Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean

Loudly. In headphones. <3

Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean from Fleet Foxes on Vimeo.

Mixed Tape: 01.19.2009

This track kindly guided my drive into work this morning and started my Monday off adequately. Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning breaks out the voice distortion and dualing falsettos in “Churches Under the Stairs.” How rock and roll. www.myspace.com/brendancanning

Video courtesy of www.pitchforkmedia.com.

What else in the realm of music? Fleet Foxes were great on SNL this past Saturday. I’m sure that video is up on YouTube. Its really, stupidly selfish but I’m a little sad they were the featured artist. That means they are hugely popular and not a nice little secret that I keep in my pocket and pull out in quiet times. *Sigh* So it goes… www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes

Tomorrow, Bon Iver’s new EP “Blood Bank” is available from Jagjaguwar. He’s been playing the new songs live and they’re magically delicious. The energy is a little different than “For Emma,” a little bit loud and even playful at times. Thumbs up, good sir. www.myspace.com/boniver

There are some decent shows coming to the area in the next few months and by “area” I mean the Midwest. (www.jamusa.com) Adele (tonight @ Park West,) Lisa Hannigan, Cut Copy, The Pretenders, Andrew Bird, Josh Radin, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Brett Dennen, The Black Lips, and on and on. (www.pabsttheater.org) I’m heartbroken over one show that sold out immediately…no surprise…solo Jeff Tweedy (supported by Great Lakes Swimmers) in Champaign, IL. It would’ve been awesome. www.wilcoworld.net

One final note: Tomorrow is a huge day in American history on so many levels. Regardless of partisanship, this inauguration signifies a huge turning point in the direction of the United States. I hope we all take a moment to consider our role in reshaping the future and redefining our collective values. I’m certainly hopeful and very excited…so much so that we’re having Yankee Pot Roast for dinner tomorrow. Cheers!

2008’s Top Ten Tracks

Musically speaking, 2008 was eclectic. Old was new again…a resurgence of 80s sound and 70s frontmen. Beards were acceptable and trademarks of indie-cred. Falsettos, boy/girl duets and harmonies were the new black. Where to begin?

I am prefacing this “Top Ten” list with the statement that it is subject to change. I can’t believe I’m attempting to pin down ten songs, but here is my best effort for a Tuesday morning:

10. “Hearts on Fire” by Cut Copy
9. “In Our Talons” by Bowerbirds
8. “Blood Bank” by Bon Iver…someone on YouTube said it best, “God, he makes Chris Martin look like such an asshole.” Bravo, sir.
7. “Sunday Afternoon” by Rachael Yamagata
6. “Kim and Jessie” by M83
5. “I’m Good, I’m Gone” by Lykke Li
4. “Gobbledigook” by Sigur Ros
3. “Electric Feel” by MGMT
2. “Mykonos” by Fleet Foxes
1. “Drops In The River” by Fleet Foxes

If that list isn’t a plug for Pitchfork, I don’t know what is. Thanks for the jams, 2008!

Mixed Tape Monday: 11.24.2008

I consider myself a girl for all seasons, but there is something about the first snow of the year. I’ll be tired of it soon enough, but for today the snow is pristine and fleeting.

1. “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes (Fleet Foxes, 2008) This song grows on you, like its cyclical lyrics building into a storm of imagery and melody. Fleet Foxes came to The Pabst Theater in October and this song was incredible live, not to mention that they were one of more humble and gracious bands I’ve ever seen. www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes

2. “Boy with a Coin” by Iron & Wine (The Shepherd’s Dog, 2007) Yet another Sub Pop artist, Iron & Wine is perpetually producing amazing lo-fi songs guided by soft-spoken poetry and acoustic guitar. While not entirely a winter choice, it does mention snow. I’ve often imagined myself as the girl with a bird… www.ironandwine.com

3. “Robin in the Snow” by Sonya Kitchell (This Storm, 2008) Kitchell tells a heartbreaking tale of the temporary nature of love, the desperation to be needed and the question of something better. The song is quiet and laced with fragility as her heartache unfolds. It reminds me of a less kitschy, more soulful Regina Spektor. www.sonyakitchell.com