I'm in a huge rut. A work out rut. This happens to me every year around February/March and it sucks. It's cold (although not as cold as it could be), I'm tired, and I care way more about my next meal than I do working out. I have no idea why I have so much trouble staying motivated. I know how much better I look and feel when I exercise on a regular basis, but it's so easy to talk myself out of it. I mean, let's be honest. I just want to be able to bake and eat whatever I want, and look super hot and feel awesome without having to do any sort of moving around. Anyone else feel the same? I can't be the only one.
Last night out of sheer desperation, I sat down to rework my work out. I started thinking of some things that I love, other than food. And then it hit me. I need a playlist! Music can be a great motivator, so I started working on a pretty epic work out playlist. There are tons of great sites online with suggestions for songs to ramp up your exercise routine, so be sure to check those out. But I have to be honest and tell you some of the suggestions are lame. Come on, there are way better songs than "Let's Get Physical." I was able to come up with about sixty songs for my playlist! I pretty much covered it all - eighties hair bands, old school rap, new stuff, dance stuff.... you name it and it's on there. Hopefully this will keep me from getting bored anytime soon. Take a listen! If you like what you hear, head on over to itunes and download your faves. Be advised: some of these tracks aren't kid friendly, so put those ear buds in when you crank it up!! And if you beat me to it and already have a soundtrack for your sweat sessions, I'd love to hear what's on it!!!
Well, hello there. I hope this blog post finds you warm and well. We're having a bit of a cold snap here in the midwest. We went from almost ninety degrees last week back down to the forties this afternoon. Brrrrrrr!!! Nothing like running both your A/C and your furnace in the same week!! No worries though..... we'll be sweating it out in the summer heat soon enough.
Today I spent the afternoon at home catching up on some much needed laundry and housework. I was also nursing a sickish husband. He came home Friday afternoon from work with a terrible toothache that drastically worsened over the weekend. Our dentist put up some pain meds and antibiotics to hold him over until he can have it pulled tomorrow morning. Poor guy. There's nothing worse than tooth pain!!!
While catching up on said housework and putting together some unfinished nightstands with Ethan (that kid is so amazing at assembling furniture from IKEA - he must get it from me right?), I of course had our Pandora radio playing in the background. We were keeping busy when this amazing song came on and I just had to stop and see who it was. It ended up being this guy I had never heard of before - William Fitzsimmons. That doesn't happen very often, so instantly I was super curious. I started looking up some of his work and listening to his other songs. Wow. I am hooked. It's so hit or miss with Pandora. You never know if it's just going to be the one song you're hearing that's great or if there's a whole album of amazingness.
William Fitzsimmons is one of those rare artists that really make me excited about music right now. The radio is so filled with crap. You can yell at me if you want to, but it just is. In a world full of overproduced crap, singer/songwriters like Fitzsimmon's are a breath of fresh air.
Who is this guy, you ask?? Well, he has had quite a different life from you or me. Both of his parents were blind, but quite musical. Due to their inability to communicate through visual means, their home was filled with the sounds of musical instruments and family sing-a-longs. He taught himself how to play several instruments and began recording his own music during the summer break of college. He was noticed on Myspace and gained quite a following from there, but once his songs were featured on hit tv shows like Grey's a Private Practice it didn't take long for people to get on board. He stands right up there with artists like Iron & Wine, Mumford and Sons, Sufjan Stevens and even the late great Elliott Smith. Most of his songs are quite serious in nature and tackle difficult subjects such as betrayal, divorce and mental illness. He has quite a few albums out - none of which I currently own at this time. I am still working my way through all of the tracks to decide which ones I'm going to get for myself!!! For now, here are a few of my absolute faves so far.....
'So This Is Goodbye'
'I Don't Feel It Anymore - Song of the Sparrow' duet with the lovely Priscilla Ahn
'I Kissed A Girl' Katy Perry Cover - this is brilliant!!!
'If You Would Come Back Home'
'Passion Play'
'I Don't Feel It Anymore' George Raquet Remix - I do love some remixes
'The Tide Pulls From the Moon' - luuuuvvvvvvv
That's about it for now! There are so many other songs of his to explore! But now I'm off to go enjoy the rest of the Bulls game with my doped up husband, a cup of tea and a blanket. Happy listening!!!!
Can it really be Sunday again?? The weeks go so fast I can hardly keep up!! I'm going to have to type this out fast because I just checked the weather map and it looks like we're in for a pretty decent spring storm. Those of you who know me well know that storms are not my favorite. Guess I will be taking the weather radio to bed with me tonight!
The band I'm writing about this week is an indie electronica group called 'Faded Paper Figures' that hails from LA. The trio consists of John Williams and Kael and Heather Alden. They started writing music back in 2007 and ended up putting a few songs up on myspace under the name Machine Discourse. Obviously, they later changed their name to Faded Paper Figures or FPF.
FPF's first album titled 'Dynamo' was well received and described as "a balance of upbeat and soothing electronics.' They've been compared to The Postal Service which certainly shouldn't hurt their feelings. I personally love the balance of chill and fun these guys offer up in their songs. And not only are they musically talented, they're smart. Heather is currently a med student at UCLA and John is a professor of English and media studies at Yale. But they've still been able to follow their passion and make great music. Here are a few top picks from their 2008 album....
'North By North'
'B film'
'Logos' :) maybe my fave of all
'Polaroid Solution' sooooo Postal Service-y & yep it was played on Grey's
'I Fell Off My Name'
'The Persuaded'
Despite how busy they've been with school, FPF came out with a second album last year called 'New Medium.' I freaking LOVED the first album, but this one is amazing. I love everything! It's too hard to pick which songs to share here, but are my faves....
'Invent It All Again' LOVE
'Limelight'
'You Know What I Mean'
'Small Talk'
'One More Crash'
'The Cold Wars'
'New Medium'
If you're looking for fun and upbeat music, neither of these albums will let you down!!! Happy listening and Happy New Music Monday!!!
Holy balls, it's been a long time since I've written about music. I don't know how many people actually read my blog, but I used to post music reviews every Monday. With everything going on I just haven't had the time to keep it up, but I really miss it. But it's been so long since I've done it that it's hard to know how to start again. So here I am on a Sunday night trying to type out my latest find!!
We're at that weird time of year here in the midwest where it's not winter anymore (thank you, Jesus) but it's not really that nice outside yet. It sucks. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some consistently warm temps! Being stuck inside has its advantages though. I'm getting a lot of projects done (more on that later) all while listening to some great new music!! One new find I'm really enjoying lately is a one man band called 'Radical Face.' Radical Face is just a dude named Ben Cooper who happens to be from Jacksonville. He's also part of other popular groups Electric President and Iron Orchestra. If you like Sufjan Stevens, Elliott Smith or Animal Collective you will be a fan of Radical Face.
Cooper's album 'Ghost' was four years in the making and came out way back in March of 2007. Why it hasn't gotten more attention is completely beyong me. There's a subtle layering of drums and lyrics and sound effects of times gone by - maybe one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. It is a discreet masterpiece. What makes it even cooler is that it's a concept album. The idea behind it is that houses retain stories of things that have happened in them. The people that live in a home leave their "ghosts" behind. Each track on the album tells a story - some from the house's point of view. Ben Cooper even talked about an old house he grew up in as one of the inspiration's for the album. I'm a dork, but I think this is so right on and cool. I grew up in an older home as well and this gives new meaning to the phrase "if walls could talk." Everytime I go back "home" I can almost hear the memories that were made there - making blanket forts, doing homework at the kitchen table, playing in the side yard..... It always made me wonder what kinds of memories were made in that house before I lived there. I think that's sort of what this album is all about.
Here are some of my favorite tracks from Radical Face's Album 'Ghost.'
"Welcome Home" - looooovvvvveeeeeee
'Let the River In'
'Glory'
'Wrapped In Piano Strings'
'Haunted'
'Winter Is Coming'
'Homesick'
I feel like this album could be a soundtrack for a little unknown, indie film or something. The more I listen, the more I love. I hope you will too!!
I will admit it's a little early to start thinking Halloween, but I can't help it. The weather is sooooooo halloweenish tonight. Cool breeze, leaves blowing in the wind. Halloween is my favorite. I can remember every single costume I wore growing up! Man, we had some great ones! My mom always came up with something cool for us to dress up as. That woman is pure magic with a pair of scissors, some felt and craft glue. :) Anyways, Halloween. I love everything about it - the dressing up, the creepiness, the getting and eating of the candy and of course the music. Most people don't know there is actually a ton of great Halloween music out there besides the theme to Ghostbusters and Thriller.
So in honor of my favorite holiday I will be posting ten creepy songs every new music monday right up until Halloween!! Yes, there are that many!!!! I hope you're as excited as I am for this!!!
The first song on the list is 'Dead Souls' by Nine Inch Nails. It's a great tune and you just don't get too much creepier than Trent Reznor. Dead Souls was on the soundtrack for 'The Crow' movie that came out wayyyyyyyy back in good old 1994. The song is actually a cover as it was first done by the band Joy Division.
Next we have the song 'Bloodletting' by Concrete Blonde. Love it!!!!
A cover of The Doors classic 'People Are Strange' by Echo and the Bunnymen. A great song from the 'Lost Boys' soundtrack!!
Nothing says creepy like The Smiths' song 'How Soon Is Now.' You'll remember it from the hit tv show 'Charmed.'
'Fresh Blood' by the amazing band The Eels. This track made it on to the True Blood soundtrack for season two! Good stuff!!!
I have been a huge fan of The Cranberries since their first album came out in the early 90s. You can't have a Halloween soundtrack without 'Zombie.'
One of the creepiest songs of all time for me is 'Lullaby' by The Cure. I am scared to death of spiders and that's what this song is all about!!!
'Ghost Town' was a huge hit in 1981 for the british band The Specials. Uber creepy and quirky at the same time.
'Creep' by Radiohead was so freaking huge back in the day. I know it doesn't scream HALLOWEEN!!! like some of the more obvious songs do, but it's such a cool tune I had to include it. It's about being a freaking outcast. Outcasts are creepy.
Last one for this week!!! I have always loved The Bravery and their song 'The Spectator' is uber creepy. It's about being an outsider. Love the line 'His eyes are like two cats scratching in his head, begging him for sleep, starving for a bed.' Ya. Creepy.
August is on its way out, folks! Fall is on its way in!!! The latest 'Stars' album titled 'Five Ghosts' came out back in June, but I haven't had the chance to give it a proper review until now. One of my favorite albums of all time was 'Set Yourself On Fire' by Stars. I always get all nervous when a band I love comes out with something new because I am worried it will suck and I will hate it. Thankfully that was not the case with this new record!!!
'Stars' is an indie band out of Toronto. They are also members of the band 'Broken Social Scene' which just happens to be my brother's favorite band ever. And one of the other members of Broken Social Scene just happens to be Emily Haines from the band 'Metric' which just happens to be my favorite band ever. So I do love Stars because of their relation to BSS and Metric, but I really just love them because they are so great.
This is Stars' fifth studio album and it is everything I love about them and more. Pitchfork gave it a pretty lame review - called it boring and claimed that all the songs sound the same. I couldn't disagree more! This album is anything but boring and I think the way the record is mixed is genious. Each song flows effortlessly into the next. I mean, to each his own but shame on you, pitchfork with your crabby review. Stars has still got it going on in all the right places. They've still got that amazing, layered electro pop thing going on. Amy Millan's voice is just as beautiful as ever - in my opinion one of the best female vocalists around right now. Stars is one of the coolest bands around. Sadly, they are also one of the most underappreciated bands around. While their records have been highly regarded by lots of critics, their fanbase has remained small. Sad face!! You people don't know what you're missing out on!!! Listen up.....
'I Died So I Could Haunt You' Sheer musical genious.... lyrically and musically - I love this one!!!
'Wasted Daylight' - :)
'We Don't Want Your Body' - references to drugs and sex, but I think the deeper meaning is less literal.... like, propaganda - we don't want what you're selling...
'Dead Hearts' - reflection on people who have meant so much who have now moved on and are "dead" to her.... or so she thinks....
'Fixed'
'He Dreams He's Awake'
'How Much More'
'The Passenger'
'Changes' could have written this myself
If you've never heard 'Stars' before, this would be the album to start with in my opinion. 'Five Ghosts' is perfect for this time of year. I mean, with Halloween on the horizon how could you go wrong with a title like that? Trick or Treat??? :)
Holy busy Monday!!! I wasn't sure I was even going to have time to blog about this amazing new(ish) band. We started school today (in case you don't know, we homeschool). We were all ready to start, but the first couple of weeks of getting back into a routine are always a big adjustment. Ethan's doing fifth grade curriculum, Abby's doing 2nd and some 3rd and this will be Olivia's first year of preschool! Talk about being a little overwhelmed!! On top of it all, Abby has had a fever/headache thing going on the past couple of days. Ethan's allergies are so terrible he wants to peel his face off. And Lulu has croup and so many bugbites on her face that she looks like the elephant man. If you don't know who the elephant man is, google it... it's not pretty.
So, Monday has been interesting to say the least!! But it's all good in the hood - kids are in bed and I have a few minutes before I work out (gawd, I don't want to) to make sure that you all get to know a sweet little duo called 'Pomplamoose.' It's very important because I love them.
Pomplamoose (which just so happens to be the french word for grapefruit) is Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn. They are a fan-freaking-tastic indie jazz duo!! I first heard them at the salon!! My amazing stylist Kat (who just got married, Congrats!!!!!) doesn't just have style when it comes to hair. She is responsible for my current obsession with Pomplamoose. A thousand thanks to Kat!!! Anyways, Jack and Nataly are what you would call "multi-instrumentalists", meaning they play all sorts of different things. But not just your normal things - I'm talking kid sized piano's, wine bottles, spatulas and other oddities. They have secured a pretty solid fan base as internet musicians and people LOVE their videos. They are so cute and they make me smile. With Pomplamoose, what you see is what you hear: no lip-syncing. If you hear it, you see it. There are no hidden sounds. They've recorded all of their videosongs in this so-called "glitz-free" manner. Nothing fancy, just music. I fell in love with their cover songs, but their original tracks are just as lovable! Take a look/listen for yourself!
The covers......... 'September' - seriously, this song is MY HEART!
'Single Ladies' Awwwww, yeahhhh!!!
'Beat It' - yes, they went there.... and I happen to love it!
'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing' tee hee!
'Telephone' Lady Gaga!!!!! LOVE this!
The orginal tracks......
'Little Things'
'Beat the Horse'
'If You Think You Need Some Lovin' :)
'Expiration Date'
'Twice As Nice'
'Centrifuge'
There is a lot more amazingness to be heard/seen as far as Pomplamoose is concerned, so check out their youtube channel and then head over to itunes or amazon and buy their albums!!! Fill your ears and your heart with the goodness that is Pomplamoose. Oh, you're welcome!!
psssttttt!! In order to listen to/watch the vids, just mute or turn down the playlist - the volume is on the far right corner......
Wow, what a weekend!! Rarely, I have the opportunity to hear good music. I mean, really good stand out music. Even more rarely, I know the person making it! I am lucky to know the talented man behind the music of 'Jeremy Keen and the False Starts'. I am actually pretty tight with his wife!! NBD :)
This past Friday was the cd release show for Jeremy Keen's new album titled 'Lock and Key.' Kevin and I drove into the city to Subterranean (very cool venue) with a couple of other friends to watch the show. And what a great show it was! Andrea Dawn was an amazing opening act - actually Andrea's voice is beyond amazing. Think Fiona Apple meets Carol King. After that, Jeremy and his band took no time at all setting up and hitting the stage. Their stage presence was relaxed and flawless.... like they'd been doing shows all their lives. Really, I guess they kind of have been!!
'Jeremy Keen and the False Starts' is an indie folk rock band that started with Jeremy. He began writing music in junior high and has played in a lot of different bands since then. The band consists of Zach Goforth (bass, background vocals), Charissa Motley (keys), Brendan McCormick (drums), and of course Jeremy on guitar and vocals. Jeremy wrote all of the songs himself over the past few years and the recording itself was quite a labor of love for him. 'Lock & Key' was recorded in several different locations (a basement, a garage, an office....) on a portable rig and then pieced together at a studio in Villa Park. What came out of all that is an incredible masterpiece.
What makes 'Lock & Key' stand out from other albums is the fact that it isn't like anything else you've ever heard before. It isn't over-produced. It isn't the same old stuff. It's raw and urgent and beautiful. This record covers it all lyrically. Songs like 'Sad' and 'Brother' tackle difficult subjects like depression and an estranged relationship. 'Barnburner' takes you back to the 90s with its alternative rock feel. If I had to pick, I think 'Save Me' and 'Too Late' are my own personal favorites.
In summary, 'Lock & Key' is one of the most enjoyable, consistent yet diverse albums I've heard in quite awhile. Hands down. If you like good music, you will love 'Lock & Key.' You can get it on itunes or here at amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lock-Key/dp/B003VXHWPO/ref=mb_oe_o Happy downloading!!!!!
With August looming ever so close, I am starting to panic here. I do NOT want summer to end!!! I feel like I'm trying to pack as much fun as possible into these last few weeks, and while we've been extremely busy it's been so great. So I haven't had tons of time to post on the blog even though there's definately a lot of catching up to do!! I'll get to it eventually!!!
I got a lot of positive feedback from last week's music review for Hey Champ's 'Star.' So glad you all like it and that people actually read this blog!!! This week I'm thrilled to review an amazing trio out of Sweden called Miike Snow. No, the two ii's are not a typo. Two i's are better than one maybe?? Sweden must put something in their water because it would be damn near impossible for me to list all of the insane talent that's come out of that country in the past few years. Some of my faves being The Cardigans, Robyn (little bro just got to see her live at Pitchfork last week), Peter Bjorn & John and The Hives..... just to name a few. This particular Swedish trio consists of Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg and Andrew Wyatt. Karlsson and Winnberg (under the name Bloodshy & Avant) have written and produced hits for Madonna, J Lo, Jordin Sparks, Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears who even won a grammy for the song 'Toxic.'
I am still amazed at how this group has managed to stay under the radar since their album 'Dig' came out in 2009. Not sure if it's getting a ton of club play because it's been awhile since I've been to da clubs!!! I've read a few other reviews of this album and most of them weren't so great. But music is in the ear of the listener just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I suppose you either like it or you don't. As far as I am concerned Miike Snow's falsetto vocals, synth and electronic beats makes for a highly enjoyable album. It's the perfect mix of chill and upbeat.... my personal favorites being 'Song For No One' and 'Cult Logic' (both perfect summer tunes) Here are a couple of videos I couldn't add to the playlist from the 'Dig' album.
'A Horse Is Not A Home'
'Sans Soleil'
'In Search Of' - might sound familiar if you've heard the Crookers 'Remedy' - I believe this is a remake of that song....
'Dig' is definately the soundtrack for a summer that's winding down..... meloncholy yet driven. It's been a great summer so far and I hope to get the most out of what's left of it!!! Happy listening!!
I should really be doing the dishes right now, but instead I thought I'd take the time to update this blog. The dishes aren't going anywhere right? It's been quite awhile since I've written about new music and I am so excited to be able to write about Hey Champ's new album!!!!
'Star' just came out two days ago and I think I've listened to it at least a bajillion times since then. My younger brother introduced me to Hey Champ about a year ago when they only had a couple of singles out. We were in the city for the Keane concert. Hey Champ was playing at a bar near my brother's place, so we met him there for some drinks. Pete, the keyboard player, actually used to be the roommate of one of his buddies so he sort of knows him.... sorry, a little name dropping there. Pete is ridiculous on synth though. So awesome. Anyways, we got to see them play which was amazing.
Saam Hagshenas (vocals, lead guitar, keys), Jon Marks (drums, vocals, keys) and Pete (Pete!!!!!) Dougherty (keys, synth) are just a bunch of midwest guys from Rockford, IL. Proteges of the super famous Lupe Fiasco, these guys have been hitting it hard writing and touring all over the US. Their first single 'Cold Dust Girl' has been in my rotation for awhile and the video was recently featured on MTV's Buzzworthy Blog. You cannot listen to that song and keep standing still. It's impossible. In fact, the entire album is highly danceable. But underneath all of the hypnotic electro-rock beats and fab 80s inspired synth, there is a pretty intense theme and message to 'Star.' Some of the lyrics are less than uplifting, but then again so are a lot of things going on in the world right now. If I had to pick a favorite track, I would say it's 'Word = War.' "My word is my war. So lay down your sword. Cuz you'd be ill advised to fight anymore." It's about words being used as weapons. And of course I love 'Cold Dust Girl' and 'Face Control.' And 'Neverest' and 'Shake.' Okay, wait. I guess I can't pick a favorite!!!
I decided instead of posting a bunch of vids I would just put all of their songs on my playlist so you can listen to it all the way through. I am going to post some videos for some of the remixes they've done because they are really, really great at remixes too. In fact, they'll be playing at the Lolla Remix Throwdown in Chicago on August 1st so go check them out! For now, enjoy the album from start to finish on my playlist and here are a few amazing remixes......
'Beaches and Friends' by French Horn Rebellion - Hey Champ Remix - this is pure summer right freakin here
'Beatbox' by The Sounds - Hey Champ Remix
'Cooler Than Me' by Mike Posner - Hey Champ Remix
'Little Secrets' by Passion Pit - Hey Champ Remix
'What You Need' by Priors - Hey Champ Remix
'Say No' by Moneypenny - Hey Champ Remix
'Call On Me' by Andy Bell - Hey Champ Remix
So after some relentless touring, a label change and lots of hype, I'm happy to say that 'Star' is no let down. I predict big things from this band out of Rockford!!! So buy the album, tell your friends and tell them to tell their friends!!! You can download 'Star' here for only $5.99 http://www.heychamp.com/home Your ears and hips will thank you!!!!
I haven't had too much extra time to write about any new bands, so I have insomnia to thank for some extra time to post this one. I am completely in love with a new irish band 'Two Door Cinema Club.'
Their debut album 'Tourist History' is getting worn out around here!! Amazon.com's review slapped a big ole "pop" label on them, but I don't buy into labels so I'm not going there. I suspect they did that because of the highly catchy, singable lyrics and fabulous guitar riffs. Whatever, amazon.com. Vocalist Alex Trimble sounds a bit like Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie & The Postal Service) in places, so that's also one of the reasons I like them so much. Well, that and the fact that they're irish. That's pretty awesome. Oh, and I kid you not when I tell you that there isn't one weak track on this whole entire album. It's one of those rare gems you can listen to all the way through without skipping songs!! Yayeeee!!! Take a listen and I promise you won't be disappointed.......
'I Can Talk' as soon as I heard this one, I was a goner
'Undercover Martyn'
'Something Good Can Work'
'Cigarettes In the Theatre'
'Do You Want It All'
'What You Know' - aw, look at the kitty
'Eat That Up, It's Good For You'
See?? I told you you'd like it!!! Aren't you glad I couldn't sleep tonight? ;) Happy listening!!!!!
Who's ready for summer??? Me me me!!!!!! Last week the weather was decent and this weekend, wouldn't you know it, the temperatures dropped. I swear this always happens in May. Just when you think it's safe to put away your sweaters...... BAM!!! It's 40 degrees and you're freezing your ass off again!!
At least we know it won't stay like this forever. Before you know it, we'll be enjoying the summer sun and all of these chilly days will be nothing but a sad, distant memory. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself. And now for the perfect addition to your summer soundtrack, 'Surfer Blood.' These guys are from West Palm Beach and just dropped their first album called 'Astro Coast' in January of this year.
It is pure summer from beginning to end!! I will save you from having to read me compare them to Weezer and Vampire Weekend. The similarity is there and you will hear it, but rather than try and figure out who or what this band sounds like I would rather just listen and love!! Ya know how I always say that sangria is like summer in a glass? Well, this is summer in your iPod. For real. Check it.....
'Floating Vibes'
'Swim'
'Take It Easy'
'Slow Jabroni'
'Harmonix'
'Catholic Pagans'
'Twin Peaks'
There it is, folks - that is the sound of summer. It might be cold and stupid outside right now, but listening to this I can almost imagine myself by the pool with a drink in my hand. Cheers!!!!
but, oh well!!! New Music Mondays have gone by the wayside again!!! That's what happens when the weather is nice and you have tons of stuff to do around the house. We've been super busy!! My birthday was this past Saturday and it was a good time. Kevin took me out and he got me a new Ipod!! Woot woot! It's blue. I lurv it!!!
And what was one of the first albums to go on this ipod??? 'Rabbit Fur Coat' by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. I absolutely love it and cannot stop listening to it. I swear I have blogged about it before, but that could be my ADD getting the best of me yet again! Jenny was born in Vegas back in 77 and is a former child actress turned singer/songwriter (she was on The Golden Girls way back in the day!!!)Good thing because she is freaking brilliant. She's probably best known for her role as front woman for the band 'Rilo Kiley', but you will remember her best for just being awesome.
She paired up with the very talented Watson twins for this record and they are the perfect addition to Jenny's soulful voice! Some people try to label her as "country" or "folk" but I'm not sure she really fits entirely into either of those genres. It is what it is and it's magic as far as I'm concerned!! Anywho, here are my personal faves from 'Rabbit Fur Coat.'
'Rise Up With Fists' a big kick in the teeth to the hypocrits out there!!
'You Are What You Love'
'Handle With Care' Hey, look!!! It's Feist!!!
'Run Devil Run' and 'The Big Guns'
'The Charging Sky'
So this one wasn't probably something you'd expect from me, but I guess if anything it shows that I am well rounded in my musical selections!! Happy listening!!!
Well, hello there!! It's been a busy couple of weeks here!! Lots of new things going on. I decided to switch the kids' rooms around - Ethan moved into Lulu's room, Abby moved into Ethan's room and Lulu moved into Abby's room. Sounds complicated, but I think it's going to work a little better. I've been painting like a silly fool!! Abby's room is done and Ethan's room is next. I will be posting pictures as soon as everything is done.
I also got a job!!! I am so happy!!!! I will be teaching dance at a wonderful studio here in the neighborhood. I already met some of the kids I'll be teaching and they are the sweetest. To say that it feels good to get back into teaching is the biggest understatement I can think of. I have the best life ever - the best family, the best husband and kids, and the best friends. I am blessed beyond measure and I'm so happy. But something has been missing and this was it!! It's a brand new adventure and I can't wait to see what comes next!!
New Music Monday is back on!!! Spring is here, the weather is gorgeous and what have I been listening to?? A little band called 'Ra Ra Riot.' I honestly can't remember where in the hell I first heard them, but they're fricking amazing. Ra Ra Riot is an indie rock band from Syracuse, NY. They started out playing locally around the Syracuse University campus in 2006. Less than six months later, they were on tour and getting great reviews. Unfortunately just as they were getting started, their drummer died tragically in a drowning accident. But they pressed on and ended up releasing an amazing album in 2008 'The Rhumb Line.' This could be my new favorite band - the more I listen, the more I love! There's a lot to hear on this particular album - Cellos, violins, drums..... listen!!
'Can You Tell'
'Run My Mouth'
'Ghost Under Rocks'
'Too Too Too Fast'
'Dying Is Fine'
'Oh La'
So in the spirit of all things new and different, I urge you to check out Ra Ra Riot!! They're definately one of my new faves!! Happy listening!
Make fun of me all that you want to, but I have always liked disco. My theory is that most other people do too, they just don't want to admit it. Disco inspired music is making a big comeback. There are some bands doing it well and one of those bands is 'New Young Pony Club.'
Their debut album 'Fantastic Playroom' came out almost three years ago and in my opinion, disco never sounded so good!
NYPC is an edgey, electro-disco group out of London. Who knew disco could be this cool?? Well, I did but that's beside the point. This whole album makes you want to dance!! The rhythym is just right and the synthesizer gives it that 80s feel. All the songs are super catchy. Definately one of my new favorite albums. They've got a second one coming out this year, so I will be anxious to hear if it's just as good as their first!!
'The Bomb'
'Tight Fit'
'Ice Cream'
'Get Lucky'
'The Get Go'
Now more than ever, I think music needs to be fun. There is a lot of heavy stuff going on around us and I think it's important to balance that out - with fun, lighthearted, make you wanna shake yer booty 'n dance music! Call me shallow, but that's what I think. So anyways, if you're not sure where to start when looking for those disco inspired tunes, look no further than 'New Young Pony Club.' Long live disco!!
Capercaillie is one of my favorite bands to listen to around St. Patrick's Day or just any time I'm feeling particularly irish-y. We saw them play live quite a few years ago at Celtic Fest in the city and I have been a fan ever since.
Capercaillie are originally from Scotland and got their start in the 80s. The cool thing about them is that they take the traditional songs and sing them in Gaelic, but use modern production techniques and electronic instruments. Karen Matheson's voice is amazing even if you can't understand what she's saying half of the time! Here are a few of my favorite songs from several different albums......
'Beautiful Wasteland'
'The Tree'
'Kepplehall'
'Four Stone Walls'
If you're looking for some celtic music to play on St Patrick's Day that's a little more low key than Flogging Molly or The Pogues, Capercaillie is it. We're busy gearing up for our family's St. Patrick's Day dinner here. I have all of the groceries and the kids and I hung some shamrocks from the ceiling and put up the shamrock window clings too. Tomorrow we'll be making irish lace cookies, so I'll be sure to post the recipe and pictures of my kids making a mess in the kitchen!
This week (and next week as well) I will be blogging about irish music in honor of St. Patrick's Day. It's getting so close I can almost taste the corned beef!! I guess I could have went with a more well known irish group like Flogging Molly or Clannad or The Pogues, but I wanted to post about someone you may not hear of unless you read this blog. If you love celtic music, you will love Lunasa.
Their album 'The Story So Far' is a collection of previously recorded tracks from their six other records. Sort of a "best of" if you will. This would certainly be a good place to start if you don't own any of those other albums.
Lunasa is an instrumental group and probably one of the best to come around as far as traditional Irish music goes. They were founded in 1996 when musicians Seán Smyth, Trevor Hutchinson, and Donogh Hennessy briefly toured through Scandinavia. This is the kind of music you'd hear in the small town pubs across Ireland. Here is a little sample of 'The Story So Far.'
'Morning Nightcap'
'Black River'
'Cregg's Pipes'
'Punch'
'Eanair' - gorgeous!
'The Last Pint' - this is live - LOVE the part where someone yells 'bastard' in a thick Irish accent before they start playing!!! Ha ha!!!
If Lunasa doesn't get you in the irish spirit, nothing will!! They still go on tour each year and I am hoping someday I will be able to see them live at Celticfest in the city. Happy listening!!!!
Oh, I should be sleeping. But I am not. I haven't had a good night's sleep since I don't know when, but I still can't bring myself to head to bed. Sometimes the more tired (is that proper grammar?? wait, I don't care) you are, the harder it is to get to sleep. I'm feeling like that right now. Kevin and I took the kiddos to a waterpark hotel this weekend. Now, let me start by saying that I love my children. You know that I would only go swimsuit shopping in the dead of winter, and stuff my pasty-white-out-of-shape-ass into a tankini and wear it in a public place because I love my kids more than anything. They had so much fun and we did too. But I am glad to be home.
So, I can't sleep. I realized it's also Monday - which means New Music Monday!!! 'Persephone's Bees' is a San Fran based band that has been getting a lot of my attention as of late. They're mod and hip without being too out there. The lead singer, Angelina Moysov, grew up in Russia and was heavily influenced by the gypsy, folk music of her country and also the British and American rock music her brother was into. 'Notes From the Underworld' is a fun and spunky album with as much originality as Angelina herself! I had heard the song 'Nice Day' and liked it so much that I decided to check out the rest of the album. So glad that I did! Listen for yourself......
'Nice Day' - seriously, who needs drugs when you can watch this video?!?!
'City Of Love'
'Muzika Dyla Fil'ma' - yep, that's Russian....
'Home'
'Paper Plane'
Nice, huh?? I dare you to try and stand still when you listen to 'Paper Plane,' You can't do it. I think everyone could use a little of this kind of music in their collection. Especially this time of year when you're feeling all blah and wondering when the flip spring will ever get here. So anyways, that's New Music Monday for this week. And I'm going to sleep now!!!
Remember that song 'Popular' by Nada Surf? Makes me think of high school for sure. Cool tune. Unless you kept up with the band, you probably thought that song was about it for them because they haven't really had any mega hits since then. The truth is, they've only gotten better!!!
A New York band that came about all the way back in 1992, these nerds became instantly popular with their hit song 'Popular.' They've put out a few albums since then, but my favorite of theirs (actually one of my favorite albums ever) is their 2003 release titled 'Let Go.'
Since it came out in 2003, I guess I can't technically call it new. But I think it's probably one of those albums a lot of people don't know about and they should. Part Semisonic, part Radiohead.... you can listen to it all the way through again and again since there isn't a bad song on it. It's the perfect blend of rock and chill, high and low. Check it out.....
'The Way You Wear Your Head'
'Treading Water'
'Inside Of Love'
'Paper Boats'
'Fruit Fly'
'Happy Kid'
'Hi Speed Soul'
So there you have it! If you thought Nada Surf were one hit wonders, you were wrong!! I highly recommend all of their other albums, but please make this one your first priority. It's that good!!! And yes, my playlist is all food related. I need to get a life, stop eating junk and start working out again!!!
This week's new music isn't really all that new. The band 'Jump Little Children' has been around awhile. Though I've just recently stumbled onto them, I can't seem to stop listening. I originally bought their album 'Between the Dim and the Dark' because an article I'd read compared them to Guster and Radiohead. I'm ashamed to admit I really only bought it to hold me over until Guster's new album comes out - which at this point I have no idea when that will be. While no one will ever replace Guster in my heart, this album is holding its own in my rotation and I think if you like Guster or Switchfoot or Travis or Radiohead you should really give these guys a listen.
The founding band members all met up while attending a school for the performing arts in the Carolinas - they were studying classical music and decided to forget it and become a rock band instead. Good idea!!!! Check them out!!!!
'The Dim and the Dark'
'Hold You Down'
'Rains In Asia'
'Mexico'
'Requiem'
'Young America'
Jump has two other albums that came out before Dim and the Dark called 'Vertigo' and 'Magazine' which I've only briefly listened to so far.... so I can't fully review them. BUT here are a couple of songs from each album just so you can hear how different they are from Dim and the Dark!!!
'Cathedrals' from the album 'Magazine'
'Angeldust' from the 'Vertigo' album - this album *REALLY* sounds like Radiohead
Sadly, I don't think they're together as a band anymore which is a huge bummer. But if you're in need of some new/old music, Jump Little Children come highly recommended. Happy listening!!!!
I am a mom to three great kids - Ethan is 12, Abby is 9 and Lulu (Olivia) is 5. I've been married to my highschool sweetheart for almost fourteen years. I love to paint, renovate and live for anything DIY. I love music and I love to bake. I also teach dance at a local studio. Thanks for stopping by my blog!!!
