*** The Themed Weekly Member Mixtape Thread Is Back ***

[Arya Stark]

That was an awesome post Steph, I love how you compared a lot of songs to others and recommended bands for the contributors! <3

[Dr_Rez]

Agreed ^ Thats the way to respond! About Dengue Fever...I thought the cheesiness is what made it enjoyable.

Also your Zion I recommendation is spot on they are fantastic. I will look into Keaton Henson right now, and then eventually post my review of some of the music.

[Blarobbarg]

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

Quite enjoyed "Tiger Phone Card" and "Second Skin". It's also been ages since I've heard Beats Antique so Mondo Bungle scores some points for that. I also really liked the last track for the emphasis on the banjo, I'll have to look more into Dumpster Divers.

The band is called Psalters, Rez accidentally switched the band and song names. I'm glad you liked it, though! If you enjoy anarcho-punk, folk, world fusion, and psychedelia all mixed up in one package you'll probably enjoy their albums. They're definitely one of my current favorite bands.

Originally Posted by wolverinewolfweiselpigeon

10. Blarobbarg: Psalters -Dumpster Divers

This song was cool. I love the energy of it, it's certainly not what I expected from Christian band whatsoever. You should look into The Growlers:

Spoiler for The Growlers - Sea Lion Goth Blues:

First off, excellent post Steph. This is how we need to get discussion going. Secondly, I'm glad you enjoyed the track, and I completely agree- most Christian-oriented bands are absolute garbage, but Psalters have a way of making hymn-like lyrics (with a heavy dose of anarchy) sound positively badass. Also, I can't currently watch Youtube videos because of some weird internet issues going on right now but I'll check that band out ASAP!

[Astronomer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

Agreed ^ Thats the way to respond! About Dengue Fever...I thought the cheesiness is what made it enjoyable.

Also your Zion I recommendation is spot on they are fantastic. I will look into Keaton Henson right now, and then eventually post my review of some of the music.

Agreed, great post Steph. I still haven't listened to this mix but will have a go today! Been super busy. Am looking forward to it.

[Astronomer]

Just had a listen, what a great mix for our first member mixtape! Great choices everyone I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

1. Urban Hatemonger: Dengue Fever - Tiger Phone Card

I really loved this. It made me want to serenade someone with it. I watched a really cool live version on YouTube following this, too. Great song.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

2. LoathsomePete: Killing Joke - Inside the Termite Mound

Very dark and lots of minor half-steps. I thought the bass was really distinctive and "beasty" sounding.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

3. Chrysalis: Jesu - Farewell

I enjoyed the ephemeral and somewhat dreamy aspects of this track. Thanks, Chrysalis.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

4. Trollheart: Ken Kiernan and Ger MacDonald - Crom Cruach

Cool choice, Trollheart! I have never heard of this group before but I really loved it. I felt like singing along, even though I didn't know the words.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

5. Mondo Bungle: Beats Antique - Dope Crunk

Not the kind of genre I listen to but I really loved this! I was definitely bopping my head along. Loved the middle eastern tones. Reminds me of something that would be played at one of Melbourne's alternative little, eastern-flavoured bars on a Friday or Saturday night.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

6. Dr. Rez: Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Atlas Hands

So beautiful. Probably my favourite from this mix, just because it was perfect for the kind of day I was having today. I sat on my sofa and closed my eyes and just melted into it Plus I have a thing for songs about atlases, I wrote one myself once.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

7. djchameleon: Fort Minor - Petrified (Doors Remix)

Again, not the kind of genre I usually listen to, but when this came on I thought "I bet this is dj's song" and I was right! Such a dj tune to pick. Catchy tune and cool beat to it.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

8. zer0: Chameleons - Second Skin

Liked this also. This song reminds me of that British post-punk era that I often enjoy the likes of!

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

9. Blarobbarg: Psalters -Dumpster Divers

What a fun song. Made me want to get out my tambourine and sit outdoors and smash out some tunes with my friends.

I apologise for my response not being that detailed, I thought I'd just include a quick little reaction to each track I listened to. But I thoroughly enjoyed this mix, it's great to listen to music that you wouldn't normally.

[Janszoon]

I'm really thrilled to see that the weekly mixtape is back and people are participating in it, but there's something that I unfortunately have been put in the position of having to say and it's this: when a member is banned, they are banned from participating in this community for the duration of their ban. They are not allowed to participate in events like this by proxy. The fact that someone has chosen to do this on the inaugural mixtape event really is a shame but I'm going to have to delete the links and related comments until they're updated to follow the rules of the forum. I'm sorry we've all been put in this situation.

[Dr_Rez]

Album link has been reuploaded omitting the track, but the track numbers will remain (2-10) as it took me a long time to properly tag them all correctly.

[Blarobbarg]

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

2. Urban Hatemonger: Dengue Fever - Tiger Phone Card

I wasn't especially crazy about this song, honestly. It was fun I suppose, and I liked the subtle percussion, but it wasn't my favorite. I didn't just go past it though, so that's something.

3. LoathsomePete: Killing Joke - Inside the Termite Mound

I've always heard of the Killing Joke and how they're an absolutely necessary band to listen to... for whatever reason, I've just never gotten around to it. This track has convinced me that I may need to fix that. I loved the minimalism and the creeping menace of the song- also, the bass was really standout for me, which I highly value for almost any genre I listen to. The dark funkiness was great. If you have any suggestions about how to tackle this band, I'd take them!

4. Chrysalis: Jesu - Farewell

Once again, another band I've always heard of, but never actually listened to. I really liked this song a lot. The heavy, incessant percussion over the dreamy synths was a fantastic combo, and it had my head bobbing in the groove the whole time. The vocals took me by surprise, as they sounded somewhat emo-ish, but it worked. As above, if you have any suggestions for how to get into their discography, I'd appreciate it.

5. Trollheart: Ken Kiernan and Ger MacDonald - Crom Cruach

Well TH, I have a history of disliking your musical taste, but I liked this a lot. The lyrics were a bit cheesy sounding, but I really liked the choral sample that just kept going and going, and the synths and drums were spot on.

6. Mondo Bungle: Beats Antique - Dope Crunk

Mondo, you never fail to impress me with your musical selections, and this time was no different. I've heard of this group many times before and listened to them a handful of times, so I was familiar with the awesomeness coming my way. I really feel like you would love Igorrr. Look him up if you've never heard of him. He's a French producer mixing classical music, death metal, and breakbeats.

[quotes]7. Dr. Rez: Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Atlas Hands[/quotes]

Rez, I love me some laid back folky singer songwriters, and this was spot on. The vocal harmonies were absolutely beautiful and the really quiet way that the track used ambient sound in the background was gorgeous. I'll definitely be checking this dude out.

8. djchameleon: Fort Minor - Petrified (Doors Remix)

Deej, I know that I have a tendency to dislike the music you play in Plug and in other places, but I liked this song a lot. This totally surprised me, because I've never even bothered listening to Fort Minor before, considering that it's the sideproject of the dude from Linkin Park. I don't know if I would listen to him on purpose at any point in the near future, but I liked it!

9. zer0: Chameleons - Second Skin

I think this may have been my favorite song on the whole mix. I really don't have a lot to say about it, except that it was really, really good post punk and I became sort of entranced by it, which is always a good thing for music along these lines. Imma check out Chameleons for sure.

So, bottom line: COMPLETELY AWESOME mix, everyone chose great songs, and it flowed like it had been designed to do so. I know it wasn't planned or anything, but I really appreciated all the minimalist, percussion based music on here- post punk, hip hop, and a few things I'm not sure I could categorize with ease (TH's submission, for instance). Many thanks to Rez for putting it all together!

[djchameleon]

Originally Posted by wolverinewolfweiselpigeon

7. djchameleon: Fort Minor - Petrified (Doors Remix)

Haha, Deej, I could have guessed this track was from you in a second. I didn't particularly enjoy it, but I didn't skip it either. You should check out Zion I:

Spoiler for Zion I & The Grouch - Trains and Planes:

I know Zion I and The Grouch from playing SSX on PS3. They have a track that I really love called Drop it on the 1 but thanks for this one. I haven't listened to a full album from them yet.

[LoathsomePete]

Originally Posted by wolverinewolfweiselpigeon

2. LoathsomePete: Killing Joke - Inside the Termite Mound

Killing Joke is a band I hear a lot about but never looked into. I quite liked this track. I think you'd enjoy this, Pete:

Spoiler for The Drones - I See Seaweed:

Huh, I've been meaning to check out that album as I've seen it posted around here and on other sites quite a bit. I did enjoy that track, it kind of reminded me of Birthday Party era Nick Cave in a way.

Originally Posted by Blarobbarg

I've always heard of the Killing Joke and how they're an absolutely necessary band to listen to... for whatever reason, I've just never gotten around to it. This track has convinced me that I may need to fix that. I loved the minimalism and the creeping menace of the song- also, the bass was really standout for me, which I highly value for almost any genre I listen to. The dark funkiness was great. If you have any suggestions about how to tackle this band, I'd take them!

Killing Joke can seem a little insurmountable due to their prolific nature so I suggest breaking it down into time periods. Their early stuff (about 1980-1984) is your typical post-punk of the era except maybe steeped a little more with a metal/goth rock tinge and influence. From about 1984-1989 they were a little more new wave-y, with their most famous song being "Eighties", which is now more known for being the song Nirvana ripped off for "Come As You Are". The song I included is from their 1990 album Extremities, Dirt, and Other Repressed Emotions which signaled their shift more towards metal which lasted until about 1996 with their album Democracy which was more alternative rock. The band went on a bit of a hiatus but came roaring back with their 2003 self-titled album that was just straight up hard rock. Their 2006 album Hosannas From The Basement of Hell is a very grungey album with very murky production and possibly some of their darkest material to date. 2010 saw a more production heavy album Absolute Dissent which was very political and was more a call back to their post-punk roots which continued with last year's album MMXII, but minus the politically charged lyrics.

For beginners I think you can either start with their 2003 self-titled album and work your way forward, then go back to their 1980 self-titled debut and work your way up. You could also work your way backwards, going from their newest material to their oldest, which I found to be a lot of fun. If you really liked the song I included in this mix you could work your way up from Extremities, Dirt, and Other Repressed Emotions to their newest material, then go back. I have a bit of a bias because KJ are my favorite band of all time so I love all their material, but I find their 2003 self-titled album to be a good starting point for new people.