songs of the day

Got two today

Pixies- Hey

Pavement- Gold Soundz

Memorial Day Weekend- there will be snacks

For RedBrown, who loves his snacks

Andrew Bird- Tables and Chairs

Song of the Day

Broken Social Scene- Hotel

Title Track

Just saw that Death Cab for Cutie has a VH1 Storytellers airing soon, promoting their new album, Codes and Keys.

I hate to be that guy....you know, the one that liked the band before they hit VH1, the radio, the Billboard Charts. Back when they made new and different music that only a handful of us were appreciating. And then turned their back on the band when they achieved a level of commercial success. For me, Death Cab is one of those bands (I could do multiple posts about the others. There's too many). 10-15 years ago, they sounded different from everyone else. A new sound. Its hard to listen to their early stuff now and remember that.

Death Cab- Title Track
I miss you 2000

I make reservations at the Crystal Skull

From his newest, III/IV. Classic Ryan. That's Ryan Adams, Ms Lopez. With an 'R'.

Ryan Adams- Crystal Skull

Gaudy Side of Town

It's prom time, amirite? For the kids

Gayngs: Gaudy Side of Town.

(note the white polyester)

Songs from TV Commercials

In case you wanted to know the song from either the newest Heineken or ASICS commercial, here they are. I don't recognize either of these bands.

Electric President- Ten Thousand Lines

Asteroid Galaxy Tour- Golden Age

not to be confused with any other Golden Age

TV on the Radio- Golden Age

Come Home, Tim Riggins

I know I am not the only 30-something man that watches Friday Night Lights. Redbrown got me on it in the first place. Little confession: I have a slight man crush on Tim Riggins. Not on the actor that plays Tim. On the character Tim, the 19 year old, washed up, ex Dillon Panther runningback in cowboy boots and western shirts, who steals copper, steals hearts, and goes to jail and takes the fall for his brother.

Explosions in the Sky provides music for both the FNL movie and series. I love the intro to the show, and even though we DVR FNL at the Yo household, I make Keri listen to the opening credits (without looking it up, I think it is Your Hand in Mine).

EITS has a new album out. Pitchfork calls it 'more of the same.' I am OK with more of the same.

Texas Forever.

Calgary

I am a Bon Iver junky, much to the dismay of Keriyo, who is the only person around who has to endure what I listen to. The falsetto doesnt do it for her. This from a girl who can sing all the words to any Skid Row song.

After a few years of playing around with other bands (Volcano Choir, Gayngs), Justin Vernon is back as Bon Iver, releasing a new album in June. Psyched. The first track is all over the interwebs.

Bon Iver. Calgary

The Only Living Boy in New York

Gotta be honest...Simon and Garfunkel have never been in my music rotation.  S&G was an adolescent beachtrip staple. Dad would pack his cassette case and for four hours, the brothers and I were a captive audience, forced to listen to music we never heard at home. The Allman Brothers, James Taylor, Jim Croce, Linda Ronstadt. Perhaps being forced to listen to this music, I later never chose to listen to it. We all make mistakes in life

Gonna have to blame this post on a Honda commercial that played during lasst football season. And it only played the ethereal aaahhhs from the backing choir in the song. In my ignorance during a game last season, I asked 'what is this?' in a room full of 60 year old men. Quickly informed that it was a Simon and Garfunkel song (shakes head/kids these days).

Anyway, good song.

i'm back. hopefully i will stay a while

It's funny how much a child changes your life. Self centeredness = gone. Freetime = gone. Joy = through the roof.

Been slacking a bit on the blog. I am going to do my best to play a little catch up.

To my two readers, one being my wife who is sitting next to me as a type, I am sorry.

Songs that remind me of other songs/bands that remind me of other bands

There is a TV on the Radio song that, every time I hear it on my iPod, makes me wonder when keriyo loaded Coldplay to my iTunes account. Still haven’t figured what about this song makes me think of Coldplay, but every time shuffle pulls it up, I am reminded of Chris Martin. Then I look down and the album art reminds me that I am way off.

TV on the Radio: Halfway Home.

Carl Rob’s recent Best Of compilation has a song by Tokyo Police Club that instantly reminded me of Wild Sweet Orange. Again, scratching my head as to why.

Tokyo Police Club: Breakneck Speed

Wild Sweet Orange: Ten Dead Dogs

This one isn’t a far stretch, since they are basically the same band, and I can’t really tell one from the other.

Explosions in the Sky. Your Hand in Mine

This Will Destroy You. The World is Our ___

and I'm here to tell you now

All of the work's begun. Babies come one by one. Lie in the mid day sun and say that this is a miracle, that we're here today. It's a miracle. And I'm here to tell you.

Josh Rouse. Miracle. Seen him live a few times, including this tour. He has always been good, but this tour was definitely the best I've ever seen him.

we are blessed, lest we forget

Do you like Fleet Foxes? Were you aware that the most talented member of that band is squirreled away behind the drums? Were you? But he has a solo career, and you should check him out.

J Tillman. Above All Men

Harlem River Blues

My buddy Carl Rob sends out a list of the best music of the year each January. Awesome idea. And he has pretty good taste, that Carl. Steve Earle's son made the list for 2010. I'm not a bluesy guy at all. But Harlem River Blues was stuck in my head for a week straight.

Who knew drowning oneself could be so catchy?

Pink Electric Mini Guitar

This one is for RedBrown. Ole Bivins. Oh, the songs we used to love...BSU forever.

Jump Little Children. My Guitar.

one very bad song

I have gone just about a month on this blog without any post about something annoying I have heard that has stuck with me for a while. Such as that Bud Lite Lime commercial where everyone is dancing on the beach in the dark.A bit of research tells me that is Michael Franti song. I don't know Mr. Franti, but based on this one tragically horrible song, I know that I never will.

Miller got me that Local Natives album the other day. We agree that the first half of songs are solid. The second half, however, sounds like The Fray's little brothers formed a group and stole their older siblings' brooding sound. I made the mistake of listening to this song twice this week, and it has infected me like a virus. And yet, here I am, posting about it, which guarantees that I have to hear this track yet again.

Local Natives. Cards and Quarters

the greatest song ever made. one lady's opinion

keriyo follows Neko Case on twitter. Neko tweeted the other day that she thinks Destroyer's Shooting Rockets is the greatest song ever made. Interesting. Neko is typically pretty zany. Hard to tell if she is being sarcastic, wishing to promote a friend's music, or just has wild opinions about the greatness of things.

judgement night

Miller's older brother had the greatest CD collection when we were growing up. If I recall correctly, he had perhaps the largest Case Logic binder they made, full of interesting stuff I had never heard. Miller could get his hands on some of that music, and I remember listening to some weird stuff on Millers Onkyo shelf system. D&G Rarities, early early Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana, and the soundtrack from a movie I don't think I ever even saw, Judgment Night. Apparently, the movie wasn't very spectacular, but the soundtrack was pretty genius. Each song paired a grunge and a rap band. The pairing of rock and rap had been done before (Run and Aerosmith), but not on this scale, and not by such great bands (I don't consider Steven Tyler even remotely good, let alone great).

One of my favorites from that soundtrack. Teenage Fanclub & De La Soul. Fallin'

Music from Canada, yea?

Been watching a TV series lately on Netflix, Intelligence. It’s basically the Canadian version of the Wire. Pretty good. Being  Canadian, it’s a bit less gritty, there are no guns, and everyone turns their sentences into questions by using the word ‘yea.’ (as in, ’I need 500 pounds of your best product, yea?’). Not sure when ‘yea’ replaced ‘eh’ as most stereotypical word in the Canadian lexicon, but I think I may start incorporating it in my daily conversations.

Since I have Canada on the brain, I present songs from my favorite Canadian artists, yea? 

AC Newman: Like a Hitman, Like a Dancer

Arcade Fire: Black Wave/Bad Vibrations

Broken Social Scene: Hotel

Kevin Drew: Safety Bricks

Brendan Canning: Churches Under the Stairs

Destroyer: The Sublimation Hour

Kathleen Edwards:Independent Thief

Neko Case: Maybe Sparrow

New Pornographers: Jessica Numbers

true love regrets to inform you

keriyo and I are trying to back fill our Bejar collection. Purchased Trouble in Dreams recently. I rather like it. Rather. Played this song about 10 times today at work

Destroyer. Foam Hands

you're all i need

Bat For Lashes covering Radiohead. Awesome

you're my fact checkin' cuz

Read an interview with Bejar recently where he described seeing Pavement for the first time in Toronto in the nineties. He saw this group of fratty-looking guys walk into the club, which drew his ire, and those same clean cut guys turned out to be this band he adored.

Check out Pavement in 1997 vs. Pavement in 2010.

Stereo-1997. Could these guys care less? Did Malkmus go to Supercuts back then?

Stereo- 2010

I'm cheerleading myself

As a former choir boy, I find myself drawn to modern rock music that incorporates choirs. I’m not talking about gospel choirs in robes singing and swaying behind Madonna. I’m talking glee club school choirs in matching sweaters.

I also love bands that can actually sing. I respect all types of musicians, and some of the best sound like they swallow gravel before hitting the studio. It may not be cool anymore to sound good. Those artists who are as talented with their voices as they are with their instrumentation and lyrics are a dying breed.

How about a band that can sing backed up by a boy’s choir?

Grizzly Bear. Cheerleader

my own eyes

Miller is getting me a copy of Local Native's album, something he says I should check out. Did a bit of homework tonight, and I think I agree.

Local Natives: Wide Eyes

Lotus Flower

New Radiohead album out yesterday. Thom Yorke's interpretive dance reminds me a lot of RedBrown...

find molasses candy

Boogie has a new favorite song, and I have learned to like it after 35 listens in 3 days. Elizabeth Mitchell is actually very talented, and a member of the now disbanded group Ida. I fell in love with my wife with Ida as the soundtrack (she introduced me to them). And now the same band (sorta) is singing to my other girl.

Elizabeth Mitchell. Little Bird Little Bird

Same folks, different band

Ida: Laurel Blues

Officer Friendly's little boy's got a mohawk

Miller, this one's for you

Ben Folds Five. Underground

please note the guys dancing in the background. This here's some dancin' music.

And as an added bonus, Old Ben singing Young Ben. Army.

War Tiger

In honor of poisoned trees on the plains. Screaming Trees. Nearly Lost You

Happy Song

Do you ever hear a song that just makes you happy? You have no idea of the intended meaning...it doesn't matter.

Jonsi. Go Do

you can't give up your blue without a fight

keriyo and I, along with our friend, Redbrown, had a chance to see AA Bondy at Austin City Limits a couple of years ago. Which is weird. Three people from Birmingham only had to travel to Austin to see a performer from Birmingham. Go figure.


keriyo has begun to tire of ole AA. Until a few weeks back, I had pretty much written off his second album, When the Devil's Loose, as a case of the sophomore slumps. Thank goodness for the shuffle setting on the iPod. After a second (actually, more like 15th) listen, I really like a majority of the album.

AA Bondy. Mightiest of Guns

It's a hard thing to love anyone, anyhow

A warning from Ryan this v-day, to treat her nice, to hold her hand, and tell her twice that she doesn't have to worry, it will be alright.

Happy Valentimes

That's right. Valentimes. 
Once upon a time, I had the honor of slow dancing with my Valentine to this song. At a Josh Rouse concert. At Workplay. While everyone seated stared at us.RedBrown was horrified. Me? Luckiest guy in the room.


Josh Rouse. Sweetie.

RedBrown's getting married, and he expects dancing

My friend RedBrown is tying the knot on March 26. The wedding in Dallas, where he and the future Mrs live, promises to give us out of town guests a taste of Texas, complete with line dancing at the reception. Red informed me recently that I would need to learn to two-step by the time of the wedding.

Thank you internets, Michael, and Connie. keriyo and I have some learning to do. And some boots to purchase.

Red and JenBrown, look out....We're gunning for you.

Not those Kings...They're another Kings

On the way home from dinner last night, keriyo, Boogie and I drove home to Kings of Convenience. As new parents, we are discovering all of the things that help Boogie sleep on a car ride. Curvy roads, her toy bee hung just right from her car seat, and quiet music. King of Convenience = perfect.

Kings and I go way back. I used to frequent a long-gone store in Homewood, called Noise. It was one of two independent music stores in Homewood at the time. Sadly, Homewood is down to zero. Noise was a great place. The owner  (I think his name was Greg, so let's go with Greg) had installed an incredible sound system, and even though his shop butted right up to a stuffy furniture store, he played songs full blast all day. Greg was responsible for introducing me to a ton of music I would not have heard otherwise. This was 2001, before I knew how to discover things myself, or take the opinion of Paste, Pitchfork, All Songs Considered or any digital outlet. Nope, back then, it was all word of mouth for me.

One day, Greg plays me a new demo CD he's received. A Norwegian duo. He has already fallen in love with them, and is kind enough to make me listen to the first track, Winning a Battle, Losing the War. The song starts out good; two guys, some harmonizing, nice enough lyrics concerning a girl (a novel topic). Greg is staring me down, analyzing my face while I'm taking the song in, waiting for me to agree with this recommendation (perhaps, waiting for a sale). . Frankly, I wasn't too impressed. And Greg could tell. And he didn't agree. About the two minute mark, I start to lose interest, and Greg says 'wait for it. Just wait for it.' I hadn't noticed the song building and building, but around the 2.45 mark, the acoustic guitars are joined by the rest of the band, and Greg's face lights up. What started as a ho-hum track (to me) turned into an incredible song. You'll just have to hear for yourself.

Now I think that anything Erlend Oye touches is gold. Check out The Whitest Boy Alive. European techno nerd pop. Fantastic.

Tonight we listened to Kings' most current album, Declaration of Dependence. keriyo and I are fond of Renegade. And when I go to bed tonight, I will still be humming this one in my head. Maybe Boogie will too.

PS. I'll try not to talk this much in future posts. I promise

The first

So, at the nudging of my wife, keriyo, I have decided to start infrequently posting a song of the day, if you will. Whatever music is currently drilling a hole in my head. I make no promises that what is shared here will be

• the hot new thing
• any good whatsoever
• songs that I even like (sometimes it's the horrible songs that play on a loop in your brain...for instance, I sang Wanna Talk about Me to keriyo on Thursday, and she is still singing it Saturday)

In honor of the wife, today's song comes from one of our favorite Canadians. This song and the name of this blog share a name...