NPR Music said it best in their review, Sharon Van Etten’s new album Tramp is nothing short of complex and assertive.

With songs spanning all ranges of emotions, SVE walks you through heartache, bitterness, longing and revival. Her aim was to make a record that was both dark and enlightening. One that digs up the past, but lays it to rest in resolution at the same time. Clearly, she was successful and for all our benefit.

“A big reason why I play music is to just feel something and to understand something… I don’t consider myself emo or anything, but I think it’s really important to acknowledge how you are feeling and what you’re going through. And that it’s human. And it’s okay to be sad and it’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to go back to that place to try to understand it.” – Sharon Van Etten, NPR interview.

Listen to the full album and exclusive interviews on NPR Music. Personal favorites?  ”Magic Chords” and “All I Can.”

Let it be known – I am not Kenny Laubbacher.  My name is Alex, and I’m your guest curator for minimixtape 4.

Here’s some background – I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, in the flannel/alt country/folk scenes.  My mom listened strictly to Motown, while my father was mainly feeling The Cranberries and Annie Lennox.  Blend those, add a bit of an angsty high school experience, an attempted hip-hop phase in college, and an obsession with anything British, and you have my current musical landscape.

I studied Music Business Management for a spell at college, and then began my time at Invisible Children, where I’ve been for a little over a year and half as a Roadie, Communications Intern, and the newly developed Street Team Rep for NYC.  I am obsessed with music – finding it, rediscovering it, reading about it.  The whole ordeal.

The tracks on this minimixtape are an assortment of things I’ve been feeling recently – whether I emotionally connect with it or just think it sounds cool.  It’s that simple.  Download the mix here (or click the image above), and check out the links and support the artists you like.  Don’t be that person who contributes to the death of the music industry.  No one likes that person.

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“Comeback Kid” – Sleigh Bells | I’ve missed the aggressive energy this duo brings.  Their record is all I listened to in New York City as a Roadie.

“HEART” – Oberhofer | Been digging Brad Oberhofer’s music for a while now, and this track is seriously epic.  Strings and all.

“Open The Other Eye” – Whispertown | This song is just obnoxiously cool.  Turn the sound all way up on this, and just bob along.

“Rivers” – Kankouran | Used in the trailer for the new Skins.  If you need motivation for the week, this is your song.

“Bad Girls” – M.I.A. | Needs no description.  Just massive.  And that video.  Unreal.

“Home Again” – Michael Kiwanuka | Relaxing & soulful melancholia.  My favorite genre.

“I’d Rather Go Blind” – Etta James | Ever since Etta’s passing, this has rarely been off repeat.

“How Come You Never Go There (Beck Remix)” – Feist | One of last year’s best + crazy beats from Beck.  Complete rework.

“I Need” – Maverick Sabre | My newest soul obsession from the UK who is going big in 2012.

“I Feel Better” – Gotye | You’ve heard “Somebody That I Used To Know” and that oddly popular/not-so-quality cover all over Facebook.  Dig deeper into his album with this one that will improve any mood.

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That’s all for minimixtape 4.  Let me know throughout the week what’s hitting you.  Have a swell one.

See you on Monday for your Monday Mini Mixtape.

M.I.A, Bad Girls from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Yours Truly & Invisible Children Present: Middle Brother & Mountain Man from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

They’re making a new album and if you pledge to the album you can get signed vinyl, a Capella tracks, backstage passes or even private shows. 10% of all money they raise over their goal will go to Invisible Children.

Go here to support the making of this album:
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/ivanandalyosha

Their latest installment features a very sincere rendition of Dawes’ “Million Dollar Bill” by Cillie Barnes. I think I could listen to this song 100 times over, flip the tape, and listen to it 100 times more without growing tired of it. Enjoy.

Co-directed by SoKo and Matthew Gray Gubler, the nerdy one off Criminal Minds, the video for “First Love Never Die” is adorably melancholic.  That’s the best description I can do, and I think after viewing the clip – it suffices.

VHS or Beta and SD locals Hyena were the featured artists last night at Soundcheck, a once a month night of fun that we do with the Hard Rock Hotel and FILTER Magazine in downtown San Diego.

Our insanely talented designer Chadwick Gantes jumped in the crowd and dance battled his way to the front to grab these beautiful photos.

We still have a few handscreened posters from our pals at Aloha Sunday. Shoot Lauren an email if you want to grab one for a $20 donation.

Poster design by Brandon Reeves.

Within a few months’ time, Lana Del Rey went from viral sensation, to SNL musical guest, to favorite punching bag of “music journalists” – all before her debut album dropped.  This week, Lana’s first LP Born To Die is released internationally – and it is already topping the charts in eleven countries. “Shoutout to my haters, sorry that you couldn’t phase me.”

I, and a lot of people from the office, became obsessed with Lana over the fall when the “Video Games” clip blew up online.  We’ve been eagerly awaiting this album, and it doesn’t disappoint.  There isn’t anyone else out there right now doing what Lana does.

You need to listen to Born To Die.  I’ll give you some tracks to start out with.  If you like them, you can go from there.  Choose your own adventure.

VITAL TRACKS: “Without You” // “Off To The Races” // “This Is What Makes Us Girls” // “Million Dollar Man”