Throwback Thursday: Are You In?

Really one of my favorite songs ever, it holds immense sentimental value for me still. Although it comes from an Incubus album that I still don't completely understand as well as others, I can pretend to.

You know who you are.

Incubus - Are You In

It's Tuesday, Can We Salvage That? Legs!

Two songs from musicians that I've never posted before. La Roux's debut is coming in June. If you're as addicted to Hype Machine as I am, you've probably already heard them.

The Hundred in the Hands are a duo from Brooklyn (duh!) and they've got this song and another for free on their website. According to their Myspace they've only been viewed 27,000 times. Not a lot for an awesomely encouraging debut of free tracks. "Dressed In Dresden" below, follow the link to "Undressed in Dresden."



La Roux - Bulletproof

The Hundred in the Hands - Dressed In Dresden


There, now I think we can all make it through this Tuesday. Love.

Chairlift/PBJ in MPLS

Chairflift opened for Peter, Bjorn and John last night at the Fine Line. I would like to say something insightful on the performances, but instead all I can think about is how long some parts were and how short others were. That and how the Fine Line played two entire Coldplay albums between sets! WTF?! Are you trying to burn my ears off? Show some fucking respect Fine Line DJ.



Chairlift was on stage first, and they sounded great. Caroline Polachek is an incredibly sexy stage presence, which made me really surprised to see her anywhere but the middle of the stage, and out of the bright lights. She is the lead, and the band's personality is really just hers. All three of them, but she especially seemed really excited to be playing "Brusies" for the umpteenth time, which tells me that they really like themselves. If these aren't reasons enough to find them endearing see what I already said about them. It was especially fun to see them play the two new songs from the re-release of Does You Inspire You; I can't even get my hands on these in digital form as I write this. As expected the real highlight of the show, and probably the night was "Evident Utensil."



[vimeo 4281648 w=480&h=360]

I've been on top of YouTube and Pitchfork since Saturday watching videos from Coachella. Naturally, I was excited to see Lykke Li sing the girl's part of "Young Folks," and I to hoped Caroline Polachek would sing it last night.

Before I say anything further, I need to be straight with you on two things:
1. Lykke Li is so good that she makes Youth Novel producer and co-writer Bjorn Yttling look untouchable.
2. Living Thing is not very good.

After enduring a horribly long sound check, probably as long as the Chairlift set, John, Bjorn and Peter took the stage. They did their thing and it was cool, but it just didn't really move me literally or musically. I loved "Young Folks" as much as every other bongo-banging whistler two years ago, but the rest of their material, particularly songs not off Writer's Block, just isn't that special. All of their new songs have a catchy groove but none of them come close to capturing the melodic and rhythmic peaks of "Amsterdam" and "Young Folks." That's basically why it was a nice show, but that's about it.



The crowd sang the female part of "Young Folks" which was supremely disappointing knowing that CP was backstage somewhere. They also played the extended-extended versions of the four best Writer's Block songs, which seems like it might be fun, but seriously who wants a 12+ minute version of "Up Against the Wall?" I actually started to get tired by the 5th "Young Folks" chorus, and tried to count as many famous Swedes as possible: 1. Tiger Woods' wife.

[gallery orderby="title"]

Throwback Thursday: TAXMAN! + Jolene

This is the first post in a new series we're calling "Throwback Thursday." It's my reaction to the rat race of music blogs that rush out in an attempt to be the first to post the (awesome) new Yeah Yeah Yeah's single, or the video of it on SNL. Not saying that someone doesn't need to be doing it, just that I don't need to be. So if you're interested, take the time with me this Thursday to slow it down and look back, but not too far.

It was while getting a haircut a couple of weeks ago, from the same woman who styled my "do" since age 6. No kidding, probably the only person I trust with a scissors. I'm not using this to describe a haircut fetish, but rather to describe the time capsule that this haircut represents.

Every time I go to her house she is listening to the same radio station, which plays the same music today as it did when I was learning what music was in 1995. "Meet Virginia," "Semi-Charmed Life," "You Were Meant for Me" and anything Goo Goo Dolls play on repeat. In fairness to myself, my first two music purchases ever were Mellon Collie and Nevermind, but I'm shocked to realize that this 90's pop music is still around and collecting royalties. Obviously Nirvana and The Pumpkins have music that will endure over time, but who knew knows that this crap is still in your local radio station's daily playlist?

To honor the non-crap (of at least two years ago) I have two songs:

First, something about tax day. If you've seen Stranger Than Fiction you'll understand the connection.
Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World (1978)


And now, something about raspy voices and dark hair.

The predictable, yet exciting Death Race and,

Jolene, Cake's finest song ever. Some of my favorite lyrics, and probably the best guitar rhythms by a band you forgot about some point during college.

Cake - Jolene (1994)

Well Jolene unlocked the thick, breezeway door,
Like she'd done one hundred times before.
Jolene smoothed her dark hair in the mirror.
She folded the towel carefully and put it back in place.

Yeah I want to pull you down into bed.
I want to cast your face in lead.
Well every time I pull you close,
Push my face into your hair,
Cream rinse and tobacco smoke,
That sickly scent is always, always there.

Sounds Like Memories

I was sending this around to a few of my nostalgically-challenged college friends when I first heard it, but at the time it didn't inspire me enough to think twice about Asher Roth. I discounted it as being more comical than musical, because it's obviously written to sell--the chorus of imaginary frat boys yelling "drink, drink, chug, chug, chug"--is too contrived. What is a natural part of most people's college experience, would be made unnatural with a soundtrack written to predictable, yet-to-occur events.

The bass line theme is undeniably entrancing, and its chorus hook is so familiar that it sounds like something you really did listen to in college. Timeless and relatable symbols of Miller Lite, dollar slices, and weed easily connect you to generic college days, successfully making you think that this song is about you. And it probably is; it is not exceptional or innovative, but the lyrics and the refrain sound like memories. How is that even possible? This simple power is enough to keep us interested, and to overlook the cliche, "Yeahhh!" refrain that appears frequently in the chorus. Even if we're not interested, those hooks are already stuck in your head.

Asher Roth - I Love College (via the Hype Machine and PMA)

Ida Maria is SO SWEELLLLL!

A few weeks ago I posted the video and the accompanying awesome track to "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked." Which is still filtering its way into the blogosphere (what a terrible word), but I cannot get enough of this girl. The upcoming release of Fortress 'round My Heart is apparently a re-release of the Norweigan record of the same name. Going through my podcast library I even found a copy of "Keep Me Warm," another probably-soon-to-be single. Below is KCRW's insightful description:

Haha, the Arctic Circle... I'm into her upbeat stuff a bit more right now, and this track "Oh My God" has an awesome hook (incidentally carried in the title's lyrics) that makes you want to turn up the volume and shake it like Polaroid. And yes, I'm bringing back similes about discontinued photo paper.

Bonus Points: Ida Maria has a condition known as synesthesia, which causes her to see colors when she hears music. Not only have I never heard of this before, but it is probably the best condition ever. From The Sky Was Candy, who was up on this in December, Maria was quoted:

“From a C chord to a D chord there are 15 different shades and from a D to an E there are another 15, so it’s complicated.”

I felt like it was time for a caps-filled, exclamatory title. I'm categorically against those, unless the word "swell" is ironically used. Listen below:

Ida Maria - Oh My God