Let us take you on a magical trip back to the 90s. MC Hammer pants were all the rage and Walkmen were the height of new technology. Keeping this in mind, over the past few months we've been getting in touch with bands around the country and asking them to create a metaphorical mixtape containing, you guessed it, eight tracks!
We grilled Craig Kneale of Twin Atlantic to find out what he'd include on his mixtape, and it seems that the theme of his tape is uplifting music. Nothing we can argue with there, really. Read on to see how metal-core and Bruce Springsteen can sit happily next to each other, and why every Scottish person should have heard of Frightened Rabbit by now...
Title: Lost In The Air
Artist: Cave In
Why it’s here: Basically, they’re my favourite band of all time – and they deserve to be heard! They’re one of the most creative bands of this century (and last century) and are criminally under- rated in my opinion. This song is off one of their later albums, called Antenna, and is a perfect example of them at their space-pop best! Go back only two albums though and they’re a straight up metal-core band, but no less incredible.
Title: Leyendecker
Artist: Battles
Why it’s here: Just mind blowing. I’m not even sure what this would be classed as; to me it’s just incredibly impressive musicianship, which is somehow so melodic and rhythmic at the same time. This song has a really messed up vocal over the top of it that is also super catchy. If you don’t nod your head to this, you have no brain.
Title: Knifeman
Artist: The Bronx
Why it’s here: Punk rock perfection! Why they aren’t bigger than all these supposed punk rock bands I’ll never know, they’re so rocking it’s unbelievable – makes me very jealous! Just straight up rock with shout along choruses, can’t really beat it. And they’re getting better every album. And they also have a Mariachi band, not many bands can say that.
Title: We Laugh Indoors
Artist: Death Cab For Cutie
Why it’s here: I love this song because it’s so sparse but the drum’s makes the whole song seem really up beat. This is my favourite Death Cab song, and I don’t really think they have many bad songs. Ben Gibbard manages to make everything sound so sad and uplifting at the same time. And it has this great kick in when you least expect it. It’s even better live!
Title: The Fix
Artist: Minus The Bear
Why it’s here: Another technical song with heaps of groove and melody. Most of the members were in hardcore bands before, so I guess they had an understanding of how to make technical sounding metal anyway, but employing it into what are essentially pop songs is just brilliant. Their guitarist Dave Knudson is a total genius.
Title: Unfamiliar
Artist: Oceansize
Why it’s here: Another really under-rated band, they should be bigger than Tool! This song is off their last album and is a rock masterpiece. It’s 8 minutes long but not once does it meander anywhere, it holds your attention and the next face melting riff is never far away. In a perfect world they would be huge, but I’m sure they’re happy just knowing they are pretty much better than everyone. I know I would be.
Title: Highway Patrolman
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Why it’s here: I’ve only gotten into Bruce Springsteen in the last year or so but I’m seriously addicted now. He just writes the most uplifting rock music I’ve ever heard, and his lyrics are exceptional. This song is off of his acoustic album called Nebraska; it’s about a Highway Patrolman (hence the name) who is trying to keep his brother Frank on the right track, even though he keeps straying. Eventually Frank ends up really hurting someone and runs away, but his brother chases him anyway. It’s about how you should never give up on family, and even though it’s quite dark in tone – it’s uplifting at the same time.
Title: Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms
Artist: Frightened Rabbit
Why it’s here: If you’re from Scotland, you’ll have heard of these guys by now, this is off of their album called The Midnight Organ Fight – still my favourite album of the last couple of years. The lyrics are brutal and beautiful at the same time, and the vocals are just so fragile. On top of this the music is great, rhythmical yet never imposing on the vocals. I could have picked literally any song off of the album, but I picked this one because I like the name the best!
Artist: Cave In
Why it’s here: Basically, they’re my favourite band of all time – and they deserve to be heard! They’re one of the most creative bands of this century (and last century) and are criminally under- rated in my opinion. This song is off one of their later albums, called Antenna, and is a perfect example of them at their space-pop best! Go back only two albums though and they’re a straight up metal-core band, but no less incredible.
Title: Leyendecker
Artist: Battles
Why it’s here: Just mind blowing. I’m not even sure what this would be classed as; to me it’s just incredibly impressive musicianship, which is somehow so melodic and rhythmic at the same time. This song has a really messed up vocal over the top of it that is also super catchy. If you don’t nod your head to this, you have no brain.
Title: Knifeman
Artist: The Bronx
Why it’s here: Punk rock perfection! Why they aren’t bigger than all these supposed punk rock bands I’ll never know, they’re so rocking it’s unbelievable – makes me very jealous! Just straight up rock with shout along choruses, can’t really beat it. And they’re getting better every album. And they also have a Mariachi band, not many bands can say that.
Title: We Laugh Indoors
Artist: Death Cab For Cutie
Why it’s here: I love this song because it’s so sparse but the drum’s makes the whole song seem really up beat. This is my favourite Death Cab song, and I don’t really think they have many bad songs. Ben Gibbard manages to make everything sound so sad and uplifting at the same time. And it has this great kick in when you least expect it. It’s even better live!
Title: The Fix
Artist: Minus The Bear
Why it’s here: Another technical song with heaps of groove and melody. Most of the members were in hardcore bands before, so I guess they had an understanding of how to make technical sounding metal anyway, but employing it into what are essentially pop songs is just brilliant. Their guitarist Dave Knudson is a total genius.
Title: Unfamiliar
Artist: Oceansize
Why it’s here: Another really under-rated band, they should be bigger than Tool! This song is off their last album and is a rock masterpiece. It’s 8 minutes long but not once does it meander anywhere, it holds your attention and the next face melting riff is never far away. In a perfect world they would be huge, but I’m sure they’re happy just knowing they are pretty much better than everyone. I know I would be.
Title: Highway Patrolman
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Why it’s here: I’ve only gotten into Bruce Springsteen in the last year or so but I’m seriously addicted now. He just writes the most uplifting rock music I’ve ever heard, and his lyrics are exceptional. This song is off of his acoustic album called Nebraska; it’s about a Highway Patrolman (hence the name) who is trying to keep his brother Frank on the right track, even though he keeps straying. Eventually Frank ends up really hurting someone and runs away, but his brother chases him anyway. It’s about how you should never give up on family, and even though it’s quite dark in tone – it’s uplifting at the same time.
Title: Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms
Artist: Frightened Rabbit
Why it’s here: If you’re from Scotland, you’ll have heard of these guys by now, this is off of their album called The Midnight Organ Fight – still my favourite album of the last couple of years. The lyrics are brutal and beautiful at the same time, and the vocals are just so fragile. On top of this the music is great, rhythmical yet never imposing on the vocals. I could have picked literally any song off of the album, but I picked this one because I like the name the best!
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