November Mixtape – A Little Late, But Worth the Wait
Cozy Vibes and Crisp Sounds: A month of old favorites, new discoveries, and the perfect soundtrack for winter nights.
Yes, it’s mid-December, and the November mixtape is only just arriving. Chalk it up to the holiday whirlwind, a little too much turkey (and maybe one too many phony negronis), and the ever-elusive concept of time. But good music doesn’t abide by deadlines, and I’m thrilled to finally share what I’ve been listening to.
November’s mix is a cozy yet crisp collection, perfect for late-night fireside chats, long drives beneath winter skies, or simply relaxing with something warm in hand. As always, this mixtape captures the soundtrack of my month—a blend of old favorites, fresh discoveries, and everything in between.
Among the many new artists I explored, I also revisited some older tracks that felt like they belonged here. Two by Baxter Dury—"Shadow" and "Crowded Rooms"—felt inseparable, so both made the cut. Another standout is "Next to Normal" by Lucius, a track that’s simply fantastic. I also rediscovered "Olson" by Boards of Canada, a song I hadn’t listened to in years. It popped up on a mix and reminded me why I love their work so much.
"I’m With the Band" by The Black Keys featuring Beck earned its spot for being a stellar track and an unexpected collaboration. It also ties back to my Spotify Wrapped for 2024, where Beck was my most-listened-to artist—a surprise, but it made sense after I remembered his incredible Carnegie Hall performance last summer. He played backed by a full symphony, and afterward, I made a Beck-centric mix inspired by the performance that became my “work job” soundtrack for months. (Side note: My nephew used to call work “going to your work job” when he was little, and even though he’s grown out of it, I still find it funny enough to use.)
November also brought me to Kacey Musgraves, thanks to my friends in Lord Huron, who opened for her during two sold-out shows at Barclays Center. The performances were stunning, with incredible production and gorgeous lighting. Inspired (My days of documenting concerts are behind me, for now at least, but there is a shaky bootleg rip of the whole concert HERE which almost does the epicness of the lightshow justice and I’ve embedded one of the videos below), I dove into her music and included two tracks on this mix.
I know I’m late to the table, but November also introduced me to Kacey Musgraves, thanks to my friends in Lord Huron, who opened for her during two sold-out shows at Barclays Center. The performances were breathtaking, with stunning production and a mesmerizing light show. Although my concert-documenting days are behind me (for now, at least), there’s a shaky bootleg rip of the entire concert here that comes close to capturing the epicness of the visuals—and I’ve embedded one of the videos below for you to enjoy. Inspired, I dove into her music and ended up including two of her tracks on this mix.
"Too Good to Be True" from her most recent album, Deeper Well, is beautifully understated, blending vulnerability and strength. It feels both intimate and expansive, a perfect addition here. And of course, "Slow Burn"—quintessential Kacey. Its timeless quality hit especially hard as the year winds down. Revisiting it after the Barclays shows reminded me of her incredible storytelling and emotional depth.
Perfume Genius is an artist I return to often—delicate yet powerful. This month, their collaboration with Alan Sparhawk on "Point of Disgust" stood out. I played it on repeat throughout November; its emotional depth felt perfect for the mix.
Covers can be hit or miss, but Sleigh Bells’ version of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" is fantastic. The song’s legacy runs deep, originating as a folk tune recorded by Doc Walsh in the 1940s and later gaining iconic status through Lead Belly’s haunting rendition. It’s been reinterpreted by countless artists—from Joan Baez and Dolly Parton to The Grateful Dead and Nirvana, whose MTV Unplugged performance cemented the song for my generation (video below, which, upon revisiting for this writing, has a surprisingly playful intro from Kurt Cobain, a figure I’ve always imagined as intensely serious). Sleigh Bells manages to honor the song’s storied history while putting their own unique spin on it.
Sofie Royer’s dreamy track "Babydoll" is a wistful gem that stood out for its nostalgic tone, adding a reflective layer to the mix.
Finally, Franc Moody’s funky yet introspective "Going Through the Motions" closes the mixtape. It captures that end-of-year energy—reflecting on the past while looking ahead. A perfect way to wrap up November and transition into December.
Listen to the FULL November 2024 Mix on Spotify.
Tracklist:
No Matter What I Do | Z Berg | Strange Darling (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
If You Must Leave | Arsun | Babe I Hear Thunder in Your Heart
Pool Party | Abby Sage | Pool Party
Break Me Down | Yukimi, Little Dragon | Break Me Down
Don’t Ever Change | Baby Dave | Monkey Brain
Hold On | Yellow Ostrich | The Mistress
I’m With The Band (feat. Beck) | The Black Keys, Beck | I’m With The Band (feat. Beck)
Beetlebugs | Nick Leng | Beetlebugs
What Can I Give You | Kate Bollinger | What Can I Give You
Shadow | Baxter Dury | I Thought I Was Better Than You
Crowded Rooms | Baxter Dury | I Thought I Was Better Than You
Next to Normal | Lucius | Second Nature
Too Good to Be True | Kacey Musgraves | Deeper Well: Deeper into the Well
Olson | Boards of Canada | Music Has The Right To Children
Feelin’ Fuzzy | Chinese American Bear | Wah!!!
Babydoll | Sofie Royer | Babydoll
Slow Burn | Kacey Musgraves | Golden Hour
Brecha | Tassia Reis | Topo da Minha Cabeça
Confessions | Sudan Archives | Athena
None of My Friends | Liz Lawrence | Pity Party
Point of Disgust | Perfume Genius, Alan Sparhawk | TRANSA
Where Did You Sleep Last Night | Sleigh Bells | Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Des Choses | Scratch Massive, Maud Geffray | Des Choses
Anti-Superstar | Haute & Freddy | Anti-Superstar
Wong Kar-wai | Say Lou Lou | Dust
C’est La Vie No.2 | Phosphorescent | C’est La Vie
Going Through the Motions | Franc Moody | Bloodlines
If you haven't listened to previous months:
You made it way below the fold! Your reward is in an AI cover art outtakes album:
As always, this month's cover art was created by cutting and pasting the tracklist into mid-journey to see what it thinks this collection of songs looks like. Your guess is as good as mine as to how we got there from here or here from there. These are the outtakes.
