MMN Artist-Run Radio: Minus the Bear Kick Off the “Your Days / Your Nights” Playlist Contest (STREAM)
From time to time, MMN asks its favorite artists to create personally curated playlists for our curiosity-satisfying and audio-streaming pleasure. Themes and styles will vary, but you’ll always know your favorite bands just a little better after listening. Today’s MMN Artist Radio DJ is: Minus the Bear’s Alex Rose.
Though they were once one of alt-rock’s best-kept secrets, Minus the Bear are finally started getting the recognition they deserve with Omni, the band’s latest record on Dangerbird Records. Picking up where Planet of Ice left off, the Seattle act continues to not only rock out like no other, but add just the right dose of electronics without letting it completely take over the sound, something few are capable of. As the band begins its fall tour, we were lucky enough to get not one, but two playlists from keyboardist Alex Rose, a play on lyrics from Omni jam “My Time.” The first of these celebrates the lighter side of Alex’s favorite tunes, featuring sunny tracks from acts like Caribou and Kanye West. While you should keep a lookout for “Your Nights” soon, we’ve got a big surprise in store: We’re holding a playlist-based contest with the band that could let YOU (yes, you!) win a massive, rad prize back from the band. Check out Alex’s playlist and commentary along with the contest and prize pack details after the jump…
To help celebrate both the creation of the “Your Days / Your Nights” playlists and the band’s current North American tour, MMN and Minus the Bear are stoked to announce a playlist-based contest, so follow Alex’s lead! Thanks to our friends over at the Musebox and Dangerbird Records, we’ve got a prize pack consisting of tickets to see the band play, CDs, limited edition vinyl and a personalized message from the band to the winning playlist maker! Sounds awesome, right? Here’s how to win: Create a “Your Days / Your Nights” playlist of your own on MOG.com featuring at least one song by the band as well as your own picks, and the band themselves will choose the winner. Get cracking and register for MOG if you haven’t already, cool kids! You have until October 31st to create your playlist, and be sure to stream the “Your Days” playlist below!
Stream “Your Days,” An MMN Artist-Run Radio Playlist by Minus the Bear
Caribou – “Sun”
Alex Rose Says: “It’s hard to describe this album with words. Hypnotic? Propulsive? Soothing? I don’t know. I can assure you, though…starting your day with it isn’t a bummer.”
Minus the Bear – “Excuses”
Alex Rose Says: “One of my favorites from what is perhaps the band’s most summer-y effort yet.”
Flaming Lips – “Race for the Prize”
Alex Rose Says: “I finally caught their live show at Forecastle Festival in Louisville and I left feeling like I had joined a cult…one of love and hope.”
Squeeze – “Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)”
Alex Rose Says: “I love me some vacation rock.”
American Analog Set – “Continuous Hit Music”
Alex Rose Says: “The hypnotic loop makes me think of heat waves. Then I can’t help but to let the album keep playing, daydreaming to ‘Hard to Find.’”
Stevie Wonder – “Golden Lady”
Alex Rose Says: “Makes me think of a beautiful woman’s face shimmering in the sunlight. That’s not a bad thing.”
Empire of the Sun – “Walking on a Dream”
Alex Rose Says: “Reminds me of our sun-shiny tour of Australia in February of 2009. This song was blowing up!”
Kanye West featuring Nas & Really Doe – “We Major”
Alex Rose Says: “In the summer and fall of 2005, the horns and Jon Brion’s keyboards made me feel like I was going down a water slide in slow motion. My ‘We Major’ moment came a few months later when I began playing keys for Minus the Bear.”
The Beatles – “Here Comes the Sun”
Alex Rose Says: “You can’t try to think of sunny music without a Beatles song coming to mind. This is one of my favorites from Mr. Harrison.” (HEAR IT HERE)
Led Zeppelin – “Going to California”
Alex Rose Says: “More classic rock, acoustic guitars, yada yada yada…gorgeous.” (HEAR IT HERE)
Listen to Minus the Bear, and hear Omni along with other albums, at MOG.
