Blasphemy Never Sounded So Good

I've nearly finished my (end of) Summer mix, but it's not quite ready for post yet, so I've got some other goodies to tide you over. Remixes are tricky business. The best (in my opinion) have to resemble the original enough that it's recognizable without being just the vocal track with a casio keyboard beat laid in the background and at the same time contribute a perspective that is wholly fresh and unique. In this instance, a kick-ass electronic perspective. Not something easily done with the likes of Michael Jackson and Nirvana. Now while purists might cry sacrilege at the thought of defiling such iconic music I urge you to give it an honest listen before you have me burned at the stake.



First off we have Streetlife DJs remix of the gloved one's "Wanna Be Startin' Something." This is quite the departure from the original and I'll admit it took me a few listens before they had me. But now it plays on a loop in my head. And why the hell not?? It strips away all the fluff and puts my 3 favorite parts on the front lines. Number 1, the "Yeah, yeah." Number 2, MJ's signature "Ooooh." and number 3 " Mama Se, Mama Sa, Mama Coo Sa" chanted again and again all over distorted synth, atari bleeps and a drum pulse you could set your watch by. It's my 80's retro dream. Well, that and a live action Rainbow Brite Movie. Enjoy.

Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Something (Streetlife DJs Remix)





The second track may be a bit harder to swallow for some. If you like Nirvana, and you like a good electro song, then this might be you're new favorite song. If you really only like Nirvana, you very well might want me dead. That's a risk I'm willing to take. So was Patrick Alavi. He's the genius that managed to cross Kurt Cobain and Tron and have it come out sounding like the lawnmower man covered in grime and grunge. It's a beautiful sight sound. He takes the trashing drums and slicing guitar riffs of the original and throws it in a blender with his laptop to create something resonant and incredibly unique. It's fast and it's hard and it keeps me running when I would otherwise give in to the burning in my legs. Enjoy.

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Patrick Alavi Rerox)

Lie With Me.

I just got cable hooked up in my new place and it includes all of the premium channels. Awesome. The best part though is the on demand feature that lets me catch up on things I've been meaning to see like "Dexter" and my latest marathon watch Showtime's "Secret Diary of a Call Girl." It stars one time british poptart and Doctor's companion Billie Piper as Belle, a high end London escort. Barreling through the 1st eight episodes on my day off made me remember a mix I had put together for a friend of my mine several months ago. I feel a little back story is needed.



Sometime last year my oldest (and sorely missed) friend Andy sent me a gorgeous double CD mix of dirty pop : The Definitive Stripper Mix. Part 1 "Polestar's Jukebox" and Part 2 "Stripping for my Supper." They were wonderfully crafted play lists. Mixing schoolgirl flirting with voracious intent, the tracks were sure to get your blood racing whether it was your 1st time on stage or your 3rd visit to the club that week. I clearly had to counter with my own interpretation of life on the other side of the bright lights. But since he'd pretty much covered the finer points of dancing for cash I thought I'd continue the line to the next progression in the erotic arts. By which of course I mean selling your body for money.

Women in the oldest profession in the world go by many different names, I enjoy Belle's very matter of fact take on it "Escort, hooker, prostitute, whore: I don't mind what you call me -- that's just semantics." The word isn't the point. It's the act that makes people turn up their noses... or blush... or sweat. Now I'm by no means advocating selling your carnal treasure for rent money but there is something unquestionably enticing, tantalizingly taboo, delightfully dirty about the thought. Hell, that's why I tuned in for 3 hours straight. It's why people role play behind closed doors. Because sometimes feeling 'wrong' feels fantastic. But I digress. I toiled around with the idea of this mix for a while. What was the point of view? Who is playing these songs and why? I actually came up with the title before I'd laid in the tracks. "Call Girl Confidential: A Night in the Life." I wanted to see the world from the eyes of someone who does the things I don't dare, and more than a few of the things I wouldn't dream of. The exhilaration of the idea. The pulse of anticipation. The smooth seduction. The consequence of action. I tried to cover what I think it must feel like. At least sonically. I think it turned out quite well. So give a listen, I'm sure there's something here you'll like. Enjoy.


Call Girl Confidential: A Night in the Life.

1. Faster Kill Pussycat - Oakenfold Featuring Brittany Murphy (Yes, that Brittany Murphy)

2. No One Else (The Amalgamation Of Soundz Remix) - Natalie Walker

3. Let's Get Physical - Sara Love

4. 4 Minutes to Break the Ice - Britney Spears ( A Mashup up of Brit's vocals and Madge's track. Better than both of the originals.)

5. Substance (Felix Da Housecat Remix) - Dot Allison

6. Like it or Not - Madonna

7. Black & Gold - Sam Sparro (I cannot stop listening to this album!!!)

8. Strict Machine - Goldfrapp

9. Dame de Lotus - Émilie Simon

10. What If - Aaliyah

11. Filthy Mind - Amanda Ghost

12. Mouth (The Stingray Mix) - Bush

13. Addicted - Kelly Clarkson

14. I Drive Alone - Esthero (Because Esthero NEEDED to be included on this and Andy already used "Song for Holly." Asshole!)

15. Miracle - Olive

16. Running Up That Hill - Placebo (A haunting cover of the gorgeous Kate Bush track. "It doesn't hurt me. You wanna feel how it feels?"

Please support these artists if you like what you hear.

Purchase the album for these tracks here:

1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ,10, 11, 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16.

Quick, Say Somthing Manly!!!

While I'm certainly not thinking of turning this blog into a political soapbox, something caught my eye the other day and I'd like to share it with you. Heinz recently released and quickly pulled a commercial from the airwaves in Britain because it was considered offensive by some. The reason? A kiss between two men. Are you serious with this shit!?! It's 2008. I don't know what irritates me more, the fact that some people can't think of anything more important than two men kissing, or that Heinz would buckle so quickly to a mere 200 people who have no sense of humor. Hell the kiss wasn't even remotely sexual. See for yourself.



Apparently I'm not the only one who thought to call "Bullshit" as Brighton tabloid newspaper One80news posed the question "Is This Really Offensive, Kids?" on its front page accompanied by this photo:




Awesome.


Torsten Højer of One80news went on to say “We were disgusted at Heinz for pulling their ‘gay kiss’ ad and for apologizing so readily for their own ‘offensive’ imagery. We just couldn’t believe that in 2008, the sight of two men affectionately kissing really offends that many people - so we thought we’d put an image of a gay kiss out there."

They even provided their readers with Heinz's customer care telephone # and urged people to call and complain about the removal of the ad, stating, "if it isn't Heinz, it isn't homophobic."

There's even a news story about British law makers criticizing Heinz for pulling the ad. You can check that out here if you wish.


On that note, I give a bit of gender bending. Enjoy.



Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" generally makes me angry. There's this sense of undeserved accomplishment that eminates from the whole thing. Like some stupid sorority girl who's bragging to her sisters about how crazy she got at last nights kegger. And let's face it, the best thing Katy has going for her is that she looks like a poor man's Zooey Deschanel.






But Goddamn if that hook doesn't get stuck in my head! Therefor I'm gonna offer up a sick remix I've been using to get my fix.

Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl (MR GASPAR Remix)


Also a less grating and much cheekier version by Max Vernon that he posted on his Myspace. Less Homo-centric ( is that even a word?) one would think because of the change in point of view, until you realize he hasn't changed the gender and exclaims "Hope my boyfriend don't mind it." Nice. Ok maybe there's more to this song than I'm giving it credit for, as it is clearly works in so many ways. The opening piano line sounds like the music that's played in cartoons where the moustached man would tie the damsel in distress to the train tracks. And the track closes out with doo wop and hand snaps. It's brilliant. As is the silent film style video he's released to accompany it. Check them both out below.

Max Vernon - I Kissed a Girl




And speaking of things that are gay and ridiculously funny... check out this summer's queer blockbuster!



"uhhhhhh..."

One less than Five, One more than Three

It's been nearly two months since I last published and I was honestly wondering if I would ever have the urge to post again. Leave it to the lovely Leslie Feist to be my muse. Well, Feist and a few Monsters, Penguins and Chickens just back from the shore. Allow me to explain. It looks like Sesame Street is taking page from Yo Gabba Gabba by collaborating with indie artists in an effort to lure hipster parents and their fickle children to their program. Feist re-tools the lyrics of her crossover hit "1234" into an (even more) playful and (somewhat) educational pop gem. You can see the video below and if you're crazy like me you can download the ripped mp3 as well. If you consider yourself too cool to bother with the track: A. I included a cover that she did with Constantines of the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton hit "Islands in the Stream." and B. we probably cannot be friends. Enjoy.


Watch:


(Listen close when the chickens 'sing' along! Awesome!)


Download:

Fesit - 1234 (Sesame Street Version)

Constantines and Feist - Islands in the Stream

also, if the only way you recognize the above is from "Ghetto Superstar" then we definitely can't be friends.

Just Thought You Outta Know...

Madonna may be the mother of reinvention, but mama's getting on in years and it seems she doesn't have the same grasp on what's current as some of her younger pop counterparts. I am of course speaking of... Alanis Morisette. What? You didn't see that coming? Ok. So I don't think that these two artists are necessarily on the same path, but they both have a pension for creating incredibly catchy, if not wonderfully crafted pop music. The difference is that while Madonna desperately clings to whatever hot producer is offering up the sweet beats of the moment, Alanis finds a way to re introduce herself to die hard fans as well as new listeners without coming off as forced. Record after record she has managed to bring something new to the table without losing her sense of self or her sense of humor (You've no doubt seen her viral cover of "My Humps"). Flavors of Entanglement is certainly no exception. At my first listen I was admittedly confused for a moment, "What's this? Alanis? Going Electronic?" Then I got to the middle of the first track "Citizen of The Planet" and everything became at once clear again. Alanis hasn't simply changed her sound. She's evolving. She's taken her signature blend of alt/pop hooks and bittersweet lyrics and added eastern elements, electronic beats and loops over them to further blend the scope of her genre bending sound.

The immediate comparison I had was to that of Imogen Heap. Which is no surprise when I found out that the record was produced by non other than Guy Sigsworth, Imogen's former band mate from the fabulous Frou Frou. He brings a renewed sense of whimsy to tracks like "In Praise of The Vulnerable Man" and his influence is none more apparent than on the wonderfully effervescent track "Giggling Again for No Reason." She even shows she knows how to dance on tracks like the gothy, gorgeous "A Version of Violence" and one of my immediate favorites "Straightjacket" which sounds like BT and Goldfrapp had a club kid baby.

Don't worry, Alanis hasn't left out the incredibly intimate and earnest songs we have come to expect from her. "Torch" plays out as an epic confession of longing for a lost lover. Unabashed and real as only true yearning could bring to the surface, let alone one's mouth.

"...I'm pseudo-making it. From scratch, begin again, but this time 'I' as 'I' and not as 'We'." she wails on the heart wrenching "Not as We." proving that she certainly hasn't lost the ability to reach deep within her own personal feelings of despair and create something absolutely beautiful from the wreckage.

Her first new material in four years, Flavors of Entanglement is not only a welcome change of pace but and encouraged one. If Alanis continues to evolve her sound like this, when it feels right, feels fresh, I'll surely continue to but her records long into the future regardless of how long it takes between them. I've posted a few of my favorite tracks that (I think) best illustrate the new direction this album is taking, but it is by no means a one trick pony. This record touches upon several different moods and genres and I'm certain if you give it a listen you'll find something that interests you. Enjoy.


Straightjacket

Giggling Again for No Reason




Preorder Flavors of Entanglement from Amazon

-or from her-

Official Page

Get Up, Get Out, Get On With It.

Spring has always been my favorite season for any number of reasons. Everything is bright, vibrant, refreshed. A time when the world beats with a pulse that pushes everything onward. That's what I was hoping to convey with this mixtape. I wanted it to sound fresh, and cool. Retro, but renewed, so I combined music that's been around for a while with music that sounds like it's been around for a while to give it a bit of a modern sheen. I highly encourage you to put on your headphones and Run, Dance, Live, Breathe, Love, Groove, Hop, Skip, Jump, Shout, Shine, Climb, Rejoice, Recharge, Create, Commit, Affect, Change, Discover, Remember, Laugh, Push, Play. Enjoy. Move. Forward.






1. Apartment - Fall into Place

2. Prince and the Revolution - Raspberry Beret

3. M.I.A. - Paper Planes (DFA Remix Edit)

4. Kate Nash - Pumpkin Soup

5. The English Beat - Save it for Later (12" Mix)

6. LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends (Radio Edit)

7. The Hush Sound - Molasses

8. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk

9. Tegan and Sara - Back in Your Head (RAC Remix)

10. Klaxons - As Above, So Below (Justice Remix)

11. New Young Pony Club - Get Lucky

12. Phoenix - Consolation Prizes

13. Mobius Band - Digital Love

14. BC Camplight - Blood and Peanut Butter

Download (Alternate Link)

Purchase these artists ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 )

Houston, not a Problem.

This is probably my favorite thing right now and I would be ignoring my civic duty not to share it with you. SNL has been getting back into the swing of things lately with the addition of new talent, namely Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg, and also having better, more diverse musical guests like Feist and Vampire Weekend. One of my all time favorite cast members is miss Maya Rudolph, specifically for her Whitney Houston impersonation. I've watched this clip on a loop for the last several weeks. Genius!

Complements of Hulu, I Give You




Enjoy

From the album, Whitney

So Emotional

Purchase Whitney from Amazon ; iTunes

And Matt Sharp Feat. Maya Rudolph

Not Tonight (Tegan and Sara Cover)

Circle Gets the Square

I never did get around to introducing you to Ingrid Michaelson, but then that's assuming a lot. Unless you've been living without television or internet access for the past year or so, you've probably heard of her whether you realize it or not. Ingrid's been featured in several episodes of Grey's Anatomy and probably most famously for her spot in an Old Navy ad. Old Navy solidified "The Way I Am" as a hit from an album which had otherwise gone unnoticed which is a shame because Girls and Boys is a great pop album. But judging by the crowd's reaction to her performance as headliner of the Hotel Cafe Tour, she is on a serious upswing.

Listening to her live was a completely different experience than listening to her record, in the best possible way. She was warm, and rich. Engaging in way that I never got from her record. The highlight of which was when she brought out the other ladies of the tour to give a glimpse of what's to come. To my utter delight it turned from simply gorgeous harmony to gorgeous round. I would like to share that experience with you. Here is a live recording of "The Chain" from one of the hotel cafe tour dates. Enjoy.

The Chain (Live)

Ingrid's Myspace

Purchase Girls and Boys From Amazon ; iTunes

Something To Talk About.

So I haven't posted in a long time, partly because I have been so overwhelmed by my job that I go into a nearly comatose state when I get home, and partly because I just haven't had anything important to say as of late. Well something has just peaked my interest. Coldplay just released the first single, "Violet Hill" from their new album Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends for free download on their website. It's wonderful. A bit of a different sound than what I expect from them but not a complete departure. I highly suggest that you head on over and give it a listen. In the mean time you can lend your fickle ear to the scrapped version of "Talk" from X&Y. It's good. It's also easy to see why this version pales in comparison to the album track. Enjoy.

Talk (Scrapped Version)

Download Violet Hill from the Coldplay Website HERE. (get it now, it's only available for a week.

More Than Just a Beard?

Back again. Spotlighting the next artist I'll be enjoying on the Hotel Cafe Tour. His name is William Fitzsimmons and he has quite the musical story but since I'm actually on vacation right now and don't really feel up to sitting in front of my computer trying to come up with something creative to say about him, I think I'll let his Myspace bio do it for me.
"



So there you have it. He sounds a bit like Sufjan, a little Iron and Wine, with just a hint of Postal Service thrown in for good measure. It's good stuff. Check out a couple of my favorite tunes and go grab both of his albums! They're fantastic. Then go check him out live. Please support the artists you enjoy any way you can. Enjoy.






From Until When We Are Ghosts (iTunes)

Funeral Dress


From Goodnight (iTunes)

It's Not True


And for your viewing pleasure



Video for It's Not True

and



William with Ingrid Michaelson (she's coming up next) performing "King of Wishful Thinking"

I Just Order The Tea

I have to admit that I don't go to nearly enough shows, and being this close to SF there's really no excuse. Well here's to changing that. I have tickets to the Hotel Cafe Tour when they come around these parts and am very excited to see a bunch of artists I love (and have never seen live) all in one venue. I'm going with a bunch of friends, and some of them are unfamiliar with a few of the artists we're going to see so I thought while I'm introducing them to my friends I might as well introduce them to anyone else who's listening.



The first artist that I'm going to highlight is someone I found a year or so ago in the great land of Myspace. Jessie Baylin is originally from New Jersey but left for LA right after high school. She has pulled steady gigs in bars and clubs around the country, touring with the likes of Brett Drennen and James Morrison. In October of 2006 she put out The Barefoot EP, a self released collection of live tunes (including a fantastic cover of The Beatles Rocky Raccoon) with a jazzy, southern lilt, like it's being played on the back porch of a Georgia block party. She released her first full length record, You, produced by another favorite of mine Jesse Harris. The album was released exclusively on iTunes and included more polished versions of two tracks from the EP, "Sparrow" and "Contradicting Words" (although I prefer the more intimate sound from the EP) alongside eleven other equally gorgeous new tracks. She's currently working on her next album and I'm currently dying to know what she's got in store for us. Check out my favorites "Not a Day More " and "Contradicting Words" from the EP then head on over to ye ol' iTunes and get a copy of You for you. It's worth well more than the measly $10 they're asking for it. And oh yeah, check back for more soon.


Enjoy

Contradicting Words

Not a Day More

And check out these videos of live performances


Contradicting Words


Not a Day More
(Feat Zack Hexum on guitar and backing vocals! Sa-wee-tah!)


Leave Your Mark
(from You. Gorgeous!)

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I discovered this next artist while searching good ol' Youtube for Robyn goodies. She's a fellow Swede but has a significantly different sound than Miss Konichiwa. Lykke Li's debut album, Youth Novels, is rich and moody and yet retains a sense of fun, never getting too serious before reminding you it's OK to dance. The sound pours over your ears like deep amber molasses. LL's sticky sweet vocals get caught in your head while the beats pull and bounce around like an insect caught in the flow. It's gonna take more than shampoo to get this outta your head. Enjoy.

From Youth Novels

Little Bit (1st Single)

I'm Good, I'm Gone (My initial favorite!)

Let it Fall (Bouncy Goodness)

Little Bit [Diego Chavez Remix] (You know I enjoy myself a remix)


Watch some video of our eccentric songbird

The video that first brought her to my attention, featuring Robyn,Adam & Bebban (Shout Out Louds), Daniel (The Concretes), Lars (Laakso) and Mikael (Hjalmar). Directed by Ted Malmros and Christian Haag.

Lykke Li Im Good Im Gone




The video for the 1st single Little Bit
Little Bit



Youth Novels is not available in the US yet (due in march) but if you're like me and simply cannot wait you can order it online and have the import shipped to your door HERE.

Check out LL @

Official Site

Myspace

The greatest Swedish export since the Chef.

I went to see Robyn last night at Popscene in SF. Barring the pushy hipsters, the Furries ( oh yes, there were men dressed in full body animal costumes!), a drunk guy who almost got in a fight with my boy, and the support beam that partially obstructed my view, it was a great time. For only playing three shows in the US I was worried she might phone this one in, but to my utter delight it was fantastic. 1st off there was a band, not just some shoddy backing track and second, that trick can sing. I often wonder about dance acts as to whether or not they actually have the vocal ability their CDs boast or if through the magic of production they are made somewhat passable. Certainly not the case with Robyn. Her vocals were clear and crisp and she herself was energetic and playful! The setlist included all of her latest singles and she even played 3 encore songs including a popular ballad version of "Be Mine" of which she had already performed the dance version, "Jack u Off" a Prince cover that sounds like it was recorded in a basement juke joint during prohibition (and I mean that in the best possible way), and a stripped down version of the hit "Show Me Love" from her 1997 album Robyn is Here. I leave you with a few tasty tidbits and urge you to buy her album. It's dance pop goodness at its finest. Enjoy.

Buy Robyn's Music HERE.

With Every Heartbeat

Be Mine (Ballad Version)

Jack U Off

Show Me Love


Watch

Konichiwa Bitches!


Be Mine


Handle Me

Lighting Strikes

I was just introduced to this next artist by none other than Rolling Stone magazine. Yes, every now and then they actually talk about music. Liam Finn is the son of Crowded House singer Neil Finn and his own debut album I'll Be Lightning is due out in January '08. He recorded the record in his homeland of New Zealand entirely in analog at his father's studio and it sounds fantastic. The few tracks I've picked up make me really hopeful for the rest of the album. Give a listen to the tracks I have featured below then check out his sites for more info and tunes. Enjoy.

From I'll Be Lightning:

Second Chance

Fire in Your Belly

_______________________

Visit Liam's

Myspace

Official Site

Sweet Tooth

It's been a while since I made a mix of goodies and this is a veritable grab bag. Pop gets a really bad name these days and I'd like to do my part to put and end to the stigma. These songs are sweet and delicious and bubble gum free. Enjoy.



PopRocks

1. My Party (Kenna & Chad Hugo Remix) - Kings of Leon (Purchase Because of the Time)*

Neptunes' other half and Kenna team up to teach these good ol' boys to dance.
_______________________________________________

2. Handle Me (Bjorn Remix) - Robyn (Purchase Robyn)*

Like a lolly pop that's fallen on the dirty floor. What!? It's still good, 3 second rule!!!

_______________________________________________

3. Fleur de Saison - Émilie Simon (Purchase The Flower Book)

French pop is so hot! So what if she's singing about a flower!

_______________________________________________

4. Australia (Peter Bjorn & John Remix) - The Shins (Purchase Wincing the Night Away)*

The album version's sullen, dissonant twin.

_______________________________________________

5. The Underdog - Spoon (Purchase Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga)

Horn blowing, hand clapping, tamborine shaking goodness.)

_______________________________________________

6. I Feel it All - Feist (Purchase The Reminder)

Feist is a bit over exposed at the moment... and I can't think of anyone more deserving. Let the world know of her brilliance!

_______________________________________________

7. Simple X - Andrew Bird (Purchase Armchair Apocrypha)

I don't remember which blog I read it in, but someone once described this song as sounding like "...a Radiohead B-side... in the best possible way." Well said, sir or madame!

_______________________________________________


8. Consolation Prizes - Phoenix (Purchase It's Never Been Like That)

I've been meaning to share this track for some time now. This seems as good a time as any. Let the hip shaking commence!

_______________________________________________


9. Lake Michigan - Rogue Wave (Purchase Asleep at Heaven's Gate)

I've been there once. This song is way better than that visit.

_______________________________________________

10. The Prayer - KT Tunstall (Purchase Drastic Fantastic)**

Possibly better than the original by Bloc Party. Recorded for Radio One Live Lounge. Duh!

_______________________________________________
11. Buttons - Sia (Purchase Day Too Soon)

No, this is not a Pussycat Dolls Cover. Shame on you! Oddly enough, reminds me of "They Don't Know" by Tracey Ullman. Not sure where that's coming from.

_______________________________________________

12. La La La - The Bird and The Bee (Purchase The Bird and The Bee)

Daydream pop at it's very best!

_______________________________________________

13. Foundations - Kate Nash (Purchase Made of Bricks)

She's not even trying to hide her cockney accent and it's all the better for it! The line "You say I must eat so many lemons, 'cause I am so bitter" wouldn't work any other way!

________________________________________________

14. Breakin' Up - Rilo Kiley (Purchase Under the Blacklight)

If the video for this doesn't take place at a Roller Rink I will be sadly dissapointed!

________________________________________________

Download the entire Pop Rocks Mix and a .zip file HERE.


* This is a remix and doesn't appear on the studio album.
**This track was recorded live and is not available for purchase.

Leave it to Lerche

I have yet to see the film "Dan in Real Life" as it is clearly a "rent", but I did pick up the soundtrack when I heard my favorite Norwegian pop folkie was at the helm. Yes, friends, Sondre Lerche has done it again. He's produced a fantastic feel good pop album that skips along with tones fresh from another time. Much of it sounds like a throwback to a 50's television show. Like when families ate dinner at the table without the TV on. Notable tracks include the retro pastiche "Hell No" a duet with indie it-girl Regina Spektor and the playful "To be Surprised." My favorite track is Lerche's cover of the Pete Townshend hit "Let my Love Open the Door" the original of which is featured in the trailer for the film. I forgot just how much I enjoy this song. I also remember (and am not too proud to admit) that until a few years ago I thought he was singing "it might have opened the door." What!? I was young! And song lyrics don't always need to make sense! Anyway, check out these tracks from the soundtrack, go pick it up and love it! That's right! You do what the hand says! Enjoy.




From the Dan in Real Life Original Soundtrack:
(Purchase from Amazon ; iTunes)

Sondre Lerche - To be Surprised

Sondre Lerche - Let my Love Open the Door

Also have a go at the 80's pop goodness that was Townshend's original and another, very "margaritaville" cover by M. Ward.



From Empty Glass:
(Purchase from Amazon ; iTunes)

Pete Towneshend - Let My Love Open the Door



From The Starbucks Compilation Sweetheart.
(Purchase Hear Music Stuff Here)

M. Ward - Let My Love Open the Door

iamsam.

I was cruisin' the interweb the other day (like ya do) when I came across this next artist. Much thanks goes out to my boy Drew (he doesn't know he's my boy, by that's really not the point here.) at linesthroughlines for introducing me to Sam Amidon. Drew posted a song called "Saro" as a listening assignment and I dutifully went to work. The song is absolutely breathtaking. I cannot begin to describe how it makes me feel. It's like finding a letter written about a great love from another time. It warms me like a shot of whiskey. Makes me hopeful. "Saro" is on his forthcoming album All is Well due out in February 2008, I cannot wait to listen to the whole album. The few tracks I've managed to round up have been like discovering buried treasure. If these tracks are any indication, February cannot come soon enough. Enjoy.



From the forthcoming album All is Well:
(Preorder from Amazon)

Saro (this song is AMAZING!)

Little Johnny Brown (Fan-bloody-tastic)




From the 2007 Release But This Chicken Proved False Hearted:
(Purchase from Amazon ; iTunes)

Tribulation

Check out more of Sam here

Official Website

Myspace

Brought to You By The Letter "B" and The Number 25.

I had a great time this weekend celebrating my girl Lisa/Bethy's 25th birthday in Vegas but I am so thankful to be home and sleeping in my own bed again. Three days and two nights (on a terrible hotel mattress) were just enough to leave me with found memories and still a yearning for the comforts of home.

While in transit I was doing a crossword puzzle with the aid of my lovely travel companion and one of the clues was "Funny Chevy." Of course there could be no other answer than Mr. Chevy Chase. The first thing I thought of with the mention of his name was not of the many movies he's been in but of a music video he starred in with Paul Simon. This video for "You Can Call Me Al" came out when I was a child, long before I knew of who Paul Simon was and I remember thinking that Chevy himself was the actual singer because he lip syncs throughout. It wasn't until I started asking my mother questions about the wonderful music she was listening to that I came to know the greatness that was Simon and Garfunkle and Paul Simon himself.

It goes without saying that as soon as I got home I listened to the song and went looking to youtube to show me the video I only vaguely recall. It was even better than I remembered! Like watching a Looney Tunes cartoon for the first time as an adult and finally understanding the jokes beyond exploding TNT. Upon watching more closely to the beginning of the video I noticed that Paul begins to lip sync along to the track only to be cut off by Chevy who steals the show right out from under him. Leaving Paul to be relegated to the background vocals. Brilliant! I also never noticed that after Chevy drinks his water he goes to place it on what looks like a table to his left, only it's a drum stand and the glass of water falls straight to the ground below. This happens again with the flute. Hi-liarious!!!

I've posted the video below for your (and my) viewing pleasure and I've also included the song that began it all. While I was looking for more info on the song (like I do) I came across a cover that Jens Lekman did for a swedish radio set. Lekman retools this into a gorgeous acoustic diddy, leaving out the chorus while keeping the instantly recognizable sound of the horns transformed into gentle guitar strums. Enjoy.



Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al

Jens Lekman - You Can Call Me Al


Speaking of Lekman, I think some acknowledgment is due to the half Japanese girl without whom this post would not be possible. Happy Birthday Lisa/Bethy!!!


Jens Lekman - Happy Birthday, Dear Friend Lisa

and just because I can, really,

The Simpsons (Feat. "Michael Jackson") - Lisa, It's Your Birthday

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

Yes, it's that time again, Halloween!!! It's been too long between posts so I really wanted to do something big for my first time back. But I'm not going to do that. Instead, I found two of my favorite spooky videos for spooky-esque songs and decided to share them with you.



The first one is from the electronic group Röyksopp. For 2005's The Understanding they teamed up with everybody's favorite Nordic song siren Karin Dreijer of the Swedish electronic duo The Knife. The result? Beautiful dream nightmare pop. The video only boosts the hide-under-the-covers-ness of the song, as we follow Karin floating through the town that gravity forgot, part "Gentlemen" , part "Dark Phoenix." She is both the Boogeyman following you through the darkness and the beautiful blonde you hope will make it out alive.

Check it out Here



Download the track here

Röyksopp - What Else is There?
(Buy the Album HERE)

and because I think that the remix has a bit more urgency and is actually a bit more creepy than the original, but because my music a.d.d. generally permit me to sit through 7 minutes of anything, I created a "radio" edit for your my listening pleasure.

Röyksopp - What Else is There? (Trentemøller Remix Edit)

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The next track is from English indie it girl Natasha Khan via her band Bat For Lashes 2006 release Fur and Gold. "What's a girl to do?" starts out sounding like a familiar 50's girl group anthem but quickly turns into the eerie narration of an ending relationship. The pounding drums echo like your heart beating hard against your ribcage and a chilling harpsichord sounds like your nerve endings firing off in preparation for a terribly unpleasant sensation. Meanwhile Khan's rich and full voice gently lulls you into the dark, deep night unaware of the dangers that wait within. Those dangers it seems, are furries. The video is one of the strangest things I think I've ever seen. There she is, riding along, on a dark road looking like Lilly Allen ( technically Lilly looks kinda like her as Khan was born 1st) when BAM! Furries in hoodies bust out from behind her and proceed to to bike stunts. But what does it mean? I'm sure I don't know, but it's more than a little bit disturbing.

Check it out here



Download the track here

Bat For Lashes - What's a Girl To Do?
(Buy the Album HERE)


What's your favorite creepy song? video? Lemme know.

Tom Waits... why shouldn't we?

I have been a terrible blogger. I guess staying up for that lunar eclipse really took it out of me, 'cause I've just been too plain tired (read: lazy) to post anything since. I'm sorry. But this next artist was certainly worth the wait. All three years. After touring northern California for a brief period, aspiring singer/songwriter, Jesca Hoop took on a job as a nanny. An odd job for a budding musician, until you learn that it was for the children of Tom Waits and his wife. There she honed her craft writing and eventually recorded a demo which Tom sent to his publisher. The demo later ended up in the hands of KCRW in 2004. The station began to play the song "Seed of Wonder" on air and it remained in the top 5 requested songs for 8 weeks straight, a station first!

Three years later Jesca's long awaited first album, Kismet, was finally released on September 18th and it's effing amazing! She manages to explore a very diverse landscape of sound throughout the album's eleven tracks. Her music is quirky and captivating, playful and thoughtful. Like a child discovering the world around them. On the opening track "Summertime" the sound is bright and shimmering like the sunlight dancing on the water's surface. While songs like "Enemy ", with it's much simpler sound and beautiful harmonies, floats gently, like the wind pushes through the tall grass. The range of emotion on this album is staggering. I could listen to it for weeks straight, and if you've been in my car with me any time recently, you know that I have been. Listen to a few of my favorite tracks and please, please go out and get this album! You will not be disappointed!

Visit

Official Site

Myspace





Purchase Kismet

Amazon ; iTunes

Download

Money (As featured in the film Shoot 'em Up)

Intelligentactile 101
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From her recent KCRW live studio session on 9-19-07
(with the Ditty Bops on backup vocals!)

Enemy

Summertime


See / Stream the entire session here.
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From her original KCRW session in 2004

Havoc in Heaven
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