DID YOU KNOW? Even if you don't pay for Spotify preimium, you can still listen to our Friday Mixtapes on your mobile device in shuffle mode. There is no need to wait for our BENT post on Fridays to start listening on your desktop client. Simply make sure the free Spotify app is downloaded to your phone or tablet, scan the QR code in the paper when it comes out on Wednesdays and start listening on your device!
There are only a handful of Tuesdays—the day of the week new albums are typically released—left in 2014. That means soon enough, it’ll be time to focus on ranking all the best music of the year instead of touting new releases.
But before that day comes—in about nine weeks—there are still artists releasing music that just might earn themselves a spot on the year-end list.
And that includes the bands in this week’s Friday Mixtape.
Groups like Oklahoma’s lo-fi punk outfit BRONCHO and garage rockers Warm Soda; who each turn in feel-good tracks on the playlist.
New York City favorites Cymbals Eat Guitars are also back in 2014 with their temperamental album Lose as is the 2012 breakout roots rock husband/wife duo Shovels and Rope with thier sophomore release.
But perhaps the most exciting new music on the list comes from two newly releases singles from Wisconsin native Zola Jesus which will appear on her yet-to-be-releases 2014 album Taiga. Her dark vocals and thundering keyboards are stronger than ever, yet these two tracks strike a pleasing pop note in contrast to her previous work.
