Some songs don't need my normal wordy intro.
"Tangled Up In Blue" by Bob Dylan
I love supporting NW music. Doing my part to champion local noise. But apparently, some Seattle bands, such as Beat Connection, have to go to all the way to England for me to find them. I found this band via my annual subscription to Moshi Moshi's digital membership. They sent me the semi-weekly email so I could download their new releases, and low and behold, they were releasing Beat Connection's fantastic LP. It was not 'til much later, I realized they were from my neck of the woods.
There is something in the water up here in the pacific nw, that's for sure.
"Silver Screen"
"Same Damn Time"
Yup. This is a real song. You are welcome ladies, you have your next weapon when things get heated. She put it into words for you.
Why are you being a dickhead for
Stop being a dickhead
Why are you being a dickhead for
You're just fucking up situations
"Dickhead" by Kate Nash
This shit right here is my song of the summer. This shit right here is my album of the summer. Play it loud, do the dance. Love it.
"Comeback Kid (That's My Dog) by Brett Dennen
When Addi and I were talking about what our 500th post should be we had a lot of ideas. At first he wanted something music related (I know, shocking!) and I wanted to do trivia about us (like, did you know I've actually met Spoon Man- yes, like actual Spoon Man from the Soundgarden song). Then we spit balled more ideas back and forth until we arrived at sharing ourselves through photographs. At the time I thought this would be an easy undertaking, I am, as many of you that know my other blog (iadoreinspiration.blogspot.com) an avid picture collector. But selecting the few that actually say something about yourself? Not as easy as I thought. So with that being said, the following are some pictures that speak to my heart. I think I could probably work on and revise this list over and over until the end of time (and I probably will) but for now this will give you a little glimpse in to who I am. Thank you Adam for taking this leap with me in spilling your guts across a screen in the same way you once spilled your guts across a page in middle school filling endless notebooks with your poetry.
So, I know that the whole concept of Band of the Week is to actually post a Band of the Week. But, you have to understand something. Bands of the week only really come out of my inability to narrow down a bands library to a single Song of the Day. Some bands, I get so engrossed in, so enveloped by, that picking just one tune becomes a task that is often unbearable. That, my friends, is the general dilemma that brings you blogs such as the one you are about to read.
...and with this, I give you the next great indie song to be featured on a the next great "juno/nick and norah/500 days/tenenbaums/igby" type soundtrack.
"How Can You Luv Me" by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
This album is a slow burn. It felt off at first, but it has found its groove, and has really settled in nicely. I would be completely shocked if it were not included in my Best of 2011 list.
"Virgin" by Manchester Orchestra
OK, OK, OK. I know, I know, I know. I have always been against "pop" rock. But this year for some stupid reason, I am really feeling the indie pop scene. This, stupid track is one of my favorites of the year. Just makes me want to spin in circles.
"Starry Eyed" by Ellie Goulding
So I'm torn on this whole Spotify thing. In one way I'm totally suckered in and LOVE that I can see my friends playlists and subscribe to them and have people subscribe to mine (like my "Back in the Day" which has 3 subscribers already and I posted it 4 hours ago and only have like 8 friends so far). On the other hand I've been dedicated to Rhapsody forever and I'm truly not so sure what Spotify is going to do for me that Rhapsody is not. For example, part of the reason I was psyched about Spotify is that they said they have like EVERY song- False! They neither had Kriss Kross "Jump" (c'mon, for the aforementioned Bach in the Day list)nor Band of Horses "Funeral" which is my fave track and totally had to go on my Sad Songs list. They also didn't have this awesome 90's track that I used to listen on repeat on my tape player... yes I'm that old. So the jury is still out on this one- Spotify vs Rhapsody? Thoughts?
If I could have my dream job, it would be as a musical director for a TV show. I think music can be, and often is, a character within itself. So many shows struggle with this concept, but there are a few standouts; Friday Night Lights, Veronica Mars, Dawson's Creek, and Chuck just to name a few. Quickly joining those ranks is SyFy's Warehouse 13. Last night's episode "Trials" ended on such a musical highnote, that it made me literally sit up and take notice.
"So Easily" by Kathryn Calder
Grouplove released an EP this year that is so great that it makes me really angry. You see, I have a rule, that to be considered for my best albums of the year list, you have to actually release an album, not an EP. So if this 6 track record, would have made a little more effort and actually tried to be a grown up LP, it would totally be in contention. But it still kills.
"Don't Say Oh Well" by Grouplove
So, this might be my favorite track of the right now. I love the ruckus.
"The Honest Truth" by Typhoon
Per Addi's request... a little Regina Spektor- live from London which is her new album out soon. I'd love to see her live some day!
So, this year I have accidentally fallen in love with the band Dawes, thanks to them being the opener on a bill for a show that I never intended to attend. It was one of those great clandestine musical moments. Since then, I have expanded onto Middle Brother, the frontman's side project/super band. It consists of members of Deertick and Delta Spirit, and is primarily fantastic.
"Wilderness" by Middle Brother
I realize I just posted a song of the day, and it actually took loads of work, (i had to create and upload the clip to youtube). But, I am calling a mulligan.
I have been spending the latter part of the afternoon letting music wash over me, numb to the individual pings and twangs and just enjoying the noise. It was the perfect afternoon activity. Until this song came on and choked me out of my self induced stupor. It ruined a splendid day of listening and not hearing, and I could not be more grateful. It is a pleasure to find that Harry Chapin-esque song writing like this still exists.
And, on top of everything else, this may be my favorite record of the year. You know me, I'm super picky.
"A Little Bit Of Everything" by Dawes
So, I know that I have a tendency to focus on the new and forget about the old, but, that is not always true. Now, this 1999 album is not exactly an "oldie" but, it falls into that category for me. At least it's not from this year.
One of my favorite songs of all time, this Hidden Track off the end of the song "Slide Show" from the album The Man Who is a riot of a song. The anger and passion spitted is on another level. I am sure you will love it.
"Blue Flashing Light (Hidden Track)" by Travis
This is far and away one of my favorite songs of 2011. I know it does not trend with my singer songwriter/emo sensibilities (both of which I still deny), but screw off. It puts me in a good mood. Try it, you'll see.
"Up All Night" by French Horn Rebellion
So, I have to fulfill a singer songwriter quota every year. It is one of my long lost lingering habits as a failed angsty poet. But this album, and especially this song, circumvent even that habit. This is not an album that I like because it is singer songwritery, but despite that. This is an album, that even if I hated this genre, I would love. Matt Nathanson writes songs like blankets.
"Run" by Matt Nathanson
When I first heard Up Up Up by the Givers, I got really really excited. I thought I was surely in for a great album. Something unique and fresh that would help define the year in music. Sadly, out of the 10 songs on the record, I am only really digging like 3. Who knows, maybe I just need just to spin it a few more times. Here is one of the ones that I am falling over. Enjoy.
"Words" by Givers
So, Slow Club have peppered this blog on a regular basis for the last two years, and although I love it, my co-blogger gives me constant shit about it. So, I have been avoiding this entry for a bit now, but I cannot take it anylonger. Slow Club have a new record coming out this year, and although the release has been delayed until sometime in Sept due to illness, I am still super stoked. This is the first single from the record, and if the rest of the album is 1/5 as good, it is going to be spectacular. Enjoy.
"Two Cousins" by Slow Club
So, the drought is over. I have my new computer, and after hours and hours of debugging and updating and installing, I am ready to get back to my blogging ways. So, today, I bring you the first Song of the Day in quite some time, and it is from one of my favorite northwest acts. One, I am dying to see live. Once you listen this, I am sure you will feel the same way.
I will write my Up And Coming Music List for June/July later today. So keep an eye out.
"Burial" by Great Waves
