Bands. Babies. Bandbies?
Released 26 November 2008

Plain and simple: if the baby isn't yours, they are the coolest mini human in the world. Seeing them on public transport is great. You try to make funnier faces than they already do, hear their ridiculous baby laughs and weird sounds, and get to secretly laugh when they run into shit. This mix is dedicated to all those babysitters who hate people like me for teaching their kids to make annoying noises for the next week.

Call Me Up
Released 19 November 2008

With Rooftop Cinema's season starting, and us sharing an office with those freaks, the phone seems to be ringing off the hook. Having that constant slight annoyance and the lyrics of De La Soul's "Ring Ring Ring" running through my head, I was able to put together this mix of telephone related songs in between giving everyone who called us the wrong advice. Just know that if you get Pat at Right Angle when you call the Rooftop number, you've already lost.

Sugar And Spice
Released 12 November 2008

Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what girls are made of. Right? After evaluating my friends (who happen to be solely female, strange) and the last week that I have spent with my mother, I believe that this old addage needs to go ahead and pass us on by...as the Pharcyde would say. There is no animosity involved, after all, it is just a mixtape, and she is the woman that gave me life. These songs should relate the fact that girls are not just made of things you put in cakes.

Music Metropolis
Released 5 November 2008

While there are more than one cities on this mix, the plural of the word metropolis freaks us out. It is most commonly metropolises, though metropoleis is sometimes used as well. Isn't that crazy? This mix was inspired by a Belle and Sebastian lyric, "I want poetry, and music, and some maps." So dust off those globes, start out with these 10 songs, and then find heaps of others to make your own geography mix!

Book List(en)
Released 29 October 2008

Music and literature go hand in hand. All of us wanky hipsters try to out-prententious each other over both of them. This is a little bit of ammunition for both sides, so get out your thinking caps and skip the cheat sheet if you want to square off against us.

Cheat Sheet:

Column 1) Michel Foucault/Jacques Derride, Charles Bukowski/John Fante, William Faukner "A Rose For Emily", Albert Camus "The Stranger", Saul Bellow.

Column 2) Georges Bataille "Story of the Eye", E.E. Cummings "I Will Wade Out", Charles Bukowski/John Berryman/Ernest Hemmingway, Thomas Pynchon "Gravity's Rainbow", Milan Kundera "The Unbearable Lightness of Being".

The Wolfy Bear Zeitgeist
Released 22 October 2008

Once upon a time there were two people having a thoughtful music discussion. It revolved around band names and the themes and trends that had been appearing. It was a very intelligent conversation until the idea of the "Wolfy Bear Zeitgeist" was brought up. At that point, both people transformed into their respective power animals and began a brawl that ended in the eventual death of both participants. Be careful with the Wolfy Bear Zeitgeist.

Calling The Orchestra
Released 15 October 2008

When researching for this mix, I happened to stumble upon a website full of nerdy band jokes which was all the inspiration needed to get these 10 songs down to paper. While it may not be as sweet as a love song to a person, who's to judge these artists on their obvious instrument infatuation? This is just another ode to all instruments and the people that decided it was important to write songs about them.

Perfectly Pretentious Punctuation
Released 8 October 2008

There has been a trend in band names that has slowly ramped up from the '80s and is on full tilt these days. I'm not talking about electroclash, but instead, the use of punctuation in band names. Bands like !!! and ?uestlove have taken it to the extreme lately, but before this there were many other monikers that have been playing tricks on journalists. How does one write about Pants Yell! without being excited? What about the problems Prince caused when he changed his name to that symbol? And Why Not? No, that's a band name. This is the problem, and these are the bands.

Do You Have The Clap?
Released 1 October 2008

Good news! It's bacterial so you can get it treated! The bad news is that this mix has nothing to do with STI's, but instead is all about hand clapping. Being bested by the cowbell in popular culture, this innate musical ability has endured and is back in the limelight. While listening to some hipster try to doubletime clap to the beat might be the most annoying thing in the world, Calvin Johnson was on point when he said that we're done "tappin' out the beat on our laptops" and we should get back to skin on skin action.

Testosterone Detox
Released 24 September 2008

While the Beastie Boys once said some unsavoury (but hilarious) words about women in their song titled "Girls," it seemed a round about way to pay tribute to the female gender. This mix is, hopefully, a less offensive collection of songs and lyrics by some stunning artists about their stunning ladies. Everything from authors, lesbians, heartbreakers, and the half impaired are covered this week. So go call your mum, tell your best girl you dig her, and make up for all those chauvinistic tirades you keep going on.

Mind Your Q's and A's
Released 17 September 2008

There has always been those never answered, open ended, burning questions given to us musical consumers at some time or another in history. How soon IS now, Morissey? Mr. Francis, where did you place that brain of yours? Even the Minutemen once asked, "Do you want new wave, or do you want the truth?" Well we certainly don't want more new wave, so here is a selection of songs that give you a bit more substance. Question and answer; call and response...let's give back to those artists for leaving us hanging so long.

Make Up Music
Released 11 September 2008

This might look like it's going to be a collection of soppy romantic songs about couples making up but it isn't. It's a collection of songs from bands that got all soppy on each other at some point, kissed and made up before going on to make music together again. Even the great Led Zeppelin are making music together after a long hiatus, adding yet another string to their bow for the imitators to flatter. We should celebrate reformed bands in all their glory because if they didn't then those of us who are a little on the younger side would never get to see them play live. 

The Coming Of Spring
Released 3 September 2008

Spring is a wonderful time, the chills and ills of winter fast become but a memory and the birds and the bees are no longer found only under the covers. Walks in the park with ice creams are on the agenda again, along with whole array of smells that have also been hibernating all winter. But the best part is that long afternoons spent listening to tunes in the sun are definitely achievable, in fact it isn't long until those afternoons become even longer. So download and get outside, you've earned it.

Spring, it's like being born again.

Opulent
Released 27 August 2008

This week the over-talented crew from Opulent is showing us how it's done. After a stint putting out the ever-popular Opulent Magazine they decided to start Favela Rock, bringing the likes of Diplo, Justice, DJ Mehdi and Hot Chip to our clubs.

"We started Favela Rock in 2005 because weren't hearing much of the music we wanted to hear when we went out - one style in particular was dirty south rap. It's made specifically for the clubs - for girls to dance to and for guys to swagger and scream along to. As the night goes on we play more up-tempo stuff - Baltimore Club, electro, a little bit of house. Other styles like dancehall and grime got thrown into the mix as well and it's proven to be a pretty solid combination for a party.
 
These tracks are a like a condensed version of how Favela Rock is now. We still play fair amount of dirty south stuff mixed in with some more classic hip-hop. We're still really open to play pretty much whatever is going to pack the dance floor - Santogold is a sure thing at the moment and we've always had a soft spot for Gameboy/Gamegirl. You put that kind of stuff on later and you're ensuring you've got a packed dance floor ‘til we drunkenly drop New York I Love You at the end."
 

Psych!
Released 21 August 2008

Word has it that psychedelic is the next big thing in music. Well maybe it already is if you count the band of the moment, MGMT as psychedelic. But to do so would be like crediting Blondie for the golden years of gangsta rap, just not quite right.

So here at The Thousands we're jumping on the bandwagon nice and early, taking in something current and then putting it in reverse and driving back to when it all started. Take a listen now before the next big thing rehashes it and claims it for themselves.

The Olympic Tracks
Released 12 August 2008

Ah the Olympics. That special time every four years, or two if you count the expanded version of the Wild Winter Weekend that is the winter games, when oblivious and innocuous sporting events catch our attention. All of a sudden there's experts in every workplace rendering the intricacies of Slalom Canoeing and Dressage obsolete. And who'd have thought they'd put a gold medal on offer for trampolining, maybe the old slip n slide will be there next time.

But rather than mourn the missed chance to become an Olympian in a backyard discipline we made a mix tape to celebrate all that the competitive spirit encompasses. Metal instead of medals for the games people play and the odd national anthem won out over drug cheats and temporary ring tattoos.

Just spare a thought for the monks, it's not fun and games for everyone in China.

Muddy Megamix
Released 5 August 2008

When was the last time you heard the word megamix? And just where is Nick Skitz these days anyway? He wasn't at Splendour, the festival that celebrates all things muddy and most things musical, that's for sure.

Devo on the other hand, were there in all their semi-satirical post-punk goodness and by virtue head up this most prestigious best of Splendour mix. Fellow strummers The Music, The Vines and the Cold War Kids were all obviously keen to get themselves some tape time so went that extra mile for the fans, either that or they laid off the booze pre-show.

Word must have reached all corners of the globe because Tricky, Lyrics Born, Lightspeed Champion and Sigur Ros came, saw and conquered. Well not quite because Bliss N Eso and the Soft Tigers Dj sets kept the Australian flag flying high and proud, coincidentally keeping all with Southern Cross tattoos in attendance happy.  

Yeasayer Guest Mix
Released 29 July 2008

Labelling Yeasayer's music as diverse would be an understatement to say the least, but their Mixtape selections, well they were so diverse even a rather large search engine had trouble picking them all up. In lieu of those tracks lacking a digital presence we've thrown in the next best thing, Yeasayer themselves. The Brooklynites prove a dab hand behind the mixing desk with their Goldfrapp remixes and if you haven't heard Sunrise yet then you probably shouldn't have got up this morning. But fear not because once you have the urge to hide from even the coldest of winter mornings will be whistled away in an instant.

Because sometimes you just need that little bit of expert advice to get you going.

Koo Koo Ka Shoegaze
Released 22 July 2008

Dude, what's the deal? Lately any band with a flange pedal and a breathy vocal is described as "shoegaze". This week, to set the record straight, here's a look at the shoegaze sound, where it came from, what it sounded like, and where its headed NOW.

There are the innovators who influenced the scene, like Brian Eno, The Jesus And Mary Chain, and The Velvet Underground. These cats were all mixing drones, heavy guitar treatments, and pop song structures when you were still just a sperm swimming in your daddy's balls (ew- maybe that was too graphic...). Then there's quintessential shoegaze cuts by My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Lush; post-shoegaze rock from The Warlocks and Lilys (Kurt Heasley is a genius!). And then there's young upstarts carrying the flame, M83, and Silversun Pickups.

Please listen loud on headphones.

Between A Rock & A Soft Place
Released 16 July 2008

Catholics have World Youth Day, but every week around my house, we celebrate Soft Rock Sundays.

Shuffling around the crib in a Boston baseball tour shirt and slippers, there's no sweeter sound to soothe alcohol-soaked ears than the spacey '70s trajectory of 'Telephone Line'.

Young upstarts everywhere are taking over where harmonizing-starry-eyed-nehru-jacketed-cokeheads like Fleetwood Mac left off.  Here, you can peruse some of their tripled-up vocals, smooth synth sounds, and warm bass.  Too pussy for power pop, too rocked-out for folk.  These tracks are guaranteed not to harsh your mellow, man. 

Take it easy...

All Aussie Mixed Lolly Grab Bag
Released 10 July 2008

Australia. For a little country of 21 million, us blokes and sheilas come up with a lot of cool shit! Boomerangs... vegemite... The Wiggles...

What we're keen to do each week with Two, Three, and FourThousand is tip you off about the newest, coolest shit from Australia. But sometimes, we get all sparkly gooey-eyed over the latest hyphy, nu-rave crunk being touted as the next-big-thing from overseas - and we forget all about our ocker brothers and sisters down under. Bugger!

So for this week's Mix Tape, we've selected some of the tastiest Aussie tunes of late for a Grab Bag. Some are old, some are new, some are touring and some are recording right NOW. They're all great and they're all Aussie. Doesn't that make you a proud little Vegemite? Oi!

Where The Wild Things Are
Released 2 July 2008

Animals. They're all around us, every day. But did you know some can play instruments, and even make music?

We've been over-run lately with critters. A Wolf Parade of Fleet Foxes, an Animal Collective of Wild Beasts. Surprisingly, Gorillaz and The Mountain Goats can not only make sounds, but record great tunes. And as you read this, one of the Bumblebeez is co-producing a new album by Wolf and Cub. Who do you reckon would win a fight between a Grizzly Bear and Dr. Dog? (that PhD has got to count for SOME-thing). And when is Spike Jonze going to finish that damn movie? What a load of bull.