M83

Ok, I'm sure you have heard this song, Midnight City, but have you listened to the rest of the album?! If not, I strongly encourage you do. I've been listening to it non-stop on spotify and it's starting to become one of my favorite albums of 2011.. seriously, do yourself a favor and listen to it.

It reminds me of what we've talked about before, how we seem to care more about albums and not just songs. I really love Midnight City, but I love it even more when it's tangled in with this album.

Party Down

You may already be aware of this, but I just discovered it a little while ago.  It's the show that basically put Adam Scott (Ben) on Parks and Recreation.  He's great in it and the show is hilarious, and best of all, both seasons are available for streaming on Netflix.  I've already made it through both.

So, now that your finals are over and you have some free time, you may want to find some time to "Party Down" a little.

This is why...

...I love Annie Clark.  With all the delicacy and richness of her studio albums, she can still whip something like this out and completely pull it off.  Be still my beating heart...

Can we agree...

...that this is one of the most beautiful songs off of Bon Iver's new album.  And this video, though apparently only tangentially related to the lyrics, manages to perfectly capture the meaning and spirit of the song.  Quietness, humility, enlightenment, and unparalleled beauty.

OMG. This Is Going To Be Amazing!

Youth Lagoon - Montana

In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - cover by Clem Snide

Strange Mercy

The future Mrs. Pulsipher's new album comes out Sept 13!  You can listen to it at npr and it's a goodie:

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/04/139946514/first-listen-st-vincent-strange-mercy

and here's a video of the first single "Cruel."

Woke Up in Beijing

Hey!  So remember how I told you I might go to China?  Well, I just got back.  It all happened kinda fast, so in a matter of a few weeks I found out I was going, then I was there, and now I'm back.  I was lucky enough to be able to extend my trip there by a couple days and do some sight seeing in and around Beijing.  The whole time I was there I had the song "Beijing" by Patrick Watson running through my head, so when I got back I put together a little video of footage I had taken from cabs and added that song as the soundtrack.  And now I am sharing it with you.

Enjoy!

Blood Bank

Here is a post from my friend's blog. She uploaded an audio clip from the concert. Maybe you can get a taste of what Blood Bank was like..

http://www.theinfamousdance.com/1/post/2011/08/the-sunday-sound-bon-iver-via-cell-phone.html

Alexander Ebert

Okay, here's that song I told you about by the lead singer of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros:


Alexander - Truth from Alexander on Vimeo.

And here's Edward Sharpe on Letterman:

Space Oddity vs. Rocket Man

Okay, which is the best 70's space anthem? Ready... set... go!





Of course, you can't talk about Rocket Man without bringing up William Shatner's legendary interpretation.

7 Minutes in Heaven

New webisodes with Mike O'Brien!

I Keep Having Dreams..

Favorite new artist: Frank Turner. The video collage is cheesy, but the song is great. Also check out, "I Still Believe" and "The Road"

Washed Out

My new favorite album: Washed Out, Within and Without.

Underneath The Covers

Ryan Adams covering Alice n' Chains

Bon Iver, "I Can't Make You Love Me/Nick of Time"

tUnE-yArDs

I stole this from Paul's blog. I listened to the album yesterday. It's awesome. And, I really heart this video.

Calgary

New album comes out June 21st!

Can We Go to This Concert... Please?

Where I've Been

Hey!  So, I'm not pissed, nor have I been ignoring you. This last week has been utter chaos as I've done nothing but work and sleep for the last seven days.  It has all been in order to finish up the design of this:

And it was totally worth it because this is seriously going to be an awesome place to visit.  It will essentially be one of the most sustainable and environmentally responsible 5-star resorts in the world, not to mention, one of the most beautiful places to stay at Lake Tahoe.  Oh, and did I mention that it is the first step in transitioning an aging casino-driven community into a recreational mecca that, over time, will completely transform the nature of the Lake Tahoe Basin?  But, you know, it's no big deal.  :)

Anyway, sorry for the profusion of nerdery.  But when you're life has revolved around something like this for the last 4 months, you tend to get a little excited when it's finished.  I'm sure you can relate.

But now I can get back to normal life, including listening to your latest post!

If You're Pissed, Listen to This

http://cults.bandcamp.com/

My new favorite album.

Bon Iver's Best Cover Songs

Download them here.

enjoy!

Mark's What To Wear, Now

Shoes: Toms, Oxfords, Chuck Taylors, Loafers, Sperry's, Suede Chukka or MacAlister Boots (confession: I'm not sure if these are what they're actually called, but that's what J.Crew calls them so we're going with it).

Shirts: Flannels (or pseudo flannel), Jean Shirts. For work think of Ben from Parks & Rec. and dress like him. T-Shirts should be plain (I would stay away from logo T-Shirts unless they're awesome band T-shirts, like the Pixies) you can get these from American Apparel.

Pants: Fitted Dark Jeans

Belts:

Ties: Skinny. Let's use another Ben Wyatt example, in fact he should be your fashion guru. Whatever you see him wear on T.V. you should try to emulate, that's easy enough right?

Horizons Expanded

Up until now, we've used this blog primarly to share music.  However, I think this blog can be so, so much more.  So, in the interest of expanding our blogging horizons, today I introduce three different, non-music related items:

1 - A poem
2 - A request
3 - A discussion

The Poem

So, since you listen to Wait..Wait... Don't Tell Me, you are probably already aware of this, but apparently Dimitri Martin is a fan of palindromes.  So much so, he wrote a 244-word palindromic poem.  And frankly it's pretty incredible and I knew you would appreciate it:

"Dammit I'm Mad"

Dammit I’m mad.

Evil is a deed as I live.

God, am I reviled? I rise, my bed on a sun, I melt.

To be not one man emanating is sad. I piss.

Alas, it is so late. Who stops to help?

Man, it is hot. I’m in it. I tell.

I am not a devil. I level “Mad Dog”.

Ah, say burning is, as a deified gulp,

In my halo of a mired rum tin.

I erase many men. Oh, to be man, a sin.

Is evil in a clam? In a trap?

No. It is open. On it I was stuck.

Rats peed on hope. Elsewhere dips a web.

Be still if I fill its ebb.

Ew, a spider… eh?

We sleep. Oh no!

Deep, stark cuts saw it in one position.

Part animal, can I live? Sin is a name.

Both, one… my names are in it.

Murder? I’m a fool.

A hymn I plug, deified as a sign in ruby ash,

A Goddam level I lived at.

On mail let it in. I’m it.

Oh, sit in ample hot spots. Oh wet!

A loss it is alas (sip). I’d assign it a name.

Name not one bottle minus an ode by me:

“Sir, I deliver. I’m a dog”

Evil is a deed as I live.

Dammit I’m mad.

The Request

So, the weather in the high rockies is finally starting to warm up.  Consequently, I am starting to break out the warm weather clothes and I am finding that I am lacking.  Most everything I have has holes, stains, or some other dysfunction.  Now, seeing how you so delicately told me that I am "stuck in the ninties" I thought I should hold off on buying new summer clothes until I can safely travel through time to the present.  So, I would like to ask you to please tell me what warm weather clothes I can and should wear in this bold new future of ours.

The Discussion

I've had this discussion with a couple people and I would like to get your thoughts on it:

Hipsters - Love them? Hate them? Ambivelence? Indifference?

The Antlers

The new album, Burst Apart, from The Antlers came out recently. They initially premiered their entire album at a live SXSW show. And, the album, yeah it's amazing, it's The freaking Antlers. His voice is haunting, but yet so moving. Here is a track from their new album, Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out.

Here are few favorites from their recent album, Hospice. It's quite a downer album, but fantastic nonetheless.. Two, by the Antlers:

Kettering also from their album Hospice

2 + 2 = 6

So, if you're lucky (or maybe it's more about me being lucky), I will be introducing you to not one, not two, but three great musical experiences today.  Two semi-obscure, but excellent, musicians have recently paired up to form a super duo.  And if you aren't yet familiar with either of them, then a whole world of music is about to be opened unto you.

The first musician is a woman named Thao Nguyen.  She's been around for a while and she is awesome, so you probably already know her.  But if not, here's a song of her's:



The second musician is Mirah.  A little more mellow than Thao, and also a little less well known, she is still great.  I love her voice, which, while essentially sounding similar to pretty much every other female singer/songwriter out there, somehow it's still incredibly unique.  Here's one of her songs:



And finally, a couple weeks ago they joined forced to become Thao + Mirah, and released a joint album that is, frankly, amazing.  I love the combination, which somehow seems to exceed the sum of its parts.  Here are a couple songs for your enjoyment:

Rocky Mountain Low

In honor of the close of another great ski season, I offer you this little gem of Aspen ski and music history.  I'm not sure which is better: the green onesie or his sun glasses.

Beautiful One, I Want To Go Where You Are

Jack Tatum records under the name Wild Nothing. Last year he released his first album, Gemini, to rave reviews. And, then a couple months later he released an EP, Golden Haze. He touts Morrissey as an influence which is kind of spot-on since Wild Nothing's songs sound akin to The Smiths - or any UK indie band from the 80's. In fact, when I first heard Golden Haze I thought it was a secret Cure song I had never heard before.

Unfortunately, there is not an official music video, so this one will have to do until I can figure out how to upload MP3's.. so just close your eyes and listen.

In the Beginning...

I feel like the inaugural post for a blog like this needs to be epic, almost biblical in proportion.  Fortunately I recently came across this little offering from an artist named Woodkid which suites that need quite well (or at least attempts to).  The rest of his music is pretty low key and mellow compared to this number and he only has an EP out with a few songs and a couple remixes, so who really knows what he is truly like as a musician.  Regardless, I like this song, if only for the shear ballsiness of it as an artist's first volley into an overcrowded music market.  And the drums are pretty infectious too.  I feel like at some point I'm going to hear this on an episode of Breaking Bad.

p.s. while there is an obvious negative commentary on religion in the video (mostly toward the end), I can't help but wonder if it is maybe directed specifically at Mormons.  The clean cut, youthful minister; the giant pipe organ, and I swear that is the Los Angeles temple at the end (oddly situated in the mountains, however).  Am I just being paranoid?  Yes, I think I am.