Lo & Sons

With the exception of those months after college when we were backpacking around Europe, we here at The Pink Mixer have always been more of a rolling suitcase kind of traveler instead of the mighty hefted over one shoulder duffel bag.  Our prejudice is simple.  Rolling suitcases? Brilliant, mobile invention.  A duffel bag?  Those buggers can be downright heavy.

Still, they serve a great and wonderful service when a rolling bag won't do, particularly for a weekend get-away.  Last July, after noticing our tried and true (and old) Vera Bradley duffel was becoming frayed, we treated ourselves to The Catalina from Brooklyn based company, Lo & Sons.  We liked the catch-all nature of the bag, the price was right, and the tipping point was that well-designed bottom pocket - perfect for shoes, a wet bathing suit, or dirty clothes.

We put The Catalina to work immediately, taking the bag to a wedding in Connecticut and later in the summer, on the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.  However, after only a few uses, we tucked it away, as fall turned to winter and those quick weekend jaunts were put on hold until some of the snow melted away.  Or at least until mid-February when we decided to use a long weekend to fly south to visit family.  As we arrived at our destination, we noticed an unfortunate rip right at the seam of that aforementioned bottom portion of our duffel.  Annoyed and frustrated - we'd only had it for a handful of months! and only used it minimally! - we decided to do what any good consumer does.  We contacted the company and informed them (politely) of our complaint.  And then Lo&Sons did what any good company should do.  They responded immediately, ( and politely) gathered a bit more information, and suggested a solution - a solution that involved a brand new bag since the damage did not seem easily repairable.

Isn't it immensely refreshing when things go the way they are supposed to go?  Companies make good on their promises, treat their customers well, which makes those customers want to spend more money at the company, and everyone wins in the end?

Guess that duffel is even mightier than The Pink Mixer had originally suspected.

Average price: $120

Rating: 5 out of 5!  

Road Trip Worthy: So Runs The World Away by Josh Ritter

Two truths:

1.) It's been awhile since we featured a road trip worthy CD here on our site.
2.) The Pink Mixer's fascination and love for Josh Ritter is not exactly a secret.

Josh puts feelings, emotion, tales, stories and adventures to lyrics far better than we might ever craft here in this tiny post. This CD hit our hands with much anticipation and hope and to say we've been quite pleased thus far would be an understatement. What a joy to feel yourself personally growing, maturing, and evolving along with an artist. The Pink Mixer will never tire of Sir Ritter. How could we when we're given a gift such as this?

I had a dream last night
And when I opened my eyes
Your shoulder blade your spine
Were shorelines in the moon light
New worlds for the weary
New lands for the living
I could make it if I tried
I closed my eyes I kept on swimming

Average price: $9.99
Rating: 5 out of 5!

Road Trip Worthy: Robbers & Cowards, Cold War Kids

Some people don't immediately love the Cold War Kids. They might think they're a little harsh, too much rock and not enough roll.

We are not one of those people.

Sold immediately on one of their early songs, Passing the Hat, we've been a fan of their album, Robbers and Cowards from the get-go.

Recommended listening: We Used to Vacation, Hospital Beds, Hang Me Up to Dry, and of course, the above mentioned, Passing the Hat.

Also, you should see them live.

And then you can come back and agree with us. They are awesome.

Average price: $9.99
Rating: 4 out of 5

Road Trip Worthy: Us Against the Crown, State Radio

While the music rarely stops flowing at chez Pink Mixer, we realized the other day it’s been quite sometime since we mentioned anything musically related ‘round these parts.

With the summer solstice just around the corner, we thought it’d be nothing but appropriate to dust off an oldie but goodie and mention a lovely band from Boston, State Radio. The group's first album, Us Against the Crown is a little bit rock, a little bit jam-music with just a touch of reggae and this album makes the perfect put on and leave on CD for all those late, perfectly pleasant summer nights spent outside.

Another bonus? Just when you think the party’s over and you begrudgingly call it quits for the evening, you’ll be surprised by the little gem of a song, Sybil. It's one we’re always happy to rediscover.

we were dancing in the kitchen
laughing about something we didn't know
till you stopped and said i don't ever want you to die
never you mind
it's sure to be all right

Average Price: $9.99/CD

Rating: 4 out of 5

Road Trip Worthy: You Were Here - Sarah Harmer

At times I'm guilty of getting so wrapped up in my newest music discoveries that I neglect my first loves.

Divine intervention, a pit stop in Starbucks, and a long road trip towards upstate New York led me to discover the musical gem that is Sarah Harmer years ago. She's put out a handful of albums, all of which I own and adore, but this one - You Were Here - is the one always on default. Putting it on my stereo is like inviting an old, lovely friend inside on a cool autumn night and sitting down to catch up over a glass of red wine.

In other words, perfect.

Average Price: $12/CD
Rating: 5 out of 5!

Road Trip Worthy: For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver

If the title of Bon Iver's album, For Emma, Forever Ago, hasn't sold you already, we'll push the envelope a tad further. There are times, when we here at The Pink Mixer start feeling a tad protective of our music. A good band is hard to find after all and nothing can kill a powerful song faster than overkill and/or overplay. (Which came first?) Still, there are other times when we discover bands and their cds and realize that to keep their talent and beauty a secret? Well, that would be just downright cruel and unfair.

Bon Iver is no exception to our road trip worthy collection, although this might be the cd you let lull you to sleep after you've logged your miles on the road for the day. It's hushed, bittersweet, and demands your full attention. This album is heartbreakingly beautiful and one that will remain on permanent rotation for years to come.

Average Price: $12.00
Rating: 5 out of 5!

Road Trip Worthy: Alligator - The National

The Pink Mixer has mentioned The National in the past. Honestly we’re so enamored, we felt the need to go crazy, mention them again, and add another one of their albums, Alligator, to our steadily growing Road Trip Worthy collection.

The thing that gets me, every time I listen to one of their CDs, I think: “Okay. I’ve already found it. Track #1 is their best song ever.” Then that first song ends, we’re treated to a 2^nd delight, and I decide “Nope. Wait. This one, track #2, is their best.” And so it goes, over and over, until we reach the final track, stop, catch our breath, and think, “whew. Let’s start at the beginning again.”

Average Price: $13.99
Rating: 4 out of 5

Road Trip Worthy: Boxer - The National

We just gave you a Road Trip worthy CD at the end of last week, you’ve probably barely had time to digest St. Vincent in all her glory, and here we are throwing another CD your way. But, folks, this CD – Boxer by The National – is just too darn good to go another day without knowing about. Yes, you’re welcome.

It’s been on constant repeat around my house, during this week that’s starting off on rocky, shaky, lousy ground, and somehow it just fits that mood. Not hopeless - no never hopeless in The Pink Mixer's house - but well, some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield. I’ve been listening to track #6, Slow Show, so much that I think even the neighbors have it memorized.

Looking for somewhere to stand and stay
I leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away

You know I dreamed about you
For twenty-nine years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for
For twenty-nine years

Average Price: $9.99
Rating 5 out of 5!

Road Trip Worthy: Marry Me - St. Vincent

Good things – most things worthy of our attention and time - tend to be complex and reveal themselves in layers. This, incidentally, is how I would describe St. Vincent’s debut album Marry Me. As you know, thanks to a few earlier entries, we believe CDs posted on The Pink Mixer should be worthy in their entirety not just because of a catchy tune here or a groovy song there.

I believe what surprised me the most during my first listen to St. Vincent awhile back was how, despite the fact that her sound was (is) utterly different than almost anything I’d heard before, her music felt simultaneously intimate, understood, and comforting – almost like slipping into a favorite pair of blue jeans after a long week. This CD just works. The Pink Mixer’s personal favorite (today, anyway) is track #5, Paris is Burning, but truly the entire CD is excellent. I guarantee the minute the last track ends you’ll want to start back at the beginning again – ready to peel away another layer with another listen.

Average Price: $12
Rating 5 out of 5!

Road Trip Worthy: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter - Josh Ritter

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!

Basia Bulat's CD - Oh My Darling

Remarkable Voice. Excellent Lyrics. Do you need any more reason to pick up this CD?

“There are two things I will carry in my pockets at the end oh, my darling, you are one of them. The way you look when you have a story to begin, oh, my darling, that's the other half”

Hand-clapping, guitars, and a piano. She’s adorable, sweet, and a great dresser to boot (well, based on that one time I saw her live she is). Basia is a relatively recent discovery and acquisition in my little musical world but one that has already secured a permanent spot on my ever-fluctuating “top ten albums I would most definitely bring on a road trip across the country” list. (Oh, come on. Like you don’t have a similar list…)

Average price $15

Rating 5 out of 5!