2009 (repost)

Copenhagen Soundtrack

Soundtrack from Copenhagen trip
(because you know how I love theme songs).




mp3: Yeasayer - Madder Red
mp3: Phantogram - When I'm Small
mp3: Low Motion Disco - Love Love Love

Christmas Playlist, Indie-Rock Style (Part Two)

Yo La Tengo, The Flaming Lips, Billy Bob Thorton, Travis, My Morning Jacket, Belle and Sebastian, Sufjan Stevens, Okkervil River, Old 97's

Part 2...

mp3: Yo La Tengo - It's Christmas Time
mp3: Sufjan Stevens - Once In Royal David's City
mp3: Belle and Sebastian - O Little Town of Bethlehem
mp3: Billy Bob Thorton - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
mp3: Okkervil River - Calling and Not Calling My Ex
mp3: Travis - River
mp3: The Raveonettes - Come On Santa
mp3: The Flaming Lips - Christmas At the Zoo
mp3: Last Christmas
mp3: My Morning Jacket - Bring On the Joy
mp3: The Beatles - Christmas Time (is here again)
mp3: Old 97's - Here it is Christmas Time

Christmas Playlist, Indie-Rock Style (Part One)

Radiohead, The Dandy Warhols, The Raveonettes, Weezer, Julian Casablancas, Low, Bright Eyes, Death Cab, The Format, Pete Yorn

Although this time of year often makes me break out the Ella Fitzgerald and the Tony Bennett, it came up recently with my friend Brian about how many indie rock artists put out great Christmas stuff, all of which can be pretty hard to find.  Here is Part One of my list of favorite holiday songs in the indie or indie-influenced category (oh yes, there will be a part two...).  Just in time for everyone's rides home to wherever it is they call home. (Links for downloads, below.)

mp3: Julian Casablancas - I Wish It Were Christmas Today

mp3: Weezer - O Holy Night

mp3: Bright Eyes - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

mp3: Pete Yorn - Do They Know It's Christmas

mp3: Low - Just Like Christmas

mp3: The Format - Holly Jolly Christmas

mp3: Radiohead - Winter Wonderland

mp3: The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song

mp3: Death Cab - Baby Please Come Home

mp3: The Dandy Warhols - Every Day Should Be a Holiday

Thank you, Swedes

It was just this past Sunday that I was comparing notes with my friend Tara about how many Swedish bands we both love.  By coincidence I heard the new album from The Mary Onettes yesterday, and this particular track has been stuck in my head since. And come to find out they're Swedes, too. God bless 'em.

mp3: The Mary Onettes - Puzzles

Happy Thanksgiving

A song by the Clientele, which felt quite apropos for the holiday, and perfect for a drive home to the Valley.

The Clientele - Harvest Time

Which also got me playing my favorite Clientele song of all time, below.

The Clientele - Since K Got Over Me

Right-Click Links to Download mp3's

Today's Addiction - Julian Casablanca: Tourist (repost)

mp3: Julian Casablancas - Tourist
Right-Click to Download mp3[sorry - link removed]

[Link removed upon request of IFPI for copyright notice]

The Flaming Lips - Watching the Planets

Few can really deny the zany and outlandish genius of the Flaming Lips. And this particular track features the vocals of Karen O (not to mention her giddy, adorable little shrieks), who is kind of like my hero (along with Gwen of course... btw, always wondered if the two of them would get along).

Oh, Karen O, how I love thee, and every track you touch...


mp3: The Flaming Lips - Watching the Planets

Best Song Ever -- The XX and Julian Plenti

I can't remember the last time I was this obsessed with two songs.

mp3: Julian Plenti - Only If You Run
mp3: The XX - Heart Skipped a Beat

Right-Click Links to Download mp3's

Iceland Airwaves trip

I miss you already, Iceland...


mp3: GusGus - Add This Song
mp3: State Trooper (Trentmoeller mixes Springsteen)

My song for the plane ride:
mp3: Air - Talisman

Right-Click to Download mp3's

BEST SONG EVER. (TODAY).

mp3: Family Portrait - Mega Secrets

BEST SONG EVER. (TODAY).

mp3: Soft Black - Ashtray Christ

June Playlist

June's Playlist -- and P.S. I absolutely loved this article about Passion Pit.

"I was there in the beginning,
I'm always there when you need me to be."
-Henry Clay People

BEST SONG EVER. (TODAY).

mp3: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Janglin

BEST SONG EVER. (TODAY).

Me and my remixes...

So I especially love this one because, as you probably know, Fever Ray is fronted by Karin Deijer of The Knife, and it was by remixing The Knife several years ago that I first heard of Rex the Dog (I think that was the first time he really broke out in indie circles). He does well with the Swedes.


mp3: Fever Ray - Triangle Walks (Rex the Dog remix)

A Fitting Tribute

MJ can hardly be bested on one his own songs, but this one is pretty ok.

mp3: Discovery (Vampire Weekend/Ra Ra Riot) - I Want You Back


Another cover from a (very) unlikely band -
mp3: Belle and Sebastian - Billy Jean (Live Cover)

Batch of Tracks - from May (repost)

mp3: Marissa Nadler - River of Dirt
mp3: War on Drugs - Taking the Farm
mp3: The Henry Clay People - You Can Be Timeless
mp3: Blind Pilot - One Red Thread
mp3: Telekinesis - Coasts of Carolina
mp3: Studio - West Side
mp3: Phoenix - Lisztomania (Classixx remix)
mp3: Metric - Sick Muse
mp3: Ra Ra Riot - Ghost Under Rocks (Passion Pit remix)

My neighbors are so sick of hearing these songs (May)

"I love your parties. Especially the ones I remember."

Lily Does The Clash

Another good cover from the War Child 'Heroes' album. This song of course has already had quite a bit of a second run after MIA's sampling of it in 2007. If you're a Clash fan, you'll be happy to hear Mick Jones lending his own vocals on this track. "We asked 15 ultimate icons to select a favourite song from their classic back catalogue and to nominate the new act they most trust to create a unique interpretation of that hand-picked track."

War Child: Heroes

mp3: Lily Allen - Straight to Hell

BEST SONG EVER. (TODAY).

Best. Song. Ever.
mp3: Doves - Kingdom of Rust

Runners-up, both remixes. The first one totally reminds me of a PM Dawn song.
mp3: Woodhands - Dancer (CFCF Remix)
mp3: The Robot Disaster - Guitars Are Overrated (Neo Tokyo Remix)

Batch of Tracks - April

Tracks from April

mp3: The Alligators - The Conqueror

mp3: Dead Heart Bloom - Flash In a Bottle

mp3: TV On the Radio - Heroes

mp3: Bat for Lashes - Daniel

mp3: Empire of the Sun - We Are the People

mp3: The Presets - This Boy's In Love (LifeLike remix)

mp3: Voxtrot - Trepanation Party

My Neighbors are So Sick of Hearing These Songs

"I see the music in your face

That your words cannot explain"

-David Byrne

BEST SONG EVER. (TODAY).

Best song E-V-E-R. Thank you again, Brooklyn.
mp3: Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game


And something else jangly.
mp3: The National - So Far Around the Bend

FINE THEN. (Follow Up)

It was pretty damn cool.
(We shall never speak of this again.)

FOR SALE: MY CREDIBILITY - BUYER: DAVE MATTHEWS

Confession: I once declined a date with a cute boy after learning that his favorite band was Dave Matthews Band.

Not that there is anything wrong with being a fan (if you happen to be one of them), but in a manner similar to a staunch Democrat declining to date a Republican, I just figured that we weren't really going to see eye to eye on most things after learning of the whole DMB thing. It's just that I've always had a hard time respecting it when that is somebody's FAVORITE (considering that it generally makes me want to punch myself in the ears). Yes, I am embarrassed that I am that judgmental - that's why it is called a confession.

My friend Dave G, however, is someone who's taste in music I respect supremely. And he happens to LOVE Dave Matthews live. It has always thrown me off a little, being that we have such similar tastes otherwise. So... begrudgingly, I think I'm going to try and put my tightly-held opinions aside and try (TRY!) to give DMB another chance. For Dave G's sake. And because he's even offered me a ticket to one of his NYC shows tonight in an effort to change my mind. And how can I possibly snub that kind of gesture?

So, with that said... wish me luck yall.

P.S. My first show EVER at Madison Square Garden - psyched!!

THEME SONGS

Theme songs have to just "happen". Invariably, when I'm on holiday, one song always emerges as the definitive soundtrack for the whole trip or occasion. Two months ago, while visiting Belize with my favorite travel buddies, one of the venues we were at played a 10 minute version of Mika's 'Relax' on the first night we were out. The funny part is that the next day I downloaded it on my iPhone and proceeded to play it out loud (from my purse) while our group strolled along the sunny streets of San Pedro. It was as if the soundtrack was following us around. (Giselle was amused).


Belize Feb '09:
mp3: Mika - Relax Take It Easy

Costa Rica May '08:
mp3: Fragma - Toca Me

Lisa's Birthday Feb '09:
mp3: Air - Sexy Boy


Belize

Lisa's Bday