CSS first hooked us in late 2006 with their insanely catchy video “Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above”. They hit the mainstream with their placement in an iPod commercial, and next week they will release their second album, Donkey.

Much like the band’s last release, the 80s, drinking, dancing, and partying play lead roles in the both the sound and lyrical content of the album. This should come as no surprise, as the first track “Jager Yoga” declares “we came here to take you out!” Furthering CSS’s agenda are the vaguely disco “Move” and “Let’s Raggae All Night” - a song with nothing remotely raggae about it, but with the key line “if you are my friend you can make dance beats for me / just for me.”

While partying may dominate CSS’s repetoire, they aren’t a one-trick pony (or donkey, for that matter). “Rat is Dead (Rage)” takes on some darker subject matter, and “Left Behind” is a bit more subdued and heartfelt than their usual fare. “Believe/Achieve” is sexy as hell, despite the often creepy lyrics (”I’m gonna take your eyes / use them as a seed”), but the best track on the album is “Beautiful Song”. Having some of the most coherent lyrics on the album, its fast-paced doubled guy/girl vocals and catchy instrumental melody lines make it a stand-out cut.

–

Donkey drops on 07/22/08.
Click here for downloads and more.

Do you want a pair of tickets to Ingrid Michaelson’s show at the Barrymore in Madison, WI tomorrow night (06.07)?

Of course you do!

To enter, send an email to mixtapesandheartbreaks@gmail.com with the subject line “INGRID” and we’ll choose a winner at random to put on the will-call list. Be sure to include your FULL NAME. The winner will be notified by email.

***UPDATE*** The contest is now closed. Congratulations to Mackenzie for winning our first ticket give-away!

My dear friend and lovely photographer Chelsea Sutton is looking for the tattooed among us for her project Every Picture Tells A Story. Check it out!

Hey Midwest friends! Don’t forget to stop by Club 770 in Madison, WI this Thursday for our first show.

Minus the Bear, Portugal. The Man, The Big Sleep, and The Felix Culpa will all be there.

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
www.myspace.com/thefelixculpa

For more info on our co-sponsors, the Wisconsin Union Directorate Music Committee, click here.

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.

There have been rumblings about a New Kids on the Block reunion, and it looks like it might actually be happening. Their official website (which existed up to this point for God knows what reason) has put up a promotional video that heavily hints that a tour is forthcoming.

As a six-year-old I was a fan to the point of obsession, but was far too young to see them in concert (at least in the opinion of my parents). An NKOTB reunion would allow for some long-overdue wish fulfillment. It would also allow for some highly-deserved mocking.

I can’t wait.

Well dears, at the end of this week I’ll be taking down the original M|H site, found at http://mixtapesandheartbreaks.blogspot.com .

It served me well, and by now people who had that bookmarked should have made it over to this site. So, if for some reason you have a weird attachment to the original, this is your last chance to check it out.

We’ve kind of disappeared and we apologize. We’re back in our Midwest office and have been spending the last week or so acclimating to the cold and snow.

Coming soon is a new celebrity mixtape from John Sellers, author of Perfect From Now On. As soon as we get it in the mail, we’ll post it for your listening pleasure.

The new year will bring some new features to M|H, so keep an eye out for those as well.

Filling your Christmas socks with whiskey drinks & chocolate bars,
M|H