Covers and Cooks

I know I just posted this song, but this is an amazing cover.  Jesse Cook, a Nuevo Flamenco guitarist from Paris, released this song in September of 2009 with Jeremy Fisher, a singer-songwriter from Canada.

Such & Such & Such

I really like this song.  I got back into Modest Mouse recently.  When my friend started listening to them again, it made me miss them a bit.  This is one of my favorite songs.  I really like the melody line.  It is happy even though the lyrics aren't the happiest. "Looking towards the future, we were begging for the past."  This song is off their We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank Album released in 2007.

Back In Style

I know once you play this video and listen to the vocals, you will immediately guess the vocalist, but I'll tell you it's Jason Schwartzman.  This song, "It's Not You, It's Me" is of his 2007 album Nighttiming.  He released a second album in January of this year called Davy.  All his music is extremely catchy with very fun and playful lyrics.  And both actresses Zooey Deschanel (She & Him) and Kristin Dunst have made appearances on this album.

Give Me More

The xx, from London, released their debut album, xx, in 2009.  The xx recorded this album in a small garage provided by XL studios.  They would often record at night which helped the xx capture a sleek whispery sound.  xx made it on many 'best of the year' lists, including Rolling Stone at number 9.  My friend describes this song as " a song that starts to break your heart. Especially the lyrics 'sometimes, I still need you', because at times we all feel that way about someone."

When We Fail

The Strokes are from Brooklyn.  They recorded a demo version of You Only Live Once entitled I'll Try Anything Once, which was included on the B-side of their single Heart In A Cage.  Nick Valensi plays the keyboard with Julian Casablancas singing the lyrics.

I Want Some More

IT IS FINALS! I can't write on my blog but I allowed myself to post a song.

Taken My Place

Just because I love this song.

Sea To Sea

I know people who have problems with mash-up artists because they think that they are not real artists. That they are forming an audience from other artists' music. But I really enjoy mash-up artists like Girl Talk and The Hood Internet.  


This is C2C. They are so new that I cannot even find out where these DJs are from. They do mash-ups of jazz, mo-town, hip-hop, and rap. They are signed to Onandon Records. They are currently working on an album to be released in August 2011.

The Things We Do

Alice Glass and Ethan Kath met when both were required to do community service by court order. They were reading to the blind. To listen to Crystal Castles, according to the BBC, "is to be cast adrift in a vortex of deafening pain without a safety net. You get the feeling you could do anything in the world, but that 'anything' would ultimately mean nothing. Crystal Castles marks a nuanced emotional territory that dance music never covered before."


This is Vanished. I really like the lyrics to this song.

We Don't Dream Anymore

Tallest Man On Earth is the moniker of folk musician, Kristian Matsson, from Sweden. His first album, Shallow Grave, was released in 2008. He released his second album, The Wild Hunt, in April.  My friend, Kate, had me listen to this song, Love Is All, and now I can't stop listening to it.

Summary of Something

Gnarls Barkley is best known for Crazy.  He is a one-hit wonder.  But a friend introduced me to this song, Smiley Faces, and I really enjoyed it.  I am going to start listening to more music by one-hit wonders.  I am sure most have good music out there, but we just don't know.

Everyone That You Meet

Shuffle on my Itunes.  Bob Sinclar, a DJ from France, released Love Generation in 2005. Vocals are by Gary Pine from The Wailers.

Where Is My Mind

Maxence Cyrin has made a number of covers of popular songs on the piano. They are beautiful.  He has an album, Novö Piano, out with covers including No Cars Go by Arcade Fire, Kids by MGMT, and Lithium by Nirvana.  This is a lovely rendition of The Pixies' Where Is My Mind.

Can't Explain The Sunlight

(I feel like I am constantly posting bands from England, but they make good music.)


Bombay Bicycle Club is from North London.  This is Ivy and Gold on their album, Flaws.  It was released in July of this year.  The moment I heard the first 20 seconds of this song, I bought the whole album.  It is the second album they released. 


They remind me of Iron and Wine.

Believe Me

Ray Davies, frontman of the Kinks, is coming out with a new album featuring a number of impressive musicians, including Mumford and Sons, The Pixies, and Spoon. The album is entitled See My Friends. It has already been released in the UK but will be released in the US in early 2011. This is Ray Davies and Mumford and Sons performing Days/This Time Tomorrow on a show in Holland.

Just To Remind You

Lupe Fiasco's new album, Lasers, isn't being released until March 2011, but this new song, Never Forget You featuring John Legend, made its way onto the internet.  Lasers is an acronym for "Love Always Shines, Everytime Remember 2 Smile".  Apparently this album is complete, but Atlantic Records is not releasing it yet.  Posted on the LupE.N.D. Blog, "Lupe said Atlantic wanted him to sign a contract that would give them 25% of anything he makes from shows or deals with other companies like Nike or whatever. He told them no so they threatened him by not pushing any of his new songs on the radio or giving him money to make the videos."  But finally Atlantic Records backed down because of a petition put out by fans.  The petition acquired 5,000 signatures in one day. On October 8th, Atlantic Records announced Lasers will be released on March 8th, 2011.

Down By The Roller-Coaster

Surf Music. The Beach Boys and Dick Dale both represent the two major forms: vocal surf pop and instrumental surf rock. The Drums have been described as the new era of surf music, which also includes Surfer Blood. They are based in Brooklyn, but are currently touring in Europe. Two of the band members, Jonathon Pierce and Jacob Graham, were childhood friends. They first formed an electro-pop group called Goat Explosion. But after several years, the two separated and went on to form other bands. They eventually grew tired of electro-pop and decided to work together again, switching to indie surf music.

The New York Times has written "Pop without apology…It’s an old, limited vocabulary, but the Drums know its every nuance."

Nothing To Do

Avi Buffalo is a band based from Long Beach, Ca. They started out acoustic, but moved over to electric.  They remind me of The Shins.  This song, What's It In For?, came out this year off their self-titled album.

Listen To Me

This song came on shuffle.  I remember listening to this song, All 'Cause Of You, when I first got my license back in high school.  I went over to Best Buy to get this album because they didn't have it on iTunes yet.  The 88, a band from LA, released Over and Over in 2005.  It is a very appropriate title because I listened to this album over and over when I first bought it.

Dare To Look

These four songs are my favorite songs by the Big Four British Invasion Bands. (Well my favorite songs right now. With these bands, your favorite is constantly changing.)

Substitute by The Who was featured on their 1966 compilation album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy.

Doesn't Matter Much

This Time Tomorrow by The Kinks was featured on their 1968 album Lola Versus The Powerman and The Moneygoround, Part One.

Life Goes On

Obla Di Obla Da by the Beatles featured on their 1968 album The White Album.

Colors Everywhere

She's A Rainbow by The Rolling Stones was featured on their 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties Request.

Derezzed Punk

So much can be said about Daft Punk.  They were very essential in the French house scene in the 1990s.  This single, Derezzed, is off their newest soundtrack album for Walt Disney's Tron.  I don't know much about the film, but the soundtrack is amazing.  I am really surprised that Daft Punk chose to work on a project like this.  But I guess they did meet Stuart Macmillan, the man that helped them get a record deal, at a rave at EuroDisney.  They have had three previous albums prior to Tron, Homework, Discovery, and Human After All. 

Everyone Is Invited

And this is Rats off of What We Will Be released in 2009. (The beginning of this song makes me immediately think of Pink Floyd).

Freedom Ain't Free

Devendra Banhart is an incredibly talented musician.  He is constant changing his sound.  His earlier albums have a very simple acoustic sound.  They sound very raw.  When he got signed to a bigger label, he got more of an elaborate with his sound. With Crippled Crow and Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon, Banhart found his sound.  But then he came out with What We Will Be, his latest album.  With this album, he is just proving to everyone that he is an amazing guitarist.  Each song sounds a little different, which means you can never get bored of the album. Now That I Know is a record of his album Crippled Crow released in 2005 by XL Recording. (Beck, Radiohead, and Ratatat, are among some of the musicians they have represented).

My Love Is Strong

She & Him is a band consisting of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.  I know that Zooey Deschanel is an actress and usual actresses can't really sing, but Zooey is definitely an exception.  Zooey and M. Ward first met on the set of the film, The Go-Getter.  They bonded over their shared interest of well-known record producers George Martin (who produced the early Beatles records, guitarist Jeff Beck from The Yardbirds, and Cheap Trick) and Phil Spector (who produced later Beatles records, The Righteous Brothers, and The Ramones).  They have released 2 studio albums, Volume 1 and Volume 2.  This is a cover of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, which was on their Volume 1 album.

Back to the Days

In 1993, rappers Charles Stewart (Chali 2na), Dante Givens (Akil), Courtenay Henderson (Zaakir), Marc Stuart (Mark 7even), and disc jockeys Mark Potsic (DJ Nu-Mark) and Lucas Macfadden (Cut Chemist) got together to form the American indie hip hop group Jurassic 5.  The group split in February 2007. The reason for the split was unclear, however member Zaakir said: "I don't want to sit here and fake around with it - we're not seeing eye-to-eye right now. I'd like to keep it going, but you can't force grown men to do what they don't want to do."  "What's Golden" is a single off their 2002 studio album Power in Numbers.

You Are Magnetic

Marina and the Diamonds is a band made up off a single Welsh artist, Marina Diamandis.  She decided on the name Marina and the Diamonds because not only does her last name mean diamonds in Greek, but she considers all her fans to be the diamonds in the name (a little corny I know, but I really like her music).  A funny story about her is that she was so driven to become a recording artist that she dressed up like a boy and auditioned to be in an all boy reggae band, held by Virgin Records.  She didn’t get hired for the band, obviously, but did get a call back by the label a week later.  This song was actually released in June 2009 on her EP album The Crown Jewels but was released in February of this year on her album The Family Jewels.

Two Weeks Of Hip Hop

Mash up of Dead Prez and Grizzly Bear....perfection.  The Hood Internet is a duo (Aaron Brink, aka ABX, and Steve Reidell, aka STV SLV) from Chicago that combine hip hop and indie rock.  They also have a blog where they release the music they make www.thehoodinternet.com.  Like Girl Talk, but more specialized.  Play there mixtapes at a party and everybody will be happy.


This is Two Weeks of Hip Hop off The Mixtape Volume Four

Watch It Burn

Bob Dylan's son Jakob Dylan is the frontman for the band The Wallflowers.  They have had a number of different band members with Dylan being the only constant.  They have won two Grammys, one being Best Rock Song for "One Headlight" in 1998.  I love this song, especially the beginning.  The combination of the guitar, the bass, the drums, and the keyboard is perfect.  Instead of all of the instruments playing the same melody line, they each work together to create the melody.  I also love the metaphor in this song: I don't need everything to get through, I can still get through....only one headlight.

It Was Beautiful

The Antlers, based in Brooklyn, first released their album, Hospice, independently.  Once they sold all the albums they had in stock, they realized that they could not do it alone.  The band signed on to a New York independent label, Frenchkiss Records, soon after.  Frenchkiss remastered and re-released Hospice and the album has been on a number of Album of the Year lists since, for both its musicianship and narrative.  Peter Silberman, the front man and songwriter, said that the album is about an abusive relationship told through an analogy of a hopsice worker and a terminally-ill patient.  Two is the seventh track on the ten track album.

Are You Busy?

Amy Winehouse.  A perfect example of an artist whose personal life is written about more often then the music they release.  But everyone knows she is talented.  I mean she won five grammies from six nominations back in 2004 with the release of Back to Black.  But this is the song that made me become a fan.  Originally performed by the British rock band, The Zutons, Valerie is a song that makes me think back to the early 1960s, during the time of The Drifters and The Shirelles.

Not Coming Down

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is a garage rock group from San Francisco.  They formed in 1998 and this was one of their first singles, Spread Your Love, off the album B.R.M.C..  It is clear that they are influenced by rock groups such as The Verve, The Rolling Stones, Dinosaur Jr., and Sonic Youth.

Moment's Almost Gone

Ghostland Observatory. A must see live band. Daft Punk meets Freddy Mercury.

The Band Marches On
(p.s. this song is over at 3:50)

You're Gold

Beach House is a duo from Maryland. Their third album, Teen Dream, is amazing. I constantly find myself listening to it over and over again. 


This is the first song off that album. Zebra.

Reach The End

If you like Weezer, Pavement, or Built To Spill...Surfer Blood's Swim.

I like to listen to this song really loud on headphones.

Pages Of Hills And Plants

Bron Yr Aur is Welsh for hill of gold.  It was also the name of a Robert Pant's family cottage.  Plant and Jimmy Page retreated at the cottage after a long tour in North America and wrote this song.  It is a beautiful example of Plant and Page's talent.

Be By My Side

King Charles is an up and coming artist from London.  He is good friends with the Mumford and Sons and is currently opening for them on tour.  He is a poet and has really lovely hair.  My friend says that you have to listen to this songs in twos.  And I would have to agree.  It is so beautiful that once it is over, you want to listen to it again.

True Love is Dead

This song has been stuck in my head all day.  I love the Black Keys.  They remind me of blues artists from the 60s, like Led Zeppelin and The Jimi Hendrix Experience.  This song is off there album Brothers released in May of this year.

Oh and this music video is awesome.

Shuffle Your Roots

This song came on shuffle in my iTunes.  It is one of those songs with a beat you will never forget.

Changed My Mind

Francis and the Lights are one of my favorite bands right now because they are so passionate about music and there songs just make you want to dance.  Francis Farewell Starlite leads the band with his vocals. He is extremely talented.  They have just finished touring and were opening for MGMT, Drake, and La Roux. Francis and the Lights also produce music. They produced some songs off of Drake's album Thank Me Later, including Karaoke. (I actually saw them when did a show in NYC at a really small venue and they did a cover of Karaoke).  After you listen to this song, watch the official music video for "Darling, It's Alright".  Not only is that song incredible, but Francis' really knows how to bust a move!

Know Your Name

Last week I went to a Mumford and Sons concert with my best friends.  I love going to concerts.  I mean, who doesn't.  There is something about going to see an artist play that makes you love them even more, sometimes when you didn't even think that was possible. I have been to concerts knowing every single song an artist plays and have been to concerts when I have only heard the artist in passing. (Mumford and Sons would be the former.) I find both equally enjoyable. 

This is my favorite song they play.

All About Eachother

You know that feeling when you are really excited about something and nothing else matters.  Everything else in your life could be going horribly wrong or you could be extremely stressed out because you are fighting with your roommates or you have a thousand things on your plate that you can not seem to organize.  But just as long as you have that one thing, that one thing that makes you happy, you know you will be okay.  Well this is that…for me.  Writing this blog has been something I have wanted to do for a while now because I wanted a place I could come to that would allow me to share my favorite music with people.  Sometimes I will listen to a song and think to myself, “other people might really like listening to this.”

I should probably tell you what type of music I am going to be putting up here and what I will be talking about.  First of all, I AM NOT A CRITIC.  I won’t be posting songs and talking about why I don’t like them, but I will tell you why I do…sometimes.  Also, I am not going to be posting the most obscure bands that no one has ever heard of just to seem cool and “hip.”  I mean I might be doing some of that (because its always fun to find new music) but I think that popular music is good, too.  A lot of the time I am just going to be sharing what I have been listening to recently and playlists of the day.  Sometimes it will be music from decades ago and sometimes it will be songs from albums that just came out.  ALL GENRES.

Music lovers are music lovers, I think.  I could listen to classical and electronic and indie rock and pop all in the same playlist because to me, all music is good music.

Anyways so I guess I will figure it all out when it happens.  I am a go with the flow kind of person and that’s what this blog is…go with the flow.  Whatever music is striking a mood, or a feeling, or a memory for me, I am going to put I up here and talk about it.

Here is Peter, Bjorn, and John, a band from Stockholm famous for their song Young Folks.  But this song, Paris 2004 also off the album Writer’s Block, is extremely sweet and happy.  I love the beginning chords.  Whenever I hear them, I just have to smile.