I Miss Music

Something about the spring reminds me of being 15 and back in my home town. I remember frequenting the local coffee shop with my friend Olga, listening to Feist, the Shins, and Stars. We spent the summer sipping chai lattes, running around downtown, hanging out in radio stations, and rummaging through used CDs in the local music store. We went to a few small indie shows at that same coffee shop (my parents wouldn’t let me go to the bigger venue in town) and made friends with a singer/songwriter who gave us free shirts.

Now that the weather is finally getting warmer, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about those summer days and feeling nostalgic. I tend to forget how much I used to care about good music. Recently I’ve been kind of careless about the quality of my music selections (yeah, I’m looking at you, Gucci Mane) and spring reminds me of my old favorites.

So I’ve decided to do something a little different. I put together a playlist with some throwbacks along with some newer stuff with a similar vibe. Hope you like it!

1. The Shins - New Slang
2. MGMT - Kids
3. Knife - Heartbeats (Live)
4. The Shins - Girl inform me
5. Band of Horses - The Funeral
6. Santigold - Lights Out
7. James Blackshaw - Fix
8. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
9. Guster - One Man Wrecking Machine
10. Radical Face - Welcome Home Son
11. Cat Power - The Greatest
12. Modest Mouse - The World At Large
13. Guster - Satellite
14. Grandaddy - Stray Dog and the Chocolate Shake
15. Feist- Secret Heart
16. The Kooks - She Moves In Her Own Way
17. Flaming Lips - Do You Realize??
18. Stars - One More Night
19. Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken

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This was first posted on Melissa Green Bean.

Changes

We had an idea to start a podcast a while back, but we never really got around to it.  We've decided to put the podcast idea back on the table and this time we've actually taken steps to figure out how to do it.  We did some recording last night over Skype but it ended up just being silly and then Shea's drunk friend walked in on her end and we got distracted.

Podcast Outtakes #1:

[mp3]

Anyway, here's what we plan to do in the near future:

1. We're starting a podcast and it's gonna be effing rad.
2. I'll try to post the mp3s of the songs we play/talk about on the podcasts along with them.
3. We're actually going to update this thing on a regular basis.

Get excited! I know I am. :]

"Do You Have Jumper Cables?"

Who would have known that a dead car battery would result in a 5 second conversation with Tegan ?

Carrie's (friend's name withheld to protect identity) car battery just happened to die in The Pageant's back parking lot, right where Tegan and Sara's tour busses were parked. Sitting with windows half cracked, we contemplated our next move. I hear voices, but figured they were just random concertgoers. I looked and saw Sara with a jacket held over her head to protect her from rain along with a tour manager, and immediately got extremely excited. Tegan followed ten seconds later, and Carrie yells, "Do you have jumper cables?". Tegan replies, "No, we don't. Sorry!"

Okay, laugh it up.

Number one-The fact that Tegan even responded surprised me. I feel like most artists would tell you to fuck off.

Number two-She was totally nice about it and actually apologized in a way that wasn't fake.

I just thought I would share that experience although I guess I wasn't really involved. I just was impressed by Tegan's response. Not that I think Tegan and Sara would be assholes because they're both totally awesome, but you get what I mean.

So. The concert. After seeing the sea of indie lesbians filling the room (a great sight to witness), Holly Miranda started the show. She has a great live voice, rarely ever singing an off note, and her sound is uniquely ambient. I would actually rather hear her live than in recordings, because hearing her live gives a better feeling for the music rather than just listening to it on headphones.

After Holly Miranda was Steel Train. To be quite honest, these guys were extremely annoying to watch, but the crowd loved them. I guess I can see why some might like them-they have a feel-good sound that's very light and easy on the ears, but I think I was expecting something more for some odd reason. Steel Train's recordings are much better than their live sound.

I'm not going to run through Tegan and Sara's whole set just because that would bore the like, one reader we have (lmao) to tears. All I will say is they are seriously the tightest live act I've seen to date. Solid vocals and band, and their between-song banter is actually interesting and quite entertaining. I will definitely be seeing them again, and hopefully in the near future.

In other uneventful news, "Lil' Freak" by Usher featuring Nicki Minaj is officially my new favorite crappy R&B song. A song about basically finding chicks in the club to have a threesome with, Usher explores his "naughty" side while Nicki is...well...just Nicki. Her 12 bars are pretty damn clever, especially the lines, "I keep a couple hoes, like Santa I keep a vixen. Got that Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Dixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner, BLITZEN." I really like that she's open about her bisexuality, but don't like it sometimes because I feel like she gets a bit trashy with her lyrics. The video is actually quite disturbing, yet trashy enough to be awesome. Take a look for yourself.

Well, that's all I've got for now. Sorry this post was somewhat sloppy and pointless, so we might lose that one reader we have. Ha! Sorry, dude.

-Shea

Tightrope by Janelle Monae

Alyssa Rosenberg comments:

What Lady Gaga has done for pantslessness, Monae may well do for saddle shoes, pompadours, and the tuxedo. While it often seems that Gaga's music is simply a vehicle for her performance art, her songs catchy but unextraordinary dance tunes elevated by the package in which they're delivered, Monae has a voice strong enough to have considered pursuing a Broadway career. And she deploys that instrument in swoops and chants on her best songs. Where Lady Gaga's best videos are strong, referential pastiches, Monae has created an eerie world in her videos tracing the adventures of her alter-ego, an android named Cindi Mayweather, a universe where magic and technology coexist and interact, and where music and dance are potent but risky weapons of liberation.

Hell and Sainthood

I've recently become moderately addicted to Tegan and Sara. Some of my friends were singing "I just want back in your head" constantly and got me hooked. So I listened to "Back In Your Head" and "Nineteen" alternately on repeat for a few weeks now and then went on to listen to most of their old albums and demos. It skewed my last.fm a little bit, but I'm okay with at. But not to digress... A few days ago I got the single "Hell" off their upcoming album Sainthood. I think it's quite possibly my favorite song they've made to date, maybe just because it's catchy. I guess I like that they're moving more in the rock direction. In any case, I'm excited to see what this album has in store. Embark on this musical adventure with me!

Sainthood

Tegan and Sara

Sire / Wea

Coming October 27, 2009

I'm also kind of intrigued by the books they're releasing with the new books. They're called ON IN AT. I've included this lovely video describing the books so I don't have to. Plus they're adorable and entertaining. I think if I had an extra $75 bucks to throw around I would buy the set of books with the album.

.

I'm A King

I have decided that I'm going to become a drag king. I'm kind of excited, but also scared as hell. I don't usually do things like that... You know performing in front of large crowds. There are a few people I know are significantly worse than I could ever be and they didn't get booed off the stage. That reassures me a bit. I like to think that if I just dance as ridiculously as possible, know the words to my songs, and look super hot everything will go down pretty well. I haven't decided which songs I'm doing for my first show, but here are some of the songs that I'm contemplating:

Iceman - Lloyd Banks ft. Young Buck, Scarface, & 8Ball
Touch It - Busta Rhymes
Wish You Would - T.I. ft. Ludacris
Get Back - Ludacris
I'm A King - Lil Scrappy, P$C, and T.I.
Saturday - Ludacris
Excuse Me Miss Again - Jay Z
Stand Up - Ludacris
It Wasn't Us - Ludacris
Fire - Joe Budden
Green Light - John Legend ft. Andre 3000

Okay, Okay. I may have a thing for Ludacris. Is that so wrong? I think I could make a good Luda! John Legend could be pretty hot too. That would give me an excuse to buy a sweater vest or waistcoat. That's never a bad thing.

Edit://
Light Your Ass On Fire - Busta Rhymes
SexyBack - Justin Timberlake
Hood Nigga - Gorilla Zoe
Touch - Omarion

She's My "Queen of the World"

Ida Maria. Ida Maria. Ida Maria. Holy shit.

I know I haven't written in forever, but Ida Maria is for sure someone I have to write about.

I went to go see Ida Maria last Saturday at Mojo's. I hate to say this, but I went into the show only knowing one song, which is her single, "I Like You so Much Better When You're Naked" (Badass song). After a few shitty opening bands, she came on wearing a leotard with sequins and sparkles and only leggings as pants. Although I would usually hate a chick who wore this, she looked badass as hell with a white Stratocaster as her only accessory. I don't even remember what she opened with, but I remember the energy in the room skyrocketing. She was obviously tipsy, but looked extremely smooth as she interacted with the band and the crowd. What really impressed me was her request to lower the lights so she could see the crowd more. She kept mumbling on about Columbia being one of the most..."educated cities in the United States...of...Americaaaaa" in a slurred accent. Fucking hilarious. The set moved on, remaining mostly uptempo with maybe 1 ballad, which still contained levels of badassness that I could never describe. Her raspy voice combined with lyrics written about boys and being drunk just makes for a nice punky/indie/rock..ie combination.

I also have to give credit to the band because they were completely amazing. They truly give the music personality. They are all extremely good at their instruments and are on the same energy level as Ida. I don't think that I've seen a band that supported a single artist be that good at supporting ever (you might have to read that sentence a few times to get it). They were just as amazing to watch as Ida was.

I could probably write more, but it's three a.m. and I'm finally tired. Hopefully now that I have a lappytoppy I can update more often...but I'm not making any promises.

Oh. And check out Company of Thieves. Female-led, indie-like, and awesome. Nothing too upbeat, but nice to chill to and sing along with.

Key tracks for this entry:

Ida Maria-"Louie", "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked", "Queen of the World", "Morning Light"

Company of Thieves-"Old Letters", "Oscar Wilde"

Keri Hilson-"Turnin' Me On", "Knock You Down"

Lady Gaga-"LoveGame" (Guilty pleasure, fo'sho.)

Simian Mobile Disco-"Hustler", "Tits and Acid", "It's The Beat"

Night. Oops. I mean...Good Morning.

Technologic

I did my first pre-recorded radio show today. It was kind of exciting in that I felt really tech-y and professional, but a little bit nerve racking because I didn’t fix the levels quite well enough this morning. I don’t think it was too bad considering that it was my first attempt.

Shea and I contemplated trying to do a podcast last year, but we never really got around to it. I’m kind of thinking of doing one myself now because it was kind of fun. It was a little bit less stressful and awkward than trying to make everyone in the radio station try to be quiet as that song is ending. I don’t really have anything to talk about, but I guess that would be a reason for me to be more in touch with current events in music and otherwise.

Random asides: I'm contemplating listening to more jazz. I'm also contemplating trying to do the mashup thing again. I'm feeling tech-savvy as of late.

Theater of the Mind

rI have this preoccupation with wanting to be indie and cool-- whatever that means. Anyway, it's kind of a ridiculous fixation which steers me away from listening to what's on the radio and straight into long bouts of listening to Architecture in Helsinki, Stars, and The Bird and the Bee. Don't get me wrong, I love that sort of music, but I think I sometimes fixate on it to an extent that prevents me from branching out and listening to other things.

Yesterday I decided that I should branch, and today I actually took action. At the moment I am in the process of downloading Theater of the Mind by Ludacris. I thoroughly previewed it by listening to 30 seconds of most of the songs on iTunes and it was promising. I was a little bit dismayed with songs like "Money Maker" and "Runaway Love," and thus didn't give Release Therapy a second look. I enjoy "What Them Girls Like" bit more than I probably should, but it brought me out of my "indie and not-so-cool" rut.

Here's what I've been listening to lately:

Dig A Hole - Jay Z
One Red Thread - Blind Pilot
Days Go On - Greg Laswell
Ride 4 My Niggas - Lil Wayne
I Adore You - melpo mene
OK - Molly Conlan

Peace,
Melissa.

Edit://

After listening to more than 30 seconds of each song, I have concluded that Theater of the Mind is exponentially better than I first thought and I officially recommend it.

Wow...it has been a while.

Hello all...
I know, I know...its been a long time since I've posted. I've been a tad busy. I went to a concert last week, though. Always exciting. I saw an awesome band called InnerPartySystem. They were defintely my favorite of the night. They have a great electro/dancy/rock-ish type of sound. I also saw a good band call the White Tie Affair. They had a good pop-rock type of sound and the lead singer was wearing leather pants! A daring one, he is.

Anywho, Girl Talk came out with a new album called "Feed the Animals." There really isn't anything different to expect from him because mash-up really can't be different. Even though that is true, I'm still greatly impressed by his genious mashes. The only thing to expect on this album are different songs with different samples, but its still good ol' Girl Talk.

I've also found a new band called Jamie's Elsewhere. This band is more of a hardcore/screamo type of band. Their lead singer has an unusually high-pitched voice, which always makes me happy. Its really hard to find any of their stuff though, which sucks because I really do like them...but I'm kind of not all that into buying from iTunes, but I might have to break down and do that.

This was a very choppy post, but I figured I would update while I still remembered to do so. Have a great rest of the summer and keep listening to awesome music!

-Shea