Step on down, ladies and gentlemen, for this week’s mixtape. We’ve got songs that will thrill you, chill you, and otherwise make you happy that your eardrums exist. This week, we have another from Fucked Up, a sample of the Black Lips’ upcoming album, and some pretty excellent synth-pop courtesy of Washed Out. Crack this mp3 piñata: right click + “Save As” on links to download each track, or grab the whole mix at the end of the post.
1. “Queen of Hearts” by Fucked Up
“Queen of Hearts” is the fourth and final single Fucked Up is releasing to preview their legendary-sounding rock opera, David Comes to Life, which comes out June 7th. Head over to Matador to get all the singles and begin your own journey of figuring out what exactly the plot of this thing is.
Indie dance lovers, rejoice! There’s a new Kitsune compilation out May 16th, bringing more free-range rhythms to your ears and feet. Not to mention that the mysterious Greeks — “human molotov cocktails” — are releasing their own album on June 13th.
3. “VCR” by the Hood Internet [ft. Freddie Gibbs]
We’re not sure what to call this new tune from mash-up fiends the Hood Internet. It’s partially a cover of a song by The xx, but it’s more of a reimagining of the whole endeavor. With Freddie Gibbs and Telli of Ninjasonik doing the verses and Class Actress’ Liz Harper on the chorus, it’s more transformative than any remix or cover. Work on your portmanteaus for next week.
4. “Paul Blart and the Death of Art” by Herzog
Aside from winning the title of the week award, this Herzog song is so satisfyingly guitar-drenched and buzzy that we wish we had a car to blast it in. A hint of Weezer, a pinch of Yuck, and a pretty heartily satisfying chorus to boot. Luckily, a full length is coming soon — keep your eyes peeled.
5. “Modern Art” by the Black Lips
We love us some scuzzy, grungey, guitar rock, and Black Lips have always delivered in spades. “Modern Art” is supposedly the band’s shot at an MTV-approved track, but never fear. It’s just as heavy and layered as ever, just a little tame on the psych-freakout aspect.
6. “One Tiny Thing” by Ben Folds, Damian Kulash, Neil Gaiman, and Amanda Palmer
Yes, you read that right. Neil Gaiman, comic book artist, plus Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls, Ben Folds, and Damian Kulash of OK Go recently set themselves to work writing eight songs in eight hours. “One Tiny Thing” is the result, and we’re pretty impressed.
7. “Love is a Battlefield” by Thao & Mirah (Pat Benatar Cover)
Pat Benatar covers don’t usually go for lovely, ethereal, and drawn out, but Tha0 & Mirah make this one as dreamy and inflective as the original is fist-pumping.
Mysterious psych-lords Ganglians are about to release a double album, Still Living, late this summer. It seems like it’s already infused with sufficient humidity, but we’ll let you be the judge.
9. “Holdin’ on to Black Metal” by My Morning Jacket
We missed this track last week when My Morning Jacket’s new album, Circuital, dropped, but we’re glad we caught it this week. It has an Phil Spector-esque sound, with a plot a little like the Mountain Goats’ “The Best Ever Black Metal Band in Denton.”
10. “Eyes Be Closed” by Washed Out
Need some hazy, dreamy bedroom pop to kick your summer off right? Look out for Washed Out’s debut LP, which is landing on June 12th. Now all you need are some flip-flops.