2008 - 6 Months of Music Goodness

I had to come back here and post my mix up, since this format is still better than tumblr for posting music lists and the like.
Going straight into the top 15 songs I've been loving this year so far (in no particular order other than the proper ebb and flow of a mix) -

1. MGMT - "Electric Feel"



Infectious and fun, my mood instantly improves when this song starts playing.

"all along the eastern shore
put your circuits in the sea
this is what the world is for
making electricity
you can feel it in your mind
oh you can do it all the time
plug it in and change the world
you are my electric girl"


2. People Press Play - "These Days"



Such a gem of an electronic/pop song, and the few times where I actually enjoy and prefer the female singer's voice. The lyrics are on the sad side but the melody balances it out perfectly. The music video with those cute kids is pretty adorable too.

"These days are moving fast ahead
And one more day like this
Could change everything that we
Ever thought would keep these days
We're always in and out of everything
It feels like someone is turning tricks on me
And we're losing our grip"


3. M83 - "Too Late"



I dig everything about this song: so moody, lovely, and romantic in that eternal pining sort of way. This band's new album Saturdays = Youth is ridiculously good and I could have picked about 4 other songs to easily go on this list. French bands are kicking ass this year.

"I look into your eyes
Diving into the ocean
I look into your eyes
Falling!

Like a wall of stars
We are ripe to fall

And if you are a ghost
I'll call your name again
And if you are a ghost
I'll call your name...

You, always."


4. Frightened Rabbit - "Floating in the Forth"



I'm normally skeptical when any new band is touted as immensely amazing and that they'll be storming the music scene. A lot don't live up to that praise (hello, Vampire Weekend and Voxtrot), but I give them a listening shot anyway, since I'm such a music-junkie. Critics are actually onto something with Frightened Rabbit's new album The Midnight Organ Fight. There are some pretty stellar tracks and this one was a standout for me. Yes, it's about suicide but it's never been sung about so prettily before. And it does get hopeful at the end, so get off my back.

"So you just stepped out
of the front of my house
and I'll never see you again.
I closed my eyes for a second
and when they opened
you weren't there."


5. Big Blue Ball - "Whole Thing"



You know how old artists rarely come out with new material that is as interesting or good as their hey-day's stuff? Peter Gabriel is immune to that, I'm convinced. His Big Blue Ball project album is just another stellar output. And maybe it's only me, but I loved the new song "Down to Earth" he did for WALL*E.

This album's story is actually pretty interesting:

“One week in the middle of summer this craziness exploded in our Real World Studios. We had this week of invited guests, people from all around the world, fed by music and a 24 hour café. It was a giant playpen, a bring your own studio party. There’d be a studio set up on the lawn, in the garage, in someone’s bedroom as well as the seven rooms we had available. We were curators of sorts of all this living mass. We had poets and songwriters there, people would come in and scribble things down, they’d hook up in the café. It was like a dating agency, then they’d disappear into the darkness and make noises - and we’d be there to record it.” - Peter Gabriel

Big Blue Ball is an album by multiple artists which grew from "recording weeks" at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in the early 1990s. In production for more than 15 years, "Big Blue Ball" is a project featuring several artists from all around the world working together. According to Gabriel, the initial recording was finished in three years during the early '90s, but "the tapes were left in a mess and it's taken this long to sort out." Producer Stephen Hague was finally called in to sort out the project.

I bought the album on iTunes and it's exactly what I expected and wanted.

"the one that I love I dream beside
the one that I love I dream beside
the one that I love is close as I can get"


6. Rogue Wave - "Missed"



Picked this song purely for the guitar.

"a snapshot of time
is just a memory of mine
I will file it in a vial
of denial
and cast away
so what’s next

I missed your love"


7. José González - "Down the Line"



A track I can't get out of my head. I don't know whether if it's the low quality version or the vocals that sells it for me but it's solid regardless.

"Come on over don’t be so caught up
It’s not about compromising."


8. Paddy Casey - "Fear"



This is maybe the first time a song spoke to my inner mom who hasn't emerged yet. If I had kids, this would be something of a theme as I raised them. Plus it's catchy as hell.

"Well I pray my child will live happy and long, Lord,
And I hope she never will sing this song"


9. Samamidon - "Saro"



Honestly, this guy is amazing. His folk music is the kind I could keep on repeat until forever and still feel like it's fresh and beautiful. Plus he single-handedly is responsible for getting me into loving Tears For Fears with his cover of "Head Over Heels". For that, I'm forever thankful.

"I wish I was a poet
Could write in find hand
Would write my love a letter
One she'd long understand
I'd send it by the water
Where the islands overflow
And I'd think of pretty Saro wherever I go"


10. Azure Ray - "Trees Keep Growing"



Good lord, this song is so pretty and sad. I forgot how good Azure Ray was until I heard this song a few months ago.

"It's funny how you can forget
There's a world outside yourself
Where the trees keep growing
And the cars keep moving
Without you there
And it's funny how you can forget
There's a world outside yourself
Where the one who loves you keeps on living
Without you there"


11. Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin - "Some Constellation"



Pop song 101 - Just do whatever SLYBY does.

"I'm tired of standing in the light
outside her window
Fro her I would row to the ends
of my imagination."

12. Tears For Fears - "Woman In Chains"



The 80s vibe to it is unavoidable but this song is now an Andrea classic. It builds to something very cool and it's pretty much as political as I'm going to get with my music.

"Well I feel deep in your heart there are wounds time can't heal
And I feel somebody somewhere is trying to breathe
Well you know what I mean
It's a world gone crazy
Keeps Woman in Chains"


13. Fleet Foxes - "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song"



Cool new band that I've been into this year. Kudos to Fleet Foxes for making harmonic folk music so killer.

"Through the forest
Down to your grave
Where the birds wait
And the tall grasses wave
They do not
know you anymore"

14. Electric President - "Ether"



I love seeing Ben Cooper continuing with this group. The lyrics are pretty morbid but it's nothing new with Cooper. The happy melody more than makes up for it.

"Then I fall asleep again
And by myself I'm wandering
A forest made of skeletons
Of people I once knew
And all their spines are perfectly aligned
Like cold power lines"


15. Cloud Cult - "Love You All"



The digitized voice is something new and cool from them, and the melody is the perfect farewell/send-off for all of life's events.

"I love my mother
I love my father
And when it's my time to go
I need you to know
I love you all"

That's my list, and so far this year of music is shaping up to be about 1000% better than last year. Can't wait for December!

Moving Across Town

I've moved to a new blog site called...

*Drumroll*


Tumblr! It's format fits my own personal style of how I would like to post (i.e. lazy, quick flashes of dumb thoughts and whatever else amuses me at the moment).

So I'll leave this up as a form of archive but won't be posting here anymore.

Here's the new site.

Andrea Digs [Insert Artist/Song Here] - March '08

The Acorn

So good.

From Canada but don't hold it against them.

Credit to Sean for turning me on to them a little while ago. I revisited their stuff and am now a big fan.


Crooked Legs


Dents


Lullaby (Mountain)


myspace

You Failed, Movie.

I'm always disappointed with movies that start off promising, either with a unique premise or it being just an awesome movie part of the way in, and then end up falling flat and stale and leaving a foul taste in my mouth. It's as if the writer spent 94% of his or her time only on the concept of the movie, creating a decent plotline and hopefully drawing out some well-developed characters. Then once the big scary duo "climax and resolution" come along, demanding justice of it's preceding amazingness, all that comes out is a big wet fart of an ending. I want to love the movie, add it to my lil list of top notch favorites, sing its praises to friends and family to go go go see it, buy the dvd and bust it out on people when they ask for a recommendation. I basically am begging the movie makers to give the big green light to make me an unpaid advocate/whore of its out-of-sight spectacularness. I'm available and very willing.

But I've been running into a string of these crap movies as of late, with a few listed here.

Atonement - First off, James McAvoy is a little dream man (even as a fawn-animal-human-thing in Chronicles of Narnia he was good times rolling). I will be gracious and faithful in watching all of his cinematic endeavors, and he was able to slightly salvage this movie for me. Atonement really started off so well, and as I hadn't read the book beforehand I was excited to figure out where this plot was going to end up. Then 2/3 of the way in the plot veered into the "huh?" territory and lost me. It felt equal parts rushed, like the production hit an "oh crap" moment of having to wrap it up quickly because it was already 2 hours in and not much progress had been made. Poo, because I would have loved to have supported it.

Bed of Roses - I doubt this a well-known one, since it did come out in 1996 and is part of that romance genre that hardcore sappy chicks enjoy. The trailer was intriguing (in my perfect world, using an Enya song never equals the movie being bad) and the story seemed interesting enough with the elements of New York, beautiful flowers, and a secret, although slightly stalkish, admirer. But the characters were lousy and bland and I felt nothing for either of them the whole time. If you can't even jerk a tear from me of all people, you have seriously failed your craft.

Bounce - Forgetting for a moment that Ben Affleck is in this, the premise sounded pretty cool to a 15 year old girl back in 2000. A guy switches plane tickets with a stranger at the last minute, that plane goes down, he finds the widow and falls in love with her but she doesn't know the whole story. That's romance genre gold, I tell you! But it just fell apart towards the end. Boring, boring, boring, I couldn't stand the pair, and it didn't deliver any "aww" moments. Unforgivable.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Again, never read the books so I went in expecting nothing but a good movie from what I had seen and heard. I get that they crammed a lot of the books into this one film, so I guess I shouldn't hate on it too much. But I think the makers expected anyone who watched it to have already read the series because most of the movie made no sense whatsoever. A minor thumbs up for the original "Jim" (i.e. Tim) on the BBC's The Office playing Arthur Dent.

Love Actually - Of all the movies, this should have scored huge with me. You have London and Colin Firth; those 2 factors alone would more than exceed any of my expectations. But it looks like I might be one of the small group of people that didn't like this movie. In fact, I almost hated the thing. Not one of the multiple story lines lived up to even my mildest hopes, with all 8 stories forced, contrived, phony, and with a not-so-subtle hint of schmaltz thrown in. Who honestly thinks 2 porn actors falling in love is clever and romantic? Come on.

The Wedding Date - Ha, no. This movie blew from beginning to end. I just like to knock it down when the opportunity arises.


I'm sure there are more I haven't mentioned, so feel free to add your own "good movie gone bad" experiences.


And a song from an excellent movie through and through - August Rush.
Mark Mancina - Main Title

Read it.

I don't speak much about politics these days in comparison to how I used to in the past years (I'm a recovering political junkie) for various reasons. One main reason is that I enjoy sanity. And even though I do still keep up on the national/international news and policies going down and will offer up a vehement defense on most topics, I've diverted most of my attention away towards more entertaining things and honestly haven't regretted it since. But today while I was doing my daily scouring of news, I came across this article by David Mamet. It was so well written that I had to post it. I don't agree 100% with it all, but who cares, just read it.

Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová - "Into The Mystic"

Inspire Me!

Last week I made the tough decision to retire my lovely undergrad theme song "Eyes On The Prize" by The Emmaus Group Singers. While I have much affection for the song and its powers over me, (it pulled me through some rough Neurological Disorders tests, you don't even know) I thought it would be good to start fresh and select a new song. I want something that will again inspire and motivate me as this whole grad school thing unfolds over the next two and half years. Right now I have two top songs that are duking it out for the coveted slot. Let me know what you think.

Rod Stewart - "Never Give Up On A Dream" Straightforward song, lyrics are perfect if not cheesy, and it's Rod Stewart. When does this dude's music get used for anything ("Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" doesn't count), so I thought I would throw him a bone.


or

The IMPACT Repertory Theatre - "Raise It Up" (From the movie August Rush). The lyrics aren't perfectly fitting my purposes like "Eyes on the Prize" did, but it's an oomph song. And it continues my blatant stealing of impoverished civil rights songs featured in movies for my own educational purposes.


I am open to suggestions. If it has a Black choir it will receive bonus points.


And for old-time's sake.
"Eyes On The Prize"

Sunday Art VIII

The Boy Least Likely To - "I'm Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon To Your Star"

Andrea Digs [Insert Artist/Song Here] - February '08

I am pretty smitten with Samamidon (Sam Amidon being the singer. Clever, no?), and I have his tracks on heavy rotation the past few months. It's just pure folk goodness kept simple, sincere and lovely. Check him out!

"Head Over Heels" (Tears For Fears Cover) L.O.V.E. this song. I can't get enough of it.



"Saro"

Arrested Development. On the Big Screen. (!)

There was this little show that I was obsessed with called Arrested Development. I stumbled on it the day it premiered, finding it because I was watching whatever crap was on Fox before the show aired. Episode 1 was all it took to sucker me in for life and turn me into a loyal and hardcore fan. It unfortunately didn't have a massive audience to keep it going beyond its three glorious seasons. My hopes were up when a cable channel offered to continue airing AD, but Mitch Hurwitz declined and in the process broke my Never-Nude loving heart. It was a truly sad day in my entertainment world.

Flash forward a few years and it seems like the writers' strike has managed to produce something amazing: The beautiful men behind the show have been in talks to make a movie of AD (linkage here). The thought of more Bluth screen time, specifically Tobias, G.O.B., George Michael, and Michael, caused me to spazz and do a little dance of joy to Marky Mark's tune "Good Vibrations". I kick ass like that. I don't know what the movie is about, nor do I really care at this point. Just satisfy my AD thirst and I will watch anything they put up there. In Tobias's immortal words, "HUZZAH!"

Europe - "Final Countdown (Edited)"


John Hiatt - "Cry Love"

Valentine - Be Mine

Songs that run the gamut of feelings for this most unholy of seasons called Valentine's Day.


Sweet...
Peter Gabriel - "In Your Eyes" (This song ends worlds for me. It deserves to be listened to with the volume at max capacity.)


Gary Lightbody & Lisa Hannigan - "Some Surprise"


John Lennon - "Real Love (Acoustic)"


Michael W. Smith - "Give It Away" (My phone's killer ringtone. Love it.)


Fruit Bats - "When U Love Somebody"


Greg Brown - "Hey Baby Hey"



Longing...
Josh Ritter - "Wait For Love"


Queen - "Somebody To Love"



Sour...
Paul Simon - "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover"


Travis - "Some Sad Song"


Al Greene - "Tired of Being Alone"




Random Goodness...
Huey Lewis & The News - "The Power of Love"

Sunday Art VII

Must..resist urge..to buy..sidewalk chalk..

Enya - "Storms In Africa" (An Andrea old-school favorite)


José González - "Storm"

Da Dee Da Na Na

It feels like a Wigwam day.

Bob Dylan - "Wigwam"



I spent a little time figuring out that A) I am an idiot and B) I could convert m4a files to mp3. So I went back and added music to my top movies post here and my top songs posts here and here. Go me, the lamest iTunes user ever!

Clowns

This list sums up all I believe about clowns. Chilling.

Damn you Tim Curry and your portrayal of Pennywise. Forever scarred, you jerk.




Milosh - "Creepy"

The State of Things

(Picture sent to me by Swoz. Thanks for finding the right one that sums it up.)

The New Pornographers - "Adventures In Solitude"

Top 5 Movies - 2007

Just a favorite list of the movies I watched this year, not necessarily all having been released in 2007. Do I have to even mention that all of these movies have excellent scores as well and that I bought them straight away after watching each movie? No? Okay.

5. The Painted Veil
Okay, I admit this is mostly because I have a thing for Edward Norton, but in my defense he does consistently pick good rolls in solid movies (Well, I hate American History X, but who honestly does like that movie?). It's period piece set in China during the cholera epidemic in the '20s. It's epically romantic and coming from a girl who's seen enough chick flicks and romance movies to end all worlds it's something.

Alexandre Michel Desplat - "River Waltz"



4. Nirgendwo in Afrika (Nowhere in Africa)
It's another Holocaust/World War II type movie, but with an interesting take: those that took refuge in Africa. I was fully absorbed in this family's drama of their struggle to acclimate into the Kenyan culture all the while dealing with the knowledge of the war in Europe. "Nowhere In Africa" has that epic quality that deserves a viewing.




3. Lars and the Real Girl
The word that pops up in my head every time I think of this movie is "charming". The story, the characters, and the music are just very endearing and quirky. Plus Ryan Gosling is the hotness.

David Torn - "End Credit Suite"




2. Pan's Labyrinth
This is an amazing movie. It's part fantasy and part psychological drama, and most definitely not for kids. Every scene was captivating both in story and in special effects used. And yes, the score was also stellar.

Javier Navarrete - "Long, Long Time Ago"



1. Once
It's kind of the modern day musical but with the singing naturally incorporated into the movie's plot and without it coming across as contrived. Romantic as hell and the soundtrack is exactly why I bother searching through the music blogs as I found the music before I saw the movie. I want my own Glen Hansard.

Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová - Lies



Notables:



Hot Fuzz

The "awesome British humor" pick.
--------------------



Memories of Murder

The "suspenseful thriller in a foreign language" pick.
--------------------



Sound and Fury

The "documentary that makes you think and choose sides" pick.
--------------------


Juno

The "adorable, quick-witted, and quirky" pick.
--------------------

Top 5 T.V. Shows - 2007

5. VH1 Classic - Morning Video Block

I just randomly decided a few months ago to start recording these music video hours that played daily. They call the selections classic, but the farthest back they'll go is 1975. I'm perfectly ok with that because I have a strong aversion to music from the 60s and 70s. For the most part it's hippy crap and I'll pass, thank you. Most of the videos they do play are just cheesy goodness, like Duran Duran "Rio", Heart's "Alone", Rod Stewart's "Hot Legs". I like to play it while doing homework or as cool background stuff if people are over and the board games are out in full force. You really can't go wrong with this show.




4. Human Giant
This new comedy is exceptional. It's mainly bits and sketches that Paul Scheer, Aziz Ansari, and Rob Huebel (my new love) create themselves and perform, and it airs on MTV. I think I watched all six episodes about a good 15 times each, that's how much I crave this show. It's sometimes dark, usually twisted, and always very very funny. I can't wait for it to start again in a few months. I need more Illusionators!

3. Pushing Daisies
I LOVE this show. Like, a real deep love. It's a mix of Amelie's fantasty style of storytelling and settings and Big Fish's visual candy. All of the characters are likeable (even the females, gasp!), the storylines are interesting enough to enjoy while not requiring too much emotion be exerted, and it's not like what's on T.V. right now. I'm pointing at you, Law and Order and CSI and every crappy spinoff that has come from them. Take a note, television studios: Make interesting and appealing shows and the people will watch for the most part. Easier said than done, yes, but stop whining already and get it made. Oh, and stop ripping off the writers so Pushing Daisies can continue. Thank you, that is all.

2. Battlestar Galactica

It's seriously the best drama on TV. I know the name is off-putting and people cringe and wrinkle their nose when I mention the name of the show, but I don't care. Intense drama, compelling story lines, stellar music, Edward James Olmos, it's all packed in to this amazing show. Do yourself a favor and watch it. If you're not having a love affair with Helo after the beginning mini series then you're already lost and I wish you the best.

1. The Office
Ever since losing Arrested Development (I love you Michael Cera!) I've had a comedy hole in my heart that I believed would never be filled. While I still proudly declare that Arrested Development is my favorite comedy ever, The Office has thankfully filled the comedy void. Every single character is interesting and funny, 99% of every scene is hilarious and creative, and Jon Krasinski is on the show. I mean, come on. All I ask is for more Toby and Creed. And for the stupid executives to pay the writers their deserved dues so they can get back to making
more episodes, damn it!

Notables -

Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares
It's a little formulaic what with the "Crappy restaurant in dire need, head chef/owner gets yelled at by Ramsay, the place gets the kitchen and dining area remodeled, the restaurant re-opens and then happy ending.". But Ramsay in anything is enjoyable. Though I do get a sick pleasure from seeing them go back six months later to check on the restaurant's progress and the place is shut down. I'm a jerk, I know.

Final 24
It's so morbid and sad that I end up in a funk after watching it. Yet I can't stop watching because of how stupidly tragic and usually avoidable most of these deaths were. Celebrities, such attention whores to the death.

True Life
This show has been on MTV forever. It just somehow finds the most dysfunctial fools as well as some awesome people and showcases their issues or struggles. "I'm Going to Fat Camp", "I Stutter", "I Live on Staten Island", "I Have Baby Mama Drama". It's gold, I tell you.

Engaged and Underage
This show is fun and just as frustrating too. I'm amused by these kids wanting to get married, yet they don't have real jobs or money, aren't out of college (or even high school for that matter), bicker like siblings and are incredibly immature. But other than that, great show!



Gabriel Rios - Broad Daylight
(Just a random song I like at the moment)