Running down the streets like nothings wrong

I had a little trouble finding a song today, so I ended up perusing some of my old playlists and I happened to find one called "Sad Indie Songs" (Note: I think I copied it from somewhere else-this was not my own concoction.) Nestled in this little playlist, I found a song that I had since forgotten about, by a band I had once dismissed as "the worstest." The band is Louis XIV, I first heard them on the Itunes sampler, back when I was a music underling who knew nothing. I was pumped to find Itunes had a sample playlist-especially considering I knew of nothing but N'sync. The song was called "Louis XIV" and I hated it, those narcissists! How dare they try a stunt like naming a song after themselves (this was before I heard the song "Wilco" by the band Wilco off of their latest album Wilco-great song/album/band).


However "Louis XIV" the song is not what I want to rave about, it is another song called "All The Little Pieces." The song starts out with a simple piano/strings intro that is really as classic as the mixing on the vocals come out to be. What really gets me though about this song is the drumming, its not too fancy but the fills are so perfect for the song it just melts and sounds amazing. Another great part is the break down at around 1:00 and then the subsequent buildup. Best part: around 1:40 with the vocal mix shift that is just pure classy and nothing else. It sounds so old school too. This song proves that I can easily misjudge a band-pure unadulterated awesome. Just a note, this song for the most part is unrepresentative of Louis XIV, they are usually described as raunchy, juvenile, and humorous, this is definitely a departure from their other works (see: "Hall of Mirrors," still a great song just very different).

"All The Little Pieces" by Louis XIV from The Best Little Secrets Are Kept (2005)

"Hall Of Mirrors" by Louis XIV from Louis XIV (2003)-great guitar and vocals from Jason Hill

-S

A little more stupid, a little more scared

The National just came out with a new album, High Violet, and even though they have been around since '99 I feel like I am still trying to figure them out. It isn't the like I don't enjoy their music, I think it is that there is a complexity in their music and Matt Berninger's voice. I just feel a little lost, and thus cannot pass any sort of judgment on them.


That being said, I have just listened to one of their new tracks, "Afraid Of Everyone," (a must listen) so far so good I guess. As I said before though, I'm still trying to figure them out, and what better way to do that they comment on another one of their songs. That song being "Slow Show."

It starts off with a very distressed guitar part that is extremely low key that conflicts with Berninger's low voice and relatively up beat lyrics. There is kind of a cognitive dissonance that comes with this song, I feel like I should be hearing something about it, and it is just on the tip of my tongue but I just cannot put it in too words, and I just cannot resolve it. I think, deep down though, that I do really enjoy this song, it is incredibly beautiful and well written, definitely a must for people who feel as I do though; a little confused and looking for direction in The National's music. If you were wondering where I can cite the song for being well written by the way check out this little gem: "Looking for somewhere to stand and stay I leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away," that is incredibly sad...

"Slow Show" by The National from Boxer (2007)

"Afraid Of Everyone" by The National from High Violet (2010)

-S

Guilty pleasure playlist

Couldn't find any really great music for today, so I thought I'd throw away a little dignity and post the first 10 songs from my most embarrassing Itunes playlist-my guilty pleasure playlist. The songs you love to publicly belittle but in private you have a little taste once in a while.

So, in no particular order here it goes...

"Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper

"The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World

"You Were Meant For Me" by Jewel

"Rollercoaster" by Blink 182 (not actually an embarrassing band, just this one song)

"Kryptonite" by Three Doors Down

"I Love College" by Asher Roth (shame on me)

"Walking In Memphis" by Marc Cohn

"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman Turner Overdrive (not sure why I'm completely embarassed by this)

"Love Story" by Taylor Swift

"White Houses" by Vanessa Carlton

Enjoy my dignity!

-S

You're a crisis, you're an icicle

There have been many bands that I missed the boat for. These are bands or musicians that I hear of long past their prime, not because I missed them due to age, but because I remained in the dark even during their prime years (see: Jay Reatard). One such artists, I would have for certain missed their prime if they had lived to see it.

In 2003, Elliot Smith committed suicide in his LA apartment, he was seemingly still on his way to the peak of his career. How can I make this conjecture you ask? At the time of his death he was working on a multitude of new tracks (most of which are still trickling to the surface posthumously.


Those are not some of the tracks that I am writing about though. The song is off of Smith's freshman effort Roman Candle. "Last Call" is a classic indie rock song with my beloved lo-fi sounds (I will always love you Mountain Goats).

The first time I heard a Elliot Smith song was on the soundtrack of one of my favorite movies, The Royal Tennenbaums, since then I have alway adored his song writing abilities especially when coupled with his simplistic electric guitar melodies that really give his music incredible character. Like most of Smith's songs, the lyrics are incredibly sad and filled with pain, "Last Call" being no exception as Smith's final refrain reads: "I wanted her to tell me that she would never wake me, I'm lying here waiting for sleep to overtake me." Not only can you hear the pain in his lyrics, but you can hear it in his voice and in his sad guitar style. It was a great loss to the music world.

"Last Call" by Elliot Smith from Roman Candle (2004) (Re-Released In 2007)

-S

The world is upside down and this music too

This is by far the hardest post I have ever had the privilege to write. I am writing it regardless though because I believe this band is truly great and off to an amazing start. I originally heard about Happy Birthday on Stereogum (a great music blog). The song was called "Girls FM" which was pretty good, very poppy and up-beat but very repetitive and a little trying. I soon forgot about them. A month or two later I stumbled upon the lonely little album, a tiny little broken musical note gracing the cover of the album. I grabbed it and noticed it was the debut album of that band I had only just recently tossed aside as a little novelty.

I popped the CD in to my computer put on my headphones and closed my eyes. The first song burst in to my headphones, I was once again listening to "Girls FM," still a little unimpressed but still curious. The next ten songs I heard exemplified so many different genres at once. Songs like "Zit" were pure punk, but then it slowed down to songs like "Subliminal Message" with a much softer feeling. A raw sound exudes itself off of the album, not unlike the VU but with more of an updated sound with the curious vocals akin to Ted Leo + The Pharmacists. The music was amazing, and got increasingly more interesting with each track. Culminating with my favorite track- "Fun" a total slowed down feel that just pours itself out like warm water going over your head, a completely mellow and complex feel simoultaneously.

To think the self-titled album only came out a month ago after the band formed for just one show in 2008. The album feel polished and raw at the same time, each track containing seemingly months of thought. I'd mark this album down as a must buy (or do a shady download).

"Girls FM" by Happy Birthday from Happy Birthday (2010)

"Subliminal Message" by Happy Birthday from Happy Birthday (2010)

-S

Sunday Soundtrack

Here's to a great week ahead

"Truth" by Chiddy Bang

"Upward Over The Mountain" by Iron & Wine

"Laughing With" by Regina Spektor

"I Wanna Know Now" by Xaphoon Jones

"Dan De Lion" by The Skatalites

"Rollerblades" by Eliza Doolittle

"Blue Balloon" by Ween

-S

She's covered in shit and high as a kite

You've gotta love all chick bands (see: The Dixie Chicks, Indigo Girls, and Le Tigre). However for some reason they are increasingly hard to find, Le Tigre being the only really relevant band on that list in terms of influential bands right now and even they are dwindling. I recently stumbled upon a great all-girl band and not only are they catchy, they have also come out with a new album which I will be downloading soon. The band is called the Dum Dum Girls, and acording to their bio, they were only started in 2008, so not only are they still gaining steam, they most likely, from the sound of the first few tracks, have a lot of promise in them.


The track, "Jail La La" is a little in the vein of surf-pop or bubble-pop if I'm using that correctly(?). The lyrics are pretty catchy (albeit you cannot sing along for the most part) but it is a head-banger of a track. The whole song is a little bit synthy with some techno roots as well. If you're like me though, and you looked up the lyrics they are just decent (by my standards at least) but lead singer Dee Dee wrote this gem which I thought was just brilliant: "someone tell my baby, or else he won't know I need saving [talking about the county jail]". Best used as a dance track I think that this song should have its rightful place on peoples Ipods and hopefully (soon I hope) this band will start to catch on as I think this album (of what I have heard so far) is great. Girl-bands rule!

"Jail La La" by Dum Dum Girls from I Will Be (2010)

-S

And there he wept when he remembered Zion

Just a little cover for you all tonight. The song is done by a band that I only recently found (recently being a relative term). I had the chance to see this song live just about a year ago with some friends at The Iron Horse, the band was Barefoot Truth. We also had the chance to see it performed with Naia Kete.


The song is "From The Rivers Of Babylon." It's a classic song revamped a little for the wannabe Dispatch band (if you say no, I say: they perform with Pete Francis for christs sake!) There isn't really much else to say other than that, but the song is super chill and a great song to listen to when your just relaxing. That sums up the bands music as well, very chill, and very mellow (even compared to Dispatch.

"From The Rivers Of Babylon" by Barefoot Truth feat. Naia Kete from Walk Softly (2007)

-S

Now you said it was yesterday

I Cannot remember where I heard this band for the first time. At first listen they aren't anything special. The song has a beach rock sound not unlike the surf music of the 60's. However the band is more often compared to the Ramones in their style.

The band is The Clean, straight out of New Zealand in the early 80's (they are still performing today though). For the most part the song has indie rock lyricism mixed with surf rock as I said before. It's a little punk-ish when combined (see my Ramones reference). The song "Tally Ho" is pretty catchy although as a listener, you are not so sure why. The production quality is shot- the vocals are mixed too low, and the organ/guitar just sounds repetitive and drones. However this was proof that music was headed toward indie rock even in the early part of the 80's (no matter how bleak a decade it seemed at some points).


I kind of like them in an endearing way, in the same way that I like bands like The Shaggs (that's a whole other post for a whole other day!) and the vocals of Isaac Brock. One often heard unpolished songs like this and scoffs at the low quality, but it isn't the song that's important, its the significance, it's proof that music was changing slowly. Rough bands like the early VU recordings were scoffed at as well, but they changed music in the end. Bands like The Clean should be seen as inovators. Regardless of your taste though, enjoy the music.

"Tally Ho" by The Clean from Oddities (1982)

-S

Wednesday Soundtrack

It's all about Pavement

"Gold Soundz" by Pavement from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)

"Cold Change" by Spiral Stairs from The Real Feel (2009)

"Caught In The Rain" by Preston School Of Industry from Monsoon (2004)

"Shady Lane" by Pavement from Brighten The Corners (1997)

"Gardenia" by Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks from Real Emotional Trash (2008)

"Sleeping Is The Only Love" by Silver Jews from Tanglewood Numbers (2005)

"Slash And Laugh" by Marble Valley from Slash and Laugh (2009)

-S

My baby shot me down

Short post. Sorry guys and gal's, just got back from my trip. I just got back from Gambier and I am very tired, lots of new music to share but I don't have time to post just yet. In the mean time to hold you over I have an oldie to share. The artist is Nancy Sinatra and the song is surprisingly not "These Boots Were Made For Walking" it is the slightly lesser known "Bang Bang." I can only describe this track as slightly saucy with a side of jazzy. The lyrics aren't much but you have to enjoy Sinatra's sultry voice. The song starts out with some wavery guitar that just opens up in to a pretty simple song that turns out to be beautiful in its simplicity.

"Bang Bang" by Nancy Sinatra from Essential Nancy Sinatra (2006)

-S

P.S. Sorry I've been excedingly dull lately

There comes a time where you fade to the blackness

Traveling off to Ohio over the first weekend of my break.  I thought I'd try and get a nice road post in though.  Yesterday I was driving and a new B.o.B. song came on the radio.  As I've said time and time again, I don't really post a lot of rap or hip-hop on my blog, it's not that I don't listen or like it, I just don't know enough about the genre to say anything particularly intelligent (if any of my writings are intelligent at all).

I litterally had to pull over my car while driving to I.D. the song, but to my dismay, my trusty "Song ID" app on my phone couldn't figure it out.  I painstakingly wrote down the lyrics to the song and just googled it.  The song was "Airplanes" by B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams (of Paramore-not a fan but she does have a great rock and roll voice).

The song starts off a little bit hokey with a really great piano intro (in a Taylor Swift way, man, I kinda love her-definitely a guilty pleasure).  I'm not 100% sure why I like this song.  I just think the flow is really great and comes out simple with a strong message.  The hook is pretty solid too, maybe a little bit too sentimental for this blog but I think most people with agree that they will enjoy.  B.o.B.'s second verse is probably the best in the song, talking about what his music used to sounds like (I'm not sure what it did sound like but I enjoy the sentimentality of the lyric).  

"Airplanes" by B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams from The Adventures of Bobby Ray (2010)

-S

P.S. There is another great version of this song (just a ten-second preview) done with Eminem, whom, after all these years I still find myself drawn to with curiosity.  Here's the link

One will spread our ashes round' the yard

I've been a little obsessed with this song for quite a while. I head about it from a long time friend, she claimed it was her favorite song of all time. This was long before I knew anything about Iron & Wine. I actually thought Iron & Wine was a little to slow for me and often a bit to sentimental. However as I grew up maturity wise, I started listening to more and more of them. I think they are a taste that grows on you.

The song is "Naked As We Came." I think it is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. The guitar sounds a little more complex than it is but it comes off sounding like an instant folk classic, it just sticks with you. However the guitar is far from the highlight of the song. The absolute highlight is Samuel Beam's vocals. He is probably in my top ten favorite male vocalists, up there with Eddie Vedder (he is amazing, say otherwise, I dare you).

His voice in this song is amazing. It transcends most things that I listen to (as much as I love Modest Mouse, Isaac Brock is not an singer at his core). Listening to Beam is almost a religious experience. Furthermore, there is a very faint female vocalist on the track that makes this song all the more better. Her voice perfectly complements Beam's (although, her name completely eludes me). Even better than the vocals are the lyrics that accompany them.

Beam is a genius when it comes to lyricism (see: "Love Vigilantes"). How could you not love a lyric like this "She says if I leave before you darling Don't you waste me in the groundI lay smiling like our sleeping children One of us will die inside these arms," Beam's lyrics are minimalist, but perfect in their construction. I cannot say enough good things about this song.

Please listen to this song, and then listen to it a second time. I guarentee this will be one of the best songs you ever listen to...it is that good. I am not joking.

"Naked As We Came" by Iron & Wine from Our Endless Numbered Days (2004)

-S

Just a sci-fi kid like you

Just about to leave for my mid-April hiatus and I thought I should try and get in at least one last post. I'm going to try and write 2 posts or something and have them auto-publish themselves. Anyway the song is called "Sci-Fi Kid" by Blitzen Trapper.

As the song first comes on you're not really sure what you've gotten yourself in to. But it progresses quickly in to an up-beat indie pop song. It has a little bit of influence coming from Beck (especially in the lo-fi vocal recordings and the guitar). The song tends to be a little repetitive and lacking in the lyrics but it really does have something that keeps you hooked. I think that thing keeping me involved in the slight smell of techno somewhere in the song and then the full on techno break at the end. It's so synth heavy you think its "Crimson and Clover" being smashed into an MGMT song (large hadron collider style-awwww yeaaahhhh).

Enjoy the song and I'll catch up with you all-maybe I'll be lucky enough to stumble upon some more music on my forray in to the college scene.

"Sci-Fi Kid" by Blitzen Trapper from Wild Mountain Nation (2007)

-S

Heads up

Blogorhythms: Tea + Trumpets may or may not be going on hiatus for a few days while I'm away, I cannot guarentee there will be internet everywhere that I'm going. However I wouldn't leave you all alone so tonight or tomorrow night I will post a long-ish playlist to keep you all busy for a few days

-S

There I stand neath' the marquee moon just waiting

I was informed the other day of a musical factoid that I was unaware of. The song in question was "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. I wouldn't consider myself a huge fan of The Clash outside of most of London Calling and a few other tracks, but I had never heard the song "Straight To Hell" which is where M.I.A. sampled the iconic beginning of her song. Needless to say my world was turned upside down (well that's a stretch but I was certainly a little uneasy about not knowing of this blatant sample). Anyway, I was talking about this with a friend who knew of this already, like an idiot I found it my duty to tell people (akin to letting you know the Civil War has ended-heads up by the way, it has). We soon got in to a conversation about The Clash, but he quickly informed me of another band that he said rivals The Clash in their importance of the time. I was skeptical but went home and looked in to it further.

Creepiest album cover ever

The band in question is Television, more specifically the song "Marquee Moon" (also the name of one of their albums, although I'm just reviewing the song). Now I'll be the first to admit it, the track is great, up there with the songs of London Calling I think not though. However, The Clash obviously sets a very high standard. However, you cannot judge bands against one another, it can often be like comparing apples to oranges.

So here goes my best attempt at breaking down "Marquee Moon." The intro starts out with a great guitar riff that is pretty ear-catching, and then incomes the two-tone bass line that somehow works in. Then in comes Tom Verlaine with the vocals, his voice is interesting, probably not one of the best ever in a song-or at least not to my taste-but you can really feel the mid to late 70's in this song in terms of the vocals and the extravagant dual-guitar parts. I'm not sure how else I can describe the song other than just classic sounding. I guess you'll just have to hear it for yourselves. Also, I'll throw in "Paper Planes" and "Straight To Hell" just to throw in a bit of context.

"Marquee Moon" by Television from Marquee Moon (1977)

"Straight To Hell" by The Clash from Combat Rock (1982)

"Paper Planes" by M.I.A. from Kala (2007)

-S

And that's how we look in diaries and photographs and mirrors

Short post tonight because the internet is on the fritz. I wanted to go as indie as possible for this post, so I'm thinking of a song with a lo-fi recording style that sounds like it would be used on an indie movie soundtrack (that's looking at you Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind.) Furthermore it needs less than a half million hits on YouTube. And to top it all off, for me at least, it needs to have some cute lyrics.

Lo and behold we have a winner. "To Be Objectified" by Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard, there's really not much to know about it other than what I told you above. It's not a particularly a phenomenal song, but it catches my interest which is why I'm choosing it for the song of the day. I did, as usual, do a little research in to Jeffrey Lewis. His music is described as Anti-Folk, which I'm not sure is accurate considering how folk-y "To Be Objectified" sounds.

After perusing the meaning of "Anti-Folk" I found this definition on the good old Wikipedia (also the main source for 99.99% of anything I have ever said) they described anti folk as "the music tends to sound raw or experimental; it also generally mocks seriousness and pretension in the established mainstream music scene." Man! That is almost as pretentious as even posting about something as absurd as anti-folk. This post couldn't get any more pretentious (HEY! Pitchfork, look at me I can write about a band no one has heard of too!) so I'll just end it I guess. Cheers!

"To Be Objectified" by Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard from Em' Are I (2009)

-S

Another place, another name, another sleepless night

The equation: Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck's "Heaven Can Wait" + Alex Turner's (of the Arctic Monkeys) + A Smokey Jazz Club + Scotland + Chicago (the musical, not the band)= Codeine Velvet Club's "Vanity Kills. In reality the singer is actually a duet between Lou Hickey and Jon Lawler (of the Fratellis). The song is super catchy with its kind of hypnotic backing vocals and then entices you with the accents and the showtune-esque melody.

Codeine Velvet Club is new to the music scene but founder Jon Lawler has a pretty established music career with the Fratellis (not one of my favorite bands, although "Whistle For The Choir" is decent-the cuteness factor is off the chart, kinda made me gag not unlike "Hey There Delilah," both continue to be guilty pleasures...). All in all the song makes a pretty big statement for this new Lawler project.

Don't really have much more to say about Codeine Velvet Club other than from what I've heard/seen so far they are a pretty classy band (see: "Hollywood"). I will not be surprised if these guys hit it big in the next year. Look out for them!

"Vanity Kills" by Codeine Velvet Club from Codeine Velvet Club (2009)

"Hollywood" by Codeine Velvet Club from Codeine Velvet Club (2009)

-S

Bigger than guns and cigarettes, it's alcohol and cigarettes

The year is 2010, I don't think there is a single human being alive (other than those living under a rock, you know who you are) that hasn't heard Oasis' "Wonderwall." To be honest that's all I thought they had until I recently stumbled upon Oasis' earlier recordings, pre-What's The Story their 1995 hit album (it went platinum 4 times in the U.S. and 14 times in Britain). These recordings hit me like a truck, these guys are amazing, they are so much more than their comparably tame "Wonderwall" and "Champagne Supernova."

The first song I stumbled upon was called "Cigarettes and Alcohol," released in 1994 off of the album Definitely Maybe just over one full year before Whats The Story. This track gives off a distinct brit-punk feel (maybe a little bit of a Sex Pistols vibe) with a little bit of George Thorogood style guitar that gives this song some serious bite. It gives off a total high school angst vibe as Noel Gallaghers lyrics read "Is it my imagination Or have I finally found something worth living for? I was looking for some action But all I found was cigarettes and alcohol." Brilliant!


The second song was "Shakermaker" off of the same album. This gives off a very different vibe than "Cigarettes and Alcohol" in that it is far more towards the indie rock spectrum in the same vein as other indie rock groups of the 90's with that little bit of John Lennon like lyricism and vocal tones (in the psychedilic sense). They definitely backed off from the heavy guitar and really just turned the attitude down a notch for this song. It is a little bit of a head-nodder towards the end which I can sometimes appriciate in a song like this.

Clearly I have mis-judged you Oasis. You are far more than as song about a wall and star made of champagne. So this is me issueing my first blog apology (blopology?) for judging you by your #1-hit-singles. Clearly there must be some bands out there whos discography wallows in obscurity under the shadow of a #1 hit.

"Cigarettes and Alcohol" by Oasis from Definitely Maybe (1994)

"Shakermaker" by Oasis from Definitely Maybe (1994)

-S

Sunday Soundtrack

Hiya! Here's the Sunday Soundtrack-enjoy!

"Ms. Jackson" by The Vines from Deep Cuts (2009) (Outkast cover)

"The Freshman" by The Verve Pipe from The Villains (1996)

"Alligator" by Tegan and Sara from Sainthood (2009)

"Galileo" by Indigo Girls from Rites Of Passage Expanded Edition (2000)

"Girls FM" by Happy Birthday from Happy Birthday (2010)

"Home Is Where The Hatred Is" by Gil Scott-Heron from Pieces Of A Man (1971)

"Moondance" by Van Morrison from Moondance (1968)

-S

Makes you feel like breaking down

Shortish post for today. Back on my Pavement kick after listening to "Heaven is a Truck." I suddenly remembered one of the first albums I reviewed after I started my radio show. It was an album by Spiral Stairs (Scott Kannberg) formerly of Pavement. However I knew nothing of Pavement at the time so I wasn't too sure about the context that I was listening to the album in. Kannberg's first solo album came in 2009 in the form of The Real Feel.

Spiral Stairs=Scott Kannberg

At first I fell in love with the punk-rock aspect of the album with its indie roots in songs such as the powerful "Maltese Terrier" and "Subiacco Shuffle," both great songs in their own right. However, I usually give an album I know nothing about a shoddy once over the first time I listen to it, which sometimes leaves room for a song to be overlooked.

The song I recently re-discovered was "Stolen Pills" off of the aforementioned album. Kannbergs lyrics are drowned out a little by the heavily distorted microphone and guitar combination and the pounding drum beat that fuels the songs fire. The guitar is a little bit Tom Petty-esque at points which really makes this song unique at some points when coupled with the lyrics and percussion giving it a post-punk feel. Anyway, enjoy the song and beware the distortion. Also be warned-it's Matador Records so I'm a little biased in the songs favor.

"Stolen Pills" by Spiral Stairs from The Real Feel (2009)

-S

Don't let money change us

I haven't done a rap song in a while so I thought I'd try and get two songs in at once. The first is "Deception" by Blackalicious (Gift of Gab is one of my favorite rappers, ask why and I'll direct you to "Alphabet Aerobics" or "Chemical Calisthenics"). The other song is "Childrens Story" by Blackstar. Why these two songs you ask? They both have a common story, a lowly rapper rising to stardom and then becoming overwhelmed with power and become corrupt ultimately leading to their demise.

So as usual Mos Def picked up a great beat for "Childrens Story" and tells the story of a rapper who rises to fame on a song that he did. He becomes so consumed by the celebrity that he begins stealing beats and samples for his songs from artists like Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to the point where his songs completely loose his touch on them. He even picks up a new singer who "couldn't sing for shit, but the mix would assist her." That is one of my major gripes about some music that has been coming out recently, at this point most popular singers are synthetic-human only before the mix.

Gift of Gab

The second song, from Blackalicious, is also the story of a rising rapper. What really gets me about this song is the hook that repeats over and over throughout the song-one of the catchiest hooks I have ever heard. The rest of the story is about the same, but with a much better ending, talking about how he has lost touch with his roots and how that was the ultimate downfall of his career. I won't really ruin too much more about the songs, so I guess you'll have to hear them for yourself, but they are great.

"Deception" by Blackalicious from A to G (1999)

"Childrens Story" by Blackstar from Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Blackstar (1998)

-S

Who are you New Jersey?

I've always been a little bit weary of the Garden State (that includes the movie too...we all know that was an excuse for a Shins album). My hard exterior of an opinion of the state loosened up a little after a trip with some friends that led us through Sparta, NJ went well. I further softened when I learned that the band Fountains of Wayne hails from the state (they gained some noteriety for novelty song "Stacy's Mom" but are actually a pretty good band besides that song, try "Hackensack" on for size).

I was talking to my English Teacher, a New Jerseyite himself, about upcoming concerts; he mentioned a band he was seeing in his hometown of Glenrock NJ. I hadn't heard of them so I went home and downloaded a couple of songs. They were both six plus minute anthems and they were really great. The bands name is of the same name as a Shakepeare play; Titus Andronicus, most likely one of Shakespeare's earliest tradgedys, this band is anything but a tradgedy though (apart from the fact that they are from New Jersey, sorry old habits die hard). The lyrics are great, full of awesome references, much like a band I blogged about earlier; The Dimes. I don't really have much more to say about them because I really don't know them all that well, but so far so great.


The first song I listened to was called "Four Score and Seven," an obvious reference to the Gettysburg Address. The song is pretty raw in its vocals, Eric Helm's first lines in the song are as follows: "This is a war we can't win After 10,000 years, it's still us against them and my heroes have always died at the end So who's going to account for these sins?" MAN! THESE GUYS ARE AWESOME. The song also manages to give off a little punk rock sound which is great and according to their page are a take on the "shoegaze" bands of the 80's (think The Verve and My Bloody Valentine). Hope you enjoy!

"Four Score and Seven" by Titus Andronicus from The Monitor (2010)
"A More Perfect Union" by Titus Andronicus from The Monitor (2010)

-S

P.S. Best line from "A More Perfect Union" (another historical allusion) Helms drops this gem: "And if I come in on a donkey, let me go out on a gurney I want to realize too late I never should have left New Jersey" and that is only one of the best lines in that song...

Update: Try and find the Titus Andronicus song "The Theme From Cheers" it is really awesome, a total ballad like most of their songs at 6+ minutes here's the best link I could find from HypeMachine.

Just called to say hello, and that I love you so

Kind of a quirky song for ya'. This is the band Ima Robot, I just recently heard about them. The song I heard was "Hello I Love You." I instantly had visions of The Doors classic of the same name. However I soon learned the similarities end at the title. The lyrics are kind of cute in the same way I love the cuteness of songs like "I'm Sticking With You" by The Velvet Underground.


The premise of the song is that frontman Alex Ebert (also of Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Ima Robot was one of his first bands along with The Lucky 13's) is calling a girl and leaving a rather lengthly proffession of love on her answering machine. Ebert drops line after line to the girl, one of my favorites is this gem: "So get back to whatever it is your doin' that's so cool. I'll get back to kicking rocks down by the highschool." I'm not really sure what it is but this song just gets me.

I don't really have too much of an insight on it, so I won't keep ya'll hanging around. Enjoy!

"Hello I Love You" by Ima Robot from Search and Destroy (2006)

-S

Build me up, bring me down

I am a huge fan of Tegan and Sara and I have been for a while now. I just really enjoy listening to their voices which I find quirky and the music is great. I was going to write about a week ago about their new song "Alligator" but Dailybeatz wrote an entry the same day about it so I decided to hold off.

Oddly enough on a related note, I hated "Creator" by Santigold (real name Santi White) the first time I heard it (and in fact, continue to hate it). I just think its a little to electronic for my taste and it really just stresses me out. For a while there I cast Santigold aside as an artist that I knew existed but scoffed at her music.

Santigold's 2008 Album

However I was recently turned on to her song "L.E.S. Artistes" by fellow editor "ɱ." I was instantly struck by how much it sounded like Tegan and Sara! I was hooked. Actually, the first time I listened to it, I actually thought it was the Canadian duo.

This song however is a little more drum heavy which isn't very characteristic of a T&S song. Also it just seems to have a different vibe, maybe a little more fierce (not sure why, but that just seems to be the best fit for a description). It's a pretty good pump up song with some pretty slick guitar, very melodic, with a strong rhythm section in general. It definitely gets the blood flowing.

The video is pretty intense as well. It is a take on the movie "The Holy Mountain" (almost linked it but the trailer freaked me out) which I do have a little background knowledge on (it is one of the trippiest movies of all time, and is a cult classic, although, I have never seen it myself).

"L.E.S. Artistes" by Santigold from Santigold (2008)

-S

P.S. I was just listening to Tegan and Sara to compare, and it switched to Santigold, the transition was FLAWLESS.

Don't waste your words I don't need anything from you

So oddly enough I stumbled upon this absolute gem just around Easter. I know I'm a little late jumping on the bandwagon, but I have fallen in love with "I Am The Resurrection" by The Stone Roses. This song really rocks.

You get classic British indie in the beginning of this eight or so minute ballad with a pounding drum beat and a soulful guitar riff that flows throughout. Around 2:45 the guitar kicks it up a notch to lead the song bravely in to a seemingly endless instrumental around 3:30.

This has nothing to do with the Stone Roses or even Jesus for that matter

The instrumental starts a little like Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" and the comparisons end there.

It sounds great with a gleaming sound that echos throughout. There is nothing you can really do to stop yourself from getting lost in this song. John Squire (aptly named of course) really just kills this song setting it apart from some of the other music of the time (some of my favorites of 92': Pavement and The Mountain Goats, at least in terms of Indie Rock).

Anyway this song is just amazing and should definitely be a staple in any sweet playlist you might be working on. For some reason listening to the 4ish minute outro just gets me going.

"I Am The Resurrection" by The Stone Roses from I Am The Resurrection (1992)

-S

Hot and heavy pumpkin pie

I probably should have blogged this song earlier. It came up on my shuffle this evening and I double checked to see what I had written about it, but as it turns out, this stone remained unturned. The band is Edward Shapre and the Magnetic Zeros the band being in the same boat as the idea of David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" persona.

The band is led by Alex Ebert who after being kicked out by his girlfriend and joining a twelve step program for a drug-addiction he formed a "messianic" figure in Edward Sharpe.

Much like Ziggy Stardust, Edward was sent down from space, however in this case he is here to save the world, not to warn us of impending doom as Stardust did. However as their homepage tells, Edward is continually distracted by girls and romantic flings.

Alex Ebert

The song in question is "Home," and it is truly beautiful. Starting out with a whistling hook, that is nothing but catchy and breaking off in to a pretty feel-good guitar riff. It then flows in to Jade Castrinos (who believe it or not is the happiest person I have ever seen) intro and becomes a duet with Ebert and is just pure unadulterated joyousness. By far one of the best duets I have heard in my life.

I had the opportunity to see these guys last November, and it was a total party. It was at the Pearl Street Theater in Northampton and it was so majestic! The energy that Ebert and Castrinos give off on stage is as infectious as it is palpable, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is definitely a live act that you just have to go see to believe.

"Home" by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros from Up From Below (2009)

-S

P.S. If you're interested in Eberts infectious stage prescense, here's a decent quality live version-I couldn't stop smiling just watching this

Placid as I melt in to the sea

This song isn't really comparable to anything else I know. It's The XX's "Crystalised" (intentionally spelled wrong, I think not). The driving guitar really powers through the song in a way that you get a little out of Modest Mouse's "Dramamine" but not nearly as pretty and just as hypnotizing. What stands out most about "Crystalised" though, is the vocals. They are incredibly haunting in a way that you hear with bands like The National or Bon Iver in some cases. I really don't know much about The XX except for the fact that they are from England.

The day I heard this song I was working my first Pre-J gig at the radio station and one of the hosts told me to try putting on this song. I was instantly struck by how beautiful it was. I'm not sure I love it, or even like it for that matter, but it is certainly striking.

Something just grabs you right from the start and doesn't let you go until the final wind down and the really classy fade at the end, its like a breakdown, that is the only way to describe the close which comes just as softly as the intro. One of my favorite parts was the overlap of vocals in the last minute, it is really awesome and pretty powerful to listen to as an effect. Hope you enjoy!

"Crystalised" by The XX from xx (2009)

-S

P.S. Try and check out the whole album, it was rated one of the best of the year 2009 by Rolling Stone.

Sunday Soundtrack...Belated

Here's the Sunday Soundtrack...I just cut the inside of my mouth with a pen, ouch.

"Flash Delirium" by MGMT from Celebration (2010)

"Little Bit Of Feel Good" by SomethingALaMode from SALM (2010) (Cover of the Jamie Lidell song)

"Like A Hitman, Like A Dancer" by AC Newman from Get Guilty (2009)

"Faces In The Hall" by Gym Class Heroes from The Papercut Chronicles (2007)
(Beware this song is pretty heavy)

"Left And Leaving" by The Weakerthans from Left And Leaving (2006)

"The Instrumental" by Lupe Fiasco ft. Fort Minor from Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor (2006)

"Kiss Me On The Bus" by The Replacements from Tim (1985)

Remember, life is full of unknown factors.

-S

Go - Jónsi (The Album)

I wasn't planning on starting to post for a couple months, and I probably won't continue to until then, but I had to jump in and make a post because this album is THAT GOOD.



Jónsi, lead singer of the Icelandic experimental band Sigur Rós, recently released his album "Go."
The album is highly reminiscent of his previous band, but with a few twists. More uplifting than anything out there right now. FACT!

Key tracks: Boy Lilikoi,Go Do,by Jónsi Birgasson from Go (2010)

— E. P.

I'm tired, here's Bukowski...

I'm very tired tonight. I am writing my post at 11:50PM on April 1st. I did not go to school today and am thus tired from just having a generally epic day. So here's Modest Mouse's "Bukowski" to even out my day. All that can be said is: Isaac Brock is amazing, and that's just the cold hard truth. Truth be told that after "Float On" this was the first song that I fell in love with by Modest Mouse. I get so nostalgic thinking about this song. Some of the best lines Brock has ever written: "If God takes life, he's an Indian giver. " man, that one just gets me every time.

"Bukowski" by Modest Mouse from Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2004)

-S

Best song ever written?

I don't really give a song this distinction too often, but dare I say, this is the best song ever recorded. Originally recorded in Russia, this song made its rounds on an early 70's T.V. show in the Soviet Union.

Due to this circumstance, it did not make it to the U.S. until some time in the late 90's considering it took a few years after the end of the Cold War and the magic of the internet to unearth this classic song. I can't tell you I know too much more about the song other than that it is possibly the most beautiful song I have ever heard, in English or in any other language for that matter. Furthermore I only know the song by the title "Trolo".

I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did and pass it on, everyone needs to hear this musical masterpiece at some point in their lifetime.

"I Am Glad I'm Finally Going Home" by Eduard Khil (1976)

-S

Update: The mans name was Eduard Khil and the song was published in 1976 under the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

Further Update:


Tell Me This Man Is NOT A Pedophile