McSweeny's and a 13 year old are far cooler than I.

Spencer Tweedy, I just found out, is 13 years old. He is a computer techy nerd, son of Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and played Madison Square Garden on his birthday. Not to mention his blog can kick this one's ass. He's a cute kid.

Also, McSweeny's wrote my next entry in "my favourite things":
006. Honey with Tea:
Honestly, I'm good for any tea, pretty much anytime. But there is something in the way that honey melts into a cup of tea and disappears off the spoon. It's the perfect winter drink. Right after shoveling, sitting down with a cup of tea. This step with the honey, before you put in the milk is entirely necessary.


I love this song. So I'm sharing it with you.

Albums of 2008

So I think it fits that I do a year in review type thing in December, because it seems to be what everyone does and it makes sense. Look back, make your New Years Resolutions and whatnots.. So here it is. Now I am very aware that almost none of this albums actually came out in 2008 - but it's a year in review for me, and what I listened to all year. Because that makes more sense to me than to look around and find albums that came out this year, that I haven't listened to. It would be a year in review for albums of 2008 the year, not albums in review of 2008 for me. So we're doing it for me.

This is taking me back, I need to remember what I was playing on loop at the very beginning of the year...

Winter/Spring 2008
1. Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
2. Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War
3. Islands - Arm's Way

Summer 2008
1. Robert Plant and Allison Krauss - The Raising Sun
2. Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift
3. Bishop Allen - The Broken String

Winter/Fall 2008
1. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. Okkervil River - The Stage Names

These are my albums of 2008. I think maybe five of them actually were released in 2008. But this was my playlist this year.

When I'm crazy and dancing on the subway/ My favourite Things...

this is what I'm listening to:

005. Dancing/Skipping In Public
In a perfect world I would be completely normal and people would embrace my spastic dancing and headbobbing as a normal way of life. However, we do not live in an ideal world. And I get funny looks (I also get funny looks when I walk into the subway wearing a robe... that's another story). Either way, these two songs are perfect for when you've had a long day studying statistics or getting completely screwed over by an accounting exam. Honestly, I just want to dance when I listen to these songs. I want to sing really loud (and really poorly) and dance. It's fun. And freeing.

Most Frequently Played

With 62 (and counting) plays on my iTunes, I think it is safe to say that is by far one of my favourite songs, and definitely my favourite of the year. It's been a while since I listened to a song that I honestly, fell in love with. I couldn't turn it off, the lyrics, the wind, the piano, and the pure sincerity of Torquil's voice.

Track: Barricade - Stars
Artist: Stars
Memory: Watching them my first week of university playing at my school, then again at the Virgin Music Festival two days later.
Best Line: And danced as windows shattered
Tag Line: How could anyone not want to rip it all apart
Sounds Like: WWII cries
One Word: Bittersweet
Why: I honestly think it's the simplicity of this song that really gets to me.

Human Highway presents "Moody Motorcycle"

Now I really wanted to do a full record review of Guthrie and Thorburn's new project, but frankly, I don't think I'm cut out for it. So I'm giving you my second track review.

Track: The Sound
Artist: Human Highway
Throwback: Folk sounds
Why: Musically inclined people find each other and like to make lovely music for our listening pleasure.
Best Line: There's no one around to hear the notes falling down
Tag Line: Got nothing left but it ain't bringing me down, I'm just going to follow the sound
Reminds Me: Jogging Gorgeous Summer - Islands I know this isn't very original and I should try to think of something that isn't Guthrie or Thorburn related, but both of these songs are just light and easy. They have different sounds but have the same bouncy effect.
Sounds Like: A camp fire, at dusk. Light rain. Possibly the end of summer (but that might just because it is the end of the summer. Maybe).
One Word: HARMONY. It's been a while since I've heard two voices that seem to completely compliment the other like these two do on this particular record.

Human Highway - Myspace!
Read More, it's good for you

I painted..

She & Him

Not gunna lie. I don't remember why there was so much "hype" about She & Him. I think it might have had something to do with the fact that the him part of the duo was M. Ward. But that's just a theory. I just remember seeing them everywhere. I woke up, they were on my Spin (I think, I can't find the copy to support this though), they were on NOW magazine, and they were pretty much on every blog I visit (which really is only two... maybe three). So I took note of them and put them in the back of my head where I keep names of bands that I need to check out at some point in time. Now usually I forget these names if I don't write them down, actually I always forget them... and then I see them pop up somewhere and they go back into the box at the back of my head. Thus, beginning the cycle all over again. It's a great system. Really.

Anyways, back to business. A few weeks go I got my hands on their cd Volume One. So naturally, I decide to put my mp3 on random shuffle of recently added music and I get "I Thought I Saw Your Face Today" - by none other than She & Him. And you, dear friends, get my very first track review.



Track Review 001

Track: I Thought I Saw Your Face Today
Artist: She & Him
Tag Line: Couldn't help but fall in love again
Best Line: I thought I saw your face today, but I just turned my head away.
Reminds me of: Lover's Concerto - The Toys.
Sounds Like: A walk in the park (with blue birds).
One Word: Simple. Pleasant.

I read somewhere that Ward and Deschanel wanted to bring their music back to the charm of simple music. Let the music be about the sound and not what you could do to enhance that sounds. Just instruments with as few machines as possible. Which is probably why I thought of the 60's love song when I was listening to this song. The first time I heard Lover's Concerto I thought it was charming and simple, and perfect. Just the pure sound.

Girl night?

Movie: Definitely, Maybe.

This possibly might be the cutest modern day fairytale-romantic comedy-chickflick I have seen in a while. Set in the innovative father (Ryan Reynolds)-daughter (Abigail Breslin) how I met your mother night time story telling, where daughter comes home from school (with new knowledge about birds and the bees thanks to the lovely sex ed 101 crash course for 11 year olds) and just as little girls do - talks her daddy into telling her the story of how her parents met. Thus beginning the movie. Going through the course of the movie Reynold's character explains the three loves of his life. Definitely, Maybe keeps viewers guessing as to which one of the girls is Maya's (Breslin) mother. Now this is a girl movie - and it has every essential element. Cute boy. Love interest. Second love interest (even a third). Heartbreak. Comic relief. Pop Culture References. Happy Endings. It's no blockbuster hit or Oscar winning performances, but it's just right for a lazy sunday afternoon film.

Sly and the Family Stone - Everyday People

My Favourite Things

003. Mint Tea
It's insanely refreshing and odd. Just really really odd. It's hot and minty. And minty is cool, so it's hot in cold at the same time. It's just weird and I love it. Stomach aches and headaches, mint tea is perfect. Night or day, and I could definitely go for one right now, maybe.
Song: Nirvana - Come As You Are
In the movie they play this song and drink mint tea...

004. Chocolate
I don't think this needs an explanation. It's chocolate. It's sweet and releases endorphins. And it comes in forms of cake, loaves, pudding, milk, dark, hot, cold, solid, etc.
Muscles - Chocolate, Raspberry, Lemon and Lime

Recently Discovered 001

I think it was yesterday, I was going through my iTunes wondering what exactly I had. What I listened to frequently, what I should be embarrassed about listening to, what I should stop listening to, and the time value I spend hearing music (I am not going to say listening because I don't know if 100% of the time was active hearing - in fact, I'm sure it wasn't).

Question One: Most frequently Played Song
Stars - Barricade
This song had my heart the first minute I played it. It torn me up inside and almost made me cry (there are only three songs that ever made me cry - I'm not a crier). I thought this song was pure beauty. Torquil's voice capture all the emotions in this painful song. Now I don't know what this song was intended to be about, I have my ideas but I don't think that is the point. This is a song - to me, that sounds remorseful and hopeful, but mostly painful. And I find it beautiful. So I am not surprised this is my most recently played song.

Question Two: Most Embarrassing
This one is far too easy. I am shamed (slightly) - I do have these in my collection, and I do still listen to them because I do find immense joy and pleasure in it. I'll explain.

001: Josie and the Pussycats - Music From the Motion Picture
YES. I have the soundtrack on cd, and yes I do have the dvd. I sing and dance to this. It makes me laugh and makes me really happy. This record is the perfect cheer up music. It comes highly recommended (for that specific purpose or if you have a girlcrush on Seth Green which I do).

002: David Cook
This is the dreamy American Idol winner that captured the hearts of 20 - 40 year old girls across North America. He got mine too. I'm not going to say anything more, he sings, he's adorable, he plays guitar and he loves his family.

003. A shit load of stuff from the 90s.
Actually - I'm not embarrassed about this at all. I'm from the 90s.

My favorite things

So I make lists. It's what I'm good at - really it's a talent that I should make a career out of. Maybe I could write for McSweeny's. I'm kidding, I'm really not that cool. Anyways, that had nothing to do with anything.

I'm making a list of my favorite things, with a song to go with each entry. This one will be updated periodically I'm sure.


001. Dry cereal.
Now, I mean the cereal with taste. Y'know the ones that cost five bucks for the tiny boxes. Vector, organic corn pops (trying to be somewhat heathy) or the ones with the HUGE granola chunks. They are phenomenal.
How: Enjoy a bowl of dry cereal on those lazy mornings.
Song: Edson - Sunday, Lovely Sunday

002. Shoes
It's no surprise that I have a thing for shoes. It's an issue - I freely admit that I need professional help, I'm just not ready to seek it. Now picking the right song is hard. I have that New Shoes song - though catchy, didn't seem completely right. But the second song was too upsetting. One too happy, one too not - therefore, both are the happy median. Logically of course. Maybe.
Song 1: Paolo Nutini - New Shoes
Song 2: Johnny Boy - You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve
Now, I'm not going to lie, I could make an entire mix for each pair of shoes I have. And I just might so be ready.

Make over, bitch.

So I'm changing it up. New header, new colours, new subjects - maybe, if I'm clever enough to come up with something interesting to say. I like to think I will. Take it easy.

Oh broken hearted Hoover fixer sucker guy.

I think I've rented this movie about three times before actually finding the time to sit down and watch it. That being said- I had listened to the music that inspired this film numerous times before witnessing the cute journey of the two artists. A friend of mine had me listen to their song When Your Minds Made Up, honestly, the first minute in I thought "ok - this is good. A little on the raw side, rough, romantic - but in an angsty broken sort of way. Really it reminded me of Ryan Star (who probably is most known for his performances on Rockstar: Supernova). I am very well aware of the fact that the video I linked you to was a piano cover of Losing My Religion - I am also aware of the fact that this is nothing like Glen Hansard, but you have to admit there are some similarities. Anyway, back to my initial point (and yes, we can all be quite surprised/proud that I do in fact remember what that was). Glen Hansard's voice is hauntingly beautiful. He can reach the higher notes without going into his falsetto and bring a rare strength to this sound. I almost couldn't believe it, but listening to the backing vocals of Marketa Irglova you do become increasingly aware of the range Hansard possesses.



Overall, Once is a cute movie begging the question in the back of everyone's mind - how often do you really find that right person? Both leads are consumed with their estranged relationships and though both seem aware of the attraction, they are able to move past the sexual tension to create something that means more to them. Their music. Together they inspire each other and enable the other to fulfill the void of the right person. Hansard and Irglova balance each other and compliment each other, both in their music and on the silver screen.

Listen!
The Swell Season

Pictures for a rainy day.

In 2006, Bishop Allen, a duo consisting of Christian Rudder and Justin Rice (not to mention a handful of their friends who are also musically inclined); released an auditory scrapbook of their year. Independently releasing one EP at the end of every month for the duration of the year. Now these twelve EPs are available for sale on their online store both, physically and digitally.  

Now last year Bishop Allen released their sophomore album - The Broken String, which is filled with stories and cute, easy going instrumentals. Though, this album consisted mostly (quite possibly entirely) of repolished EP tracks from their year in an audio scrapbook, it just may have served the purpose pitchforkmedia because it had: to reach a broader audience - ultimately to break from the indie culture as a band in blogs and EPs. True they are still in the blogs as they maintain a level of internet hype (yeah, I thought you might appreciate the puntasticness that is hype). Anyways, back to the point. Bishop Allen is a band worth checking out if you want something a little on the sunshine side - despite the song Rain I am providing you with. So enjoy.

Rain - Bishop Allen
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