December 19, 2014

And here's more from end of the year lists...

Queen - Perfume Genius
Quartz - TV on the Radio
Jackie And Wilson - Hozier
Brill Bruisers - The New Pornographers
Seasons (Waiting on You) - Future Islands
Taking Chances - Sharon Van Etten
Shades of Cool - Lana Del Rey
Could I Be - Sylvan Esso
Under The Pressure - The War On Drugs
Rent I Pay - Spoon
Weight of Love - The Black Keys
High Ball Stepper - Jack White
Lights On - FKA Twigs
Blue Moon - Beck
Nara - Alt-Ja

December 18, 2014

2014 drawing to a close. Work has been demanding enough of my focus that I haven't been able to listen nearly as much as I would like.

Lots of music on NPR top album lists, top 20 lists etc... Here are some that caught my ear.


Traces of Our Tears - The Rentals
Coffee - Sylvan Esso
Carissa - Sun Kil Moon
The Body Electric - Small Town Heroes
Morning - Beck
Sparrow - Joe Henry
Full Stick - Herzog
Palace - The Antlers
Two Weeks - FKA Twigs
Dark Side of the Moon - Chris Staples
Small Window - Luluc
Archie, Marry Me - Alvvays
Soon Come Soon - Young Fathers
Cleopatra - Weezer

October 22, 2014

A handful of songs to jot down. Listened to the early stream of The Flaming Lips song by song recreation of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper. Such a wonderful mixture of weird experimentation, Interesting Collaborations, and a fresh take on this much loved and familiar music. Worth a listen for any fans out there.



On The Rocks - The Rural Alberta Advantage
Paradise Girls - Deerhoof
It's Our Game - Helado Negro
Jackie and Wilson - Hozier
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Flaming Lips
With A Little Help From My Friends - The Flaming Lips
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - The Flaming Lips
Getting Better - The Flaming Lips
She's Leaving Home - The Flaming Lips
Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite - The Flaming Lips
When I'm Sixty-Four - The Flaming Lips
Lovely Rita - The Flaming Lips
Sordid Affair - Röyksopp

October 13, 2014

I like ice cream a lot. I can eat ice cream about as fast as anyone I know. It is a talent / quirk / genetic predisposition. It is so tasty and creamy and rich, and sometimes gives you a headache. I've been listening to a log of EDM music lately, especially when I'm heads down working, concentrating on something else, Bass thumping in my brain and no need to concentrate. That's like ice cream - especially the headache part... It's tasty, It's enjoyable. but when you take in nothing but that for days on end after a while you start to get tired of it. I still like the lazy energy and catchy electro-sounds in EDM, I'll still enjoy it from time to time, but today I flipped over to a pandora channel spun from the National. As those first crunchy guitars, forlorn horns, and above all, lyrics with depth and meaning I realized again that this is more my speed / more of what it takes to keep my brain in the right place.

Here's a few songs, some new to me, some old favorites.



Take me to Church - Hozier
Satellite - Guster
Neigborhood #3 (Power Out) - Arcade Fire
For Emma - Bon Iver
Gospel - The National
Gone for Good - The Shins
Neighborhood #4 (Kettles) - Arcade Fire
Family Tree - TV on the Radio
1901 - Phoenix
We're Going to be Friends - White Stripes
Fiery Crash - Andrew Bird
Holocene - Bon Iver
Feeling Yourself Disintegrate - The Flaming Lips
New Slang - The Shins
As Tall As Cliffs - Margot and the Nuclear So and So's




Plenty more to come in the days ahead.

October 7, 2014

Way way too busy. Pressure raising a bit at work. Have just completed a pretty intense 2 month long period where I couldn't listen to music much at all. Getting just a little these days. Will drop some that I found interesting lately below....

Interesting Mix from ASC. Some electronic twists in there. Not necessarily my favorite, but interesting to say the least.

Little Maggie - Robert Plant
Taranta - Mina Tindle
Nose Grows Some - Thom Yorke
CIRCLONT14 [152.97] [shrymoming mix] - Aphex Twin
The Night is Young - The Two Bears
The Way He Looks at Me - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
Form by Firelight - Jon Hopkins
Come Unwound - The Bulls
What You Think I Am - The Choir
Two Clouds Are One - The Choir
White Knuckles - The Choir

August 27, 2014

Weird mood. First week of school, Occasional bursts of strong emotion. Chance to work with headphones blaring out the outside world. Stumbled upon the 100 best alternative songs from 1994. There are a handful I really like. A bunch I don't. Interpol has some shiny new music that comes out soon. Here are a few songs that caught my ear.




Loser - Beck
Undone-The Sweater Song - Weezer
Disarm - Smashing Pumpkins
My Desire - Interpol
Everything is Wrong - Interpol
Ancient Ways - Interpol
Tidal Wave - Interpol

More later.

August 18, 2014

Busy several weeks, haven't had a great deal of time for music. Had a few minutes this morning and found myself enjoying the latest EP from Sonic Youth, that glorious fuzzy music that washes over you and gives aid to the aspects of wistfulness and distraction that never seem to clear up. My Bloody Valentine may be added to the playlist quickly.

Been feeling like life is flashing past at far to high a rate of speed to keep up with. Music lets my enjoy what moments I can in real time before they are all too quickly gone.


Firecracker - Sonic Youth
Wild Roads - Sonic Youth
You Know Where to Find Me - Imogen Heap
The Listening Chair - Imogen Heap
Minds without Fear - Imogen Heap
The Devil is All Around - Shovels & Rope
Bridge on Fire - Shovels & Rope
Evil - Shovels & Rope
After the Storm - Shovels & Rope
I'm Leaving - Low Roar
Tonight Tonight Tonight - Low Roar

July 31, 2014

Tough couple weeks. Not getting as much music as I wish. Getting lost in music is important for me and when I don't have that chance things are harder. It's the way I lose myself for small bits of time. The songs that seem to be catching my ear today are unfamiliar songs by favorite and comfortable bands. Ready for the weekend!


Think You Can Wait (From the Film "Win Win") - The National
Anna Freud - The National
Little Faith - The National
The First Song - Band of Horses
Love Like a Sunset Part II - Pheonix
Lasso - Pheonix
Eyes - Rogue Wave
Phantom Limb - The Shins
When I'm Small - Phantogram
Under the Milky Way - Starflyer 59
Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf) - The Pixies

July 28, 2014

More songs that caught my ear. Difficult to describe my mood of late. Pleased with successful completion of a project at work, sober and anxious about money problems, sad and rejection prone with some of the usual family dynamics.


Glory - Radical Face
Funeral - Band of Horses
The Girl - City And Colour
Comes and Goes (In Waves) - Greg Laswell
I Turn my Camera On - Spoon
Do You Realize?? - The Flaming Lips
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1 - The Flaming Lips
Burning - The Whitest Boy Alive
Your Protector - Fleet Foxes
Beach Baby - Bon Iver
Home - Edward Sharp and The Magnetic Zeroes
40 Day Dream - Edward Sharp and The Magnetic Zeroes


There are always more songs to hear and learn and enjoy.

Firefly 2014

Finally getting around to posting about this year's iteration of the Firefly Music Festival. There was good and bad, first the good - performances, memories, and experiences:

1. The Airborne Toxic Event

• One of my favorite bands at one of my favorite venues. Waited for an hour to be in the second row. Shook hands with Darren, caught a bottle of gatorade that Mikell threw out, and almost got the last set-list that Adrian brought over. Plus the show was terrific, probably my favorite of the weekend.

2. Band of Horses

• Checked an hour before Foo Fighters to see if I had any chance to get close. I didn't. So I went over to Band of Horses and made it to the 4th row. Show was absolutely brilliant. They played hard, they played long, and rocked harder than I ever expected. The band changed guitars after almost every song. Really enjoyable performance.

3. Beck

• Trying to decide between Tegan & Sarah and Beck. Was going to catch half of each from what would end up being pretty far back at both. Finally decided to just go over to Beck where at least I could get pretty close for 1. Made it in to about 12th row and loved his mixture of straight up rock and creative weirdness. Beginning and end were older songs and rocked harder than the middle section. And he played E-Pro!

4. Kodaline

• Beautiful and really comfortable on stage for one of the early bands. I enjoyed their melodic tuneful approach, but liked that they could get the crowd up when it mattered. Impressed me as on the way up.

5. Shaky Graves

• Had heard he would be a good act to see, but was really planning on seeing someone else. Turned out to just be wandering around and decided to go take in the end of his set. I thought it was great and enjoyed the experience a lot. 

6. NoNoNo

• New band from Sweden. Thought the sound was great, lead singer was young, ingenue-like, combined with well produced backing beats and guitar. Caught my eye as a band who was thrilled to be playing to a largish audience, similar to Imagine Dragons 2 years ago.

7. Weezer

• Crowd was large, and totally into it. Rivers Coumo and Co. did not disappoint. The crowd sang along on almost all the songs. Tremendously fun time. Sang the "Sweater Song", but not "The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived"

8. Seeing old friends

• Watched Lucius with my NPR / Firefly / Music friend Lorie. Caught up with an old work friend on Sunday morning, and hung out for a couple hours with an older work friend on Saturday. Looked up old friends Steven and Lauren along with Sarah. Saw Donnie in the crowd. Passed Lori M while walking. Watched for but didn't see (even though they were there...) Lydia, Tricia, Eric, Jennifer and others

9. Meeting new friends

• Destiny, girl in front of me at TATE. Donated sunblock to most of the band. Darren brought over a set of drumsticks. 
• Girl reading a book close up at one of the early shows. (Hunter Hunted maybe?) Friendly, 21 pilots designs in her shoelaces, Fan of Gemini Club on the Big Break stage. 
• Girl from Massachusetts at Ziggy Marley, wistful about Ziggy looking like Bob, friendly and happy to talk about festival in general, other festivals, and other things.
• Friendly guy smoking out with new friends at Band of Horses. Friendly and engaging. Talking about how he smuggled weed in past security.
• Girl with buzzed hair, raised $4000 for cancer, then donated hair. Fun and friendly
• Whole group to celebrate Goals by Jones and Dempsey during USA vs Portugal

10. Random happenings

• Waving at another old friend from work while walking by.
• Stopped by an acquaintance who hangs out with some other friends.
• Being able to smuggle in things all 4 days. Backpack never fully opened.
• Walking 1.25 miles to get to the first stage.
• Walking + jumping + dancing equaling 15-16 miles on the long days.
• Loved the sheer exuberance and physical response of the crowd at Martin Garrix
• Loved the unique and thoroughly joyful take on music and performance by San Fermin (Like Edward Sharp and the MZs if they played complicated music)
• Loved how much Ziggy Marley looked like Bob. Especially singing "Redemption Song"
• The poetry and confidence and weirdness of The Ceremonies
• Bad Things being really good, Wishing I could have watched the Colourist with more than half an ear, The joyful and no worries approach of Royal Teeth, The energy and great performance of Local Natives, Hunter Hunted, Magic Man, Lucius, Wild Child, Haerts, Basic Vacation, and many others I'm sure

Then a few things that weren't quite as good.

1. During the first (and only) late night show that I stayed for, (Son Lux in the forest. Weird atmospheric music in a super trippy atmospheric place) Kid on the barrier seized. He was probably 3 rows in front of me. Really killed the vibe and took away any chance of getting lost in the music for me. He was probably high, probably dehydrated, and certainly not a good combination with the myriads of strobe lights that were going off. Really weirded me out.

2. Attending alone. This allowed me to get closer to stages (good thing) and let me set my own agenda (also good) but fundamentally I enjoy spending time with friends and I missed my music fest partner, Pru.

3. Dust. The dust raised by 80,000 people tromping through former fields was truly amazing. Spent mornings of the next 2 weeks coughing. Don't regret it, but the dust was remarkable.

4. Finding my car. Sunday I got what was easily the closest parking spot I have ever had there. Great - right? On the way out, bone tired, sad it was over, depressed at leaving, I walked right past it and spent a good 20 minutes walking up and down rows of cars that were farther away than where I had actually parked. So frustrating.

5. Continued growth of the festival, both in distance and sheer numbers of people. While this is a necessary and terrific thing, and I am highly supportive of it and glad it is happening, It is frustrating to not be able to get anywhere close to the main stage unless you are willing to wait through a number of preceding acts. The acts that I would have loved to have been closer for were the Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys, Weezer, and Martin Garrix.

6. Schedule conflicts. Biggest one was Martin Garrix starting at the same time the US World Cup match was still going. TATE vs Portugal the Man, Beck vs Tegan & Sara vs Johnnyswim vs Sleigh Bells (Absurd choice)

7. Missing Bleachers, American Authors, Portugal the Man, The Jezabels, A-Trak, Johnnyswim, Tegan & Sara, Jake Bugg, Phantogram, and Broken Bells. Sacrifices had to be made.

8. Bands that didn't click. Saw and didn't like Holychild, The Weeks, Outkast, Dan Kroll

9. Not camping. Getting a hankering to camp one year. Needs to happen. Not sure when...

10. Cost. The whole thing is an expensive proposition. I made it to 35 stages, which helps spread the cost around as opposed to individual tickets, but still...

July 7, 2014

Another busy week beckons. Plenty of anxiety. Some serious questions. Music will be important. Here's some, many thanks once again to NPR All Songs Considered, as well as from a completely random listen through a small portion of my collection. Some are new, some are favorites, and some just capture my ear in the ever-overwhelming present.



Beneath the Brine - The Family Crest
If Pilots Go To Heaven - Broken Twin
Do I Have the Time - Jessica Lea Mayfield
Turtles All The Way Down - Sturgill Simpson
Forgiven / Forgotten - Angel Olsen
NeverEnds - Vijay Kishore
Blush - Plumb
Alone - Trampled by Turtles
Hysteric - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I Drink - Mary Gauthier

Jun 10, 2014

Busy busy spring. Some projects finally getting finished. Exciting weeks ahead. Family time. Firefly Music Festival time. World Cup time. Being bored would be nice, but doesn't look likely anytime soon.

Here are some songs that I'm enjoying. As always music continues to play a centering and reassuring place for me.


Prozac Rock - Margot and the Nuclear So and So's
Birds - Margot and the Nuclear So and So's
New York City Hotel Blues - Margot and the Nuclear So and So's
Hello San Francisco - Margot and the Nuclear So and So's
That Road We Travelled Down - Reservations
We Both Know - Reservations
I Have Never Loved Someone - My Brightest Diamond
She Kissed Me - Leagues
All My Loving - The Well Pennies
Drop - Cornelius
Charles De Gaulle - Letts
Bad Bad Love - Alexander
Mad at the Clouds - crash

March 19, 2014

Can finally get some work done after everyone else goes home for the night.

But it still sucks.

And then the next night goes on and on... And your long planned for convention trip gets cancelled...

And it sucks a lot.
Music helps. A Little.


Hey Rose - Streets of Laredo
Younger - SW/MM/NG
Hey Mami - Sylvan Esso
No Television - The Can't Tells
Twin Size Mattresses - The Front Bottoms
Animal - The Pack A.D.
Lost Weekend - The So So Glos
Today is a Bright New Day - Tom Brosseau
Change My Ways - Tony Molina
Honey - Torres
Rescue, Mister - Trust
Machine Stop - Duologue
Zeroes - Duologue
Push It - Duologue
Snap Out Of It - Duologue
Constant - Duologue
Love Is To Die - Warpaint
Neon Fists - Yellow Ostrich
Tame One - Your Friend

March 18, 2014

Work is completely over-the-top out-of-control too stressful. No idea how the next few weeks / months are going to play out. Pretty crazy.


Here's some more from the Austin 100 and anything else that catches my ear...


Get Well - Nothing
Happy Belated - Paper Holland
Driver - Perfect Pussy
Espeon - Phox
Evil - Phox
Kingfisher - Phox
Slow Motion - Phox
Noble Heart - Phox
Sleep Talk - Potty Mouth
Everest - Public Service Broadcasting
The War - Quiet Kids
Tired & Buttered - Quilt
Last Forgiven - Rathborne
Only Lies - Robert Ellis
Wild - Royal Teeth
Crying From The Home - Saint Rich
Uppercutter - Saintseneca
Ivory Black - Seryn
Waves - Sleeper Agent
The S.S. Here We Go - Stagbriar

March 13, 2014

More from the Austin 100... More pressure at work... More new music...


Blood Song - Jess Williamson
Beekeeper - Keaton Henson
Teach Me - Keaton Henson
You - Keaton Henson
Falling Bough - Kiev
Pulsing Cough Focus - Kiev
L-Dopa - Laura Stevenson
Bloodlines - Mimicking Birds
Oxen Hope - Mirah
Advanced Falconry - Mutual Benefit
Leave the Door Wide Open - NO

March 11, 2014 (B)

Another set...

Skipping Stones - Good for Grapes
Colorful Kids - Ha Ha Tonka
Last War - Haley Bonar
The Body Electric - Hurray For The Riff Raff
Uncertainty - Jagwar Ma
Time of Extinction - Jambinai
Ghost - Jeremy Messersmith


As always... keep listening.

March 11, 2014

More of the Austin 100. More new music. It's a good offset, one I need, to the stress of the average workday.

Comfy Coffins - Demitasse
Green - Diane Coffee
Messidona - Driver Friendly
Are You OK? - Dum Dum Girls
Possessed - Eagulls
Satellites - EMA
How Good Does it Feel - Empires
Gouge - Eternal Summers
Hot and Cold - Ex Hex
Goal - Football Etc.
Medusa - GEMS
We Are Alive - Golden Youth


There's more to come...

March 10, 2014

Music from NPR's Austin 100. Others that I've come across recently. There are a few occurrences of EDM, Trance, DnB, whatever you want to call it. This remains a genre that I enjoy upon occasion. I'm not completely gone into only that, but throw a little in for energy and dancing and it's hard to beat.

Also, the majority of these groups are brand new. I love throwing up a list that is 100% new artists to me. This one is. There's always new bands, new artists, new sounds.

Keep on listening.

Black Me Out - Against Me!
Divisionary (Do the Right Thing) - Ages And Ages
Endless Fantasy - Anamanaguchi
Hi-Five - Angel Olsen
Only So Much You Can Do - Archie Powell and the Exports
Going Home - Asgeir
On That Day - Asgeir
Summer Guest - Asgeir
Cold Chicory - Brass Bed
Are You With Me Now - Cate Le Bon
I'm Not Part of Me - Cloud Nothings

We got through the letter "C". More to come.

February 20, 2014

Just listening through a bunch of random songs and decided to start logging the ones that stuck out. I do my best to avoid any repeats.


Someday - Future of Forestry
Untitled #8 - Sigur Ros
Let Yourself Go - Green Day
Never Let Me Go - Florence and the Machine
Two Sides of Lonely - The Lone Bellow
Out the Airlock - Paul Dempsey
Through the Dirt and the Gravel - We Were Promised Jetpacks

January 8, 2014

New St. Vincent. New Bruce. Too many things going on at work. Life continues. and some more music that caught my ear.

Birth in Reverse - St. Vincent
Digital Witness - St. Vincent
Huey Newton - St. Vincent
Silver Timothy - Damien Jurado
Past Life - Lost in the Trees
The Ghost of Tom Joad - Bruce Springsteen w/ Tom Morello (Wow!)

Finally posting a week late, but such is life.