Hi, hi, hi to those of you who are still making your way to this little site of mine. Once again I apologize for the lack of posts but I apologize most for depriving you of not one but two monthly mixtapes! Hopefully, the 15 tracks I’ve selected to represent my new listens during the last two months will more than suffice.
Going back to the topic concerning my sudden silences here on the site, I can explain by telling you about two very great things have happened for me during the last month. The first change was my move from Associate Editor at BeatCrave to staff writer at BuzzBands.LA. Through my gig at BuzzBands.LA (the blog Kevin Bronson started during his time with the Los Angeles Times), I’ve been very fortunate to come across some new and fantastic music in addition to getting some wonderful guidance from a well-respected writer. Wild Tonic is very conversational and a bit informal and I’d like to keep it that way. However, if you’re interested in reading my contributions and some superb music journalism by Bronson, please feel free to bop on over to BuzzBands.LA for premier coverage on the music scene in Los Angeles and beyond.
If you’ve been visiting the site last month, you might have also seen that Wild Tonic presented its first residency featuring L.A.-based band Robotanists. It was such a fun month at Silverlake Lounge and I was flattered by how many people supported the site and the band each week. I also had a blast giving away so many great prizes on behalf of the band! Robotanists album, Plans In Progress, is now officially released so make sure you get your hands on it in addition to their interpretation of Radiohead’s King of Limbs album.
I won’t deny that I’ve been a bit busy but I haven’t forgotten my purpose here: To highlight my recent favorite songs and hope you all discover something new and enjoyable! With that said, let’s get to the actual mixtape…
There have been some great releases within the last couple months and two of them came via Merge label mates, Wye Oak and Telekinesis. Wye Oak returned with Civilian, a tender collection of songs about relationships again. Only this time they are focusing on relationships that have been broken which makes for a very poignant album. It’s been a while since I’ve heard such gorgeous songs about loneliness.
Telekinesis doesn’t stray too far from the same subject. Known for hiding his lyrics of misery in between the power pop, the band led by Michael Benjamin Lerner once again churned out great upbeat song after upbeat song on 12 Desperate Straight Lines. Plus, I kind of have a thing for boys who simultaneously sing and play drums.
Other notable releases include Kurt Vile‘s album Smoke Ring For My Halo and new tracks from one-woman looping Orchestra, tUnE-yArDs (aka Merrill Garbus), Architecture in Helsinki, MNDR and, course, the Strokes. Local artists who have recently made my ears perk up again (or for the first time) include Foster The People, Superhumanoids, Jenny O., AM & Shawn Lee and Kisses.
Get the latest Wild Tonic mixtape below and enjoy! March recommendations coming soon!
- Foster the People – Helena Beat
- Minks – Funeral Song
- Oh Land – White Nights (Twin Shadow Remix)
- AM & Shawn Lee – Dark Into Light
- Wye Oak – Civilian
- Telekinesis – Car Crash
- Kisses – People Can Do The Most Amazing Things
- Architecture in Helsinki – Contact High
- Jenny O. – Well, OK Honey
- tUnE-yArDs – Bizness
- Kurt Vile – Jesus Fever
- High Highs – Open Season
- Superhumanoids – Malta
- The Strokes – Under Cover of Darkness
- MNDR – Cut Me Out
WILD TONIC 