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Aesop Rock - All Day+

This is the latest in a series of running-specific mixes commissioned by Nike. When I started running, I often listened to LCD Soundsystem’s 45:33, which was my first exposure to the series. Although I like LCD Soundsytem, I’m not in love with this mix — it’s a bit too repetitive. In the liner notes for his mix, Aesop Rock writes about the requirements Nike gave:

There had to be a new element every 30 seconds or so (a new riff, a new layer, a new drum pattern) as other elements faded into the distance. Basically, I had to keep the scenery shifting while maintaining the “push.”

It turned out well. I like having a consistent mix to listen to, because it gives me a good idea of how long I’ve been running (without actually looking at the time). Plus, it’s nice to have Aesop Rock telling you “No Surrender” when you’re getting tired.

You can hear a sample of the mix on Aesop Rock’s MySpace.

Amon Tobin - Foley Room

I’ve always been a big fan of Amon Tobin’s dense instrumental music, and his latest doesn’t disappoint. It may be a bit dark for some, but somehow I find it to be a great soundtrack while working. The album’s nothing new or groundbreaking for Tobin, but it’s still quite good.

As of right now, it seems like Amon Tobin’s MySpace is the best place for samples (the official website has an annoying flash interface) — although two of his songs will start playing at the same time (scroll down, there’s a video that autoplays).

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse

The Besnard Lakes play long rock songs with country tinges — their style reminds me of 2005’s excellent Z by My Morning Jacket. Although the songs are longer, there are only eight tracks so the album is only about 45 minutes long. As with My Morning Jacket, the lack of filler works to the band’s advantage.

Somehow, the MySpace page wins the usability contest for audio samples again. These artist websites are terrible.

Other Releases

A lot of artists I really like are releasing new albums. Sadly, I’ve been mostly disappointed.

• The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible: Not as strong as their great first album, but a solid second album.
• Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha: Good, but doesn’t compare to the Mysterious Production of Eggs.
• Menomena - Friend and Foe: More melodic than their debut; good, but not great.
• Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Some Loud Thunder: A few great tracks, but falls flat overall. Theirs was a tough debut to follow.
• Air - Pocket Symphony: Nothing new from these guys, which would be fine if it was as good as their previous stuff. The no longer sound better than the bands that knock them off (ahem, Zero 7).
• LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver: A disappointment. I’ve liked so much of their albums and DFA production that it’s surprising there’s not a single track that stands out for me on this album.

Have I missed anything good?