So this is the first in a series that I’m going to be writing and posting. All songs I talk about will be available to download in a zip file. So I don’t want you all missing out on all this goodness that I’m getting! If you stumble across this, please have a read, download and share what you think with a comment! All opinions are welcome.

Ok, so in not particular order I will try and do my best to give my opinion of the song and give you some links to their sites or myspace. All will start with the artist name and then song title.

1. Popface - Dreams Burn Down (Ride) – Well anything shoegaze at the moment is pretty good in my books, well actually not all is good, I’ve come across some not so good shoegaze. These guys are from Norway, I like this track, it’s simple and dreamy like. I guess a lot of bands from the Scandinavian area can have this affect on you. The mix of a distorted guitar and dreamy guitar leads are nice, and the vocals mix well with the track. You can check them out here: www.popface.no and www.myspace.com/popface

2. Brakes - Why Tell the Truth (When It’s Easier To Lie) – This 4 piece from Brighton, UK have had quite a lot of EP’s that I can see on their MySpace page but haven’t hit my radar until now. This song is of their album Touchdown, pretty basic rock but it works. www.myspace.com/brakesband

3. Neil Young – Just Singing A Song – Well it’s Neil Young, does that need an explanation?

4. The Mountain Goats & John Vanderslice - Surrounded – I really have a thing for harmonica’s in songs at the moment. And this popped up in my playlist so I decided to share with you too.

5. Dananananaykroyd - Watch This! – I don’t know about the band name but the song is good. I’ve heard a few other songs of theirs before and this one has stuck to me. It’s dirty, has shouting, great vocals that tie in with the guitar riff. Cherk them out here: www.myspace.com/dananananaykroyd

6. Dakota Suite - The End Of Trying Part II – Simply put it’s an instrumental, and I love instrumentals, ever since listening to Explosions In The Sky, I’ve always had a better appreciation’s for instrumentals, they really do tell a story.

7. SomaHigh - Lo Fat – Heavy guitars and synths!! Seems to be popular at the moment, indy dance anyone? Take this to a party and impress your friends with your street cred and dance the night way.

8. The Decemberists - Margaret In Captivity (Live SXSW ‘09) – Well, one of my favourite albums of the year goes to The Decemberists and their amazing album The Hazards Of Love. This is a live track from SXSW’09, would love to get my hands on the whole show. If you haven’t heard their album, go out and get it! It is so very much worth buying.

9. Mumford & Sons - The Cave – Strange band name I guess, but I like the song. There is definitely a banjo in there, interesting use of it too. Take a listen.

10. Anya Marina - Cut It Out – I’m a sucker for female singers. This track is pretty poppy but a great little listen.

11. Other Lives - Don’t Let Them – Great little intro, I love when tracks have a quiet beginning but turn into something epic. Well it may not be EPIC. But it’s a great relaxing tune with great vocals.

12. The Wendy Darlings - Eleasy (is my fantasy but wendy d. is paying me) – Awesome little punkish track with female vocals. Now this track does remind me of another song or band, but I cannot put my finger on it, at first I thought of Yeah Yeah Yeahs but it wasn’t them who I wanted.

13. The Coathangers - Killdozer – Now I’m pretty sure that’s all girls singing, either way I’m happy, again I’m a sucker for the girls on the mic. But this is very different from the other tracks. Very dirty female vocals, nice organ work in there too.

14. Black Moth Super Rainbow - The Fields Are Breathing – First song I’ve heard of this band before. Pretty electronic, especially on the vocals. Love it though.

15. Blue Roses - Rebecca – Ok, so I listened to this song today on my iPod (well iPhone). And immediately made it 5 stars and said, this is going on the mix. Continuing with the trend of girls on the mic. This was is a pearl, great voice and great song writer.

16 - Bat For Lashes - Use Somebody (Reprise de Kings of Leon) – Ok, so all the talk over summer was about Kings Of Leon, they got so much radio play and exposure, was a great album and credit to them to making it big over here. Another great artist to be getting more exposure over here is Bat For Lashes, and what better way to combine these to bands than a Kings Of Leon cover.

17 - Aidan Moffat & The Best-Ofs - 9,000,000 Bicycles – I thought it was a funny song title when it came up on my iPhone and had to listen to the whole song. Nice little song, with a scottish guy singing, I’m pretty sure it’s scottish. 6 million people in the world and 9 million bicycles!

Ok, so you can download the mix-tape in a zip file here, all mp3’s. Have fun, be sure to share and direct them to here to download. I look forward to what May will bring us. Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

Download this months mix-tape here: 2009-04-mixtape.zip