Monday, February 28, 2011
Song of the Day, 2/28/11
From my friends The Thoughts. Let the violin pull at your heart.
The Seattle Rock Orchestra played with them back in November, and I think they're my favorite band we've played with. Every. single. one. of their songs is the saddest song you've ever heard, and the string parts are gorgeous - when they're played by a full orchestra, or when they're played by just Katie and a looper.
This is off of their record which came out this year. It's definitely worth a look if you like strings and sadness. (COMPLIMENT)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Also: Link of note
I highly recommend reading The Stranger's Ke$ha review if you haven't yet.
Honorable Mention: Seattle Rock Orchestra Played Radiohead to a Packed Moore Theatre on Saturday and They Did Not Fuck It Up!
(update: Fixing the link to be an uh, link.
Honorable Mention: Seattle Rock Orchestra Played Radiohead to a Packed Moore Theatre on Saturday and They Did Not Fuck It Up!
(update: Fixing the link to be an uh, link.
Song of the Day - Catch Up Post
Okay, so, I've had a really bad week. One that keeps getting worse! It's pretty awesome! So I've fallen behind on maintaining this. Yeah. I know.
I'm hoping though, as SxSW gets closer, maybe I'll accelerate! You never know! Maybe you'll get some pretty hot updates from SxSW!
Anyways, this week I can at least tell you about a couple of records I've been heavily enjoying. Both of which came out recently.
First, I want to recommend the new Cave Singers record, No Witch.
It came out earlier this week, and it's a solid followup to their first two records. They're taking their mellow folksy sound and pushing it a little bit. The album has a really great build up of tension and energy, and about halfway through it I was questioning whether or not I was still listening to the Cave Singers. It's great. Give it a listen.
The other record I want to point y'all at is the new Say Hi record. (I think I've posted this video once before, I'm too lazy to look up whether or not I have.)
Anyways, the whole record is good. Start to finish. Perfect for your shitty week at work. Really. I promise.
Plus, they're all really nice dudes. Unlike the waiter-dude at this restaurant I'm at right now. I've only been coming here a few times a month for a year, have been tipping well, and I am generally unoffensive - and he still goes out of his to be rude to me. UGH.
I'm hoping though, as SxSW gets closer, maybe I'll accelerate! You never know! Maybe you'll get some pretty hot updates from SxSW!
Anyways, this week I can at least tell you about a couple of records I've been heavily enjoying. Both of which came out recently.
First, I want to recommend the new Cave Singers record, No Witch.
It came out earlier this week, and it's a solid followup to their first two records. They're taking their mellow folksy sound and pushing it a little bit. The album has a really great build up of tension and energy, and about halfway through it I was questioning whether or not I was still listening to the Cave Singers. It's great. Give it a listen.
The other record I want to point y'all at is the new Say Hi record. (I think I've posted this video once before, I'm too lazy to look up whether or not I have.)
Anyways, the whole record is good. Start to finish. Perfect for your shitty week at work. Really. I promise.
Plus, they're all really nice dudes. Unlike the waiter-dude at this restaurant I'm at right now. I've only been coming here a few times a month for a year, have been tipping well, and I am generally unoffensive - and he still goes out of his to be rude to me. UGH.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Song of the Day 2/24/2011
Brakesbrakesbrakes – Margarita
Smash smash five megatons of smash!
It’s been a long day, I’ve been working from home which is massively inefficient - I miss my twin 24” monitors and the lack of delay between pushing a key and something happening on the screen. There is still loads of work to do and now even less time in which to do it. Also my teeth hurt and I can’t find any good painkillers.
I was just starting to sink into misery when my wife made the us most awesome margarita I’ve ever had (the secret seems to be to use lots of fresh limes and really good tequila), I have perked up.
Hence:
Not the greatest recording ever, so here’s a link to when it was KEXP song of the day back in 2007 when we were young.
It’s a good thing that my problems can be solve with hard liquor isn’t? I’m sure there would be an intervention otherwise.
Smash smash five megatons of smash!
It’s been a long day, I’ve been working from home which is massively inefficient - I miss my twin 24” monitors and the lack of delay between pushing a key and something happening on the screen. There is still loads of work to do and now even less time in which to do it. Also my teeth hurt and I can’t find any good painkillers.
I was just starting to sink into misery when my wife made the us most awesome margarita I’ve ever had (the secret seems to be to use lots of fresh limes and really good tequila), I have perked up.
Hence:
Not the greatest recording ever, so here’s a link to when it was KEXP song of the day back in 2007 when we were young.
It’s a good thing that my problems can be solve with hard liquor isn’t? I’m sure there would be an intervention otherwise.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
And here's what I did last night.....
The Seattle Rock Orchestra does Paranoid Android with Kaylee Cole. We killed it last night. KILLED IT.
And I think we sold out the Moore? We came close. It looks pretty damn cool to see a packed theater from the stage, let me tell you.
Song of the Day, 2/20/11
From the Austin band Literature. Stolen from my Facebook friend's feed (thanks Esme! Who probably won't ever see this.)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Songs of the Day, 2/18/11 and 2/19/11
Let's just take a moment to talk about being a teenager in the mid to late 90s. I woke up to popular culture in 1995. It was too late for Nirvana - Kurt was gone, so MTV and all of the media outlets were calling Seattle officially over. My So Called Life had been canceled, not that it mattered, since I was too young to "get it" the first time it aired. Slacker came out in 1991 and had already ridden it's wave back into obscurity. I spent my early teenage years feeling like I was a weird kid born just a few minutes too late.
It was like the kids two or three grades above me were having this amazing experience being weird, wearing flannel, awkwardly blinking at boys, and kids my age were discovering Tommy Hilfiger and waiting patiently for Britney Spears to define their sexuality for them. And boy, what an awesome ride that was going to be for them.
Anyways, 1995 was the year that Radiohead delivered The Bends. As a weird kid longing for the inclusive promises of being part of 'Generation X', Radiohead didn't exactly give you that - but it made it okay to be a weird kid for a very long time. It made me believe there was meaning and something valuable about being on the edges - of pop culture, of sounds, of meaning, of whatever. (Come on, I was in middle school!) This record -- and OK Computer -- made up the soundscape for most of my teenage awakenings. Like, I don't think I'd ever thought much about sex and sexuality until one of my teenage friends told us proudly about how much she fantasied about Thom Yorke. (Wait, what, do *I* need to fantasize about someone? DO I NEED TO FANTASIZE ABOUT THOM YORKE?!?! Answer after weeks of soul searching: He is not my type.)
So for Friday, I give you a song that may have saved my teenage life:
(I'm sorry that's such a low quality version. Here's the link to the officially sanctioned one, but those fucks will make you watch an ad.)
And unless you've been living without electricity for a few days, you know Radiohead released a new album this week. I mean today. I mean yesterday. Whatever.
So why all the Radiohead? Why am I thinking about Radiohead? Because tonight a group I play with (The Seattle Rock Orchestra) is doing our tribute to Radiohead, at the Moore Theater. You know, come and stuff. It's going to be epic.
Also, this is making the rounds.
It was like the kids two or three grades above me were having this amazing experience being weird, wearing flannel, awkwardly blinking at boys, and kids my age were discovering Tommy Hilfiger and waiting patiently for Britney Spears to define their sexuality for them. And boy, what an awesome ride that was going to be for them.
Anyways, 1995 was the year that Radiohead delivered The Bends. As a weird kid longing for the inclusive promises of being part of 'Generation X', Radiohead didn't exactly give you that - but it made it okay to be a weird kid for a very long time. It made me believe there was meaning and something valuable about being on the edges - of pop culture, of sounds, of meaning, of whatever. (Come on, I was in middle school!) This record -- and OK Computer -- made up the soundscape for most of my teenage awakenings. Like, I don't think I'd ever thought much about sex and sexuality until one of my teenage friends told us proudly about how much she fantasied about Thom Yorke. (Wait, what, do *I* need to fantasize about someone? DO I NEED TO FANTASIZE ABOUT THOM YORKE?!?! Answer after weeks of soul searching: He is not my type.)
So for Friday, I give you a song that may have saved my teenage life:
(I'm sorry that's such a low quality version. Here's the link to the officially sanctioned one, but those fucks will make you watch an ad.)
And unless you've been living without electricity for a few days, you know Radiohead released a new album this week. I mean today. I mean yesterday. Whatever.
So why all the Radiohead? Why am I thinking about Radiohead? Because tonight a group I play with (The Seattle Rock Orchestra) is doing our tribute to Radiohead, at the Moore Theater. You know, come and stuff. It's going to be epic.
Also, this is making the rounds.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Song of the Day 2/17/2011
The Builders and The Butchers - Black Dresses
It's a while since I've been to a show on a weeknight and it's virtually unprecedented for my wife to come out with me (more about this in another article), but tonight was special - this show was really close to our house and it was The Builders and The Butchers who are fucking awesome. They play a kind of stompy, old-timey, Americana without any irony or winking. They're authentic like Johnny Cash. There's no distance between them and the music that they need to play. They're authentic like Slayer. So we drove down to the venue and it was plastered in signs that said "Sold Out".
Fucking. Hell.
I rarely buy tickets in advance because things I like almost never sell out (The Hold Steady excepted). That all changes right now. On our way back I went to Sonic Boom and bought physical paper tickets for Eugene Mirman. I will not allow any more preventable disappointment.
It's a while since I've been to a show on a weeknight and it's virtually unprecedented for my wife to come out with me (more about this in another article), but tonight was special - this show was really close to our house and it was The Builders and The Butchers who are fucking awesome. They play a kind of stompy, old-timey, Americana without any irony or winking. They're authentic like Johnny Cash. There's no distance between them and the music that they need to play. They're authentic like Slayer. So we drove down to the venue and it was plastered in signs that said "Sold Out".
Fucking. Hell.
I rarely buy tickets in advance because things I like almost never sell out (The Hold Steady excepted). That all changes right now. On our way back I went to Sonic Boom and bought physical paper tickets for Eugene Mirman. I will not allow any more preventable disappointment.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Song of the Day, 2/16/11
Oh hello!
So today I want to talk about Mogwai. They have a new album out this week on Sub Pop, with an awesome title: Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will.
YESS.
So today's song(s) of the day are the two free tracks that are stream-able courtesy of Sub Pop off of Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will. Head on over and consume!!
I'm still forming my initial impressions of this record, but to me it feels like Mogwai is still Mogwai. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, but it's not a new exciting innovative knock your socks off kind of thing.
I know I haven't been super diligent on this blog about posting 2011 music, but it's because nothing has really blown my socks off yet. Nothing has even teased my socks this year.
(Campfire OK's record I like a lot, as I do Bright Eye's, but we all more or less knew they were coming, and exactly what was coming - solid albums, not sock knockers or teasers. You know?)
But just the same, you should check out the Mogwai. It's thick, meaty, and enjoyable. MMM.
So today I want to talk about Mogwai. They have a new album out this week on Sub Pop, with an awesome title: Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will.
YESS.
So today's song(s) of the day are the two free tracks that are stream-able courtesy of Sub Pop off of Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will. Head on over and consume!!
I'm still forming my initial impressions of this record, but to me it feels like Mogwai is still Mogwai. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, but it's not a new exciting innovative knock your socks off kind of thing.
I know I haven't been super diligent on this blog about posting 2011 music, but it's because nothing has really blown my socks off yet. Nothing has even teased my socks this year.
(Campfire OK's record I like a lot, as I do Bright Eye's, but we all more or less knew they were coming, and exactly what was coming - solid albums, not sock knockers or teasers. You know?)
But just the same, you should check out the Mogwai. It's thick, meaty, and enjoyable. MMM.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Song of the Day, 2/13/11
Today is one of those days that begs the question 'do I even know what day it is?' followed by 'does it even matter'?
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Song of the Day, 2/11/11
Hastily chosen and late song of the day for 2/10!!!!!
I feel pretty strongly that this is the better of the two released versions.
I feel pretty strongly that this is the better of the two released versions.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Song of the day 2/10/2011
This is late. I do Thursdays and it is not Thursday anymore. I was tired and I had lots of typing commitments and thisaintart was moved to the bottom of my to-do list. This won’t happen again*.
Mike Doughty – I Hear The Bells
I’m not sure about all the lyrics but it doesn’t get any better than:
I hear the bells
They are like emeralds, and
Glints in the night
Commas and ampersands
The video appears to be a screensaver from 2005, sorry about that.
*This will happen again.
Mike Doughty – I Hear The Bells
I’m not sure about all the lyrics but it doesn’t get any better than:
I hear the bells
They are like emeralds, and
Glints in the night
Commas and ampersands
The video appears to be a screensaver from 2005, sorry about that.
*This will happen again.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Song of the Day, 2/8/11
Yes, I know I am bizarrely bad with simple concepts like "Post At" times. So technically, there has already been a song of the day today. That was posted yesterday. But I felt a bit bad about it. So I'm giving you another one.
This might turn into 'Songs I Wish I'd Written' for awhile. This is from Damien Jurado's album Rehearsals for Departure, which came out in 1999. I think I heard it for the first time while I was working a sub shift during Spring Break at KUGS in 2000 or 2001 - and I don't even think I liked it the first time I heard it.
But it stuck with me. It got under my skin. It's all about distance, from a particular place, from a particular moment in time, from a person, from people - all of which are easy to relate to for any kid who is starting their life out, but especially for one who leaves Seattle for the middle of the country. I had to let a lot of people, places, and moments all go.
And I don't think Ohio was a 'real' place to me before I got to Nebraska, when I shared an office with a girl from Ohio. And the place that her home state fits into her world view, her mythology, her story... well, the song reminds me of her.
This might turn into 'Songs I Wish I'd Written' for awhile. This is from Damien Jurado's album Rehearsals for Departure, which came out in 1999. I think I heard it for the first time while I was working a sub shift during Spring Break at KUGS in 2000 or 2001 - and I don't even think I liked it the first time I heard it.
But it stuck with me. It got under my skin. It's all about distance, from a particular place, from a particular moment in time, from a person, from people - all of which are easy to relate to for any kid who is starting their life out, but especially for one who leaves Seattle for the middle of the country. I had to let a lot of people, places, and moments all go.
And I don't think Ohio was a 'real' place to me before I got to Nebraska, when I shared an office with a girl from Ohio. And the place that her home state fits into her world view, her mythology, her story... well, the song reminds me of her.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Song of the Day, 2/7/11
I know, I know, it feels a little bit early. But I've resumed my goal of learning to play fiddle version of Hold Steady songs, and I am already getting excited for this summer.
We're going to have the best summer ever.
Song of the Day, 2/8/11
Beautiful video. It reminds me of bits and pieces of my life.
The Lonely Forest "Turn Off This Song" from World Famous on Vimeo.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Song of the Day, 2/5/2011
Back to your regularly scheduled programming of Very Important Indie Rock:
Here's the Lonely Forest - they're the next in the wave of 'Local Boys Made Good'. They're an excellent band that I've actually never seen live (!) but deserve all the good things everyone (including NPR say about them.)
They make some lovely music.
And I'm super excited they're involved in the SRO Radiohead Concert.
The part where he gets to "They say that I'm a good guy" nearly kills me.
Here's the Lonely Forest - they're the next in the wave of 'Local Boys Made Good'. They're an excellent band that I've actually never seen live (!) but deserve all the good things everyone (including NPR say about them.)
They make some lovely music.
And I'm super excited they're involved in the SRO Radiohead Concert.
The part where he gets to "They say that I'm a good guy" nearly kills me.
Song of the Day, 2/4/11
KARAOKE EDITION!!!!!!!
I don't really have anything exciting and delicious to share with you tonight. Nothing too hipsterlicious. On my way to the karaoke party, I walked past a house that was clearly having a show in the living room. I'm pretty sure it is a show house I've heard of but never visited.
Instead of crashing the house party, I went and sang Ke$ha's Tic-Toc completely sober. Yes, I know.
Anyways, so I guess that makes it the song of the day. YES, I KNOW IT'S LAME, OKAY? You have to have a little bit of respect for a chick that can't sing who is making a career out of sounding wasted ALL of the time. There's something admirable there.... maybe... at least the part of me that wants to be wasted all of the time admires it.
So hate me. Never come back. But I'm giving you this version of the video.
I don't really have anything exciting and delicious to share with you tonight. Nothing too hipsterlicious. On my way to the karaoke party, I walked past a house that was clearly having a show in the living room. I'm pretty sure it is a show house I've heard of but never visited.
Instead of crashing the house party, I went and sang Ke$ha's Tic-Toc completely sober. Yes, I know.
Anyways, so I guess that makes it the song of the day. YES, I KNOW IT'S LAME, OKAY? You have to have a little bit of respect for a chick that can't sing who is making a career out of sounding wasted ALL of the time. There's something admirable there.... maybe... at least the part of me that wants to be wasted all of the time admires it.
So hate me. Never come back. But I'm giving you this version of the video.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Song of the day 2/3/11
Another Sunny Day – You Should All Be Murdered
I’ve been listening to lots of dreamy, shoe-gazing pop music for the last few days and I was going to post Rave Down by Swervedriver, then I saw the video on YouTube and their chumpy faces really put me off it. I failed to find the songs I wanted by Th’ Faith Healers and Pale Saints (Gorgeous Blue Flower in my Garden and Featherframe respectively).
Bah.
So instead here’s the Smiths-a-like You Should All Be Murdered off London Weekend (caution: nothing on that record seems to be as good as this). It’s a good match for an eternal grey afternoon spent fixing bugs.
I’ve been listening to lots of dreamy, shoe-gazing pop music for the last few days and I was going to post Rave Down by Swervedriver, then I saw the video on YouTube and their chumpy faces really put me off it. I failed to find the songs I wanted by Th’ Faith Healers and Pale Saints (Gorgeous Blue Flower in my Garden and Featherframe respectively).
Bah.
So instead here’s the Smiths-a-like You Should All Be Murdered off London Weekend (caution: nothing on that record seems to be as good as this). It’s a good match for an eternal grey afternoon spent fixing bugs.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Song of the Day, 2/1/11
I know this makes me terribly lame, but I can't help it. I somehow got tricked into liking Bright Eyes. Yes, you can hate me. Yes, you can disown me. I get it. I understand. I forgive you.
Anyways, the whole new album is up on NPR.org right now. (Can I just say how much I love that NPR streams whole albums in advance of their release?)
I haven't listened to the whole thing as of writing this post, but I am digging Approximated Sunlight. It's a slow burner. It's a little desolate. It reminds me of the mid-to-late 90s sparse tracks I used to lie on the floor and listen to in middle school, when the world felt like it would never just give up and end already.
I don't know if that made sense.
Anyways, the whole new album is up on NPR.org right now. (Can I just say how much I love that NPR streams whole albums in advance of their release?)
I haven't listened to the whole thing as of writing this post, but I am digging Approximated Sunlight. It's a slow burner. It's a little desolate. It reminds me of the mid-to-late 90s sparse tracks I used to lie on the floor and listen to in middle school, when the world felt like it would never just give up and end already.
I don't know if that made sense.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)