A couple of weeks ago, The Hunny plunked down some of his hard earned cash on a stereo. I know I should be more excited about this, but I find myself irritated by the mountains of big black boxes that continue to pile up on the big black box wall. We’ve got a big black tv, a big black stereo receiver, a big black console over our big black fireplace, all flanked by two big black speakers. It looks like a goth Tetris puzzle. Before I work myself into a tizzy, fretting over how best to conceal all this technology that has colonized my lovely living room, I figure I ought to start putting his new purchase to my good use by loading it up with some awesome new music.
Problem is, I’m a little out of the loop.
And so, dear readers, I come to you asking for help. What are you listening to right now? What music really sets your heart on fire? What do I desperately need to add to my collection? I’m pretty open to most genres, as long as the tunes are interesting.
Disc art by Animal Collective.
No related posts.
I must be aurally deficient. I usually find music to be distracting unless I’m alone in the car. So you can imagine how often I’m listening to music. Um, never.
My brain must be 99.9% visually-oriented.
This isn’t brand new, but I’ve been loving a few tracks of “We Are Scientists”‘ album “Brain Thrust Mastery.” If you’re downloading from iTunes, start with “Lethal Enforcer” and “That’s What Counts.” I am also obsessed with “So Human” by Lady Sovereign–it’s a remake of “Close to Me” by the Cure. Love it. Santogold is also AWESOME. Try “L.E.S. Artists” and “Lights Out.”
I can’t wait to hear how you solve the Tetris puzzle. David loves his audio equipment. And in addition to all the black boxes we have cord afro behind it all. I’m tired of hiding tvs, stereo stuff, etc. — no more armoires, etc. But, how to best live with it? Yes, please, I’m begging for another post.
Music? You’re in Austin, girl! Can’t you hang your head out the window and fill your brain with the best around? And when you do, share with us! My interest in music has suffered since everything else has taken over my life. Around here, you’ll mainly hear my husband’s selection of jazz, bluegrass, vintage country or my teenagers’ blaring Black Eyed Peas.
I’m a huge country fan personally but once I stop listening to Tim McGraw and Christina Agiulera ( I know shes not country but shes a fave of mine) I love Keane A LOT. Good luck!
These are all 2009/10 releases:
Visqueen – Message to Garcia
Dinosaur Jr. – Farm
Doves – Kingdom of Rust
Built to Spill – There is No Enemy
Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – (new cd drops March 9)
Patty Griffin – Downtown Church
I could go on and on, but this is a design blog after all…
is that disc art supposed to be moving….?
i am into that Surfer Blood album. that would probably sound pretty great on a big system.
and of course Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, always and forever.
i don’t know what you like already, but i found the 2009 albums from tune-yards and matias aguayo quite nice. atmospheric, rustic, funky.
ofc my favorite background music of all time is Jorge Ben’s 1960s samba albums.
Ok, this may be totally cheez, but we got completely sucked into Glee this past season and my kids love the soundtracks. Both of them are really good and I think you’ll like the mix of new and vintage remakes. I ’bout pee in my pants every time my four year old starts to belt out “Don’t Stop Believin.” Dare you not tot sing along. Happy Weekend Ladies!
Just get with Pandora….put in a band/artist you already like, and it will create a radio station with sonically similar jams. I’m listening to the Velvet Underground radio now…it’s nice Friday music. Yesterday it was Minus the Bear radio. It’s a cheap, easy way to get exposed to previously unknown-to-you music.
Agreed…Pandora or genius playlists on itunes can make a great mix of stuff you already own and forgot you had. Not new, but enjoying Avett Brothers and Black Keys-Attack and Release currently…in a genius playlist that pulls in some Ryan Adams etc…you get the picture.
Hooray, you dudes are riding in to the rescue!
Let’s see: our itunes playlist is full of Rush and other prog rock because The Hunny has filled it full of crap (I love you anyway Hunny, and also I mean no offense to all you (one) Rush fan(s) out there), so genius doesn’t work. I need to counterattack with some better stuff.
We’ve done Pandora with mixed results. I’ll try some of your suggestions as seeds and see where it leads us.
Susie, yes, Austin is the land of music! Hopefully I’ll pick up some new stuff at SXSW in a month, and I’ll report back.
Oh, and I forgot to address the only design related element of this post: the Tetris puzzle. I.have.no.idea. It’s a major problem, but the image of a cord afro is going to get me through another day of looking at this stupid wall.
Cage the Elephant; Calexico, Iron, and Wine; The Decemberists; Jack’s Mannequin; Manchester Orchestra; Taking Back Sunday; Them Crooked Vultures; Alkaline Trio; Aesop Rock; Flobots; Lifetime; Coheed & Cambria; Joshua Radin…
…and of course, Bad Religion.
NPR’s all songs considered podcast is a great way to hear songs and snippets of songs by artists of all sorts – I have a lot of luck finding things I like to listen to through them.
Otherwise, the list gets too long to mention : )
I love that animal collective cover. Michael actually sent that to me once asking me to use it as inspiration for some Birds work. i still haven’t figured out how the hell they did that.
As for music, what could you possibly need beyond the jamz on 105.9?
Did you seriously just comment on my blog, Brian? You crazy. If I had a time machine, I promise I would fill the speakers with bad religion but until i’m magically whisked away to your room over the garage in 1992, I think I’ll keep the BR at bay.
thanks for reading, yo!
I’ve found a new love for Cake. The band, not brownies or something stupid like that. Get B-sides and Rarities, lots of good covers.
I also can’t say enough about Vampire Weekend. It’s the inner hipster in me trying to get out.
In one more attempt to humiliate myself publicly, the new Weezer album ain’t half bad. It’s got a cameo from Lil Wayne, which I’m sure Karly can appreciate.
Lyke Li, Hockey, Michael Franti, and Peaches are currently on my disc rotation. Start with Lykke she’s an incredibly talented Swedish indie singer (little bit is her biggest hit but the entire Youth Novels album is worth listening to). Happy listening!
Music! I have lots of opinions! (My musical taste is exhaustively chronicled here: http://www.last.fm/user/Casseee )
Two albums from last year that I can recommend to everyone and anyone are the latest from Phoenix (80′s-style pop) and Neko Case (alt-country, I guess, but she’s really in a class of her own).
Two older suggestions that are a little off the beaten path (and not in English) but I absolutely adore:
Amadou & Mariam’s “Dimanche à Bamako,” which is just a perfect album of wonderful, effervescent African pop and…
Juana Molina’s “Son.” She sings in Spanish, prettily, but the music is very interesting and weird. Mellow without being boring.
I will also second Kate F.’s approval of Santogold.
We can play Rock Doctors*! Who are your personal favorites? *(a nod to the guys at Sound Opinions – my favorite music podcast. check ‘em out.)
But till we can diagnose you, here is a mixtape I made as a New Year’s Present:
1. We’re Gonna Be Friends – The White Stripes
2. Smile – Lily Allen
3. Morning Yearning – Ben Harper
4. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
5. I Don’t Want to Die(in a Hospital) – Conor Oberst
6. Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk – Rufus Wainwright
7. Oh My Sweet Carolina – Ryan Adams
8. Ants On The Melon – Gourds
9. We’re all Gonna Die Someday – Kasey Chambers
10. Ain’t No Easy Way – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
11. Formed a Band – Art Brut
12. Dance Commander – Electric Six
13. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
14. Sweet Little Thing – Lucero
15. Ohio River Boat Song – Bonnie Prince Billy
16. Margaret Vs. Pauline – Neko Case
17. Please Don’t Talk About Murder While I’m Eating – Ben Harper
18. Shine So Bright – Teddy Thompson
19. Waitin’ on a Sunny Day – Bruce Springsteen
20. New York, New York – Ryan Adams
(Sorry this comment is so long, but… this is fun!)
You guys are so awesome! It’s true that I’ve been rocking out to 105.9, but I need to branch out beyond dirty booty jamz (although I still love them so).
I’ve heard of/have tunes from many of the recommended bands, but there’s lots of stuff here that’s new to me. Hooray!
Keep em coming!
Okay, right now I am dancing around the room to the new Gossip album, Music for men…can’t seem to stop dancing…:)
OK, I’m going to add one more band: Bajah and the Dry Eye Crew. I saw them open for somone else in a club and I thought they were better than the headliners. I’m hoping to see them next month again – no cd out in the US yet, but you can download a mixtape from their website: http://planetbajah.com
Erin, as you probably could guess I have a lot to say on this subject.
In the mean time, I’d say everyone needs some Nina Simone in their collection, I’d go for the live stuff, nina’s choice or live at the village gate to start with if you don’t know her music.
my faves (older stuff): new order, minutement, brian eno, roxy music, death, liquid liquid, bongwater, just go buy the pretenders one and two, the fall, guided by voices, queen, gang of four, wire, joy division, dinosaur jr., the who, eugene chadbourne, vince guaraldi, bola sete, etc.
my faves (newer stuff): home blitz, night control, cave, lykke li, the kills, the horrors, Feist, Dept. Store Santas, feist, silver bullets, passion pit
I’m al old fart and purist so know more about older music than newer but I can make a damn fine mixed cd if you want.
The XX
Fever Ray
Hudson Mowhawke
Do it!
I spelled mohawke wrong!
I had to chime in when I read Sherri’s recommendations. I was just at a little pub with my kids (yeah, I’m a bad mom). They were having an afternoon snack of quesadillas and The Pretenders was playing in the background. ‘found a picture of you — oh oh oh oh.’ It was heaven! Reminded me that I have the vinyl versions and I need to dig them out!
Clearly you need to listen to some Metric to get yourself in the proper mood for living room rearranging. The album too look for is called “Grow Up and Blow Away.” I nearly always have to listen to album when perusing your blog as Karly’s laser light show style is evokative of their sound.
(Some of their evocative lyrics “Bring me meat, bring me fire, one backless strapless copper thread gown, giddy kitty gut twine.
Bring turpentine, I can’t stand by high streets that fight the bland,
I’ve got to bite the hand”)
Another one to check out is a psych-folk band called Birdlips. This too can be had on itunes. The album to look for is “Cardboard Wings.” They have a wonderful velvety sound that I think you may enjoy.
Happy listening- there have been some killer recomendations here.
Tom Waits.
you need to bust out some old tribe called quest or beastie boys – you’ll fall in love with music again.
or listen to this for a laugh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Dn0hs-CM8
btw, the yeah yeah yeahs are good too.
The new Beach House album Teen Dream is moody and beautiful, and the new yeasayer album Odd Blood is so unique and spectacular.
Recent Favorites:
http://music.minneapolisfuckingrocks.com/post/399135591/mp3-the-radio-dept-heavens-on-fire
http://salacioussound.com/2010/02/salacious-sound-re-design-launch-party/
http://kylepfister.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-can-see-you-listening.html
I feel a lot of love for Rufus Wainright. If I hadn’t spent this last weekend up a mountain covered in dust cheering for my fella on his mountain bike race, I would have totally been found front and center at Rufus’z winery gig squealing along to his dulcet tunes.
Download iron & wine’s new album kiss each other clean from http://tinyurl.com/4m7bjop