Deep within the heart of The Pink Mixer lives eclectic musical taste. Edith Piaf is loved just as much as Amy Winehouse who is adored as much as Iron & Wine who is enjoyed as much as Ol’ Blue Eyes. When the mood strikes it’s on with the rock, out with the folk – and then, in an instant back to the folk again. Everything and anything goes musically as long as its got heart, soul, and a good beat that lets us clap along.
I am always extremely excited when I discover a “CD gem.” There are great songs, tunes, singles all around of course, which most of us – thanks to Itunes, and Ipods – can enjoy on an individual ‘one hit wonder-esque’ basis; but sadly, it’s not all that often that you find an entire CD laden with good tunes. Of course, the best kind of CD – the one that makes you feel like you’ve struck gold – is the kind that from the minute you slip the disc into your CD player and track one begins just feels right. A CD gem plays like your favorite pair of jeans fit or maybe feels similar to the way an afternoon spent with a best friend feels – easy, comforting, with just a dash of spark to surprise you, and enough layers to keep you guessing – desperate for another listen. It might also be the type of CD you can’t imagine not taking with you on, say, a drive across the country.
Thus, that has become the one criteria here at The Pink Mixer, as we roll out another new addition to the blog that covers everything but the kitchen sink, called Road Trip Worthy. 10,000 songs in your pocket aside, these CDs need to hold up completely on their own - played straight through – rather than added in as a layer to make up a complex mix tape.*
Our inaugural Road Trip Worthy CD was actually mentioned a few weeks back, before it was decided to make CD reviews a regular addition to The Pink Mixer. Thus we give you worthy CD #2 with this post: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter by, well, Josh Ritter.
This CD’s got a little bit of everything - found loves, lost loves, unrequited loves, great friends, broken hearts, empty beer bottles, nuclear holocausts, and girls in their underwear (naturally). One of the best parts about listening to Ritter’s work straight through is the fact that just when you think you’ve figured out where he’ll go next? He spins around and goes the opposite way. Reason enough to listen on repeat; plus the tunes are sing-along catchy.
*1) I know kids these days are burning CDs and tapes are obsolete, but The Pink Mixer grew up in the 80’s and went to middle and high school in the 90’s when mix tapes were the ultimate self-expression, thus the name sticks. Mix tapes are their own pieces of artwork in and of themselves, agreed. For arguments sake though we’re sticking with what studios and artists turn out for the public ear themselves.
Average price: $12.99
Rating 5 out of 5!
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