🎧 Downbeat.fm Vol. 2 Track 7
Summer is halfway over and so is 2021. I can't believe it's moving so fast even though Ali and I have still been hunkering down like we were in 2020.
We did have some glimpses of "normalcy" this month. We saw a couple of movies at our favorite theater and also partied in downtown Austin for a weekend to celebrate my sister-in-law's 40th birthday.
August brings big changes for me - particularly turning 40. It's a weird time but things have been getting better as I've been getting old, and I'm ready to take on my 40s head-on.
As I did last year I'm taking my birthday week off. It's a good time to reset, recharge, and just walk away from work. In fact, I'm going to hit send on this newsletter and go back to relaxing and wait for my parents to land here in Austin to help me celebrate my 40th in style.
July's Playlist
This month's playlist features TT, Soccer Mommy, Speedy Ortiz, Destroy Boys, Samia, and much more.
Listen to this month's playlist on:
Featured Songs
I Need My Girl by AJ & Aly - (Apple Music / Spotify)
I'm a huge fan of The National, and this is one of my favorite songs. This cover is really great.
rom com 2004 by Soccer Mommy - (Apple Music / Spotify)
I'm such a huge fan of Soccer Mommy - I had tickets to see her live in support of her album Color Theory last year and we all know how that turned out. She has this great sound and presence in her songs.
The Promise by Samia & Jenlani Aryeah - (Apple Music / Spotify)
A really great cover of When In Rome's song that is someone both modern and reminiscent of the 1988 version.
Love Leaks by TT - (Apple Music / Spotify)
Quoting Stefon from SNL - "This song has everything". It's a "Mike song" through and through and checks a lot of boxes in things I like in a song. The artist also plays Food Service Girl in The Rules of Attraction, which is a favorite movie of mine.
Other Listening & Quick Links
Obama has tweeted out his annual summer playlist. There are quite a few great throwbacks on here and mixed with other modern stuff that really isn't my scene.
Thom Yorke remixed Creep - probably the most widely known Radiohead song. It's... interesting.
Does Mary's dress sway or wave? I always sang sway. Glad to know I was on the right side of this Springsteen debate.
Staying with The Boss for a moment, his latest SiriuxXM radio show featured songs that were prime for a frat party of his youth.
Jimmy Eat World, who just celebrated the 20th anniversary of Bleed American, released a playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music of all the music that they'd listen to on tours between 1994 and 2000. There are some real bangers in there.
Another great album celebrating 20 years is Rilo Kiley's "Take Offs and Landings". Some favorites off of that album are "Science Vs. Romance", "Pictures of Success", Listen to the album on Apple Music or Spotify and succumb to the awesomeness of Jenny Lewis - and the rest of the band, but mostly Jenny Lewis.
These guys made music with barcodes and a scanner and used a skateboard in the mix as well. This isn't something I'd listen to regularly, but it's a cool project.
