, acoustic, and direct. I've got his self-titled and Trap Door albums and haven't really bothered to tune in since then - but this is a good addition to the mix. B

10. Iron & Wine - Freedom Hangs Like Heaven
There's that whisper again. Great music though. I'm just sayin' - the NEXT reckid, Mr. Beam, is gonna require a slight change in tack. A-

11. Air - Alone In Kyoto
Air is like the '00s version of Tangerine Dream, and I mean that as a compliment. This is a beeyootiful piece that'd be sweet on the soundtrack to a brooding Michael Mann action flick. And maybe it is. B

12. Marah - Sooner Or Later
The song from If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry that comes the closest to capturing the sound of Ronnie Lane (and the Faces). And I'm no catholic - if something can remind me of Ronnie Lane then I'm gonna hand out the slacker letter grades like an elementary school French teacher. A

13. Esmerine - Why She Swallows Bullets And Stones
Like Air, but more Mike Oldfield than Tangerine Dream, and more the end credits of a William Friedkin film than a Michael Mann flick.B-

14. Doves - Some Cities
I can hardly believe how much I like this. Every other Doves song I've heard has been an over-wrought bit of self-important melodrama. This one is saved by a great melody and that twangy geetar that cuts through the gloss. Who'da thunk? A

15. M. Ward - Here Comes The Sun Again
I'm a fan. Don't know where M. Ward is gonna take us in the future, but should be interesting. A

16. The Mountain Goats - Baboon
I've got two reactions to songs by the Mountain Goats. One is appreciation. The other is HOLYFUCKTURNTHATSHITOFF! This one, fortunately, falls into the former category. B

17. Laura Veirs - Galaxies
This reminds me of the '90s Lilith nation, but with a good dirty guitar in the mix. I like it. B

18. Josh Rouse - Streetlights
A gorgeous melody that is almost completely undone by that climactic moment when the strings swell up in an approximation of Glen Miller's most corny tendencies. Dunno if I've ever heard someone come so close to diving headfirst in the cheese, but still manage to pull back without even getting a whiff of limberger on their suit. A-

19. Belle And Sebastian - String Bean Jean
Both my parents are British, so there's no reason for me to pretend to like this twee pap. I'll leave that to anglophile ass-kissers who think any accent from the UK means an automatic 20 extra IQ points. Me and Stuart Murdoch, though, we know the truth. D

20. John Cale - Paris 1919
This is as close to Paul McCartney as John Cale ever got. It's like the needle-strewn back alley of Penny Lane, or Eleanor Rigby's slutty sister. B

21. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - (Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me?
This song might've worked better at half the speed - a more Lanegan-like pace that brought out the creepy desperation in his voice. But as it is, it's the sort of song little girls chant while they jump rope. C



Thanks for the mix, Max - certainly an unexpected (and appreciated) surprise. It's been getting a lot of play - I like that the tone stays fairly consistent throughout. It means I can throw it in random play with a few other similarly toned reckids (and I've been doing exactly that a lot lately).

Thanks!

1. The Russian Futurists - Paul Simon
Wow.This is a really cool song. Probably one of the better of his. Great opening tune! 4/5

2. The Court & Spark - Rooster Mountain
Ok song. Doesnt really grab me. not bad though. Sounds a little like mellow REM. 3/5

3. Iron & Wine & Calexico - Prison On Route 41
I am a big fan of I&W, so this song is no exception. 4/5

4. The Cash Brothers - Night Shift Guru
I thought this was Josh Rouse when i first heard it - which is not a bad thing. I really like this song alot. 4/5

5. Tom Russell - Tonight We Ride
Was not expecting this song. Strange song for this mix. It's not bad though. Seems very novelty to me. 3/5

6. Cat Power - The Greatest
For some reason I have never been a fan of this band. Why? I have no clue - This is a great tune and now i need to revisit. 4/5

7. Eleni Mandell - Action Is Action
eh...this song is just meh for me and very forgettable. 2/5

8. Clem Snide - Action
hmmm....interesting song. not sure if i like it or hate it. i would like to hear more from them. his voice sometimes sound like the singer from the violent femmes. 3/5

9. T-Bone Burnett - Over You
i respect this dude, however i am just not a big fan of this song. 2/5

10. Iron & Wine - Freedom Hangs Like Heaven
Fantastic I&W song - one of my favorites. 5/5

11. Air - Alone In Kyoto
Never really gave this band a fair shake. After hearing this song, i need to hear more from them. Very cool instrumental. 3.5/5

12. Marah - Sooner Or Later
Not my style - too twangy for my tastes + his voice gets on my nerves. Bad transition as well. 2/5

13. Esmerine - Why She Swallows Bullets And Stones
ok instrumental song. This should have followed the Air song. Kind of a boring. 2.5/5

14. Doves - Some Cities
I like the Doves - This is an ok song by them 3/5

15. M. Ward - Here Comes The Sun Again
Ok song, doesn't really sell me into looking into him further. 2.5/5

16. The Mountain Goats - Baboon
You either like the goats or not. I do. 3.75/5

17. Laura Veirs - Galaxies
Never heard of her. Really cool song. I put this is the Cat Power camp. Need to check this album out. 4/5

18. Josh Rouse - Streetlights
I dig rouse alot - no exception here. 5/5

19. Belle And Sebastian - String Bean Jean
I have always hated this band up until this year. i like this song. 4/5

20. John Cale - Paris 1919
WOW. i really really like this song. for me, this is the best tune on this mix. Where do i start with this guy? 5/5

21. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - (Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me?
I have tried to like this cd, but cannot get into it. This song is no exception 2/5

Overall this was a decent mix. Few klunkers here and there and some weird transitions.

Groups/Artists, I will be checking out
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John Cale
Laura Veirs
Air
Clem Snide
Cat Power
The Cash Brothers