Song of the Day: "Tangled Up In Blue" by Bob Dylan

>> Sunday, July 31, 2011

Some songs don't need my normal wordy intro.

"Tangled Up In Blue" by Bob Dylan

Songs of the Day: "Silver Screen" & "Same Damn Time" by Beat Connection

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"

Song of the Day: "Dickhead" by Kate Nash

>> Friday, July 29, 2011

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

Song of the Day: "Comeback Kid (That's My Dog) by Brett Dennen

>> Thursday, July 28, 2011

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

Stevie in Pictures

>> Wednesday, July 27, 2011

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.


For all that I am, I am ...














...{a goof ball}...


















...{a dreamer}...


















...{a reader}...













...{a list maker & collector of ideas}...



















...{eternally in love with and proud of my life in NYC}...

















...{a traveler & adventurer}...



















...{a teacher}...


















...{a survivor & her daughter}...














...{a sister (of six)}...















...{me}...

Addi in Pictures.

First and foremost, I need to thank Stevie, my co-blogger, for putting up with me and my incessant nagging as we piled up the entries. It's due to her and her patience that we have just surpassed 500 posts. To celebrate this, we are turning the blog inward. 

We have each chosen a collection of pictures that will best give you a glimpse into who we are as bloggers/persons. Each picture below, represents as aspect of me. My favorite places, things, hobbies and so on. Because it is all of these factors that creates who we are. 

 The ceiling of The Moore Theater. Seattle, WA
 My top 25 records of the decade. (click on picture to get closer look)
 The five mile drive, Tacoma, WA
Outside of this blog, my biggest passion. 
 It'll always be my home.
The Triple Door. Seattle, WA (also, my favorite picture I've ever taken) 
The Beach House. Home, WA
 My top 25 soundtracks, Combines my two favorite things, Music, and Film.(Click on photo to get closer look)
 Stole this image from a The Head and the Heart Youtube clip. But, it exemplifies what I love about live music. 
 The pride of my gig poster collection.
If you don't know. You just don't know. 

Band of the Week: Campfire OK

>> Tuesday, July 26, 2011

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.

Band of the Week: Campfire OK
Photo Credit kjphotos.com (taken from bands Facebook Page)
So, being a northwest music junkie like I am, I have heard the rumblings of Campfire OK for a long while now. They have always been, what I like to call a good karma band. A band that likes to play free impromptu shows to coffee houses and cafes, and participates in a cover song contest for Seattle based Fences (which they should have won), and that will willingly help fill out the sound on Pickwick's KEXP video debut, without clamoring for credit. They just put good vibes out there. And it if finally paying off.

Campfire OK's debut album is one of the more complete records I have heard in many many years. There is not a throw away track among the bunch. In today's digital music industry, when albums are pushed out so fast, this is one hell of an accomplishment.

I think, if not the shadow of the Head and the Heart's hustle, this would be considered the best band in Seattle right now. Easily. And, I am sure, soon enough, the rest of the country is going to catch on as well. And that is in no way a slight to THATH, you all know how much I love them, but Campfire OK, is wow.

There is little doubt in my mind that this record will be firmly placed in my top 3 by years end.

Below you will see an excessive, even for me, amount of videos, 3 I uploaded and 2 live, all spectacular.

"Not Young Not Old"


"Wishing You The Best" (live in a cafe)

Campfire Ok at Oddfellows from Christian Sorensen Hansen on Vimeo.

"Complimenting Parts" (my favorite)


"Strange Like We Are" 

Strange Like We Are from Christian Sorensen Hansen on Vimeo.

"Mexico N-O"

Song of the Day: "How Can You Luv Me" by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

>> Saturday, July 23, 2011

...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

Song of the Day: "Virgin" by Manchester Orchestra

>> Friday, July 22, 2011

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

Song of the Day: "Starry Eyed" by Ellie Goulding

>> Thursday, July 21, 2011

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

Song of the Day: "Natural One" by Folk Implosion

>> Wednesday, July 20, 2011

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?

Song of the Day: "So Easily" by Kathryn Calder

>> Tuesday, July 19, 2011

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

Song of the Day: "Don't Say Oh Well" by Grouplove

>> Monday, July 18, 2011

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

Song of the Day: "The Honest Truth" by Typhoon

>> Friday, July 15, 2011

So, this might be my favorite track of the right now. I love the ruckus.

"The Honest Truth" by Typhoon

Regina Spektor "Fidelity" (Live)

>> Thursday, July 14, 2011



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!

Song of the Day: "Wilderness" by Middle Brother

>> Tuesday, July 12, 2011

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

Song of the Day: "A Little Bit Of Everything" by Dawes

>> Sunday, July 10, 2011

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

Song of the Day: "Blue Flashing Light (Hidden Track)" by Travis

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

Song of the Day: "Up All Night" by French Horn Rebellion

>> Friday, July 8, 2011

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

Song of the Day: "Run" by Matt Nathanson

>> Thursday, July 7, 2011

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

Song of the Day: "Words" by Givers

>> Wednesday, July 6, 2011

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

Song of the Day: "Two Cousins" by Slow Club

>> Tuesday, July 5, 2011

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

My Up and Coming Music List. Updated 7/4/11

>> Monday, July 4, 2011

Inspired by Stevie's Up And Coming Book List, I am going to start the same thing with my music purchased for the year. I found this to be really useful in 2010, that I am starting even earlier for 2011.
My favorite blog to write is my year end music review. And it be honest, I start it in January of each year. I start collecting music as soon as possible, and use a smart playlist to amass them all in one place for easy listening and examining.
Below you will see a quick list of the albums I have picked up so far this year. I will try to update them every month or so. If I have an opinion of the record, will post a quick note, but keep in mind, I may change mine.

Song of the Day: "Burial" by Great Waves

>> Sunday, July 3, 2011

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