I was not really enthused about this album (It's Not Me It's You) when it came out in February, I found her debut (Alright Still) incredibly better. However there are a few songs on this record that really sucker punch you in the gut, and this is one of them. This song, "22" is a social commentary of the pressure society puts on most women (and some men) even in this day and age of independence and "equality" to find the perfect partner and settle down by their late twenties. It sounds silly since most women are marrying later in life, or not at all (I really have no desire to "settle down") and the emphasis of having a man "complete" their lives and make them feel "whole." I can't say I have yearned for completeness but I can definitely identify with being let down and realizing that perfection is as real as Pamela Anderson's boobs. I really love how the video portrays the younger Lily in the mirror versus the older more disheveled Lily applying makeup.
One of the weirdest rap routines I have ever seen...I wonder how many pills they popped before they did the video, it works though. This routine works much better than these guys maybe its the production? I honestly am baffled by the fact that I like this.
I have been listening to this for a while, Jena says she is a mixture between emo and R&B...I don't see much of the emo influence unless you count makeup and hair, but I dig the song anyway. She is the latest French R&B sensation to come around right behind Montreal's Zaho.
So if you have been following this blog for awhile you are well aware that my dating life sucks. It sucks so much that I have never had a boyfriend and I feel like the movie "Never Been Kissed" with Drew Barrymore should be a reality TV show about me. So for the Nth time its happened again, I have been pushed aside and replaced by another girl (this time its a high school chick too...I didn't know being 19 suddenly translated to being old and washed up...go figure). I shouldn't be surprised and I'm not, and I really shouldn't be hurt the guy was a dud anyway (Mr X) but I am. I could mull over in my brain what went wrong, whats wrong with me blah blah blah, but what for? He is a Buffalo guy, he isn't that complicated, I am just too advanced for people here, Buffalo may not be a small town but it sure behaves like one. I feel like there is pressure to "couple up" even with a loser (but hey I'm not that desperate yet). This is the kind of place where people get married right out of college, have kids and move to the suburbs...that's not the life I want. All my life I have been a bit, unconventional, I just didn't realize it would make it difficult to find a good guy. And not just a good guy, a guy I could really be compatible with. I am uneasy in a place where everyone is so satisfied with themselves, like they never see the bigger picture. They are happy with their local news about Terrell Owens and The Bills, or The Sabres, they have no desire to explore. I want someone who challenges me, who is as excited to explore the greater world as I am, I am not going to live here forever (believe me I'm not) and I certainly don't need some one to bring me down to a Buffalonian level. So on that note and the fact that I feel bitter and bitchy and no its not PMS its PSMS (Post Stupid Man Syndrome), its playlist time!
Anyway here is my "Life sucks I am going to become the first Jewish nun" playlist!
Kate Nash - Mouthwash Oh Kate never ceases to make me feel better during bad times, and her songs are always so cheery and yet so bitter I love it.
Lily Allen - LDN A lot of people claim Lily and Kate sound similar, I always thought Kate was the sweeter one and Lily was more of the "fuck you" type of girl, which is why I like her.
Athlete - Half Light This is something I put on if I'm really pissed off it has a calming effect on me for some reason.
Travis - Why Does It Always Rain On Me Instead of grabbing tissues and wallowing I usually play this...which sounds just as emo.
Spirit Of The West - Home For A Rest My favorite Canadian Celtic rockers make great angry, drinking songs...all I need is this song playing and a few guinesses (emphasis on a few) and I may be alright.
Ladytron - Seventeen here's to being an "old maid" yeah right...
So at this point all I want is alcohol, alcohol, and a really lame romantic comedy so I can get drunk and make fun of all the actors...but like the Rolling Stones said "You can't always get what you want" and no, I will not get over it because wallowing in my own self pity feels pretty damn good right now...at least until the next loser comes along.
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.
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
Why the hell am I so excited about this? I think the thing that makes me respect Shakira more than most pop singers is the fact that she writes her own material. In this day and age where singers are spoon fed almost all their songs its nice to see someone more involved in their careers. I never got into her English releases but when she sings in Spanish its awesome, try La Tortura and Las de la Intucion as well. The new song is a bit Auto Tuned...which you know I hate, but its still pretty decent. Although I actually think it would be better if it sounded less robotic, Shakira already has a great voice, she doesn't need to use Auto Tune as a crutch.
