
The first edition of the Valentine's Day Mixtape (crafted way back in 2006) was the very first mixtape ever posted here on ATG, and it's taken many different forms ever since. As my music interests-and personal relationships-have evolved since then, so too have the mixes. The twee innocence of the first mix (see: The Postal Service, The Long Winters) and my high school self has transformed into more nostalgic choices (as evidenced by the FOUR cover songs on this 8th edition) and meaningful melodies. As usual, we've got all of the previous Valentine's Day Mixtapes available for [...]

You only need to compare the cover art of 20102s Big Echo and POP ETC to realize how much has changed for Chris and Jon Chu and Julian Harmon, three of the four members of the morning benders in their new incarnation as POP ETC . In the former we see a lush beach painting full of pastel colors and blurry, soft edges. In the latter, on the other hand, the color contrasts [...]
![[News] The Morning Benders Change Name to Pop ETC](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4160476_lg.jpg)
In rather unfortunate news, The Morning Benders have recently taken to Twitter and Facebook to announce that "this will be the last post/tweet from The Morning Benders." The news, while at first seemingly implying the demise of the band, was met with more welcome news. The band will not be breaking up, but instead changing their name to Pop ETC. On their former official website , band member Chris Chu explained that, "[w] hen we started this band in 2005 we had no expectations. From an early age [...]

Ever notice those insultingly inaccurate Facebook Suggestion Ads on the sidebars of the website. Such as – “Are you a fan of The Morning Benders ? Then you may like POP ETC !” Except, this time it’s pretty accurate. That’s because The Morning Benders are now going by POP ETC . Based out of California, I’m sure they had no idea the implications of their name in the UK when starting their band years ago. According to their old band website, the word ‘Bender’ is considered a gay slur [...]
I missed the memo somewhere when The Morning Benders officially changed their name to Pop Etc , after the band became aware that "bender" is a slur in other parts of the world for gay people. Regardless, the band formerly known to us as The Morning Benders have released their first music under their new name, as a free mixtape. Listen below or download it over at Pretty Much Amazing .
No, it wasn't for legal reasons.

THIS is huge news. The Morning Benders made a formal announcement via their website that they will be changing their name to POP ETC and to celebrate they released a mixtape full of new music greatness. The band recently discovered in some parts of Europe the word 'bender' is a derogatory term for a homosexual and they could not go on any longer with a name that is disrespectful to the gay community. The name had also become a distraction in the areas of the world where it holds the negative connotation and they wanted to keep things about the [...]
Listen to the the morning benders ' , now POP ETC , new "Mixtape" . Earlier today the morning benders took to Facebook and Twitter , to announce that it would be "their last post/tweet as The Morning Benders". As they're one of my favorite bands ever, this was crushing news, but I couldn't quite come to terms with the idea that they might have actually ended, especially with a third album reportedly so close. Shortly after, the band announced that [...]

To procrastinate just a little bit, I decided to put together a playlist to listen to when I actually get around to studying. But it turned into a playlist that helps you to stare at the wall, lost in thoughts until your tea goes cold instead. Sorry. If you're looking to pretend you're studying though, this is a pretty good soundtrack for it. x Last Known Surroundings - Explosions in the Sky Stitches - The Morning Benders [...]

Photograph by Handsome Joel Hansen The holidays tend to be rife with tension, and our Ca Va Cool family is no exception. Picking only 20 albums from 20102s offerings is tricky; every year, some fantastic records/EPs/tracks are overlooked. Our super-secret ranking process starts from civilized debate and degenerates into name-calling, tantrums and sulking. To pacify the whiners and to give you, the readers, more awesome music, we present our 2010 mixtape. Thanks for reading us, and happy 2011! Ca Va Cool 2010 Mixtape - Disc One 1. School [...]

happy new years eve! this is my own personal collection of my favorite songs of 2010. it was a tough decision to narrow down the best from out of 500 tracks, but the below addictions (in no particular order) seemed to take over my speakers for the most of this year. a collection of everything from indie rock, pop, r&b, soul, hip hop, electronica, and acoustics that made music in general feel good again. personally this year was a rollercoaster of happy emotions from moving to florida to starting a new line of jewelry to beginning new friendships to renewing [...]
![[Mixtape] Top 20 albums of 2010: The Mixtape](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3029547_lg.jpg)
Yes folks, that's right! If you didn't get enough of my top 20 albums of the year on Monday (check it here in case you missed it), we've decided to take all of that musical goodness and serve it up in mixtape form for your listening pleasure. That's right, each of the 20 tracks on this mixtape is either a track from one of my top 20 albums or a remix of a track from one of my top 20 albums. And since I like to keep things neat and orderly and easy to keep [...]

Alas, it's time for the obligatory, totally subjective year-end best-of list. Plenty of worthy releases this year, so I'm sure I'm omitting some wonderful albums. I've included a track from each album. Let's see some of your top ten lists in the comment section. -- Capt. Obvious MP3: 50. Cotton Jones - Somehow To Keep It Going (from Tall Hours In The Glowstream ) MP3: 49. Warpaint - Undertow (from [...]

SIDE A 1. Sweet Lights - Handle With Care (Traveling Wilburys Cover) 2. Ryan Adams - Hickory Wind (The Byrds Cover) 3. Boxes - Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand Cover) 4. The Morning Benders - Mother And Child Reunion (Paul Simon Cover) 5. Miniature Tigers - I Saw The Light (Todd Rundgren Cover) 6. She & Him - I Put A Spell On You (Screamin' Jay Hawkins Cover) 7. The Antlers - [...]

MP3's of artists playing the NJ area this week! Cults - Most Wanted ( Buy ) The Morning Benders - Wet Cement ( Buy ) Wakey! Wakey! - 22 ( Buy ) Twin Sister - Ginger ( Buy ) Kings of Leon - Charmer ( Buy ) [...]

SIDE A 1. Phosphorescent - Big Red Sun Blues (Lucinda Williams Cover) 2. Arcade Fire - This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) (Talking Heads Cover) 3. Beck - Sunday Morning (Velvet Underground Cover) 4. Hezekiah Jones - Thinking About You (Radiohead Cover) 5. Robin Pecknold - The Book Of Love (Magnetic Fields Cover) 6. Hurray For The Riff Raff - Seven Curses (Bob Dylan Cover) 7. Warpaint - Ashes To Ashes [...]

Photography by me ... Hello & happy Labour Day to all you states-side folks! We may have Monday off from work but that don't mean we can't get the music a-pumpin'!!! But first, do you see that cover above this paragraph? Not only does it work as a bad ass cover for today's mixtape, BUT.... It's also a gentle reminder that you have until FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH to get your fan-sign photos in for a chance to win $30 cash moneys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [...]

MP3's of artists playing the NJ area this week! The Morning Benders - Excuses ( Buy ) The Black Keys - Strange Times ( Buy ) Spiritualized - Death Take Your Fiddle ( Buy ) [...]

SIDE A 1. David Bazan - Flirted With You All My Life (Vic Chesnutt Cover) 2. My Morning Jacket - All The Best (John Prine Cover) 3. Port O'Brien & Papercuts - Military Madness (Graham Nash Cover) 4. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & The Cairo Gang - Play, Guitar, Play (Conway Twitty Cover) 5. Beth Orton & Sam Amidon - Thirteen (Big Star Cover) 6. The Tallest Man On Earth - Graceland (Paul Simon Cover) [...]