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

"Is everyone in my life bananas?"-Tony Soprano

I must be on a remix KICK

Confession: I often download music that has been recommended to me (or given to me for free), and never get around to actually listening to it. Unfortunately, I have a disgusting amount of music in my possession and, like clothing hanging in a closet with tags still attached, I just haven't had the opportunity to break them out yet. My most frequent idle-time filling activity is to go through music I haven't yet rated and give it a listen, either adopting it into my collection, or marking it for disbandment. Every now and then I come across something really good that I've never heard before but had in my collection all along. And then I get to feel like a Tard. (see "Tard"). That is the case for this CSS's remix of Sia's "Buttons". I discovered it one day while rifling through my iPhone on the subway and, instantly, the rest of my day had a soundtrack.

Also posting a favorite remix from last fall (Gang Gang Dance).


mp3: Sia - Buttons (CSS remix)
mp3: Gang Gang Dance - House Jam (xxxChange remix)

"I'm too lazy to even listen to original songs anymore. I just listen to the remixes." -Hipster Runnoff

Golden Filter remix of PBJ

I'm re-posting this song from earlier (another one deleted by Blogger) for my friend Brian, after having a text-conversation with him a few days ago about how sick this remix of Peter Bjorn and John is. He hadn't heard it yet so here ya go, Bri. Peter Bjorn and John's album is one of my new favorites (I think they may have outdone their breakout album Writer's Block), and I can't mention enough how much I love The Golden Filter, so naturally I'm impressed that they remixed PBJ into their own brand of smokey electro-disco. (Favorite Golden Filter song, also below.)


mp3: Peter Bjorn and John - Lay It Down (Golden Filter remix)

mp3: Golden Filter - Solid Gold

mp3: Peter Bjorn and John - Lay It Down[Sorry - Link Removed]



[Link removed upon request of IFPI for copyright notice on 4/16. But you should check the tracks out]



[Sorry - Links removed upon request of IFPI for copyright notice on 4/16. But you should check the tracks out]

BEST SONG EVER. (TODAY).

So I'm taking a break from my recent synth-obsessed ways and posting some of my recent obsessions in the singer-songwriter genre. (Although, that term really makes me want to gag. Can we come up with a better one?)

I think posting an Elvis Perkins mp3 MIGHT have been what got me into trouble last time with Blogger. I think EP's 'people' might be scouring the web for bloggers posting his music. But I'm going to attempt to be all 'rebellious', and try again. Because it really IS that good. (We'll see if this post gets deleted as well... but really, EP, I'm just trying to show the world how awesome you are). I am becoming increasingly hooked on his new album, which is complex and wonderful. But "Shampoo" is still my favorite.

Also posting what has to be the greatest song ever from Here We Go Magic (word up to Brooklyn), from my Feb/April playlist. Note to the hip moms I know (Courtney Demers), this should go under the category of "Indie Rock Songs that Could be Lullabies" (yes, I will raise my kids on rock songs, just as my parents raised me on Neil Young (and I'm a better person for it)).


mp3: Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Shampoo
mp3: Here We Go Magic - Fangela

February/March 2009 Playlist (repost)

Reposting... See my previous rant about Google Blogger.

(P.S. Dear Google Blogger - Still pissed. Love, Rachel)

Screw Google Blogger

Unfortunately it looks like I've fallen under the scrutiny of Blogger for posting MP3's. (see Google Deleting Music Blogger Posts, 02/06/09) Apparently this deleting is something that they've just started doing, although I'm surprised that they came across my blog at all, considering that the practice is rampant, and that there are many more music bloggers who post more songs, more frequently than I (make that every music blogger, as you can probably judge by my oh-so-diligent posts). What pisses me off, though, is that there is no notice given - the post is just suddenly gone. When you look at your posting Dashboard, it doesn't show as unpublished, it's just as if it never existed, with no explanation. In doing this they delete not only the MP3 that was posted, but any writing that you did in the post as well. What if my short sarcastic blurbs had actually been some worthy music journalism? Can they not do the simple courtesy of sending a generic, auto-generated email notifying me that my post has been deleted? Instead of leaving me to discover it for myself and wonder if I'm going crazy?

I'm not super happy with them right now.

What the HECK????

I just found out my last post was deleted, and I am PISSED. I definitely did not delete it myself. How does this happen????

Buy this Album

I admit that this album got my attention mostly because it was produced by Bryce Dessner, a member of one of my very favorite bands, The National (and yes, it has been pointed out to me many times that I use "my very favorite" all too often to describe bands). But it's a darn good album which happens to benefit a darn fine cause*, and I think everyone should go buy it immediately.

*Proceeds benefit the Red Hot Organization – an international charity dedicated to raising money and awareness for HIV and AIDS through popular culture

Dark Was the Night - A Red Hot Compilation

I personally love this track:
mp3: Feist and Ben Gibbard - Train Song

Favorites of 2008 - YAY! (Finally)

I think I broke the rules by including Radiohead's In Rainbows in this list, since it actually came out for download in 2007. But technically they released it more than once, and the songs had such an impact on me this year that I had to pull them in. And it's my list. So there.

Tina and Manuela and Rachel's Song

From Manuela's NYC visit December '08!

mp3: Walter Meego - Forever

Song Obsessions - January