I’m sitting at work trying to write a horrendous feature story and I plugged in my ipod to make things a little easier. and then kolla kolla by The Ark came on and I realised that this song makes me so tremendously happy and smile idiotically and nod my head like a crazy hoping my colleague doesn’t notice. And I wanted to share that with you. Not my personal head-movement, but the song in all its glory.
Just ignore the pictures, get through the slow start of the song and then crank up the volume and you won’t regret it.
Actually, I should be working but I took a quick break and found Feist’s new video on afterellen .com and now I have to share.
It’s by the same director, who also did her 1,2,3,4 video and again I patiently waited for a cut, but none came. At least, none that I could see. Last time around I simply thought, “Well, then he has everybody dancing until it looks alright…” Today however, I thought, “OMG how is he doing that?” Because there’s a lot of fireworks and knowing a little bit about that…there is no dress rehearsal with fireworks. They’re off when they’re off! Oh, how I’d love to see a “making of” that video…
I’m probably the last person, but having seen the movie “Juno” yesterday, I immediately fell in love with the soundtrack (and the film in any way). The main character, fantastically portrayed by Ellen Page, would probably call the record “wicked cool” or something like that. I simply love it. No, I’m in love with it.
The album starts off with the same song as the film Barry Louis Polisar|All I want is you and it immediately sets the mood for the rest of the record. The whole CD is loaded with witty, fun and smart songs. Most of them are kept very simple.
It is an Indie record and I found it very surprising that I loved it so much immediately. You’ll also find more known artists like The Kinks, Belle & Sebastian, Sonic Youth and The Velvet Underground.
However, most of the record comprises of Kimya Dawson in one way or another. She comes as part of the Moldy Peaches, with the Antsy Pants and going solo. Her handwriting is all over the soundtrack and while some people might find that a pity I find it’s a blessing. That, of course, might also have something to do with my resistlessness concerning rather wacko peculiar artists like Adam Green (who also is part of the Moldy Peaches).
It’s kind of hard to decide about my favorite song on the record. At first I like Vampire by Antsy Pants because…well, listen for yourself:
-…and then i kind of fell in love with the fast-paced Kimya Dawson song Loose Lips for what I call obvious reasons:
So if you wanna burn yourself
Remember that I LOVE YOU And if you wanna cut yourself
Remember that I LOVE YOU
And if you wanna kill yourself
Remember that I LOVE YOU
Call me up before you’re dead
We can make some plans instead
Send me an IM, I’ll be your friend
Can you be anymore positive?
The record ends with the same song as in the movie. Lead actors Ellen Page and Michael Cera sing their own version of Anyone but you, and it leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
It probably is a record that you’ll either love or hate, depending on your opinion of Kimya Dawson. The good thing is that it is also a stand alone compilation of songs. You might still like it for its catchy tunes if you haven’t seen the movie. But then only one question is left unanswered: Why are you not off to catch the next screening of Juno?
Surfing the web for computer games that I could play, I came across this new music gem. It’s Angela Aki and she was featured in Final Fantasy VII.
I don’t like JPop much and I won’t change my mind because of Ms Aki here, but I kind of like her voice (and her glasses). I don’t understand a single word she sings, but they probably have something to do with love…:) I figured it’s nice to not understand the lyrics for a change…
gf pointed out how she reminded her of Italian music and I do agree. Wikipedia tells me her mother is Italian-American and this might have something to do with that.
If you are looking for something new to put on your iPod try Angela Aki. (oh, and look at the glasses…did I mention that I’m into (g)lasses?)
If you wanna know more about her Wiki is a good place to start.
can’t believe it…feels a bit strange to write 2008 on my checks, on my mail…but I guess it happens every year at least for the first few days. Time is a funny thing, it really is like water in your fist, just slips away. What seems so important in present soon just becomes a distant memory, same goes for people, events, books, movies and music. However some are there to stay…for a long long time. It has been an eventful year, a lot of changes, a lot achieved, a lot lost, I finished my book finally, tried doing many other things, manged to do some, made a mess of others. The only constant remained was my music…thank god for that!
My first super seven list for 2008 is of the songs and artists I discovered and loved in the past year. For me it was a great year where music is concerned…
Don’t bring me Down- Sia I love the live version from her CD “lady croissant”. Actually, all her music is great, her Australian accent and jazzy slur just does it for me, and the fact that she writes her own songs give her some extra brownie points.
Play-Kate Nash
I like to play, play
I like to play, play
I like to play, play
I like to play
I play all day long in my room
I play all day long in my room
I like to play
this is my feel good song.. always makes me grin.
Stay with me- Dolores O’riordan I think that was the first post I read on Soundcafe, and right away went and ordered the CD, and never regretted it. So basically this is what got me interested in Soundcafe…these guys out here know their stuff!! I heard it many times over, although stay with me remains my favorite from the album “are you listening”.
Now Finn is going to laugh at my next entry because we had a slight debate over it a while ago. Big Wheel from the new Tori album, American Doll Posse has gotten all over me like kilos I can never get rid off. Like every Tori fan I waited for her new album, and was very disappointed by it, maybe I had forgotten Tori has her own way of creeping on you, and now I think it really is her finest.. My apologies for losing faith so soon.. but as they say all is well that ends well, eh??
I am partial to Norah Jones, and although many might disagree with me I loved her new album, for me it was better than every other album of hers, Until the end is a song, I know the words by heart
I used to think,
That someday I’d relax a little,
And be more like you.
Then I realized
How silly that thought was,
Needed to stand in my own shoes
I was quite intrugued by the name “lyn teeter flower, maria taylor’s album which came out in middle of 2007, most of the songs were okay, but the real gem out there was “a good start”…the sort that you can’t stop humming!
And now before you start wondering, of course there will be at least one Missy Higgins Song in this list, I mean lets face it she features in most of my list, so it is but obvious she will be here as well heh heh!! so lets see..Warm whispers, from the album “on a clear night”
Your warm whispers
Letting me drown in a pool of you
Your warm whispers
Are keeping the noise from breaking through
And I’m weeping warm honey and milk
As you stay surrounding me, surrounding me
Once in a while we all get into this mood, where we indulge in self pity, start reflecting upon our lives , and also listen to songs on “repeat” mode . These songs depend on what really is the reason for this “Greta Garbo” state of mind. So I am in that sort of a mood right now, and right now I am listening to “Tonight” by Kate Walsh she has a beautiful voice, which just fuels your melonchaly, and with lyrics like
Cause you don’t know about me,And you don’t care how this affair will break me.And why should I care about you, if you don’t care, You don’t care that i love you?
whew.. where is my glass of whiskey?? One has to admit there is something beautiful about sad songs, something very haunting, and however happy go lucky we might be, all of us do end up relating with them. In a way it is like when an my astrologer tells me ” how misunderstood I am, or how you will never get all that you deserve” We just lap it up and say yes yes how true is that. I think sometimes music has the same effect specially sad music. The last song that i was listening to was something like that ” coming to you” by Anne Mc Cue.
I love this song and yet i have been told it is pure poison for me. A delicious poison I must admit. It is just not about the melody but I think it is the lyrics which really does it..again depending on what mood you are in. For example Missy Higgins with her “stuff and nonsense” it is the words…
And you know that I love you Here and now not forever I can give you the present I don’t know about the future That’s all stuff and nonsense I once lived for the future Every day was one day closer Greener on the other side Yes I believed before I met you But I soon learned your love burned brighter than the stars in my eyesNow I know how and when, I know where and why so you know what I mean? Now i am listening to “last tears”by the indigo girls. This will not play twice, but at least three times on repeat mode, and my voice will get louder and louder every time I will sing along with it… I am not sure if I like Mariah Carey or not, sometimes I love her and sometimes I just hate her music, but “my all” really tops it all where tear jerkers are concerned, the ache the longing just goes to another level…sigh! So far one is just aching but feeling sorry for themselves, but then you hear November by azure ray and then it gets scary…seems that loneliness is about to become a part of your life.. By glory! that is scary So I’m waiting for this test to end So these lighter days can soon begin I’ll be alone but maybe more carefree Like a kite that floats so effortlessly I was afraid to be alone Now I’m scared thats how I’d like to be
No No absolutely not! thats not how I ‘d like to be!..and then I do something as ridiculous as listen to Almaz, by Randy crawford, the lyrics have nothing to do with my state of mind, yet her beautiful voice just ends up being a grand finale.. ok ok i am snapping out of it now… my next list will be about “I will survive”
I’m a lover of women but tonight I’m going home with two men [...]
And I’m sure it’s really funny
And I guess the joke’s on me
But I’ll save my smiles for later
Cause tonight I’m busy being scared
Mika Vember does not only write about her love life, she is not afraid to let her audience feel a little uncomfortable and show them that she is not part of the average girl and a guitar task force.
Gf and I went to Frauencafé yesterday - a place we really do not like and avoid - but Mika played there and I had tried to make it to one of her solo gigs ever since her CD release party. After what seems to be forever I now can say I’m the proud owner of a copy of Now or Now.
This is not going to be another of my usual CD reviews, instead I want to muse a little about Mika’s music in general and let you know why I’m so taken by it. Maybe a little of my enthusiasm will ignite a spark in you too…
First off, I wanna say, that Mika cares whether her audience enjoys the performance and asked if they could hear alright. I appreciate that a lot. I don’t like concerts where they max out the volume and the ringing in my ears is louder than the music I came to listen to. Not so with Mika - she performs to be heard.
She also performs to have fun. Yesterday, Mika was accompanied by Martina Winkler on accordion and the two of them had a lot of fun it seems, joking and laughing, entertaining the audience.
Mika has a powerful and unique voice. I kept wrecking my mind if it reminded me of someone else but I couldn’t think up anyone. Mika’s songs feel refreshingly honest and with some her vulnerability is so evident that I felt the strong urge to comfort her. Like for instance confessions of a scatterbrain (in monochrome). And sometimes they just make you close your eyes and give into the sounds around you taking you on a journey through your own heart. She sort of comes from a familiar place.
My personal favorite song of the evening was a song called Old fashioned Morphine, which you can listen to here. I was happy to see that Mika knows her Jolie Holland, until I realized that this tune would be stuck in my head for the rest of the evening.
Mika is not complete as a musician but her debut album and her live performances show the potential of this woman. She keeps experimenting with her music and sounds live nothing like she sounds on her record. Both have their qualities but I like her live better because much like with Ani you have to be there to fully grasp what it’s all about. And how can you not love a musician who cites Florence Foster Jenkins as her influence?
My 2 cents for the album: Find a half-dark room, lay down on the floor and let your mind wander to the music. If you can’t find a way to do that, nevermind. This is music that creates its own atmosphere. I’ve listened to it at all times and it was never the wrong choice.
I usually don’t promote like that, but in case you wanna buy Now or Now you can do so at amazon.com or CDbaby.
after what seems to be years I finally turned on the radio again and got stuck on a song back from 2003 when I started going to university and my life of critical thinking manifested itself :)
this german singing band was really hip then and everyone listened to them for the games their singer played with words and meanings. it’s a pity that all the non-german folk don’t understand what it’s all about.
I remember well that with this band I realised for the first time that good lyricists are not only english-speaking and that there is actually potential of criticism and playfulness in the harsh and complicated language that german definitely is.
If you know a german speaker or have a good (I’m not talking babelfish here) translation program that will show you the word games involved it’s worth looking into the lyrics. If you are just out for a nice time to have music running in the background you can use this as well I guess.
Wir sind Helden (We are heroes) the band calls itself. I never cared too much about the boys in the band but found to like songwriting frontwoman Judith Holofernes very charming indeed.
Here is a video of them playing a promotional concert in Vienna.
In the beginning Judith babbles about trying a new song and that it might all go wrong but that they’ll try anyway…
The song is called The Geek (shall inherit) and it’s an acoustic thing, so the band doesn’t rock out as per usual…for more check youtube!
Usually, ritu does the Top 7 but I figured being the editor and all, I might do one myself. Also, I don’t think that there’s a lot of christmas stuff going on in india (correct me if I’m wrong).
I don’t really know how to rate christmas songs, since I only have one favorite and I will mention that one later. These are the songs that I believe should be on everyones christmas song list though.
One song that I’ve grown to like over the years now is Olivia Olson’s All I want for christmas is you. It’s part of the Love Actually soundtrack and even though at first I thought it’s just another christmas pop song I’ve grown to like it more and more for it’s quality of not forcing you into that pious state where everything goes calm and holy…
Gf really likes Dolly Parton’s Hard Candy Christmas. It’s hopeful and kind of positive although one might not think so at first. I like that. I’m not a big Dolly fan but I’ve grown to like some of her songs. This is one of them.
The next song I wanna include is Oh come all ye faithful. Being a little old-fashioned I like the bing crosby version best, but there are so many other beautiful versions around that it’s up to everyone.
This next one was actually a poem and then became a christmas carol. It came upon a midnight clear just flows throught the room. I don’t know if anyone else recorded it because I like my Sixpence none the richer version so much, I never went looking for another one.
An all time fav for a lot of people I know is River. I’ve listened to it one time too many, so I’m a bit less enthusiastic about it but once or twice a year is ok. So that at some point I will be able to fully enjoy it again. I do recommend the Robert Downey jr version and also the one by Sarah McLachlan.
Song # 6 is Winter Wonderland by Macy Gray. Just listen for yourself. No more comments needed.
Being Austrian and all, I should have Silent Night as a number one Christmas song I guess, but that would be a lie left and right and that’s why my absolute favorite Christmas song ever is Have yourself a merry little Christmas. (fav version by Tori Amos of course:) I didn’t like Christmas until the last 2 years or so. Maybe as a very little child I did but I can’t remember that. So I usually tried to have myself my very own merry little Christmas and that song reflects that so beautifully.
Bonus: Tori as she improvises a new Christmas song at a concert in San Francisco on Dec. 21st, 2002.
Wondering what had happened to Sarah Bettens I chose to look up her website and found out that a month ago she had a new solo album out. She also distributed a free copy to every person in Belgium (where she’s originally from) who read “de morgen” on Oct, 13.
De morgen is one of three quality newpapers in Belgium that is written in dutch and still has a leftist-social democratic background and I presume that it somehow reflects Sarah’s political views…The Artist formerly and now again known as Prince did the same thing in the UK a couple of weeks ago and also distributed a free copy of his new album with a newspaper.
Not living in Belgium I had to get my copy differently but none the less I’m listening to the whole thing right now and this is my verdict:
Nothing new, BUT…Sarah Bettens has her style and she’s still very much using it. She sways between driven rock songs, that since her going solo become more and more political, with songs like “daddy’s gun” and “the soldier song”; and on the other side she sings these shamelessly beautiful ballads that make you cry, like “pave the way”. I could imagine her political writing comes from moving from a liberal (in european standards) country right into the middle of the bible belt. I don’t know what that would do to me…
“The soldier song” is a horribly bad example of a”driven rock song” but I really loved listening to it at her last concert which she closed with this song…
“Pave The Way”
So basically, everything sounds like her typical K’s Choice style and that’s were it becomes addictive. I usually listen to her albums on repeat until at some point I have enough for a year or maybe more. Then I’ll start wondering about her whereabouts again and see if she’s got another album out or simply go back to listening to old songs - in a loop, of course.
One might argue that the album is boring and at a certain level I do agree, but also it is like visiting a friend that you haven’t seen in a while. It’s like going to a place that you know well and feel comfortable at, where the comfort comes from nothing changing too fast.
I checked her tour schedule and either I missed her or she won’t play Vienna this time around. She usually does, so I’m kind of disappointed. Maybe next time around then…
All in all, Shine is a well made album, but to me Sarah Bettens will always make music best heard live, when she’s enchanting her audience. And here I wanna quote one of my (straight) friends who after her first Bettens concert said, “Well, I know I’m not into women, not at all but…maybe…well, if…she…hmm…Let’s just say, I’d not wreck my mind about it.”
The music on this blog is not my own and I very well know that I don't own the rights to it. Should you find your music up here and don't want to share your tunes with the world, let me know and the song will vanish from this site asap.
Finn.
Wondering what had happened to Sarah Bettens I chose to look up her 