I think in the same category as Mike. Although, saying that, it's early days as I've only listened to the CD once. It all seemed kinda samey, but perhaps with repeated listens the songs will begin to form their own distinct shapes and my opinion will change. Those sorts of songs are generally the best anyway. In fact I'm off to put it on now.

Cams

Yeah, don't write me off too soon. I still have six of the tracks on my daily play-list. I just found 24 more than I could handle at one go.
(The six are Paint's Peeling; Love, Salvation, the Fear of Death; Mr. Whisper; Long Island; Careful; With Arms Outstretched). They don't sound to me (on a first listening) the same way they sound to you (knowing them well).

Cheers

Mike

This has been an interesting compilation for me. I started off not thinking very much of it at all, but, as I often find, I was rewarded by repeated listens and now I really like some of it.

I’ve started working on my fitness again and getting out into the wonderful Luxembourg countryside with my iPod, so it’s a great time to listen to new stuff. This was a great compilation for that.

1: Rilo Kiley: Paint's Peeling

I’d never heard of this artist before and it makes a fine example of a grower. Great stuff.

2: Sixpence None the Richer: Love, Salvation, the Fear of Death

Another one that grew on me. I’d heard of this band through the song “Kiss Me” and quite liked that one. It’s not really something I’d actively seek out but I would keep the radio tuned in. A nice summer time sound for cycling past the yellow fields.

3: Velocity Girl: Go Coastal

This one sounds amateurish to me, but, of course, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. I guess this one just doesn’t catch me.

4: Ivy: I've Got a Feeling

Another non-hit for me. This one just seems a bit run-of-the-mill to me.

5: Aimee Mann: That's Just What you Are

I like this one – could do with hearing more of Aimee Mann. Well crafted pop.

6: Litany: When You Gonna Stop

I like the vocal harmonies in this one. This one’s a hit

7: Letters to Cleo: I See

Not bad at all. A good one for going up hills.

8: Echobelly: Go Away

Another good one for going up hills. I like the energy in this one.

9: Pee Shy: Mr. Whisper

This is one of the highlights of the compilation for me.

10: Letters to Cleo: I Want You to Want Me

And this is the other highlight. Just great!

11: Grey Eye Glances: He and She

This was a grower and I quite like it now.

12: weaklazyliar: I dream I have another life

Some more energy, which is good. Is this not one of the Towies? Pretty good indeed.

13: Rasputina: The Olde Headboard

Not a great one this, although it still grew on me a bit.

14: Heavenly: Me and my Madness

A catchy wee number.

15: Lush: 500

And another highlight – I used to quite like Lush back in my Army days but have not heard them for a long, long time. This sound takes me back and reminds me of why I liked them in the first place.

16: Jill Sobule: Karen by Night

And another hit. This one is great!

17: Dawn Landes: Scars

Not too bad.

18: That Dog: Long Island

And also pretty good – some more energy which I like. Seems to be the theme of this compilation – energetic tracks with female vocalists.

19: Frogpond: I Did

Some more energy. To be honest, all the tracks are beginning to sound the same.

20: Nina Gordon: Number One Camera

This one stands out a bit more, but still sounds very samey.

21: Fuzzy: It Started Today

And some more of the same.

22: Kay Hanley: Happy to Be Here

This is a welcome change from the previous tracks. Nice and jaunty.

23: Ellen Cherry: Careful

And another nice jaunty number that stands out a bit because of its being different from the energy-driven tracks.

24: Rilo Kiley: With Arms Outstretched

Love it! This is a fine ending and it really made me sit up and take notice.

CONCLUSION

I started out not liking this compilation, then it started to grow on me. I think it would have benefited from a bit more organisation, splitting up similar tracks so that they don’t seem to samey. I was getting bored towards the end of the third quarter.

The one track that did stand out for me from the outset was the last one; simply wonderful track. I really must check out Rilo Kiley a bit more.

I’ll keep this compilation on my iPod for cycling trips. Thanks Lauren!

Cams

Hi Cams,

in fact by now I do own Execution of All Things by Rilo Kiley. It's a great CD - I'd recommend it! If you want to check them out, go for it!

Cheers,
Annika

Lauren’s Mix Towie Tree I

Hi Lauren, sorry I made you wait so long. Finally here’s my review. As I said before, the songs are very similar and there aren’t many I don’t like. The style you represent is so different from what I usually listen to. Thanks for introducing it!

Paint’s Peeling – Rilo Kiley

Great opener for your mix. In fact, this is the song that got me into listening more to Rilo Kiley. “The Execution of All Things” is a great album!

Love, Salvation, The Fear of Death – Sixpence Non The Richer
Cool song! Could listen to more of this!

Go Coastal – Velocity Girl

Great song!! Since Scott introduced another song on his mix, I can say that I’ll certainly check out this band.

I’ve Got A Feeling – Ivy

Even better! Is the rest like this?

That’s Just What You Are – Aimee Mann

I only have Aimee Mann’s album Bachelor No2 and so far I haven’t listened to it very often, I’m afraid. Nearly every song on this album seems to be in the same rhythm. Anyway – this song isn’t bad, I guess I should listen to her music closer.

When You Gonna Stop – Litany
Cool song!

I See – Letters To Cleo

Cool!

Go Away – Echobelly

The beginning is a bit too loud to me, although I quite like the melody of this song

Mr. Whisper – Pee Shy

Cool song – do I repeat myself?

I Want You To Want Me – Letters To Cleo

This is one of the songs I don’t like so much.

He And She – Grey Eye Glancer
Great song – could listen to more of this!

I Dream I Have Another Life – WeakLazyLiar

Not bad, either!

The Olde Headboard – Rasputina

Not bad, but I doubt I could listen to a whole album

Me And My Madness – Heavenly

The melody reminds me of Paint’s Peeling, at least it’s the same rhythm. This one is not so much for me

500 – Lush

Nice song within this mix, but nothing I would rush out and buy. The song isn’t bad, actually, but I’m afraid the singer’s voice isn’t my taste.

Karen by Night – Jill Sobule

Great song! The chorus is a bit mainstreamy for my liking, but I really like the rest of this song

Scars – Dawn Landes

Cool, too – the voice reminds me of Rilo Kiley

Long Island – That Dog
Not bad, either

I Did – Frogpond

Very similar to Long Island....great bass!

Number One Lamara – Nina Gordon

I love this song!

It Started Today – Fuzzy

NMCOT – too fast for me!

Happy To Be Here – Kay Hanley

Nice and happy song

Careful – Ellen Cherry

This is a very cool song!!!

With Arms Outstretched – Rilo Kiley

This is one of the songs I didn’t like so much on the album, but I like it on this compilation!
Strange how much the context can shift the perception!

Conclusion
As I said before, I like most of the songs on this CD. However, since all the songs are very similar, it’s hard to pick the ones that stand out. I guess I would have to listen to the songs in another context. In fact your whole mix could be an album by the same group! But as I realized when listening to “The Execution of all things” by Rilo Kiley, their songs are quite distinct. This is the one band that got me hooked from the start, but this may be, because their song was the first song on the compilation. I might have totally lost it, had it been somewhere in the middle. Still thanks for introducing so many new names to me. I guess it’ll take some time to really get to know the songs.