Don't forget about my loving

I'm digging the CSN&Y stuff right now, I found a bunch of their CD's with various combinations of the four members on it however I've also been looking at some of the covers of them done as well. By far the best I've come upon so far is "Got It Made" by Sandmen.

It's got this great vocal harmony with a really simple guitar accompaniment. For some reason this song is just feeling really good right now, incredibly simple and easy but it just sounds so good. Sometimes you just have to go back to the basics which work. The guitar tune is a little folksy and their voices harmonize perfectly and compliment the guitar nicely. Not really too much else to say about it, enjoy!

"Got It Made" covered by The Sandmen (Stephen Stills Cover)

-S

The more I see the less I know

Kind of a depressing day weather wise. I guess I'd make it a little happier by posting something on the more upbeat side. The song I found, not even sure how, was Michael Franti & Spearhead doing "Say Hey (I Love You)". It randomly came up in my suggested on YouTube and I have a sneaking suspicion that I talked about Franti the other day with a friend.

The song rocks the reggae beat, in combination with the piano and bounce beat it really provides a great base for super-upbeat lyrics. It is extremely good, and the lyrics overall are just really sweet, not too much substance too hold on to but just straight forward, and a jam when the instrumentals are meshed with the lyrics. Hands down the lyric that sealed the deal for todays track was this one: "I've been a lot of places all around the way/ I've seen a lot of joy and I've seen a lot of pain/ But I don't want to write a love song for the world/ I just want to write a song about a boy and a girl." Bravo Michael Franti & Spearhead, bravo.

"Say Hey (I Love You)" by Michael Franti & Spearhead from All Rebel Rockers (2009)

-S

Sunday Soundtrack

It was a great week

"Say Yes" by Elliot Smith *Best Song On This Soundtrack*

"A Whisper (There's No Sun)" by Jay Reatard

"Belt Loops" by The Films

"Nobody Could Change Your Mind" by The Generationals

"Jacksonville" by Sufjan Stevens

"Twin Falls" by Built To Spill

"A History Of Lovers" by Iron and Wine

-S

Desert Island Pt. VI

Emma Markham's Desert Island Mix (I couldn't find all the track-I tried my best to find at least a version of each song)

"Suite Espanola" by Isaac Alebniz

"You Ought To Be Havin' Fun" by Tower Of Power

"On My Own" from Les Miserables

"Ball Of Confusion" by The Temptations

"Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson

"Harencia Oriental" by Vicente Amigo

"Maria" from West Side Story

"One By One" from The Lion King

"Distancias" by Jason McGuire

"Stand By Me" by Playing For Change

"You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon

"And When I Die" by Blood Sweat And Tears

"Let's Groove" by Earth Wind And Fire

"Blue Ridge Mountains" by Fleet Foxes

"Power In Numbers" by Jurassic 5

"Stars" from Les Miserables

"Silver Rain" by Marcus Miller

"Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen

"The Boxer" by Simon And Garfunkel

-S

Desert Island Pt. V

Bailey John's Desert Island Mix

"5 Years Time" by Noah And The Whale

"The Weight Of Lies" by The Avett Brothers

"Color In Your Cheeks" by The Mountain Goats

"Magic" by B.o.B. ft Rivers Cuomo

"The Chain" by Ingrid Michaelson

"The Girl" by City and Colour

"I Would Be Sad" by The Avett Brothers

"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police

"Dance Anthem Of The 80's" by Regina Spektor

"Nothing Better" by The Postal Service

"Can't Go Back Now" by The Weepies

"Alive With The Glory Of Love" by Say Anything

"Electric Feel" by MGMT

"I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab For Cutie

"Undone (The Sweater Song)" by Weezer

-S

Desert Island Pt. IV

Zack Blackman's Desert Island Mix

"Burn One Down" by Ben Harper

"Could You Be Loved" by Stephen and Damien Marley

"Time Served" by Dispatch

"Cover This" by Dispatch

"Bang Bang" by Dispatch

"Anytime" by Eve 6

"Callin' Baton Rouge" by Garth Brooks

"Running From An Angel" by Hootie And The Blowfish

"50 Ways To Make A Record" by Kid Cudi

"Home" by Marc Broussard

"It's What You Thinking" by Tech N9ne

"Beer For Horses" by Toby Keith

"54-46 Was My Number" by Toots And The Maytals

"When The Boat Leaves/One Love" by The Zac Brown Band

"Ghetto Gospel" by Tupac

"Uncle Johns Band" by The Grateful Dead

-S

Good News! WKCO

I'm getting a show on WKCO 91.9FM in Gambier, OH

It'll be Tuesdays from 1-3PM and of course will stream online @ http://wkco.kenyon.edu/wkco/

Still working out the details but it should be a good time, and I'm really looking forward to broadcasting again...so stay tuned.

-S

Desert Mix Pt. III

Nick Anania's Desert Island Mix

"Two Headed Boy, Pt. 2" by Neutral Milk Hotel

"Tell Me What It's Worth" by Lightspeed Champion

"Hospital Beds" by Cold War Kids

"Tuff Ghost" by The Unicorns

"You Go On Ahead" by The Sunset Rubdown (The exact version Nick wanted)

"Casimir Pulaski Day" by Sufjan Stevens

"April 8th" by Neutral Milk Hotel

"Van Helsing Boombox" by Man Man

"Good Ol' Bill" by The Maccabees

"Sun Giant" by Fleet Foxes

"I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab For Cutie

"Strangers" by The Kinks

"Freelance Kamikaze" by Casey James And the Staypuft Kid (Could not find this track)

"Casper The Friendly Ghost" by Daniel Johnson

"Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan

"Washed Your Car" by Cloud Cult

"Postcards From Italy" by Beirut

"Bucket" by Neutral Milk Hotel

"My Body Is A Cage" by Arcade Fire

"Soon" by All Makes Parts And Collision

"Angie" by Ash Reiter

-S

Desert Island Pt. II

Jonathan "Weebo" Harris-Eisens Desert Island Mix

"3030" by Deltron 3030

"Lateralus" by Tool

"Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd

"Money" by Pink Floyd

"Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt" by DJ Shadow

"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by Jimi Hendrix

"Whats Golden" by Jurassic 5

"Great Expectations" by Jurassic 5

"The Song Remains The Same" by Led Zeppelin

"Beethoven's Symphony No.9" by Beethoven

"Wildcat" by Ratatat

"Nostrand" by Ratatat

"Mass Appeal" by Gang Starr

-S

New Project

So I decided to start a new little project. Over dinner tonight some friends and I were discussing what songs would populate a "Desert Island" mix tape. I worked for a little while on mine and realized there were a lot of aspects that needed to be taken in to account. First off was figuring out how much I could put on such a tape, we settled with 80.0MB +/- 1MB, that leaves room for roughly between 17-20 songs. Then there is the question on what should really be on there? Should I forgo the number of songs for songs that are up to 6-minutes long, a true ballad but maybe a waste of space.

The average length of a song on my mix ended up being around 3 and 1/2 minutes which I'm satisfied with for 19 songs. The next question is what are you really looking for? I mean do you want songs that mean something to you, or just songs you can vibe with and just enjoy no matter how childish-are you picking songs that you will become sick of, or could you listen to them 1,000,000 times and never tire of them. What you have to realize is that this playlist doesn't represent your music taste-it is just what you boil down to after a while.

What follows is my first attempt at a mix, as the week progresses I will post other peoples desert island mixes, on Sunday I'll do a little best of.

"Last Kiss" by Pearl Jam

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" by Bob Dylan

"I'm Only Sleeping" by The Beatles

"Dramamine" by Modest Mouse

"Sleepwalking" by Modest Mouse

"Who Loves The Sun" by The Velvet Underground

"Fuck You" by Cee Lo Green

"Absinthe Party At the Fly Honey Warehouse" by Minus The Bear

"Cut Your Hair" by Pavement

"Pursuit Of Happiness" by Kid Cudi

"Piece Of My Heart" by Janis Joplin

"House Of The Rising Sun" by The Animals

"The Seed (2.0)" by The Roots

"Album Of The Year" by The Good Life

"Non-Dairy Creamer" by Third Eye Blind

"Wading In The Velvet Sea" by Phish

"Home" by Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes

"These Days" by Nico

"Love Love Love" by The Mountain Goats

-S

That WAS a crazy game of poker

Haven't had the chance to post about this band, other than in passing (particularly for their use of horns). O.A.R. was one of the first concerts I ever attended, and one of the better ones too. I have a little trouble describing their style, they are on the brink of so many genres it is hard to tell sometime where they are at. They float on a line between sounds like reggae, indie rock, jam bands, among other fairly prevalent sounds.

The first song I came upon was "The Wanderer" which epitomizes their reggae, punch rhythms, but doesn't even begin to sum up their overall sound. Their sound really moves all over the place but they tend to carry a familiar pattern. Strong throaty vocals, horn interludes, some fine harmonic guitar notes among other little musical motifs. If you don't already know this classic college rock band then you absolutely should.

"The Wanderer" by O.A.R. from The Wanderer (1997)

"Black Rock" by O.A.R. from The Wanderer (1997)

"Hey Girl" by O.A.R. from Souls Aflame (2000)

"Shattered" by O.A.R. from All Sides (2008)

-S

Sunday Soundtrack

Finnally I can eat, most of these are live versions so enjoy!

"Standing In The Shadows Of Love" by The Four Tops

"Harrisburg" by Josh Ritter

"Taxman" by The Beatles

"John The Revelator" by Gov't Mule

"Ball Of Confusion" by The Temptations

"Mistletoe" by Jukebox The Ghost

"Gonna Never Have To Die" by Guided By Voices

-S

Standing on our tiptoes

Fasting for Yom Kippur so I had to stay in tonight and not party-how I compensated, (500) Days of Summer and listening to music in my room. Fun discovery, Scottish band We Were Promised Jetpacks, brought to me by Gena from my hall.

The song begins with a rolling repetitive guitar lick that drives the melody. I'm a little more partial than most to accents in music-cue Noah and the Whale. The song doesn't really promise anything too great-nothing novel that seems to take you out of the realm of what you have or haven't heard before, but it is really great chill song and you have to take it at that face value. Best verse on record- "Waiting for my brain to start/trying to work things out/it's thunder and it's lightning/And it's all things too frightening," in lead singer Adam Thompsons Alt-Rock whine. Enjoy the track-definitely a good find.

"It's Thunder And It's Lightning" by We Were Promised Jetpacks from These Four Walls (2009)

-S

Pavement-L.C. Pavillion

I went to go see Pavement last night so I couldn't post anything substantial. I know I already did a Pavement soundtrack at some point in the past (must of been a really slow day). Anyway, I'll just post. So I'll just post a Pavement song that I hadn't heard before. A friend I went with really wanted to hear this track, and what do you know, they played it. I think because they've been gone so long they pretty much play all hits (thats a relative term with a band like Pavement). I know they played my personal favorite "Stereo". The song they played was "Stop Breathing" which I was surprised with how much I loved. So enjoy.

(Pictures To Come)

"Stop Breathing" by Pavement from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)

-S

Like I'm drunk behind the wheel

Got to give it up for a 90's classic. Not sure why I'm so obsessed with this song but I just think it's one of the best songs I have ever heard. I don't think the lyrics are especially brilliant nor is the music particularly noteworthy. It just evokes some weird emotional response when I listen to it. The song is "Out Of My Head" by Austin based band Fastball (fun fact they were originally called Magneto U.S.A.-glad they didn't go with that). The song is incredibly simple-the organ works really well with the piano and drums (the acoustic version is pretty good too-I'll post both). Enjoy the song.

"Out Of My Head" by Fastball from All The Pain Money Can Buy (1998)

"Out Of My Head" by Fastball (Acoustic)

-S

Sick Day Soundtrack

Holla if you skipped class todayyyyyy...!

"Dragonfly Across an Ancient Sky" by Helios

"Boy with a Coin" by Iron and Wine

"Postcards from Italy" by Beiruit

"Used to Be" by Beach House

"Primitive Man" by Fruit Bats

"Left Bank" by Air

--A

ADDENDUM:

"Sunshine" by Atmosphere from Sad Clown (2007)

-S

I once had a life, or rather, life had me

The other song I wanted to post was a song by Sleigh Bells, a band I've posted before on a soundtrack but never actually written anything about them. This song is pretty unrepresentative of their other work, which is fine I can just like a few songs by a band, I don't have to love the entire discography. Regardless, the song is "Rill Rill" which has really awesome instrumentals. Little did I know though that they sample, or at least rework, another bands music for this, the very stylish, Funkadelic. The song is awesome and I think reworks the track in very interesting way making it much more pop-y. The original song by Funkadelic was a pretty good gem to find out of all of this as well, and gives the instrumental and entirely different feel.

"Can You Get To That" by Funkadelic from Maggot Brain (1971)

"Rill Rill" by Sleigh Bells from Treats (2010)

-S

Million miles

I was a little torn between songs to post tonight, one was stuck in my head all day and the other led me to a little interesting fact so I will split the difference and post 1 of them tonight and the other tomorrow (a first for me considering my song selection is pretty spur of the moment). The song for today then I guess is "Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles" by Captain Beefheart. The song is just oozes the classic rock sound.

This kind of, I'm not really sure if this makes sense, re-uptake guitar part just sounds amazing and I'm in love with the lyrics and Captain Beefhearts voice (real name Don Glen Vliet). Its got this smokey Motown vibe that really works for this song. I don't have a very extensive knowledge of his work but I really dig this song. The lyrics, once again, are what really get me in this track. The intro reads "I look at her and she looks at me/In her eyes I see the sea/I can't see what she sees in a man like me/She says she loves me." As kind of a romantic, I love this line and really enjoy this entire song.

"Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles" by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band from the Clear Spot (1972)

-S

I'm still in love with Emily Kane

This is a song that I heard about a little while back but didn't actually give it a listen until recently. The song is "Emily Kane" by German/English band Art Brut. The song has a very late 80's punk feel. What gets me going about this song is the lyrics. They aren't especially detailed, or even beautiful, its not the way they are sung, its the content. The story just makes me smile for some reason. "Every girl that I've seen since/Looks just like you when I squint/I know you said it's for the best/I still don't understand why you left/So much about you I miss/Everytime I see a couple kiss/I hope this song finds you fame/I want school kids on buses singing your name" That verse just kills me. The song just perfectly captures the feeling of being 15 and in love. The rhythms rocking and the song holds you just right, love it. Emily Kane actually attended one of their shows after hearing the song-Eddie Argos, the lead singer was extremely embarrassed when he met her back stage-saying he never would have played it if he knew she was going to be there.

"Emily Kane" by Art Brut

-S

That's a condiment cup

Doin' o.k.

"Bruises" by Chairlift

"Middle Distance Runner" by Sea Wolf

"Riches and Wonders" by The Mountain Goats

"Fear and Loathing in Mahwah, NJ" by Titus Andronicus

"Punk Rock Girl" by The Dead Milkmen

"Can't Tell Me Nothing" by Kanye West

"Party and Bullshit" by Notorious B.I.G.

-S

We are moving backwards in time

This is a band I had actually seen live before I even knew anything about them. Turns out they are from my neck of the woods too. They kind of have this psych-rock/indie rock sound that just makes them really enjoyable to listen to. The band is Apollo Sunshine. When I first heard them they were an opening band for Matisyahu at the Hatch in Boston with Atmosphere (two of my favorites). I remember they had like 5 die-hard fans just singing all their lyrics-they even had this great guitar solo where, lead guitarist Sam Cohen, gets on his knees and plays off of the feedback of the amp. At the time I was like-this is piss poor-but now I've kind of gotten in to them and would really enjoy seeing them again.

The song that I just recently heard though was "Hot Air Balloon" off of their album Katonah. It has a really weird vibe to it shifting really quickly-in a styalistic sense. Some of the melodies are a little out their and I can see some being really turned off by it but it is just so good. Parts are heavy on the electronic-almost Gameboy-like synth. Others are layered with marimbas and guitar. The vocals that in my opinion make them who they are are almost absent on this track. But this entire song is just this crazy journey that I really dig. The intro is one of the catchiest melodies I've heard in a while and really just sucks you in. Enjoy!

"Hot Air Balloon" by Apollo Sunshine from Katonah (2003) (Sorry I could only find a sample-this song is probably worth seeking out harder)

-S

Drivin' round town with the girl I love

This song is amazing. I just called my brother and he suggested it to me. I was a little weary at first about the song based on the title. I assumed it would be just like one of those Top 40 songs that I just couldn't give a shit about. The song is called "Fuck You" by Cee-Lo Green. The song is just so amazing though I can't even tell you. It just has this classic but revamped Motown feel that you just don't hear out of popular music anymore.

The lyrics are pretty great-contrary to the title. It's kind of hokey but my favorite lyric reads "Now I know, that I had to borrow/ Beg and steal and lie and cheat/Trying to keep ya, trying to please ya/'Cause being in love with you ass ain't cheap." Now I know it isn't exactly a Shakespearian sonnet, but you have to hand it to Cee-Lo Green, it's a great lyric. His voice just has that gospel feel on the track too which just works so well with the all-female chorus. The song is a complete diamond in the rough and definitely worth a listen.

"Fuck You" by Cee-Lo Green from

-S

I'm a boss king

This song is from a band I've already posted but its just so different from the last one I posted that I just had to. The song is "Boss King" by Blitzen Trapper. It is a little deceiving in its composition.

The song starts out with this classic guitar part mixed with harmonica that I'm such a sucker for. And as I said with my last post about Blitzen Trapper they rely heavily on that Beck-like sound of experimental alt-rock. It especially screams Beck around the 1-minute mark. It just has the Guero sound-heavy on the tambourine and bass drum to make this Mexi-Cali sound. It also has that all over the place sound that just really works for them. Its a head-banger, its folk rock, its all experimental. Enjoy!

"Boss King" by Blitzen Trapper from Cool Love #1 (2007)

(Sorry very anti-climactic, I had to link it from Last.Fm not from YouTube, tomorrow I promise)

-S

Three song set

Trying something a little newer to embed songs. Going to be toying around with it for a little while, so hang in there for just a little bit while this gets figured out.

Here's a little 3-song set while we try some new things:

"90210" by Wale from Attention Deficit (2009)

"Skeleton Key" by Margot and the Nuclear So and So's from The Dust Of Retreat (2006)

"We Sing In Time" by The Lonely Forest (Live-2009)

-S

Leave go my golden arm

Another simple song. I feel like the music that I've started listening to is extremely simple in the composition with a far more complex lyrical style. Heavy on the lyrical value and light on the base. More of a Bob Dylan type of song (not that his music wasn't amazing).

The song is "Put A Penny In The Slot" by Fionn Regan. The song is characterized by a punchy guitar with a very simple melody. Regan's voice ends up being fairly dry and emotionless, but with a playful lyrical tone. The story takes you on this little journey that leads you through the song. Apparently the song is a lyrical allusion to the later years of the Depression through the 1949 book "The Man With The Golden Arm." I don't really know that much about it so I won't pretend. Enjoy the song.

"Put A Penny In The Slot" by Fionn Regan from The End Of History (2006)

-S

Sunday Soundtrack

The pleasant end to a much needed weekend, here's a couple of hits-done by others.

"Where Is My Mind" covered by Emmy The Great

"Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" covered by First Aid Kit

"Two Headed Boy" covered by Fleet Foxes

"Womanizer" covered by Lily Allen

"Paper Planes" covered by The Pale Young Gentlemen (Go to the Related Links Section)

"Driver 8" covered by The Walkmen

"In The Aeroplane Over The Sea" covered by Phish

-S

My day be like ooh ahh

Not sure if I posted Sufjan Stevens before but I really love his music. His music is just incredibly simple with easy beats and light guitar. He works in strings and piano and just blends it to form these delicate songs that just kind of melt in your ears (not in your hands?).

Anyway the song that I've been listening to recently is "Casimir Pulaski Day." It is so sad, definitely up there with "Tears In Heaven." The song is about a relationship between a guy and a girl who is dying of cancer. The lyrics are incredibly straight forward and its set to a simple guitar piece. Its really excellent-enjoy.

"Casimir Pulaski Day" by Sufjan Stevens from Illinois

-S

Man I'm not as sharp as you

Great little acoustic-y ditty. The song is called "Safe Travels" by Peter and the Wolf. The song has a vocal style that pretty closely mimics what would be the love child of Bon Iver and The National with the dark far-away sound that both the latter bands tend to rely on.

What really makes the song interesting though is the acoustic guitar mixed with the ukelele making a very light and airy sound. Another odd device that drives the song is the oddly assorted and placed backing vocals. All in all the song is pretty short in its composition-at least for 2:27 its pretty short. Here's the track, enjoy.

"Safe Travels" by Peter and the Wolf from Lightness (2006)

-S

Soggy

Sorry to do yet another playlist...but this is a Wednesday people, I have to get my sleep...

"Me And Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin

"By Your Side" by CocoRosie

"About A Girl" by Nirvana

"Beat City" by The Flower Pot Men (A personal favorite)

"Looking Glass Blues" by Charlotte Gainsbourg

-S

Driving-Off-to-College Soundtrack

Quietish tunes for an early morning (for me) car ride. (Two of these artists are friends/alum from my very own high school! I'll leave you to guess which ones.)

"Postcards from Italy" by Beiruit

"Boy Lilikoi" by Jónsi

"La Valse d'Amélie (Orchestral)" by Yann Tiersen

"Homesick" by the Novel Ideas

"a song for staying in" by the tumbled sea

--A

You're lovely

Having hall mates pays off again. The girl down the hall showed me the band Say Anything and their song "Alive With The Glory Of Love." It's a little bit whiney at times-its got that crazy alt rock angst. The song really rolls and has that rocking "fuck you" attitude that I really don't listen to that often, but now that I think about it I like that head banging feeling.

Its kind of has that 90's anthem feel as well. Along the lines of "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind. Sorry again for the short posts, I haven't really been feeling to inspired lately-or maybe college is just overwhelming.

"Alive With The Glory Of Love" by Say Anything from Is A Real Boy...

-S