I went home for lunar new year and had such a grand time! There was so much delicious food on the table (lobster, sashimi, oysters, steak, etc) and I feel like such a fatty. Time to work it off with some indie (dancey) tunes!
The Rosebuds - "Get Up Get Out"
This just really makes me want to dance in the sun, roll around in the grass a little, and be foolish and young.
Head Like a Kite - "Daydream Vacation"
A little bit less dancey as the one above, but the rhythm is constant and driving. It's like I'm shuffling my feet while in the midst of a stupor, which is pretty appropriate for the title.
I'll be heading home on a train this afternoon - for some reason, I'm super excited. This song is also increasing my excitement (rule of thumb: don't fall asleep on a train because epic things will happen).
...but thankfully I've passed my first semester in medical school! Woo! I thought I'd celebrate by trying to bring this blog back to life. We'll see how well I adhere to this plan. In the mean time, I bring you the following tracks:
[me] - "Naked"
I love the sound of this new Australian band. They've got that epic melodic rock sound that Muse is known to have. And the icing on the cake (for me): the lead singer's got a falsetto that reminds me of Irwin Sparkes of The Hoosiers, but more suited to the rock genre. If you like this, check out one of their other songs.
Lianne La Havas ft. Willy Mason - "No Room For Doubt"
I fell in love with this track while studying for an exam one autumn morning and watching the sun rise. It's just so peaceful and I love her vocals. Beautiful track.
Bedouin Soundclash ft. Coeur de Pirate - "Brutal Hearts"
Another quiet track, this time by Canadian artists Bedouin Soundclash and Coeur de Pirate. Can't go wrong with those two!
New Navy - "Zimbabwe"
I first heard this track on the newest Kitsune Maison compilation (numero 12), and this dancey tune was definitely one of my favourites off that album. That catchy guitar riff is just irresistible, and I'm sure we've all fantasized about chucking our work and office equipment out of windows before, just like in the video.
If you haven't heard already, Florence and The Machine has a new album ("Ceremonials") coming out on October 31st. This is their latest release from the album:
Taking 19 credit hours and working sucks. But you all probably know that too.
Lana Del Rey - Video Game
This is art.
M83 - Midnight City
Played it 50 times over the course of the week. Awesome Awesome Awesome.
Marina and the Diamonds
Ok ok ok so I'm a little obsessed with marina and diamonds, but her music is so honest! She sings songs about things I think about myself all the time.
The Cool Kids - Bundle Up
Sort of old/new it was released in March...how did I let it slip, I don't know. But hey I'm posting it now.
Girls Generation - Mr Taxi (Japanese version)
Yeahhhh it's K pop yeahhh you know I'm obsessed, but this was definitely one of the catchiest songs I've heard allll summer. And hey K pop is cool now (at least according to NYLON) and when Nylon posts things you know its cool...well cool in two years or so...
He samples Foster the People's Helena (that band is so hot right now...but hell I told you that months ago! Oh and if you can see them in concert...go.) Anyways school is in full swing, but this song has definitely lifted my spirits really cool remix/fusion/whatever Theo Martins Does it comes out sounding pretty dandy.
Oh and side note...August sucked! So now that my procrastination is in full swing (thanks school) I'll have more stuff on the blog.
And this is the first single! I don't really have an opinion on it yet to be honest...I think "destroy everything you touch" and "they only want you when you're seventeen" will always be the standard for them unfortunately. This doesn't really do anything for me...but its the first track, there will be others!
I'm obsessed with this song right now...but then again I'm already a huge fan. I think its awesome she's changing her sound, even though I loved "The Family Jewels." Although it seems as if a lot of Diamonds fans don't agree, they are angered by her new "generic" sound. I just think it's fun.
August is sort of a depressing month, it's like a Sunday, technically still the "weekend" but you know that you have a full work/school week ahead of you the next day. Anyways my relatives from California are in town! Which basically means I get to live in coffee shops and libraries for the next 12 days...I am really in need of more hide outs. So here is the August Playlist...10 days late. Again sorry...traumatic family reunions are never fun, I've spent the past week eating tubs of ice cream and rocking back in forth on my bedroom floor until they finally left...well sorta.
Dark Dark Dark - Daydreaming
I saw their acoustic set on watch listen and tell, and sure they do look like they are trying too hard...just like every other indie band now a days (or anyone walking up and down Elmwood...) but it's a damn good song.
Marina and the Diamonds - Fear and Loathing
SHE"S BACK! SHE'S BACK. Total girl crush mode. Plus her debut album was uh amazing! Cannot wait for this new EP...
Dan Black - Falling Star (feat Kid Cudi)
Dan Black samples Cosmic Love by Florence and the Machine and has Kid Cudi on the same track? WIN!
Dan Black - Alone
I really can't wait to see him again in concert...really good live by the way. This is off of his debut EP but he's finally gaining traction in the US.
Weezer - Pumped Up Kicks
I went to the "Foster the People" show in Buffalo last night (awesome by the way) and they mentioned that Weezer covered one of their songs so in return they covered one of Weezers! It was a really good cover by the way...but I searched for the Foster the People - Weezer tribute and couldn't find it, so I'm going with the Weezer - Foster the People one...Unfortunately...this is the best version I could find...Sorry!!!
While usually I post a "August Playlist" at the beginning of the month...and THAT IS COMING...I decided to post this instead. The Buffalo infringement festival is where Buffalo once again showcases it's fine arts and "culture" which is why I never write about it...in detail...ever.
This is what he has to say about himself, in his words:
"shapes of states is a single life form that plays electronic beats on drum set and synthesizer, at the same time. The live shapes of states performances in jam-tronic drum and bass as well as groove-oriented electro genres ideally occur in underground art-space and pseudo-venues. Myriads of sound puzzle the state of the concept of solo musical performance when shapes of states weaves sonic elements into densely textured compositions, with the frequent use of repeating patterns and entrancing repetitions, and repeating patterns. Since conception in late 2007, shapes of states has lent his audio spectacle to Buffalo, NY based major art and music festivals, theaters, clubs, bars, homes, lofts, attics, warehouses and to the grand opening of an art gallery. New Years Day, 2009, marked the release of the first shapes of states CD, “teaching hexagons to be cubes,†which was soon followed up by a video for the title track. In true form, in document, in the midst of your latest in intelligent dance music playlists, a shapes of states track integrates ambient layerings, echoes and loops of space and time trailing off into distant spiral galaxies with modified modern beat, low end meanderings. Please abandon any pre-conceived notions of solo musical performance before administering. "
Could you understand that? I couldn't understand that...
This is what ArtVoice said about them in the "Best of Buffalo Issue"
"Performing as a one-man band is not an easy task, especially if your main instrument is a drum kit and your genre of choice is IDM (Intelligent Dance Music). Just ask Geoffrey Peters, a.k.a. Shapes of States. When this guy takes the stage he simultaneously rocks complex break beats on his drum kit while syncing up a loop station and swelling synthesizer chords from his MicroKorg. One handed drumming? No problem for Peters, but I dare you to try it.
This is how I feel all the time...again she hits it on the head, this combined with her single "Oh My God" from her debut album "Fortress Round My Heart" essentially describes my life...
You know what cheapens the experience of watching Bright Eyes even more? Listening to Korean pop music afterwards...which I totally did (again...sorry I can't really let this go, I am in NO position to make fun of OTHER people's music choices when I freely admit to liking this stuff on a regular basis...the 16 year old me post was me making fun of...me...)
Anyways 2NE1's "Ugly" video came out a few days ago, and my friend Emily readily posted it on my wall and while it took me a few listens to get into I eventually caved. I told you I'm a sucker for coordinated dance routines bright colors and catchy hooks in languages I can't understand...Plus it's 2NE1 South Korea's TLC (at least in my opinion) I can't hate them...and if they ever come to the US I will freely admit to trying to score tickets...
Oh and then KARA came out with a new MV for their Japanese take over called "Go Go Summer" I swear I love their "names" for songs, you like summer!? We like summer too! Who doesn't like summer! "Go Go Summer!" Yeah...they just really like summer guys, and I've already played the song like 50 times...it was the Bright Eyes concert I swear!
So Bright Eyes performed a free show at Art Park yesterday (Art Park if you must know is in Lewiston NY about 45 mins north of Buffalo) and of course "free show" and Bright Eyes means that entire towns and villages came. And why shouldn't they? It's very rare that you get to see Conor Oberst in the flesh and not have to pay for it! Although this is where I get to be a big downer...I was actually really disappointed with the show. And I feel really bad saying this! I went with a group of friends, and they were all really amped up to see him--as was everyone else in the crowd, everyone except me. Now, don't get me wrong I have my fair share of Bright Eyes records I even have "Noise Floor Rarities" but I really listened to Bright Eyes when I was 16 (yeah just like that post below...which I still would like to point out was a joke...what cool sixteen year old wears pig tails?? Hint hint...) and I think that at 16 I needed a band like Bright Eyes way more than I do now, I felt really out of place at the show. First off I guess I was still expecting the Conor Oberst I remembered, skinny and boyishly handsome, the man who appeared on stage was no longer this person, which is fine people change, and hell they should change. The problem was the man I saw was a Conor Oberst who still wanted to look like this boy, the black matted hair in the face, the skater shoes and ripped black skinny jeans, but This Conor is now 31 and slightly heavier (not by much...but enough) and 31 year old Conor just looked out of place in his 17 year old Conor costume. It made me sort of sad, as I gazed upon a guy who no longer fit the profile of the music he was essentially writing since he was 17. And while they did put on as solid a show as they could, I also realized that I was uncomfortable with the performance because the music of Bright Eyes, at least for me doesn't lend itself really well to a stadium. When I listen to Bright Eyes it's always an intimate experience, I'm in a dark room on my bed listening to "Lover I Don't Have To Love" not gazing at the band as they shout the lyrics through blaring speakers. I formed an intimate relationship with the music which at least in my opinion couldn't be conveyed in a crowded concert setting, it just didn't feel right, that's not to say that I wouldn't have ever wanted to see him perform, but for me a more intimate location like a small club venue would have been a better experience. Obviously I was grateful that the performance was free, but it bothered me that Conor had to keep shouting "It's Coors Light Wednesday!" and "We love Coors Light and HSBC!" While I understand that Coors Light and HSBC sponsored the event and you don't bite the hand that feeds you hearing Conor shout it across the audience cheapened the experience even more, that isn't to say I regret going, I think I would have regretted not going more. Lastly, the concert made me want Bright Eyes to break up even more, not because I think that the individuals in the band have nothing left to offer creatively but I think the purpose of "Bright Eyes" the band has exhausted itself, Conor is a different person than when he was 17, 20, and 25 and so is everyone else in the group and that's fine. But I feel like Bright Eyes limits all of them creatively, they all desperately want to create happier music and you can tell by the new songs they have produced on their latest record, however I feel as though the Bright Eyes discography creates an expectation among older fans for a "sound" that they might no longer be able to produce, or want to. All and all the concert just weirded me out, I was frustrated I couldn't get into the music and be as excited as everyone else appeared to be and sad that the music no longer moved me the way it used to.
Oh and they never played Lua! Small complaint I know...posted below are songs I desperately WISHED they played and never did....
Well they graced my 'Worst of 2009' list for good reason! Listening to them makes me uncomfortable in more ways than one...The press release states that Vivian Girls is "venturing into challenging new musical and lyrical territory, reflecting the band members’ developing instrumental rapport and their far-reaching musical influences.” WHAT CHALLENGING NEW MUSICAL TERRITORY? None of them can sing....seriously...
But hey lot's of indie publications love their "diverse and eclectic sound" All I hear is I "popped too many vicodin tablets today because I was soooo bored and now I can't fall asleep because I'll die! That's why I sound like this all the time..." But you know they are from Brooklyn where bands must constantly compete with each other to see who can conjure up the most creatively "avante garde" sound...which generally means that they can't sing...and while not being able to sing may not bother some people, I really really can't stand listening to a group who collectively sounds as if they are either going to fall asleep at any minute or die.
As I sit here typing this I am full of mixed feelings...I have lots of serious thoughts that I feel I can only express online such as, on the one had it's after one here so I should be going to bed...but I'm hungry and all we have in my fridge is rye bread and a strange noodle-hamburger thing that I already warmed up and scarfed down earlier...and eh it was barely edible, and I only have a bike for transport, and my front and back lights keep falling off and my breaks keep slipping...so there is no way to get more food...I am going to have to survive for the night on rye bread and string cheese. Great.
But then another thought comes to mind, through the hunger and the boredom...and the hunger I HATE GERMAN RYE BREAD IT'S FUCKING CARDBOARD IN A BAG. But yes another comes to mind and that thought is "GOD DAMN IT I WAS SO MUCH COOLER THAN EVERYONE ELSE IN HIGH SCHOOL." That's fucking right after trolling on the interweb all night feeling hungry and alone that is my epiphany, never mind that I wore pig tails until I was sixteen! (because seriously I did...TMI?) Never mind that I still thought Elijah Wood from Lord of the Rings was hot...again...TMI? I HAD A BETTER RECORD COLLECTION THAN ALL YOU SUCKERS!!!! Thus by default this automatically makes me better, cooler and just an all around better human being. And no I will not DJ the high school reunion party because I'M NOT GOING...just like I didn't go to prom, class day, or....graduation...yeah I skipped my own graduation...for a trip to EUROPE! Fine I have proven my point...not really, I don't actually think anyone noticed I was gone...my finger at the "man" "society" ahem high school kinda went unnoticed...but hell, at least I had a kickass playlist, let's begin.
The Caesars - Jerk it Out
Only the best dance song from the mid 2000s ever! Never mind that the rest of the album sucked...because seriously it did...I think I can at least admit that to myself now...but how the hell can you not like this song? Because seriously 16 year old me and 21 year old me agree...you can't.
The Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You
For some reason I wanted to be the person in this song when I was 16 so arsty so "bohemian like you" yeah...it took me wayyyy too long to realize they were mocking her. But whatever this song alone justified my coolness...pigtails and sexless life and all...and staying home on the weekends...pssssh Who needs parties and sex when you have THIS record...
Robyn - Handle Me
THAT'S RIGHT BITCHES! SHE'S MINEEE! Yeah I was listening to her when I was 16...HA...it's too bad that indie cred isn't really worth anything anymore...I feel like "prehistoric emo kid" on yourscenesucks.com
Nada Surf - Always Love
Still one of my favorite songs from all time...totally underrated band.
Bloc Party - Helicopter
Obviously I was listening to this before you...obviously...it's too bad self gratification isn't so gratifying...why do I have a god damn blog in the first place...but yeah...DIBS.
Matt Pond PA - Summer is Coming
I used to play this in my room, and pretend my life was like one of those pathetic teenage soap operas on the WB...if only I knew that everyone who was on Veronica Mars that played a teenager wasn't actually a teenager. I would of saved myself a lot of staring in the mirror and being confused.
Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag
I don't need to explain this song at all. Even if it was from the 90s...it spoke to me ok...
K-OS - Love Song
One of the most underrated rappers of all time? Um I think so,and oh yeah he's Canadian! What now Drake!? Actually they have performed together on multiple occasions
The Kooks - Naive
That's right only the coolest 16 year olds in 2005 listened to the Kooks...
The View - Same Jeans
Again, I was totally cooler than you, but it's ok, I could still fit into a girl's 14 jean size until I was 16...totally uncool...especially if you were desperate for 16 year old male attention and you had no ass...
The Faint - Worked up so Sexual
I have no idea how I didn't know this was about strippers...
Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch
I actually saw both (the faint) and Ladytron in concert a few years ago, and all my teenage dreams came true for like 5 hours. Magic.
There are tons more, from the first Arctic Monkeys album, to Spoon, to TV on the Radio...hell I built most of the staples of my music collection when I was sixteen...that's right when you were listening to "My Chemical Romance" and "Cute is What We Aim For" I had the track collections you never realized you wanted until you came to college with your terrible emo hair and Blink 182 posters!!! Well not you per say...I'm sure some of you were cool...I mean just as cool as me I'm assuming, cool enough to be terrified of alcohol and dance clubs until I was 19 (my dad once told me never to drink because I would get drunk and throw up and then start to dance and people would make fun of me...)
Anyways on that note, I'd be curious to know what music you (you as in anyone willing to leave a comment you) listened to when you were 16-17, and of course how much cooler you were than everyone else...always important...
