– My favorite ongoing feature at Refinery 29 is the City Hall Weddings. I just love it. It’s always so sweet to just see the bride and groom on such a special day–and everyone’s fashion is so unique. (Refinery 29)
– I love me some Red Hot Chili Peppers and since I’ve always thought their drummer looks like Will Ferrell (or vice versa), this “long-awaited” drum-off between them is hilarious. (Funny or Die)
– Lately I’ve been liking the new algorithm or whatever is deciding who my Popular page on Instagram consists of. I’ve followed a bunch of new accounts lately based on some awesome curation. This company based in LA does beautiful leather goods. I kind of want this new Mod item–it’s like my dream wallet/notebook/life organizer thingy. (This Is Ground)
– Bar carts are all the rage right now, but honestly, all I can think is having to dust and keep it organized. This cabinet version is such a cool alternative. (A Beautiful Mess)
It’s warm in the evenings this week. So hot it makes my neighbors talk about the weather while I walk my dog in the morning. “It’s gonna be 90,” said the man who collects recycling as he bikes dumpster to dumpster.
I opened all the windows yesterday in our apartment and considered purchasing a fan for the summer. It’s only April. Last night, I had the TV on low waiting for John to arrive so we could watch the Clippers game at a nearby bar. The apartment was dark because any light seemed to generate heat. And then I heard it. What I thought initially was someone’s radio was the sound of someone playing guitar. Across the street, separated by a small parking lot was a man on a bench playing guitar. In the fluorescent light of the laundromat he sat in front of, he played music on his electric guitar that carried across the neighborhood through the small amplifier in the seat beside him.
It reminded me of New Orleans. The live music at almost any time of day and night throughout the French Quarter. It was my favorite part of my favorite city I’ve visited so far. John and I would be walking back late to our hotel room on Royal or Frenchmen Street and someone would be singing or playing music. The night sticky and humid but neither one of us too in a hurry to get back to air-conditioned rooms. There’s no music in those rooms.
I turned the TV off in the apartment and found myself standing on our balcony listening to this impromptu concert. Funny, since a serenade is music played in the air, often by a man to his lover beneath a window. By then the evening had cooled a bit and faint traces of cigarette smoke lingered in the air courtesy of the chain smoker in the parking lot. The guitar player would take breaks every now and then–short–but those moments of silence pierced the night air with loneliness. It was as if last night, a misplaced summer evening, required music. The heat would diminish, but each pluck and strung of the man’s guitar felt like a coda to a day that just wasn’t quite ready to end. I stood leaning over the railway completely engrossed in the music. I always find it comforting that strangers can have such an effect on people. Street musicians and their gifts of harmonic distraction in an otherwise dull day of sounds.
Later, we would find ourselves in the parking lot on the way to the game reconsidering leaving at all. As we drove past the man, I told John to roll down his window. Just a little bit more I insisted, not wanting it to end.
I’m in the living room now, windows wide open, waiting for a man who isn’t my lover.
I have no shame in my love for pop music, especially if it’s dance worthy. My roundup of tunes this week is a variety of artists who sing about the eternal and vast theme of love. Artists and their first and lost loves, unrequited loves, given up loves and the list can and will go on. What’s the saying?
It’s all been written before…
Regardless of one’s feeling about love, there’s no denying some ear candy.
Heard this on Pandora while cleaning and I had to stop scrubbing something or other. It was actually a remix version you can listen to here. I actually prefer the original and I think Estelle has this great big voice.
Heard this while driving and like “Back to Love,” it was a remix version. It’s with Wiz Khalifa, but I also prefer the original. I always feel like Miguel is just on the verge of breaking as he’s got really good R&B songs, but just isn’t a big enough name yet. And with so many artists moving across genres and going towards a more dance-centric sound with rappers making appearances, it’s nice to just get a song without all the bells and whistles that feels purely R&B.
The above is a still from the video which can be watched by clicking the artist and title above it (same goes for all the songs on this list). Temper Trap’s other more famous song, the inescapable “Sweet Disposition” introduced us to lead singer Dougy Mandagi’s incredible vocals. The video for “Love Lost” is fun and reminds me of how the Black Keys use stand-ins in their videos to sing lyrics. There’s also a Wes Anderson vibe to the video in how the shots are tracked. It’s a great combination of music and visuals.
Well, at one point, we were going to have to stop listening to “Call Me, Maybe.” Like any pop song taking over the world, it ran it’s course only to be taken over by a South Korean guy who does a horse dance. And yes, I danced it for like five minutes over the weekend at my favorite dance club. No judging!
Anyway, Carly Rae is close to my age and at 26 her songs skew surprisingly young. Whatever, I’m fine with it. I’m probably just a little jealous and besides, pop songs are supposed to make you feel happy and vibrant and young while you creep into your decidedly late 20s and realize you have more fun watching CNN than taking shots at a bar.
I lied. I have fun at bars, I just can’t do shots because my liver hates me. Ugh. At least it doesn’t hate this song. Hat tip to my sister for introducing. She always has her finger on the pulse of new music:
Love the image above. Sunday Girl is actually the stage name of English singer Jade Williams. The version I heard was a remix by RAC (Remix Artist Collective) which I’ve embedded below. I like both versions and I love how the official video feels like a shampoo commercial. This is a prime example of pure pop fun about its most popular subject.
Heard this song over the summer and I absolutely loved it. It’s definitely in the family of electronic dance music and the video makes you want to go to Ibiza like right now. While at the club I was doing the Gangnam dance (cringe), I heard Flo-Rida’s song “Cry” which samples this track. It’s okay, but the original is definitely better. I’m stretching the thematic element of love as I’m not entirely sure what the lyrics are about, but for the hell of it I’m keeping it on the list! Plus, any video about playing hookie is a good one.
Tuesday seems to be a good day to talk about music since albums tend to be released on these days. I also seem to find about music either though other blogs or more likely, shows and movies.
Long story short, I think I listened to almost every video of theirs on YouTube last night. No joke. I think I’m in love. Their version of “The Parting Glass”, a traditional Irish and Scottish song is used in the trailer for The Walking Dead’s upcoming third season. It sets a melancholy tone and the voices of the women are haunting and beautiful. The rest of their material is pretty bluegrass and was perfect for last night’s setting which was basically me lounging around on my couch. I didn’t want to watch any more TV and their 40 song playlist that someone set up on YouTube was perfect. I haven’t sat and just listened to music without doing anything else so it’s a testament to their voices that I didn’t want to do anything else.
I stumbled upon the Alabama Shakes while listening to the Avett Brothers. The lead singer’s got a voice. If I could describe them in one line, they are are a rock band with a lead singer whose a cross between Janis Joplin and soul. Brittany Howard’s voice is from another time.
Another folk rock band that reminds of fun. (the band). The punch of the “hey” and the “ho” throughout the song is fun but the chorus is very sweet, but then again, I always think it’s charming when “sweetheart” is used as a term of endearment.
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of the New Zealand band, but I had to mention it because they seem to be popping up everywhere. Their album, the cleverly titled Passive Me, Aggressive You has a track called “Young Blood” which I first heard in a movie trailer. The video has a youthful carefree vibe to it and reminds me of MGMT’s self titled album cover as well as The Smashing Pumpkins video for “1979,” albeit a generation or two later and saturated with familiar Instagramesque filters. And yes, I kind of just made up a word. I really hope they get more popular as their debut album was strong and despite some great singles, didn’t allow them to break big.
Bad Girls by M.I.A.
This was the closing track at the end of The Mindy Project. It was fitting in many ways to the pilot episode. I had first heard M.I.A.’s song during the controversy swirling around her music video for it. What I love about the song, other than it’s girl empowerment message and anthemic call to “live fast, die young” is the attitude behind it. In it’s beats, rap, and looping call, it makes the term “bad girls” feel powerful rather than entitled. I have a real problem and annoyance with the term “swag” but M.I.A. carries it and as evidenced by the video, inhabits it in the sway and dips of her arms and shoulders. You can almost hear the snarl in her mouth.
I still buy CDs. It’s the 90s kid in me. And the last time I bought a No Doubt album, I was in high school!
no doubt. push and shove.
Eek gads I’m in love with this album already. It combines so many elements of No Doubt that there’s something for every fan. It’s got a great southern California vibe to it and harkens back to old school ND that reminds me alot of Tragic Kingdom. Currently looping “Sparkle.” I can’t wait to see them live again.
Picking up the album today got me thinking about some recent listens I’ve had.
kesha. die young.
I can’t help but like her. She’s fun and wild and I actually really love the styling of the shot above. I wish she did more looks like this rather than her white trash/glitter look. She can be remarkably striking. The “Die Young” single is just pure dance fun.
Passion Pit. Take a Walk.
We just saw Passion Pit at the Hollywood Bowl a few weeks ago. Fun show and I heard the single “Take a Walk” for the first time. It got everyone standing and dancing.
Like almost any of their songs, there’s always a moment that stops me cold. That line just slays me.
mumford and sons. babel.
Love this album cover and the new single “I Will Wait.” Those three little words. These white boys are killing me.
Speaking of which:
Paranoia in B-Flat Major
When I think of Mumford and Sons, I can’t help but think of what has been called “the best live band in America.” The first song I ever heard from the Avett Brothers was “Paranoia in B-Flat Major”, which also has a great video. They make me want to sit outside, drink beer, and just listen.
And like any true 90s kid, I feel like making a mix CD now.
joyce familara 