Mixtape 9: Early May 2005

1. Why? – Sanddollars
2. The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema
3. Guided by Voices – Echos Myron
4. Adam Green – Jessica
5. Belle and Sebastian – Seeing Other People
6. Pavement – Starlings of the Slipstream
7. Frank Black – Selkie Bride
8. Ludacris – The Potion
9. Sufjan Stevens – Flint (For the Unemployed and Underpaid)
10. Silver Jews – Send in the Clouds

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This was a kind of turning point. I've documented my growing love for the Anticon collective previously, and Why? had always been my favorite alumnus of said collective. Some background: Why? has teamed up with fellow Anticonner Doseone on multiple projects, most notable among them cLOUDDEAD (with Odd Nosdam). With the 2003 release of his full-length solo debut Oaklandazulasylum, he made his first attempts at blending rap with folk/pop/rock/everything else. While a great album (a track made my Late March playlist), many found it too inaccessible and perplexing (a ridiculous complaint, considering Why?'s far more difficult early work with Reaching Quiet and Greenthink). But now there are no excuses: the Sanddollars EP is practically pure pop bliss. Why?'s unique style comes across as particularly effortless on this title track, with its layered jangly guitars and forward driving melody. Elements of rap remain, however, and make themselves heard in the lyrical wordplay: "These are selfish times / I've got shellfish dimes / and sanddollars."
"Twin Cinema" is The New Pornographers doing their New Pornographers thing. Adam Green shows up here again. I've still got no idea why. Frank Black's "Selkie Bride" is a good example of the new Frank, the older, wiser Frank, the Frank that I like but am kind of hesitant about. While I love that he's finally singing like he means it, I wouldn't mind a good old fashioned Black Francis scream now and then. Some of the fun is gone. But it's still a beautiful song.