The Death Of My mp3 (RIP)

So today my mp3 died...and I am in mourning. It had been going on me for weeks, playing the same song over and over again, I am so sick of Muse's the Knights of Cyodonia! At first I thought I had just put the thing on repeat, but then it froze, the LCD screen flickering, fading in and out of that icy blue glow, as if the poor thing was in a coma. It's strange to become so attached to a piece of silicon, metal and plastic especially in an age when people tire of day old electronics. However I have had my mp3 for five years. I remember there was a time I refused to even consider getting an mp3; you would have to rip my CDs from my cold dead hands! However, over the years it has become a friend almost, saved me when I wanted to be alone, and been my bus buddy, its weird seeing it go. It's effecting me in a way it probably shouldn't, I am surrounded by death. My grandpa is decreasing in health rapidly and its been hard on me, include the fact that my grandpa and dad hate each other (my dad is basically a slave to my grandpa, and yet I love him even though he is so cruel, but I'm over-sharing now). So my mp3 dieing just adds insult to injury...strange huh?

Anyways I figured I would compile a most played list of recent songs, we'll call it "my mp3's greatest hits" ha.

The Wallflowers - Letters from a Wasteland



The Apples in Stereo - Can You Feel It



Zaho - Dima



Devotchka - How It Ends



The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five



The Cool Kids - Beeper



Nada Surf - Killian's Red



Bloc Party - Flux



Spoon - I Summon You

Under-Appreciated Band: Nada Surf

One of my favorite bands of all time and so underrated. Most people only know them for their 1996 hit "popular" before they got dropped from Electra records and faded once again into mainstream obscurity. However, no one pays any attention to the four great albums that followed their debut High/Low. The Proximity Effect their sophomore release did very well in Europe (review wise) and got almost no attention in the States, and their newest release Lucky was barely covered by mainstream or indie press. I never understood why they could never be as big as Death Cab.








Nada Surf Popular:

Anthems for the Recession

I was listening to one of my favorite songs from the summer of 2007 called "Cash Machine" by Hard-Fi when I realized...I should make a recession soundtrack! Ok people the truth is I am bored its a Sunday night and there is nothing to do and no where to go...but keep reading please? At least for my amusement? So here it is: Good Music for the Bad Economy
Let's get started:

Hard-Fi - Cash Machine
There is no song that is better suited than this one to start off our list, one of may favorite songs of the last two years and now the most relevant.



The Clash - I Fought The Law
I know this is actually a cover of the famous Sonny Curtis song, but its already a great tune and its covered by one of my favorite bands of all time. Now when I listen to this piece it has more of a cynical spin for me, I sometimes think the man telling the story is a disenfranchised auto worker...or just an angry postman.



Elliot Smith - Miss Misery
A beautiful song from a great song writer who passed away way too soon, maybe this tune was a window into his wondrous but tormented mind. However, its really about someone who is down on their luck, perfect recession music.



Bloc Party - The Price of Gas
This is from their debut album "Silent Alarm" which came out in 2005, I think the song title is self explanatory.

Sorry I could only find a crappy live version...but if you really want to hear the song I suggest you do some digging of your own, I don't mean to be a killjoy. Moving on...


The Thermals - No Culture Icons
The Thermals are the geeky punk band all other hardcore punks ignore, mainly because they are considered too "indie rock" for the genre. However, they happen to be (in my humble opinion) one of the best punk acts out there. They make lots of politically charged albums about religion, politics, and economics, I thought this tune fit in with my list perfectly.



Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch
What a fitting song to have on this list, the title once again is self explanatory. Its the perfect theme song for all those failed CEOs, CFOs, and managers of hedge funds. I have actually seen them in concert at the Phoenix in Toronto, they played this tune last, and it was definitely worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KBNLrqhft0


Radiohead - Karma Police
Yes the ultimate revenge song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBH97ma9YiI

Nada Surf - See These Bones
"Everyone is right and no one is sorry, that's the start and the end of the story" that's how the song opens, and I think its a poignant commentary on society as a whole.



Desaparecidos - Greater Omaha
A statement about over consumption and suburban sprawl and one of Conor Oberst's less publicized musical projects.



The New Radicals - You Get What You Give
Once again, one of those "Karma is a bitch" songs, with feel good lyrics. I figured ending with a happy tune would probably be the way to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91WgM6dNLTE

Where's The Best Place To Find New Music?

The Library!!!! Surprised? Don't be, most people don't even bother taking out CDs in the age of the Internet...so the library acquires them all. I have had really great experiences record hunting at my library downtown, they have a wide variety of albums to choose from and most of the CDs are in good condition. I have discovered obscure indie acts, rap groups, classic rock, classical, blues, jazz...you get the idea. Anyways I figure I'd share some of my better finds (and if you live in Buffalo the downtown library still has many of these records).

Paloalto - Heroes and Villains
I think I discovered this record when I was in ninth grade, the album cover looked intriguing, and it paid off, I listened to it non-stop for weeks.



South - From Here On In
This is one of my favorite indie albums of all time, and I found it at the library.



Jem - Finally Woken
A beautiful album, she has an amazing voice.



Nada Surf - Let Go
I discovered one of my favorite bands of all time at the library, and haven't stopped listening to them since.



Matsiyahu - No Place To Be
I had heard about this mythical Hasidic Jewish reggae artist before I found his album in the library, but hearing it for the first time made me an automatic fan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dorvuCpNug

Boredom Playlist

I am now settled back into my house in Buffalo. So this is a list of all the music I listen to get me through the monotony of living in the middle of nowhere.

Nada Surf - "Always Love" and "Whose Authority?" in my opinion, they are some of the best songs ever written...seriously. But then again Nada Surf is one of my favorite bands, so I'm biased.

Bloc Party - "Hunting for Witches" and "Flux" another one of my favorite bands.
PS: they are amazing in concert, go if you have a chance.

Matt Pond pa - "So Much Trouble" a beautiful song from the only chamber rock band I know of.

Buraka Som Sistema - "Yah!" I wish I could DJ parties because I would play this one every time.

Sufjan Stevens - "For all the Widows in Paradise" and "To Be Alone With You" Sufjan Stevens is one of the most talented song writers of our time, Dylan you were warned.

MGMT - "Electric Feel" An awesome make out song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtUI5MC9tVM

The Cribs - "Don't You Wanna be Relevant?" great dance punk band, they deserve much more press.

Le Tigre - "TKO" A great synth pop punk band from NYC its too bad they are no longer making music together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMK3OKkmNd0

Jem "They" I listen to this a lot when I'm doing stuff around the house.

The Mystery Jets -"Two Doors Down" Ok Ok so they are ripping off the Cure with their sound and the lead singer's Robert Smith-esque rat's nest of hair...but its a catchy song.

A Band of Horses - "Funeral" a really magical song it makes you want to get in your car at 12 am roll the windows down and drive anywhere.

My Morning Jacket - "One Big Holiday" and epic song, Southern Rock is back and with a vengeance.

TV On The Radio - "Wolf Like Me" One of my favorite tunes, definitely a regular on my mp3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTy-e6qEWRE

Lily Allen - "Smile" when I have boy problems I turn to this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZyTOROlo9E

Santigold - "Lights Out" Its only a matter of time before she blows up like M.I.A.