Mixtapes|Heartbreaks is proud to announce a concert with Minus the Bear, Portugal. The Man, and The Big Sleep in Madison, WI. We are co-sponsoring with the Wisconsin Union Directorate Music Committee to bring you this fine event. If you’ve joined our Facebook page, you’ve probably gotten all the details, but in case you haven’t:

Minus The Bear, Portugal. The Man, The Big Sleep
April 17, 2008 - 8 PM
Club 770 @ Union South
227 N. Randall Avenue
Madison, WI

Tickets available at the UW Box Office
Students: $16 advance, $18 DOS
Non-students: $17 advance, $19 DOS

Order tickets:
https://www.choicesecure01.net/mainapp/eventschedule.aspx?Clientid=UnivMadWisconsin
or
608.262.2201

For more information on the artists:
www.myspace.com/minusthebear
www.myspace.com/portugaltheman
www.myspace.com/sonofthetiger

We’re now on Facebook! If you just can’t get enough M|H, head on down to the bottom of the page and check out the links section and click on “M|H on Facebook” to join our group.

Sub Pop (Death Cab For Cutie, The Shins, Iron & Wine, Nirvana, and more) is giving away free money and they want you to have it. If you are living in Washington or Oregon and are a graduating high school senior, read on:

The Sub Pop Scholarship 

Sub Pop Records in Seattle, WA is offering a grand total of $13,000 worth of college scholarship money to three eligible high school seniors. There are three scholarships—one for $6,000 and two for $3,500 each. To apply for these scholarships you must be a resident of Washington or Oregon, and a graduating senior on your way to full-time enrollment at an accredited university or college. We are looking for an applicant who is involved and/or interested in music and/or the creative arts in some way.

To apply for these scholarships we would like you to submit an essay, no longer than one page, letting us know about some of the following topics:

• What are you doing in the arts/music field in your community?
• How and/or why did you become interested in artistic outlets?
• Why do you need this scholarship money?
• What are your influences and/or who inspires you?
• Who are some of your favorite bands or artists?

Applicants are encouraged to send digital links and provide hard copies of their artwork along with their essay. However, please be aware that Sub Pop will not return any of this material, so please don’t send originals. Sub Pop will give equal opportunity to all applicants who fit the criteria outlined above. The deadline for applications is May 1^st, please get in touch before then if you are interested.

Please send all submissions and attachments to scholarship@subpop.com

All physical submissions should be sent to:

Sub Pop Records
Attn: Scholarship
2013 4th Ave, 3rd Floor
Seattle, WA 98121

Amount: $6,000 / $3,500 / $3,500 – checks will be made payable to the university or college of the winning applicants’ choice and applied to winning applicants’ tuition.

Ever since seeing the movie Elf in 2003, I’ve been hoping and praying that Zooey Deschanel would put out an album. In the film, Ms. Deschanel sings a few Christmas carols and her big, brassy voice immediately won me over. Apparently keeping my fingers crossed all these years paid off, as Deschanel has paired up with M. Ward to release Volume One as She & Him.

A mix of twangy classic country and snappy girl-group numbers, the album plays as an homage to days gone by. Deschanel’s voice is usually the focus of the track, with M. Ward providing smart backing instrumentation.

At points Deschanel takes a somewhat lazy approach in her delivery, but it works with the relaxed flow of the tune, most successfully on the summer’s day quality of “This Is Not a Test”. For the most part, however, she favors multi-layered harmonies and a brash yet beautiful country twang.

Highlights from the album include wonderfully arranged “I Thought I Saw Your Face Today” and the two girl-group inspired tracks “I Was Made For You” and “Sweet Darlin’”, which channels Phil Spector and features the ever-classic ‘kick!kick-kick-clap!’ drum beat.

Volume One features two duets between Deschanel and Ward. The relaxed country-hula cover of The Beatles’ “I Should Have Known Better” is a disappointment, but their cover of “You Really Got A Hold On Me” is transcendent. Stripped down and recorded with a slight echo, the pair brings out a vulnerability and longing that perfectly captures the message of the lyrics.

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Volume One dropped on 03/18/08.
Visit the She & Him website here.

Yet another Danish band has worked its way into my heart with its catchy beats and sing-able hooks. Like Mew, Junior Senior, and Alphabeat before them, The Fashion has caused me to temporarily fixate - in this case on the video for “Solo Impala”. Originally drawn in by the excellent visuals, I quickly came to appreciate the song itself. Though not particularly groundbreaking, it did immediately cement itself in my head. Check it out below.

I was watching Subterranean the other night and was struck by two videos.

First up, “Love No” by The Teenagers. It’s essentially a re-working of  “Popular” by Nada Surf, whether anyone involved realizes it or not. Both songs feature low-key, dialogue-based ‘verses’ and amped up choruses. Both are diatribes on the relationships of young adults. Even the videos are similar, featuring ridiculous semi-erotic imagery like locker room showers and lollipops being sucked on.

For all of you youngins who were either not aware - or, for some of you, not alive - when Nada Surf hit the scene, here is a side-by-side comparison. Both are enjoyable and ridiculous.

Also on the radar is “The Age of the Understatement” by The Last Shadow Puppets (members of Arctic Monkeys & The Rascals). The vocalization is very British Invasion and the imagery is a mix of the Cold War & classic spy movies. Very catchy.

Jesse Elliott, aka These United States, is a descendant of Johnny Appleseed. Much like his famed forefather, Elliott takes a creative approach in disseminating his art. Unexpected instrumentation, poetically-approached lyrics, and interesting quirks pervade the tracks on These United States’ new release, A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden.

Throughout the album, Elliott combines elements from the 60s and 70s with modern sensibilities to create a new brand of experimental folk. “Kings & Aces” is an updated saloon anthem, while “First Sight” is fed by interesting electronic elements. “The Business” offers up a laid-back twang. Crisp vocals make it seem like Elliott is whispering in your ear on “Sun Is Below & Above”, and dynamic, fanciful instrumentation comes to the forefront on “Remember Dear”.

A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden is unique and well-crafted.  Expertly mixed,  it provides listeners with an experience rather than just a means of distribution.

Click the player below to listen to “First Sight”.

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A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden drops 03.04.08.
Check out the These United States website here.

My friend Matt introduced me to the insanely catchy song “Fascination” by Danish band Alphabeat.

Both the song and video are pop perfection. The singers are adorable and the video is non-stop colorful fun.  You’ll fall in love after one listen and will be singing along after two.