It’s that time of year again, Valentine’s Day, the holiday that divides us all. A year ago today I made a mix for my friends to celebrate the joys of friend love (and beautiful music of course), and I’m at it again, only now I have a lot more people to share this with. So make the most of today, and never fear, regardless of whether or not you’re in a relationship, always remember, Danger Loves You. Download the mix here.

Track Listing
1 “Always Love U” – Theophilus London
2 “Make You Mine” – Breakbot
3 “Always Like This” – Bombay Bicycle Club
4 “Lover of Mine” – Beach House
5 “Love Me Girl” – Yeasayer
6 “One Life Stand” – Hot Chip
7 “July Flame” – Laura Veirs
8 “Odessa” – Caribou
9 “I Want A House” – Twin Sister
10 “In The Bedroom” – Xylos
11 “Billie Holiday” – Warpaint
12 “Time For Us All To Love” – Bullion
13 “Let Go” – jj
14 “So Light Is Her Football (Breakbot Remix)” – Air
15 “Stars” – The xx

Laura Veirs was one of those artists I discovered by chance. Her song “Lose Yourself” found its way onto my computer, and proceeded to make the leap to my brain, becoming permanently lodged there during the spring of 2009. More recently, the internet was abuzz with talks of her new album, July Flame. In a typical fashion, I didn’t react until I came across “Wide-Eyed, Legless”, and course, I was hooked. I bought the rest of the album immediately, and haven’t stopped listening to it since. Female singer/songwriters with folk influences are a dime a dozen, but Veirs is one of the rare ones with the ability to make you stop and listen. Her songs are poppy and melodic but she manages to infuse them with just enough darkness to make you think twice about what she’s crooning. The title track “July Flame” is one of those immediately hypnotic tracks that is a bit unsettling, with haunting lyrics like, “ashes of a secret heart falling in my lemonade”, one can’t help but become addicted. While immediately drawn to certain songs, upon repeated listens, each track manages to worm its way into your head and heart. This is the first truly flawless album I have come across in 2010, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to inaugurate what is sure to be a great year of new music.

Laura Veirs – Wide-Eyed, Legless
Laura Veirs – July Flame