52 Weeks of Mixtapes
Week 7
Welcome back to 52 Weeks of Mixtapes, my second music series for The Low Major.
Every Sunday, I’ll publish a mixtape of music centered around something - a feeling, a time, a person, a place. We’re running on vibes here. Each playlist cover will be a photo or an edit that’s my own work. This shit’s organic.
Two (self-imposed) rules for this project:
Each mixtape will never be more than an hour - usually in that 45-60 minute space, long enough to run with it, but I’m not gonna brute-force any level of length. Quality over quantity, as they say.
I’m also going to try to avoid reusing artists within the same mixtape and tracks within the same month. Sometimes songs are good enough that it’d be silly to not touch on them again, so you might see some old friends.
I’ll link to the playlist, talk a little bit (like, one sentence) about each track, their ordering and why they were included, and that’ll be all. Pretty simple, and hopefully enjoyable for you.
raise hell praise dale
words to live by
1 | Underdog | Kasabian | 4:37
Wanted to start this one energetically heavy, and few do that sort of sustained force as well as Kasabian - and few tracks are better than ‘Underdog’.
2 | Get Away | (Hed) P.E. | 3:17
From the NASCAR Thunder 2003 soundtrack, this is one of the songs that calls forth an almost violent nostalgia whenever I’m thinking about racing. I’m instantly six years old, huddled at the computer with my brother, driving backwards and wrecking shop.
3 | Highway Tune | Greta Van Fleet | 3:01
I’m often unsure exactly what to make of Greta Van Fleet - but what I can say, without a doubt, is that they make deliciously tasty hooks for a bit of a rawer sound.
4 | Like I Roll | Black Stone Cherry | 3:31
From the NASCAR The Game: Inside Line soundtrack in 2013 - delicious butt rock that scratches every base itch in my head.
5 | Creatures (For A While) | 311 | 4:26
The verses are what they are, but this multi-genre fusion really stands tall when it comes to the chorus, I think.
6 | Howlin’ for You | The Black Keys | 3:12
I mean, duh.
7 | Feeling Good | The Sheepdogs | 3:10
Another video-game nomination, also from Inside Line. Little bit of jangly stomp-and-holler flavor, but it’s still chock-full of the good rock.
8 | Broken Bones | CRX | 3:31
One of my favorite bass lines in all of music. Just raw energy.
9 | Trip Switch | Nothing But Thieves | 3:01
Another one of my favorite bass lines in all of music. This one excels lyrically as well - those vocals cascading throughout the chorus is beautiful.
10 | Guilt (Hold Down) | Fingertight | 3:46
It’s a bit of a rarity off the Thunder 2004 soundtrack, but what a lick. Fantastic little headbanger.
11 | Outta My Mind | Des Rocs | 2:46
Another track that you can really just scream along to, and sometimes it’s so fun to feel your voice go a little raw.
12 | Last One Standing | Simple Plan | 3:27
Nice little sailing rock anthem to move us towards the closing stages of this one. It doesn’t have the heavy pouches of the rest of the back half, but I think it’s got the melody to keep pace accordingly.
13 | Loose Change | Royal Blood | 2:36
I love music that just shreds insanely hard. Everything about the guitar here hits right at my core.
14 | God’s Gonna Cut You Down | Johnny Cash | 2:39
Perfect closer. Mariano Rivera-type beat.
Enjoy the list! I’ll see y’all next week.
Glen Perkins entered to God's Gonna Cut You Down in his prime. Way better than that "Mo" guy.