The third mixtape of the year is here and I promise you it is full of nothing but bangers!
The foundation for this mix started when I randomly stumbled onto The Struts' Luke Spiller on YouTube, and his single "Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes and Wine." I mean, who could not be intrigued by that song title?! I knew that would be the opener, and that I'd close it with the other single from his forthcoming album "The Ending Is Always The Same."
As I started culling these tracks together is when Disney Plus started airing the new Daredevil: Born Again series. The Newton Brothers did a decent upgrade of the original Netflix theme but I missed that original John Paesano one! I was also revisiting this Tales From The Crypt-esque hardcover graphic novel I picked up a few years back called "DEVIL TALES." (That's where that cover image comes from.) All of that combined inspired the title, "Time To Give The Devil His Due."
I have to admit, a lot of these new band discoveries came from YouTube algorithm recommendations! Like the single "Tonight (I'm Afraid)" by the band Scowl. I'd never heard of them before! But the sudden shift that happens in the last minute and a half of this track is one of my favorite things I've heard in ages. Such smart, sharp rock songwriting. I looked up an interview with the singer, Kat Moss, and she was talking about all these "punk" shows she went to in Northern California when she was a teen that inspired the band. And all I could think was... I have never heard of a single one of these "punk" bands she's talking about! I've officially aged out of what's considered punk.
Other new finds, Hot Milk (total Foo Fighters vibes!), Ecca Vandal, New Candy's. Skullcrusher by yeule is a great industrial-ish track, but that's the only song from her catalog that sounds like that. I never thought I'd be a Lady Gaga "fan," and technically I'm not, but I can't help but enjoy the songs from her latest album "MAYHEM," which have a bit of a Nine Inch Nails meets Prince aesthetic. (It's similar to when Halsey had NIN produce one of here albums.) I dig it!
I found that electronic track Opr from Gesaffelstein from the Thunderbolts* trailer designed to look like an A24 movie. My buddy Jay Williamson recommended the new Dean Johnson single to me. And we have welcome returns from the Miki Berenyi Trio, The Lumineers, Doves, Alessia Cara, and my beloved AL1CE! And a new Wu-Tang Clan track called "Mandingo!"
This is easily one of my most diverse, rockin', most satisfying mixes thus far. Hope it'll turn you onto something new!
2025, Vol 3: Time To Give The Devil His Due
1. Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine by Luke Spiller
2. Opr by Gesaffelstein
3. Big I Am by Miki Berenyi Trio
4. CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE by Ecca Vandal
5. Blue Moon by Dean Johnson
6. 90 Seconds To Midnight by Hot Milk
7. Perfect Celebrity by Lady Gaga
8. Cold Dreaming by Doves
9. Tonight (I'm Afraid) by Scowl
10. Keys On The Table by The Lumineers
11. Dead Man by Alessia Cara
12. Regicide by New Candy's
13. Daredevil: Born Again theme by The Newton Brothers
14. Daredevil: Main Title by John Paesano & Braden Kimball
15. Daredevil Theme (Epic Version) by Alala (Spotify version by Jared Moreno Luna)
16. Skullcrusher by yeule
17. Mandigo by Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics
18. Antipop Star by X-RI7 & AL1CE
19. It's Amazing To be Young by Fontaines D.C.
20. Bonnet Of Pins by Matt Berniger
21. Closer Than You Think by A Day To Remember
22. The Ending Is Always The Same by Luke Spiller