Tuesday, January 19, 2010

january (2010)


and we begin again. a little makeover, for the new year. we'll see how it works out.

the utmost thanks is due to tony ayala, who has introduced me to a big handful of this month's songs. three cheers for illegal internet file sharing!



1. The Debtor/Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (Tony Ayala find)
2. Waltz #3/The Old Believers: this song is adorable. and this band is adorable.
3. No Bold Villain/Timber Timbre (Daytrotter version. p.s. if you haven't checked this out yet. daytrotter.com. do it): I am in love. Bon Iver, you hold my heart, but watch out, because TT is swooping in behind you. I especially love this version. It seems almost deeper, more rich, than the original.
4. For Emma/Bon Iver (Myspace Transitions version. Also supplied by T.A.): I was listening to this version on youtube for a while, and was obviously thrilled when Tony sent it to me. Lovely surprise. Bon Iver is my (dream, among many others) future husband. I can only hope Emma was the coolest fucking girl around.
5. My Body's a Zombie for You/Dead Man's Bones: Ryan Gosling?! Childrens' Choir!? Eerie hipster music?! Sold.
6. Wide Eyes/Local Natives (T.A.): the first time I heard this song, it was accompanying a slideshow of snowy camp photos that Tony had put together in December. and that's how I'll always think of it.
7. Vapours/Islands: there's just something about the line "it's a sexy way to cry" that makes me feel all velvety and slightly excited.
8. Northern Lights/Bowerbirds (T.A.): jesus this is beautiful. get ready camp 2010, I'm busting out the guitar on this one.
9. That Western Skyline/Dawes: I heard this on the radio when driving back from seeing the movie The Road. The Road had made me feel grey and ashy and cold, and this song was like warm honey.
10. The Breeze/Dr. Dog (T.A.): it's one of those songs that has really deep lyrics that seem so outrageously pertinent to your (my) life at the time.
11. Shiver/Coldplay: nostalgic for my freshman year in high school. fourteen, can't sleep and listening to this late into the night.
12. Cosmic Love/Florence and the Machine: because Laura Levenhagen, I love you.
13. Ain't Nothing Like You/BlakRoc (feat. Jim Jones and Mos Def): I had a difficult time deciding between this and the track "Why Can't I Forget Him" (feat. Nicole Wray), but decided on the Mos Def because, as I feel towards so many other famous men, I'd love to be his wife. BlakRoc is basically the Black Keys + major hip hop artists. It's a pretty awesome collaboration, though the two songs I just mentioned are by far the best.
14. Lover, You Should've Come Over/Jeff Buckley: Think--sitting at your desk, and it's just becoming night, and you don't know if you're happy or sad, so you'll probably read astrology. At least, that's what I was doing every time (yes, there were more than one of these occurances) I decided to put this song it. It just fit that mood so well...
15. I Am the Changer/Cotton Jones: Cotton Jones is just about my favorite thing in the world. Seriously, I chose it over ice cream, or candy or cheese. And this song is great, especially for driving around in the car. even more so when you're a little bit upset. (and possibly, though not for all, with a cigarette in your mouth).
16. Sweet Disposition/Temper Trap: 500 Days of Summer, a reminder of the warmth? Or at least the title suggests...


Sunday, January 3, 2010

2009, year in review


so I realize this is a little late (my dear friend Kelsey Brown pointed this out), and for that I apologize. as you can see, there is no "december" post. instead, I decided to pick out the most memorable songs of 2009 (not necessarily best, just what I listened to most, or has the most emotional attachment). it's been a crazy year, though I can't say I'm unhappy to see it go.

1. woodstock/alice smith
2. you're the one/the black keys
3. blue sparks/paper bird
4. before the sun goes down/vetiver
5. gotta have you/the weepies
6. a change is gonna come/sam cooke
7. let it die/feist
8. you're gonna make me lonesome when you go/bob dylan
9. metal heart (2008 version)/cat power
10. the wolves (act 1&2)
11. orange sky/alexi murdoch
12. let it fall/lykke li
13. where did you sleep last night?/leadbelly
14. empire state of mind/jay-z feat. alicia keys
15. low man/alberta cross
16. colors/dark dark dark
17. mercy/timber timbre
18. laughing with/regina spektor
19. i'll be here in the morning/townes van zandt
20. junebug waltz/hurray for the riff raff
21. vampire/pink mountaintops
22. i shall not walk alone/ben harper with the blind boys of alabama
23. hard sun/eddie vedder
24. bones & skin/mirah
25. less than positive/cotton jones
26. devil town/bright eyes

xoxo 2009, bring it on 2010.