Another Music Blahg

Pause

2009-06-29T12:46:00.002-04:00

I promise I'll get back to writing in this soon, I've just been super busy with friends visiting. Hopefully this week I'll figure out a proper way to stream songs so you can hear them without downloading.

Here's some fantastic girl-sung songs in the meantime!
Lex Land - As Much As You Lead: Download
BItter:Sweet - Mating Game: Download
Brandi Carlile - The Story: Download
Eleni Mandell - Artificial Fire: Download
Anna Nalick - Shine: Download

& a great video of Ted Danson creeping on girls:

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sf9pe3A7dI&feature=player_embedded]

See you soon!

nightmares

2009-06-15T15:02:00.002-04:00

I promise I'll write something worthwhile soon. For now, here's some nightmares.

Yikes.

Amazing video editing.

2009-06-10T16:35:00.002-04:00

This comes courtesy of the person who made "Peaches - Fuck the Pain Away, sung by Miss Piggy," which is one of my favorite YouTube videos of all time.

This took this girl months, and understandably so. It's fantastic.

Three Six Mafia Alice in Wonderland - Smokin on the Dro

and just for the hell of it, the aforementioned Miss Piggy video:

happy wednesday.

2009-06-10T13:01:00.002-04:00

I promise I dance better than that. At least a little better anyway...

Beatles Rock Band

2009-06-08T20:04:00.005-04:00

If you know me at all, you know that the Beatles are one of my all-time favorite bands. I went to Liverpool in February [my own personal mecca of sorts], and visited the Cavern Club along with their homes, Penny Lane, Abbey Road, and Strawberry Fields during my stay in England. My mom went to their Shea Stadium concert, and my brother is named after Paul McCartney.

After saying that, I'm not sure whether Beatles-Rock Band is a good or bad thing. Granted, it spreads the band to another generation (sadly many people I know don't know much of the band's music)... but it's ROCK BAND. Again, I know, every band likes to commercialize, but I don't know.

That being said, after watching the trailer for a third time, if somebody I know buys this I'm going to play it 24/7. And the fact that it's rated "T for Teen" due to "mild lyrics" and "tobacco reference" is hilarious.

Some songz and an old concert review

2009-06-08T19:42:00.006-04:00

There will either be a ton of or not many posts coming up, not sure what I've decided yet. I have off from work till at least Saturday, but I have to apply to at least 25 internships in LA by the end of the month, and the sooner I apply the better. So we'll see if I decide to be responsible or procrastinate...

For now, here's a great new song from "fun." a side project of the lead singer of the Format who called a hiatus back in February. I got to see them in 2006, and they were fantastic live. This is their new single off their upcoming album, and it's fantastic. Just as fun as the Format was at the peak of their career. I can't wait for this album!
fun. - At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used To Be): Download

And here's Oi Va Voi - Traveling the face of the globe. I saw this dynamic group on 4/20 'cause the company I worked for represented them, and it was one of the best bands I've ever seen in concert.

Here's the review I wrote of the concert if you're interested:

Their name comes from the Yiddish phrase for “Oh Dear,” and their sound is a mix between soul, klezmer / Jewish music, Eastern European music, classical, rock, and according to Wikipedia (although I didn’t notice any at the gig) contemporary electronic music. The band was comprised of Nik Ammar on guitars, mandolin, and vocals, Josh Breslaw on percussion, Lucy Shaw on bass, Steve Levi on clarinet and vocals, David Orchant on trumpet, Anna Phoebe on violin, and Bridgette Amofah on vocals. KT Tunstall was also a member of the band at the beginning of their formation (around 2000), until her career kicked off around 2004. They won an Edison award for Album of the Year 2004 Netherlands, and were nominated for the BBC Awards for World Music 2003 in the Boundary Crossing category (a category which describes them perfectly).
The energy of the group was amazing – I was not in the best mood coming to the gig after a stressful day at work, but after about two songs I couldn’t help but dance along. The venue used to be a horse stable, but was now decked out with comfy couches and stripper poles, so that obviously cheered me up as well. I absolutely love minor chords, and they were full of them (due to the Jewish/Middle Eastern influences) – like a band I also like, Devotchka. In addition, I used to play the clarinet and my favorite instrument has always been the violin, and the violinist was probably the best I’ve ever seen. I mean I knew that it’s possible to rock out on a violin, but… damn. She just had to be seen to be believed. If you get a chance, go on their myspace[.com/oivavoi], or buy one of their albums – I bought all of them right after the show. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

& here's the aforementioned song:
Oi Va Voi - Traveling The Face of The Globe: Download

& one more for good will. Not much to say about this song, except that it's been stuck in my head for the last 2 weeks and is fantastic. And it's Animal Collective. And it's free!
Animal Collective - For Reverend Green: Download

Now I'm off to eat cheesecake!

The Hunt for the Worst Song Ever.

2009-06-06T01:08:00.001-04:00

I decided to start this, because. And I think I already found the winner. Why am I doing this? Because I truly believe that it's hard to make bad music. Now let me first say - I'm not intentionally trying to focus on bad artists. I can find 9 million tonedeaf idiots on Youtube. This band is on major tours (coming up on the Vans Warped Tour and finishing up the Crunk Kids Tour... and they're playing in the Lowlands Festival with Prodigy & Bloc Party in the end of August), and signed to a label. But don't completely untalented people not get famous, you ask? And yet that's exactly what this is.

This is what the band says:
We shot this 100% on our own equipment.
We shot this on a budget of $0.00.
This was our first project since graduating film school.
Everybody who worked on this shoot was unpaid therefore we respect EVERYBODY who featured in our video.
We shot this video in four hours.
There was no drinking of alcohol on set. The bottle you see seven drinking from....that's apple juice believe it or not!

...I wish it was cyanide in that bottle. It's just autotune, which is one of my least favorite things in the world, and screaming for no reason, and a garbage beat. "Let's get freaky now RAWR." I'm going to have nightmares now. Their album is called "i'm not a fan but the kids like it"... but I really don't think anybody does. And just in case you didn't believe me that they're some of the worst, here's their pictures:

Send me your suggestions if you think something is worse than this. Or don't if you want me to be a happy person.

i'm creative!

2009-06-05T17:11:00.000-04:00

HEY. I changed the whole layout / made my very own logo from (pretty much) scratch! Let me know what you think :)

[for you Facebook stalkers]

Top 5 for this week:
Nine Inch Nails - Closer [sped up to sound like Alvin & the Chipmunks at a rave by yours truly 'cause I'm a crackhead & I loved that video that I posted that had this mp3 a few days ago]: Download
Boy Eats Drum Machine - I'm Alive Don't Bury Me [I can't get enough of this song's off-beat beat]: Download
Fol Chen - Cable TV [These lyrics are so stupid but I've been obsessed with this song for weeks]: Download
Feist & Ben Gibbard - Train Song [Simple but beautiful]: Download
Michael Franti & Spearhead - Say Hey (I Love You) [I've loved this song since January. It's so cute!]: Download

Have a great weekend! I'll be working. At least I have Monday-Thursday off...

Expialidocious!

2009-06-04T23:09:00.001-04:00

This video is awesome. It's a dance remix made from Mary Poppins clips.

Made by the person who did this ridiculous Alice in Wonderland remix.

I love YouTube.

sheesh.

2009-06-03T01:43:00.001-04:00

If somebody could explain to me why I can't stop watching this over and over and over and over I'd really appreciate it. But I love it.

Childhood memories gone. Whoops.

shudder

2009-06-02T14:00:00.000-04:00

This is like Nirvana mixed with McFly mixed with Dashboard Confessional mixed with a nightmare I once had.

Courtesy of Everything is Terrible.

Also, in the category of "i want this!"
Daniel Craig Icepops.

Courtesy of FilmDrunk.

I want this.

2009-06-01T00:17:00.000-04:00

I need this gum. Now. Somebody please find it for me. Please.

Here's one of the scriptures.

Three questions:
-What does this have to do with gum?
-Does the gum taste like Jesus?
-WHERE CAN I GET THIS?!

Also these - "True Love Waits" sweatpants, printed on the butt.

And my all time favorite, which I'm going to buy as soon as I deposit my paycheck:

"JESUS SAVES" PIGGY BANK. Get it? 'Cause it's a pun. 'Cause he saves, and now literally too. UGH.

Here's a song, because I'm "Too Excited" for this kitschy crap.
Tilly and the Wall - Too Excited: Download
Get it? I need sleep.

Last minute addition: [This is all text from the website. I couldn't write this if I tried.]

If there were a fight between the Terminator and Moses, who do you think would win? How about The Hulk and Moses? Godzilla and Moses?

Get our point? Moses can take care of anything that gets in his way. So what better character to make into an action figure toy.

It's cheap, it's Biblical, and it's more fun than a golden calf!

.........................
sigh. goodnight.

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest Review

2009-05-30T18:40:00.000-04:00

10/10. or 11/10 if I'm allowed to do that by the irrelevant numbers system that people give to rating things.

This album is my favorite album of the year so far, surpassing Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavillion. It's quickly becoming one of my all-time favorites.

Why?

Typically, I fall in love with an album one by one. I hear a single, with a catchy beat that I constantly have on repeat, then explore the other songs one by one until the 10-13 tracks engulf me and it's all I hear. Or I just hear a single, a catchy beat, and move on to the next song quickly (I have almost 100 gb of music in my iTunes; it's very easy for a song/album to get lost in the abyss).

Grizzly Bear's newest album is different. It instantly sucks you in. From the first track, Southern Point, to the last, Foreground, each song is more entrancing than the next. This is an album you listen to reading in your backyard with the lawn chair that has the flip-out leg part, so you can fully relax. The wind comes over you just enough to make your hair flutter, but not enough to give you the chills. In the 72 degree weather where the sun is just bright enough to cause your hair to shimmer, but not bright enough to blind you, or change your skin color. But it warms you, like this album. From your toes to your hairline, it sweeps over you. The psychedelic and sometimes haunting vocals are reminiscent of the Fleet Foxes, the entrancing melodies reminiscent of the aforementioned Animal Collective record. This is music for the beach. This is music for driving. This is music for reading. This is music for relaxation. This is music for happiness. This is what music is supposed to be. You close your eyes and you feel like you're floating. Or diving slow-motion into a pile of leaves, or a perfect-temperature pool, when your hair swirls like a sea anemone. This album needs to be savored, note by note, song by song, over and over.

As the Daily News wrote in their 5-star review, "While all harmony groups aim for that effect to one degree or another, the melodic patterns these voices follow lends them their own strange glory. Imagine Simon and Garfunkel applying their pretty, fraternal voices to a tune that keeps veering into chords odd enough to have been written by Jeff Buckley. Or conjure Crosby, Stills and Nash - if only they drew as much from chamber and choral music as from folk-rock."

In my opinion, this album needs to be played as loud as possible for you to enjoy it. So if you're at a beach / in public, bring noise-canceling headphones. Or if you're in the quiet of your home, blast it till the walls fall down. "I Live With You" is a great example of that. The swelling that the song hints at after a minute in, and reaches about 2 minutes through... it's just heavenly.

I really can't rave about this album enough. You NEED to buy it. Seriously. Now.

Here's three songs to give you a taste picked randomly 'cause I love them ALL:
I Live With You - Download
Southern Point - Download
Two Weeks - Download

& here's a bonus track from their 2006 release, Yellow House which is how I first heard of them (Horn of Plenty was their debut released in 2004). I like this album a little less than their newest... like an 8/10. Still DEFINITELY worth checking out.

On A Neck, On A Spit - Download

If you have another album/band you think I should check out, or have thoughts on this album, please write in the comments!

I saw St. Vincent/Pattern is Movement at Webster Hall yesterday.

2009-05-21T21:09:00.000-04:00

I'm too lazy to write a concert review. I saw St. Vincent / Pattern is Movement yesterday, and they were both phenomenal. Ethereal sound. Pattern is Movement sounds kind of like Final Fantasy, made by two guys that look like average dads, one does vocals/piano, the other is a great drummer. St. Vincent you should know. Sweet, girly singing by an almost Snow White-looking woman named Annie Clark, who was a member of the Polyphonic Spree's & Sufjan Stevens' touring bands. She's only 26! Below I'm posting one of her more famous songs which she played in the encore, and a song by Pattern Is Movement off their album that I'm pretty sure they played as well. And three other great songs. And I got 12 delicious pork-chive dumplings for $3 [144 east broadway] yesterday. Yum.

I'll put up videos some other time.

Here's some photos (sorry the quality for PIM isn't the best, their lighting was weird to my camera):
Pattern is Movement

St. Vincent

& here's some songs:
Wilco - Bull Black Nova (off their album coming out June 30th) - Right Click to Download
Duke Special - Last Night I Nearly Died (off their 2006 album, "Songs From the Deep Forest")- Download
St. Vincent - Your Lips Are Red - Download
Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes (Dam-Funk Remix) (the regular version of this song is my ringtone)- Download
Pattern is Movement - Jenny Ono (off their most recent album/debut as a two-some, All Together)- Download

i got my hair cut today.

2009-05-19T21:11:00.000-04:00

about 5 inches are gone. so today's songs are about hair. yay!

Cold War Kids - Hair Down Download
This is one of my favorite songs by the Cold War Kids. It's off their debut album, and why it was never made a single I'll never know. The music on this album, Robbers & Cowards, is just phenomenal. Each song sounds like five songs spliced together, but it completely works. I wish their newer one was this good.
man, we were still just babies
dreaming of the sixties
man, we were still just babies
dressing up in rags with our wallets full

Rufus Wainwright - Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen Cover) Download
Who doesn't love this song?! This is probably the most-covered-by-teenage-girls song on youtube of all time. And it's definitely top 10 of my favorite songs of all time, so I snuck it on because of this part:
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

The Jive Five - The Girl With The Wind In Her Hair Right Click to Download
I LOVE Doowop. Granted, the lyrics for this song aren't the best, but the group dynamic of doo wop music is unparalleled in groups today. I really hope somebody brings this back soon.
The girl with the wind in her hair
She leaves me all alone
With nothing but care
What went wrong? Why did she?
I love her
I love her so

The Who - Cut My Hair Download
Classic pro-hippie song.
Why should I care
If I have to cut my hair?
I've got to move with the fashions
Or be outcast.

Pavement - Cut Your Hair Download
To counter the last song :) The closest-to-mainstream song this 90's band ever did -- if you don't know them, check them out.
Darlin don't you go and cut your hair
Do you think it's gonna make him change?
I'm just a boy with a new haircut
And that's a pretty nice haircut

"Goodnight Saigon" From SNL

2009-05-18T15:29:00.001-04:00

Here's Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon," as performed on SNL by the cast, Paul Rudd, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Norm MacDonald, Elisabeth Moss, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph & Will Ferrell [the finale host]. Video courtesy of videogum.com

Download the mp3 here: [i edited out the talking, 'cause the song's the best part in my opinion. if you want the talking, get your own flv-mp3 converter :)] Download