dance dance dance dance dance to the radio

top ten albums of 2009

2009-12-24T21:22:00.000-08:00

i've been a little out of it with music this year. but i did manage to scrape together a top ten.

so here goes.

1. veckatimest - grizzly bear

--> two weeks <--

2. wolfgang amedeus phoenix - phoenix

--> girlfriend <--

3. grace/wastelands - peter doherty

--> new love grows on trees <--

4. adventureland ost - various artists

--> don't change - inxs <--

5. new moon ost - various artists

--> possibility - lykke li <--

6. american saturday night - brad paisley

--> american saturday night <--

7. further complications - jarvis cocker

--> caucasian blues <--

8. star trek ost / up ost - michael giacchino

--> labor of love <-- / --> married life <--

9. working on a dream - bruce springsteen

--> the wrestler <--

10. around the well - iron & wine

--> the trapeze swinger <--

i am a man whose dreams have all deserted

2009-09-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

peter gabriel's 1986 album so is quite wonderful. my favorite song on it is a duet with kate bush called don't give up. the video for this song is probably one of the most romantic things i've ever seen.

absolutely perfect.

petergabriel.com
katebush.com

they say it's your birthday

2009-06-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

hey guys so tomorrow is my birthday.

you know what i would like for my birthday? some fundraising help.

last year my mom, my uncle and i all walked in the San Francisco 60 mile, 3 day breast cancer walk. it was amazing. and we’re doing it AGAIN next year. i have to raise $2300 in order to participate.

my aunt Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. she beat it once. in 2007 it came back. she’s still fighting it. also in 2007 my cousin Christine, her daughter, was diagnosed. she’s still fighting. they recently discovered that my cousin Wendy has the gene. So she might get it as well. same with her daughter. and Christine’s two little girls. in fact, after Christine was diagnosed, her 10 year old daughter Samantha asked my uncle Mike if one day she’ll get breast cancer, since her mom and her grandma both have it. that nearly broke his heart

long story short, here’s the link to my donation page.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ps. i promise some posts about my trip to bonnaroo/epic 2-concert grizzly bear weekend soon.

you finally found all your courage to let it all go

2009-06-07T01:47:00.001-07:00

i love the 80s. i love the music from the 80s. i recently posted a ton of music videos over on my tumblr go check those out.

now here are some of my favorite 80s guys.

robbie grey of modern english

robert smith of the cure

corey hart.

---> i melt with you - modern english <---
---> friday i'm in love - the cure <---
---> sunglasses at night - corey hart <---

space is just disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence

2009-05-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

so i have seen the new star trek movie an inordinate amount of times *cough* five *cough* and i think it's about time i spread my love of that film to this blog.

the score is by michael giacchino and it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

---> labor of love <---
---> enterprising young men <---
---> end credits <---

so if you haven't seen star trek yet get off your ass and gooooooo.

would you always maybe sometimes make it easy

2009-05-22T23:16:00.000-07:00

grizzly bear released the video for two weeks today. SO GOOD.

Two Weeks

i can't wait to get my vinyl copy of veckatimest! it should be here any day now!

this is a crisis i knew had to come

2009-05-18T21:48:00.000-07:00

ian curtis died 29 years ago today. this man has meant a lot to me for the last few years. joy division has meant a lot to me for the last few years. they are my favorite band. his lyrics are just so pure and so painfully powerful. i'm actually getting a tattoo on thursday with the following lyrics from isolation:

if you could just see the beauty
these things i could never describe

i find these lyrics incredibly moving.

so this post is dedicated to this beautiful man.

---> isolation <---
---> love will tear us apart (peel session) <---
---> atmosphere <---
---> transmission <---
---> passover <---

and i'll be anything you ask and more, going "hey hey hey hey hey"

2009-05-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite new albums for the spring is wolfgang amadeus phoenix from the french band phoenix. it is beautiful and perfect spring time pop music.

my favorite song is definitely "girlfriend" but the whole album is basically perfect. i will be seeing them (along with THE BOSS, grizzly bear and several other bands) at bonnaroo next month. WOO.

---> girlfriend <---
---> lisztomania <---
---> lasso <---

you can pre-order the album here @ insound.

http://www.myspace.com/wearephoenix

pete doherty iluuuuu

2009-03-11T20:33:00.000-07:00

tomorrow is pete's 30th birthday. later this month his new solo album grace/wastelands gets released in the us. it is pretty much amazing.

i was pretty excited when i saw 1939 returning on the tracklist because i have a version of that song i ripped off youtube. it is a lovely, lovely song and the album version is perfection.

--> 1939 returning <--

another rough song i had ripped off youtube was salome. and again the album version is too great.

--> salome <---

here's one more track for good measure. i hadn't heard this one before, but i absolutely adore this song. (it was co-written by carl barât, btw)

--> a little death around the eyes <---

also, he's looking way too adorable in the video for the first single off the album, last of the english roses.

you can pre-order the album here @ amazon.com

frenchdogblues
.myspace.com/gracewastelands

two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl

2009-03-07T02:14:00.000-08:00

so basically watchmen kicked a bunch of ass. and the soundtrack did too.

i haven't loved a soundtrack this much in a lonnnnng time.

---> unforgettable - nat king cole <---
---> the times they are a-changin' - bob dylan <---
---> hallelujah - leonard cohen <---
---> all along the watchtower - jimi hendrix <---

you can buy it at amazon here.

watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/

i told you i would stay

2009-03-03T22:37:00.000-08:00

i know that ed is a little upset about grizzly bear's new album veckatimest leaking so early. i debated blogging about it. but i love this album SO MUCH already i just have to. HAVE TO. it is absolutely perfect. but, seriously kids, go out and BUY IT when it's released. i know that i intend to get me some pretty pretty vinyl.

these are my two favorites. i had the live version of two weeks from letterman this summer and loved it. then i heard this version. and died a little from the pretty. i simply cannot WAIT to hear it on vinyl. i know this track alone will blow me away.

---> two weeks <---
---> i live with you <---

again, go to insound or somewhere in may and BUY IT.

grizzly-bear.net

sometimes it's like someone took a knife baby edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley through the middle of my soul

2009-02-26T11:53:00.000-08:00

i'm really obsessed with bruce springsteen's i'm on fire from the 1984 album born in the u.s.a.

i currently have it playing on repeat on my record player. and i by repeat i mean i have to physically put the needle back to the beginning after it ends. haha. but it just sounds so lovely on vinyl. i have several versions i'm going to share with you including a cover by kate tucker.

i'm on fire (from born in the u.s.a.)
i'm on fire (from the live 1975-1985 album, recorded august 19, 1985 at giants stadium)
i'm on fire (cousin cole's bad desire remix)
i'm on fire (kate tucker cover)

http://www.brucespringsteen.net
katetuckerandthesonsofsweden.com

i sit and wait for everything i can find

2009-02-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

the morning benders have done a new daytrotter session (an encore to the one they did last summer).

---> worth the fight (2.24.09 daytrotter session) <---
---> nothin' in this world can stop me worryin' about that girl (2.24.09 daytrotter session) <---
---> why don't they let us fall in love (7.16.09 daytrotter session) <---

i love this band. it was started by fellow uc berkeley alum chris chu a few years ago (go bears!). i remember seeing them play in a tiny little art gallery or something in the mission in early 2006. i liked them right away. in early 2008 my friend (and another cal alum) tim or - aka timothy rabbit - joined the band playing bass.

also new from the morning benders is the recently released grain of salt ep

---> grain of salt <---
---> your dark side <---

here's an older version of grain of salt too.

---> grain of salt (from 3 songs ep) <---

i saw them play at the rickshaw stop in december. they were SO GOOD. they also happen to be playing a noise pop show at slim's on friday. sadly, i'm scheduled to work til late that night so i can't go :( if you're going let me know how it was!

themorningbenders.com

tell me you'll be my lonely valentine

2009-02-13T22:05:00.000-08:00

last year i made two mixes for valentine's day. this year i made one.

sadly after i'd closed photoshop i noticed that there are two typos on this graphic. but i'm too lazy to fix it. haha. here's the download link.

here's one song off it in order for this post to get picked up by hypemachine. haha.

---> valentine's day - bruce springsteen <---

brucespringsteen.net

so here i am, are you ready?

2009-02-08T22:40:00.000-08:00

BLINK-182 HAS REUNITED. FUCK YEAH.

i am SO EXCITED about this you have no idea.

---> always <---
---> i miss you <---
---> reckless abandon <---
---> adam's song <---
---> dammit <---

blink-182 official site

it's easy to let the best of yourself slip away

2009-01-29T01:17:00.000-08:00

this is maybe one of the best covers ever. not to mention how amazing the intro to the track is. this is my favorite elvis song. sung by the boss. its his favorite elvis song too. i almost died when i first heard it.

---> bruce springsteen - can't help falling in love (elvis presley cover) <---

www.brucespringsteen.net/

at last

2009-01-20T23:58:00.000-08:00

today's inauguration ceremonies were amazing. i love these people. and i'm so freaking happy i can call this man my president.

and what a perfect song for their first dance as the first couple of this nation.

---> etta james - at last <---

it's our destiny

2008-12-30T10:19:00.000-08:00

slumdog millionaire was SO CUTE. i loved everything about it, including the soundtrack + score (i guess i'm catching up with soundtracks now, eh?)

---> mausum and escap - a.r. rahman <---
---> paper planes (dfa remix) - m.i.a. <---

the very end was a beautiful bollywood sequence that i just want to watch over and over.

tell me, friend, can you ask for anything more?

2008-12-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

bruce springsteen might as well get ready to thank the academy again. his song of the same name for the wrestler is so incredibly beautiful.

---> the wrestler <---

while i'm at it here's some other songs the boss did for movies. he won an oscar for "streets of philadelphia" from philadelphia and "secret garden" from jerry maguire is just plain awesome.

---> streets of philadelphia <---
---> secret garden <---

www.brucespringsteen.net/

movie soundtracks 2k8

2008-12-28T13:09:00.000-08:00

i love movie soundtracks. i wasn't so on top of them this year as in pervious years. i do want to discuss three of them; one score that i love, one soundtrack that i love and one soundtrack that is terrible but has one absolutely amazing song on it.

firstly, my love for hans zimmer knows no bounds. his score for frost/nixon is so beautiful.

---> the numbers - hans zimmer <---

the good soundtrack is tropic thunder. it is amazing and chock full of songs i've always loved, and some guilty pleasures too. it also has a few songs i've never heard before that are wonderful.

---> the name of the game (the crystal method's big a** t.t. mix) - the crystal method <---

and now the soundtrack that is terrible: twilight. (we won't get into the movie itself. haha. i may have loved it but i'll never tellll). the soundtrack, which made bank, is filled with mediocre rock songs. actually, it's the kind of stuff i would have liked in high school (for shame) so i guess i can see how it made so much money. it does, however, have one shinning light, namely iron & wine.

---> flightless bird, american mouth - iron & wine <---

how the music producers convinced sam beam to put his song on this shitty soundtrack i will never understand.

www.hans-zimmer.com/
www.thecrystalmethod.com/
www.ironandwine.com/

chestnuts roasting on an open fire

2008-12-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

i work all day today and then i fly to my parents' house for christmas tomorrow morning, so this might be my last chance to post some christmas music. i'm going to post a few favorites.

my all time favorite:

---> the christmas song - nat king cole <---

---> you're a mean one, mr. grinch <---
---> last christmas - wham! <---
---> skating - vince guaraldi trio <---
---> run run rudolph - chuck berry <---

i posted this last year too, but it's just so damn good.

---> christmas wrapping - the waitresses <---

i'll see you in another life, when we are both cats.

2008-12-23T10:23:00.001-08:00

the end of vanilla sky always kills me.

"it was sophia who never fully recovered. it was she who somehow knew you best. and like you she never forgot that one night where true loved seemed possible."

cameron crowe soundtracks are always boss. this one is particularly good, and his song choice for this moment makes it all the more heartwrenching.

---> spiritualized - ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space <---

www.spiritualized.com

blue christmas

2008-12-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

more sad christmas. this time elvis style.

---> santa bring my baby back to me <---
---> blue christmas <---

here's some happy elvis christmas too.

---> it's christmas time pretty baby <---
---> winter wonderland <---
---> silver bells <---
---> silent night <---

wise men say only fools rush in

2008-12-20T23:37:00.000-08:00

elvis and priscilla were too cute together.

---> can't help falling in love - elvis presley <---

love me tender

2008-12-20T23:34:00.000-08:00

this is one of the best things i've ever seen.

---> love me tender - elvis presley <--

sad christmas

2008-12-16T23:53:00.000-08:00

later on i'll post some happy christmas songs. but here are some sad ones.

---> ben folds five - brick <---

---> rilo kiley - xmas cake <---

www.benfoldsfive.com
www.rilokiley.com

hot tramp, i love you so

2008-12-15T14:27:00.000-08:00

i'm really into david bowie's rebel rebel right now, so i thought i'd do a rebel themed post.

---> rebel rebel- david bowie <---

---> rebellion (lies) - arcade fire <---

---> he's a rebel - the crystals <---

---> he's a rebel (the crystals cover) - the morning benders <---

---> easy morning rebel - my morning jacket <---

www.davidbowie.com/
www.myspace.com/arcadefireofficial
www.themorningbenders.com/
thecrystals.net
www.mymorningjacket.com

top ten albums of 2008

2008-12-11T10:04:00.000-08:00

here is my list of favorite albums of the year. i'm not going to call this a "best list" just favorites.

1. me› su› í eyrum vi› spilum endalaust - sigur rós

---> Inní mér syngur vitleysingur <---

2. day & age - the killers

---> spaceman <---

3. chinese democracy - guns n' roses

---> madagascar <---

4. talking through tin cans - the morning benders

---> loose change <---

5. forth - the verve

---> love is noise <---

6. dig out your soul - oasis

---> the nature of reality <---

7. fleet foxes - fleet foxes

---> white winter hymnal <---

8. hold on now youngster / we are beautiful, we are doomed - los campesinos!

---> documented minor emotional breakdown #1 <---

9. flight of the conchords - flight of the conchords

---> foux du fafa <---

10. a mad & faithful telling - devotchka

---> transliterator <---

you can buy alllll sorts of awesome albums here at insound.

they can dance if they wanna dance

2008-12-06T20:16:00.000-08:00

i saw freaking OASIS earlier this week and got some mad wicked videos, which i am now sharing with you.

the masterplan

wonderwall

champagne supernova

i am the walrus

oasisnet.com

concert update

2008-10-07T01:36:00.000-07:00

i saw stars for the third time tonight. they continue to be the most amazing entertainers.

photos

i saw sigur rós at the greek in berkeley on friday. fucking epic.

more videos / photos

i will be seeing asobi seksu at the rickshaw stop (for $11.25! score!) in a few weeks and oasis at the oakland arena in december. i think i might get tickets to see ben folds at the warfield and css at bimbo's too.

i get by with a little help from my friends

2008-07-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

this isn't music related. but i figured i might as well post this anywhere i can. so here you go.

so my aunt linda was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. she beat it once. last year it came back. she's still fighting it. last fall my cousin christine, her daughter, was diagnosed. she's still fighting. last week they discovered that my cousin wendy has the gene. so she might get it as well. same with her daughter. and christine's two little girls. in fact, last week christine's 10 year old daughter samantha asked my uncle mike if one day she'll get breast cancer, since her mom and her grandma both have it. that nearly broke his heart.

my mom, my uncle and i are walking in the san francisco 60 mile, 3 day breast cancer walk in september. i have to raise $2000 in order to participate. aka i need to have that money raised or i can't walk. i've got about a month left. and i'm nowhere near my goal. so, i'm asking you guys. any help is better than no help. $5 even would be great.

here's the link ---> http://08.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/SanFranciscoBayAreaEvent?px=2066210&pg=personal&fr_id=1188&s_tafId=75838 <--- to my online donation page. it only takes a few minutes and it would mean the world to me.

thank youuuuuu.

love is noise, love is pain

2008-07-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

so one of the many sad things about not having the time to post in so long is i didn't have a chance to write about the various concerts i've gone to recently. i saw rogue wave at the fillmore. SO GOOD. they brought out john vanderslice. i saw los campesinos! at bimbo's. those kids really know how to put on a show. i feel like it if they hosted a dance party it would be impossible *not* to have fun. most importantly i saw THE VERVE at the warfield. i waited ten years to see them. they were so good i really have no words.

i have an album of photos i took here.

and now i share with you their badass new single + the video that goes with.

---> love is noise <---

The Verve - Love Is Noise

you can buy their albums here at insound.

theverve.tv

inside of me sings a lunatic

2008-07-08T17:39:00.000-07:00

first new post (one of many i hope). so a crop of my favorite artists (and one guilty pleasure) released new albums this summer. i thought death cab for cutie's narrow stairs was incredibly boring. i really hated just about all of my morning jacket's evil urges -- which is incredibly sad because i really love jim james. i just think they missed the mark with this one. and viva la vida or death and all his friends by coldplay (the guilty pleasure) was completely underwhelming. however, to make up for all of this -- and really it is SO GOOD that it *does* make up for all the crap -- came me› su› í eyrum vi› spilum endalaust from sigur rós. this album is so fucking great. i have very few words. i'm sharing track #2 with you because it is the stuff that dreams are made of. i love it.

---> inní mér syngur vitleysingur <---

oh, and did i mention that i am SEEING SIGUR FUCKING ROS in october. because you better believe i am.

you can buy me› su› í eyrum vi› spilum endalaus here at insound.

www.deathcabforcutie.com
www.mymorningjacket.com
www.coldplay.com
www.sigur-ros.co.uk

been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time

2008-07-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

wow. i've been m.i.a. for a loooooong time. sorry guys. i just graduated from berkeley and moved to san francisco. and don't have a very good internet connection right now. but a new post is coming. i swear!

do you do you like dreaming of things...

2008-04-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

...so impossible or only the practical?

so this dashboard confessional ep is SO CUTE. according to wiki:

The album is a concept album. It chronicles the protagonist as he longs after a girl in "For You To Notice." In the next track, "So Impossible", he asks her on a date. In "Remember to Breathe", a friend is helping him prepare for his date. Finally, "Hands Down" talks about what Carrabba routinely calls "the best day I ever had."

look at the album art:

SO CUTE.

i think i have like 6 different versions of hands down (including the one featuring michael stipe that i posted earloer).

and now the lyrics/ mp3s:

---> for you to notice <---

I'm starting to fashion an idea in my head
where I would impress you
with every single word I said.
Would come out insightful, or brave, or smooth, or charming
and you'd want to call me..
And I would be there every time
you'd need me
I'd be there every time...

But for now I'll look so longingly
waiting...
For you to want me, for you to need me, for you to notice me

I'm starting to fashion an idea in my head
where I would impress you
with every single word I said.
Would come out insightful, or brave, or smooth, or charming
and you'd want to call me..
And I would be there every time
you'd need me
I'd be there every time...

But for now I'll look so longingly
waiting...
For you to want me, for you to need me, for you to notice me

---> so impossible <---

So she says
"Everyone's going to the party,
won't you come if I come
with a friend for your friend?
I'd be so pleased to see you
out of the classroom wearing the smile that I'll bring you.
I was hoping to learn a few things like..
Do you do you like dishing the dirt
on the whole class or
talking the big smack or
playing the fool or
wearing all of the latest fashions
or bucking the new trends
or wearing your old threads.
or If you like coffee in the evening
These are a few things that I'd like to know
that I'd like to know"

So I say...
"I've been scheduled to work but I'll call in
and my friend isn't busy
he'd be happy to join me
and maybe my friend
and your friend
will hit it off or maybe we will?"

I'm dying to know
do you do you like dreaming of things
so impossible or only the practical
or ever the wild or waiting through all your bad bad days
just to end them with
someone you care about
or do you like making out
and long drives and brown eyes
and guys that just
don't quite fit in
yeah do you like them
So yes, I'll see you there.

---> remember to breath <---

She fixes her lips,
They always look perfect.
Never a smudge line,
never too much.

I try on my blue shirt,
she told me she liked it...once.
She wonders what I'll wear.
She knows just what she'll wear.
She always wears blue.

So sneakers or flip-flops?
I'm starting to panic, wait wait
Remember she asked you,
remember to breathe.
And everything will be okay.

Okay
Okay
Alright
Alright
Alright
Alright
Alright...
(whisper)Okay.

---> hands down <---

Breathe in for luck
Breathe in so deep
This air is blessed
You share with me
This night is wild
So calm and dull
These hearts, they race
From self-control
Your legs are smooth
As they graze mine
We're doing fine
We're doing nothing at all

My hopes are so high that your kiss might kill me
So won't you kill me
So I die happy
My heart is yours to fill or burst
To break or bury
Or wear as jewelry
Whichever you prefer

The words are hushed
Let's not get busted
Just lay entwined here
Undiscovered
Safe in here from all the stupid questions
"Hey did you get some?"
Man that is so dumb
Stay quiet
Stay near
Stay close, they can't hear
So we can get some

My hopes are so high that your kiss might kill me
So won't you kill me
So I die happy
My heart is yours to fill or burst
To break or bury
Or wear as jewelry
Whichever you prefer

Hands down this is the best day I can ever remember
I'll always remember the sound of the stereo
The dim of the soft lights
The scent of your hair
That you twirled in your fingers
And the time on the clock
When we realized it's so late
And this walk that we shared together
And the streets were wet
And the gate was locked
So I jumped in
And I let you in
And you stood at your door
With your hands on my waist
And you kissed me like you meant it
And I knew
That you meant it
That you meant it
That you meant it
And I knew
That you meant it
That you meant it

+ cute silly little video for hands down

you can buy dashboard stuffs here at insound.

myspace.com/dashboardconfessional

hands down this is the best day i can ever remember

2008-04-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

dashboard confessional featuring michael stipe? this is kind of old, but i just discovered it. but srsly how can i not share this!?

---> hands down - dashboard confessional feat. michael stipe <---

you can buy dashboard stuffz here @ insound.

myspace.com/dashboardconfessional

i miss you

2008-04-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

so lately i've been listening to basically nothing but blink-182. that's just what i'm in the mood for. my last.fm weekly chart for last week was insane. so i thought i would spread this madness to here. so i think my favorite of all their albums is their very last one. self-titled or untitled? i'm perfectly fine leaving that question unanswered. this album makes me really sad because clearly their sound was evolving from pop-punk, a sound which in my opinion they perfected, to something a little more grown up. and i love it. maybe someday they'll come back from their "indefinite hiatus." i know i cannot wait.

so now i'm going to share with you my three favorite videos. the first of which is always. this may well be one of my favorite music videos EVER.

second is i miss you:

and lastly adam's song. whenever this song came on at work (i used to work in a fro-yo shop) i would turn the volume up WAY PAST the maximum we were supposed to have it. i'm a bit of a rebel.

now i'm going to share my favorite tracks. three are from their last album and then one each from enema of the state and take off your pants and jacket:

--> i miss you <--
--> always <--
--> all of this <-- (the vocals on this track are by robert smith of the cure)
--> adam's song <--
--> stay together for the kids <--

you can buy all their albums here at amazon.com

www.blink182.com

you talk. you talk a good game.

2008-03-12T21:24:00.000-07:00

it's pete doherty's birthday!

my computer died recently. so i can't post any tracks. thus i give you the video for the babyshambles song "you talk"

out of the ash i rise with my red hair and i eat men like air

2008-02-25T21:50:00.000-08:00

i came across the most amazing thing ever: poetry meets music they're mash-ups (sorta) of, well, poetry with music. the poets reading their poetry set to the most amazing music. these are my favorite

---> america (the highs and lows) - allen ginsberg & the trouble lights <---

---> for the union dead (metamorphosis) - robert lowell & philip glass <---

---> lady lazarus (l'america) - sylvia plath & the doors <---

you can download them all for free here

falling slowly, eyes that know me

2008-02-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

one of my favorite parts of the oscars last night:

---> falling slowly - glen hansard / markéta irglová <---

you are oneiric, that word's a shy pick...

2008-02-15T18:51:00.000-08:00

...it means you float around on clouds.

one of the things i love the most about living in the bay area is the local music scene. one of my favorites is timothy rabbit who was voted by the readers of the daily californian as the best local musician in both 2006 and 2007. i did a pretty fun interview with him two years ago. i can't seem to find the link to it, but there is still a link up to the article that went with it.

so i share with you two songs from his it's always snowing . . . in iceland ep and two from the yet to be released swim, fish, swim.

---> long distances <---
---> i spy... <---
---> warm milk <---
---> sina's song <---

you can check out more tunes and buy it's always snowing . . . in iceland at his myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/timothyrabbit

i've just seen a face

2008-02-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

i found some random covers of beatles songs on my computer and have no clue where i got them, but they're pretty awesome.

---> i've just seen a face - the dillards <---

---> across the universe - the curtain society <---

http://www.the-dillards.com/

http://www.curtainsociety.com/

mash-up made in heaven

2008-02-12T00:36:00.000-08:00

"intro-inspection" by osymyso is maybe the most amazing thing i've ever heard. it's a 12 minute mash-up of everything under the sun. you can read all about it at wikipedia.

---> intro-inspection <---

http://www.osymyso.com/

everybody hates a tourist

2008-02-11T13:59:00.000-08:00

william shatner's has been

understated genius? i've always thought so.

---> common people (pulp cover feat. joe jackson <---
---> that's me trying (feat. aimee mann and ben folds) <---
---> real (feat. brad paisley) <---

you can buy has been here at insound.

http://www.williamshatner.com/

in a room with a window in the corner i found truth

2008-02-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

i just got les bains douches which is a live album by joy division, recorded on december 18th, 1979 at les bains douches, Paris (as well as a few other places in europe) on vinyl and it is pretty much amazing. i really need a time machine so i can go back and time and see joy division live.

---> disorder (live at les bains douches) <---
---> love will tear us apart (live at les bains douches) <---
---> shadowplay (live at les bains douches) <---

rhino records has some great joy division albums (including vinyl!) here.

it's these little things, they can pull you under

2008-02-09T00:40:00.000-08:00

i think r.e.m.'s automatic for the people is pretty much one of the most perfect albums ever. the more i listen to it the more i love it. and honestly, can anyone listen to "everybody hurts" and not think of the end of that episode of my so-called life? i think not.

---> everybody hurts <---
---> sweetness follows <---
---> monty got a raw deal <---
---> man on the moon <---

you can buy r.e.m. albums here at amazon.

www.remhq.com/

you don't look different, but you have changed

2008-02-07T09:12:00.000-08:00

i've been listening to all my beatles on vinyl. i inherited (stole) a lot of the older stuff from my parents and found rubber soul for $1 at a thrift store (score!), but i really need to get revolver and let it be! here's some of my favorite tracks that i don't often see talked about.

---> i'm looking through you (from rubber soul) <---
---> baby you're a rich man (from magical mystery tour) <---
---> happiness is a warm gun (from the white album) <---

you can get beatles albums on cd (lame) here.

http://www.beatles.com/

ég fel hausinn minn undir sæng

2008-02-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

bonnaroo posted their 2008 lineup! dammit i wish i had the money to go again this year! i went in 2006 (radiohead woo!) and it was amazing.

---> starálfur - sigur rós <---
---> heard 'em say - kanye west feat. adam levine <---
---> magheetah - my morning jacket (live at bonnaroo 2006) <---

www.sigur-ros.co.uk
www.myspace.com/kanyewest
www.mymorningjacket.com/
http://www.bonnaroo.com

images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes

2008-02-05T22:22:00.000-08:00

i just got across the universe on dvd. iiiii love this movie so much.

here's four of my favorite tracks from the soundtrack:

---> with a little help from my friends - jim sturgess and joe anderson <---
---> i've just seen a face - jim sturgess <---
---> dear prudence - dana fuchs, jim sturgess, evan rachel wood, joe anderson and t.v. carpio <---
---> hey jude - joe anderson <---

you can buy the soundtack here at insound.

yes we can

2008-02-04T22:10:00.000-08:00

tomorrow is super tuesday. go out there and VOTE.

---> the yes we can song - will.i.am <---

curious talk at the fotomat

2008-02-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

i went record shopping yesterday and bought two albums i'd been lusting after and two albums on a whim. the two i bought on purpose were descended like vultures and asleep at heaven's gate both by rogue wave. then i stumbled across a bootleg of libertines songs called another boy, another planet that i just had to purchase. it had various live versions of songs plus some tracks from the babyshambles sessions--including adam green of the moldy peaches doing a cover of "what a waster." so then i also bought wincing the night away by the shins even though i'd only heard one song. it was a damn good song so i thought i'd be impulsive. it was worth it.

---> 10:1 - rogue wave <---
---> fantasies - rogue wave <---

---> what a waster - adam green (libertines cover) <---

---> sleeping lessons - the shins <---

you can buy rogue wave's descended like vultures here and asleep at heaven's gate here, you can get libertines music here and the shins' wincing the night away here

http://www.roguewavemusic.com
www.adamgreen.net
www.theshins.com

now that i've realised how it's all gone wrong

2008-02-03T23:34:00.000-08:00

...gotta find some therapy, this treatment takes too long.

"This sounds awful but it was only after Ian died that we sat down and listened to the lyrics," says Morris. "You'd find yourself thinking, 'Oh my God, I missed this one.' Because I'd look at Ian's lyrics and think how clever he was putting himself in the position of someone else. I never believed he was writing about himself. Looking back, how could I have been so bleedin' stupid? Of course he was writing about himself. But I didn't go in and grab him and ask, 'What's up?' I have to live with that. Watching the film, there were moments when I wished I could have stepped into the film. Unfortunately, you can't."

"We never really listened to Ian's lyrics, to be honest," agrees Sumner. "At least, we never sat there and analysed them. It's a bit like reading your friend's letters, I suppose. But when he died, I did go through his lyrics and find myself thinking, 'Oh, God.' You look at it through a different filter because of what happened."

source

--------------------

i recently bought unknown pleasures on vinyl. it is definitely one of the best albums ever. i think it may have the best opening track i've ever heard, thus i am sharing it with you now.

---> disorder <---

rhino records has some great joy division albums (including vinyl!) here.

i got pretty music in my ear

2008-02-03T00:56:00.000-08:00

so i've recently discovered teddybears

i think their album soft machine is pretty much amazing.

i love most of the tracks ("yours to keep" and "cobrastyle" are basically perfect), but currently i am obsessed with "punkrocker" mostly because it's with iggy pop!

---> punk rocker <---

the video is pretty badass too:

you can buy soft machine at insound.

http://www.myspace.com/teddybears

only you can stop this stut-stut-stut-stuttering

2008-01-29T20:19:00.000-08:00

commercials always seem to have the best music. here's some of my favorite songs in commercials currently running:

the first is in the commercial for the new ford edge.

---> the funeral - band of horses <---

next is from the dentyne ice commercial.

---> stuttering - ben's brother <---

this one is from various commercials for the zune mp3 player.

---> lake michigan - rogue wave <---

and last but not least from the new apple macbook air.

---> new soul - yael naim <---

http://www.bandofhorses.com
http://www.bensbrother.com
http://www.roguewavemusic.com
http://www.yaelweb.com

sky is burning, but at least we're warm

2008-01-17T20:28:00.000-08:00

last week rogue wave did a session over at daytrotter. every time i listen to their song lake michigan i love it more and more

---> lake michigan (daytrotter session) <---

http://www.myspace.com/roguewave
http://www.daytrotter.com

if ever there was someone to keep me at home it would be you

2008-01-13T16:16:00.000-08:00

there have been some amazing soundtracks out this awards season. i give you samples from four of my favorites:

atonement

---> come back - dario marianelli <---

into the wild

---> guaranteed - eddie vedder <---

juno

---> anyone else but you - the moldy peaches <---

there will be blood

---> future markets - jonny greenwood <---

you can purchase the atonement soundtrack here, the into the wild soundtrack here and the juno soundtrack here on amazon.com and the there will be blood soundtrack here at insound.

all that she wants

2008-01-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

so i'm having major nostalgia for ace of base. the sign was the first cassette tape i ever owned and cruel summer was the second cd i ever purchased.

thus i share three of my favorite songs by them.

---> the sign <---
---> all that she wants <---
---> beautiful life <---

you can purchase their albums at amazon.com

http://www.myspace.com/aceofbase

should auld acquaintance be forgot

2007-12-31T19:49:00.000-08:00

my top 10 albums of the year:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

sometimes you're better off pretending you feel alright

2007-12-20T20:48:00.000-08:00

my friend tyler is in a band called tempo no tempo and they have a new music video, which i now share with you:

you can buy their stuffz here

http://myspace.com/temponotempo

raise up cups of christmas cheer

2007-12-18T11:54:00.000-08:00

i haven't updated in forever because of finals. but they're over now. and christmas is almost here. i meant to post so much more christmas music. i have hours and hours! alas, i haven't. but, have no fear! i have for you 'christmas wrapping' by the waitresses

---> christmas wrapping - the waitresses <---

you can buy their best of at amazon here

haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!

2007-12-07T18:22:00.000-08:00

i found "i write sins not tragedies" by panic! at the disco on my computer. wtf? so then i wanted to see the video because the lyrics are so ridiculous. and after watching it i realized that it's kind of ripping off "helena" by my chemical romance (which was on tv allll the time the summer between freshman and sophomore year, so i saw it a lot). let's compare and contrast:

panic! at the disco:

my chemical romance:

you decide.

all these things will one day take control

2007-11-30T10:34:00.000-08:00

once upon a time the darkness did a cover of radiohead's street spirit [fade out]. i am sharing it now with you.

---> street spirit [fade out] - the darkness <---

http://www.myspace.com/thedarkness

i never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop

2007-11-29T19:29:00.000-08:00

firstly, i thought this comic was great

despite my a) wish to someday be hit on in a coffee shop and b) wish to talk to guys occasionally in fsm, recently someone did just that to me and it was really awkward. so i'll probably never actually do that.

ok, now to make this music related, this song by landon pigg that has been all over the t.v. in diamond ads is really pretty.

---> falling in love in a coffee shop - landon pigg <---

you can buy his music here.

it's you! it's me! it's dancing!

2007-11-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

last night i saw los campesinos! with the most serene republic at the great american music hall.

they were both pretty much amazing. the show was sadly far less than sold out. however, it made for a nice intimate feel, which is good considering the next time they come out this way i'm sure they're going to sell out a much bigger venue and the fanbase is going to change considerably. i really loved when gareth said that after staying in hollywood for a night they've decided that california really should be split into two states. damn straight

the most serene republic has one of the most eccentric, adorable and awkward frontman i've seen in a looooooong time. &hearts i just wish they'd turned the mic up so we could actually hear what he was saying...

---> it started with a mixx - los campesinos! <---
---> you! me! dancing! - los campesinos! <---
---> sherry and her butterfly net - the most serene republic <---

you can buy los campesinos! ep sticking fingers into sockets here and the most serene republic's lp population here

http://myspace.com/loscampesinos
http://myspace.com/themostserenerepublic

sleigh bells ring, are you listening?

2007-11-26T07:50:00.000-08:00

um, radiohead singing 'winter wonderland'? how can i not share this?

---> winter wonderland - radiohead <---

http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace

that's how you know

2007-11-25T11:06:00.000-08:00

so enchanted is insanely adorable. i throughly enjoyed it and even though the songs are typically corny disney songs they are still so cute!

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/enchanted

it ain't me

2007-11-25T00:39:00.000-08:00

so i saw i'm not there tonight. i really enjoyed it. it was weird. but wonderful.

also, jim james! was in it for a bit, singing the song he recorded with calexico for the soundtrack. we all know how much i love jim james.

---> goin' to acapulco - jim james and calexico <---

you can purchase the soundtrack at insound here

http://www.imnotthere-movie.com

words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup

2007-11-21T13:51:00.000-08:00

better late than never, right? i watched across the universe a few weeks ago. i really loved it. that song is my favorite song ever. from the movie though, i really love i've just seen a face:

here's across the universe plus some great cover versions:

---> across the universe - the beatles <---
---> across the universe - jim sturgess <---
---> across the universe - david bowie <---
---> across the universe - fiona apple <---
---> across the universe - rufus wainwright <---
---> across the universe - george harrison and ravi shankar <---

http://www.acrosstheuniverse.com/
http://www.beatles.com/
http://www.davidbowie.com/
http://www.fiona-apple.com/
http://www.rufuswainwright.com/

it's french, that is

2007-11-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

um, pete singing in french = major hearts

buy babyshambles stuffz here

http://www.babyshambles.net/

bang! bang! goes the night

2007-11-20T19:04:00.000-08:00

can we talk for a bit about how much i love jim james and my morning jacket? i saw them at bonnaroo in 2006. they are truly epic. jim james has one of the most pure voices i have ever heard. i wish i'd stayed for their whole set. they started at like 1 am and i stayed for an hour and then got very sleepy. they played for three and a half hours! i also sat on the hill behind the greek theater to hear him play solo in may. &hearts

---> magheetah <---
---> golden (live 10/27/07) <---
---> i will sing you songs <---

you can buy their albums here

http://mymorningjacket.com

we both go down together

2007-11-20T02:03:00.000-08:00

i'm having major nostalgia for freshman year. major. i used to be obsessed with brandon flowers, which i attribute to the mr. brightside video:

these are a few tracks from that kind of defined my freshman year:

---> mr. brightside - the killers <---
---> better love - steel train <---
---> finding out true love is blind - louis xiv <---
---> jerk it out - the caesars <---
---> we both go down together - the decemberists <---
---> boulevard of broken songs - green day vs. oasis vs. travis vs. eminem <---

http://www.myspace.com/thekillers
http://www.myspace.com/steeltrain
http://www.myspace.com/louisxiv
http://www.myspace.com/caesars
http://www.myspace.com/thedecemberists

our house is a very, very fine house

2007-11-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

covers! i love good covers. i have for you some phantom planet, ben folds, rogue wave and we are scientists.

---> our house - phantom planet <---
---> such great heights - ben folds <---
---> debaser - rogue wave <---
---> hoppípolla - we are scientists <---

http://www.myspace.com/phantomplanet
http://www.myspace.com/benfolds
http://www.myspace.com/roguewave
http://www.myspace.com/wearescientists

this is how to host a party

2007-11-18T22:05:00.000-08:00

i found some more pictures of the winks so i thought i'd share them. this way you really can see how cute and colorful they are:

---> ohio <---
---> castle in the clouds <---
---> guitar swing <---

you can buy their album birthday party here

http://thewinks.net

i've got silver and i've got gold

2007-11-18T01:20:00.000-08:00

ok, so basically la blogotheque is the most amazing site ever. they have these great impromptu videos of bands being awesome. i give you some grizzly bear and some sufjan:

http://www.blogotheque.net/
http://grizzly-bear.net
http://sufjan.com

canadians! scotsman! berkeley! oakland! oh my!

2007-11-17T13:20:00.000-08:00

so last night i trekked to mama buzz cafe to see my friend mark and his band mark and collette (i'm told they may be changing their name soon).

there were a few more bands that played too. i'll admit i didn't like one of them, so i have nothing to share about them. but the funz (or whatever their name is--there was some debate) were pretty good. the winks were really good and fun and cute and canadian. this photo doesn't really do their colorful-ness justice (or how incredibly attractive the lead guy was)

trackz:

---> a little romance (demo) - mark and collette <---
---> in the arms of the robot - the funz <---
---> slumber party let's go - the winks <---

http://myspace.com/markandcollette
http://www.myspace.com/mulag
http://www.thewinks.net/

eg hef slegið fjandans nóg

2007-11-16T17:51:00.000-08:00

sigur rós released a new ep last week called hvarf-heim. it's two discs, hvarf (which means "disappeared" or "haven" in icelandic) contains studio versions of previously unreleased songs and heim (which means "home" in icelandic) contains acoustic studio versions of songs already released.

sigur rós basically makes the most beautiful music in the world, and this album more than demonstrates that. the album artwork is breathtaking as well:

---> hljómalind <---

---> starálfur <---

---> vaka <---

you can buy it here

http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk

i want you to make me cry

2007-11-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

i really want to see au revoir simone in concert some day. they recently did a daytrotter session. and it is amazing. daytrotter ilu.

---> sad song <---

---> stars <---

---> stay golden <---

http://aurevoirsimone.com

http://www.daytrotter.com

can you feel the knife?

2007-11-16T10:37:00.000-08:00

so grizzly bear is easily one of my favorite bands currently making music. i bought their new ep and got it last week. it is pretty much as amazing as i thought it would be. it's got a few new versions of songs from yellow house and some damn good covers by css, band of horses and atlas sound. as well as a truly beautiful recording of dan rossen singing "deep blue sea." apparently it was recorded at his home. his voice is so pure. the album also has a studio version of their cover of the crystal's "he hit me (and it felt like a kiss)" which up til now was only availble as a daytrotter session or live.

thus i give you:

---> he hit me <---

---> knife - css <---

you can buy the ep here. i reallllly want to get it on vinyl!

http://grizzly-bear.net
http://www.myspace.com/canseidesersex
http://www.bandofhorses.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bradfordcox

safety pins are none too strong katie

2007-11-15T21:22:00.000-08:00

so i came home between classes and inside my rolling stone was pete!

also, the audio from the interview. pete's voice is so cute!

and two videos:

acoustic version of "fuck forever" he's got daisies in his hat!

and a cute version of "what katie did"

when routine bites hard and ambitions are low

2007-11-15T19:56:00.000-08:00

to celebrate my recent acquisition of a control movie poster from a bulletin board on campus:

i give you some amazing live joy division tracks:

---> love will tear us apart (live at les bains douches, 18 december 1979) <---
---> atmosphere (from substance) <---
---> she's lost control (peel sessions) <---

speaking of peel sessions. i happen to love john peel and some day i hope to buy this book:

rhino records has some great joy division albums (including vinyl!) here.

san francisco is my favorite place in the world, too.

2007-11-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

stars is definitely and consisently one of the best live acts i've ever seen. they are so genuinly happy to be playing this music that they love so much and they love sharing it with their audience who love it as much as they do. they played a lot of songs from in our bedroom after the war, which i don't particularly like all that much and set yourself on fire, which i love to death. but they also played some of my older favorites. tonight's version of elevator love letter was so incredible. and they played on peak hill! it was on my list of songs i love that i was sure they wouldn't play.this is definitely a band you shouldn't miss seeing if you can help it.

two songs they played, one they that they didn't

---> elevator love letter <---
---> on peak hill <---
---> the very thing <---

aaaargh

2007-11-14T18:41:00.001-08:00

this is maybe the best cd ever.

two of my favorites:

---> baltimore whores - gavin friday <---

---> a drop of nelson's blood - jarvis cocker <---

purchase album here

http://www.gavinfriday.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jarvspace

synchronize love to the beat of the show

2007-11-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

i am contemplating starting a music blog. that no one will read. but i think i might do it. so it will be here, should i decide to go ahead with this.