It is good to see there's still a place for something like this in an A.D.D. world.
Then there's the top song here, which is possibly even better, in a sort of opposite way.
PolarBear on myspace
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
25 Songs That Befriended Me In 2009
Warning: You will not find Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, or Grizzly Bear on this list.
(Loses 99/100 of potential audience...)
Now then. Here are 25 songs that I adored in 2009, in no particular order.
Mexican Chili Taco Fiesta - Tamales Oaxaquenos (via KEXP). If you had told me that I would include a mostly instrumental song about Oaxacan tamales, where the only lyrics I can understand are the title words of the song, on my year-end mix, well, I might not have laughed at you, but I would have been skeptical. But then again, yum, tamales oaxaquenos.
The Dead Weather - Hang You from the Heavens. Take Jack White and his affinity for dirrrrrty blues and side projects that obliterate other people's main bands. Add Alison Mosshart, the lead singer of the Kills, whose albums I could (and have!) listen(ed) to on repeat infinitely. Insert a simple guitar riff and some bass drum. Rinse. Lather. Result: this, my favorite song on my favorite album this year. Repeat.
K-Naan - America. He says it better than I can: that shit was cool in English (especially the Chali 2na bit, all you people pining for Jurassic 5), but give me that Somali verse.
Spinnerette - Ghetto Love. The hip online reviewers, they did not like this album. Me, I can't stop rocking out to this song.
Tuneyards - Sunlight (via Pitchfork). It's pretty rare, when you get to my doddering age, to stumble across music that is unlike anything heard before. So, Tuneyards - also, incidentally, unlike anything capitalized before. So much so that I'm not even going to try it.
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara - Fulani Coochi Man. For the first 15 seconds, this is just a typical blues song, which, you know, yawn, just give me some Muddy Waters instead. But at 0:15 exactly, something extraordinary happens, and all of a sudden this is something new and fresh, and at the same time, so, so old.
Beyonce Ft. Lady Gaga - Video Phone. Oh Beyonce. I try, how I try, to keep your songs off my year-end lists, to retain some minimal sort of indy cred. But always, always, you end up making something amazing that I cannot ignore. The fact that it is a duet with Lady Gaga? Doubly insulting and even more ignominious. Curse you!
Muse - Uprising. This is an excellent anti-whatever-is-keeping-you-down anthem (You hear me, Beyonce???). They will not control us. We will be victorious. Handclap. Hey.
King Midas Sound - Darlin'. This song whispers of seduction like twilight in the tropics.
Mos Def - Quiet Dog. Making the best old-school hip-hop hands down year after year in and out without even thinking about it is Mos Def. Which I like to think is what the title of the song is all about.
Whitley - Poison in Our Pocket. And the winner of the Grammy for best depressing song expressed optimisticly is...Whitley! Wait a second, wait a second...What do you mean there's no such category? Well, invent one.
Petracovich - Heaven Help the Day. I already wrote this once, but I can't say it any better. I like this. I like the tinkling way it starts, the dissonance of the lonely lyrics and the warm music, the unexpectedness of the guitar strumming when it kicks in, the way she turns the tables, the acceleration into a torrent of fierceness, the emphatic full stop.
Ramona Falls - Russia (via Pitchfork). When this song, from the lead singer of Menomena, comes on, it sweeps me up and sends me soaring over the world, with cherry blossoms blowing in my face.
Here We Go Magic - Only Pieces. The jittery guitars sound exactly like my mind feels, skimming the surface of the questions this song asks.
Blakroc - Coochie. Why yes, yes, this is the second song on the list with Coochie in the title. No, no, it wasn't planned. Yes, yes, I do see some sort of rhythm and rhyme to it.
Das Racist - Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (via Pitchfork). This song is completely, utterly ridiculous. It reminds me of every pointless summer job I ever had, of every pointless quest I ever went on just to kill time, of time wasted, junk food eaten, of cruising the strip.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll. This album didn't grab me as instantly as the Yeah to the third's previous efforts have. But ultimately I installed a disco ball in my brain and embraced the glam.
Florence & the Machine - Cosmic Love. Because the music and lyrics match so perfectly.
Chris Brown - I Can Transform Ya. I feel vaguely queasy about including a Chris Brown song on my list, at least without some kind of balancing "I will survive" anthem from Rihanna, but I HAVE TO. I sing along, I shimmy, I am transformed from a human to a Carter, without any reluctance at all.
Fresh Espresso - Big or Small (via KEXP). If they did a remake of Saturday Night Fever, whoever tried to fill Travolta's shoes would dance to this, and not just because of the Stayin Alive sample.
The XX - Crystallised. Have you ever heard something so simultaneously simple and complicated?
Bat for Lashes - Daniel. A friend says this reminds him of Imogen Heap's "Glittering Clouds," which I had not heard before. So in some ways, this was like finding two great, gloomy, ominous songs in one.
Frankel - Anonymity is the New Fame. You had me at minor chord modulation number one. The lyrics are just the rose tied to the satellite.
Kurt Vile - Inside Looking Out. This song reminds me of trains. But not of actually being on a train. Instead, more like sitting at a railroad crossing somewhere that still qualifies as the wide open spaces, with the bars down and the red lights flashing and the train moseying by, not in any hurry, and neither are you, and neither is this song, and when the song is over maybe the train will be too, or maybe you'll listen to the song again.
Richard Hawley - Don't Get Hung up in Your Soul. Good advice for a new year.
(Loses 99/100 of potential audience...)
Now then. Here are 25 songs that I adored in 2009, in no particular order.
Mexican Chili Taco Fiesta - Tamales Oaxaquenos (via KEXP). If you had told me that I would include a mostly instrumental song about Oaxacan tamales, where the only lyrics I can understand are the title words of the song, on my year-end mix, well, I might not have laughed at you, but I would have been skeptical. But then again, yum, tamales oaxaquenos.
The Dead Weather - Hang You from the Heavens. Take Jack White and his affinity for dirrrrrty blues and side projects that obliterate other people's main bands. Add Alison Mosshart, the lead singer of the Kills, whose albums I could (and have!) listen(ed) to on repeat infinitely. Insert a simple guitar riff and some bass drum. Rinse. Lather. Result: this, my favorite song on my favorite album this year. Repeat.
K-Naan - America. He says it better than I can: that shit was cool in English (especially the Chali 2na bit, all you people pining for Jurassic 5), but give me that Somali verse.
Spinnerette - Ghetto Love. The hip online reviewers, they did not like this album. Me, I can't stop rocking out to this song.
Tuneyards - Sunlight (via Pitchfork). It's pretty rare, when you get to my doddering age, to stumble across music that is unlike anything heard before. So, Tuneyards - also, incidentally, unlike anything capitalized before. So much so that I'm not even going to try it.
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara - Fulani Coochi Man. For the first 15 seconds, this is just a typical blues song, which, you know, yawn, just give me some Muddy Waters instead. But at 0:15 exactly, something extraordinary happens, and all of a sudden this is something new and fresh, and at the same time, so, so old.
Beyonce Ft. Lady Gaga - Video Phone. Oh Beyonce. I try, how I try, to keep your songs off my year-end lists, to retain some minimal sort of indy cred. But always, always, you end up making something amazing that I cannot ignore. The fact that it is a duet with Lady Gaga? Doubly insulting and even more ignominious. Curse you!
Muse - Uprising. This is an excellent anti-whatever-is-keeping-you-down anthem (You hear me, Beyonce???). They will not control us. We will be victorious. Handclap. Hey.
King Midas Sound - Darlin'. This song whispers of seduction like twilight in the tropics.
Mos Def - Quiet Dog. Making the best old-school hip-hop hands down year after year in and out without even thinking about it is Mos Def. Which I like to think is what the title of the song is all about.
Whitley - Poison in Our Pocket. And the winner of the Grammy for best depressing song expressed optimisticly is...Whitley! Wait a second, wait a second...What do you mean there's no such category? Well, invent one.
Petracovich - Heaven Help the Day. I already wrote this once, but I can't say it any better. I like this. I like the tinkling way it starts, the dissonance of the lonely lyrics and the warm music, the unexpectedness of the guitar strumming when it kicks in, the way she turns the tables, the acceleration into a torrent of fierceness, the emphatic full stop.
Ramona Falls - Russia (via Pitchfork). When this song, from the lead singer of Menomena, comes on, it sweeps me up and sends me soaring over the world, with cherry blossoms blowing in my face.
Here We Go Magic - Only Pieces. The jittery guitars sound exactly like my mind feels, skimming the surface of the questions this song asks.
Blakroc - Coochie. Why yes, yes, this is the second song on the list with Coochie in the title. No, no, it wasn't planned. Yes, yes, I do see some sort of rhythm and rhyme to it.
Das Racist - Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (via Pitchfork). This song is completely, utterly ridiculous. It reminds me of every pointless summer job I ever had, of every pointless quest I ever went on just to kill time, of time wasted, junk food eaten, of cruising the strip.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll. This album didn't grab me as instantly as the Yeah to the third's previous efforts have. But ultimately I installed a disco ball in my brain and embraced the glam.
Florence & the Machine - Cosmic Love. Because the music and lyrics match so perfectly.
Chris Brown - I Can Transform Ya. I feel vaguely queasy about including a Chris Brown song on my list, at least without some kind of balancing "I will survive" anthem from Rihanna, but I HAVE TO. I sing along, I shimmy, I am transformed from a human to a Carter, without any reluctance at all.
Fresh Espresso - Big or Small (via KEXP). If they did a remake of Saturday Night Fever, whoever tried to fill Travolta's shoes would dance to this, and not just because of the Stayin Alive sample.
The XX - Crystallised. Have you ever heard something so simultaneously simple and complicated?
Bat for Lashes - Daniel. A friend says this reminds him of Imogen Heap's "Glittering Clouds," which I had not heard before. So in some ways, this was like finding two great, gloomy, ominous songs in one.
Frankel - Anonymity is the New Fame. You had me at minor chord modulation number one. The lyrics are just the rose tied to the satellite.
Kurt Vile - Inside Looking Out. This song reminds me of trains. But not of actually being on a train. Instead, more like sitting at a railroad crossing somewhere that still qualifies as the wide open spaces, with the bars down and the red lights flashing and the train moseying by, not in any hurry, and neither are you, and neither is this song, and when the song is over maybe the train will be too, or maybe you'll listen to the song again.
Richard Hawley - Don't Get Hung up in Your Soul. Good advice for a new year.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
It's Like The Monster Under The Bed Came Out And Asked For A Hug
I'm working on a pop record in my bedroom, says this Aussie named Whitley on his blog quite some time ago. Oh heaven's no, anything but that, says a rather grumpy respondent. Thank heavens he persevered, because Go Forth Find Mammoth, from what I can glean, sings.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Her Name Was Prison, Her Name Was Free
I like this. I like the tinkling way it starts, the dissonance of the lonely lyrics and the warm music, the unexpectedness of the guitar strumming when it kicks in, the way she turns the tables, the acceleration into a torrent of fierceness, the emphatic full stop.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
A Few Odds And Ends
Maybe it's just because I've stopped listening to the normal airwaves radio because NYC radio SUX, but has there been no real summer jam this year? There's a few indie things, sure, like maybe Das Rascist's Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (via Pitchfork) or The Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition (video), but what about the mainstream stuff? Where's the Lil Wayne Lollipop of this summer? Kid Cudi? Really? And that Flo-Rida song...first, it's nowhere NEAR as good as Low, and second, Eiffel 65??? Maybe Boom Boom Pow...maybe She Wolf (video) - it's got a nice throwback feel...but I don't know, nothing is really grabbing me.
But here's a fall jam you can get behind. This song reminds me of Menomena. Hmmm, maybe that's because Ramona Falls is a Menomena offshoot. Well, never mind, I'm a sucker for the picked strings and sweeping globetrotting epic. And any band which lists its influences as "chocolate, mostly" on its Myspace page.
Ramona Falls - Russia (via Pitchfork)
And finally: because I ALWAYS KNEW that there was hope for the bassoon as an indie rock music. Yeah, that's right. All you mariachi trumpet players ain't got nothin' on me.
The Photons: Where Were You Last Night
But here's a fall jam you can get behind. This song reminds me of Menomena. Hmmm, maybe that's because Ramona Falls is a Menomena offshoot. Well, never mind, I'm a sucker for the picked strings and sweeping globetrotting epic. And any band which lists its influences as "chocolate, mostly" on its Myspace page.
Ramona Falls - Russia (via Pitchfork)
And finally: because I ALWAYS KNEW that there was hope for the bassoon as an indie rock music. Yeah, that's right. All you mariachi trumpet players ain't got nothin' on me.
The Photons: Where Were You Last Night
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Dead Weather Obsession
I like every side project of Jack White's better than I like the White Stripes themselves. His latest, the Dead Weather, is no exception. Primarily because I'm a huge fan of the Kills (last summer I listened to "U.R.A Fever" about 30 times in a row while stuck in Holland Tunnel traffic) - and this takes their punk-blues sound even down deeper and dirtier.
In honor of the release of their album, the band is doing playlists yesterday and today over at woxy.com. Great music (how sexy is that Captain Beefheart song?), and a couple of humorous nuggets on how they got together:
"We were playing a Raconteurs tour and I was losing my voice...the Kills were warming up and we asked Alison to come out and finish some of my songs because I couldn't sing 'em...so we could, you know, get paid (Alison: so YOU could get paid without working)."
Favorite song so far off the album is "Hang You From the Heavens."
In honor of the release of their album, the band is doing playlists yesterday and today over at woxy.com. Great music (how sexy is that Captain Beefheart song?), and a couple of humorous nuggets on how they got together:
"We were playing a Raconteurs tour and I was losing my voice...the Kills were warming up and we asked Alison to come out and finish some of my songs because I couldn't sing 'em...so we could, you know, get paid (Alison: so YOU could get paid without working)."
Favorite song so far off the album is "Hang You From the Heavens."
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Beauty Tips According To Forest Whitaker
If one person whose musical taste I respect recommends me something, I'll get to it eventually, assuming I can remember what it was for long enough. But if two people whose musical taste I respect recommend me the same something in the space of three days, I'm gonna give it a shot almost immediately.And so, Brother Ali, the Muslim albino rapper from Minneapolis. An unusual story, an old-school style, and of late some controversial lyrics and killer harmonica about the "United Snakes."
I like his song Forest Whitiker, about being your own person:
Ima be alright
You ain't gotta be my friend tonite
And Ima be okay
You would probly bore me anyway
You can listen to and download some of his stuff here.
Truth Is
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Of Good And Not So Good Band Names
I'm listening to KEXP at work, not really listening, you understand, but just on the headphones so I can concentrate, and the DJ comes on and starts going on about a band called Meth Teeth and what a great name Meth Teeth is. And I have to say, I agree. Even more awesomely, they are on a label called Sweet Rot Records. They have a song called "Unemployment Forever." I cannot understand the lyrics. Here is their MySpace page.
I email this band name to a fellow indy-music-loving coworker. He writes back and agrees that it is an awesome band name. Not, he says, like the name of a band he has just stumbled upon, the Brooklyn-based Sleigh Bells. However, I think Sleigh Bells could take Meth Teeth in a battle of the bands. Visit their MySpace page, where you can download some of their stuff. "At The Beach" is my favorite.
Radiohead + Marching Band = My Head Will Explode?
Ateaseweb sez Radiohead has been rehearsing 15 Steps with the USC Marching Band. And they have a foto to prove it.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
B-Boy Obsession
Attempting to recover from the cold/cough plague of death that seems to be going around NYC, I spent all day yesterday on my couch watching TV. At some point, I video-on-demanded "Planet B-Boy." I was totally blown away by the creativity of this Ichigeki crew from Japan, and I'm happy that a clip of their full performance is available on YouTube (in the movie it gets edited down to half of this or so).
I really love the part around five minutes in when the b-boy playing the DJ comes out and dances, even tho' it's not the most amazingly physical part of the routine. He's one of the focal characters in the documentary; there's a bunch of stuff in his family's tea shop about his father's death and how he's dealt with it.
According to the movie, this crew disbanded. Sadness.
I really love the part around five minutes in when the b-boy playing the DJ comes out and dances, even tho' it's not the most amazingly physical part of the routine. He's one of the focal characters in the documentary; there's a bunch of stuff in his family's tea shop about his father's death and how he's dealt with it.
According to the movie, this crew disbanded. Sadness.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Whachadoin?
This album from N.A.S.A., it would appear, features every hip-hop artist you might ever want to listen to, all in one place. Spin tips it as the party album of the year. Can't say I disagree. Downloads at the end of the link, or listen to "Whachadoin" here (via Pitchfork).
Go vote for your favorite album cover here.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A Year-End List That I Actually Waited Til 2009 To Publish!
These are the songs I found myself listening to over and over again this year, roughly in order from least over-listened to most over-listened. Some of them struck a personal chord. Some are just too catchy to be ignored. And yeah, there's 26 of them, because I just couldn't whittle it down to 25. Enjoy, please!
26. Hazelwood Motel - Break Myself In Two. This song is dead last onto the list time-wise, and probably actually belongs somewhat higher on it listened-wise, but I'm too lazy to redo the numbering. I love its simultaneous loudness and quietness. That when they're done, they end. And of course the driving guitar, which seems to be a theme this year. (Previous post, with info on where to download.)
25. A.A. Bondy - Killed Myself When I Was Young. Whoo, boy, this guy is off somewhere deep in the black forest. This is actually one of his more cheerful songs. Here's the Daytrotter session. Below, something else.
24. Absentee - They Do It These Days. You just don't hear good rock and roll with piano and trumpets and smart lyrics much any more. More driving guitar, too.
23. Ketch Harbor Wolves - So Long To The Ground. Download their album - the whole peaceful thing - for free here.
22. Yoav - Yeah The End. This is a gorgeous mellow song on a gorgeous mellow CD that resides in my top five list this year. Listen to it here or check out a stunningly good live set that doesn't have this particular song on it here.
21. The Cotton Jones Basket Ride - Chewing Gum. This is an ambling, shambling tune, "Feeling softer than the velvet sky, longer than the sun." Download it here.
20. The Mae Shi - Run To Your Grave. I like the directness of this song. Here's the beat. Here's the chorus, yelled. Here's, err, some driving guitar. Here's the rest of the song, also yelled. Here's a video in primary colors.
19. Kanye West vs. Radiohead - Reckoner Lockdown. I thought Kanye was the bomb on the MTV music awards when he did this song with those crazy taiko drummers in the background. However, I hate the album version/just not a fan of vocoder. But this remix with Radiohead got it halfway back to decent again. Not to mention that I can't possibly have a year-end list that doesn't somehow have Radiohead on it.
18. The Ting Tings - Great DJ. Were it earlier in the year, this would probably be higher on the list, but these guys sort of faded for me. Still, check out the Daytrotter session.
17. Saul Williams - List of Demands. This song was the soundtrack to a shoe commercial that was on non-stop during March madness. I don't remember the shoe, but the song lingers on. The song itself was written some time ago, but this guy is no dummy, so he reissued it on a CD this year. This is an outrageously cool rockin' version from 2005.
16. Catherine A.D. - Carry Your Heart. This is late onto the list. I like the crazy key changes in the chorus. Visit her MySpace page.
15. The Subways - Rock & Roll Queen. This song did not worm its way into my head until I saw "RocknRolla". Since then, I've probably played it an average of once a day.
14. Calexico - Two Silver Trees. If tumbleweeds could sing, this is what they would sound like.
13. The Bug featuring Warrior Queen - Poison Dart. I can't understand a word of it, but I love it. So very fierce. Another album that is in my top five (Via KEXP.)
12. Little Jackie - The Stoop. I love this song because it perfectly reflects how I feel about Brooklyn. So what if I don't have a stoop. NPR live session here.
11. T.I. featuring Rihanna - Live Your Life. The sheer audacity, to sample a not very good song from O-Zone, and turn it into a riotous ANTHEM. Here's the live version from the MTV video awards.
10. M83 - Highway of Endless Dreams. Appropriately named, is what. (On last.fm)
9. Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution. Good dirty South backwoods rock and roll with killer keyboard, some seriously cool reverb, and an even cooler video. Go here to watch it, since their record company no longer allows embedding. Or go here to listen.
8. Lil Wayne - A Milli. Lil Wayne is outrageous. The lyrics on this joint are insane. And the chant of "a milli" is a heartbeat that won't be ignored. I especially love this live version with ?uestlove doing the a millis AND playing the drums.
7. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Colour Television (download here. All the characteristics of a song I'd love - strong driving bass line, jangly guitars, and ironic pop culture lyrics. Another wheel of fortune. Another million tortured. Acomin' from my color television. Another story televised. Another million hypnotized.
6. Atmosphere - You. Just a good recession-era jam. A late entry into the top five albums.
5. Kings of Leon - Closer. For three hours, I stood crammed like a sardine in front of the All Points West main stage, awaiting Radiohead. Luckily, Kings of Leon was playing for an hour and a half of that. That was all it took for me to go from "meh" to a fan. This song, it oozes sex. (Via Pretty Much Amazing.)
4. Nada Surf - The Fox. I liked this song, but then I happened to be playing it while I was reading Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," and now I love it. Funny how its meaning changed for me. I haven't the slightest idea what this video is all about, and it assuredly isn't the official video for the song, but it is suitably strange.
3. Michael Franti - Remote Control. I saw Michael Franti for the first time at All Points West, and the dude just oozed happiness. This song is an anthem for good, in a year that needed such an anthem. Hey world, you know you got to put up a fight. Download here.
2. The Kills - URA Fever. With driving minor key bass beat, thrash guitar and creepy point-counterpoint vocals, this was a perfect tune for driving along the shore at night this summer. It was also a perfect tune for getting stuck in Holland Tunnel traffic. Second favorite album of the year. (Previous post.)
1. Elbow - The Bones of You. This is my favorite song of the year, on my favorite album of the year. This song is about nostalgia, and is nostalgia. Download it here, and check out a great year-end list while you're at it.
26. Hazelwood Motel - Break Myself In Two. This song is dead last onto the list time-wise, and probably actually belongs somewhat higher on it listened-wise, but I'm too lazy to redo the numbering. I love its simultaneous loudness and quietness. That when they're done, they end. And of course the driving guitar, which seems to be a theme this year. (Previous post, with info on where to download.)
25. A.A. Bondy - Killed Myself When I Was Young. Whoo, boy, this guy is off somewhere deep in the black forest. This is actually one of his more cheerful songs. Here's the Daytrotter session. Below, something else.
24. Absentee - They Do It These Days. You just don't hear good rock and roll with piano and trumpets and smart lyrics much any more. More driving guitar, too.
23. Ketch Harbor Wolves - So Long To The Ground. Download their album - the whole peaceful thing - for free here.
22. Yoav - Yeah The End. This is a gorgeous mellow song on a gorgeous mellow CD that resides in my top five list this year. Listen to it here or check out a stunningly good live set that doesn't have this particular song on it here.
21. The Cotton Jones Basket Ride - Chewing Gum. This is an ambling, shambling tune, "Feeling softer than the velvet sky, longer than the sun." Download it here.
20. The Mae Shi - Run To Your Grave. I like the directness of this song. Here's the beat. Here's the chorus, yelled. Here's, err, some driving guitar. Here's the rest of the song, also yelled. Here's a video in primary colors.
19. Kanye West vs. Radiohead - Reckoner Lockdown. I thought Kanye was the bomb on the MTV music awards when he did this song with those crazy taiko drummers in the background. However, I hate the album version/just not a fan of vocoder. But this remix with Radiohead got it halfway back to decent again. Not to mention that I can't possibly have a year-end list that doesn't somehow have Radiohead on it.
18. The Ting Tings - Great DJ. Were it earlier in the year, this would probably be higher on the list, but these guys sort of faded for me. Still, check out the Daytrotter session.
17. Saul Williams - List of Demands. This song was the soundtrack to a shoe commercial that was on non-stop during March madness. I don't remember the shoe, but the song lingers on. The song itself was written some time ago, but this guy is no dummy, so he reissued it on a CD this year. This is an outrageously cool rockin' version from 2005.
16. Catherine A.D. - Carry Your Heart. This is late onto the list. I like the crazy key changes in the chorus. Visit her MySpace page.
15. The Subways - Rock & Roll Queen. This song did not worm its way into my head until I saw "RocknRolla". Since then, I've probably played it an average of once a day.
14. Calexico - Two Silver Trees. If tumbleweeds could sing, this is what they would sound like.
13. The Bug featuring Warrior Queen - Poison Dart. I can't understand a word of it, but I love it. So very fierce. Another album that is in my top five (Via KEXP.)
12. Little Jackie - The Stoop. I love this song because it perfectly reflects how I feel about Brooklyn. So what if I don't have a stoop. NPR live session here.
11. T.I. featuring Rihanna - Live Your Life. The sheer audacity, to sample a not very good song from O-Zone, and turn it into a riotous ANTHEM. Here's the live version from the MTV video awards.
10. M83 - Highway of Endless Dreams. Appropriately named, is what. (On last.fm)
9. Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution. Good dirty South backwoods rock and roll with killer keyboard, some seriously cool reverb, and an even cooler video. Go here to watch it, since their record company no longer allows embedding. Or go here to listen.
8. Lil Wayne - A Milli. Lil Wayne is outrageous. The lyrics on this joint are insane. And the chant of "a milli" is a heartbeat that won't be ignored. I especially love this live version with ?uestlove doing the a millis AND playing the drums.
7. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Colour Television (download here. All the characteristics of a song I'd love - strong driving bass line, jangly guitars, and ironic pop culture lyrics. Another wheel of fortune. Another million tortured. Acomin' from my color television. Another story televised. Another million hypnotized.
6. Atmosphere - You. Just a good recession-era jam. A late entry into the top five albums.
5. Kings of Leon - Closer. For three hours, I stood crammed like a sardine in front of the All Points West main stage, awaiting Radiohead. Luckily, Kings of Leon was playing for an hour and a half of that. That was all it took for me to go from "meh" to a fan. This song, it oozes sex. (Via Pretty Much Amazing.)
4. Nada Surf - The Fox. I liked this song, but then I happened to be playing it while I was reading Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," and now I love it. Funny how its meaning changed for me. I haven't the slightest idea what this video is all about, and it assuredly isn't the official video for the song, but it is suitably strange.
3. Michael Franti - Remote Control. I saw Michael Franti for the first time at All Points West, and the dude just oozed happiness. This song is an anthem for good, in a year that needed such an anthem. Hey world, you know you got to put up a fight. Download here.
2. The Kills - URA Fever. With driving minor key bass beat, thrash guitar and creepy point-counterpoint vocals, this was a perfect tune for driving along the shore at night this summer. It was also a perfect tune for getting stuck in Holland Tunnel traffic. Second favorite album of the year. (Previous post.)
1. Elbow - The Bones of You. This is my favorite song of the year, on my favorite album of the year. This song is about nostalgia, and is nostalgia. Download it here, and check out a great year-end list while you're at it.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
White Rioja
I have no idea just how unusual white rioja is (seems counter-intuitive though, no?) so I won't make a big stink about it. But I will say that you should run buy yourself a bottle of this hint-of-banana-oh-so-smooth-tasting 2005 Sierra Cantabria Organza before it is ALL GONE. I had it with a magnificent tasting dinner at Blue Hill, and I can't even remember which course I had it with, because the wine obliterated the food. I then ran out and bought two bottles of it the next day at Astor Place, which now seems to be out of it. Should have bought up their stock.
Checking Into The Hazelwood Motel
I heard Hazelwood Motel on a KEXP year-end podcast, and I have had them on repeat ever since. I am not the only one; plays of this "Break Myself In Two" masterpiece have, like, doubled on their MySpace page in the last couple of days. Of course, at least 20 of those come from me...I lerv the snarly guitar so.
I wonder if these guys are named after one of the several Hazelwood Motels I found online while hunting a non-existent decent picture of them.
KEXP is giving away an MP3 of this and other good stuff here!
I wonder if these guys are named after one of the several Hazelwood Motels I found online while hunting a non-existent decent picture of them.
KEXP is giving away an MP3 of this and other good stuff here!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Another Pleasantly Unusual Year-End List
Another great, unusual list of 2008 music here, from Drowned in Sound. I particularly like Dom Gourlay's list.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Backtracking To The Source
I'm currently engaged in my annual time-suck of scanning other people's year-end music lists to make sure I miss as little good music as possible. It's a thankless task - mostly the same not-that-interesting indie-flavor-of-the-moment bands cropping up over and over. But today I happened on a list with a bunch of stuff I'd never heard of before, and when I hunted down the bands' Myspace pages, I found myself lingering over nearly all of it. Two Sheds, A.A. Bondy, All Smiles...who knew? So good!
I don't usually pay much attention to who's picking the music I'm rushing through, but in this case I did. Twas a band called Everest. They're on tour with Wilco and Neil Young. And, surprise surprise, I like them too.
You can listen here; download here; and check out their favorite bands here.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A Few Definites For The Year-End CD
After going through my music files, I have settled on a handful of songs that are definitely going on the CD. There are a few good ones missing here, thanks to the total computer meltdown I had in the middle of the year, which means I'm going to have to go through the physical music files as well...and buy a new burner. Sigh.
Anyhow, when I try to sum up this year, it feels like it should be with a combination of angry punk, rocking anthems of hope, a few mellow chill-out songs, and a few other random songs that are good just because they're good. I think that's represented in this list, presented in no particular order:
The Kills - URA Fever: I think I listened to this song 100 times on repeat in my lime green rental car over the summer. Hypnotically catchy.
Elbow - The Bones of You: I woke up to this song playing on my alarm clock one morning, and by that evening I owned the CD. The lyrics are about the nostalgia a song can induce in you...I wonder what nostalgia this song will one day induce in me? Listen to a live version here.
Michael Franti - Remote Control. Heard this song live at All Points West. What a great election-year anthem.
TI featuring Rihanna: Live Your Life. This song has been stuck in my head, off and on, for months now. It should be illegal to be so catchy. I'm not even going to post it here lest it get caught in your head too.
Kings of Leon - Closer. Didn't really get into these guys until I saw them at All Points West. That, plus this song - one of the 10 sexiest ever, I think - converted me. Listen here.
Catherine A.D. - Carry Your Heart. Love the creepy minor key modulations in her voice. And the lyrics. Put one foot in front of the other and pray that nobody will ask how you carry your heart. That one, and another one, here.
Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Colour Television. I don't know anything about these guys, but this song is like an updated, wiser "57 Channels and Nothing On". Available here.
Calexico - Two Silver Trees. I love everything Calexico does, but I particularly love this windswept song.
Lil Wayne - A Milli. I had this album on non-stop for a while this summer, but it somehow feels already like a relic of the past. This live version with ?uestlove of The Roots doing the "A Milli" chorus is inCREDible. Listen to the banter at the end.
Anyhow, when I try to sum up this year, it feels like it should be with a combination of angry punk, rocking anthems of hope, a few mellow chill-out songs, and a few other random songs that are good just because they're good. I think that's represented in this list, presented in no particular order:
The Kills - URA Fever: I think I listened to this song 100 times on repeat in my lime green rental car over the summer. Hypnotically catchy.
Elbow - The Bones of You: I woke up to this song playing on my alarm clock one morning, and by that evening I owned the CD. The lyrics are about the nostalgia a song can induce in you...I wonder what nostalgia this song will one day induce in me? Listen to a live version here.
Michael Franti - Remote Control. Heard this song live at All Points West. What a great election-year anthem.
TI featuring Rihanna: Live Your Life. This song has been stuck in my head, off and on, for months now. It should be illegal to be so catchy. I'm not even going to post it here lest it get caught in your head too.
Kings of Leon - Closer. Didn't really get into these guys until I saw them at All Points West. That, plus this song - one of the 10 sexiest ever, I think - converted me. Listen here.
Catherine A.D. - Carry Your Heart. Love the creepy minor key modulations in her voice. And the lyrics. Put one foot in front of the other and pray that nobody will ask how you carry your heart. That one, and another one, here.
Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Colour Television. I don't know anything about these guys, but this song is like an updated, wiser "57 Channels and Nothing On". Available here.
Calexico - Two Silver Trees. I love everything Calexico does, but I particularly love this windswept song.
Lil Wayne - A Milli. I had this album on non-stop for a while this summer, but it somehow feels already like a relic of the past. This live version with ?uestlove of The Roots doing the "A Milli" chorus is inCREDible. Listen to the banter at the end.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
12 Cameras...None Work
This could be the coolest thing ever...but instead it is merely the most frustrating, thanks to pixellation, copyright issues, and the inability to view what other folks have done - or what you yourself have created once you close the window, despite what that handy little widget up there would seem to indicate.
Grumble. Fingers crossed for some improvements...
Grumble. Fingers crossed for some improvements...
Was/Not Was: Picking The Best Of 2008
Every year I put together a CD for friends of my favorite music of the year. I always feel a little presumptuous about doing it - who am I to tell people what the best music is? Everybody has their own taste - but I do it nonetheless, because of...well...because of my inflated ego?
Anyhow, it's picking time. Over the next couple of weeks, I'm agonizing over whether or not some of the songs on the borderline should go on the playlist. If you like them, tell me so.
This first one I just stumbled across today on someone else's year-end best of list. I know entirely why I like it. It's the beat, which gnaws at my memory familiarly. I was thinking that it must be similar to some Radiohead song, but only at this second, as I was writing this, did I figure out what it reminds me of. The bass beat, the note sequence, the spaces between notes, sounds like a slightly rushed version of the Buena Vista Social Club song Chan Chan (video below - speaking of - Ah! What a song).
The Oaks - Masood
Anyhow, it's picking time. Over the next couple of weeks, I'm agonizing over whether or not some of the songs on the borderline should go on the playlist. If you like them, tell me so.
This first one I just stumbled across today on someone else's year-end best of list. I know entirely why I like it. It's the beat, which gnaws at my memory familiarly. I was thinking that it must be similar to some Radiohead song, but only at this second, as I was writing this, did I figure out what it reminds me of. The bass beat, the note sequence, the spaces between notes, sounds like a slightly rushed version of the Buena Vista Social Club song Chan Chan (video below - speaking of - Ah! What a song).
The Oaks - Masood
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Gnarly Indeed
A few weeks ago, as anyone who scrolls down on this page can easily discover, I fell deeply in love with Long Island's Channing Daughters winery. Last weekend, after quaffing the sole bottle (what was I thinking!) that I purchased of Rosso Fresco in just a couple of days, I went on a hunt to find some more here in the NYC.I was rudely deterred on my first tedious outing to crowded, grumpy-inducing Soho, to the Vintage NY outlet there, which at some point between the summer and now seems to have closed. But last Saturday, I had more luck at Gnarly Vines Wine & Spirits in Fort Greene-ish. I live not so far from it, so trekked over with a friend, and found it to be totally chill and laid-back, not So-ho-haughty at all. More importantly, they had a few bottles of the good stuff, and I did not buy QUITE all of them. But you should.
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