Virginia post-pop up ‘n’ comers the Anatomy Of Frank are releasing debut LP Pangaea on July 16. We shelled out a free mp3 of their track “Bill Murray” last month, and now the guys wanted to hook us up with a mix tape. These seven tracks touch on some indie greats of today but also give a head nod to the classics like Mr. Stevie Wonder. Check out the band’s concoction of tunes to help you survive that July burn.
Real Estate “It’s Real”
Jonas: This is my favorite song to sit on the porch and listen to on a sunny day with a nice tall glass of lemonade, thinking of the people I care about (and with the summer heat, three minutes in the sun is just the right amount of time before things start getting real sweaty). The video features some cute dogs, which is pretty sweet. Video
alt-J “Breezeblocks”
Jonas: This past year, my roommates and I spent a lot of time sitting in our living room watching videos. Of all the ones we watched, this is probably the one I hype the most. Video
Prefab Sprout “Appetite”
Erik: The drama and sweep of this song is beautiful. I love the unabashed emotion of the chorus. “Appetite” lays out the tragedy of parenthood: passing along not just the good parts of ourselves but also the bad. Martin McAloon’s bass and Paddy McAloon’s melodies keep this song compelling and danceable throughout. Video
XTC “This World Over”
Erik: XTC are experts at keeping things simultaneously groovy and melancholy, and this song is a perfect example. Andy Partridge wails about the aftermath of a religious war over a positively funky combo of syncopated guitar, melodic bass and reggae -influenced drums. A flock of synthesizers cries and keens underneath, bursting into the frame at the song’s most poignant moments. Video
Stevie Wonder “He’s Misstra Know-It-All”
Erik: Had to do a fun one! Stevie Wonder has a knack for taking a common chord progression and making it sound revelatory. This is one of many Stevie songs that could last for 30 minutes, and I still wouldn’t be tired of it. Go to 19:25 of this video for a great live version. Video
The National “Lucky You”
Jimmy: I’m trying to remember when I first heard this one, but I can’t seem to. It’s just one of those songs that feels like it’s always been there, as untrue as that may be. It’s the album closer for Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, and one of my favorite songs ever. Conveniently enough, it contributes to my favorite video on YouTube—a clip from a short film called Tramwaj by Krzysztof Kieślowski. The film works great with the music, but both are just as incredible on their own. The inimitable Matt Berninger lyrical starkness, the tasteful Dessner brothers’ guitar work—there’s nothing too complicated on this tune, but it’s all perfectly executed into a song that holds together so well beneath a story about falling apart. Video
Sun Kil Moon “Among The Leaves”
Jimmy: From one of my favorite albums last year, this was one of the most immediately striking tracks. It’s the most fleshed out and fully orchestrated and probably the most upbeat of the tunes. It’s very immediate despite the lyrics being coated in a sort of modern mythologizing. There’s a story of a girl who seems to be “squatting” in the basement of the singer (who maybe leaves town for long stretches of time), and naturally is too scared to face him when he gets home. Funnily enough, and with the pangs of loneliness only Mark Kozalek invokes so well, he seems to welcome the idea of her company, or even just the thought of having another person brushing up against his life in some way, and he sings about wishing she would stay. I can’t remember where, but I once heard a relationship described as two lives running parallel for a while. In this song they come near, but for reasons more complicated than the situation itself might warrant, they don’t seem to ever quite meet in the song; but the door is open, the light’s left on, then the strings come back in with such a pretty melody. Video
