Rolling in the Deep :: Adele

I love this song. I cannot adequately express how much I love Adele's music in general. I was hooked on her first album, 19, when it came out a few years back and I am just as impressed by her most recent album, 21.

Adele's voice is just incredible. I know some people have compared her to Amy Winehouse and found her lacking, but I don't think this is the case at all.

I should get back to work so I'll keep this brief. Check it out, Rolling in the Deep.

Red Cave :: Yeasayer

So apparently there's this band Yeasayer and I thought I wasn't super into their music so I didn't really pay much attention to their stuff.

Then I go to an LVC event and one of the houses sings an acapella version of Red Cave and I am hooked. The song is in my head for days, and I can't figure out where the song came from. Is it an old folk tune? Is it from some communist song book? Then I finally hit on the right combination of search words and find out that it's by Yeasayer off their old album "All Hour Cymbals," how embarrassing for me!

Regardless, it's an excellent song. The song is structured in a round, and there's something almost primal about It reminds me of singing with your head thrown back at the top of your lungs under a starry night sky on a crisp fall night around a fire with your nearest and dearest. For you listening pleasure I've included links to both a live version of the song and the actual recording. I was tempted to provide you with multiple versions of the song live, but then I remembered that I am not the only one who can use youtube, and you might not be as hooked on the song as I am.





Lyrics

I went out past the willow and the well
caught my breath upon the hill
at the edge of the domain

and I went down
and further down
and when I got up,
I'm at the red cave

and with that sound
as if I had been put under a spell
she led me to her whirlpool
warm despite a winter's day

Mary's house in the hollow of the
white hazel rapid whirlpool
and the church of the red cave

I'm so blessed to
have spent that time
with my family and the friends
I love with my short life i have met
so many people I deeply care for

I'm so blessed to
have spent that time
with my family and the friends
I love with my short life I have met
so many people I deeply care for

Don't Know Why (You Stay) :: Essex Green

Essex Green is an indie-pop band based in Vermont. This song, "Don't Know Why (You Stay)" played on Pandora and caught my ear.

It's got catchy lyrics, some rhythmic syncopation, and I love the subtle harmony on the chorus. Happy Wednesday!

The Major Lift :: Years

"The Major Lift" is purely instrumental track that just reeks of optimism. This song had me from the first brass fanfare. I'm a french horn player on a year long sabbatical, so I'm a complete sucker for a great brass line.

"Years" is a project by Ohad Benchetrit of Broken Social Scene and Do Make Say Think. I'm not sure the best way to describe the music. Words like orchestral-avant-indie-rock come to mind.

Here's "The Major Lift," the next embedded player down has all the tracks of the self-titled album "Years" in it.

Enjoy!!

The Major Lift - Years

Years

Right as Rain :: Adele

Brief post today. Adele is a very very talented 20 year old musician from England who's been on the rise. Her first album, 19, is a wonderful collection of indie soul music. Most of the songs are about heartbreak; even so they aren't terribly depressing musically. "Right as Rain" for example, makes me want to dance around the kitchen when it plays even though the lyrics are fairly sad. In addition to "Right as Rain" I've included a bonus video of the song "Melt My Heart to Stone."



Who wants to be right as rain
It's better
When something is wrong
You get excitement in your bones
And everything you do's a game
When night comes
And you're all on your own
You can say I chose to be alone
Who wants to be right as rain
It's harder when you're on top.

Cause when hard work
Don't pay off
And I'm tired there aint no room in my bed
As far as I'm concerned so
Wipe that dirty smile off we
Won't be making up I've cried my heart out
And now
I've had enough of love

Who wants to be riding high
When you'll just crumble
Back on down
You give up everything you are
And even then you don't get far
They make believe that everything
Is exactly what it seems
But at least
When you're at your worst
You know how to feel things.

See when hard work don't pay off
And I'm tired there ain't no room in my bed
As far as I'm concerned so
Wipe that dirty smile off we
Won't be making up
I've cried my heart out
And now
I've had enough of love

Go ahead and still my heart
To make me cry again
Cause it will never hurt
As much as it did then when
We were both right
And no one had blame
But now I give up
On this endless game.

Cause who wants to be right as rain
It's better
When something is wrong
I get excitement
In my bones
Even though
Everything's a strain
When night comes
And I'm on my own
You should know I
Chose to be alone
So who wants to be
Right as rain
It's harder
When you're on top

Cause when hard work
Don't pay off
And I'm tired there ain't no room in my bed
As far as I'm concerned so
Wipe that dirty smile off we
Won`t be making up
I`ve cried my heart out
And now
I've had enough of

No room in my bed
As far as I'm concerned so
Wipe that dirty smile off we
Won`t be making up
I`ve cried my heart out
And now
I've had enough of love




Right under my feet there's air made of bricks
Pulls me down turns me weak for you
I find myself repeating like a broken tune
And I'm forever excusing your intentions
And I give in to my pretendings
Which forgive you each time
Without me knowing
They melt my heart to stone

And I hear your words that I made up
You say my name like there could be an us
I best tidy up my head I'm the only one in love
I'm the only one in love

Each and every time I turn around to leave
I feel my heart begin to burst and bleed
So desperately I try to link it with my head
But instead I fall back to my knees
As you tear your way right through me
I forgive you once again
Without me knowing
You've burnt my heart to stone

And I hear your words that I made up
You say my name like there could be an us
I best tidy up my head I'm the only one in love
I'm the only one in love

Why do you steal my hand
Whenever I'm standing my own ground
You build me up, then leave me dead

Well I hear your words you made up
So I say your name like there could be an us
I best tidy up my head I'm the only one in love
I'm the only one in love.

Freeze and Thaw :: Jayber Crow

Freeze and Thaw :: Jayber Crow

So, I know that we started to do themes each month this year, but I can't contain my excitement! Jayber Crow, a dynamic duo out of the Twin Cities (and 1/2 Luther Alum), just put out a new music video to go with the release of their latest album Two Short Stories on iTunes!!!
Not only is the song pretty amazing - this video is awesome and homemade, by Pete (the mandolin player). I have been playing this song pretty much non-stop since the weekend, so to find that a new video was released only spurred my non-stop loop of Jayber Crow's music.

I hope you all enjoy it just as much as I have been - especially with all the snow melting these last few days...

Enjoy!

The end.
Love,
Meggo.

Rachel Harrington

Today I'm straying from the theme of local music, and instead sharing some really excellent folk/bluegrass from Oregon. Rachel Harrington is a really excellent singer-songwriter, and I'll let her website bio speak for itself.

"Reared among the Pentecostal pines of Oregon, Rachel Harrington has been doing things in the wrong order for quite some time. She’d had extensive radio play before performing her live show, and she was opening for Grammy winners and nominees before releasing her first record."http://www.rachelharrington.net/home.html

My housemate and I were washing dishes last night and she played some songs off of Rachel Harrington's second cd, "City of Refuge." You can listen to some of those tracks at Rachel's myspace page. I highly recommend listening to the track Karen Kane over on myspace.

Her voice reminds me of a little Lucinda Williams, a little Gillian Welch, and a little Pieta Brown. Videos on youtube mostly feature her and the talented mandolin player Zak Borden who sings with her as well. So here are three enjoyable videos I found on youtube. I also recommend checking out her myspace to hear some of her songs that are a little more fleshed out musically, including some really tasteful use of panning if you're using headphones.

A Night in the Box

Local music. So I reached really deep into my musical library, and I found A Night in the Box. They are a really energetic indie bluegrass/rock/folk group that puts on really great live shows. They're actually playing tonight at the 331 Club New Year's Party. Or you can catch them at the Acadia on January 23rd, The Kitty Kat Club on January 30th, or at the Cedar on February 8th.

If foot stomping, hand clapping, guitar driven, banjo and violen laden music is your thing, A Night in the Box delivers pretty excellent electric bluegrass. Most of the songs are catchy, and make me feel like putting on my best button up plaid shirt and singing along.

I couldn't find much of their stuff, even on imeem, so I recommend checking out their myspace page. In particular, I really recommend listening to "The Hustle" on myspace.

A Night in the Box

If You're Feeling Sinister :: Belle & Sebastian

It would come to no surprise to anyone who knows me that "If You're Feeling Sinister" by Belle & Sebastian is one of my favorite albums. Sometimes in the course of your life, everything that is going on around you sort of leads you to a particular album or group, and that is what happened to me. My sophomore year of college was basically hell. Everything in my life was terrible, and every day, I only thought about how much I wanted to die. I have very little memory of that horrible, depressing year of my life, but I do remember a beautiful thing that helped sustain me: this album.

I remember clearly setting the CD player to "Play" and looking out my dorm room window at the world somehow going on with life while I was stuck. "Make a new cult every day to suit your affairs.... kissing girls in English at the back of the stairs..." God, how I loved that album. And I still love it today! Those opening lines were like a balm on my poor wounded soul. Stuart Murdoch's voice was like a big bear hug. It's a really dorky thing- between Erika and I, we can probably sing every line of every Belle & Sebastian song.

In music-dork circles, this is considered one of the best albums OF ALL TIMES. It's so good that B&S actually re-recorded the album live in concert and sold it exclusively on iTunes a few years ago. Interesting trivia- there are at least TWO bands named after Belle & Sebastian songs. What are they? Post answers in the comment section.

No One Does it Like You :: Department of Eagles (BONUS POST)

I know this week's post is supposed to be for a whole album - I will post that yet this week, I promise! But this is a supplemental post I meant to put up a few weeks ago - it was almost done, so I couldn't help but post it. And besides, I've been a slacker and haven't posted in a couple weeks, so I owe ya'll a post or three. Stay tuned for another post - it will be in keeping with the developing theme of high school albums of choice...and it will be doozy, I promise.

Moving on...I'm in love with Department of Eagles. I haven't felt this strong a reaction to a band in a long time. I've found my winter romance.

Department of Eagles is a Brooklyn-based duo, Dan Rossen of Grizzly Bear fame and Fred Nicolaus. According the band's website, the two were freshman year roommates at NYU, and started making music and collecting sound snippets. In 2003, they released their debut album The Cold Nose. Dan went on to join the band Grizzly Bear, and Fred got a job. But the two continued making music together, and just released In Ear Park in October.

THis song rocks. The whole album rocks. Reminiscent of Grizzly Bear (for obvious reasons), with some Dr. Dog moments and some very poppy Beatles moments as well. And a lot of something all their own. Love it, love it!

I meant to post this a few weeks ago, and I've been playing the album constantly since then. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. My favorite new find of the year, bar none. Thanks to my friend Chris for introducing me.

Click HERE to link to their media page on their website, and check out this tune and others!


Want more? Check out...
*the always satisfying Blogotheque (http://www.blogotheque.net/article.php3?id_article=3604)
*their sweet session on Daytrotter (FREE DOWNLOADS, FRIENDS!!!! http://www.daytrotter.com/article/1459/department-of-eagles).
*their myspace ( http://www.myspace.com/deptofeagles )
*their website (http://www.departmentofeagles.com/)

XOXO
Kim

Fireman :: Nicole Reynolds

I haven't blogged in a while. But personally, I think that I can totally make up for it by the fact that I'm sharing the wonderfully talented, incredibly cute Nicole Reynolds with you. The track I'm sharing is called Fireman, and it's sweet and adorable.

There is a sad lack of her music on the internet, but you can check out her myspace and listen to more stuff there. Or just buy her cd(s) and support the economy through independent music purchases. Which clearly is the appropriate choice. Especially since we're entering that time of year where you're supposed to buy everything in sight because nothing says I love you like spending money on someone. Ok, so I might be a little burned out on being back at my parents' house in suburbia. Anyways.

Nicole Reynolds' lyrics are very intelligent, I've been hooked by her subtle humor and imagery. Well, not all the songs are funny, but that's probably good. This particular track isn't as "humorous," but check out "Don't Put a Tax on the Beautiful Girls" which my friend Z has perfectly described as a "lesbian economic recession anthem" and have a chuckle or two.

Nonetheless. Here's "Fireman" performed live at the National Women's Music Festival. Enjoy! (added bonus, see if you can spot Ellis!)

the fireman starts his own fire
for the thrill, for the thrill
i've got an oil spill in my head
and it's spread like a flood

i don't got the answers
i don't got the mind
to stick with one story
follow something blindly
i don't rule things out
i could let you in
my mind's a rollin river
i'll tell you where i've been

sensible madness
terrible sadness
i've felt it all
let it fall, let it fall
i tell you that i love you
do i say it too much
i tell you that i want you
like a chemical rush

mark on my tongue
anchor on my back
i've seen too much
in my mind
it's all stacked up
california burning
louisianna drowning
generation howling

the fireman starts his own fire
for the thrill for the thrill
i've got an oil spill in my head
and it's spread like a flood
like a flood like a flood

A Little Respect :: Erasure

I wish my words could send out a clarion call... it's time for a little respect! Actually, it's time for a lot of respect. It seems so simple... we could all hurt so much less if we would just treat each other better. Respect boundaries. Respect choices. Respect friendships. Respect individuals. If we could just handle each other with kid gloves...

So if that paragraph above wasn't gay enough for you, enjoy this video. It's a good song. Respect each other.

I try to discover
A little something to make me sweeter
Oh baby refrain from breaking my heart
I'm so in love with you
I'll be forever blue
That you give me no reason
Why you're making me work so hard

That you give me no
That you give me no
That you give me no
That you give me no

Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me

And if I should falter
Would you open your arms out to me
We can make love not war
And live at peace in our hearts
I'm so in love with you
I'll be forever blue
What religion or reason
Could drive a man to forsake his lover

Don't you tell me no
Don't you tell me no
Don't you tell me no
Don't you tell me no

Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me

I'm so in love with you
I'll be forever blue
That you give me no reason
You know you're making me work so hard

That you give me no
That you give me no
That you give me no
That you give me no

Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me

Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby please give a little respect to me

Miracles :: Jeremy Messersmith

This song came on the radio last night when I was cooking dinner for my housemates. I was intrigued. So this morning I've been wandering around the internet listening to some of his stuff and all that. I discovered that Jeremy Messersmith is based in Minneapolis (hurray for local music) and would give out free copies of his music wrapped in paper bags which got the attention of princess records.

Anyways. Back to this song. It's called "miracles" and has this Elliot Smith/Brian Wilson-esque vibe to it. I couldn't find lyrics anywhere, but he sings fairly clearly. Happy Wednesday!

Intervention :: Arcade Fire

GUEST WRITER!!! Erika

On rainy days, I give my bike the day off and opt to walk to work/class at the University of Minnesota. Who want a soggy black stripe up their backside? Not this girl. Despite the dreary weather and ensuing frizzy hair, I really enjoy the opportunity to listen to music on the way in safety. Lately during my walks, The Arcade Fire has been on heavy rotation. I don't know what it is about the sound of a church organ and Win Butler's melancholy lyrics as I briskly cross the 10th Avenue Bridge, but I find it wonderful. "Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home." Fantastic! Invariably, I arrive on campus, sweating under my raincoat, my socks bunched up in the toes of my rainboots, ready to do battle with the mountain of reading and grading that awaits me.




he king's taken back the throne,
The useless seed is sown,
When they say they're cutting off the phone,
I tell them you're not home.

No place to hide,
You were fighting as a soldier on their side,
You're still a soldier in your mind,
Though nothing's on the line.

You say it's money that we need,
As if we were only mouths to feed,
I know no matter what you say
There are some debts you'll never pay.

Working for the church
While your family dies.
You take what they give you
And you keep it inside.
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home.

Hear the solider groan, "We'll go at it alone"

I can taste the fear.
Lift me up and take me out of here,
Don't want to fight, don't want to die,
Just want to hear you cry.

Who's going to throw the very first stone?
Oh! Who's going to reset the bone?
Walking with your head in a sling
Want to hear the soldier sing.

Working for the Church
While my family dies,
Your little baby sister's
Going to lose her mind,
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home

Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"

I can taste your fear,
It's going to lift you up and take you out of here,
And the bone shall never heal,
I care not if you kneel.

We can't find you now,
But they're going to get their money back somehow,
And when you finally disappear
We'll just say you were never here.

Been working for the church
While your life falls apart,
Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart,
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home.

Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"

Pile of Gold :: The Blow

I have been feeling uninspired lately. New music keeps coming out, but very little is grabbing me. Sure, this year has had some highlights, but it just isn't comparing to the wonder of 2007. Last year was like hitting a musical gold mine - everywhere I turned, a new band was coming out or an old band was releasing a new kick ass album. This year just hasn't been quite the same, I gotta tell 'ya.

As a result, I've found myself returning to stuff I was crazy about last year, or even two, or even THREE years ago. This has been an excellent reminder that good music is an excellent investment. Unlike many other investments that are part of the nation's general economic crash, good music is reliable, doesn't lose value, and will never require a government bail out. Good thing I invested all my money in music last year instead of in the stock market - I knew I made the right choice.

So, in honor of last year's gold mine of music, I'm picking one of my favorite songs from of last year, The Blow's appropriately titled "Pile of Gold", from the album Paper Television.

The Blow started as a project of Khaela Maricich, a cool girl from Portland. She is a musician-performing artist-writer-poet. She paired up Jona Bechtolt, and the band released three albums. Of course, I didn't hear about the band until they released Paper Television, their last album - shortly after the release, they split, and now the band is back to being a one-woman show. When I saw The Blow last fall, Khaela was performing on stage alone, singing along to music pumping out of her mixing board. It was seriously ballsy.

Khaela's lyrics are clever, funny, honest, relatable, about sex and love and loss and just feeling all the crap that we all do. She has a sense of humor. Some lyrics warm my heart and make me smile, while other lyrics tap into all those shitty feelings we don't want to deal with. Khaela says it all, frankly, without apology. And all those lyrics get put to a wild variety of beats and samples and sounds and influences, from drum corps to doowop to dirty electronica.

I think The Blow rocks. "Pile of Gold" was the first song I heard, and I was hooked. I think the intro sounds a little like The Knack's ubiquitous "My Sherona", and it has a killer beat. But above all, I love the lyrics, particularly the phrase "massive sapphic exodus", and Khaela's lesson in the economics of attraction, sex, and relationships. The whole album is great, you must check out "The Big U", "Parentheses", "Fists Up", and "True Affection".



Lyrics:
“Pile of Gold” Lyrics by The Blow

All the girls are sitting on a pile of gold
All the girls
And the boys you know they want, they want it
All the girls are sitting on a pile of gold
All the girls
And the boys you know they want it, they want it

Boys, we love you
Some of us don't
But plenty of us do
You should treat us good
You do that and you know
We're gonna uh-uh huh
Share more of our goods with you

All the girls are sitting on a pile of gold
All the girls
And the boys you know they want, they want it
All the girls are sitting on a pile of gold
All the girls
And the boys you know they want it, they want it

They want it, they want it
It's economic
Beneath the warmth that we export
Of course some boys will try to push the prices down
By pushing girls around
I've seen some do this
Learned to see through this
They get scared, so scared
Maybe we'll refuse to share with them
All join some massive sapphic exodus
Tell them
I know the truth that if you could
Learn to save enough to make some trade with me

All the girls are sitting on a pile of gold
All the girls
And the boys you know they want, they want it
All the girls are sitting on a pile of gold
All the girls
And the boys you know they want it, they want it

Boys boys we love you
Some of us don't
Plenty of us do
Treat us good
And you know we're gonna
Share share share
Our goods with you

© All rights reserved by The Blow.

If you like what you've heard...
The Blow's Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theblowus
Khaela's blog: http://www.thetouchmefeeling.com/wordpress/

XOXO
Kim

elephants :: Rachael Yamagata

I first heard Rachael Yamagata when she came and played at Luther College when I was a sophomore. I was pretty much enthralled. It was (and still is) one of the most enjoyable concerts I've ever been to. Rachael has an excellent presence on stage, and has the ability of making even a huge open space feel small and intimate. I've continued to stay updated on what she's been up to. She hasn't released an album since her first one, Happenstance, until now. Though I think that's perfectly acceptable because her new release is a 2 cd set entitled Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Heart. It drops on October 7th if you're interested. Also, rather appropriately, if you're in the Twin Cities area she's playing TOMORROW at the fine line music cafe. Doors at 8, show at 9, $13 in advance $15 at the door.

So enough gushing and on with the music.

This song is a slower song, it's called elephants and is the featured Rachael Yamagata youtube video. I really wanted to share the song "accident" with ya'll, but the internet gods were against. Accident has been on rotation on the current, so if you have a chance to listen to them on the current, enjoy that.
Either way, elephants is still a good song. If anyone is thinking about going to the Rachael Yamagata concert, let me know.

Beautiful Friend :: Cranes

I recently re-discovered Cranes, when I was traveling. I saw the CD on a table, and all kinds of nostalgia came flooding back.

My brother used to play this amazing music (circa 1993). Rough melodies with sharp industrial beats, contrasted with this mysterious female voice, almost impossible to understand. This is Cranes.

"Beautiful Friend" is probably their most beautiful, and most accessible, song.

I feel those days without end
when we used to be friends
those summer days were spent
in search of hope and happiness

we used to while away our days
in a beautiful haze
I guess I knew one day
that you'd be moving long away

you said go back to your dream
back to your wilderness
go back along the walk
maybe you'll find some happiness

I wept a thousand tears for you
for my love that came true
and soon I realized
I'd always dreamt it'd come to this

And though that time passes by
and that our lives have changed
but our love was special
our love was strange

And though my heart broke
in time it did mend
except when I think about the time
that we used to be friends

Journey of the Featherless :: Cloud Cult

I know that between all of us blogging on here we've blogged about Cloud Cult frequently. However, I've been listening to this song all week and I can't get it out of my head.

I first heard this song at around 3 in the morning at the spark 24 concert in minneapolis, which was also the first time i heard cloud cult live. as many people have noted, cloud cult gives amazing live shows. seriously, one of the best shows i've seen. granted it was early in the morning, i'd been awake for quite some time and was a little loopy.

Anyways. I love the imagery in this song. The lyrics are beautiful, and I thoroughly enjoy the orchestration. Happy Wednesday!



got myself a mission
i'm going to find heaven
i made crepe paper wings
i think they'll carry me well

i left you a love poem
the best i have written
my favorite words
were the ones i couldn't spell

they say i'm a lunatic
they say i'm a fool of it
i say that it's worth dreaming
just for the dream of it

it's all about passion
it's all about preception
don't call me on my cell phone
cause there ain't no reception
when i'm gone

when i'm gone

i think i'm growing feathers
but i'm not sure of it
because i started getting dizzy
about a hundred feet up

i made friends with the clouds
i made friends with the birds
if you as a goose a question
he never shuts up

honestly i miss you
and i hope that you're missing me
cause i could use your lips on me
and a little of drammamine

for the moment i could see
way better than i've ever seen
don't sell my stuff on ebay
because i might be back
before i'm gone

before i'm gone

i'm not the kind of man
who's into looking downwards
i've drank my share of pity
from the bartenders cup

there's so many people
wondering whats the right direction
as far as i'm concerned
there's only one way up

and my fingers they are blisters
and my eyes they are bullet holes
my heart is still beating
guess i'm pretty lucky

pretty lucky

pretty lucky

pretty lucky

Oxford Comma :: Vampire Weekend

I give a f*** about Oxford commas! Now I'm off to gaily write a song about splitting infinitives. Toodles.

p.s. I will keep posting obnoxious songs until other people post songs!

I Don't Really Love You Anymore :: The Magnetic Fields

Just a beautiful, classic Magnetic Fields song.