February 28, 2010

Ben Gibbard, you've got a musical doppelganger.

Listenin' to Owl City "Ocean Eyes" a lot this month. Sounds just like a new Postal Service album. And by "just like" I mean, if you didn't know different...

A little less angst-y. And with occasional female vocals chiming in.

Posted by Duff at 03:42 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Tunes

February 01, 2010

Updated Musing

I've changed my mind on Company of Thieves, the lead sounds EXACTLY like Erin McKeown. Is it her? I should google it. As Sashi would yell at me if I asked him, "GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND."

Eh. Maybe later.

Posted by Duff at 04:19 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Tunes

January 23, 2010

Best of November

The best movie I saw in November was nonexistent. :( Waah! I had no time to go to the movies! Too much studying to do!

The best book I read in November was a tie between two books by the same author Fire and Graceling by Kristin Cashore. They were FANTASTIC!!

The best gig I went to in November was the only gig I went to: it was Joseph Arthur and he was amazeballoons. Just overflowing with talent and creativity.

My favorite tunes in November, besides Joseph Arthur who I listened to constantly all month, were songs featured on my favorite show Sons of Anarchy like "Mary" by Patty Griffin and a cover of "Ruby Tuesday" by Katey Sagal. I also listened to a lot of Matt Hires, with some Shwayze thrown in for good measure.

Random personal highlights: Finally meeting Mary and Doug in person! YAY! Going to observe at classmates' schools: Freaky but good. My cousin Leslie visits!

Lowlights? Studying, writing, studying, writing, studying, writing. School is exhausting.

Posted by Duff at 09:45 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Tunes

Best of September

The best movie I saw in September was...whoops! I didn't make it to the theater even once in September. How sad!! :(

The best book I read in September was a tie between Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins and White Time, by Margo Lanagan.

The best gig I went to in September was also nonexistent. My concert-going in 2009 was extremely LOW and 2010 is looking to be even lower. I may need to just eliminate this category in monthly write-ups!!!

My favorite tunes in September were albums from The Avett Brothers and Kid Cudi as well as songs from two of my favorite TV shows Sons of Anarchy and Glee.

Random personal highlights: DRAGON*CON!!!! Lauren & Peter's wedding! Saw Kevin Smith live ("an evening with" type).

Lowlights? Had to cancel going to Monolith; had a paper due.

Posted by Duff at 09:25 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Tunes

January 22, 2010

November Album Reviews

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Sons of Anarchy: Shelter EP - Yup, another EP from my favorite TV show. Katey Sagal covers "Ruby Tuesday" in a beautiful, heartbreaking rendition. The other songs are good too but that's the one I can't stop listening to.

Matt Hires "Take Us to the Start" - YAY I have been waiting for this album since the first time I heard "Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song" (which yay is also on here). He's definitely someone you would expect me to like, a singer/songwriter-y dude with sort of acoustic, mostly cheery songs. What my cousin calls "WB Music" (i.e., something that would have been used in the background on Dawson's Creek or Everwood). That doesn't bother me at all. Other fave song: "A Perfect Day" (LOVE!)

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Mary" Patty Griffin - so so so beautiful.
  
• "Fly Me Away" Annie Little - a freebie from Amazon but I still like it!
  
• "Sumatra" Katie Herzig - the second song of hers to become a serious repeat play for me. I should probably check out her albums at this point.
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Shwayze "Let It Beat" - I have no idea why I dig these weird Shwayze albums so much. But you know what? I DO. And that's all there is to it. They make me wanna dance.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!: Nada!!

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Mos Def "The Ecstatic" - I dug this dude's acting in both "16 Blocks" and "Be Kind, Rewind," and then Rolling Stone gave this album a really enthusiastic review...but I've barely listened to it yet. Hey! November was a TOUGH month school-wise.

Company of Thieves "Ordinary Riches" - another victim of my inability to listen to music at the end of last semester when I was writing, writing, writing for weeks (my semester was very back-end-heavy in terms of assignments). Cant' remember what made me buy it, but I don't think I've made it through twice yet. I will say, the lead female really sounds like Rachael Yamagata. And you know, someday I'll find time to listen and check it out more!!

Posted by Duff at 08:09 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

September Album Reviews

Absolutely Love & Adore:

The Avett Brothers "I and Love and You" - I'm sure I have mentioned these guys enough times now that you are not surprised to see them. This album just continues their greatness and they're getting a much wider release and YAY for them. I can't really even pick a favorite song or two because everytime I listen I either a) love them all or b) completely change my mind on which one is best!

Sons of Anarchy: North Country EP - Yes, that's right, my favorite show of the year is also releasing little EP soundtracks. And they're awesome. This one has "John the Revelator" from Curtis Stigers, the song from the season 1 finale, which is so great. And the "Forever Young" cover by Audra Mae is just lovely.

Glee - The Music, Vol. 1 - I had bought a lot of these as singles as they were released, so I just finished up the album with what I hadn't already bought. This show is, for the most part, a LOT of fun and so are the covers. I have this random, not well thought out at all, theory that covers are ALMOST ALWAYS good because it's so hard to ruin a good song. Whereas movie remakes, there are just SO many places those can go wrong. And some of these are not just good or decent covers...some of these are GREAT! Faves: "Bust Your Windows" "Take a Bow" "Push It"

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Hazy" Rosi Golan and William Fitzsimmons - so pretty!
  
• "Single Ladies" (cover) Pampelmoose - you can find it on myspace or somewheres
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Kid Cudi "Man on the Moon - The End of Day" - Remember back when Kanye was just getting big and dressed like a schoolboy in sweater vests all the time and referred to himself as "Carlton" (from Fresh Prince of LA)? Kid Cudi seems to have taken that personality over for him now that Kanye's gone all glam. Fave: I really love the song they're both on here "Make Her Say" (with Common also).

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

J. Tillman "Year in the Kingdom" - a solo album from a Fleet Fox. Some of this is really pretty - I really like "Earthly Bodies" and "Year in the Kingdom" but I can't listen to it as a whole album: too overall "on the same note" / too slow and methodical. Needs to shake it up once in a while to keep me going, I just end up fast forwarding... Sorry. :(

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Sea Wolf "White Water, White Bloom" - I really like this band, I just haven't given this album much more than a cursory listen. I KNOW. I got it after school started though and listening since then has been very inconsistent. What I've listened to sounds pretty but I know their old stuff a lot better.

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January 18, 2010

In Concert: Purple Apple

Teenagers, just starting out. But dang you can really see some potential there. Some sassy well-done originals. Some great covers. (They killed on Joan Jett.) I'm excited to see where they go from here.

The lead singer is my friend's niece. The dude who mixes their stuff is my other friend's brother. Obviously I would probably not have heard of them otherwise. But I brought people to the show who didn't have those connections and they saw the potential as well!

Posted by Duff at 09:20 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

In Concert: Joseph Arthur

Of course if you've listened to his albums, you know this dude is multi-talented, can swing from style to style, can sing in various ranges, etc., etc...but hearing him live STILL blew my mind.

He made every song sound fresh and new, but not in that "I must sing this so it sounds nothing like it does on the album" way that some groups seem so intent on live. More in a "this song is a platform for me to show you a new creation" way.

All by himself up on stage but he filled the room with sound like he was a 10-piece band. So awesome.

Posted by Duff at 09:16 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

January 12, 2010

First Impression: OK Go "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky"

They must've been listening to a lot of Prince before they wrote/recorded this. Sexy/funky.

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Best of August

The best movie I saw in August was a tie between District 9 (fantastic!) and Inglourious Basterds (exhilarating!).

The best book I read in August was White Time by Margo Lanagan, followed closely by a pair of wolf books by Patricia Briggs. Wow, those are two authors I just love. You may note there are a few reads on that list from August that I'm just not even bothering to write up, mostly continuations of trade paperback mystery series. Bygones. A girl's gotta get caught up somehow.

The best gig I went to in August was The Knux' set at Lollapalooza. But, as with the rest of the year, there just hasn't been any real competition in this category. I read a LOT this year but I did not go to many shows.

My favorite tunes in August were... Damien Rice, apparently. I was mostly running around doing stuff like a crazy lady in August and not doing much listening.

Random personal highlights: My first month of unemployment in a million years. Ah, how refreshing. Also Rebecca came to visit! And school started. I joined Movie Dictators! I had a party! Greg taught us the BSG board game! Some cousins came for a weekend!

Lowlights? There was a wedding I couldn't attend. Otherwise I really don't remember. Ah, the wonder of time.

Posted by Duff at 01:35 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

August Album Reviews

I realize I am ridiculously behind but for some inexplicable reason I am determined to catch Snip up to speed rather than just skipping ahead. And hey look, another month where I barely bought any tunes! WEIRD!

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Damien Rice "Live at Fingerprints: Warts and All" - This dude really needs to put out an album of fresh material (he talks on here about how he thought he might never finish another record...Nooooooooooo). But these are nice arrangements and I could (do) listen to his previous stuff all the time. I just want MORE. ;)

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" She & Him - from the 500 Days of Summer sdtrk
  
• "Shining Down" Lupe Fiasco & Matthew Santos - LOVE!!
  
• "Run This Town" Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Horehound "Dead Weather" - I am a fan of almost everything Jack White does, and I bet this band is awesome live, but I just can't get into this album.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

I downloaded the free Nylon Magazine August mix...but I've never listened to it. Whoops.

Posted by Duff at 01:05 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

Live at Lollapalooza: Friday

As has become my custom, I only go to the least crowded day now that it doesn't change venues (and as a result, in my opinion, gets more and more attendees). And then I had to cancel going to Monolith (my preferred festival) due to school work. It was not a great summer of live shows for me (just as it wasn't a great year for music overall chez Duff).

The Knux - These guys were so great, really the highlight of the day (and since they were the first band, I saw, it is definitely a little bit downhill from there). It wasn't raining that hard yet, they were UP, UP, UP energy wise and I loved it. I just wish they had played "Daddy's Little Girl."

White Lies - I hadn't planned to check these guys out but turned out they were on the field I needed to meet up with people at so I did. And I liked what I heard!

Bon Iver - I've seen him/them four times now and there isn't that much variation in their show. I just kinda listened in the background; I don't think an outdoor venue is the greatest for them (and nothing will probably ever beat when I saw them at the Lakeshore Theater, a TINY spot right around the corner from my house).

Ben Folds and Fleet Foxes - I don't really remember what I thought of these sets. I know, WHY am I writing this up in January when it was in August. I know.

Of Montreal - These guys just put on such a SHOW, whether you are a fan or not. Always something to see.

Depeche Mode - Totally disappointing. They played only a VERY FEW songs from the albums I love. I didn't love this set.

Posted by Duff at 11:54 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

January 11, 2010

Musical Musing of the Morning

Is Rachael Yamagata part of Company of Thieves? This really sounds like her.

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December 27, 2009

Favorite Song of the Day

"Young Forever" by Jay-Z and Mr. Hudson (of Mr. Hudson & the Library who you may remember I LOVE a LOT)

Technically Mr. Hudson's part is a cover of "Forever Young" intermixed with some Jay-Z rap. Love the background music. Love!!

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December 25, 2009

My Very Favorite Song Today

"I Won't Be Found" - The Tallest Man on Earth

Hear it here in its original and daytrotter versions (the daytrotter is the one I put on repeat). (Found via this post on Fuel/Friends, my all-time favorite music blog.)

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October 18, 2009

Best of July

The best movie I saw in July was Hurt Locker. I've seen it three times so far. I would love to see it again.

The best book I read in July was "The Death of Sweet Mister" by Daniel Woodrell. It really took my breath away.

The best gig I went to in July was EMPTY ORCHESTRA. They are great and I highly recommend you buy tickets if they come through your town.

My favorite tunes in July were (you guessed it) all from Empty Orchestra. And Ryan Auffenberg singing "Sellout" live. I would like to see him live.

Random personal highlights: Cinnamon fed me lots of cast-iron-y goodness, soon coming to bookstores near you; Brenda came to town for a visit, played more Settlers, Pam's band came through town, and I had my last day of work EVER. Or EVER for the foreseeable future.

Lowlights? Mammograms HURT. For rlz. And saying goodbye to people you might not even ever want to know in real life but happen to have known for 10 years which is longer than you've known some of your good friends in real life? Is hard.

Posted by Duff at 02:24 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

July Album Reviews

I was about one thing, and one thing just about only, in July tune-wise: EMPTY ORCHESTRA!!

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Empty Orchestra "Here Lies Empty Orchestra" - My friend Pam's band swung through Chicago in July and it was honestly the highlight of my summer! I would have gone to support her at the show regardless of how they sounded: so SUPER BONUS for me when it turned out they're great!! Totally rockin'. I saw a reviewer call them "Americana" and I guess I can go along with that. It's that space between pop, rock and country: where there's some twang and some beats and some great guitar playing and woah Stephen's vocals are great!! I mean really, I can't see why you wouldn't love this album unless you're a total musical noob. Faves: "Always Already" (I can hear Pammie in the background!); "Words and Music" (oh the intro to this song slays me); "It Gets Better".

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Closer Than You Think" Evertyhing Absent or Distorted
  
• "Beneath Your Tree" Bowerbirds
  
• "Earthly Bodies" J. Tillman - A Fleet Fox on his own. Nice.
  
• "El Paso" Jason Anderson
  
• "Sellout" (Live) Ryan Auffenberg (LOVE!)
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Empty Orchestra "Get Well Soon" - Six earlier (? I think) songs. Fave song "Civil War".
  

Posted by Duff at 02:13 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

Best of June

The best movie I saw in June was probably "Moon" but my favorite movie in June was "Away We Go".

The best book I read in June was "Motherless Brooklyn" by Jonathan Lethem. Fantastic! I also really liked the short story collection "Emerald City" by Jennifer Egan.

The best gig I went to in June had to be a tie between Metric and Telekinesis!!! Being that I haven't been going to shows much at all this year, I wish I could remember more about those evenings! But hello June was a long time ago. I know we were standing at the back of the Metro for Metric and it was hot and sweaty but the sounds were great. Oddly I can't even remember who I went to Telekinesis with. Maybe I was drunk.

My favorite tunes in June were from "Back & Fourth" Pete Yorn's awesome, outstanding, lovely latest album. Gee, I guess I liked it.

Random personal highlights: the Settlers obsession continued; saw an amazing Gordon Parks exhibit; finally met a flickr friend (Meera!); went to a couple gigs.

Lowlights? I was still working then so I was still getting up at 4 a.m. every weekday. I KNOW that sucked. And my parents were in Illinois, but the days they were in Chicago I was in the 'burbs and vice versa, and I never managed to hook up with them.

Posted by Duff at 10:49 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

June Album Reviews

Another month where I only bought two albums!! Kudos to me on not spending money but dang I'm sure there's lots of awesome stuff out there I missed this year!!

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Pete Yorn "Back & Fourth" - Wow, I am just completely gaga for this album. Completely. Definitely my most-listened tunes for the second half of the year. It's the usual melancholy swell of emotion from Yorn, soft and gentle and sad and rambling on. Which just makes it even odder that his concerts are so "all at the same volume level, arena anthem rock" sounding. Faves include "Dont' Wanna Cry" and "Social Development Dance" but honestly I love this entire album front to back.

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Swim Until You Can't See Land" Frightened Rabbit - really the only thing I regret about canceling my trip to Monolith is not getting to see these guys.
  
• "H.O.T.T. (Half of the Time)" Wheat
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Dent May & His Magnificent Ukelele "The Good Feeling Music of Dent May and His Magnificent Ukelele" - Totally goofy. Kinda reminds me of Matt Costa. Unusual instrumentation, styles all over the map.
  

Posted by Duff at 10:39 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

May Album Reviews

I know - who cares at this point. I just need to get myself up to date here.

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Telekinesis (self-titled) - Poppy and Fun. Fave tunes are "Rust", "Coast of Carolina" and "I Saw Lightning" .

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Tear You Apart" She Wants Revenge (by far my favorite song of the month! and maybe the summer!)
  
• "How Your Heart Is Wired" Bell X1
  
• "Hypermode" A Shoreline Dream
  
• "The Last of the Melting Snow" The Leisure Society
  
• "We'll See the Sun" Houses
  
• "More Time" Needtobreathe
  
• "Crazy Bitch" Buckcherry
  
• "Magic Show" Electric Owls
  
• "Percussion Gun" White Rabbits
  

Other Albums I Liked but Frankly Have Barely Listened to AT ALL:
I don't know what was up with me in May, over the summer, or really this year, but all the below albums are 1) by artists I like and 2) decent albums and 3) I have barely listened to them at all. WTF? I guess it just wasn't the right time for me with them.

• Eminem "Relapse" - Especially love "Bagpipes from Baghdad" "Deja Vu" and "Careful What You Wish For". "We Made You" has a total Dick Tracy feel. And I'm pretty sure that is (actor) Dominic West on the "Dr. West" skit (I hate the skits on rap albums. My most unfavorite thing about them!).
  
• Green Day "21st Century Breakdown" - Not the tour de force their last album was but still really good. Fave songs are "Last of the American Girls" and bonus track "A Quick One While He's Away".
  
• Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" - oh so cheeky that title. I usually listen to this one straight through (the few times I have actually listened to it!); it's so (consistently) upbeat and fun. But I guess "1901" and "Lasso" do stand out to me.
  
• Red House Painters "Songs for a Blue Guitar" - an oldie I bought after my friend Craig tweeted about it a zillion times in one week.
  

Posted by Duff at 10:11 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

September 17, 2009

Best of May

Oh good grief, I am so far behind on my own recordkeeping. Maybe I should toss it all!

The best movie I saw in May was Star Trek. I saw things that considered themselves more important than that movie, but they didn't live up to their own forecasts.

The best book I read in May was a three-way tie between The Dart League King by Keith Lee Morris and two really awesome sci-fi books: Wanderlust and Grimspace both by Ann Aguirre. But you know, unlike with going to shows, I've been reading a LOT this year (June was the first month of 2009 to see me read under fewer than 10 books), and for the most part I have really liked the stuff I've been reading. So you know, pinning it down is a bit...silly. Mayhaps. :)

The best gig I went to in May doesn't exist (as with April and March). (I have NOT been going to shows this year. Not sure what's happening there.)

My favorite tunes in May were new albums from Telekinesis!, Eminem, Green Day and Phoenix. Perhaps I'll get caught up on album reviews soon and come back and give ya a link. ;)Write-up here.

Random personal highlights: Carrie came to visit!! YAY YAY YAY!. Oh and I went to MDS&W [again]. Went to a goodbye party for Naz & Jen [again]. And I went down south to spend some time with my cousins and celebrate Kasey graduating nursing school yipee!!

Lowlights? My aunt Anita died. (SO glad I got to see here at the aforementioned trip south, just two weeks earlier.)

Posted by Duff at 03:10 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

Best of April

Oh good grief, I am so far behind on my own recordkeeping. Maybe I should toss it all!

The best movie I saw in April was Sunshine Cleaning. Not mindblowing but certainly worth seeing.

The best book I read in April was Little Bee by Chris Cleave. Really intense and thoughtful. Wasn't totally thrilled with the ending, but that wasn't enough to make me stop thinking about it and recommending it to people.

The best gig I went to in April doesn't exist (as with March). (I have NOT been going to shows this year. Not sure what's happening there.)

My favorite tunes in April were new albums from Gomez and Great Lake Swimmers, two of my very favorite bands. And my favorite single was "Lights Off" The Dears.

Random personal highlights: I paid a visit to my friends in Milwaukee. Was that the month the Settlers of Catan craziness started? I think it may have been. One of several goodbye parties for Jen & Naz (fun party, sad occasion.

Lowlights? You know, at this point, really, I don't remember! Fortunately for my mental health, I tend to only jot down the good things.

Posted by Duff at 02:51 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

Best of March

Oh good grief, I am so far behind on my own recordkeeping. Maybe I should toss it all!

The best movie I saw in March was The Reader which I was oddly unprepared for the subject matter of but thought Winslet's performance was really tour de force.

The best book I read in March was... Wow that one is really hard to narrow down (especially after all this time!). I'm going to call it a tie between "City of Refuge" by Tom Piazza, which was really heartbreaking fictionally as the Katrina situation was in real life; "Bone Crossed" by Patricia Briggs, because honestly that woman cannot write a book that doesn't keep me up all night savoring every word; and "The Girl Who Played with Fire" by Stieg Larsson, a satisfying sequel that had me on the edge of my seat.

The best gig I went to in March doesn't exist. (I have NOT been going to shows this year. Not sure what's happening there.)

My favorite tunes in March were new albums from Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Boy Least Likely To, and U2 and I was really digging these singles (still am, frankly): "Afterglow" Kate York, "Airport Surroundings" Lonely, Dear, and "Sweet Dream" Greg Laswell.

Random personal highlights: I applied for a ginormo lifechange which you may know I am now about four weeks into; Lauren and I went on a photowalk in the wastelands of downtown Chicago; awesome dinner out w/ Monica, Jen and Cinnamon (all part of Jen's extended goodbye series); and I'm not even sure at this point what some of the notations in my calendar mean so we'll just leave it at that.

Lowlights? Who knows. It was just so long ago now! :)

Posted by Duff at 02:34 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

July 26, 2009

A Lil Romance for This Boring Sunday Afternoon at the Shitehole

Well it's getting late, we should stay here
But you're on the phone, miles away
And though I know it's not the same
We can fall asleep, dream of ways

But you're already in my heart
I said you're already in my heart
And I knew right from the start
That you're already in my heart

-from Earlimart "For the Birds"

I really love this album. (I talked about it here.)

Posted by Duff at 04:56 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

July 21, 2009

Current favorite song: "Deja Vu" Eminem

[Truly you lose something just reading these words and not hearing the beat. It's a great song.]

Sometimes I feel so alone, I just don't know,
Feels like I've been down this road before
So lonely and cold, it's like something takes over me
As soon as I go home and close the door
Kinda feels like deja vu
I want to get away from this place, I do
But I can't, and I won't,
I say I try, but I know that's a lie, 'cause I don't
And why, I just don't know

Posted by Duff at 09:01 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Lyrics, Recommending, Tunes

July 13, 2009

Favorite Song of Yet Another Horrible Monday Morning

Never took the chance, could have jumped the fence
I was scared of my own two feet.

Could have crossed the line, it was black and white
No contrast to be seen.

What would you do? What would you do?
Do you know?

Was it all a joke? Never had control.
I'm not better on my own.

"I'm Not Over" Carolina Liar

-From another old playlist "Flurry of Fall Favorites 2008". I am really getting some leverage out of old playlists these days.

Posted by Duff at 06:50 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

July 11, 2009

Ceciiiiiliiiiiaaaaaaaaa. You're breaking my heart...

You really must watch this video of Local Natives doing Cecilia. (Also here.)

In college, we used to call this the Bucket Song. And we sang it. Into a bucket. Like 9 of us. Loudly.

Yeah, it's a lot more fun than it sounds.

Posted by Duff at 08:08 AM | E-Mail | Comments (1) | Permalink | filed under Tunes

July 09, 2009

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Mostly drinking. Black Cherry Soda. Yummers.

Making: Gaaah, have fallen off the wagon on all craft projects but will hopefully finish up an overdue baby quilt this weekend. Send me some motivation, puh-lease.

Reading: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. Ah, yes, the BIG 'UN of our challenge books this year. It's actually going pretty fast when I actually read it...but have been doing a lot of El train crossword-ing so I haven't quite devoted myself to it yet. But I like it more than I expected to!

Watching: Finally finished Band of HottiesBrothers. Sigh. So Good. Warehouse 13 just started; I liked the first one! At least enough to keep watching.

Listening to: Pete Yorn "Back and Fourth". Empy Orchestra "Here Lies Empty Orchestra". Fuel/Friends latest mix. Eminem.

Failing at: Not freaking out.

Posted by Duff at 08:00 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 08, 2009

Songs I Forgot About But Am Loving the Shit Out of This Morning

• "I Think I Love You" The Guggenheim Grotto
  
• "Communist Love Song" Soltero
  
• "Don't You Think It's Time" Bob Evans
  
• "I Remember" Chris Brokaw

In the order in which they appear on "Mariko Made Me, Spring '07" one of my favorite playlists. If I love you, you might already have a copy of it. If not, it can't hurt to ask. (And by ask I mean beg, steal or borrow. Or offer something in trade.)

Posted by Duff at 07:52 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Mixes / Playlists, Recommending, Tunes

July 06, 2009

One of My Top Five All-Time Favorite Songs and the Only Thing Making Me Not HATE Today.

The Eagles "Peaceful Easy Feeling"

I like the way your sparklin earrings lay
Against your skin so brown
And I want to sleep with you in the desert tonight
With a billion stars all around...

I get this feelin' I may know you
As a lover and a friend
But this voice keeps whispering in my other ear
Tells me I may never see you again...

I actually have the farthest thing from a peaceful easy feeling right now as I am in the midst of the worst (what has so far been) four-day allergy attack of my motherfucking LIFE. I feel alternately like 1) my cheekbones are about to bust right off my face and / or 2) my entire head is going to EXPLODE. **

Fun times.

***ETA: Now diagnosed as a sinus infection! Antibiotics! And Steroids! FTW!

Posted by Duff at 08:15 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

July 01, 2009

Favorite Song of This Wednesday* Morning

Alexi Murdoch "All My Days"

And I've been tryin to find, what's been in my mind
As the days keep turning into night...

Well I have been quietly standing in the shade, all of my days...

Many a night I found myself with no friend standing near, all of my days...

For I look around me, and my eyes confound me
and it's just too bright, as the days keep turning into night...

Now I see clearly: it's you I'm looking for, all of my days
So I smile and know I'll feel this loneliness no more, all of my days...

Murdoch was basically the entire soundtrack to Away We Go a few weeks back and I just keep needing to listen to him. If you aren't familiar, you can try him out over here.

* 'S only Wednesday? Sigh.

Posted by Duff at 08:23 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

June 30, 2009

Favorite Song of This Tuesday Morning

Neil Nathan "California Run"

You're my blue sky fantasy
You're my pretty melody
You're my future history

Posted by Duff at 06:23 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

June 29, 2009

Favorite Song of This Monday Morning

Pete Yorn "Social Development Dance" (from his new album "Back & Fourth" that I really, really like)

And when we kissed it was electric
A chemist made us for each other...

There’s something missing in us
We long to make it whole
Though it never feels like it
I know you have it all
I know you have it all...

I heard you were staying up north with a friend
And that your hair was falling out
I tried to find out what had happened to you
I googled you in quotes, got no results
I never learned how you had died
But I knew how you had lived...

Posted by Duff at 10:51 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Album, Listenin', Lyrics, Recommending, Tunes

June 19, 2009

Lyrics of This Dismal Friday Morning.

I always find the broken ones, what does this say about me?

-from "I'm Sorry, Baby, But You Can't Stand in My Light Any More" Bob Mould

Posted by Duff at 08:29 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

June 11, 2009

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: At Lula, tonight. I'm excited; I've never been!

Making: A bullshit annoying stupid summer shirt thingamabop. How do I always forget how much sewing clothes FUCKING SUCKS. I need to stick to quilts.

Reading: "Dark Places", by Gillian Flynn. I LOVED (her earlier/first novel) Sharp Objects, but this book is much more....conventional? Sort of? Its main mystery is more conventional and it doesn't have as interesting or as strong of imagery as SO. But after picking it back up this week, I really haven't been able to put it down.

Watching: Reruns of NCIS. or CSI. whichever's on. And I'm going to a screening of MOON on Monday: can't wait!!

Listening to: New albums from Eminem, Green Day, Telekinesis!, Gomez, Phoenix, and shitloads of random singles, especially the Glee cast cover of "Don't Stop Believin' ", Iron & Wine doing New Order's "Love Vigilantes" and random old, nasty nasty songs like "Crazy Bitch" by Buckcherry.

Failing at: Staying upbeat. Being patient. Imagine the shitstorm when the lack of those collides. My brain is a bad place to be!

Posted by Duff at 11:35 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 08, 2009

Easing in to Monday morning.

You may want to go check out the J Tillman song up on Fuel/Friends. 'S nice.

Posted by Duff at 06:28 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Tunes

June 05, 2009

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Today: nothing. Tomorrow: a cake like this one, I hope.

Making: Good week for dreaming of projects a-plenty. Bad week for actual crafting.

Reading: Just started this month's challenge book: "Motherless Brooklyn" by Jonathan Lethem. Loving all the Tourettes' word experiments.

Watching: New season of Burn Notice, yippee. Also about to start in on the Band of Brothers DVDs. For real this time.

Listening to: "Orange Sky" and "All of My Days" (Alexi Murdoch, both) back to back to back. Thanks to seeing "Away We Go" last night (a: it was AWESOME and b: Murdoch was basically the entire soundtrack), I just can't listen to anything else.

Failing at: Focus. Control. Willpower. The usual.

Posted by Duff at 08:50 AM | E-Mail | Comments (1) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

May 20, 2009

Oh!Oh!Oh!

Remember I told you about a Mike Doughty song "That's How You Fuck a Republican" a long time ago? Yeah, well, Heather Browne at Fuel/Friends has a live, admittedly full of crowd noise, version of it up on her site! Go! Not great sound but you can hear the great lyrics. ;)

Posted by Duff at 04:26 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Tunes

May 15, 2009

April Album Reviews

The sad, sad trend of me buying very little new music....sadly continues. I have been reading a LOT this year. But that's no excuse!

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Great Lake Swimmers "Lost Channels" - Le sigh. Everything GLS does is just daaaammmmn beautiful. I'd advise you not to start listening to this album. BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER WANT TO STOP. This one might even be just a *teensy* bit more upbeat than their norm. (I love their melancholy.) Fave songs are "Stealing Tomorrow" "Still" and "It's Too Late".

Gomez "A New Tide" - Somehow I was clueless that these guys had a new album coming out (thank you, Becky, for letting me know!). LOVE it. Just love it. I actually think a lot of it is QUITE different than their last (also beloved) album "How We Operate." (But I'm sure the Internets will tell me I'm wrong on that!) Fave songs "Engine" ("there's gotta be an easier way...to find redemption...") "Lost Track" and "Bone Tired".

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Lights Off" The Dears" (swoooon)
  
• "Boom Boom Pow" Black Eyed Peas
  
• "Right Round" (cover? half cover?) Flo Rida
  
• "Runaway" Yeah Yeah Yeahs (should I buy this album? I can't decide!)
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Nada!
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Nada!

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Nada!

Posted by Duff at 10:45 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

May 14, 2009

March Album Reviews

Annnnd the weirdness continues. I bought very little music, went to no shows (WHAT?!) and while I liked most of what I bought in March, only really fell for one album. WHAT IS HAPPENING. Is 2009 a non-music year for me? WHAT? DO NOT WANT.

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (self-titled) - Dude's really growing on me. I liked his first solo album well enough. I LOVED him in concert. And I could listen to this album over and over. The first two songs are my faves "Seven-Mile Island" and "Sunstroke" but really it's full-album-recommendation worthy.

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Wave and Water" Gordon Gano and the Ryan Brothers (yes, that's the Violent Femmes' Gordon Gano)
  
• "Afterglow" Kate York
  
• "Airport Surroundings" Lonely, Dear (swoon)
  
• "Miracles" Jeremy Messersmith
  
• "High Cost of Living" Jamey Johnson (sometimes I really fall for the twangy country songs)
  
• "Sweet Dream" Greg Laswell (swoon x2)
  
• "Make You Feel My Love" (cover) Adele
  
• "There's Hope for You" William Elliott Whitmore (swoon x3)
  

(A great percentage of this month's singles are from Paste Sampler 51. I have not searched out as many singles as I normally would. Something is wrong with me!)

Other Albums I Liked:

• Boy Least Likely To "The Law of the Playground" - Poppy and fun with their usual blend of good musicianship and goofy lyrics. I love these guys and seriously, you should buy tickets if they play your town. You may even hear them cover "Faith"! (So good!) Fave song right now is "Stringing Up Conkers". Also loving "When Life Gives Me Lemons, I Make Lemonade".
  
• U2 "No Line on the Horizon" - A month or two from now, this will probably have moved up into the "adore" category because I do find myself listening to it more and more. It's nothing shiny and new; it's back to old-school, Joshua Tree style, U2. Nothing wrong with that, if you ask me. Really love "Moment of Surrender" "White as Snow" and "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight".
  
• Okkervil River "The Stand Ins" - I had avoided buying this one when it came out (last year?) as I go through periods where Will Sheff is just too....raw? earnest? for me. (Can't put my finger on it.) But I kept hearing singles from this and wondering why I didn't have it so I finally came around. If you are an Okkervil fan, I can't see you not liking this.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Nada!

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Belle & Sebastian "The BBC Sessions" - Not sure what brought on this purchase, just wandering aimlessly through Reckless I guess! I really haven't listened to B&S in years.

Posted by Duff at 10:30 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

April 21, 2009

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: I'm drinking so many calories, there is no room left for eating. Bygones.

Making: Finishing the second of the two baby boy quilts. And an awesomely cute pair of wrist warmers that are sadly not for me. Sigh.

Reading: Another Dublin purchase "Eureka Street" by Robert McLiam Wilson. It's self deprecating and fun and I quite like both the scruffy narrators/heros.

Watching: All the TV there is available to watch. Plus lots of old movies on random cable channels now that I got rid of all my 975 movie channels, in a preemptive "I may have no income soon" move. Oldies like Top Gun. Ah, Top Gun.

Listening to: New Great Lake Swimmers "Lost Channels" which I LOVE; new U2 "No Line on the Horizon" which I like a lot of; and an awesome new playlist made by yours truly on which I mixed in a few oldies more than my norm. Shouldn't EVERY song sample the BeeGees? SHOULDN'T THEY ALL? Want a new mix? Got something I'd like in trade? E-mail me and we'll see.

Failing at: Restraining addictions. Of many kinds.

Posted by Duff at 07:20 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, Tunes

April 09, 2009

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Lots and lots of gyoza. Yum.

Making: Quilts, socks, hats. What'm I NOT making right now.

Reading: Trying out some new-to-me fantasy "Elantris" by Brandon Sanderson. He's the dude picked to finish up Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.

Watching: Kings on Hulu.

Listening to: Stuff I bought in March like Jason Isbell and Boy Least Likey To. And, sigh, another GREAT fucking album from Great Lake Swimmers bought on the cusp.

Failing at: Replying to emails. Staying awake much past 7:30. Eating breakfast.

Posted by Duff at 09:49 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

Best of February

The best movie I saw in February was The Class (Entre les Murs). I enjoyed the experience of watching The Wrestler...but did not ENJOY the movie. If you can parse that one out. In fact, it annoyed me greatly.

The best book I read in February was a tie between Delicate, Edible Birds, by Lauren Groff, her new short story collection, and For All We Know, by Ciaran Carson, a very novel-istic book of poetry. Both are very highly recommended.

The best gig I went to in February was a tie between the only two gigs I've been to ALL YEAR: Griffin House, who was totally kickin' it and it was a very enjoyable evening although it was a rough weekend having gotten some really shitty news at 4:45 that Friday. Grrr; and a week later Prairie Cartel, who were really great. (You may remember my friend Nan's brother Mike who used to be in Fig Dish and then Caviar (check your "Charlie's Angels" soundtrack) is part of Prairie Cartel.)

My favorite tunes in February were the latest albums from Mick Flannery and Joshua Radin.

Random personal highlights: Trip to Dublin!; Bowling Geeks Unite; Huffencooper Hot Sauce party.

Lowlights? Getting fucked over by someone on the aforementioned Friday afternoon. Getting stuff stolen from my checked luggage on the way home from Dublin. Getting violently ill upon arrival home from Dublin.

Posted by Duff at 09:40 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

April 08, 2009

February Album Reviews

It seems quite weird that I didn't buy much more music in February than I did in January...considering I am usually no holds barred with the February spending. Well, SOMEONE's got to buy me birthday presents.

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Joshua Radin "Simple Times" - Joshua Radin music is all kinds of sad swoooooony sounds. An old single of his ("Winter") was a staple on every mix I made for ages. And his cover of Yaz "Only You"? Sigh. Sooo nice. This album is equally enjoyable. I mean if you like the sorry sadness of it all. Fave songs: "Brand New Day" "We Are Okay" "Vegetable Car"

Messiah J & The Expert "From the Word Go" - Bought on spec in Dublin for no reason other than I knew I'd never heard of the group. Hip-hop rap combo sounds. LOVE IT! Sassy and fun. Fave songs: "Turn the Magic On" "Geography" "Amnesia Comes Easily"

Mick Flannery "White Lies" - Oh now. Another speculative Dublin purchase. Le sigh. This album is beautiful, head to toe. Last time I looked iTunes only had his older stuff. You should harass them to get this one. The only issue I wonder about for this guy is whether he can make it big when Damien Rice is already out there. Definitely playing to the same "market" and "Wish You Well" for example sounds a lot like Rice. This is in constant rotation chez Duff. Fave song I canNOT stop listening to: "Wait Here"

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "My Life Would Suck Without You" Kelly Clarkson - may be the funnest pop song out there right now.
  
• "Crack a Bottle" Eminem - oh yeah, shady's back.
  
• "Been a Long Time" Gary Jules & The Group Rules (feat. Jim Bianco) - sometimes old TV leads you to old tunes.
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Cut Off Your Hands "You & I" - Fun! Love the lyrics of "Happy As Can Be" and the sounds of "oh Girl" and "Let's Get Out of Here". I was really busy listening to sad mopey stuff (see "adore" category ha ha) so I really haven't listened to this one THAT much.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Halfset "Another Way of Being There" - Another Dublin purchase. Nothing bad about these tunes; I'm just not that into the mostly instrumental. (I prefer lyrics.) But if you're into this stuff (think Explosions in the Sky), then you might enjoy it.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion: Nada!

Posted by Duff at 07:55 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

April 02, 2009

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Doing way more drinking than eating. Liquid calories, they're delish.

Making: The last of the Fab Five hats. Two baby boy quilts. Whatevs.

Reading: I just finished one GREAT and one pretty good book ("Little Bee" by Chris Cleave and "City of Glass" by Cassandra Clare) and today I'm going to start "Then We Came to the End" by Joshua Ferris (Dad's and my challenge book for April).

Watching: BStarG. I went back to the beginning again. There are some nice resonances to the very first five eps or so in the finale. It's nice to go back. Also I am loving this season of Lost. Sawyer is awesome*.

Listening to: An AWESOME* album I bought in Dublin. Mick Flannery "White Lies". Over and over. Particularly "Wait Here". Swoon.

Failing at: Being cooperative instead of confrontational. (This may be a bit of an in-joke. But I trust you can figure it out. And honestly, I'm not interested in NOT failing at that. At all.)

*This month's most overused word. Odd, since there's very little AWESOMEness happenin' here. If any.

Posted by Duff at 11:00 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

March 26, 2009

Best of January

Apparently all I did in January was read. The choices in other categories were sparse, my friends, very sparse.

The best movie I saw in January was Coraline.

The best book I read in January was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, which was just outright excellent. No doubt about it.

The best gig I went to in January DOES NOT EXIST. I didn't see/hear any live music in January? WTF!

My favorite tunes in January were MGMT "Oracular Spectacular", new Bon Iver EP "Blood Bank" and Why? "Alopecia." I was also still listening to Frightened Rabbit "Midnight Organ Fight". A lot. And other favorites from 2008.

Random personal highlights: Brunch with cousins; tail-end of Cat's visit including brunch w/ Lauren-O and Petey Sweatshirt; Cinnamon-arranged Stitch 'n' Tweet; BStarG returned to TV: fancy dinner for T; Game Day! at my house; Party in Milwaukee; Spamalot. Huh. Pretty good month. In retrospect.

Lowlights? Stress at secondary browsing location. (Shocker, I KNOW.)

Posted by Duff at 09:50 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

January Album Reviews

Generally January can be quite problematic; I often throw down a shitload of dough for tunes on other people's year-end lists and then either never manage to even listen to some of them or decide I hate them. This year, I somehow held back and bought only FOUR albums in January. FOUR. (OK, 4.5 since there was an EP also.) That's crazy times. (I only bought two in December but that was year-end. That's sooo different.)

Absolutely Love & Adore:

MGMT "Oracular Spectacular" Only on a million year-end lists. Where has this album been all my life? I'm pretty sure I resisted buying this all of 2008 because I misinterpreted the reviews I read and thought it was some Techno stuff that I wouldn't like (you know, like JUSTICE from the year before). OMG I was so wrong. Love it like a crazy lady. Not sure I'd be up for seeing them in concert (M. describes it as "two dudes leaning over synthesizers and never moving") but it is totally living room dance inducing. Fave songs: "Weekend Wars" "Kids" "The Handshake" and my favorite 80s rock soundin tune "Pieces of What"

Why? "Alopecia" Can't remember where I read about this one, dang. Do you call this rap? (not really. but it's closer to rap than to singing.) hiphop? (has beats. but not the R&B hints of hiphop.) It ain't pop or rock. (it ain't.) It's one of those things that just falls between genres but it's damn good. Fave songs: "Fatalist Palmistry" "Exegesis" (where I love the background so much) and the nasty but so good "Good Friday"

Bon Iver "Blood Bank" EP At this point, you know how I feel about Bon Iver. The feeling continues.

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Only You" Assembly (Yaz cover) One of my top-five all-time favorite songs.
  
• "Paparazzi" Lady GaGa I can't tell the difference between her and Gwen Stefani. But I do dig this song.

Other Albums I Liked:

• Ra Ra Riot "The Rhumb Line" Bought due to its presence on Becky's list. Absolutely love "Dying Is Fine". Other standouts are "Winter '05" and "Each Year".
  
• The Walkmen "You & Me" Also bought due to its presence on Becky's list. (The girl's got good taste.) My favorite song is "Red Moon" with its funerealness.

Not really for me / but maybe for you!: Nada!

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion: Nada!

Posted by Duff at 09:35 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

March 24, 2009

Wrapping It Up: Favorite Tunes 2008

My favorite albums, songs, covers, and gigs. Over here. With random commentary and links to original Snip mentions. Sometimes.

Posted by Duff at 12:29 PM | E-Mail | Comments (1) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Listenin', Tunes

March 20, 2009

Concerts I Can't Go To

Waah ;(

April 6 Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
April 14 Katie Herzig
April 16 Cold War Kids
April 21 Great Lake Swimmers (they are sooo good in concert)
June 28 Avett Brothers (also great live)

These are the first shows I've been interested in months but they all take place during the week. Hello Chicago concert promoters, how about you book some bands I like on Friday and Saturday nights? Is that really too much to ask?

Posted by Duff at 02:49 PM | E-Mail | Comments (1) | Permalink | filed under Lists, Tunes

March 09, 2009

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: All things yummy and bad. If it has nine lbs of sugar in it and/or 9000 calories, then I'm eatin it. You know you're in trouble when even your underwear is too tight. But does that stop me? Nooooooo.

Making: Working on one of those top-secret "could change life as we know it" things again this week. Hopefully the crafty spirit will return over the weekend. HOPEFULLY. Also working on year-end lists (as you may have seen). Just music to go but of course that's the hard one.

Reading: Man I have been WHIZZING through books over the past week or so, I finished three books over the weekend! WOOT! Plus Dad and I picked a super shortie for this month's challenge book so I'm already done with that and feelin all free and easy in my readin'. Today I am partway through a grody forensic mystery "Flesh and Bone" by Jefferson Bass. It's got some Bones-type action and you know how I feel about Bones. It's v. entertaining.

Watching: The end of BStarG. The end of FNL. The end of (this season of) Burn Notice. What will most likely be the end of Dollhouse which continues to get slammed by critics and mostly deservedly so (honestly, there is only one person doing a great job on this show and I SWEAR I'm not blinded by... well, you know...).

Listening to: Mick Flannery "White Lies" (Dublin purchase). Joshua Radin "Simple Times". Things I was listening to last month like MGMT and Why and Bon Iver.

Posted by Duff at 09:45 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

February 07, 2009

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Toaster Strudel. It's my go-to breakfast when I have to leave the house before 5 a.m. Like I have to every day now.

Making: Supposedly working on two baby boy quilts. Supposedly.

Reading: Our challenge book for February, "The Broom of the System" by David Foster Wallace, which I am loving. I call it "Vonnegut if he wrote female narrators."

Watching: BStarG season 4.5 and Holy Frak the last two episodes have been NUTS. Remember all those interviews Tahmoh was giving where they asked him about the last 10/11 and he said "Everybody dies!" Yeah, I'm wondering if that might not be the truth! Also loving Bones (hockey dream sequence!!!) and the past few episodes of The Office have been really side-splittingly funny. I have a bunch of random other series on DVD saved up but I just can't get around to watchin' 'em.

Listening to: "Alopecia" Why (like a lot); "Oracular Spectacular" MGMT (Love! and hello where have I been?); Bon Iver "Blood Bank" (love) and a few singles from LadyGaGa (sounds like a combination of Pink + Gwen Stefani? no?) and just bought the latest singles from Kelly Clarkson (only the second song of hers I own! but it's fun!) and Eminem!

Posted by Duff at 09:50 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, Tunes

Best of December

The best movie I saw in December...was Bolt, the ONLY movie I saw (Pathetic! Especially considering I was on vacation the first week of the month.

The best book I read in December was... hmmm, hard to pin it down when you read 11 books that month!!! I'll make it a three-way tie between Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan; Deaf Sentence, by David Lodge; and Black & White, by Dani Shapiro. But I don't think there were many of my December reads that I wouldn't recommend to you. It was a great month for reading.

The best gig I went to in December was My Morning Jacket, which was allright but I actually thought the time I saw them at Lollapalooza was a better set. The ony other show I went to I didn't review. It was The Sea and Cake on New Year's Eve, which was good, but I wasn't really aware of their stuff before so I wasn't necessarily super engaged. Plus you know, NYE, crowds, loud drunk girls, etc. Cathy and I had fun but then we had enough fun so we went home early! :)

My favorite tunes in December boils down to one album: Frightened Rabbit "The Midnight Organ Fight" which I pretty much listened to nonstop. And I listened to a lot of Kanye, Killers, and Pink (all from November) as well.

Random personal highlights: A week off! Yay!; hung out with Cinnachick!; Back to the Future marathon with Carlos; dinner with my cousins; brunch with MK; brunch with KC; dinner at the Coopers; and Cathy came to visit!!! YAY!!!!

Lowlights? Can't remember any in particular. Now that's rare!!

Oh look, I finally got through December. Now I can write up my year-end lists. I'm SO TIMELY this time around. Ha!

Posted by Duff at 09:25 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

February 06, 2009

December Album Reviews

I bought only two albums in December and a few random singles. Say wha? Definitely the least amount of $$ spent on music all year.

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Frightened Rabbit "The Midnight Organ Fight" - I think this album is outstanding but I don't have that much more to say about it than when I mentioned it the first time. I listened to it over and over in December. The Vores described it as sounding like Counting Crows. OK, I'll give them that. I would describe it as... let's say a combination of Counting Crows with Snow Patrol (from their first album before they got soooo super cheesy and overdramatic in EVERY SONG) but with slightly better music, better lyrics, and better accents. "Backwards Walk" is definitely my favorite song but I'm not sure there's a single one I don't like. ("The Twist" may be my #2 fave. I know you wanted to know that.)

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Halo" Beyonce - You could not possibly be prepared for the crazy amount of love I have for this song so I'll just leave it at that.
  
• "Shattered Glass" Britney Spears - Yes. I KNOW!
  
• "Someone Else's Life" Joshua Radin - Swoon.
  
• "Duet" Rachael Yamagata (with Ray LaMontagne, I believe, although he was not credited on iTunes when I bought it)
  
• "Forever Young" (cover) Audra Mae & Forest Rangers - both the accompanied and the acapella versions are soooo pretty (this was featured on Sons of Anarchy. FYI.)
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• The Sea and Cake "Car Alarm" - I bought this just to get a little familiar with their tunes since I was going to see them on New Year's Eve and had never listened to them before (I know!). It's pleasant enough and I like it but it's really (really) tame compared to their live show. Dear Sea and Cake fans, do they have an album that better represents what they sound like live? Lemme know, yo.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Nada!

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Nada!

Posted by Duff at 12:26 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

January 20, 2009

Best of November

The best movie I saw in November was Milk and it was EXCELLENT. My No. 2 movie for the year. So good.

The best book I read in November was "The Way of Shadows" by Brent Weeks. It was a slow month reading-wise but I did really enjoy that book.

The best gig I went to in November was....some gig that I didn't go to! First month all year with no shows. Am I slowing down? I'm certainly feeling old and decrepit but it may just be I wasn't paying attention to what was coming up so I missed out on tickets I would have wanted. Who knows!

My favorite tunes in November were new albums from Jem, and The Killers, and Matt White, and Vancougar, and Ryan Adams, and Pink, and Kanye, and Winter's Fall and...some others. I bought a ton of music over the month (click on the link and you'll see!).

Random personal highlights: HuffenCooper Halloween party; "HOLY FUCK OBAMA WINS!" is what it says on my calendar for November 4. Certainly a day that will not be forgotten; did some serious shopping in the burbs with Sara; I hung out with my nephews for the first time in ages; beers at Guthrie's with Lauren; bought some cool shit at the DIY show; I visited my "second (or third, really) home" in Milwaukee for Thanksgiving; and Michelle was in town for a day. There was a lot going on (hence the aforementioned lack of reading!).

Lowlights? Fallout at secondary browsing location continued. Missed seeing Francine Prose & Anne Carson speak, both of which I had tickets to but I'm too dumb to look ahead in my calendar when the month rolls forward. Was very tired.

Posted by Duff at 08:51 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

November Album Reviews

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Jem "Down to Earth" - There's a lot to like here, even though this doesn't sound like your typical Jem album. Actually sounds more like a set of remixes, and the dance-y backgrounds are a great backdrop for her voice. Love "Crazy", "Keep on Walking", "I Always New", "Forever and a Day". And "It's Amazing" has gone on every mix I've made over the past several months.

Matt White "Best Days" - I tried not to love this album. And then it became all I listened to for days on end. Ah well. Particularly love "Moment of Weakness" and "Paradise".

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals "Cardinology" - Doesn't sound much like a Ryan Adams album to me but I really like it nonetheless. I love the folky swoons of "Natural Ghost", such a romantic feel. And "Fix It" is another fave. (I could do without "Magick" however.)

Vancougar "Canadian Tuxedo" - I wish I could remember what made me check this out. I think it was a post on either Monitor Mix or the Three Imaginary Girls blog but I can't seem to find it. They're punk sassy girls (think the Go-Gos, before the industry prettied them up, and if they had already been musicians when they started), but every once in a while they throw in a total '60s girlgroup vibe (listen to "Obvious"). Great album.

The Killers "Day & Age" - I never bought their second album so I hadn't listened to these guys in a loooong time. I love the emphaticness here. It's rocking. It's all big and dramatic and overarching and it just sweeps me right along with it. Faves are "Spaceman" "This Is Your Life" and I love! the chorus on "The World We Live In".

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Raise Today" Peasant (old but on constant rotation)
  
• "Colors" Kira Willey (damn you iPod commercials)
  
• "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" Beyonce (all carrieoke's fault)
  
• "Glamorous" Fergie (ditto)
  
• "Cathedrals" (cover) Joan Osborne (can't go wrong covering this song)
  
• "Home in the Woods" Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons (from a paste sampler)
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Pink "Funhouse" - I lovelovelove all the fast(er) songs on this album. "So What" and "Sober" as one & two are great. Some of the slow ones I get bored by though. (Hence the Like not Love.)
  
• Kanye West "808s & Heartbreak" - Dear Kanye, you really crack my shit up. There is so much "woe is me" in some of these lyrics and I'm sure this is not the reaction you were looking for but it is damn funny to hear. "My friend showed me pictures of his kids and all I could show him was pictures of my cribs / he said his daughter got a brand new report card and all I got was a brand new sports car." Yeah, times are tough for single Kanye. Gold records are NOTHING. Who cares about that. OK, Goofus! Get back to me when you're my age and single, dude. Not that there is a chance in hell of that happening. Faves: "Heartless" and "Robocop".
  
• The Knux "Remind Me in 3 Days..." - Weirdly I really have not bought very much rap this year. This album is a lot of fun with sassy smart lyrics and great beats. There was one song I had to delete from iTunes however. Just toooooo much pussy or hos or bitches or something, I can't remember exactly what but I really couldn't stand to listen to it. On the other hand, faves: "Cappuccino" ("fresh cappucino with a mocha twist"), "Roxxanne", "Daddy's Little Girl", "Playboys" and "The True." Lots of fun.
  
• The Gaslight Anthem "The '59 Sound" - If Bruce Springsteen was the lead singer for the Hold Steady but Craig Finn wrote his lyrics and sometimes Tom Petty helped with the harmonies. That's my description of this band. Pretty rockin'.
  
• The Go-Betweens "16 Lovers Lane" - Really old. (1988?) Pretty sure I bought this based on this Monitor Mix post. I really like this, but I can really hear the years between then and now. It fits perfectly into my "Colleging It Out" playlist with The Smiths, The Replacements, The Cure, New Order, Cocteau Twins... "Dive for Your Memory" really brings old, old Mick Jagger (back when he could actually SING, right?!?) to mind as well.
  
• The Weakerthans "Left and Leaving" - Bought due to this Fuel/Friends post. I like the snide feel of "Everything Must Go", the rock of "Watermark" and the Shins/Death Cab feel of "This Is a Fire Door Never Leave Open". But my favorite track is "Left and Leaving."
  
• Winter's Fall "Winter's Fall" - Much more Southern/country-esque than I was expecting after reading about it on some indie/alternative site. Think Jason Isbell or My Morning Jacket's latest. Love "Blame" and "On Wisdom". But really need to listen to it more, it was the last album I bought in November and it hasn't gotten the attention it deserves.
  

Mixed Feelings

• Travis "Ode to J. Smith" - This is the album that's the most like their live show (which is awesome) but somehow that makes it not work very well as an album? I was bummed to see all the bad reviews and more bummed to find they weren't far off. I like a couple songs ("Sarah" and "Last Words") but overall this is not the Travis that I love. Their other albums are so much more melodic and lyrical. And yes, they turn them into total rocking out songs in concert, but somehow starting from a more lively place did not make them write better songs. It kinda bums me out frankly. But I have liked it more in the past week than on the first few listens. So there's that.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

The Kin "Rise and Fall" - Too arena rock/cheeseball for me. Although I dig "Together" (until the chorus) and "See" and "Romeo" aren't bad either. There are some (need I even say scary) religious lyrics on here though ("Abraham") and you know how that makes me run for the hills.

Chad Van Gaalen "Soft Airplane" - I like some individual songs here ("TMNT Mask" and "Bare Feet on Wet Griptape" the chorus of which sounds like old Rolling Stones to me) but overall I find this album so stylistically scattered that I can't figure out if I'm listening to an album or shuffle when it comes on. (And I really don't like "Frozen Energon" at all. Ick.) Sometimes falsetto, sometimes not, arrangements all over the place. I've seen mentions of this album lots of places but I just can't find my way into it.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Brendan Canning "Something for All of Us" - My general impression of this is a good one. But I really haven't listened to it more than once or twice so far. The title track is nice, dark and dirty (like Joseph Arthur).

Posted by Duff at 06:45 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

January 06, 2009

Upcoming Albums to Buy in 2009

Jan 20: Bon Iver "Blood Bank" (EP)
Jan 27: Franz Ferdinand "Tonight"
Feb 3: Ben Kweller "Changing Horses"
Feb 3: Nous Non Plus "Menagerie"
Feb 17: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (self-titled)
Mar 3: U2 "No Line on the Horizon" (we'll see if I actually buy this)
Mar 3: The Boy Least Likely To "The Law of the Playground"
Mar 24: The Decemberists "Hazards of Love"
Mar 31: Great Lake Swimmers "Lost Channels" (or just "Channels" acc. to some sites)

Posted by Duff at 07:52 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Lists, Remember, Tunes

Best of October

The best movie I saw in October was a three-way tie between Zach and Miri Make a Porno, Let the Right One In, and Hunger, all of which I saw at the Chicago Film Festival. In regular movie releases, I also really liked The Duchess.

The best book I read in October was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson. I also really liked Conversations at Curlow Creek, by David Malouf, my favorite Aussie author.

The best gig I went to in October would be Fujiya & Miyagi. I didn't write up any of the October shows so here's the quick and dirty: Liam Finn, was completely unlike his album, super into experimental, extemporaneous, and jam band-type style if you can be a jam band when there are only two people on stage; Catie Curtis sang some really nice sweet songs, but also some goofy stuff that isn't really my thing. And Fujiya & Miyagi was good, they sounded great, people were into it, the beats were hoppin'....but at some point all the songs start to sound the same. Felt like we heard an hour of one long song with a great beat.

My favorite tunes in October were the latest albums from Keane and Ray LaMontagne and my top two favorite songs were "Honey Let Me Sing You a Song" Matt Hires and the First Aid Kit cover of Fleet Foxes' "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song".

Random personal highlights: My dad came to visit and joined wholeheartedly in my 365 project and it was outstanding.

Lowlights? Fallout at secondary browsing location continued. My Morning Jacket concert cancelled and then I wound up blowing off a Joseph Arthur concert as I just didn't have any energy that day. Also had a weird shiatsu massage that bruised/hurt my back so badly I could barely sit in a chair for two days afterward

Posted by Duff at 02:59 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Live!!, Tunes

December 28, 2008

Best of September

I seem to have fallen behind here, haven't I. Kept waiting for myself to have written up movies, books, etc., before doing these. Ah well.

The best movie I saw in September (of only two, so take that as you will) was Tropic Thunder, which will definitely make my Top 10 this year.

The best book I read in September was the short story collection "Dead Boys" by Richard Lange. (But I did really like both the other books (one, two) I read in September as well.)

The best gig I went to in September was (overall) Monolith and my favorite performance there was Band of Horses, a magical twilight moment.

My favorite tunes in September were (the only in some cases or the most recent) albums Schwayze (yeah, I know I'm the only one, but it's FUN), The Billionaires, The Wave Pictures and Everlast.

Random personal highlights: The aforementioned weekend at Monolith (including visiting Mariah, Stephan and Jack!).

Lowlights? Well. If you know about the secondary browsing location and events therein, then you know I had a very, very, very shitty September. Very Shitty. And honestly, the fallout is still going on.

Posted by Duff at 12:20 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

In Concert: My Morning Jacket

Intense show. Some of the songs sounded really good ("Highly Suspicious" and "I'm Amazed"), their harmonies were really pretty. But unless you are into jam bands (I'm not), you probably want to skip seeing them live as I would conservatively estimate that two out of every three songs devolved into a 15-minute Allman Bros-type jam session. (And it was probably closer to three out of four, frankly.) A few per concert would be fine. Two out of three songs? Kinda boring. I'm just more into lyrics. Or the combination of lyrics, harmonies AND the music.

The rest of the crowd seemed to be totally into it.

Our other question was: Jim James, are you prone to chills?

Posted by Duff at 11:34 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

December 26, 2008

Live Tunes: Winter.

At this point last year, I had already gone to all the concerts I would be going to. Oddly, it's December 26, but I still have some live music left to see in 2008!! But I've only bought tickets to one thing so far in 2009, which is equally odd. I better start checking concert listings!!

Dec 27: My Morning Jacket!!! (The rescheduling of the October show that got cancelled.)
Dec 31: The Sea & The Cake! (with Cathy coming to visit! Yay!)
Feb 7: Griffin House (with Steph coming down for the night! Yay!)

Posted by Duff at 03:51 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Lists, Live!!, Tunes

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: The new Clubby sandwich from Potbelly's which is so fucking delicious it may have ruined me for all other sandwiches. But it's (most likely) insanely high in calories (they don't even list it on their nutrition page!). Thus helping me in my goal of being the fattest girl in the universe.

Making: Oh, you know. This 'n' that and mostly things I can't talk about.

Reading: At home I am reading "The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood" by David Thomson that I'm pretty sure I borrowed (from Dad) last Christmas so it's about time I read it, no? I didn't feel like carrying it on the train this morning though so in transit I am reading "Silver Wings for Vicki" by Helen Wells, who I'm sure only one of you (hi CCB!) knows is the author of the Cherry Ames books which were very, very beloved to me in childhood, although technically they are books originally from my mother's childhood (the first Vicki book was published in 1947 and the first Cherry Ames in 1943).

Where Cherry was a nurse, Vicki is a flight attendant. And just as with the Cherry Ames' series, they are full of now hilarious (but so non-PC and borderline offensive) comments on how to be a good woman (to your man), or things of that nature. Here's a "great" (that's me, being sarcastic) description of the requirements to be a stewardess, from Vicki's interview: "Real beauty isn't necessary, but you have to be nice to look at: well groomed, pleasant, and not too tall or heavy. After all, a plane must carry the biggest payload possible, and the heavier the crew the less paying weight we can carry. Did you see that tall girl who came in ahead of you? She was qualified for this work in everything except that she's five feet eight and weighs proportionately. But the airlines do recognize that American girls are growing taller, and we're gradually raising the height and weight limits."

So far, I don't love Vicki the way I love(d) Cherry, but she's growing on me. She's so perky, how could she not! :)

Watching: Only two episodes left to (re)watch in my (zillioneth) rewatch of all of BStarG to get read for the season 4.5 premiere on January 16. (So close, but yet so far.) As well as the webisodes. Which are OK. But not "oh holy shit!" entrancing. Also in the midst of a (re)watch of all four of the Alien films, although my plan to marathon through them all yesterday did not materialize. (Apparently I needed a lot of those hours for sleeping.)

Listening to: Frightened Rabbit "The Midnight Organ Fight" with a little of Sufjan's old Christmas box set thrown in. (There is a new Xmas EP out but I'm not sure I want it based on this review.)

Posted by Duff at 02:50 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

December 23, 2008

Lyrics of This Shitehole Day

It takes more than fucking someone you don't know to keep yourself warm.
-Frightened Rabbit "Keep Yourself Warm"

Yes, from this album.

Posted by Duff at 09:21 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Recommending, Tunes

Best Album I Wasn't Listening to Until Now

So back in June, I started listening to this song "Backwards Walk" by Frightened Rabbit that was on a Paste sampler. By August, I had become officially obsessed with it; thus its presence on my Dragon*Con mix.

Yet somehow I kept forgetting to check out anything else by this band. WTF is wrong with me? Then a week or two ago, I start, as is my usual December pasttime, reading through all the year-end lists so nicely compiled by Large-Hearted Boy. And I start seeing Frightened Rabbit everywhere... And I look at my iPod and wonder "Do I have anything by them? Why Yes. OH? THIS IS THEIR SONG!?!" And then they popped up on Heather's (Fuel/Friends) year-end list and I knew I had to get my lazy butt in gear.

Frightened Rabbit "The Midnight Organ Fight" = best album of 2008 that I didn't listen to until December. And I totally regret that. But at least I'm listening to it now. It's damn good.

Posted by Duff at 08:39 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

December 18, 2008

Dear Matt White,

When I first got your album, I have to admit, I found it kinda cheesy. Not in a bad way. Just in a "Oh, those are some cheeesy pop songs, dude" way. Do you believe in love at first sight? I think you do! But wow, these songs really grow on a girl. Don't get me wrong. The cheese factor is still there. But now it's a cheesy in a "damn that song really makes me grin" and "awwww" kind of way.

This weekend it was ALL I wanted to listen to. Particularly "Moment of Weakness". Good on ya!

Smooches, Duff.

p.s. Also? it's surprisingly danceable. I've got a whole hallway slip-n-slide routine going to it. Even the somewhat sad "I'll Be There" has a good background beat.

Posted by Duff at 02:45 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Letters, Listenin', Tunes

December 16, 2008

Lyrics to make ya smile.

This song was a BIG hit with the kiddos over Turkey Day.

A is for apple
B is for butt
C is for cat butt
D is for doodoo
E is for elephant doodoo
F is for fart
G is for gorilla fart
H is for huge gorilla fart
I is for eyeball [sic]
J is for jammies
K is for kid farts
L's for loud and long farts
M is for monkey butt
N's for saying night night to niko at naptime
O is for ... Oh!
P is for panda peeing and pooping in her potty while poppa plays peekaboo
Q is for qbert
R is for robotic monkey who's going to take over the world
S is for stinky
T is for turd
U is for uhoh
V's for flying v
W's for weewee
X exactamundo
Y is for yucky and yummy and you
and Z is for farts that smell like the zoo

-"Alphabutt" Kimya Dawson

Posted by Duff at 08:57 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

December 09, 2008

Favorite Song of this Bullshit Afternoon

"Honey Let Me Sing You a Song" -Matt Hires.

I got it off the Paste #48 sampler. But you could get it off my latest mix. Depending on what you want to trade me for it. Make me an offer, you might get lucky.

Honey let me sing you a song
and listen to my words as they come out wrong
but don't run away, run away this time

Honey let me look in your eyes
you open them one at a time
but don't look away, look away this time

Posted by Duff at 03:52 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Lyrics, Tunes

November 24, 2008

October Album Reviews

Not a big month for buying music. Odd.

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Keane "Perfect Symmetry" - Wow I LOVE this album. Did not expect to. Almost didn't buy it! It's a new sound for them, not as sad, and not as poppy...a bit more "anthem rock" than they used to be. You can picture these songs just filling up stadiums. Like old Snow Patrol, before they got super cheesy. Fave songs: "The Lovers Are Losing"; "Better Than This" (totally reminds me of Roxy Music "More Than This"); "Pretend that You're Alone"; "Time to Go".

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" (covering Fleet Foxes) First Aid Kit - Swoon.
  
• "I Shall Be Released" (cover) Wilco & Fleet Foxes
  
• "Breathe" Calhoun
  
• "Honey Let Me Sing You a Song" Matt Hires
  
• "Hymn 101" Joe Pug
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts "Temporary People" - So in addition to a gajillion (five?) EPs he put out ths year, there's also this full on album. The difference, to my ear, is the EPs are a little darker, a little more digitally dirty, a little more lonely. This is a good listen.
  
• Ray LaMontagne "Gossip in the Grain" - As with Keane's new album (above), LaMontagne has really expanded his ideas here. Lots of upbeat, jazzy stuff. The beginning of "You Are the Best Thing" is awesome, just marches right out and grabs you. Sure, there are still some sad, slow ones. But it's the new, happier songs I really enjoy on this album.
  
• First Aid Kit "Drunken Trees" - So I ordered this after hearing their brilliant cover of Fleet Foxes (see list above). It's allright. Their own stuff isn't as powerful, there's no shimmery acapello moments here. But not bad. They've got some room to grow.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Nada.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Nada!

Posted by Duff at 10:20 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

November 15, 2008

Good Mood Song of the Weekend

It's amazing, it's amazing.
All that you can do.
It's amazing, makes my heart sing,
Now it's up to you.
...
And I know, 'cause I've been there before
Knocking down the doors
Won't take no for an answer
And you'll see, 'cause if it's meant to be
Nothing can compare to deserving your dreams
It's amazing, it's amazing
All that you can do
It's amazing, makes my heart sing
Now it's up to you...

--Jem "It's Amazing" (from new album Down to Earth*)

Is it just something about the word "amaze"?? Because My Morning Jacket "I'm Amazed" is also an awesome song. (And then there's Jem's cover of what I believe is a Paul McCartney song "Maybe I'm Amazed." Also: Awesome.)

*In addition to this song in particular, I really like this entire album. Although musically a lot of it sounds more like a remix album. Not her normal backdrop. But good. Nice contrast with the vocals.

Posted by Duff at 10:12 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Album, Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

November 14, 2008

Some Lyrical Advice for Ya from Keane.

Is this what you meant?
Is this what you dreamed of?
When you were making your plans
Shaking the dirt off?
...
You can tell yourself
You're doing your best
You could do so much
Better than this.
You could do so much
Better than this...-"Better than This"

Maybe it’s time to go.
Maybe it’s time we went.
You’re making a spectacle
Maybe it’s time we left.

I don’t wanna spoil your night.
I don’t wanna hurt your pride.
But maybe it’s time to go.
Maybe it’s time...
-"Time to Go"

both from their (relatively) new album "Perfect Symmetry." I am diggin' it big time this week. Thx to the Eggplant for having it in her "listening" column for so long I finally remembered to check it out.

Posted by Duff at 12:47 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

November 12, 2008

Favorite Song of this (Typically Shite) Afternoon

"I'm Not Over" Carolina Liar

(Thx, Sil.)

Posted by Duff at 03:25 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

English Folk Night at the Bottom Lounge.

We/Or/Me - Didn't like these guys. Too slow and depressing and totally slit your wrists to music. Whoops, did I say that out loud? Musically I'm sure they were fine. It was just way too mellow for me at that moment. We retired to the outer bar and the photobooth to pep ourselves back up.

Mumford & Sons - If you've been reading, then you must already know I absolutely LOVED these guys. Lead has a very distinctive voice, band sports unusual instruments, lots of harmonies and earnestness. They put on a great show, I am completely obsessed with a few of their only five tunes I've been able to get recordings of so far (this one), and I would highly recommend them should they stop by your town.

Laura Marling - She has an interesting voice but I wasn't really feelin' it.

Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit - Liked these guys. Certainly the most "rock" folk of the evening and a slightly more polished set than the others (not that polish is always a good thing, but they stood out as seemingly a more experienced touring band). But almost more entertaining than the music was watching members of the previous bands dancing in the audience. Clearly they are all having a great time touring together.

Posted by Duff at 11:53 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

Live at Monolith

So Monolith has become (by far) my favorite music festival, after several years going to both Lollapalooza and Pitchfork. Since it takes place in a place actually intended for music, rather than a random field, it has a) real bathrooms and b) built-in SEATING for the main stage (yes, seating, can you believe it) and c) NO DIRT and those are just three of the many reasons it was more pleasant.

Also instead of getting up early and staying out late and going to see 900 bands a day, we were big time lazybones, didn't show up until post noon, heard a few bands, and then went home to hot tubs and good beer and pizza and Wii and board games and puppy kisses and time with friends. Ah. Sweet.

Friday (9/13):

Cut Copy - Yay! So upbeat and fun. These guys got the crowd moving, crazy dancing times. People were INTO it, big time, and it was super early.

The Fratellis - Surprisingly, even though I think they are just as good as Cut Copy (and have more material), the crowd didn't seem engaged. They still sounded good, to me, but something was missing between them and the audience.

Vampire Weekend - Really, I am not a fan of this band. I guess I just don't get why people listen to their pale imitation rather than say the actual African bands they are mimicking and/or stealing from depending on your point of view. One of my frequent partners in concertgoing crime in Chicago is an Anthro PhD who has spent beaucoup de temps in Africa and this is a HUGE pet peeve for her. Anyway, I am not a real fan, not planning to buy their album.... but they DID put on a pretty good show. Good stage banter, crowd was into it. It was a pleasant hour of the afternoon....

[And then we went home! See, I told you, totally lazy "we'll see a few bands and then we'll relax"! It was awesome!]

Saturday (9/14):

The Avett Brothers - Yay yay yay!!! I couldn't wait to see these guys, they were one of my main reasons for wanting to go. And did they ever bring it. So much energy on stage, just pouring everything they have into it. Sounded great. I even stood up and danced! Can you believe it! *

The Kills - They were late going onstage and it seemed like maybe it was a sound or wiring issue or something? The band seemed annoyed / made comments to the crowd about us being nicer than the people who worked there or something? But they still sounded great. Not as upbeat as their set at Lollapalooza, but really rocking out. I dug it.

Band of Horses - Wowza. This was a completely magical set. They came onstage right as darkness really settled in and the stage lights went purple and the music was spooky and ethereal and lilting through the crowd and I almost started crying just over the beauty of it all. Lovely.

[And then we went home!]

*Oh, you have not seen me at concerts? Yeah, I dance more in my own apartment than ever at a concert. At concerts I am very intent. On the listening part. I might move my knees. Generally that is it. See, I am shorter than everyone and oftentimes I find I have to really concentrate to be able to hear over the bullshit people talking who are all taller than me and thus their mouths are right above my ears and they are inhibiting the my being able to hear the music part of the concert which is generally the whole reason I went.

Posted by Duff at 11:07 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

November 07, 2008

September Album Reviews

I didn't buy much. But most of what I bought, I really really liked.

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Shwayze (self-titled) - Ridiculous lyrics. Total b-o-u-n-c-e BOUNCE. Super fun. Perfect end of summer music.

The Billionaires "Really Real for Forever" - Also bouncy! Yay! "Are you still sad? Let's go out and get fucked up!!" Mixed male/female vocals (you know how I love that! Or you should). Really addictive.

The Wave Pictures "Instant Coffee Baby" - Wow, you get a serious Violent Femmes flashback as this album begins ("Add It Up", "Blister in the Sun" era-Femmes...). That fades a little as it goes on but theirs is definitely a throwback sound. Great to listen to right after The Billionaires, I've had these two on back to back for weeks. Michelle talks more about them over here.

Mumford & Sons "Chess Club Release" - Not actually an album, per se, but you can download them all together. Part of the new English Folk thing going on now. Very distinctive lead voice. Very unusual instrumentation. Very awesome live. Great lyrics. I really can't wait for them to release more stuff!

Everlast "Love, War, and the Ghost of Whitey Ford" - LOVE his deep deep voice. Love the "Folsom Prison Blues" cover. Love love love.

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Mad World" Michael Andrews (been watchin' old CSIs again)
  
• "All That Remains" Bear McCreary (BStarG) and Raya Yarbrough
  
• "Alphabutt" Kimya Dawson
  
• "I Need Love" Sam Phillips (old but I've been listening to it constantly!)
  
• "Sex on Fire" Kings of Leon
  
• "It's Alright" Okkervil River (I wasn't planning on getting their new one but I may have to)
  
• "Sad Eyes" Josh Rouse
  
• "The Places We Lived" Backyard Tire Fire
  
• "Write On" Damien Jurado
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Looks like it was all either LOVE or EH this month and nothing (in)between.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson "Rattlin' Bones" - I really really dig both these singers on their solo "sorta country, but sorta more folky acoustic pop" albums. [And I really like their live shows as well.] But this combined album just slides too far into country for me and I kinda cringe when it comes up on shuffle. However, I do really like the song "Wildflower" and on those days when I'm in the mood for twang I may find myself listening to this more than I expect. But not right now.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Nada!

Posted by Duff at 01:25 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

November 06, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Food I cooked myself, can you believe it? It's been many, many months since I last spent time in the kitchen. In other fun news, my carbon monoxide alarm now goes off every time I use the oven.

Making: Haven't made a stitch of progress in anything. But I am going to KIP tonight so that should be good for a couple rounds on a sock.

Reading: Our November challenge book, "The Oxford Book of Short Stories" edited by V.S. Pritchett. I am only a few stories in so still in the "way back" part of the collection. I've read it (somewhere?) before and I really, really hate Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Birthmark." HATE. But the other stories have been good.

Watching: Old, but from this season, episodes of House on Hulu and remembering exactly why I'm not watching this show at home either in real time or on TIVO anymore. It's WAY beyond time for a new formula.

Listening to: Everlast. Joseph Arthur. Ray LaMontagne. The Avett Brothers. The Billionaires. The Wave Pictures. Mumford and Sons. Sam Phillips. Just kinda wandering around my iPod.

Posted by Duff at 10:43 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

October 30, 2008

In Concert: Sam Phillips

Once a million years ago (late 80s/early 90s), I got this Rolling Stone mix tape, one selection of which was "Where the Colors Don't Go" by Sam Phillips, a song I have listened to off and on ever since. Then Ladder 49 came out with both a great Joaquin performance AND "How to Dream" another great Sam Phillips song. And somewhere along the way I heard "I Need Love", which is just a GREAT song.

You're a secret I whisper to myself

That's all I knew going in. She's a real show"man", so to speak. Very late-night bar/cabaret feel. Unusual instrumentation, very focused. Similar to going to a Joe Henry or Joan Baez concert. And speaking of Joe Henry, I am 99% sure that Jay Bellerose, who blew my mind at the Joe Henry concert, was also the drummer for Sam Phillips. Wow.

If you are buying me a birthday present next year: percussion lessons with Jay Bellerose please! Thanks! :)

Broken like a window, I see my blindness now
And I need love, not some sentimental prison
I need God, not the political church
I need fire to melt the frozen sea inside me
I need love

Posted by Duff at 01:45 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Lyrics, Tunes

August Album Reviews

Why do I even do these if I do them three months later, you may ask yourself. Merely to cement things in my own (increasingly addled) mind would be my answer.

Absolutely Love & Adore:

The New Frontiers "Mending" - Pretty sure I bought this after hearing a single on Fuel/Friends. Wow, this album is oddly heartbreaking. "Mirrors" sends me pretty close to crying every time I hear it [hold up *ahem*, is this a God song? I am just listening a little more closely to the lyrics and getting that icky religion shiver up my spine]. "The Day You Fell Apart" has a total Travis feel. But my favorite song is "Strangers".

Carla Bruni "Comme si de rien n'etait" - So lovely. I guess she's gotten some flack in France for being a cheesy pop singer but this whole thing is pure sultriness to me. And my favorite song is definitely the (in)famous "Tu es me came" ("you are my drug"). I loved her previous album en francais as well, although not so much the one en anglais.

Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip "Angles" - Yay yay yay. YAY! The funnest rap out there. "Letter from God to Man", "Beat that My Heart Skipped" and "Thou Shalt Always Kill" are all kinda obvious to have as favorites, but that's the way it is sometimes.

Joseph Arthur "Foreign Girls" - His whateverth EP of the year (fourth?). I particularly love "Lovely Cost" which has a Bowiesqueness.

Paddy Casey "Addicted to Company (Part 1) - I can't remember if it was MG or MF that sent me this but thank you to whichever because it's kinda great. (Maybe too folk-y for some a yous though.) "City" is my fave, particularly for its great opening.

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• Jump Little Children "Cathedrals" - old and kinda cheesy but I'm lovin it lately.
  
• "Bang On" the Breeders - YUPPERDO
  
• "To The Bone" Mugison
  
• "Let Me Go On" Seabird
  
• "Chicago" Lucy Wainwright Roche (LOVE this)
  
• "Long Division" Slow Runner
  
• "It's You" Pictures and Sound
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Dr. Dog "Fate" - I really really like some songs on this album ("The Rabbit, the Bat & the Reindeer", "The Dearly Departed", "Uncovering the Old") but there are a few that I have to forward quickly past ("The Ark", "The Beach"). So it's a bit uneven to me (bad) but in general they're a bit Beatles-esque (good).
  
• The Ting Tings "We Started Nothing" - as with Dr. Dog, I like this, but not totally. It's a bit uneven stylistically. Maybe they haven't quite found "their sound" yet. Some of it's rappish, some sing-songy ("Traffic Light"). When these songs come up on shuffle, I can't always place them.
  
• Newton Faulkner "Hand Built by Robots" - Also sent to me by MG or MF (dang I am losing my mind). Somewhat folky. Really really like "Uncomfortably Slow" and "Dbdbdb". Sometimes a Jason Mraz vibe ("Feels like Home", "People Should Smile More" "U.F.O.") which may be why I'm not totally into it (I loved Mraz' early stuff but then I saw him do some weird "come on give me attention!" stuff live and I kinda went off him).
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:
The Black Keys "Attack and Release" - I like these guys live a LOT. And the album's fine...But I don't find I listen to it much.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Nada!! [OK actually a couple mixes I was sent have only gotten a tiny bit o' listenin' time.]

Posted by Duff at 11:54 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Pumpkin scones from SBUX. They are sooooo good. They are also 500 calories, which lands on the not so good side. So as long as you just don't eat anything else...

Making: Vaguely knitting socks for Dad and socks for me. Vaguely. [All the same quilts in all the same stages they've been in.]

Reading: Same as last week...since I spent a gazillion hours at the Chicago Film Festival I've barely done any reading at all: At home I'm reading the Ford-edited short stories from our July / October challenge. On the train I'm reading "The Conversations at Curlow Creek" by David Malouf which is very slow and measured but weighty in its own way.

Watching: The Offce, Pushing Daisies and Sons of Anarchy. Those three are definitely my favorite shows right now so I generally watch each episode a few times. You know, once the night it's on, once the next night while I'm falling asleep, once over the weekend when I don't feel like doing anything on my to-do list... [As well as random online video interviews of my future husband. They do keep popping up!]

Listening to: Last few days I've been listening to everything I bought in August, September and so far in October in one big shuffled pack. I am particularly loving Mumford & Sons "White Blank Pages", First Aid Kit's cover of "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" (Fleet Foxes), Carla Bruni "Tu es ma came", The New Frontiers "Mirrors", Jump Little Children "Cathedrals" (old and kinda cheesy but damn I can't stop listening to it), Ryan Auffenberg "Pictures (of Someone Else)", but that's just a samplin'.

Posted by Duff at 11:17 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

October 27, 2008

Favorite Album of Today

"Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford" Everlast

I've loved his gravelly thick voice for a long time and if you've never heard his cover of Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"...then you probably didn't get a mix from me during that two-year period when I put it on every mix because I just couldn't stop listening to it. He also does the theme song to Saving Grace (love the song way more than the show!).

I guess they probably file him under rap/hip-hop? But he's not really a rapper. Some of the lyrics are a bit rough and tumble...if you're feeling a little murderous, they certainly keep you hyped up and may push you over the edge into actual violence, ha ha ha (I'M KIDDING). But that's only some of the songs. And there's his lovely bass singing over a kind of rollicking rambling background that is sometimes hip-hop-ish in its beats, but sometimes almost country.

Posted by Duff at 01:23 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Album, Listenin', Tunes

October 26, 2008

Lyrics of a Frustration Filled Afternoon at the Shitehole of Evil

You desired my attention / but denied my affections.
But tell me now, where was my fault / In loving you with my whole heart?
...
Lead me to the truth and I / will follow you with my whole life.

-Mumford & Sons "White Blank Pages"

Posted by Duff at 04:31 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

October 10, 2008

Lyrics of a Long Craptastic Morning That Seems to Never Be Ending

Truth is, this life; it's different than I'd hoped.
Never would've known it.

Truth is, I'd trade it for a little bit of hope...
That I won't be alone.
-"Pictures (of Someone Else)" Ryan Auffenberg (from Marigolds)

Yeah, we've been listening to him a lot recently (here or here or here).

Posted by Duff at 10:21 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

October 08, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: The occasional square broken off a chocolate bar from a Claudia Care Package. But mostly just drinking beer.

Making: The second sock to go with the first sock that I mostly knit at Dragon*Con. I am sooooo close to being done with #2.

Gearing Up For: The Chicago Film Festival! Yay! I bought tickets to 11 films. Woooooooot. Although it's highly possible I may not wind up seeing all of those.

Reading: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson. So far that girl hasn't been much involved. But I like the other characters as well.

Watching: One of my favorite shows from last year's shortened season, LIFE, which has had three episodes in a week's time and another on Friday. Last Monday's? Pretty good! Glad it's back. Friday's? Sucked soooooo bad. May have been the worst episode of any TV show EVER. This Monday's? Awesome. Mostly. I had a few reservations. What will Friday bring? Who can say.

Listening to: My Morning Jacket, who I'm going to see tomorrow nightoh. :( Also Joseph Arthur, Nana Grizol, Carla Bruni and some songs from this post and this post .

Posted by Duff at 12:26 PM | E-Mail | Comments (2) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

Lyrics of the Morning

Touch me, I'm going to scream if you don't.
-My Morning Jacket.

Going to see them tomorrow night! Yippee!oh. :(

Posted by Duff at 09:39 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

October 02, 2008

Twiggy Teens cover Fleet Foxes.

And it's sooooo goooooood.

Posted by Duff at 05:31 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

Dangerously Sad, Beautiful Song

Head yourself on over to Fuel/Friends and check out the Ryan Auffenberg song she posted yesterday.

Ouch.

If I start crying at work this morning? So.Not.My.Fault!!!

Posted by Duff at 08:59 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

September 30, 2008

Random Thoughts While the iPod Shuffle Surprises Me.

"Broken Bridge" Daughter Darling -- so pretty!

"Save Me" Remy Zero -- um is this a U2 cover? Or: is this U2 posing as some other band?

"Same Old Thing" Black Keys -- could anyone possibly hear the flute opening to this song and not think of Jethro Tull?

Posted by Duff at 05:10 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Tunes

September 28, 2008

Best of August

The best movie I saw in August would have to be the ONLY movie I saw in August which is ridiculous and pathetic but that's something for a different post, eh? Yeah, so anyway, that'd be Wall-E, which was fine but animation isn't really my thing.

The best book I read in August was The Likeness by Tana French. It's somewhat of a sequel but you don't really need to have read the earlier book to enjoy it; different main character.

The best gig I went to in August was Great Lake Swimmers.

My favorite tunes in August were the songs that wound up on my current favorite playlists.

Random personal highlights: (Only) one day at Lollapalooza (this time around); Silvia came to Chicago two weekends in a row! Woot!; Hot Doug's with Cinnamon. I actually went to KIP twice, if you can even believe that. And then there was this little thing I went to called Dragon*Con (which also encompassed a week long trip to Georgia to crash the Happy Pants home).

Lowlights? I don't know, looking back it seems like it was a fairly decent month. Maybe bursting into uncontrollable tears about 15 minutes after meeting my crush? Fun times (poor Carrie and Cat).

Posted by Duff at 06:44 PM | E-Mail | Comments (1) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

In Concert: Great Lake Swimmers

I've been waiting a long long time to see this band. As I may have mentioned.

What can I say, a month later when I realize I never wrote this up? They're Canadian. They're in that whole current vein of mountain-y lookin' men (Sea Wolf, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver); except that unlike those bands most of the singing is done by just the one dude. (And they have more albums out, been around a bit longer.) Their songs are lush and dark and deep and layered. And lovely. Did I mention lovely? :)

I thought the crowd was a bit more idiotic than normal; I would make such a great bouncer as I would escort people out for yelling stupid things and being morons and talking too fucking loud during quiet songs. Perhaps that shall be my next career (if you haven't heard, I may be on the lookout for one).

They sounded gorgeous. I'd go see them again in a heartbeat.

Posted by Duff at 06:40 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Recommending, Tunes

September 26, 2008

Stuck in My Stupid Head

For once in your life, here's your miracle.
Stand up and fight!

This is it!
Make no mistake where you are
This is it!
The waiting is over!
-Kenny Loggins.

Are you kidding me? Kenny Loggins? Give me a break.

Posted by Duff at 01:48 PM | E-Mail | Comments (3) | Permalink | filed under Lyrics, Tunes

September 21, 2008

I am now officially obsessed with Mumford and Sons.

They were absolutely brilliant live last night. Here is their myspace and here is their profile page on Raw Rip and if you sign up for Raw Rip you get 10 free downloads so you can download all five songs they have posted there.

Lovely british boys. Lovely!

Posted by Duff at 10:33 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

September 17, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Complete crap. If it has a gajillion calories and absolutely no nutritional value, then I'm eatin it.

Making: Nothing really. Not right this second anyway.

Reading: "Sway" by Robert Lazar, a fictionalized account of the convergence of the Rolling Stones and Charles Manson. Just started today. Good so far. Kinda dreamy/druggy.

Watching: Just a few days into the week and I'm way behind (I was out of town! Get off my back, man!). Have only watched this week's episodes of Gossip Girl (I love Vanessa and Nate together!!) and Fringe (I like this show more than anyone else. But it's pure Pacey love); DVR also has latest eps of Terminator, The Closer, two eps of The Cleaner, and I think there was something else also to catch up on. Uh oh. Really need to go see Tropic Thunder THIS WEEK. Can I manage it?

Listening to: Band of Horses. I hadn't listened to them in awhile and they were SO FUCKING GOOD at Monolith this weekend. Ethereal and spooky and yet rocking.

Posted by Duff at 10:35 AM | E-Mail | Comments (2) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

September 11, 2008

Pondering the Monolith Lineup

Here's what I'm interested in seeing this weekend, and obviously I am going to have some tough time-slot decisions to make! Uh oh! You KNOW how I am about making decisions!

Saturday
2 - Port O'Brien
2 - Foals
2:30 - The Morning Benders
2:45 - KaiserCartel
4:30 - Cut Copy
5:10 - Liam Finn (going to him in Oct, could skip)
5:45 - The Fratellis (I've seen them, could skip)
7:15 - Vampire Weekend
8:45 - Silversun Pickups
9:45 - Atmosphere

Sunday
4:15 - The Avett Brothers (!!!)
6:30 - Chester French (!!!)
6:30 - The Kills (just saw them at Lolla, will probly skip)
7:15 - Band of Horses
8:00 - Akron/Family
8:30 - Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip (since I've seen them at a great venue already, maybe I'll just go late?)

There are lots of other bands playing that I could technically have on my 'try to see' list (CSS, TV on the Radio, Sharon Jones, etc.) but I'm trying to remember that I am old and tired and be a bit less ambitious.

Posted by Duff at 11:20 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Lists, Live!!, Tunes

September 09, 2008

Fighting the end of summer like a toddler you're trying to put down for a nap.

Pick yourself up a copy of Shwayze because this is summer lovin' music of the best kind.* Windows rolled down, sand between your toes, cruisin', stereo cranked. Totally ridiculous rhymin' lyrics ("Light 'er up, light light light 'er up, like it's 1985 and we're high as fuck"), bouncy bouncy beats. This would also be perfect rollerskating music. Just so you know.

Reminds me of what is probably my all-time favorite summer* song "More Bounce in California" by Soul Kid #1.

It's true what they say: sometimes a girl just wants to have fun.

*Or it is TO ME which is all I am concerned with isn't it.

Posted by Duff at 02:27 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Lyrics, Recommending, Tunes

September 07, 2008

You say it's urgent, so urgent. So urgent, just you wait and see, how urgent our love can be. It's urgent.

Songs I have listened to this afternoon include:

• "Dream On" Aerosmith
  
• "Janie's Got a Gun" Aerosmith
  
• "Beth" KISS
  
• "Tom Sawyer" RUSH
  
• "I Want to Know What Love Is" Foreigner
  
• "Juke Box Hero" Foreigner
  
• "Back in Black" AC/DC
  
• "Hell's Bells" AC/DC
  
• "You Shook Me All Night Long" AC/DC

As well as the song in the title. Apparently I am stuck in another decade this afternoon. These are all selections from my "Late Night Cruise on Lake Shore Drive" playlist. You should have one.

You play tricks on my mind. You're everywhere but you're so hard to find.

Posted by Duff at 05:12 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Lists, Lyrics, Tunes

September 04, 2008

My Awesome Dragon*Con Mixes

What would you give me for a copy of these? Wanna trade?

FAST:

1. "I Woke Up Today" Port O'Brien
   
2. "My Party" Chester French
   
3. "California Girls" The Magnetic Fields
   
4. "I'm Amazed" My Morning Jacket
   
5. "Baby Doll" The Fratellis
   
6. "Lollipop" Lil Wayne
   
7. "The Underdog" Spoon
   
8. "She's Not Me" Madonna
   
9. "Sea Monuments" Sea Wolf
   
10. "Backwards Walk" Frightened Rabbit
    
11. "Lost!" Coldplay
    
12. "The Guns of Camden Town" The New York Fund
    
13. "One Girl Revolution" Saving Jane
    
14. "Mrs. Officer" Lil Wayne
    
15. "So Haunted" Cut Copy
    
16. "Gamma Ray" Beck
    
17. "Circles 'Round the Moon" Nana Grizol
    
18. "Too Drunk to Dream" The Magnetic Fields"

SLOW:

1. "If It's the Beaches" The Avett Brothers
   
2. "The Ground that We Stand On" Hawskley Workman
   
3. "Heers" Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
   
4. "U and Me" Trina
   
5. "For the Birds" Earlimart
   
6. "He Doesn't Know Why" Fleet Foxes
   
7. "Slow Me Down" Joseph Arthur
   
8. "Hologram" Katie Herzig
   
9. "Alright, Okay" Ryan Auffenberg
   
10. "On My Mind" Romantica
    
11. "Walls" Beck
    
12. "Soldier Boy" Mason Jennings
    
13. "Smokin' from Shootin' " My Morning Jacket
    
14. "Time for Yourself" Earlimart
    
15. "Mother and Child Reunion" (cover) The Morning Benders
    
16. "Rat Within the Grain" (b-side) Damien Rice
    
17. "New Soul" (cover) Yael Naim
    
18. "Home" Meg Hutchinson
    
19. "The Last Thing on Your Mind" Lights

I make good mix. It's true.

Posted by Duff at 11:00 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Mixes / Playlists, Tunes

August 24, 2008

July Album Reviews

Weird month. Loved a LOT. Liked one album I would have been willing to bet money I wouldn't like and didn't like one I would have assumed I'd be more interested in listening to. Weird.

Absolutely Love & Adore:

My Morning Jacket "Evil Urges" - Not just my favorite album in August, but my #1 album of the year so far. It's sexy and funky and sassy and smooth. Love it! Favorite song is "I'm Amazed" folowed by "Librarian" (great lyrics) and "Smokin' from Shootin" (love the chorus). Only one song I tend to fast forward past and that's "Remnants".

Earlimart "Hymn and Her" - So pretty. Really cool boy/girl interactions, harmonies, lyrics. Faves: "For the Birds", "Time for Yourself" (great rhythm), "Town Where You Belong."

Cut Copy "In Ghost Colors" - Dance, dance, baby. I read a great quote somewhere (dang, lost the link) describing them as a "non ironic Joy Division." They also remind me of earli(er) Madonna ("Lights & Music" particularly). Really fun. Favorite songs are "So Haunted", "Out There on the Ice" and the opener "Feel the Love" to which I always yell "YES!!" when it comes on.

Drive-By Truckers "The Dirty South" - OK, I KNOW, I am only four years late to the party on this one. Bygones! I first listened to Jason Isbell last summer, went to see him this spring, and decided I needed to backtrack and find out what Drive-By Truckers were all about. It was recommended I start here. Yay! Love it. Very much an album of Southern rock storytelling. Gritty tales of (often) misfortune. Favorites are "The Day John Henry Died", "The Sands of Iwo Jima", "Puttin' People on the Moon" and "Puttin' People on the Moon".

Beck "Modern Guilt" - Love it. Really great. His albums are all such individuals, it's hard to compare, but "Sea Change" is probably its closest comparison among his previous albums. That said, I actually find this signficantly less melancholy than that one. Faves are "Gamma Ray" and "Walls".

Nana Grizol "Love It Love It" - I think of these dudes as a slightly happier, slightly poppier, and less "harsh" on the guitars version of Okkervil River. But I am likely the only person on the planet who describes them (or any band) that way. Love the horn arrangements. Love "Circles 'Round the Moon" (yay!) and "Voice Echo Down The Halls..." Only song I skip is (oddly) the last one. Woot. Lots of fun.

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Photograph" Eagle Seagull
  
• "On My Mind" Romantica
  
• "Wreck" The Bittersweets
  
• "Murder in the City" The Avett Brothers
  
• "Give Em Hell" Hearts of Palm (love the lyrics)
  
• "She Does" Locksley
  
• "Black Ghost/Black Girl" Starling Electric (90s feel)
  
• Mother & Child Reunion" (cover!) The Morning Benders (LOVELOVELOVE)
  
• "Word Up" Willis
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Mason Jennings "In the Ever" - Love "Fighter Girl." Love "Your New Man". Also "Soldier Boy". But find it a bit uneven as a whole. Don't like "Memphis, Tennessee". Don't dig the semi religious/Jenny Lewis-type overtones at times.
  
• Ryan Auffenberg "Marigolds" - Been singing along to "Alright, Okay" all summer long. Really love "Undercover". Also "Deep Water" is nice. Not polished throughout, seems to still be working things out. Has a Ryan Adams/Rhett Miller vibe at times (yes those are two very different people. Work it out.).
  
• Coldplay "Viva la Vida" - If the world stops turning, I'll have to take the blame, as it, you and I should all be in shock that I actually like this album. I've told you before [more than once] I'm not a Coldplay fan. You don't want to get me started on Chris Martin and masking tape on his fingers. But someone sent me this album and damn if I don't quite enjoy most of it. Hate the song "42" (HATE) but really like "Lost" and even the two radio releases "Viva la Vida" and "Strawberry Swing". Also like "Yes" but mostly because it doesn't sound at all like Coldplay, ha ha ha.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

The Hold Steady "Stay Positive" - Loved their first album, liked their second, didn't care for the third. Now this one is OK but I just don't find myself making much time for it. Have kinda lost my moment with this band. Have seen them live quite a few times. Always a really entertaining show. But generally I find myself less excited than in the past. This album: unusual instrumentation for them, some crazy harpsichord-sounding action. Tends to have more "singing" than they've done in the past (particularly "Lord, I'm Discouraged") / less just Craig Finn ranting. But tunes like "One for the Cutters" just make me ask "how many times in one song can you say 'townie'?" (Turns out a lot.) However, if you are a big HS fan, I think this is a solid album that's exploring some new ground.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

None! :)

Posted by Duff at 04:29 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

August 22, 2008

June Album Reviews

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Fleet Foxes (self titled) - Layered haunting harmonies. Voices ringing out like bells. An updated CSNY with less twang, more melancholy. Particularly love "He Doesn't Know Why", "Oliver James" and "Your Protector". But you may want to start with "White Winter Hymnal" which is probably their biggest hit so far. LOVE!

Sea Wolf "Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low" (EP) - This came out before their full album you may remember me raving about, but I didn't get the EP until I saw them live. I already had two songs off it, but I'm so glad I got it because "Sea Monuments" is just lovely. Yay Sea Wolf!

Joseph Arthur "Vagabond Skies" (EP) - Third of the four EPs he's putting out this year. Plus a full album due September 30! Happy for me because I just can't get enough of this dude's music. My favorite off this EP is the first song "Slow Me Down", but really I like the WHOLE THING. :)

The Fratellis "Here We Stand" - These guys are just pure infectious fun, I don't know see how it would possible to not enjoy their music. They just make me want to stand up and dance!! Michelle doesn't like this album as much as their first, but it pushes all the right buttons for me. My faves are "Baby Doll" and "Shameless" which gives me a total John Lennon vibe.

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Landlocked Blues" (live from Pantages Theater) Conor Oberst
  
• "Backwards Walk" Frightened Rabbit
  
• "Josephine St" I Love Math
  
• "My Only Offer" Mates of State
  
• "When I Get to the Border" She & Him
  
• "No One Else Like You" Joey Ryan
  
• "Hologram" Katie Herzig (awesome lyrics!)
  
• "You, Me & The Bourgeoisie" The Submarines (from this album)
  
• "Bang My Drum" Danielia Cotton
  
• "Beyond the Pale" Scott Kempner (total old school feel)
  
• "Saint C3cili4" Sunlight in Architecture
  
• "Alright, Okay" Ryan Auffenberg
  
• "The Ground That We Stand On" Hawksley Workman

Other Albums I Liked:

• Lil Wayne "The Carter III" - Most hyped rap album of the year? It's got some of the same issues all rap albums have (sooo many songs, soooo many guests), but there's a lot more singing, R&B style harmonies, etc., than on other comparable albums. I love "Mrs. Officer", also "Mr. Carter" and "Comfortable."
  
• The Audreys "When the Flood Comes" - I randomly bought an album by the Audreys when Mariko and I went to Oz (2006?) based on the cool photo on the cover. Fortunately turned out I really really liked it! I don't like this album as much, it's a bit less inviting. But it's just as pretty... Like. Certainly. But don't love.
  
• Port O'Brien "All We Could Do Was Sing" - You know when you rush off and buy a full album based on the strength of one awesome song? And then you get the album and it's just not what you expected because that awesome song is not really the real style of what they do? And then you do like the album but you never get into it THAT much? Yeah, this is that album. That song? "I Woke Up Today" (brilliant!). Other songs I also enjoy are "Stuck on a Boat" and "Fisherman's Son".
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Shearwater "Rook" - So I thought I would love this. It's somewhat in the vein of Sea Wolf or Fleet Foxes, that layered choral-feelin' music people are doing these days, somewhere between folk and pop. The difference really here is the vocals which are quite...hmmmm. I guess I'd say a bit "operatic", along the lines of Rufus Wainwright, Jeff Buckley. Which is fine, just not my favorite style. But the real reason I have a rough time with this album is it's just soooo sooooo sad. (Yo, I get my sadness on the inside, ha ha ha. But really.) I really like "Leviathan, Bound" (pretty! chiming!), "Century Eyes" (more upbeat) and "The Hunter's Star (pretty!), but honesty listening to this just makes me get all quiet and lonely and curl up in a corner and bang my head against the wall. So I'm kinda avoiding it actually.

Jakob Dylan "Seeing Things" - Another album that while lyrically/musically has things to recommend it....but it makes me so sad I just can't listen to it. Super slow and dirge-like and I don't think that's his strength as a musician. I am a bigger fan of the Wallflowers than most people I know, but I don't love this. And the lyrics to "Will It Grow", I'm sorry, are just over the top.

James Hunter "The Hard Way" - I really liked his previous album. I actually really like think this is a good album too...but turns out I don't have much interest in listening to it. As with Duffy that I talked about last month, this just isn't a style of music I often find myself reaching for.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

None! :)

Posted by Duff at 08:40 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

Getting PSYCHED for Monolith.

I know, I know, I'm getting so old and cranky, I seem to mostly regret festivals afterward....but I just couldn't resist the lineup for this one PLUS the bonus of visiting Colorado friends, staying for free, drinking beer, playing with puppies... Yeah yeah yeah.

Anyway, one of the BIG reasons to buy a Monolith ticket is to see The Avett Brothers, who technically I SHOULD have already seen since I had tickets to their House of Blues show in Chicago (least favorite Chicago venue) but I blew it off during a horrific w-0-r-k week.

Check out the video Alicia posted and the live performance Heather posted and I mean... OK so maybe they're a little more country than what you usually listen to? But they are also maybe a little more awesome than what you usually listen to. Yay yay yay! Can't wait!

Posted by Duff at 07:35 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Recommending, Tunes

August 21, 2008

Lyrics of the Afternoon

Girl, that's so not cool in so many ways
These were supposed to be my carefree single days
Instead I'm punching walls and coming up with ways
Ways to win you back from your new man.

Right now he's a-probably moaning your name
The thought of it is driving me insane
Got to get religion just to ease the pain
Of thinkin' about you loving your new man.

-Mason Jennings "Your New Man"

Love this song. Love "Fighter Girl". But have mixed feelings about the overall album.

Posted by Duff at 12:50 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

August 17, 2008

In Concert: She & Him

Oh yeah, baby, this was a GREAT show. [Minus the opener. I've decided not to say much about openers unless they were really good. My advice in this case: Don't get there early if you're going to see these guys.]

Zoey Deschanel has *such* a lovely voice and she can really open it up much more than you'd guess from the album. It's also got a very distinctive edge to it which really lends itself to this country/folky type of tune. The full band sets often felt like a throwback to June Carter or Patsy Cline. But when she and M.Ward did some one-on-one stuff, it had a more modern feel. Equally entertaining either way, I really liked when they did some harmonizing/trading vocals back and forth. I haven't been able to get into his solo stuff, but I though his voice worked well in counterpoint to hers.

The kind of show you just come out of HAPPY. So happy that you wind up drinking and talking and drinking and laughing and drinking [and eating mini corn dogs and doing karaoke] and getting home with only a few hours to go before the alarm goes off? Perhaps.

If they are coming to your town, they come very highly recommended.

Oh! and they played two new songs that were both really great! Yay!

Posted by Duff at 03:31 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Recommending, Tunes

Lollapalooza: Friday

I was not a good 'paloozer this year. I only bought a ticket to the least crowded day; and then I was soooo damn lazy that I couldn't even be bothered to walk to the other field to see bands I really wanted to see (Stephen Malkmus, I'm sorry, will you forgive me?) when my friends were determined to see someone else. As a result, I only saw two "new to me" performers. Grrrr. Totally annoyed with myself in retrospect but I had fun at the time so I guess I just need to get over it.

Rogue Wave - Third time I've seen them this [fiscal/school] year so nothing very surprising. Still, a fun performance despite being so early in the day. Can't really get enough of the lead's voice as I've mentioned before.

The Kills - Yay!!! They were awesome. Totally enjoyable set. Loud and sassy and even better than on the album. Woot.

The Black Keys - They fall somewhere between the Raconteurs and (early) Rolling Stones. Rock with a bit of rollicky blues-i-ness. I thought they sounded great even though I was perfectly happy to be far from the stage where I could sit when I wanted to. The kind of performance that when it ended I immediately wanted to go buy every album. Really solid.

Cat Power - She was on what I consider the worst stage at Lollapalooza. There's concrete, you have to stare into the sun, there's a walkway/sidewalk right in what would be great seating. Yeah, I just couldn't deal. She sounded fine but I bailed for the record store, although technically I was listening to her the whole time I was there / I just wasn't devoted to the performance.

The Raconteurs - These guys are just great live. But as with Rogue Wave and Cat Power, I've seen them before, I knew what to expect. Jack White is really a great performer, he brings out the best in the rest of the band. A solid, enjoyable show.

Radiohead - Well, you must be aware by now that I'm not Radiohead's greatest fan. In fact, I find them hardly listenable at this point. And I've already seen them at a festival and not thought it was a good venue for them. So I listened to song one, nice, cool lights, fine. And then song two started. And it was a song I didn't like. The call of home and shower and bed was too strong. See ya later, Thom Yorke, maybe next time you'll impress me enough to stay. But not today.

So there you have it. Saw two new performances and enjoyed them, four repeat performances and enjoyed two of them, and was generally the lamest Lollapaloozer-er ever. It *could* be I'm just getting too old and cranky for this shit.

Posted by Duff at 03:20 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

August 14, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Inconsistently. One day, super. One day, super bad. Two days...

Making: Trouble.

Reading: Same as last week: Volume 1 of "The Man Without Qualities" by Robert Musil.

Watching: La L'Olympics, baby. As should you be.

Listening to: The latest albums from My Morning Jacket and Carla Bruni (swoon). Back to back. And all the shit I bought in June that you might hear about tomorrow, if you're lucky.

Posted by Duff at 12:49 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

August 13, 2008

Lyrics of the Afternoon.

Got stopped by a lady cop
She got me thinking I can date a cop
Cause her uniform pants are so tight
She read me my rights
She put me in a car, she cut off all the lights
She said I had the right to remain silent
Now I got her hollering, sounding like a siren
...
I make her wear nothing but handcuffs & heels
And I beat it* like a cop
Rodney King, baby. Yeah, I beat it* like a cop.

-"Mrs. Officer" Lil Wayne.

This is actually sung as a kinda tender make-out song, or as tender as you get on a rap album, I guess, with a sing-songy sweet chorus. It really kinda cracks me up.

*"it"? or "her"? Hard to say...

Posted by Duff at 03:35 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

August 12, 2008

Current Favorite Album: My Morning Jacket "Evil Urges"

Wow, this album is just great. I wasn't going to buy it, given my lukewarm (or less than) feelings for "Z", but Mariko sent it to me anyway and dang, girl, if this isn't the ONLY thing I want to listen to right now.

Some of it is crazy funkalicious and totally Prince-worthy (or perhaps Michael Jackson when he was good). Other bits are more sexy soul Marvin Gaye jumping in. And there's even some Southern Rock influence ("I'm Amazed"). It's jazzy and funky and I'd have to say downright spirited. Love it. LOVE IT.

And if you haven't bought yourself a copy of Jim James covering "Goin' to Acapulco" off the I'm Not There soundtrack, I'd highly recommend that as well. Him crooning that onstage at the bizarro funeral; his voice just blew me away.

Posted by Duff at 05:22 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

August 07, 2008

Cover It Up, Baby.

Oh look, I just found a half-written entry from September 13, 2007. I think I'll publish it now. Just for fun. As one does.

My friend Megan recently posted a list of favorite covers. Here are some of mine:

• "Only You" Joshua Radin (covering Yaz)
  
• "Baby Got Back" Jonathan Coulton (covering Sir Mix-a-lot, don't ya know)
  
• "Build Me Up [Buttercup]" Rhymefest & ODB (covering...some old song?)
  
• "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" Everlast (covering Neil Young)
  
• "Faith" Boy Least Likely To (George Michael)
  
• "Crazy" Raconteurs (Gnarls Barkley)
  
• "Jessie's Girl" Matt the Electrician (Rick Springfield)
  
• "Take It on the Run" The Folk Yous (REO Speedwagon & my favorite karaoke song!)
  
• "The Glory of Love" A New Found Glory (Peter Cetera?)
  
• "Walk Away" Eliza Carthy (Ben Harper)
  
• "True Love Will Find You in the End" Beck (Daniel Johnston)
  
• "Tiny Dancer" Ben Folds (Elton John)
  
• "Thin Line" Indigo Girls (Gerard McHugh?)
  
• "Take Me Out" The Magic Numbers (Franz Ferdinand)
  
• "Since U Been Gone" Ted Leo (Kelly Clarkson)
  
• "Ms. Jackson" The Vines (Outkast)
  
• "Helplessly Hoping" Ride (CSNY - sounds so much like the original, it's barely a cover!)
  
• "Give a Little Bit" GooGoo Dolls (Supertramp - hmmm, same issue as above)
  

Posted by Duff at 08:55 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Lists, Tunes

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Goldfish. (Original flavor) They just never get old.

Making: One secret thing. Sometimes. Rarely. When lying on the floor gets too boring.

Reading: Neither Dad nor I have finished last month's challenge book yet (it was too damn big to carry around so I was only reading it at home except when do I read at home? Not often, turns out), but we decided to move on to this month's for now and go back and finish the other after.... so that means I'm reading Volume 1 of "The Man Without Qualities" by Robert Musil. It's not laugh out loud funny but there's sort of a dry sardonic undertone. So I'm enjoying it.

Watching: Firefly, for the zillioneth time (and then Serenity but of course). Since both Carrie and my future husband are watching it right now, I needed a refresher in case they feel like talking about it.

Listening to: Stuff I bought in June like Fleet Foxes and Shearwater and Jakob Dylan and The Fratellis and James Hunter and Lil Wayne and Port O'Brien. Yeah I have this dream that I will review all June & July albums by month's end and be ALL CAUGHT UP in time to start fresh with the "school year" so to speak. But don't hold your breath, I wouldn't want to be the cause of any untimely deaths.

Posted by Duff at 08:40 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

August 06, 2008

May Album Reviews

Absolutely Love & Adore:

The Kills "Midnight Boom" So I just kept reading about this band everywhere (like here or maybe here) and I kept thinking "I've GOT to check them out." Yeah, well FINALLY my lazy ass did and I'm pretty damn happy about it. Love the beats, love the lyrics, love the energy. They put on a great set at Lollapalooza but I'd love to see them in some smokey dirty hole in the wall where the sound is so loud I fear for the longevity of my eardrums. Wait, did I say "smokey"? Get with 2008, girl, there's no smoking in bars anymore...

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Graveyard Girl" M83
  
• "Be With Me" Foy Vance
  
• "Late Last Night" Robby Hecht
  
• "The Hardest Thing" Patrick Park
  
• "Measure of the Same" Birds of Avalon
  
• "Circles 'Round the Moon" Nana Grizol
  
• "Take a Bow" Rihanna
  
• "February 5th, 2008" Telekinesis!
  
• "Coast of Carolina" Telekinesis!
  
• "Good Things" Sounder
  
• "U and Me" Trina
  
• "The Last Thing on Your Mind" Lights
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• The Long Blondes "Couples" - Feels very "college" to me as it alternately reminds me of Berlin and Blondie. Can't get enough of "Guilt", "Too Clever by Half" and "I'm Going to Hell". Lots of fun. And their live show is definitely worth it.
  
• Saving Jane "SuperGirl" - Not really sure what impulse made me buy this. Have to be in the right mood for it. But when you are, it's perfect angry girl music. And "Better Day" has a total Sixpence None the Richer vibe, if that's your thing.
  
• Death Cab for Cutie "Narrow Stairs" - Nothing on this album quite blows me away the way "Marching Bands of Manhattan" did on the last one...but I think it's a solid follow-up and the more I listen, the more I seem to like it. I am not into the long jam sessions, however, so I actually prefer the radio edit of "I Will Possess Your Heart".
  
• Bob Mould "District Line" - There was definitely a period of time when Mould had really fallen off my radar. But then there was a great single out ("Circles") [doh, in apparently 2005] and then I went to hear him at Old Town and I find myself back on the Mould bandwagon. Maybe not that exciting, but always solidly rockin.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Nelo (self titled) - No idea where this one came from, did I hear a single from it somewhere? Who knows. I like the song "Walkin' Around" but otherwise it's all way too Dave Matthews for me.

Duffy "Rockferry" - I can see why people like this non-boozed-out-of-her-gourd Amy Winehouse-type, part of the "British birds do R&B" crowd. She's got a very distinctive voice. But it's just not a style of music I often get the urge to listen to. I don't mind when these songs come up on shuffle, but I don't go lookin' for them either.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Seems like a kinda slow month for buying music (did I just not spend money that month? Or did I spend a lot of it just on other things?), doesn't seem to be anything I didn't at least listen to a few times.

Posted by Duff at 09:55 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

August 05, 2008

Best of July

The best movie I saw in July was also the only movie I saw in July (or the only one I saw for the FIRST time anyway...). It was The Dark Knight and it was pretty fantastic. I had reservations, but they weren't "I don't love you" reservations. More like "I do love you, but I probably wouldn't marry you, because I know you'll only hurt me in the end."

The best book I read in July was Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart, which was just outrageously fucking funny.

The best gig I went to in July was either the Fleet Foxes set at Pitchfork or the Earlimart show at the Hideout. Probably have to tip the hat to Earlimart since the sound was better (purely by locational happenstance), but I remain equally entranced by both.

My favorite tunes in July were Fleet Foxes and (more) Joseph Arthur and The Kills and Nana Grizol "Love It Love It"(which you sooo need) and this totally awesome mixdisc/playlist I made for Juno. My question for you is*: What would you give me to get a copy of that?

Random personal highlights: Visit from the Nipper. Secret Family Craft Project.

Lowlights? Long slow stressful month. This summer has sucked some fucking rotten ass, let me tell you. I mean, except for that it's all shit I can't tell you.

*Do you remember when I used to use this phrase ALL THE TIME? Dang, I miss it.

Posted by Duff at 10:00 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

In Concert: Earlimart

It's almost dangerous seeing a band you like this much at a tiny place like the Hideout. Dangerous like you might accidentally touch them or start raving about how awesome they are and do they need groupies because you could quit your d-a-y-j-o-b at ANY TIME. (No, I didn't. Ask or quit.)

Mentor Tormentor kept me under its dreamy seduction for many, many months. The new release Hymn & Her is a bit subtler. Sparser in arrangement, tauter.

Comfortable stage banter, lovely harmonies, introspective lyrics. What a wonderful evening.

Note: Opener billed as "Peter & the Rabbits" was actually "The Office" a much buzzed-about Chi-town band. And they were good!

Posted by Duff at 09:49 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Live!!, Recommending, Tunes

August 04, 2008

This Summer at Ravinia

Robert Plant & Alison Krause. Turns out I felt the same way about the concert as I did about the album. I like individual songs, some are really pretty, but as a whole I just feel kinda "eh, OK" about it. Nothing that really grabs me. Good Ravinia music, since (for me, anyway) Ravinia is soooo not really about the music. It's about the food and the drink and the friends and the conversations and the candles and the trees and... Yeah, it's just kindof a "thing". If there's good music in the background, it enhances it. If the music is bad, you just ignore it and carry on with your night.

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. This is our "must buy" for Ravinia, we go see Lyle every year. I don't even own any of his albums, but there are songs I recognize now. Always enjoyable. Gets people moving. Kindof a real "family" night at Ravinia. Fun.

Feist. You know, she just doesn't have THAT MANY SONGS. And the horrific Metra commute there and back just really blew the night. I guess they weren't prepared for every 20- and 30-something in Chicago to be going to Ravinia since that's not the usual crowd. Didn't get home until after midnight (maybe even 1:30? can't quite remember now, thank goodness) from a concert that ended before 10. Sure "1, 2, 3, 4" sounded good. But that wasn't enough to overcome the transit issues. We were ALL very annoyed.

I was supposed to go to Aimee Mann and Squeeze in August but turns out I'll be giving my ticket up as I have to go meet my future husband that weekend. Priorities, people, priorities.

Posted by Duff at 05:20 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

Pitchfork: Day Two

The Dirty Projectors: Didn't hear their whole set but what I did hear sounded good. Might have to do some research on this band!

Boris: Thrasher metal = so NOT for me.

The Apples in Stereo: Awesome! Probably my #2 favorite of the weekend, definitely Jenn's fave and was Tracy's fave as well. Lots of fun. Upbeat, good banter, nice set.

Ghostface Killah & Raekwon: They seemed a little worn out and apparently came straight to Pitchfork after a 9 hr flight back from Europe ("Our balls are still smelly!" was one comment). Some of it sounded really good, but I was too tired to move and get to a better spot. So I just enjoyed it from afar.

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International: Not for me. But I was too tired to move.

Bon Iver: Too tired to move closer/further (recurring theme, eh) but since this is my third Bon Iver concert in 2008, I was OK with that. What I could hear: sounded just as fucking beautiful as ever. But there was a LOT of noise competition from the other stage. Don't think outdoor fests are a great venue for these dudes.

Spoon: These guys played two or three Lollapaloozas in a row so I didn't really feel the need. We stayed for a few songs and then headed home before the crowds.

Posted by Duff at 04:49 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

Pitchfork: Day One

A Hawk and a Hacksaw: Unusual instrumentation. Sometimes enjoyable, but sometimes too much "orchestra jam band."

Caribou: Not for me.

Fleet Foxes: Yay!! My favorite performance of the weekend. They are lush and layered and lovely and I really really loved it, despite the sound completely dropping out for a song in the middle there. (But you've got to expect that with outdoor festivals.) Their harmonization is just wonderful.

Dizzee Rascal: So much fun!! I've heard it argued otherwise, but in my opinion rap is generally a more reliable performance at these outdoor fests because it just plain doesn't matter how shitty the "music" in the background sounds / distorted, dropping in and out, what have you. With actual bands, that's a problem. But as long as the rapper is loud and lively, he can still sound awesome despite those kinds of outdoor fest problems.

The Hold Steady: Pretty sizzling set...the bromance* crowd was really into it. But I've never listened to their follow-up albums the way I did to their first, and I've seen them a ton of times (this was the 4th or 5th, but I'll go with 4th). So while it seemed high energy and the crowd was excited, I felt more laidback about the whole thing.

Jarvis Cocker: Somehow the sound was completely fucked and I could barely hear the dude at all. So we left.

*Seems this word is in the air these days. First Joss Whedon going on about his bromance feelings toward Tahmoh at ComicCon. Then this post over at NPR Monitor Mix. EVERY Hold Steady show I've been to has been a total bromance and you'll see many of her commenters suggested it as well.

Posted by Duff at 04:40 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Live!!, Tunes

August 02, 2008

Best of June

Just in time to write up Best of July... I mean, once I get the individual reviews of that stuff up. So slackerass I am this summer.

The best movie I saw in June was Wanted, which I just loved. But I also thought The Fall was visually stunning.

The best book I read in June was a tie between Lush Life by Richard Price (gritty, real and modern day) and Life Class by Pat Barker (artistic and historical). I also really enjoyed Dark Roots by Cate Kennedy, dark short stories, and I just cannot get enough of Patricia Briggs sci fi/fantasy stuff this year.

The best gig I went to in June was definitely Sea Wolf. Soooooo wonderful live.

My favorite tunes in June....were mostly things I bought in April. When I look back through my posts, I was listening to a lot of: Joe Purdy, Joseph Arthur, Fleet Foxes, Meg Hutchinson, Mason Jennings, the aforementioned Sea Wolf and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

Random personal highlights: Amy's whirlyball birthday party (whirlyball! so much fun!); Weis [college roommate] here for a weekend; out to dinner with Cinnamon.

Lowlights? I'm sure there were some (primarily secondary browsing location and stress related presumably) but thankfully all I can tell you right now by looking at my calendar is that I was too lazy to go to the Printer's Row Bookfair this year (either day!) and that's pathetic.

Posted by Duff at 08:35 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

July 30, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Not much. But drinking buttfuckingloads of caffeine (bad bad (and as a result) red-faced girl!). Caffeine + Rosacea = not so attractive.

Making: A blurb book from a select few of my Japan photos. Woot.

Reading: Still reading Dad's and my challenge book for the month, "The New Granta Book of the American Short Story" edited by Richard Ford, when I'm at home. And reading "Finding Battlestar Galactica: the Ultimate Unauthorized Fan's Guide" ed. by Lynette Porter, David Lavery & Hillary Robson on the El. [same as last week except FYI neither me nor Dad is going to finish this month's challenge during this month. Whoops!] whoops, wrong BStarG book, actually reading Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy: Knowledge Here Begins Out There, ed. by Jason T. Eberl. Although it is true, neither Dad nor I is going to finish our challenge book this month (we'll move on to our August book and hope we have time later in the month to go back and finish the July one).

Watching: Generation Kill. Love. Still carrying around the first disc of Band of Brothers for no reason since I've pretty much decided I won't start it until Generation Kill is over so I don't get confused about which war I'm in. Have been to The Dark Knight twice so far. Swoon.

Listening to: Earlimart "Hymn & Her". a) it is an awesome album and b) they are awesome live, super nice and sweet. Also a lot of random singles.

Posted by Duff at 01:08 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

July 23, 2008

Song Obsession of the Evening

"Word Up" Willis

Which is what's playing in the background when Hodges is doing his wacky dance in the 2006 "Post Mortem" episode of CSI which I have oddly seen a ton of times in recent weeks. (Greg-centric episodes are the best, don't you agree?)

Posted by Duff at 07:03 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', TVTVTV, Tunes

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Like there's no tomorrow. Seriously, people. On Friday, I must have been afraid there'd be a run on meat overnight because not only did I have a 900-calorie Chicken Poblano Fresco sandwich for lunch, but then I had BOTH a Brat AND a 2-lb. Hamburger at dinner. Along with 4? 5? Kirs. And as I'm sure you can imagine, I ate even grosser than that at Pitchfork all weekend. What is wrong with me?

Making: Technically nothing, last two days have been complete fucking hell on wheels at the secondary browsing location. But Jenn did rewrite the sleevecaps for me on the pattern I'm stuck on (ravelry link) so soon I will be working on that. Soon. Supposedly.

Reading: Still reading Dad's and my challenge book for the month, "The New Granta Book of the American Short Story" edited by Richard Ford, when I'm at home. And reading "Finding Battlestar Galactica: the Ultimate Unauthorized Fan's Guide" ed. by Lynette Porter, David Lavery & Hillary Robson on the El.

Watching: The Cleaner , a show that apparently I am the only person on earth to like. Have you read the reviews? Because they're BAD. But I like it! Also The Closer, which I am enjoying but not as much; Saving Grace, which I am NOT enjoying at all; Burn Notice, which I am enjoying primarily when Tricia Helfer is on screen (she is sooo different than her BStarG character, and yet has some of the same powerful characteristics. It's kinda awesome); and Generation Kill, which I am LOVING but am *ahem* only 15 minutes into the first episode. Slacker! And I've already watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog three times (all 3 eps) with many more repeat viewings to follow, I'm sure. As for the Big Screen, I loved both Wanted and The Dark Knight and frankly I'd like to see them both a second time over the weekend. We shall see.

Listening: to Nana Grizol "Love It Love It" which I bought after reading about them (a bunch of times) on this blog. It is a LOT of fun. And the Sea Wolf song "Neutral Ground" over and over after this morning's El contretemps.

Posted by Duff at 12:19 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

Complete Brain Breakdown of the Morning

Ah, ah ah ah, Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm*... "warm hand"...hmmm hmm... "into mine"... hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm....

Over and over and over in my head this morning. Could not remember a) more lyrics, b) song name, c) artist (so I could have just pulled the damn thing up on the Pod) for the life of me. Grrrrr.

Sea Wolf "Neutral Ground": Ah ah ah ah, But here in the sky, lights flash before our eyes, and I feel your warm hand slipping into mine.

Good grief.

*hmmm = (humming the melody)

Posted by Duff at 10:31 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

July 18, 2008

Favorite Song of the Bus Ride Home:

"Coast of Carolina" - Telekinesis

Favorite Song of the Waiting 'Round the Apartment for the Nipper to Arrive:

"U and Me" - Trina

Posted by Duff at 07:11 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Tunes

Angry Girl Music of the Morning

Raise your hand if your lipstick doesn't make you a dumbshit
Raise your hand if the shape of your hips don't [sic] compare to the shape of your mind

You don't even stand a chance
I'm not taking off my pants

I’m not a barbie doll, shopping mall, silicone substitution
I’m not a perfect ten, paper thin, Hollywood illusion

-Saving Jane "One Girl Revolution"

Posted by Duff at 10:50 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

July 16, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: My weight in brownies from Jamie. Yum.

Making: Secret.Family.Craft.Project.

Reading: Still reading the same two books as last week: 1) at home: Dad's and my challenge book for the month, "The New Granta Book of the American Short Story" edited by Richard Ford, and 2) in transit: "Absurdistan" by Gary Shteyngart . Close to finishing #2, which has been a hilarious ride so far, and definitely spending some time gazing at the bookshelves, pondering what's on deck.

Watching: Summer TV kickoffs of Burn Notice, The Cleaner, The Closer, Saving Grace and the wonderful, truly awesome, so enjoyable Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. (I had more to say ova heah.) Also rewatching lots of old favorites. As well as (re)watching BSG season 4 so far. Wanting to see Wanted again...Sooooo good. (So good that I haven't written it up? Slacker!)

Listening: Mostly to SModcasts. About five in the past four days or so? As my Dad says, "those two make great traveling companions." Also (re)listening to the latest albums from Madonna, Gnarls Barkley, Coldplay, Meg Hutchinson and Missy Higgins. All as accompaniment to Secret.Family.Crafting. I have a bunch of new stuff I haven't listened to yet. And there's Pitchfork (with the Nipper! YAY! NIPPER VISIT!) over the weekend. So we'll see.

Posted by Duff at 11:40 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

Recommending Random Sampler Singles

For those three of you who are always asking me for new singles to check out...HERE YA GO.

Paste 39:

• "Love During Wartime" The Main Drag
  
• "Sweet to Mend" Heirloom Projector
  
• "Ships" Tyler Ramsey"
  
• "Fine Line" Little Big Town
  
• "The Story of Benjamin Darling Part 1" State Radio
  
• "Coat Check Dream Song" (Live version) Bright Eyes
  

Paste 40:

• "California Girls" The Magnetic Fields (another song of theirs is also a favorite this summer)
  
• "Gravedigger" Willie Nelson
  
• "Shout" De Novo Dahl
  
• "Angel" Joe Rathbone
  
• "Hot Romance" Parlour Steps
  
• "Sing Along" Virginia Coalition (I've been loving this song for awhile now)
  
• "Ghosts of Goodbye" Ford Turrell
  
• "Goodnight" Zox

Paste 41:

• "The Silence Between Us" Bob Mould
  
• "Strawberry Street" Lili Hadyn
  
• "Bye Bye Bye" Plants and Animals
  
• "Punches" by Collin Herring
  
• "Meet Me by the River" Matthew Ryan vs. the Silver State
  
• "I Got a Thing for You" Jim Bianco
  
• "Changing Your Mind" Bob Schneider
  
• "Goodnight Girl" The Nadas
  
• "Old Song" AM

Paste 42:

• "Sing Again" Chris Walla
  
• "Buildings & Mountains" The Republic Tigers
  
• "Nobody Knows" Keaton Simons
  
• "Antarctica" The Weepies
  
• "Rebel Side of Heaven" Langhorne Slim
  
• "Shooting Star and the Ambulance" Pete Francis
  
• "This Girl" Jordan Zevon
  
• "I Keep Faith" Billy Bragg
  
• "Better Things" South
  
• "She Held My Hand" Steven Delopoulos

Paste 43:

• "Graveyard Girl" M83
  
• "Be With Me" Foy Vance
  
• "My Only Offer" Mates of State
  
• "Get on With It" Val Emmich
  
• "Mystery" Ashleigh Flynn
  
• "Late Last Night" Robby Hecht
  
• "Standing Bird" Love Psychedelico
  
• "Jessi Jane" The Whipsaws

And if you need reference points*, we've got:
"Right Hand on My Heart" The Whigs ...sounds like... Springsteen! "Ghosts of Goodbye" Ford Turrell ...sounds like... Ryan Adams! "Bye Bye Bye" Plants and Animals ...sounds like... Arcade Fire! Or Ravens & Chimes! "I Got a Thing for You" Jim Bianco ...sounds like... Joe Cocker! Or Tom Waits! "Old Song" AM ...sounds like... Josh Rouse! "Nobody Knows" Keaton Simons ...sounds SASSY like... Jason Mraz! "Open Fire" Sara Mac Band ...sounds like... The Dixie Chicks! "Standing Bird" Love Psychedelico ...sounds A BIT like... The Dixie Chicks as well! "Jessie Jane" The Whipsaws ...sounds like... Lynyrd Skynrd!

* Note that ...sounds like... is a very loose term that may mean actually SOUNDS LIKE or may mean rather mean "reminds me (and no one else) of".

Posted by Duff at 11:20 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under ...Sounds Like..., Listenin', Rags, Recommending, Tunes

July 09, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Better than last week. So far. Lots of bananas. Monkey-loving girls can never have too many bananas.

Making: This week? Absofuckinglutely nothing. Maybe over the weekend.

Reading: Dad's and my challenge book for the month, "The New Granta Book of the American Short Story" edited by Richard Ford, a behemoth of a collection, way too heavy to read in transit. I didn't think the first three or so were very good choices, but after that it really picked up and now I can't put it down. I mean when I'm at home, sitting down, with the book resting on a pillow or table, THEN I can't put it down. So since I'm not carrying that fucker around, on the El I'm reading "Absurdistan" by Gary Shteyngart which is really hilarious. Solidly in the "Confederacy of Dunces" tradition. I am picturing the main character as a (much) fatter Kevin Smith. If you listen to SModcasts and then read this book, I think you'll see why.

Watching: Almost nothing. (I mean BSG every night but at this point, does that even count?) I'm supposedly going to start watching Band of Brothers (CCB, can you guess why????). But I've been carrying around disc one for a couple days now and haven't managed to pop it in yet.

Listening: The new Beck "Modern Guilt" (good!), the awesome mix I just made per Juno's request, another new Joseph Arthur EP "Vagabond Skies" (Love.It.), the most talked about rap album of the year Lil Wayne "Tha Carter III" (fun!), and still listening to Fleet Foxes , Sea Wolf and Matt Costa a lot as well. Plus today I am listening to "Nightswimming" from an old, old beloved album (R.E.M. "Automatic for the People") after a eulogy in the April issue of Paste brought it to mind.

Posted by Duff at 08:50 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Tunes

July 07, 2008

Albums: Sometimes you're UP and sometimes DOWN

Upbeat music that is making me happy:

The Kills "Midnight Boom" - I don't know if you can call this punk (in this day and age) but it certainly has punk sensibilities to my mind. Digital and dirty and demanding. Lots of beats. While there is humor in some of the lyrics, this isn't a fun and games album, they're kickin' it. I love the male/female back and forth vocals (as you should know I do already, from say this or this or this). I want you to be crazy because you're boring baby when you're straight.

The Fratellis "Here We Stand" - Yay! These guys are so much fun! I loved their last album and loved their crazy high-energy but super (ridiculously) early in the day set at Lollapalooza (they so brought it ) and this album is a solid continuation of them doing their thing. Woot! Dear world's biggest Beatles fan Ms. Shrinking Smartgrrrl, I think you would like this.

Low-key music that was making me too sad to listen to it:

Shearwater "Rook" - Along the lines of Fleet Foxes or Sea Wolf, musically, (or a combination of them with Band of Horses), but somehow the mood and the tones were just so, so, so sad, I actually had to fast forward past it...Only to arrive at:

Jakob Dylan "Seeing Things" - I tend to like The Wallflowers more than most critics, maybe because they're just sort of "straight up" rock with no pop or alternative pretensions and also because I do not spend all my time comparing children to their parents (Boh-Ring!), but this album was just bringing me down, man. Sad and slow, with very melancholy lyrics. Not the sensibility of The Wallflowers at all, which is fine, it is a solo album afterall; but it felt almost dirge-like. I had to say goodbye for the day and fast forward past it as well! Maybe when I am in a different mood, I will try again.

Posted by Duff at 08:19 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

Album: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin "Pershing"

So when I wrote my April album reviews (in June, of course,when everyone was writing reviews of albums they bought in April, ha ha ha ha), I had only listened to this album once, maybe not even all the way through.

Um, hello, what was I thinking? It's upbeat and lots of fun and some of it's really pretty and it turns out for a slow-ass not really running when she's "running" runner like me, it's the perfect running music! Not so insistently rhythmic that you find yourself running to its beat, but peppy enough to keep you going.

I *love* especially "Heers" which reminds me of what Josh Rouse sounds like live (but not what he sounds like on his albums, which are much, let's say, calmer).

I'm 90% sure I bought this based on a review on Andrew Taylor Recommends although I am far too lazy to go looking for it right now. I don't know the dude but I am totally into his "random posts about everything" type of site and I will mention that he recently reviewed some Cinnamon Buns icecream that I am dying to try, and he has also done some Mt. Dew taste tests and you know how I feel about the Dew. Don't you? Do you know how JenG. feels about the Dew? Or AmandaJean? Oh, the Dew.

Posted by Duff at 08:13 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

July 02, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: All I want to eat is crap. Particularly the Special Dark Hershey's Chocolate Kisses that I bought to send to Max (and Alison) and then never put in the mail...Whoops. Their loss, my ass's gain.

Making: Almost done with the second thick woolly sleeveless vest (WHATEVER!). Hoping to finish the top of Kysa's Friendship Star quilt (a.k.a. Friendship Star #2) and then sandwich/baste/and quilt BOTH that AND the quick baby quilt top I whipped up over the weekend and get them in the mail to her by the 9th, which is supposedly the date on which the baby boy is going to pop out. I'm hoping he's late (although I'm sure she's not!!).

Reading: Was supposed to start July's challenge book yesterday (!), but picked it up and almost had my arm drop off due to the weight. Guess I won't be reading that one in transit!! So instead I've started "Trespass" by Valerie Martin which is prickly and dark and promises to get moreso.

Watching: Since my dad started watching BSG, I started watching it ALL OVER AGAIN (I know!) so that when he calls me and says OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS JUST HAPPENED, I know specifically what episode he's talking about (and in what order) and I don't accidentally give away a spoiler like I almost did the other night... Of course I have way more time in my day than he has in his, so I've already gotten past where he is. Maybe I'll wait for him to catch up. I mean, I so would, except for there being fucking nothing else for me to watch right now. And I saw "Wanted" which I loved as much as I thought I would and maybe I'll write a post on that for ya say over the long-ass holiday weekend during which I HAVE TO WORK ON SUNDAY and will not be in Southern Illinois with all my Blonde K-Cousins as I like to call 'em. Waah.

Listening: I listened to Matt Costa (which I mentioned here and here among other places) all weekend long, over and over, after introducing someone to him on Thursday night when we were at my house "playing DJ" since we thought we were going to see Meg Hutchinson at Uncommon Ground but she wasn't there (???) and instead there were these really pretty mediocre singers basically doing karaoke and I'm sorry but Alanis Morrisette "You Oughta Know" done on acoustic guitar with a husky Melissa Etheridge wannabe voice and admonitions to the audience to please "Join in!" ??? I don't think so.

But now I'm listening almost exclusively to the NEW! Earlimart "Hymn and Her" out yesterday that is AWESOME. Oh I love me some Earlimart (for example, this is how much I loved their previous album and here is where they were in my favorite albums of 2007) and Hello! Score! coming to Chicago on the 26th at the teeny tiny Hideout. Woot. Yes, I bought tickets. Yay! (Or, as a former coworker would say "I'm stoked!")

Oh and while the whole "Meg Hutchinson not being playing although that's the only reason we went" issue sucked, I did have some incredible pistachio-encrusted tilapia that pretty much blew my mind and this wacky french Apple-flavored beer that was DELISH. So there's that.

Posted by Duff at 11:57 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 30, 2008

If you read any music blogs,

you've certainly heard about the 15 yr anniversary of Exile in Guyville and everyone using this opportunity to slam Liz Phair for her (since) sellout attempts at trying to actually make money off her records (oh! the scandal!).

This is one of the more coherent and reasoned analysis I've read.

I saw Liz Phair in concert in NYC once, years ago (after the second or third album, I can't remember which, the second I think), and she was (oddly) much less shy on stage than she usually is, commented on that phenomenon herself and then said [something like] "I've never been comfortable enough to sing this live but I'm feeling oddly outgoing tonight so here goes" and launched into Flower. The crowd went completely fucking nuts, as you can imagine.

And when we saw her at Field Day Fest (in 2003) while I don't even remember how she sounded, I do remember my friend Dan being totally into her elbow-length armwarmers and mentioning them to his girlfriend so many times that a fight almost broke out. I wasn't paying that much attention since I had just realized I had a river* of Jack Daniels running down my stomach from having snuck a fifth in tucked upside down in my bra but not noticing the lid was cracked*... Sweet.

For the record, there are some songs on her later albums I love as well ("Uncle Alvarez" for one), but it's true that Exile in Guyville has *something* the other albums really don't. (But perhaps they don't aspire to either.)

*and by "river" I mean tiny trickle and by "cracked" I mean just enough to be letting out a tiny trickle. A trickle like "hmmm, why does my tummy feel damp?" trickle. Thankfully discovered quickly enough to put a speedy end to it.

Posted by Duff at 04:49 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Tunes

June 28, 2008

Favorite Singalong Songs of the Weekend

Alright, Okay - Ryan Auffenberg

The Ground that We Stand On - Hawksley Workman

Swoon.

Both via Fuel/Friends, my fave music blog.

Get 'em while the gettin' is good.

Posted by Duff at 11:01 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

June 25, 2008

Out of nowhere, I can't get this out of my head.

Dear 1989, what the hell are you doing here?

Did I Happen to Mention - Julia Fordham "Porcelain"

It was a very swoony album...but I certainly don't know what made me start subconsciously singing it today.

Posted by Duff at 02:54 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Tunes

Favorite Song of the Morning

You always look the same now
Always out in the rain somehow

"Radio Euphoria" Joseph Arthur

Posted by Duff at 11:39 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

So I have officially declared Wednesdays to be the "Currently" update date. Completely official until next time I forget and just don't do it, which will most likely be next week! Ha!

Eating: I'm kinda obsessed with the Poblano Fresco (with Chicken) sandwich at Corner Bakery right now. Which is unfortunate being that it's 900 calories (NO JOKE) which is a lot to spend on one sandwich when you are pretending to only eat 1500 calories a day...

Making: A second "vest" type garment made out of super thick, super warm, wool. Because that's totally what you are looking for in clothing right? Something with short sleeves that's super hot?

Reading: Just finished ""Lush Life" by Richard Price (v.v.good) and was reading short stories from Cate Kennedy "Dark Roots" except I didn't realize how close to the end I was and finished it on the El this morning (only 182 pages and BIG print). So crap, I'm not reading ANYTHING right this second and you know I am antsy to get home and dig into the bookshelves and get moving!

Watching: Nothing. I don't think I've turned on the TV this week. (Oh except to put in BSG discs which I've started over again for the third & fourth times (depending on the episode) and am now mid-season 2. I like to be watching around where my dad is watching so when he calls I can remember the stuff he's raving about.) I am waiting for this weekend where I WILL see WANTED, I tell you now.

Listening: Listening to the (still relatively) new Death Cab and also Fleet Foxes and Shearwater and Joseph Arthur and Port O'Brien and Madonna and Missy Higgins and Candy Butchers... I'm all over the place. I am thinking deep thoughts about a mix someone requested so I'll be poking about a bit until I get that done.

Posted by Duff at 10:10 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 23, 2008

Just one of those days.

9:45a.m. - Rockin to Sounds of the 80s on the way to the bus. Harden my Heart, oh yeah baby.

10:15a.m. - Dear REO Speedwagon, no one will ever take your place in my heart.

12:00p.m. - Whatever it takes, or how my heart breaks, I will be right here waiting for you.

12:16p.m. - And don't you know I would move heaven and earth to be together forever with you.

1:06p.m. - You're out of touch, I'm out of time. But I'm out of my head when you're not around.

1:15p.m. - You're not shy, you get around.

1:28p.m. - And you want her, and she wants you. No one, no one, no one ever is to blame.

1:37p.m. - How do you think I'm gonna get along without you when you're gone?

1:47p.m. - Listening to Celebration and all I can think about is Ross playing it on the bagpipes.

Now "free period" is over and all I'm listening to is people whining and bitching on the phone when I tell them no. In which case, I tell them: no, again. Louder.

Posted by Duff at 02:36 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

June 19, 2008

Song of the Drive Home Last Night that Drove Us Nuts Not Being Able to Remember What the Fuck Song It Was

I had to text myself lyrics to look up when I got home. Stupid moron.

Picture yourself in a living room
your pipe and slippers set out for you
I know you think that it ain't too far
But I...
I hear the call of a lifetime ring
felt the need to get up for it
oh you cut out the middleman
get free from the middleman

You got no time for the messenger,
got no regard for the thing that you don't understand,
you got no fear of the underdog,
that's why you will not survive!

I wanna forget how convention fits
but can I get out from under it?
Can I cut it out of me?
Ah...
It can't all be wedding cake
It can't all be boiled away
I try but I can't let go of it
Can't let go of it
Uh huh

Cause you don't talk to the water boy
and there's so much you could learn but you don't want to know,
You will not back up an inch ever,
that's why you will not survive,

...

The thing that I tell you now
It may not go over well
And it may not be photo-op
the way that I spell it out

But you won't hear from the messenger,
don't wanna know bout something that you don't understand,
You got no fear of the underdog,
that's why you will not survive! (Hey!)

-"The Underdog" Spoon

Posted by Duff at 10:19 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

Sad for me, Happy for you?

Unfortunately I'm not somewhere I can listen to the stream of this right now (the blocked message is quite amusing or NOT amusing depending on how badly you feel like listenin'), but it looks like a great playlist, and you might a) like it and b) actually be allowed to listen to it right now. Go you! ;)

Posted by Duff at 11:40 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Mixes / Playlists, Tunes

June 18, 2008

April Album Reviews

Absolutely Love & Adore:

The Raconteurs "Consolers of the Lonely" - Another rocking album from a great band. Can Jack White write a bad song or produce a bad album? Not so far! "Old Enough" and "Top Yourself" are my faves. If you get the chance to see them live, I highly recommend it.

Joe Purdy "You Can Tell Georgia" - There's nothing unexpected here, but it's all good: lovely lyrics, pretty arrangements, melancholy but not super sad. I mean, except for "Ode to a Sad Clown". "Can't Get It Right Today" is also great, even if it is on a commercial.

Meg Hutchinson "Come Up Full" - This album has been on repeat since I bought it, at least once a day, I swear. Can't get enough. Listen to "Ready" "Home" and "Come Up Full", then come tell me how you love it.

Joseph Arthur "Crazy Rain" (EP) - Digital, dark, dirty, scratchy. Magnificent.

Joseph Arthur "Could We Survive" (EP) - Very different than Crazy Rain. Choral, thick, harmonic. Insistent.

Fleet Foxes "Sun Giant" (EP) - Gorgeous. Layered. I might actually love this EP more than the full album. CSNY harmonies, but without that country/folk twinge. I've heard it called freak folk (?) but somehow I missed out on ever knowing about that genre. Whatevah! I'd call it "Alternapop" myself, ha ha ha ha. (If you like Sea Wolf or even Shearwater, I think you'd like this too.)

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Buildings & Mountains" The Republic Tigers
  
• "She Loves Everybody" Chester French
  
• "Roadway Hymn" La Rocca
  
• "Dust" Augustana
  
• "Everywhere" (Paul Devro blend...) Fleetwood Mac
  
• "Tick of Time" The Kooks
  
• "Heart of Mine" Peter Salett (old! from a fave flick: "Keeping the Faith")
  
• "Fighter Girl" Mason Jennings
  
• "New Soul" (Yael Naim cover) Tristan Prettyman
  
• "Rise" Will Dailey
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• The Magic Numbers "Undecided" (EP) - Always love their harmonies.
  
• Duke Special "Songs from the Deep Forest" - Very theatrical and dramatic. Seems like it should be the soundtrack to something. Unusual.
  
• Jason Anderson "The Hopeful and the Unafraid" - Has a very Springsteen/Jesse Malin vibe to it. My faves are the last two "The Post Office" and "The Half of It" that are really, really reminding me of someone else but I just can't put my finger on it. Morrissey? maybe? Listen and tell me who you hear, it's on the tip of my tongue...
  
• Girlyman "Remember Who I Am" and "Something Different Now" (Live) - I'm really into the live album, it really captures their energy.
  
• The Submarines "Honeysuckle Weeks" - Boy/girl vocals. Poppy, electronic. Kinda '80s feelin.
  
• She & Him "Volume One" - This one really grows on you if you give it a chance. Has some very fun, rollicking songs ("This Is Not a Test") and I'm really into Zoey's voice. LOVE the Beatles cover.
  
• The Weepies "Hideaway" - Aw, so sweet and melodic. As with Joe Purdy, you know beforehand what you're getting. But if it's what you like, you'll be happy.
  
• Madonna "Hard Candy" - I know it's cool to harsh on Madonna these days. I guess I'm just not that cool!!! I really like the upbeat dancy rhythms on this album. And the lyrics? Are SUCH a great contrast to the music. It kinda sounds like a breakup album, and you know I'm in a permanent state of breakup. "Miles Away", "She's Not Me" and "Incredible" are my faves. Despite what you may have heard, the JT songs are actually not the best ones, to me!
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Colin Meloy Sings Live! - I love a lot of these songs in their Decemberists arrangements. But I'm just not into it here. All very "one note": every song sung with exact same level of intensity, same volume on both vocals and guitar, same earnestness. No ups/downs/louds/softs. Kinda boring. (These same songs on Decemberists albums? Not boring at all!)

Counting Crows "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings" - I like some of the (faster) songs. But it's a bit much and the second half really drags. On the other hand, it's their best stuff in years. And I like the live versions I heard on Fuel/Friends a few months before this came out (a lot better).

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin "Pershing" - I like it the few times I've had it on..but I've barely listened to it. Too much else going on. It's on my to-do list. ;)

Posted by Duff at 11:20 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

Best of May

The best movie I saw in May was Iron Man and it was fucking awesome and definitely the best movie I've seen this year (not that I've seen many) and it's so good that even the second time around when you go to a crap ass neighborhood theater and the projector breaks and you have to watch the middle 20 minutes in two-minute increments, it's STILL brilliant. Are you coming to Chicago? I'd be happy to go to it again!

The best books I read in May were the one-two punch of Dragon Bones and Dragon Blood by Patricia Briggs. Magical and mysterious and yet so human and irresistibly attractive. If only I could have jumped into these books and become an auxiliary character (Another "cousin" for Ward? A romantic interest for Oreg?)... She ranks right up there with Elizabeth A. Lynn as my favorite current fantasy writers.

The best gig I went to in May was probably a tie between the Long Blondes (for actual "best") and Crowded House (for playing some of my all-time most beloved songs).

My favorite tunes in May....Honestly, I was soooo busy watching BSG over and over (see below), I really didn't do much listening in May. Which would be why I'm now working on listening to all the many many albums I bought but did not listen to in April, May and (thus far in) June all at once. Doh!

Random personal highlights: MDS&W, not the greatest, but I did get to see my peeps. I watched like* every episode of Battlestar Galactica. Twice. (Or more, depending on how much I loved the episode and how much screen time my Future Husband had ha ha ha ha ha.) I went to visit my nephews. Met my newest cousin! And I got many back/shoulder massages at physical therapy (but see lowlights as well).

Lowlights? Physical therapy: a) the need for it, b) the stretching and lifting and pulling, ow, ow, ow, c) the ice. Hate the ice!! Had to skip a concert (Avett Brothers). Continuing buttloads of stress at the secondary browsing location.

*like used purely for valley girl emphasis, and not to approximate any less than ALL.

Posted by Duff at 10:14 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

Favorite "Single White Female" Song of the Morning

She started dyeing her hair and wearing the same perfume as me
She started reading my books and stealing my looks and lingerie

"She's Not Me" - Madonna Hard Candy

She started dressing like me and talking like me - It freaked me out / She started calling you up in the middle of the night - What's that about?

Posted by Duff at 10:02 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

June 17, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Bing cherries. Yum! (1 cup = about 85 calories. Not bad!)

Making: Trying to finish the second sock of a pair started...a million months ago. Before I move on to finishing up Kysa's Friendship Star quilt, since I finished Ame's yesterday! Woot!

Reading: Just finished "Life Class" by Pat Barker (very good) and have moved on to "Lush Life" by Richard Price. It's good. But then again, what book of his isn't.

Watching: Just watched season 1 of Burn Notice on Hulu (Dear Hulu, how 'bout you try to get Everwood, seasons 1-4? Thanks!). Eh. I don't like the lead at all, I hate that everything he says in the voiceovers is in his smarmy, self-satisified tone of voice. But I'd love to be skinny, strong and sassy, like Gabrielle Anwar. So there's that. Since the insanely stupid Sci Fi channel is not going to show the rest of BSG season 4 until fucking next fucking year, I have to find something to watch this summer, before I die of fucking boredom. So I figured if I'm going to be stuck watching season 2 of Burn Notice, I might as well have watched season 1 first.

Listening: Listening to lots of Joseph Arthur (man of many recent EPs) and still obsessing over Meg Hutchinson's latest, as well as some singles from Tristan Prettyman and this very theatrical, dramatic album "Songs from the Deep Forest" by Duke Special that I picked up one day after reading Largeheartedboy's blog where he linked to an interview of someone who recommended this (Paul Weller? maybe?) but I can't remember who or where. It has a similar tone/feel to the soundtrack to "Spring Awakening" or the Buffy musical episode "Once More with Feeling".

Posted by Duff at 05:44 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 13, 2008

Favorite Song of the El Commute This Morning

Hey hey little fighter girl
It's you and me up against this whole wide world
Sleeping together in the lion's den
Got your earrings in my pocket till I see you again

"Fighter Girl" - Mason Jennings

Posted by Duff at 12:03 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

June 12, 2008

In Concert: Sea Wolf

This show was sooooooooooooo good. Dramatic and intense and thick and layered. Cascades of sound. LOVED it. I listened to almost nothing but this album all of December and most of January; I was so happy to hear it live.

Other than the 6'2" dude in front of us wiping out (passed out? fell? who knows?) -- and causing me to fear for my safety in my summer dress up chunky high sandals (like if he falls any closer to me, I might break an ankle trying to get out of his way!) -- and then being carried out by his friends in a big commotion it was a great night.

And bonus: the hilarious byplay between the tattooed, muscle-y lead guitarist (as opposed to lead vocalist) and the skinny, 12-teen bassist. For ex., every time the bassist had to shake the tambourine, the lead guitarist would keep looking over and smirking at him like "Ha ha young'un', you're stuck with the tambourine!" I thought I might be imagining the whole thing but then TL leaned over and said "Are you catching the teasing going on up there?" Oh yeah, it made them even cuter.

Posted by Duff at 09:19 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Recommending, Tunes

June 11, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Mixed Berry Chewy Spree. Which I'm sure are sour only to me, and holy crap they're making my face burn up. Could be allergic to them. Better eat 20 more to make sure.

Making: Still the blindstitching to go on Amy's quilt and so close to being done w/ an elongated Cloud bolero (ravelry link) although at this point I'm fairly convinced I'll never wind up wearing the thing. Everyone thinks I should wear it with a tanktop but in what weather conditions do a tank top and a wool lacey vest deal go together?

Reading: "The Farther Shore" by Matthew Eck which is really, really good. Welcome to the new generation of war novelists. Tactile and gritty and completely engrossing.

Watching: Battlestar Galactica (old and new) over and over again. And the one and only season of Standoff on Hulu. DAMN, it still pisses me off they cancelled that show. I love episode 2 possibly the best*, but the end of episode 3 is totally (romantically) awesome (Hello, Band of Horses), and also the ends of episodes 12 and 18, just so you know.

Listening: Listening to lots of Joe Purdy (as I may have mentioned), as well as Sea Wolf after seeing their brilliant show last week, (hmmm, which I thought I had written up but apparently not) and Meg Hutchinson. Have bought tons of new stuff; maybe I'll start listening to that over the weekend. I mean, if I can be unslackerish enough to roll off the couch and press play. I've got big relaxation plans going on over here.

*Am I the only one who loves things the "best" rather than the "most"? Where'd I pick that up? I know one of you is to blame. CCB, was it you?

Posted by Duff at 11:30 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 09, 2008

Patheticness of the Day

This really pretty, beautifully melodic, lovely song off Joe Purdy's latest album is TOTALLY MAKING ME CRY. And the worst part is, it's called "Ode to Sad Clown."

COME ON NOW PEOPLE. It is an ode to a sad clown and the lyrics are totally making me cry. Can you get more pathetic and stereotypic than that? I think I better go to bed.

(Nonetheless, I assure you it is a good song. Regardless of the pathetic person listening to it.)

I used to hear the children play
used to hear the birds sing
one day they just stopped
and I don't hear them anymore...

I got caught in this whistling wind
doin my best to regret these sins
Lord would you forgive me
if you know I'm gonna do it again
it's not that I'm not sorry Lord,
it's just that I'm not strong
Oh 'cause when that woman looks at me
I cant remember right from wrong...

Posted by Duff at 11:18 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

In Concert: Nada Surf

Given that this was a free show at Ribfest, I knew better than to expect a great mix or clear soundsystem. That said, although I thought the lead guitar was amped too loud and the vocals too low, "See These Bones" sounded even better than I imagined it would be (damn I love that song a ridiculous amount of love), and I really enjoyed the energy of the rest of the show (the rest that came before it, See These Bones being saved for almost the very end). "Ice on the Wing" and "Beautiful Beat" were other highlights. Lowlights were primarily a) the Amazon who kept shifting to stand in front of me no matter where I moved and b) her incessant pawing of her equally Amazonian boyfriend. Ew.

Posted by Duff at 04:51 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

June 05, 2008

March Album Reviews

So turns out I didn't buy that much music in March. Not only did I not buy much (some of what's below was gifted to me), but I didn't listen much either... Maybe that 9-day trip to Japan had something to do with it? (And, no, before you ask, I still haven't listened to much of the music I bought there [mostly rap], I've been too busy reorganizing music while home to listen to new stuff [and didn't put those on the Pod/iTunes yet].)

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Jesse Malin "Glitter in the Gutter" - One of those (increasingly rare) albums that just WORKS all the way through. Really love it. I actually like it so much, I couldn't even narrow down a favorite song for ya. Today it may have been "Happy Ever After" but other days it's been "Black Haired Girl" and sometimes "NY Nights" and other times... Uh huh. It's that good.

Gnarls Barkley "The Odd Couple" - The more I listen to it, the more I like it. It's not getting the press or the play their first one did, but I think it's just as good. A little darker, but still delish. Cee-Lo just has such a great voice, I think that boy could sing anything and make it beautiful. Favorite song: definitely "Going On".

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Rat Within the Grain" Damien Rice
  
• "Wonderwall" Noel Gallagher, singing the Ryan Adams' arrangement of Noel's song
  
• "Hideaway" The Weepies
  
• "Buckets of Rain" (my favorite all-time Dylan song) covered by Redbird (Peter Mulvey)
  
• "The Silence Between Us" Bob Mould
  
• "Changing Your Mind" Bob Schneider
  
• "Don't You Worry" Jim Noir
  
• "I Woke Up Today" Port O'Brien
  
• "Vision in Red" Thao Nguyen

Other Albums I Liked:

• Hot Chip "Coming on Strong" (and) "Made in the Dark" - I kept reading about this band everywhere and wondering if I should be listening and CCB took pity on my lazy ass and sent me both of these. The former (CoS) is not what I was (for some unknown reason) expecting. Instead it's melodic, kinda jazzy with some background fuzz, sweet and smooth. The second (MitD) is more what I had in my mind: disco-y electronic, rhythmic. Fun! :)
  
• Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks "Real Emotional Trash" - I never listened to Pavement back in the day; got turned on to them last summer thanks to Rob Sheffield's lovely book so I'm new to the Malkmus fan club. On the rough, edgy side of rock. The first four songs don't really pull me in but then we hit "Baltimore" and "Gardenia" and I'm a total goner... I could listen to those two (and the songs that follow) over and over!
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss "Raising Sand" - Hmmm. You know, people kept occasionally playing me singles off this album and I thought "hey, maybe it IS as good as people are saying." But apparently I only like it in singles because I almost fell asleep the three times I tried to get through the album as a whole. Pretty. But boring. Maybe I will like them better in person? We'll find out in a few weeks...

Foo Fighters "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" - I was a big big Foo fan...a long time ago. (Their live show was one of my faves of my NY years.) And although it seems odd to say about music, sometimes I just grow out of a certain band or sound. When I put this on, I think "oh yeah, sounds exactly like some Foo stuff I was listening to 10 years ago." (Loved their first two albums. Loved.) So while this album is perfectly fine and good and enjoyable enough (and could easily be in the above category instead of here), I just don't find myself listening to it. I've kinda moved on.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

Just the stuff I bought in Japan. :)

Posted by Duff at 10:20 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

May 29, 2008

Best of April

Just in time for June!!

The best movie I saw in April was Leatherheads, which might seem like it's not saying much since how hard is it to be the best of only two, but on the other hand, I thought it was really really good. It's not its fault my lack of movie viewing didn't give it much competition.

The best book I read in April was Belong to Me, by Marisa de los Santos but Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Goff was also good and a bit more high-brow if that's what you're looking for.

The best gig I went to in April was Bon Iver. A beautiful album done even more beautifully live.

My favorite tunes in April.... You know, at this point I'm not sure what I was listening to then, probably stuff I bought in February and/or March. The memory, it ain't what it used to be.

Random personal highlights: The yearly trip to Portland, yay, including burgers, beers and brunch; trying out my new camera (Hasselblad, yo). Not much else good happened; it was a rough month.

Lowlights? Had the punes; which seemingly caused a mysterious shoulder injury (look for "physical therapy" in May's highlights); had a LOTLOTLOT of stress at the secondary browsing location. And, I'm sure, airport delays on the way to Portland because you KNOW planes are delayed in every direction if I am flying on them.

Posted by Duff at 01:42 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

May 28, 2008

In Concert: The Long Blondes

per my drunken Flickr review:
Kicked Ass.
Openers sucked.
Venue was empty.
Crowd was weird.
Band Rocked.

Highly recommended that you see them live. Some songs almost a combination of Berlin (swoon) and early Madonna. Really great. Would love to see them again with a bigger crowd.

Posted by Duff at 08:51 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Recommending, Tunes

In Concert: Rogue Wave

I think the reason I didn't write this show up earlier was it was so similar to the one I went to in October, except I wasn't as tired that night so I had more fun. This time, my feet hurt and I was cranky and I left early even though RK probably would have happily stayed longer. But don't fret, Rogue Wave, it was me, not you. You were great.

Really intimate show, started with an acoustic set in the middle of the audience and since it was Schuba's, the "middle of the audience" was no more than 10 feet away from anyone. A bit fuzzy once they got on stage. Didn't realize how much better the Double Door's sound system is (that was where the October show was) but I guess now I know.

Posted by Duff at 08:48 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

In Concert: Meg Hutchinson and Girlyman

We bought the tickets because AW is a huge fan of Girlyman; finding out that Meg Hutchinson was the opener was an added bonus!

Meg Hutchinson: Gorgeous set. Just her and a guitar. Mostly stuff from her new album which has such great lyrics, I really can't get enough of it. Lovely. On the folky side of pop. LOVE.

Girlyman: Three very unique voices, used quite well together. Reminds me of early Indigo Girls with their harmonies although AW was a little snippy about me having that viewpoint. They seem to switch back and forth between joke-y and serious (in a BNL kind of way), but the vocals/mike were mixed way too low(quiet) for the soprano, they need to amp her up a bit (a big bit). Despite that, really enjoyable, fun show.

Posted by Duff at 08:42 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

May 15, 2008

February Album Reviews

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Missy Higgins "On a Clear Night" - Such an awesome husky voice. (JenG., a huskier Meg Nathanson? I hope you are listening to this album! You would love it!) Uncomplicated arrangements, quietly emotional. Particularly lovin' "Angela".

Nada Surf "Lucky" - Lovelovelove "See These Bones". And "Ice on the Wing". And... Yeah. The whole album kicks ass.

Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago" - If you aren't already sick of hearing me talk about Bon Iver, then you must be here for the first time. This album takes my breath away, shreds my heart into tiny little pieces, and leaves me wanting more.

The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - So Much Frakkin Fun. Various vocalists. Different styles to many of the songs. "I Never Thought I Could Feel This Way for a Boy" is their breakout but I love "Then and Not a Moment Before" and "Aspidistra" just as much.

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• "Forever Song" Josh Pyke
  
• "Gravedigger" Willie Nelson
  
• "Sing Along" Virginia Coalition
  
• "Goodnight" Zox
  
• "Grounds for Divorce" Elbow
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Clare Bowditch & the Feeding Set "The Moon Looked On" - Not sure why I had to email Australia to get someone to send me this album. She SHOULD be hitting it much bigger than she is.
  
• The Magnetic Fields "Distortion" - Loud and buzzy and layered. Some really great lyrics on this album.
  
• Mike Doughty "Golden Delicious" - Big fan of this album. ("I wrote about a song about your car"! Yay!) Subtract a few songs from it (another version of "27 Jennifers". Really?) and add the one that's missing and I'd be all over it. ;) Still, do like a lot of it.
  
• The Raveonettes "Lust Lust Lust" - Makes a good pair with the Magnetic Fields. Thick and dark and pulsing.
  
• Coastal Chill 08 - Random (primarily Aussie) singles. Sweet.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Huh. Looks like I didn't buy any albums I didn't like in February. Woot, score one for me!

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

• The Mountain Goats "Heretic Pride" - Bought it toward the end of the month, just haven't really wound up listening to it.
  

A lot of the songs mentioned here wound up on this mix.

Posted by Duff at 04:00 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

May 14, 2008

Lyrics of the Afternoon

Well, go ahead and call the cops,
You don't meet nice girls in coffee shops.

-from "Hold On" written by Tom Waits, but I'm listening to the Redbird (Peter Mulvey) cover...

Posted by Duff at 02:39 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

Album: Jesse Malin "Glitter in the Gutter"

I've mentioned this album a few times (here, here, and the single here) but in case you weren't paying attention...

Great lyrics, insistent rhythms. Sometimes plaintive, sometimes demanding. A little Springsteen feelin' (he even sings on a track). A little Eagles soundin' (particularly the chorus of "Aftermath": "Standing on the corner, watching people walk on...") and he definitely has a little Southern Rock twinge to him (listen to his pronunciation when he sings "From the desert to this love-stained town, I still find comfort in the underground..." in "NY Nights"). He's a bit more rockin' than the average dude on my "melancholy boys" playlist...sometimes a bit more mad. ;)

Two to three months later (March purchase) and it's still in pretty constant rotation. It'll take something seriously magical to knock this out of my 2008 Top 10.

Posted by Duff at 09:35 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

May 12, 2008

In Concert: Crowded House

Dear Neil Finn,

I honestly thought this night would never happen. I mean, first the band either broke up or just stopped playing together, whichever. Then one of the members died (committed suicide, if I recall?). And sure, I went to see you do a solo show in New York, and that was fine, I can dig your solo stuff. But honestly? Hearing "Weather With You"? Live and in person? (Preceded by "Don't Dream It's Over" and followed by "7 Worlds Collide")

Seriously,
I can die happy now,
Smooches, CMS

Posted by Duff at 03:36 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Letters, Live!!, Tunes

May 02, 2008

Lyrics of the Afternoon

Not only does it have an awesome beeboppy '60s feelin' to it, but also there are a LOT of good lines in The Magnetic Fields "Too Drunk to Dream" (from Distortion, a pretty kickin' album that sonically certainly lives up to its name) but here are three of my faves:

I've got to get too drunk to dream because I only dream of you.

I've got to get too pissed to miss you or I'll never get to sleep.

I've got to get too fried to cry or I'll be crying all night long.

Mmmm, making me thirsty.

Posted by Duff at 02:19 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Album, Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Loads of crap-ass horrible-for-you but oh-so-good-tasting food.

Making: Not a motherfucking thing.

Reading: Finishing up "Slam" by Nick Hornby so I can move on to the May challenge book before Dad gets too far ahead of me!!! (Finished April in the nick of time but haven't written it up yet.)

Watching: This week's episodes of: Bros & Sis (middling); Bones (eh, stupid babies); Gossip Girl (hmm OK); How I Met Your Mother (awesome); CSI NY (lame); CSI (awesome); Lost (motherfucking awesomely awesome!!!!!!!!!!!); The Office (pretty good); 30 Rock (eh); Grey's (sucked ass). Did I watch anything else this week? I just can't remember.

Listening: New albums from The Weepies (yes!); Madonna (some!); Fleet Foxes (LOVE!); and lots of other stuff (check several recent Tunes posts).

Posted by Duff at 10:20 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

Cover of the Day...and Some Other Recommendations

"I Should Have Known Better" - She & Him (Zoey Deschanel & M. Ward)

Beatles done alt-country style. Sweet. Zoey D = the next June Carter Cash?

Other singles (but not covers) I'm diggin':

• "She Loves Everybody" Chester French
  
• "Tick of Time" The Kooks
  
• "Roadway Hymn" La Rocca
  
• "Heart of Mine" Peter Salett*

*So I've been rewatching Keeping the Faith lately. So what. You SHOULD be too.

Posted by Duff at 10:05 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Flicks, Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

May 01, 2008

Speak of the Fucking Devil.

So I may have mentioned Joe Purdy and his steady production of albums yesterday... Only to arrive home to an email announcing that his latest album is soon to be on its way!

Joe's 10th album "Last Clock On The Wall" is in the mixing stage and will be ready for you to listen soon. Stay tuned. It's his best!!

Dude is INSANELY prolific, I'm telling you.

Posted by Duff at 11:03 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Tunes

Favorite Album of the Day:

The Submarines "Honeysuckle Weeks"

You know I'm a sucker for boy/girl trade-off/combined vocals.

And awesome lyrics: Love is a swimming pool with no bottom / We've got to hold on, the water is risin'...

And boppy silly rhythms. La la la la la.

Yay!

Posted by Duff at 10:59 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Album, Listenin', Tunes

April 30, 2008

Is Joe Purdy the new Ryan Adams?

Is it my imagination or does he put out three albums a year, minimum?

Anyhoooooo, if you've seen the latest KIA commercials, you've heard his latest single "Can't Get It Right Today" off his new(est) album "You Can Tell Georgia", much of which I am enjoying. It's not a new direction or anything, but it doesn't need to be.

Dude sings pretty. What else do you need to know? :)

and p.s. he made me his friend on Facebook out of the blue (I mean, I hadn't friended him or anything because, you know, I'm not all that stalker-y as I might sometimes seem). I expect soon we will be meeting for coffee, exchanging CDs, and staying up late watching BSG together. Oh wait, that's not how "friend"ing on Facebook works, is it. Dang.

Posted by Duff at 10:31 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

April 29, 2008

The last Madonna fan on earth?

Boy, people are really harshing on Madonna these days. That article actually made me kinda sad. She's not my very favorite artist...but there's lots of songs of hers I have liked in the past and I do believe we need people that push mainstream culture's boundaries, even if they are the fakiest of the fake when they're doing it, whether they do it as "brands" or "media monsters" or whatever.

I'm listening to her new album Hard Candy for the first time...and I'm finding lots of things to like. Maybe not LOVE. Maybe not OH MY GOD BEST ALBUM EVER. But there's lyrics I'm likin', and beats, and random melody lines, and I have always liked her admittedly not-the-world's-best-ever voice.

Plus I prefer pretty much all my music with lyrics and that includes dance music, which is really what this is.

Posted by Duff at 05:48 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

April 24, 2008

January Album Reviews

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Matt Costa "Unfamiliar Faces" - Quirky (his videos crack me up!) and fun. Melodic and rhythmic (which seems...obvious, but they're not always both there!) and goofy and sweet. Really can't stop listening to it. Particularly "Mr. Pitiful" and "Miss Magnolia", both of which make me bounce around like a goofball.

Liam Finn "I'll Be Lightning" - A month ago, I liked this but I didn't love it. All I could think about was his dad. But then it kept coming up on shuffle and I kept thinking "Wow, I love his voice" and then I started listening to the album again, and then again, and... Yeah, I'm pretty much loving it. I love the chorus of "Second Chance" and "Energy Spent" is a lot of fun. I do think it runs out of gas a little, the last three songs just kinda of shuffle off for me. But it's a 14-song album which is crazy in the first place!

Ben Gibbard and Andrew Kenny "Home, Vol. 5" - I'm so late to the party on this one, but I really love these songs. Lowkey but lush in their own way.

Tracy Johnson "Dreams in Cold Weather" - Fun, girlie pop. Sassy, emotionally edgie lyrics. Perhaps Alanis-reminiscent to some. (Makes me think of Merrill Bainbridge, myself.) Lovin' it!

Random Singles:

• "Brown" and "Anemones" Half Acre Day
  
• "In a Little While" (live, San Jose Arena, 4/20/01) U2 (old, yes. beautiful, yes.)
  
• "Gimme Some Truth" (cover) Rogue Wave
  
• "Number One" Miss Fairchild
  
• "Thing About Trouble" Doug Burr (sounds like Ryan Adams)
  
• "If It's the Beaches" Avett Brothers (SWOOON)
  
• "You Cross My Path" The Charlatans (UK)
  
• "The Faraway Sound of Cars" Reichenback Falls
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Reichenback Falls "Ravens & Chimes" - Michelle, are you listening to this? I think you'd like it. A little Polyphonic Spree-feelin'. And some of it is so strongly Arcade Fire-reminiscent that they fool my ear (particularly "This Is Where We Are", "Saint Jude in the Village Voice" and "General Lafayette! You Are Not Alone!").
  
• Cat Power "Jukebox" - I like this a lot...but not as much as I like her originals. I love a well-timed cover, but I get a little bored when they're the entire album. Don't you?
  
• moe "Sticks and Stones" - Straight up rock'n'roll. Feels (and sometimes sounds) like old Rolling Stones, with a touch of the Southern/gothic rock thrown in. "Darkness" is awesome and I love the rhymin of "Cathedral."
  
• Chris Bell "I Am the Cosmos" - Very old but new to me.
  
• Kathryn Williams "Relations" - Soft and folky. Pretty. Not sure I'll ever listen to it that much though.
  
• Rilo Kiley "Under the Blacklight" - I'd purposely avoided this one (long story, or maybe not so long). But it's quite nice, some good songs.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

M.I.A. "Kala" - I just don't get it. Didn't get into it at Lollapalooza, don't get into it at home with the album either. I may not be worldly enough. :)

Patrick Wolf "The Magic Position" - I really like the first two songs. But the rest just doesn't grab me.

Okkervil River "Golden Opportunities (mixtape)" - Download available on their site. I like their albums a lot (both "Black Sheep Boy" and "The Stage Names") but this is (more) rough and ragged and I just don't really find myself listening to it. Not representative of this band, to my mind.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

• Lucinda Black Bear " 'Capo My Heart' and Other Bear Songs" - just can't seem to get around to this one. Soon?
  
• Good Shoes "Think Before You Speak" - Listened once. Thought it was punky! And fun! But haven't managed to listen again.
  

Posted by Duff at 03:30 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Ginger ale and saltines and that's about it. I expect that to change over the weekend though. Look out Moody's, here I come.

Making: Nada. Been shootin' some film.

Reading: Dad's and my March challenge book for the month "The Death of Virgil" by Hermann Brach, the first to really be a fucking challenge to read. Abstractly, it is beautiful and elegaic and almost like reading Virgil himself. But the act of reading it...is tough. Not always what I want on the El, my main reading time. Dad was struggling too...until he burst ahead, read the last 40 pages and called me to crow! Dang! Have taken a few breaks for some others, but now I've really got to buckle down. Month's almost over!

Watching: Fresh TV. Ah. As welcome as Spring. Bones, I've missed you. Also obsessively watching both NEW and VERY OLD CSI. I know, right? Catching up on season and rewatching whatever season (2003?) is currently showing from about 4-7 on SPIKE TV. Watching it so much, DNA is all I can think about, everywhere I am, everything I touch, "whoops, just left a little DNA right there, hope no one gets murdered on this corner later..." Oh and season 1 Battlestar Galactica. Fuckin' awesome. Helo is my fave. Season 2 better get here lickety split (if you think I didn't leave the sickbed to go feverishly, deliriously hunting for it in the 'hood the other night, you are way wrong).

Listening: Dang, I've been watching so much BSG and CSI, listenin' has had a tough time staying in the game this week. I haven't even listened to most of the CDs I bought in Japan, as someone just reminded me! That said, I'm loving the new album from Meg Hutchinson I bought at her show the other night. And by loving I mean ouch, my heart just broke into 100 pieces but play it again, would ya? Also loving two recent EPs by Joseph Arthur, one all distorty and dark and the other less dark but as melancholy as always (and love it so). Got a lot of new stuff waitin' in the wings. More to say soon! Seriously!

Posted by Duff at 01:18 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

Lyric of the Day

...you slammed through my life like a screendoor in a hurricane wind...

-Girlyman "Postcards from Mexico"

Posted by Duff at 08:21 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

April 18, 2008

Best of March

Ah, March, I barely remember you... Ha! Kidding!

The best movie I saw in March was also the only movie I saw (Be Kind, Rewind), so good thing I enjoyed it.

The best book I read in March was definitely The Complete Stories by David Malouf. Really wonderful stories.

The best gig I went to in March is harder to pin down. I was excited to finally see Matt Nathanson and (separately) Dan le Sac. I thought the Raveonettes sounded great. I probably enjoyed Griffin House the most as he was all sassy and laidback and it was a really fun night.

My favorite tunes in March were lots of stuff I was already listening to from February, like new albums from Missy Higgins, Nada Surf, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Bon Iver, Mike Doughty and the Raveonettes; but also stuff I bought in March like new albums from Jesse Malin "Glitter in the Gutter" (which I lovelovelove), Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks and Gnarls Barkley (DangerMouse can do no wrong)!!

Random personal highlights: Hmmm, let's see, nine-day trip to Japan, I guess that was kind-of a highlight (I guess! Ha!); my newest/youngest cousin was born!: Clark and I had a joint party; and I had a great long Saturday with Carlos and Shei getting back into shooting film (vs. digital).

Lowlights? Long, long, long airplane rides.

Posted by Duff at 10:15 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

In Concert: Bon Iver (2nd x)

So the first time I saw him/them live, I didn't even have the album yet (small release in '07, big release 2/19/08). I was worried that seeing him/them again so soon would be too much the same, but given that I had the album to compare it to this time, it felt very different.

They're really evolving these songs away from the album versions. A lot more atmospheric, more discordance and (purposeful) feedback and such. The falsetto is a little wilder and sometimes turns into a yowl. The three of them sing in harmony a LOT and it's awesome. It's a bit more raw and in your face than on the record. Not quite as plaintive and sad, a bit more aggressive in its melancholy. Beautiful.

Posted by Duff at 10:06 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

April 16, 2008

New (to me) Singles from Recent Paste Samplers

From Paste 37, I'm diggin':

• "The National Side" Romantica
  
• "I Love You, You Imbecile" Pelle Carlberg
  
• "Silver Dreams" Blackie & The Rodeo Kings
  
• "Luscious Life" Patrick Watson
  
• "Devil May Dance" A.J. Roach
  
• "New York Skyline" Giant Bear

If you like Regina Spektor and/or Ingrid Michaelson, try "Unmistakably Love" Stephanie's ID.

If you like The Fray, try "Swim" Jeremy Larson.

(Old Friends also recommended: "Take Me to the Riot" Stars; "Gone Gone Gone" Robert Plant & Alison Krauss [I can't listen to their album in one go, but I like it in individual songs].)

From Paste 38, I'm diggin':

• "Foundations" Kate Nash
  
• "I'll Follow You Tonight" Anna Terheim
  
• "Have to Have Everything" Milton & The Devils Party
  
• "The Cornflakes Song" (feat. Glen Phillips) Dick Prall
  
• "Days" She Is So Beautiful/She Is So Blonde
  
• "Brand New Love" Serena Ryder (minus the Jesus references)

I guess this one must've come out before Christmas since it ends with three Holiday songs. Doh. (I like "It Really Is (A Wonderful Life)" Mindy Smith.)

If you like The Fray and/or Five for Fighting, try "Do I Wake or Sleep?" Homer Hiccolm & The Rocketboys and "Wedding Crows" The Josh Davis Band.

If you like the Go-Gos, try "I Call on You" The TrolleyVox

(Old Friends also recommended: "100 Days, 100 Nights" Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings; "The Opposite of Hallelujah" Jens Lekman; "Second Chance" Liam Finn .)

Posted by Duff at 03:31 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Rags, Tunes

April 14, 2008

Lyrics of the Day

I don't need the whole bird, just a feather will do...
From you...

-Meg Hutchinson "Whole Bird" (from Come Up Full)

Posted by Duff at 07:58 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

April 13, 2008

Lyrics of the Day

There's only four seasons but these feelings are always here...
-Joe Purdy "Only Four Seasons" (from You Can Tell Georgia)

Posted by Duff at 04:56 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

April 09, 2008

The Curse of the Morning Drugstore Stop

Since I needed a Mt. Dew this morning (ALL YOUR FAULT, AmandaJean), I had to make a quick nip into the drugstore on the way in. Thanks to their (ridiculous) '80s (or was it early '90s? or does it even matter) background music, I now have the following on repeat in my mind (and undesirably so):

After all the stops and starts, we keep coming back to these two hearts...

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Peter Cetera is really not what I want in my head today!

Posted by Duff at 08:50 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Tunes

April 07, 2008

Woah. Could've sworn...

The vocals on the chorus of "Thing About Trouble" Doug Burr (I see the devil...) ....SOUND so much LIKE... Ryan Adams, I am doing serious doubletakes at my iPod screen right now.

That said, the verses sound more like Springsteen.

Posted by Duff at 07:43 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under ...Sounds Like..., Listenin', Tunes

April 04, 2008

Song of the Day

"Mr. Pitiful" Matt Costa

This song is so bouncy and fun, I DARE you not to at least WANT to dance when you hear it...

Posted by Duff at 01:21 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Tunes

Songs I Would Do as Cover Encores Were I in a Band

• "Dancin' Boy" Harry Chapin
  
• "Leavin' on a Jet Plane" John Denver
  
• "Shook Me All Night Long" AC/DC
  
• "Hole Hearted" Extreme
  
• "Stroke Me" Billy Squier (Or "The Stroke" is apparently the correct name)
  
• "Father and Son" Cat Stevens (I can actually play this one on guitar. So I'd have to include it, wouldn't I?)
  
• "Run for Your Life" Beatles
  

And of course, my #1 and #2 favorite all-time karaoke songs:

• "Take It on the Run" REO Speedwagon
  
• "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty

Posted by Duff at 12:44 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Lists, Tunes

April 03, 2008

Other People's Playlists

Another fun thing that can shake you out of your listening rut is using other people's playlists. Take this great little list by Movies of Myself offered up for Valentine's Day for example. I already owned all those songs, but I might never have listened to them in that order/grouping and hello it starts with the Cars. Come on now, people, you just can't go wrong starting a mix with the Cars.

All-Time Favorite Cars Song: Drive.

And with that one we're back in high school again (Hmmm, I would have said junior high but it apparently didn't come until 1984 so I guess the Cars I was listening to in junior high were earlier albums than that). Holy crapolarolla are we thinking about old times today or what.

Posted by Duff at 12:02 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Tunes

Blasts from the Past

One of the joys of the 2008 CD Reorganization Project is rediscovering old tunes, sometimes tunes I never got into but most of the time tunes I loved that never made it onto iTunes (or the iPod) because they were out of the regular listening rotation by the time iTunes/iPods came around...

Last night, going through the "rap/hip hop/etc" piles, I found PM Dawn. PM Dawn!!! (Did you know them?) I loveloveloved those albums, haven't listened to them in ages...

Unfortunately this discovery was made too close to bedtime to import them into iTunes last night so today I find myself searching the Pod for other oldies but goodies....Guess what I'm listening to right now? The Go-Go's "Vacation". Something that made it into iTunes one day when I was working on a "College-ing It Out" playlist, but then started thinking about things that (for me) were High School actually. Oh yeah, baby. This reorg project is bringing all KINDS of stuff to mind. Yay!

Posted by Duff at 10:05 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Tunes

First Impression: Gnarls Barkley "The Odd Couple"

A little darker, sometimes lonelier. Still my favorite blend of disco vibe and hip hop beats out there. Not as upbeat as the last album but a few songs that still make me start boppin' my shoulders and jumpin' around at my desk. Fave song so far: "Going On" (bounce, bounce, bounce go my hips).

Posted by Duff at 08:36 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

April 02, 2008

First Impression: The Raconteurs "Consolers of the Lonely"

There's a real Freddie Mercury/Queen vibe going on. In a good way. And not in the "glam" way of, say, My Chemical Romance (although there's nothing bad about that). In a "rock" way.

Posted by Duff at 08:03 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

March 19, 2008

Something to go home to!!!

Gnarls Barkley bumped up the release of their new album The Odd Couple! According to the RedEye it's on iTunes now!! Yay! Can't wait to get home and listen!

Posted by Duff at 03:02 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Tunes

In Concert: The Raveonettes

A totally rockin' sonic assault. Sounded great! Sooooo loud though, may have been the loudest show I've heard at the Double Door. My heart could not decide whether to beat in time with the bass or with the drums but it certainly was not beating at its own pace! And there were some songs during which the amps vibrated so strongly that you could see (or I could feel) the tips of my spikey hair vibrating. Nuts!

On the other hand...there's not a lot of variation going on in their sound. Every song was played at the same level of loud, same speed of beat-thumping, same vocals level, etc. There's no "Oh I like their softer ones" with this band, or even their "louder" ones, it's all at the SAME level.

So if you're a fan of their particular sound (and I am), then it was great. And if you're looking for a bit more variety in your listening experience (variety in tempo, or decibel level, or even beat), then this is not the band for you.

Posted by Duff at 12:01 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

March 18, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Enough food to feed a third world country and that's what I'm eating for every meal. Just STARVING lately but presumably due to STRESS.

Making: Absofuckinglutely nothing. Made a little progress on Ame's friendship star beginning of last week. Since then: nuttin', honey.

Reading: Dad's and my March challenge short stories "The Complete Stories" by David Malouf which are breathtakingly good. Best short stories I've EVER read? I'm thinking so.

Watching: LOST which is fucking rocking my world. And other shows that really aren't as good: Jericho (OK, not great); New Amsterdam (really kinda bad but the dude is so watchable, what can a lonely girl do?); How I Met Your Mother (I do not call last night's episode returning with a bang, sorry kids) and some DVDs to help me out during the 2008 CD Reorganization Project, I'll try to pop in and tell you about them before I take off. Have had many plans to go to U2 3D over the past few weeks. All have fallen through. I hope it's still playing when I get home!

Listening: Obsessively to Jesse Malin "Glitter in the Gutter" which is in CONSTANT rotation, I just can't stop playing it. Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago" and Matt Costa "Unfamiliar Faces" are close seconds. Also getting to know the new Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks. A bit rougher/less produced than Malin but pretty damn good. Have been introducing other slackers to Nada Surf "Get Lucky", The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir (self titled) (FUN!), Mike Doughty "Golden Delicious" and Missy Higgins "On a Clear Night". Going to see The Raveonettes tonight although I haven't gotten through the entire new album yet; everytime I start listening something else gets in the fucking way!

and p.s. thanks to Fuel/Friends and the LaBlogotheque Concert à Emporter of Stephen Malkmus, this morning I am listening to Reckoning (yes, that's R.E.M. to you young'uns) which has not been listened to full on...in many years. So many good songs on this album.

Posted by Duff at 10:20 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

December Album Reviews

Absolutely Love & Adore:

Sea Wolf "Leaves in the River" - So awesome. Love the lyrics, and the mood, and the harmonies. Just lovelovelove.

Bat for Lashes "Fur and Gold" - Eccentric and layered. Worried it'd be too Tori Amos for me but the music behind the voice (almost Berlin-like or Cocteau Twins. lordie this brings me back in time) is so much more enjoyable (to me) that the comparison falls away fast (phew).

The Avett Brothers "Emotionalism" - A little bit country, a little bit folk rocky. Lots of enthusiasm and fun.

Lupe Fiasco "The Cool" - This kid is a blast. Love how he's mixing in lots of sung vocals as well.

Random Singles:

• "Skinny Love" Bon Iver (break my heart much, would ya)
  
• "In the Sun" Donna De Lory (cover of Joseph Arthur, so many people have covered this now, it's almost unbelievable)
  
• "Work That" Mary J. Blige
  
• "Just Fine" Mary J. Blige
  
• "Apologize" OneRepublic & Timbaland (LOVELOVELOVE)
  
• "Raining in Baltimore" Brandi Carlile (cover of Counting Crows)
  
• "Thou Shalt Always Kill" Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip (so much fun!)
  
• "Paperweight" Joshua Radin & Schuyler Fisk
  
• "Endless Shovel" Rogue Wave

Other Albums I Liked:

• Augie March "Moo, You Bloody Choir" - Aussie rock.
  
• Brother Ali "The Undisputed Truth" - Really enjoy...to a point. It's a LONG album and I start to forget who I'm listening to...
  
• The Foxboro Hot Tubs "Stop Drop and Roll" - Whether or not this is actually Green Day, I think it's a LOT of fun.
  
• Simple Kid "2" - sounds like a combination of Beck and Elliott Smith.
  
• Nick Light "The World Forgetting by the World Forgot" - kinda Matt Nathanson-y. Not sure he's made himself distinctive enough to really break out. I'll be interested to see.
  
• UGK "Underground Kingz" - I'm not sure I've ever made it all the way through (what's up with rap albums having like 38.5 songs?), but I like it in select doses.
  
• Juno soundtrack - Love (LOVE!) a lot of this but can't listen to it in one go, gets monotonous. Taken in doses, however, the sweetness and the romance bring you right back to the mood of the movie, which is AWESOME.
  
• Hard-Fi "Stars of CCTV" - Really liked their new one (first to me); just catching up on the back catalog.
  
• The White Stripes "Conquest" EP - Sort of a "protest against the press" album to me, if you dig into the lyrics. Just as good as their recent album, just shorter!
  
• Jay-Z "American Gangster" - I don't buy ALL his albums but I think this one is a solid "entire album" listen. Love all the movie references and the tough guy talk.

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

Radiohead "In Rainbows" - I stopped being a Radiohead fan such a long time ago (sorry, I'm just not THAT COOL); you should be surprised I even gave this a chance. I do find this album "LISTENABLE" and honestly that's a compliment given what I thought of the previous couple. And there are a couple songs I actually LIKE ("House of Cards" would be one), but I don't enjoy enough of it and I often "fast forward" when random songs from it come on up shuffle. It's just not really my thing.

Siobhan Donaghy "Revolution in Me" - I bought this hoping to get a pop diva fix. It's got some nice songs, but I don't find myself looking for it on the Pod.

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can't legitimately offer an opinion:

• Mavis Staples "We'll Never Turn Back" (loved the samples I listened to on iTunes but just haven't gotten around to it)
  
• Dyme Dec "Space Music" (although I have listened to the one song "Let It Be" a bunch, which features speeded-up Beatles and is AWESOME!! I've told you about it before.)

Posted by Duff at 09:35 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

In Concert: Matt Nathanson

So apparently Monday night shows at House of Blues start at 6:45 p.m. If your "goal" is one of the openers, hey, you can be home by 9! Nuts!

This dude has seriously the best stage banter I think I've ever seen/heard at a show. Lots of fun, totally charming. And looks about 22 causing us old folk some bizarre conversation since 90% of his references are 80s. Turns out he's 35 (or something, this discovery was made late last night and I cannot be bothered to look it up again); Never would have guessed!

I loved the songs and the banter and the energy he throws into the crowd and my god the brilliant covers. (He kicked the shit out of Don't Stop Believing.) But seriously? House of Blues? You're kindof sucky. If you are even an inch below the balcony overhang, the acoustics are COMPLETE SHIT. We did not stay for Lifehouse because frankly, how are they billed as the main band when Matt Nathanson is also taking the stage? How? (Smooches to you, funny boy!)

Posted by Duff at 08:45 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

In Concert: Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip

So much fucking fun. The skinny bearded nutty rapper dude is actually Scroobius Pip; Dan le Sac is the DJ/mixmaster/whatevah. Really great energy, even if half the time you can't understand what he's saying.

Posted by Duff at 08:43 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

March 12, 2008

In Concert...Over the Weekend.

Doug Hoekstra: The female vocalist (whose name I never caught; it was one word, started with S? Shaz?) has a really nice tone to her voice. Great harmonizer, she makes his voice sound a lot fuller.

Peter Mulvey: Given Amanda's huge crush on him, this is the third time I've seen him and that's probably just the first three in a long list. A deep, deep voice. Sassy sense of humor. Really connects with the audience.

The Spares: Wow! They were great. Very twangy, definitely on the country side of country/folk. The lead singer has a just absolutely crystal clear voice. Lovely. Great harmonies. Best "Wayfarin' Stranger" I think I've ever heard (and I'm not a lover of that tune).

Carrie Newcomer: Songs sounded pretty. But I guess I prefer my activism with a (heavy) dose of humor and sarcasm and a (LOT) lighter dose of contemplative, meditative "let's all be good to each other"-ness. You know I'm not somewhere I want to be when people are yelling "Amen" at the end of songs...

Posted by Duff at 11:38 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

March 10, 2008

New to Me. New to you?

Thanks (I think) to the most recent issue of Paste, I've been digging the blog over at Three Imaginary Girls. It was this post that really won me over. I also need to check out the band Crystal Stilts after reading about them there (sorry, can't find the post!).

In case you're wondering, here are the other music blogs I read (pretty much) daily:

I Am Fuel, You Are Friends (esp love her Monday roundups!)
Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands (lots of mixes and youtube links)
Large-Hearted Boy (Shorties)
Said the Gramophone (stuff I've never heard of)

And I found this blog via Large-Hearted Boy's end of year music roundup lists, although it is not just a music blog: Andrew Taylor Recommends.

Posted by Duff at 04:59 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Tunes

March 06, 2008

Best of February

I know the rest of you complain about it, but February is my favorite month, even when it's one day longer than usual...

The best movie I saw in February was probably There Will Be Blood, but I actually liked Cloverfield better. And honestly, why is no one going to see it? Monsters! Mayhem! New York mashed up! So much to enjoy there.

The best book I read in February was The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek, a rollicking tale of a misfit, fumbling soldier's sojourns. But I did LOVE both the sci fi/fantasy books I read this month as well (here and here).

The best gig I went to in February was a tie between Jason Isbell and Griffin House, both of whom havewho has serious stage mojo and far more rockingness than you can hear on theirhis studio albums. Isbell was fiery and intense and rocking out; House was sassy and sarcastic and living it up. [I'm an idiot, Griffin House was in March! Doh!]

My favorite tunes in February were Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago" (never found a copy of the 2007 release, could barely hold my breath waiting for this one and it was soooo worth it, absolutely gorgeous heartaching music); Missy Higgins "On a Clear Night" (husky and gorgeous); Nada Surf "Lucky" (awesome and rockin' and leading off w/ my favorite single from last year); and Clare Bowditch & the Feeding Set "The Moon Looked On". Also loving some previews of new tunes by the Counting Crows (featured on Fuel/Friends). Enjoying, but still getting to know, The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, new Mike Doughty "Golden Delicious" ("I wrote a song about your hips!" Yay! first heard in 06, finally on an album!). Bought a few others but haven't listened enough to have an opinion -- hopefully soon!

Random personal highlights: French movie night resurrected (and thanks for chili, Carla, and the Tarte Tatin, Jess!); long weekend in Vegas visiting Monica and Charlie (and Buddy and Ella!); annual milestone passed successfully; meeting Baby J for the first time (Curious George #1 recipient).

Lowlights? Not really a "lowlight" per se, but man I have been eating like crappyassola for at least a month. Gotta get back on track before my pants don't fit! Not that I regret having sour cherry pie for breakfast and molten chocolate cake for lunch on the same day. Not at all!!

Posted by Duff at 10:45 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

Best of January

The best movie I saw in January was Atonement, which was both really beautifully costumed and filmed AND the most faithful screen adaptation I think I've ever seen of a book. Lovely.

The best book I read in January was a tie between You Must Be This Happy to Enter, by Elizabeth Crane (short stories), who I've read and enjoyed before but this time I felt took the bar even higher, and Native Guard, by Natasha Trethewey (poetry), an xmas gift from my pops, really beautiful and entrancing poems about her personal history as well as civil war history.

The best gig I went to in January was Bon Iver. It was the only gig I went to in January but it was really, really good (and I'm going to see him again in April! And you know I only go see the same artist again that soon if I LOVED it).

My favorite tunes in January were Cat Power "Jukebox", Matt Costa "Unfamiliar Faces" (quirky and fun!), and an old album Chris Bell "I Am the Cosmos", which I picked up in San Fran. Bell (now deceased I believe) was in Big Star, who I started listening to last summer thanks to Rob Sheffield (yes I am a loser and didn't know about them back in the day). Also enjoying tunes from Zoey Deschanel and M.Ward (as "She & Him"), Crowded House offspring Liam Finn's debut I'll Be Lightning, and another San Fran purchase Tracy Johnson (which to me is good old-fashioned female-vocaled pop music!).

Random personal highlights: Brunch in Chicago with Carrieoke and Cathy!!!; dinner with Cinnamon; rainy weekend in San Fran visiting Ms Silvia.

Lowlights? A month and a half later, I don't remember any so they must not have been that bad!!Oh, I know! Four to six hour flight delays in both directions. Fuckin' airports = hell on earth.

Posted by Duff at 10:15 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

In Concert: Griffin House

When I saw him in November, it was at Old Town, which while a lovely place to see people with great acoustics has a bit of a formal tone, it being a music school and all. This time he played Schuba's, a casual hole in the wall, ready-for-raucousness joint, and the difference between this night and that one was how comfortable and casual he seemed on stage, how much fun he seemed to be having. Bouncing around the stage, yelling at people to dance, making sassy comments, more stage banter and more relaxed. Both nights the sound was equally good, the songs were wonderful and I loved it. This time, HE was having more fun.

Sassy, smart, sweet, and, as I may have mentioned, h-o-t hot.

By the way, Steph, so sorry you weren't there, he played two new songs. One: "Colleen" ("a song written to make you blush!") all sexy-sassy and another "Run to Me". Wow. Can't wait for the next album to come out!!!

MK commented he had a Springsteen vibe going on. The feel of the show reminded me of Bob Schneider. Either way, awesome.

Posted by Duff at 08:11 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Recommending, Tunes

In Concert: Sara Bareilles / James Blunt

Bought the tickets mainly for Sara (the opener): she introduced herself and pronounced her name Bare-el-ess. Good to know since I was putting some random French pronunciation on it! :) Her album is nice, pretty, kinda calm. In person she has a MUCH bigger voice / she can really fill up an auditorium (and we were at the Riviera so not a v. small area!) / seems like on the album they mixed her kinda bland and quiet compared to her actual voice. I described her to someone as a "less husky (and perhaps less sultry?) version of Rachael Yamagata" / not as electronic-based as Beth Orton or Dido, not as ballad-y as Sarah McLachlan. Sounds like she hasn't gotten much support from her record company, but she's certainly got a great voice.

James Blunt sounded good, all the songs sounded really pretty, but the cheesiness does get to you after a bit. Also he's quite comically awkward on stage, I think maybe it's the soldier in him? His "rockin' out" moves really cracked me up. Still - he played almost the entire first album with doses of the second, everything sounded pretty, and the crowd was SOOO into it (and it wasn't all 12 year old girls either; one of the most mixed crowds generation-wise I've ever seen at a late show, groups of 50 to 60 years olds in attendance as well).

Posted by Duff at 08:04 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

In Concert: Jason Isbell

Isbell split off from Drive By Truckers and released a solo album that I liked well enough -- well enough to buy these tickets! -- but wasn't completely blown away by. Well, if you liked that album at all, you MUST go see him on live because he's on fire and it was completely exhilarating and now I listen to the album with completely different ears.

Very casual and laidback on stage, drinking Jack right out of the bottle, smoking, and sweating up a storm, and such awesome guitar playing it seemed like flames would start coming out...

One of those people whose talents make them more and more attractive. The night started out: He's a OK-lookin' dude. Seems fun. Later: Wow, he really loves to play guitar. He's kickin it. Later: Damn, look at him go. He is hot!

Thick layered Southern Rock, a sound that just fills you up. Awesome concert.

Posted by Duff at 07:58 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

In Concert: Joe Henry

You might think you don't know any Joe Henry songs, but it's really that you don't necessarily know any of the songs he wrote for himself; you certainly know songs he wrote for other people (Loudon Wainwright among others). He told a great story about a song he wrote he thought would be perfect for Mavis Staples (I think, although I may be remembering the wrong name...). And he played it for her...and she said "Oh that's just fine, Joe Henry. Just fine... What else ya got?"

I know you've heard the song he wrote with his sister in law "Don't Tell Me". When he introduced it, he said "I wrote this with a friend of mine, and we both recorded it. I recorded it as a tango...and she recorded it as a hit. Don't know why I didn't think of that!" But then he also pointed out "I own just as many fancy Italian shoes as she does but I can still walk down the street without bodyguards!"

He's an old-school showman with a seriously talented bass/drums duo backing him up; moving from piano to guitar; telling stories; completely at ease. Unusual voice, not a squeaker like Dylan, but still quite distinctive. Totally entertaining.

Posted by Duff at 07:47 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

In Concert: Bon Iver

I had only heard three of Bon Iver's songs before this show, but "Skinny Love" is such a beautiful lovely piece of music that I would've bought tickets based on that one alone. He's a bit rougher in concert (as many people are), but also a bit more atmospheric, his voice and the music swirling around above you. Getting great harmony support from two backing dudes. Haven't heard falsetto used this much or this well since probably Jeff Buckley, and I never really fell for Buckley the way my other friends did.

Small intimate show at Schuba's, really great place to have seen him. Everything sounded just beautiful. Often quite sad and heartrending, but beautiful.

Posted by Duff at 07:43 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Recommending, Tunes

February 28, 2008

Album: Home EP, Vol 5 Ben Gibbard and Andrew Kenny

Always behind the times as I am, I picked up this 2003 release at Green Apple on my trip to San Fran last month. Not only had I never heard of this album, I didn't know Andrew Kenny (or his band American Analog) or the Home series itself (which offers other interesting pairings such as Bright Eyes/Britt Daniel).

So pleased I bought this. Lovely quiet little songs. Subtle and sweet. Here's a longer review if you need one.

Gibbard's Death Cab band mate has a solo album out (out now, currently, not four years ago -- in case you're wondering) and it's getting good reviews everywhere I look. But so far I really haven't been tempted -- it's Gibbard's voice that really makes Death Cab for me; and you get a nice dose of it here on these four solos.

Posted by Duff at 11:57 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Album, Listenin', Tunes

February 27, 2008

Quoted / Slammed.

Awesome "put them in their place" quotes from Nick Marino's piece on "Thriller"/Michael Jackson in Paste #40:

Not long ago I caught a concert by teenaged R&B star Chris Brown, who is sort of a less charismatic verson of Usher, who is himself a less charismatic version fo Michael Jackson.

Today we're left with Chris Brown, Usher and Justin Timberlake, whose most famous stage move to date involved ripping the bodice of Michael Jackson's sister.

[Underlines = emphasis de moi]

Posted by Duff at 09:14 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Lit Quotes, Rags, Tunes

February 26, 2008

Song of the Day

"Gravedigger" - Willie Nelson (from Paste sampler #40, off his album "Moment of Truth")

Dude, he works "Ring Around the Rosie" into it; come on now. His voice is such a perfect combination of melodiousness and gravel. I neverrarely* buy his albums but every once in awhile I come across a tune of his I love. He's a better lyricist than I've heard him given credit for. You should never have to bury your own babies. And have you seen Songwriter? Because I love EVERYTHING about that movie, including him, his acting, his singing, and his humor. But it's one of those movies that I'm not sure anyone other than me and my Dad ever watched (Dad is a big Alan Rudolph fan).

*I did buy one a few years ago, I think it was this one.

Posted by Duff at 01:37 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., DadReaction, Flicks, Listenin', Tunes

February 24, 2008

Favorite Songs This Sunday

• "I Wrote a Song About Your Car" Mike Doughty
  
• "Sing Along" Virginia Coalition
  
• "I Never Thought I Could Feel This Way for a Boy" The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
  
• "Then and Not a Moment Before" The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
  
• "A Reason to Breathe" Nick Light
  
• "Forever Song" Josh Pyke
  
• "Work That" Mary J. Blige
  
• "Back to You" Coconut Records
  
• "What If You" Joshua Radin*
  
• "Skinny Love" Bon Iver
  
• "Let It Be" Dyme Def**
  
• "Cathedral" moe
  
• "Free Chilly" (feat. Sarah Green and Gemstones) Lupe Fiasco
  
• "My Heartbeat's Dying" The Raveonettes
  
• "Tell Me How Ya Feel" UGK

*So I might have (re)watched Catch & Release a few times this weekend... It's not the GREATest, but it's very watchable.

**The Beatles are(were) so good, they sound awesome even speeded up like Chipmunks!

Posted by Duff at 02:45 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Mixes / Playlists, Tunes

February 20, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Eating: Potbelly turkey on skinny wheat, no cheese, just a little mayo. How can a plain turkey sandwich be so stinkin' good? Also chocolates from Moonstruck in Portland (thanks to Melanie) and Charles Chocolates in San Fran (thanks to Silvia). Because it's everyone's goal that I be the fattest girl in the world.

Making: Very very weak attempts at the daisy-stitch handwarmers I told Amanda I'd make her. Ugh, what an annoying pattern, the K3tog, yo, K3tog into the same 3 stitches was way too annoying on wooden needles -- talk about hand cramps! Will try again with addis. Lots of THINKING about the quilting I want to get done in the next few weeks, but given I was just out of town for a few days, nothing done on that front.

Reading: Dad's and my February challenge book "The Good Soldier Svejk" by Jaroslav Hasek (Svejk pronounced Shvayk). It's hilarious. Total farce. Along the lines of Tristam Shandy. With a few random other things thrown in here and there, particularly in airports, but those are all finished now.

Watching: The same movies over and over (hello Juno, I've seen you before. A few times.) with yay! a few fresh episodes of TV (Bros&Sis, Terminator, Jericho, Lost, Eli Stone) thrown in. It's almost like a season in full swing. Almost!

Listening: For several weeks, all I listened to were the new albums from Nada Surf, Missy Higgins and Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set. Now I've got a few others thrown in including the beautiful Bon Iver (oh did you just hear my heart break?) released yesterday, just for me I like to pretend; a new Mike Doughty, because you can never go wrong with Mike Doughty; the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, based in Chicago, not Britain; live sneak peeks of tunes off the upcoming Counting Crows double album... There's a lot going on all of a sudden.

Posted by Duff at 01:58 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

February 08, 2008

Live Tunes: Winter/Spring [Updated]

Jan 18: Bon Iver (it was awesome. I'll try to write it up soon)
Feb 2: Joe Henry / Chris Connelly
Feb 8: Jason Isbell (others playing as well but he's who I'm going to see)
Feb 22: Sara Bareilles / James Blunt
Mar 1: Griffin House (2nd x)
Mar 8: Peter Mulvey (3rd x)
Mar 9: Carrie Newcomer
[Mar 12: Dan le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip (yay!)]
Mar 17: Matt Nathanson (yay!)
Mar 18: Raveonettes
Apr 13: Girlyman
[Apr 24: Long Blondes]

Hmmm. These things really seem to come in clusters, don't they? The person planning my life is doing her usual crapass job of scheduling, at least in March. I'm going to be all tired out right in time for my trip to Japan!

Posted by Duff at 02:30 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Lists, Live!!, Tunes

February 05, 2008

Playlist: "Why Are You Breaking My Heart?"

An old playlist rediscovered this week-end. I quite like it, and playlists don't always stand the test of time. (Party playlists seem to be especially time period-specific.) Not sure who was breaking my heart in Fall 2006, but perhaps I was just in the mood to have it be broken. Sonically, that is.

Why Are You Breaking My Heart?

• "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (cover) - Joseph Arthur
  
• "I Don't Care What You Call Me" - David Ford
  
• "I Go to the Barn Because I like the" - Band of Horses
  
• "Boston" - Augustana
  
• "Winding Up" - Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set
  
• "What Does It Mean Now?" - World Party
  
• "Skeleton Key" - Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
  
• "Never Yours" - Tracy Chapman
  
• "Unspoken Love" - The Electric Farm
  
• "Home" - Barenaked Ladies
  
• "You" - Switchfoot
  
• "That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart" - Aimee Mann
  
• "Jessie's Girl" (cover) - Matt the Electrician
  
• "Steady as We Go" - Dave Matthews
  
• "Slow New York" - Richard Julian
  
• "We Are Man and Wife" - Michelle Featherstone
  
• "All This Dust" - Canasta
  

Posted by Duff at 06:48 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Mixes / Playlists, Tunes

January 29, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Shower gifts. Self portraits (damn you, 365 flickr project, you are killing me).

Reading: After reading the same two books for the first three weeks of the month ("Tree of Smoke" by Denis Johnson and "The Oxford Book of English Short Stories" edited by A.S. Byatt ), I'm now in a flurry of finishing, those plus some others thrown in. I haven't written any January reads up yet, but you can always view the current year's list to know what's going on. Just finished the Johnson on my way to work today so tonight it'll be pick out a new book time. Yay! (Either that, or wait until tomorrow when I have time to go to the bookstore and pick up the new Pat Barker.)

Watching: I finished "catching up" with How I Met Your Mother on my majorly delayed in every direction plane rides this weekend, whipping through the end of season 2 and all that's been shown of season 3 so far (this strike cannot end soon enough!). While Barney cracks me the fuck up (and damn, nice abs, boy), I think Marshall is my favorite character. And I haven't seen ANY new movies because instead I just keep going with people to see Juno (their first times, my second, and third, and fourth) again and again.

Listening: Over and over again to Sea Wolf "Leaves in the River", as I have been since mid-December. Also Matt Costa "Unfamiliar Faces"; he has a real sense of fun and joy (and quirkiness) in his tunes. Cat Power "Jukebox" although I like the first three-four songs the best and I usually move on after that. Bought some new stuff in San Fran but haven't listened yet...

Posted by Duff at 01:39 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

January 14, 2008

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Shower gifts. Hats. Dreams.

Reading: "Tree of Smoke" by Denis Johnson (because a) of fridaysixpm's comments about it (scroll down to 11/15, I can't seem to link directly) and b) I did some intensive studying of Vietnam history in several different courses in college. a million years ago and c) oh yeah it just won a big prize) and "The Oxford Book of English Short Stories" edited by A.S. Byatt (because it's our challenge book for January). The first is big and thick and sprawling and very much a boy book in the particular way that I mean that (and here is where I thought I would link to a review of a W.E.B. Griffin book I read in 2006, "Semper Fi" but which apparently I never wrote up. Although I distinctly remember doing so. Let's just say there is a limited female point of view in books about war, or soldiers, or armies, or Vietnam, because historically very few females have gone to war. I'm not being sexist, I'm being realistic.). The second is an odd mix; some really good stories and some bizarre, or boring, or "after school special" "lessons"-type ones.

Watching: The Sarah Connor Chronicles which started last night and continues tonight in a two-night premiere. I love it which means most everyone else probably hated it and thought it was lame and twisted the story and left out important stuff and blah blah blah. Girls kicking ass = Good. Summer Glau = Good. Lena Heady = Good. Also glad to see new episodes of a few things in the past week (Gossip Girl, 30 Rock, FNL, NUMB3RS, Brothers & Sisters) but continuing to mourn the lack of fresh TV. As it goes, so goes my life.

Listening: Really still listening to stuff bought in December. Sea Wolf, Lupe Fiasco, the Avett Brothers. And the soundtrack to Juno. Listening to that a lot. This has not really been a music-buying month for me so far, but I think that's generally the January norm.

Posted by Duff at 05:58 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

January 08, 2008

Lyrics of the Day

If you were a wink, I'd be a nod...

If you were the floor, I'd wanna be the rug...

And if you were an ocean, I'd learn to float...

-"All I Want Is You" Barry Louis Pollsar from the Juno Sdtrk.

Great movie, great tunes. It's a win-win.

If you haven't seen this yet, or are letting some crap-ass review taint your willingness to go, go read this review. And then go, for pete's sake. Pete would want you to.

When both me AND my dad are as equally gung-ho about a film (yes, sometimes we disagree), I don't think there's anything else you need to know. It's THAT good.

Posted by Duff at 06:33 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Flicks, Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes, Watchin'

January 03, 2008

Best of December

The best movie I saw in December was a tie between Juno and Sweeney Todd. Both made me laugh, one made me cry (just a little!), they both had great music and great acting. If I was forced at gunpoint to pick one, I'd probably go with Juno. Sweeney Todd is as good as you would expect, but not necessarily moreso; Juno was better than you could know, given the previews and the ridiculous whining some critics are doing (IGNORE THEM!).

The best book I read in December was...even harder to pick than the movies as I really loved almost everything I read this month. The funniest was a tie between "An Uncommon Reader" and "Gentlemen of the Road". The most unusual was "Red Spikes" and the two I perhaps liked the most (and didn't know at all what to expect from either one) were "Simplify" and "Incendiary". But honestly, I would recommend ALL my December reads.

The best gig I went to in December...doesn't exist because I didn't go to any concerts in December! Can you believe it? I kinda can't...

My favorite tunes in December were Sea Wolf "Leaves in the River" and Bat for Lashes "Fur and Gold". Also loving Lupe Fiasco's new one "The Cool" and the soundtrack to Juno. Have a lot of new stuff that I haven't spent enough time with yet, but can't stop pressing repeat on the first few off The Avett Brothers "Emotionalism".

Random personal highlights: Two and half weeks off. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT.

Lowlights? The worst drive home I've had in YEARS. One of the worst drives EVER in my LIFE. Really scary.

Posted by Duff at 12:15 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

December 21, 2007

Last Minute iTunes Purchases

Buying stuff off other people's year-end lists for the roadtrip home (in addition to the new stuff mentioned in this post)...

• Dyme Def "Space Music (rap/hip hop from Seattle)
  
• Mavis Staples "We'll Never Turn Back" (takes you back)
  
• The Avett Brothers "Enthusiasm" (twangy poppy fun)
  
• Hard-Fi "Stars of CCTV" (an older album as I love the new one I got earlier this fall)
  
• Jay Brannan "Unmastered" (the dude from "Shortbus" if that means anything to you. great sassy lyrics)
  
• UGK "Underground Kingz (rap)

Posted by Duff at 09:51 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Lists, Tunes

December 19, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Mix CDs. I had ideas of quilting I would do this week, but so far I haven't done any. So there you go.

Reading: I just finished a book today; I think tomorrow I'm going to start reading "Ludmila's Broken English" by DBC Pierre (who won the Booker for Vernon God Little a few years back, which I did enjoy). Somehow three books in this month, everything I read had a red spine. So I decided to keep the trend going for the rest of the month. Oh the crazy ways the reading list evolves.

Watching: This week's K-Ville I enjoyed. Also loved Juno on the big screen. Maybe Beowulf tomorrow? We'll see.

Listening: I've listened to many many things today as I've been running around in iTunes listening to samples of lots and lots of stuff. Plus the new Lupe Fiasco that came out yesterday ("The Cool"). Yay! Love Lupe: : Love it. Also bought Kid SimpleSimple Kid (sounds like Beck's little brother with some Elliott Smith thrown in) and Nick Light (another melancholy boy, singer, songwriter type), and old Siobhan Donaghy since I can't find the new one yet (Reckless ordered it for me), which is very girly girly pop. Girly pop! Yay! I have to fill the iPod up for the long ride...

Posted by Duff at 06:40 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

December 17, 2007

Wrapping It Up: Best Gigs / Best Tunes 2007.

Since I have already gone to all the concerts I'm going to in 2007, I'm sure you want to know which were my faves.

My Favorite Live Gigs This Year:
1. Gomez. Amazing show. But they're low on everyone's 07 radar since they didn't put out an album this year.
2. Travis. So much fucking fun in concert.
3. The National. Just as beautiful as the album.
4. Polyphonic Spree x2. highest energy show you'll ever see.
5. Ben Harper x2. He's amazing.
6. Griffin House. He's hot.
7. The Decemberists. So polished.
8. Midlake. Bewitching.

I have also finished my overall favorite music of 2007 list, which I'm sure is a) far more detailed than anyone could ever want, and b) pretty obvious if you've been reading this site all year. Enjoy.

Posted by Duff at 11:57 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Listenin', Live!!, Recommending, Tunes

December 13, 2007

Words to Live By / Lyrics of the Day

You are not your job,
And you are not the clothes you wear:

You are the words that leave your mouth
So speak up, speak up...

-"Call Me Ishmael" Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.

Posted by Duff at 09:30 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

December 12, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: About halfway done w/ Curious George #2 (basted / now just quilting & binding to go).

Reading: This hilarious new book by Michael Chabon "Gentlemen of the Road". It's an Arabian Nights-like, fairytale-esque story, and as such the incredible overuse of adjectives, similes and metaphors TOTALLY FITS the mood. But they're so abundant that it sometimes becomes giggle-inducing. "With his skin that was lustrous as the tarnish on a copper kettle, and his eyes womanly as a camel's, and his shining pate with its roof of wool whose silver hue implied a seniority attained only by the most hardened men, and above all with the air of stillness that trumpeted his murderous nature to all but the greenest travelers on this minor spur of the Silk Road..." Come on now, people, are you not totally cracking up now? It's a very enjoyable read.

Watching: K-Ville was the only show with a fresh episode this week (and it was way too over the top) but I also watched the Bones rerun since it's one of my favorites (the Christmas where they all get locked in the lab). Maybe a movie Thursday night? We'll see.

Listening: Very obsessively to two albums: Bat for Lashes "Fur and Gold" and Sea Wolf "Leaves in the River". Completely in love with both of them.

Posted by Duff at 09:00 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, TVTVTV, Tunes

December 10, 2007

Best of November

I kept not finishing writing things up so I had to keep putting off writing this post. Ah, the life of a slacker...

The best movie I saw in November was No Country for Old Men, with Gone Baby Gone a close second. Both violent, icky, and GOOOOD.

The best book I read in November was the collection of short stories Why the Devil Chose New England for His Work, by Jason Brown. Very subtle. Very good. Families, relationships, losers, loners, struggles.

The best gig I went to in November was a tie between Athlete, a band I have been longing to see and was so blown away by their show, and Griffin House, who I had no idea how good he was going to be.

My favorite tunes in November.... hmmmm... well, my favorite album purchased in November would have to be Great Northern "Trading Twilight for Daylight". I don't know if I had read about them somewhere (a blog? Paste? who knows?) but for some reason I was checking them out on iTunes and I'm really diggin it... Otherwise I spent a lot of time listening to stuff from earlier in the year (Band of Horses, Travis, Rogue Wave), thinking about year-end lists, and buying lots of random singles (old Jay-Z, new Anthony Hamilton (American Gangster), stuff from the I'm Not There soundtrack)...

Random personal highlights: Hangin' out with the nephews, who get both more lovable and more irksome every time; Michelle visits! for almost a week! yay!; Pam & Steph come down for the night!.

Lowlights? Fresh TV is drying up but for a few shows; FNL is wandering far from its strengths; meant to see a bunch of movies I never got to; and seem to have gotten almost nothing done all month. Man, what a whiner! Suck it up, eh?

Posted by Duff at 08:50 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

December 09, 2007

Lyric of the Day: Tellin' it like it is.

I don't want to be your friend.
I just want to be your lover.

-Radiohead "House of Cards"

Posted by Duff at 03:08 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

December 05, 2007

Modern Commandments.

Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip "Thou Shalt Always Kill" may just have usurped Jonathan Coulton's cover of "Baby Got Back" as my most beloved single. Seriously. Fuel/Friends has the video here and their myspace lets you listen to the song although not download it. Waah.

Posted by Duff at 10:36 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

Albums I Did NOT Buy in 20062007 [doh!].

But am now planning on at least checking out due to their proliferance on other people's year-end lists (or specific comments on the lists of people whose other choices I am down with, even where they differ from me). (Largehearted Boy has a huge list of links to people's lists. Fun, fun!)

• Bat for Lashes "Fur & Gold"
  
• Burial "Untrue"
  
• Justice "[cross]"
  
• The Field "From Here We Go Sublime" ('quiet is the new loud' / minimal techno)
  
• Animal Collective "Strawberry Jam"
  
• Jens Lekman "Night Falls Over Kortedala"
  
• Smashing Pumpkins "Zeigeist"
  
• Bowerbirds "Hymns for a Dark Horse"
  
• White Rabbits "Fort Nightly"
  
• Clorox Girls "J'aime Les Filles"
  
• Caribou "Andorra"
  
• Mavis Staples "We'll Never Turn Back"
  
• Jarvis Cocker "Jarvis"
  
• Miranda Lambert "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
  
• Avett Brothers "Emotionalism"
  
• The Perishers "Victorius"
  
• The Octopus Project "Hello, Avalanche"
  
• Akron/Family "Rise Above"
  
• Moonbabies "Moonbabies at the Ballroom"
  
• Franklel (Michael Orendy) "Lullaby for the Passerby"
  
• Lucy Wainwright Roche "8 Songs"
  
• Wintersleep "Welcome to the Night"
  
• The Cobbs "The Deathcapades"
  
• Vampire Weekend
  
• Au Revoir Simone

Already bought based on others' lists:
Brother Ali "The Undisputed Truth" (like it!)

Albums/Bands for which I cannot even comprehend the hype (and I've even seen these acts live):
Battles
St. Vincent
Deerhunter

Surprising Comments:
One review referred to Ben Harper's "Lifeline" as "tepid." (But another had it #1.) You know I don't think there's anything tepid about that boy.

Hilarious reviews:
This dude's take on Rufus Wainwright's "Judy Does Carniegie Hall" is hilarious.
The comment that "Young Folks" made whistling cool again. "And we mean cool as in annoying."

Great way to start a year-end list:
We're already at the end of another godforsaken year...

Posted by Duff at 10:22 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Lists, Tunes

December 04, 2007

Selected Sampler Singles - Paste #36

New (to me) Songs/Artists I'm Diggin:
"A Sunday Smile" Beirut (1)
"Goes Around" Rockfour
"The Ritz" Office
"Eyes Like a Levee" Johnny Irion (2)
"Snakebit" Mary Gauthier
"Rise" (acoustic) Will Dailey
"You're a Wolf" Sea Wolf (3)
"Civil Twilight" the Weatherthans

New (4) Songs by Old Friends:
"Scar That Never Heals" Jeremy Fisher (5)
"One Crowded Hour" Augie March (6)
"Time Is a Lion" Joe Henry

from Paste #36.

1-Old news, right? People kept mentioning Beirut to me but I never got
around to checking him out.
2-Wow! Love it!
3-Rambles along, I like how it picks up toward the end.
4-Or new when the magazine came out...months ago! :)
5-Got this ages ago from Fuel/Friends. Love it.
6-Australians, picked up an older album of theirs on Mariko's and my trip.

Posted by Duff at 05:38 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Rags, Tunes

Lyrical Mishap #9,735

What it is: You're racing like a pro now...

What it sounds like: You're racing like a pronoun...

(The National "Racing Like a Pro")

Posted by Duff at 03:08 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Mots, Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

December 03, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: A second Curious George quilt as well as another stripe-y baby quilt. Yadda yadda.

Reading: Short stories by infamous blogger Tod Golberg: "Simplify". They're good. As witty and sarcastic as you would have guessed, but more tender than I expected.

Watching: Catching up on TV I was too lazy to watch last week (you know, the ones I don't HAVE to watch that night when I get home: DS$, Reaper, Gossip Girl), season two of How I Met Your Mother after Michelle got me totally addicted and we whipped through all of Season 1 while she was here, and re(re)watching earlier episodes from the current seasons of Bones and FNL. New (random) episode of The Closer on tonight! Yay! Really want to see both August Rush and Juno (opens tomorrow!) this week.

Listening: To the new Radiohead "In Rainbows". Yes, I broke down and bought it after Paul said it's all he's listened to in two weeks and then it started popping up on everyone's year-end lists. I haven't listened to Radiohead in YEARS but I do find this "listenable" which is more than I could say for their last few albums. Also finally bought Augie March "Moo, You Bloody Choir" (it was out in Australia when we went but I had bought an older album instead at the time) and Brother Ali "The Undisputed Truth" (yay! needed some new rap).

Posted by Duff at 08:27 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

In Concert: Over the Rhine

This is the second time I've gone to Over the Rhine's "Holiday" concert. Always a good choice for this time of year. Great blues-y laidback sounds. Sometimes contemplative, sometimes sassy and upbeat. Great new instrumental piece dedicated to Charles Schulz (in the Vince Guaraldi tradition).

Posted by Duff at 08:06 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

In Concert: Griffin House

I've mentioned Griffin House a few times in the past (here or here), most recently here, so I was psyched to find he was opening for Over the Rhine the other night.

Better than I could have possibly imagined. A little less twangy in person than some of the stuff on the albums: more "songwriter" or folk-pop than country. Gorgeous sounds, great lyrics accompanied by an adorable smirk on the funny ones, nice stage presence. Cool sense of family and history and heartache and comfort. Really, really enjoyable.

And did I mention he's H-O-T, hot. Yum.

p.s. yes I did run into him in the lobby and yes I did touch his arm and tell him he was lucky he played my favorite song as his encore or I would have... "Killed me?" he said. "Gone out of my mind!" I replied. ;)

Posted by Duff at 08:00 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Recommending, Tunes

November 30, 2007

Current Favorite Single

The cover of Bob Dylan's "Going to Acapulco" by Jim James and Calexico.

The Richard Gere sections of "I'm Not There" were my least favorite parts...except for the performance of this song which was both beautiful and mesmerizing. Don't think it's what I want played at my funeral, but I am loving it a lot.

Oh right, I never even told you I went to that movie. Ah well. I'll try to catch up on reviews over the weekend, a few books, a couple movies. Maybe I'll even write up some recent TV! My, my aren't we ambitious.

Posted by Duff at 04:37 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Flicks, Listenin', Tunes

November 24, 2007

Playing in my head this morning.

Welcome in, welcome in,
Shame about the weather.
Welcome in, welcome in, it will come,
It's a sin, it's a sin...

-Travis "My Eyes"

Posted by Duff at 08:43 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Tunes

November 23, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Whipping up a quick baby quilt as I realized one's about to pop in the next two weeks but next Thursday is probably the last time I'll see the mom for a while... You'll like it, it's based around Curious George panels.

Reading: A very philosophical memoir "The Life of Hunger by Amelie Nothomb. Needless to say, I'm now starving.

Watching: The bitter end of Fall TV with some shows almost done (I am loving Bones so much right now!) and cramming in a BUNCH of movies over this Holiday week (Gone Baby Gone and No Country for Old Men already, the Bob Dylan movie today, Margot's Wedding hopefully Sunday).

Listening: Hmmm. This has been a weird week. What with guests and TV and movies, I haven't had a lot o' listenin' time. Played Eddie Vedder and Band of Horses for Michelle. Listened to Big Star and Pavement (from my Love Is a Mix Tape playlist) while quilting yesterday before moving on to watching Star Wars...

Posted by Duff at 09:25 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, Tunes

Do I just have him on my mind?

Or does the song "Home" by Tandy (on Paste Sampler #37) not sound a LOT like Bob Dylan?

It also has a sort of Eagles/country/lots o' harmony voices feeling to it.

(I'm going to see that crazy eight-million-actors-playing-Dylan flick later today...)

Posted by Duff at 08:04 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under ...Sounds Like..., Listenin', Tunes

November 15, 2007

Selected Sampler Singles - Paste #35

New (to me) Songs/Artists I'm Diggin:
"None Shall Pass" Aesop Rock (1)
"Our Friends Appear Like the Dawn" Bodies of Water (4)
"Beloved" Minnie Driver (5)
"Bad Graces" Diego Sandrin (7)
"One Man" Eulogies

New (2) Songs by Old Friends:
"Car Crash" Matt Nathanson (3)
"Rumors" Josh Ritter (3)
"Trouble" Over the Rhine
"Black Out on White Nights" Sage Francis (6)
"Darlin' Do Not Fear" Brett Dennen
"Hamoa Beach" (Live) Gomez

from Paste #35.

1-Hmm, I bought this album but not sure I ever listened to it.
2-Or new when the magazine came out...months ago! :)
3-I am diggin' these two big time this year. Lots of great stuff by them out there.
4-Very Polyphonic-Spree feelin'.
5-This song is really kind of surprisingly beautiful.
6-Very atmospheric background. Unusual for rap.
7-Nice and sparse, simple seeming, but pretty unusual lyrics.

Posted by Duff at 03:21 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Rags, Recommending, Tunes

Ben Bridwell recommends.

Bridwell of Band of Horses on Pitchfork's Guest List (link via LargeHearted Boy).

I'm going to check out:
Tunes: A Decent Animal
Book: "Joe: A Novel" by Larry Brown.

Posted by Duff at 10:39 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Still working on the Friendship Star quilts, finishing the binding on the mini leftovers quilt, and have a stack of fabric pulled out to wash since AmandaJean brainwashed me into joining her quilt-a-long.

Reading: Subtly violent short stories "Why the Devil Chose New England for His Work" by Jason Brown. Just three more to go. And obsessing over book blogs and all the "reading challenges" people are involved in.

Watching: As much fall TV as I can stuff into my head before it all comes to a horrific grinding halt. Had secret plans to go to a movie every night this week, but that plan quickly fell apart one day in.

Listening: David Gray's new covers album (available only on his site I believe); the Natalie Portman-produced Big Change: Songs for FINCA compilation; and an album and an EP by Great Northern, which I think I just randomly found on iTunes, not sure what caught my eye but they're good.

Posted by Duff at 08:14 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Tunes

Best of October

The best movie I saw in October was Control, the Ian Curtis/Joy Division biopic that I actually went to twice. Beautifully filmed, powerfully acted, with great tunes.

The best book I read in October was ... a three-way tie? Hmmmm, OK the one I've thought about the most since reading it is "In the Woods" by Tana French. But I thought both the new Haven Kimmel and Jonathan Coe were really, really good as well.

The best gig I went to in October was Rogue Wave. Really compelling and the lead singer has such a distinctive voice.

My favorite tunes in October were the latest albums by Band of Horses, Mr. Hudson & The Library, Joe Purdy, and singles from Nada Surf "See These Bones" (via Fuel/Friends) and folksinger Tom Paxton "George W Told the Nation."

Random personal highlights: Brunch with MaryKay!; Chicago Film Festival.

Lowlights? White Stripes concert cancelled, thank you stupid internet sex tape; Steph's visit cancelled, thank you stupid airlines.

Seems like a slow month, doesn't it? But October is very busy at work for me, so there you go. Stupid work.

Posted by Duff at 07:55 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Best of..., Books, Flicks, Tunes

November 13, 2007

Sometimes the inner DJ makes bad choices.

Running through my head the entire day:

I love you, baby,
And if it's quite alright,
I need you, baby,
To warm a lonely night.
I love you, baby.
Trust in me when I say:
Oh, pretty baby,
Don't bring me down, I pray.
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, baby.
Let me love you.

Small blessings: at least the inner DJ chose to play the Michelle Pfeiffer version from The Fabulous Baker Boys. It could be worse.

Posted by Duff at 01:29 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Lyrics, Tunes

November 12, 2007

In Concert: Athlete

Wow. Great, great show. Empty Bottle is kind of my own personal version of Hell, the most smoke-filled, cram-packed, claustrophobic, basement-like concert venue on earth. (I want to burn the clothes I wore. I took a 40 minute shower when I got home, trying to scrub the smoke out of my skin.) Makes the Mercury Lounge feel like Madison Square Garden.

But the low ceiling and the packed crowd and the proximity of the stage can make it a very intimate show if the band has the skills to take advantage of it: Athlete certainly does.

Lead singer really connected with the audience. Band sounded great. Anthemic and emotional and heart pounding and connected. Solid rock. Not quirky and not pop-y and not sparse. But deep, thick, rich.

Who would I compare them to if you don't know them? Hmm.. If you like Snow Patrol, you should be listening to Athlete. If you were an Oasis fan back, back in the day, you should be listening to Athlete. Love them, love their latest album, loved their previous albums, loved this show.

But damn, motherfuckers, when the headliner doesn't start until around 11:30, we're talking a seriously sleepy Carolyn on the way home. Destroyed by a concert. I'm so fucking old.

Posted by Duff at 12:24 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

In Concert: Stars

I have wanted to see these guys for a WHILE having missed their Lollapalooza appearance the one year because I was down at the other field.

The music sounded great, sonically it was a very awesome show. Visually it was a bit bizarre. One of those bands where everyone seems to have their own thing going on. Some dudes very engaging with the audience, others just playing their part and not interacting with anyone, on stage or off.

And the female of the two leads seemed a bit of a train wreck, falling all over and a little...shall we say, argumentative at times But maybe that's just her on-stage persona. Did think her boob was about to make a great escape from her off-shoulder top during the first couple songs...suddenly later there was a strap showing - seems she went and put on a bra on during one of her random disappearances from the stage! :)

But as Bill commented, it's rare you see a girl just shredding it up like that on guitar. Very impressive skillz. (His review here.)

Also thought it was a bit funny how the male lead kept saying "We're Stars of Montreal." Ok? Yeah, not the Stars of New York, or the other ones from...wherever...

Posted by Duff at 12:10 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

November 09, 2007

Serendipity.

So a long long time ago I mentioned liking a song by The Changes on a Paste sampler...turns out they are opening for Athlete * tomorrow night. Yay!

p.s. I think that is the same band that a month or so after the post, a dude in the band sent me an email. I remember they were going over to England for a while to hang out and record and stuff...

*one of my favorite bands of the past few years, all thanks to Michele G for introducing me to them!

Posted by Duff at 01:44 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Live!!, Tunes

November 07, 2007

It's not just about how it sounds.

Have you heard "The Way I Am" Ingrid Michaelson? Did you not IMMEDIATELY think of "Fidelity" Regina Spektor? It's not that it SOUNDS LIKE it so much as it FEELS like it. Funky back beat, somewhat goofy twee-ness to the lyrics/vocals. No? Seriously? :)

Posted by Duff at 12:51 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under ...Sounds Like..., Listenin', Tunes

Song of the Day.

"The Guy that Says Goodbye to You Is Out of His Mind"
Griffin House

You don't need to change
A thing about you, Babe
I'm telling you, from where I sit,
You're one of a kind

Relationships, I don't know why,
They never work out and they make you cry
But the guy that says goodbye to you is out of his mind

Well I've been down and I need your help
I've been feeling sorry for myself
Don't hesitate to boost my confidence

Well I've been lost and I need direction
I could use a little love protection
What do you say, Honey, come to my defense

I'd stand up for you if it's what you need
And I can take a punch, I don't mind the bleed
As long as afterwards you feel bad for me

You give me all of your attention
I've got deep desire and it needs quenching
And I think that's pretty plain for you to see

Well enough about me and more about you
Because that'd be the gentlemanly thing to do
I hope you like your men sweet and polite

I thought I was done with telling you
But I ain't nearly halfway through
I've got a few more things I'd like to say to you tonight
Get Ready

You don't need to change
A thing about you, Babe
I'm telling you, from where I sit,
You're one of a kind

Relationships, I don't know why,
They never work out and they make you cry
But the guy that says goodbye to you is out of his mind

You always did kind of drive me crazy
And it pissed me off because I let it faze me
But I never wanted my time with you to end

Now I'm back in town for a day or two
But mostly I came back just to see you
I'm leaving now but I don't want to go

You don't need to change
A thing about you, Babe
I'm telling you, from where I sit,
You're one of a kind

Relationships, I don't know why,
They never work out and they make you cry
But the guy that says goodbye to you is out of his mind.

Posted by Duff at 09:03 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Lyrics, Tunes

Spooky!

Did you hear The Cinematic Orchestra singing "To Build a Home" on one of your TV shows last week? (I can't remember which one. FNL I think. or DS$.)

I did...but I thought it was Antony & the Johnsons because holy crap does it SOUND exactly LIKE him.

Posted by Duff at 08:09 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under ...Sounds Like..., Listenin', Tunes

November 05, 2007

Quote of the Day.

“I’ve always been a sucker for sad songs. I can listen to nothing but Slowdive records and be a pig in shit, so I naturally gravitate to writing those kinds of songs,” Bridwell says. [click quote to go to full Harp Magazine interview; link via DJBV.]

I've got nothing but good things to say about the new Band of Horses "Everything All the Time.""Cease to Begin" [doh]. I find the album totally entrancing and it's one of my favorites of the year. But admittedly their songs are not super upbeat. Like their lead singer, I'm more than happy to listen to sad songs and wallow.

Posted by Duff at 12:50 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Recommending, Tunes

November 01, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Working on the layouts for the two Friendship Star quilts. Also making a mini quilt out of leftover squares. But doesn't look like there'll be much time this weekend for it so we'll see if I get anything done.

Reading: Just about finished with "A Complicated Kindness" by Miriam Toews, the book that swept Canada. (Pretty sure I bought this in London last January - when Alison posted about it this summer, it bumped itself higher on my TBR list...). I'm less than one El ride from finishing. Uh oh! Better figure out what I'm going to read next!

Watching: Wow, I loved both Bones and Life this week although I haven't posted to the TV blog about either one yet. And I'm definitely seeing at least one movie this weekend although I'm not sure which one yet. Next week I've got tickets to two oldies (Peter Watkins-directed "Punishment Park" and Nicolas Roeg-directed "Walkabout") that are showing as part of the Chicago Arts & Humanities festival.

Listening: I'm listening to Stars because I'm going to see them tomorrow night, along with some other random singles, and the soundtrack to Control which I went to see for a second time the other night.

Posted by Duff at 09:45 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

October 31, 2007

In Concert: Tom Paxton

When I told my dad I went to hear Tom Paxton, he was surprised to hear Paxton was still alive. (Then he said, "Well I guess he's probably not that much older than me if I stop and think about it...) Then he immediately starting singing a Paxton song to me, one from around the time of my birth.

Paxton's not as famous to the rest of the world, but certainly in the folk world, he's as well known as Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and others of that ilk. Witty and sharp, his personal songs are just as entertaining as his political ones. Lovely voice, great sentiments, and a heart solidly in the right place. A very enjoyable evening.

Posted by Duff at 09:44 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

In Concert: Rogue Wave

One of my favorite bands of recent years, I was glad to finally see them live even though I didn't stay for the entire thing given it was a Wednesday night, they didn't go on until 10:30, and I had to arrive at the office by 6 a.m. the following morning.

Lead singer has a very unique voice to me. Not sure if they are sonically enhancing it somehow but sometimes sounds like it's echoing from the bottom of a well. Very rich. Sounded really good. Solid. They're maybe not quite as pop-py as the Shins, not quite as quirky as Band of Horses -- but along those lines.

Posted by Duff at 09:36 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

October 30, 2007

Lyrics of the Day.

I didn't grow these wings to hang around...
- "Silver Dreams" Blackie & The Rodeo Kings

You're the cocaine in my veins...
- "You're the Cocaine" Joshua James

Posted by Duff at 03:08 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under " " of the XXX., Lyrics, Tunes

October 25, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

...currently I am supposed to be working on my French homework. Bygones...

Making: Got back into the swing o' the Friendship Stars this week (click on 'blog' above to check 'em out should you so desire). Hopefully this weekend I will at least be done with all the individual blocks I need so I can start trying out layouts.

Reading: A somewhat philosophical story about a girlhood friendship gone wrong, "The Myth of You and Me" by Leah Stewart. I'm really into it.

Watching: I've barely watched TV so far this week, can you believe it? Worked three nights in a row, then a concert, and tonight French. Oh sweet monkey sundae, am I going to be busy with the TIVO on my comp day tomorrow...

Listening: To three somewhat melancholy boys, although not as melancholy as some. Joshua James "The Sun Is Always B..." [my iPod is only telling me that much of the album name, too funny]: I'm really diggin the first few songs; the new Graham Colton "Flying Upside Down": I enjoy a lot of it, but it gets a bit twangy; and the new Joe Purdy "Take My Blanket and Go". Is Joe Purdy the new Ryan Adams or what? Dude puts out a new album every other week it seems. They're all really lovely. Each one has a major tearjerker. Remember that song "Wash Away" that was on Lost a long time ago that I used to talk about constantly? (If you get mixes from me, you have it.) This album's "one of those" is "Sinkin' Low." Soooo pretty. SO! Oh and also really diggin' some songs from Mr. Hudson & the Library "A Tale of Two Cities", particularly their "On the Street Where You Live" cover. Brilliant!! Thanks, MG!

Posted by Duff at 03:50 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Tunes

October 24, 2007

Selected Sampler Singles - Paste #34

New (to me) Songs I'm Diggin:
"The Underdog" Spoon (not new today, but this sampler is where I first heard it)
"White Dove" John Vanderslice
"Put a Penny in the Slow" Fionn Regan (folksy, rolling guitar)
"Better People" Xavier Rudd (oh man this is so reminding me of something but I just can't quite put my finger on it...)
"Parsons White" Phonograph
"Black Skies for the High & Mighty" Wrinkle Neck Mules (straight up country)
"Postcard from Kentucky" Rocky Votolato
"Oh Mary Don't You Weep" Mike Farris (can I get a witness?)
"I Believe" Peter Searcy (anthemic)
"If You're Gonna Leave" Emerson Hart (melancholy)
"Run" Renee Stahl (a little like Eliza Carthy)

Old Friends:
"Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe" Okkervil River

from Paste #34.

Posted by Duff at 10:22 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Rags, Recommending, Tunes

October 19, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Still nothing. I should probably just delete this stupid category!!

Reading: Not what I expected to pick up next but have gotten sucked into "The Rain Before It Falls" by Jonathan Coe. Big fan of Coe, his writing just invites you in... Right now in the "epistolary" section where Rosamond has dictated onto tape her memories of her cousin Beatrix and herself, focused by photographs from the past...

Watching: Just caught up on Gossip Girl which I hadn't been watching (thank you iTunes). Frivolous but fun. LonelyBoy Dan Humphrey is my new crush! (He was born the year I graduated high school! Wince!) Planning to see Michael Clayton this afternoon...before rushing home for FNL of course.

Listening: To lots of Joy Division and New Order and The Replacements and old, old U2 and the Cocteau Twins and The Smiths, among others, as recent viewing of Control has sent me back in the day. Or, as one of my friends likes to call it, I've been "College-ing It Out".

Posted by Duff at 09:45 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, TVTVTV, Tunes

In Concert: The Polyphonic Spree

Two-word review: Glorious Cacophony.

Three-word review: Sufjan on Speed.

Eight-word dream: Goal in Life, Become Member of Spree Choir.

Posted by Duff at 08:23 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Live!!, Tunes

October 17, 2007

Thank you, Fuel/Friends!

If you're a David Gray fan, you want to head over to I Am Fuel, You Are Friends today to check out some new David Gray covers and hear about his new covers album (on which he sings my very favorite all-time Bob Dylan song "Buckets of Rain"). Oh yeah, I ordered it.

Looooove David Gray. Although the time I saw him live was not great. He had a new album coming out two weeks later, so he played pretty much only new songs. That no one in the audience had heard yet. Because the album wasn't out. And wouldn't be. For two weeks. It subdued (and confused?) the crowd. I mean, he didn't even play "White Ladder." Or "Babylon." Although it did not make me love his music any less, it wasn't a night that blew me away.

Posted by Duff at 10:20 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Tunes

October 16, 2007

Selected Sampler Singles - Paste #32

New (to me) Songs I'm Diggin':
"I Wanna Marry You All Over Again" Derek Webb (country twang)
"Ordinary Day" Dolores O'Riordan
"It's Not True" William Fitzsimmons (ouch, so tender)
"Just Around the Corner" Low Stars (rockabilly)
"Somewhere to Lay Down" Gina Villalobos (husky)
"Run Run Run" Haunt
"14" Paula Cole (I never buy her albums, but I like select singles!)

Old Friends:
"Everybody Knows" Ryan Adams
"Closer" Travis
"Who You Are" Cary Brothers

from Paste 32.

Posted by Duff at 01:21 PM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Listenin', Rags, Tunes

October 12, 2007

À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am...

Making: Still nothing.

Reading: Realized I have two Jake Arnott books on the to-be-read shelf but couldn't remember enough about the book that came before them...so back I went for a reread of #1: "The Long Firm" by Jake Arnott, '60s mob scene in swingin' London. Given the boarding pass stuck inside, looks like I bought and read this one back in 2004. (Yup, looks like it.) Still really enjoying it the second time around.

Watching: Lots of TV. Plus have already been to...four movies at the Chicago Film Festival (1, 2, 3 and #4 not reviewed yet) and have tickets to two more (a documentary about jump rope competitions (!!) today and the Joy Division biopic on Tuesday)...

Listening: The new Band of Horses. Over and over. Not anything else really.

Posted by Duff at 10:55 AM | E-Mail | Comments (0) | Permalink | filed under Books, Currently, Flicks, Tunes

October 11, 2007

Have I mentioned

just lovelove