Thursday, December 30, 2010

Midas Tongue

For the first time in a really long time, I'm looking forward to the New Year.  No long litanies or introspective monologues today.  This mix is all about jumping off of the bitter truck to dance in the street.  Licking everything and turning it into gold.  Let's skip together.

Okay, so it wouldn't be my blog without a little pretentious metaphor.

Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

I Want To Thank You, Ray Don

One of my favorite TV programs of all-time is without a doubt, Designing Women, especially Julia Sugarbaker and Mary Jo.  Julia was my little girl hero and I really admired her feisty passion, which explains a lot now that I think about it.  Anyone in my company for more than, oh about an hour, is bound to discover my same penchant for dramatic explosive rants about justice, ethics, fairness and the plights of others.  Or something less humanitarian and lofty like why kiwi and okra should be banned from the fruit and vegetable bin and relegated to manure.

Here's to you Julia, for better or for worse, thanks for inspiring countless girls to rant, rave and express themselves.



Though my absolute most favorite speech of hers comes from the episode Reservations for Eight. Her speeches are just so over-the-top you can't take her seriously but she sure is funny.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Turning Stones and Leaves

Everyone has rough edges and we're all on some kind of journey, right? The hope being along the way we smooth ourselves with each rotation and revolution, without just spinning our wheels hamster-style. One of the things I would most like to change is my indulgent hyper-criticism - it's ingrained in this raucous antennae'ed brain of mine to have this running litany of snarky sarcastic overly acerbic commentary towards myself and others.

Normally, I don't believe in resolutions, at least not in a prescripted kind of lemming movement but for some reason my urge for change and mutation is syncing up with the rest of the world. One of my more serious resolutions this year is to embrace more tolerance and acceptance.



I could have been easier on you
I should have been a little bit easier on you.

I also want to learn to play guitar and speak another language [but I can't decide on which one]. Maybe some kind of immersion experiment would help, like only dressing, eating food and speaking the language of a particular culture for six weeks.
This is either genius or madness.

Do you have any resolutions this year?

Sail on Bloody Monday

What's hair of the dog if the dog was Blood Marys?  I definitely overdid the holiday cheer yesterday so today I'm being extremely lazy and borrowing a mix someone else made.  Don't hate me.   The good news is this mix is way smooooth and filled with awesomeness. C'mon, you know you want to.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Bathtime

Last night my good friend gave me the most amazing print and sooo perfect since I love wine, octopi and baths.


See more of Phineas Jones here and here. He has some amazing octopus prints like Octolope, but this one is my favorite.

Blue

Just a smidge of melancholy today. Grey clouds, grey heart.

I think this is one of the best choruses ever.


If only you believe like I believe
We'd get by
If only you believe in miracles
So would I

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Run



Stockholm's husband and wife duo, The Forest and The Trees, have knocked the wind out of me.  I've listened to this track every day at least twice for the last week.  I know I said I would only share the one preview song from my holiday mix but this one is a shoe-in too.


The Forest and The Trees - Run

Run, while you are still alive
Before you act like them
No one else can save you

Run, run to save your life
Don't make the same mistakes again.

Hear more.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Play To Win

This one is easy to...you guessed it.  Repeatrepeatrepeat.



Song is set to their video We Live So Fast, just in case you start watching and get jackamo over it.

Winter Swan

Strange dreams last night filled with such whispers and shadows the brain dissolves into molecules.  Karin Dreijer Andersson will either speed the transformation or grind the process to a halt.  All bets are off.





Monday, December 20, 2010

Spectacular Spectral Spectacle

Total lunar eclipse tonight, the last fully visible eclipse for North Americans until 2014. I love the moon and hope wherever you are, you'll get the chance to view this spectacular spectral spectacle



link

Friday, December 17, 2010

Fantasy Nation

Because Fantasies Are Fun, Safe and Healthy.



And Because I've Decided Today I Will Turn Every Sentence I Type Into A Title.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

More Than Okay



I know when you deceive me
Cuz you'll be acting strange

You can take me or you leave me
But I'm okay
Open your eyes and see me
I'm still okay

Well stab me in the back and deceive me
I'm still okay
So baby you take me or you can leave me
I'll still be okay

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Sleazy Riders

This video is pretty. And the music is sleazy. Perfection.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

You S.O.D!

Song of the Day brought to you by California band Weatherhouse and their take on Italo Disco which they've coined Calo Disco.  Love love love it... now if I could just get my paws on a full-length LP.  Actually, I'd settle for a teensy ep to keep the tracks Diamonds and Cometius company.  Stay tuned.



Video for Diamonds was just uploaded today and made by Mr. Vick himself.



Weatherhouse - Cometius

Sunday, December 12, 2010

My Gold Mask Part II

Being deep in the throes of a repetitious aural love affair with My Gold Mask's A Thousand Voices, as I've already mentioned here, their latest A Million Voices (From Where We Were Last) is equally enchanting and addicting.

Spin spin little top, deep down into that pretty secret spot.


Ghost in Your Bed


It's a measure of how much I like this band that I even like their cover of Kim Carnes' Bette Davis Eyes. It's such a break-up song for me but I love Gretta's vocals so much.  She takes the haunting intensity of the original to such this growling level and with Jack's hypnotic guitars and those anthemic My Gold Mask drums...


Groans, sighs and one thousand shivers and moues. I'm crossing and wishing on all things musically holy they make it to my neck of the woods very very soon.

Friday, December 10, 2010

How To Be Alone



Still on hiatus but this is too synchronistic not to share.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Converging In The Quiet

Like Natasha Khan, it's time to take a little rest time.  I'll be back next week.  Have a lovely weekend friends.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Psycho Killer, Radiohead

A little work mix containing randoms from my work iTunes.  Bouncy, fun and best of all loud enough to drown out the grrrs of a busy Wednesday.



Datarock - True Stories
Van She - Mission
Collider - The Grid Goes Down Tonight
Starflyer 59 - Concentrate
Desert Session - Dead In Love
Magic Wands - Kiss Me Dead
The Raveonettes [Trentmoeller remix] - Lust
Memory Tapes - Pretend the Devil Isn't Real
My Gold Mask - It's All Up In The Air
The Magnetic Fields - Either You Don't Love Me Or I Don't Love You
Goldfrapp - Cologne Cerrone Houdini

Isn't that a beautiful photograph?  Courtesy of Imogen Cunningham, 1935.

Pretty

Taking a break from more serious activities like solving world hunger and feeding orphaned children with AIDS, just kidding.  I am though on a hunt for the perfect holiday boot.  Already in my closet is a pair of oxford very granny witchy-esque ankle boots, which incidentally pair super nicely with my octo tights, but these are just begging to join the throng.  Who am I to deny them?

 Sam Edelman

While I'm at it, here are few things on my keep-dreaming holiday wishlist.

My pup Mavis and I would fight continually over this chair.  Gorgeous vintage French poppy wallpaper print. 





Blythe Chair from Anthropologie // Stag Ring by Digby and Iona //  Malababa satchel

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Fire Mountains

I've started working on a holiday mix.  I'm not too far along yet, rather I have way too many options and must now begin the arduous pare down.  Here's a small peek.  Just small one, though, the rest is a surprise.



What kind of comedy is this?
All of the danger you've discovered
What kind of comedy is this?
How can you say now you're frightened

You labeled me in fortry tries and in case you didn't realize
I was a landscape in your dream and all my mountains were on fire.

What kind of labyrinth is this that we're constructing through talking?
What kind of labyrinth is this that sends you laughing without smiling?
Age brings a sad little surprise
And in case you didn't realize
While you were calculating tears
My head expired

Monday, December 6, 2010

Monsieur Dandy Catkins

Last night, I had quite the funny dream starring a rather dapper and illustrious orange-striped feline resplendent in a grey velvet peacoat and a spectacular magenta pink floral boutineer on his lapel.  He kept trying to sneakily steal money from me with guileless wide eyes and a particularly wily cheshire cat grin.  I won last night's battles but he made it apparent he would return.  Now, whatever can that mean?!




Fantastic Cat
I play my mini mini moog
Fantastic Cat
I play a piece of chic music
I'm a fantastic cat
Are you ok?  Here I go!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Most Tender Place

 It's unavoidable, the holiday season is upon us.  Are you ready for it?  I'm not yet sure if I am, for whatever reason at this time of year I reflect upon certain experiences and persons, as I'm sure many do.  I ponder lost loves, family members and opportunities and perhaps it's a bit of a cliche but sometimes I dread the landslide of memories.

When I was younger, I thought  people who regret were people who, for whatever reason, could not  appreciate the moment regardless of its positive or negative associations.  Wild, reckless frivolity or staid, comfort. In my folly, it, seemed like the "older people" were wasting their time looking back.  Imagine my own surprise and subsequent chagrin that I, too, could harbor such thoughts.  Someone once said to me, we only have regrets because we aren't living honest lives.  Regrets are things that we cling to because we know we should have chosen differently.

Immer gerade aus.  Smart words.

Neko Case - Hold On, Hold On


The most tender place in my heart is for strangers
I know it's unkind but my own blood is much too dangerous
Hangin' round the ceiling half the time

Compared to some I've been around
But I really tried so hard
That echo chorus lied to me with its
"Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on"

In the end I was the mean girl
Or somebody's in-between girl
Now it's the devil I love
And that's as funny as real love

I leave the party at three a.m.
Alone, thank God
With a valium from the bride
It's the devil I love

And that's as funny as real love
And that's as real as true love

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Toast

Ok Go's take on toast-mation.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Spill The Beans, McNally

This Spill the Beans McNally has been told in no uncertain terms not to say a word but since you don't know who I'm talking about, this is probably safe.  It bends the rules but it's not technically illegal.  Let's just hope she doesn't see this post.  Shhh... Don't tell.

One of my dearest friends has joined the dark side and will be the proud owner of her very own spawn.  Meaning, in nine months we'll have a mini firecracker bouncing around.   She's the first in my little circle, always the leader of the pack.  My baby's all grown up and now I get to be the kooky oddball aunt, which let's face it, isn't really that different from what I am anyway.

This calls for a special mix for her.  These deserve a spot, don't you think?



And I just couldn't help but love you
When you were my baby
Just the way you wore your hair
And the way you just didn't care
And the way you danced do do do



I have yet to discover a situation that Mag Fields and Pulp don't apply, the most versatile comfy sweater in my collection.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Amanda Fucking Palmer

Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls babies covering Radiohead on a ukulele, what more do you need I ask you?? All is right in the world.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Silver Hands

If ever you were looking for something that would bust the cute, this is it.

Black Swan

Perhaps, I've had ballet on the brain lately, or maybe just always, who knows?  Rreferencing The Ballerina Project of last week or the book Russian Winter I just finished.  Which is dismal, don't bother wasting your time, you can read my bread and butter review of it on Goodreads.  Bread and butter because I won it in a free book giveaway and in return had to write it. Regardless, I've been hungering for the release date of Aronofsky's fifth film, The Black Swan since the summer.

Supposedly, it's set to release in select cities today.  The score, a quasi re-interpretation of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake by Clint Mansell, already gives me chills.

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