Dearest Scouts! I'm coming to you once again, from my bed, still injured. But my ears are working just fine, so here is what has been on rotation during this week of knitting/reading/Netflix.
1. Out of the Black - Neneh Cherry (feat Robyn)
2. Here I Am - Dolly Parton
3. If You Didn't See Me [Then You Weren't On The Dancefloor] - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Good evening Scouts! I'm coming to you live from my bed, injured, as I have been all week. It's a sad existence to have a reason to not go to work (my poor messed-up back), and yet be completely unable to do anything interesting (I can barely get across my apartment). It does mean, however, that I've lots of time to listen to music and read, so this week's heavy rotation came to me easily. It really runs the gamut this week, from morose, chilled-out Beck (does anyone else feel like they've been waiting a lonnnng time for a follow up to Sea Change?), twangy Shovels and Rope, absolutely fabulous Sharon Jones (I love her dress in this video), and girl-punk Tweens. And please forgive me for the two songs that also appeared on the Grammys. I SWEAR I HAD THEM ON THIS LIST BEFORE THE GRAMMYS.
1. Be Mean - Tweens
2. Blue Moon - Beck
3. Bad Luck - Shovels and Rope
4. Stranger to My Happiness - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
Now don't be fooled here--most of these are not new to the actual music world. More accurately, I gots me a Crosley Turntable in the fall and got to stock up on records! I bought the record player in this olive/pea/avocado green color against Cait's serious insistence--she repeatedly warned me that it would arrive looking much less like a classy avocado and much more like a gross pea soup than I was expecting. I'm sticking with classy avocado--I love my little record player!
Here are my favorites that I've picked up so far, in no particular order:
Celebration Rock - Japandroids The vinyl is white!! I am so so so happy I got this one, I listen to this whole album in one form or another about once a week.
Bitter Rivals - Sleigh Bells The vinyl is clear! SO cool. If there were a better vid to post I'd give you my other favs off the album: Sing Like a Wire and Young Legends.
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Save The Music: Record Store Day 12" #1 - Shawn Lee A legendary discovery by my boyfriend on a lazy morning at the record store around the corner, AND the vinyl is orange! This song by AM & Shawn Lee was on repeat for weeks:
Cripple Crow - Devendra Banhart Very first record I bought! Devendra's been with me since my Monica & Hallie & Ben days, and he's staying with me.
Fuckin' A - The Thermals I hope you guys care what color half of my records are.. this one's see-through blue!
Daughter of Cloud - Of Montreal Where to begin with Of Montreal? I got my weird on to Of Montreal consistently from high school all the way through college (that's a long time!!), and I think their happy-bouncy-strange-but-who-cares music describes me through those 8 years really well. Then out of the blue a couple months ago my boyfriend surprised me with tickets to their show and it was the CRAZIEST experience--I couldn't stop laughing and thinking how some things never change, and thank goodness. Then the darling BF gave me this album on vinyl for my birthday, and the renaissance continues. Much more mellow than what you'd normally think of, and you have to listen to Feminine Effects off of the album too, but I love this song:
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
Crosby Stills & Nash - Crosby Stills & Nash A favorite for two main reasons. 1. Suite, Judy Blue Eyes, and 2. This photo in the centerfold:
I don't know if it's the post-grad angst or a desire to be done with all this bouncy-yet-mellow electronic indie music that seems to be all over these days, but I have found myself immersed in pop-punk and all its many friends lately. That's not to say I don't love a good bit of electronic, especially with a good dose of Pharrell (if you know what I mean). I don't think you'd know it if you saw me, but apparently I'm all angst and the only cure is more pop-punk! More guitars! More high-tempo choruses! More yelling! More rock! So here's some good ol-fashioned fun rock music for your ears:
Half Glass Full of Wine -Tame Impala
European Vegas -Mac Demarco This video is definitely my favorite, but he has a lot of really properly trippy and cool videos that are a good way to spend a good half hour on youtube. I recently got turned onto Mac Demarco and he is one weird Canadian dude. For an equally good but slightly more feel-good song go for Cooking Up Something Goodor Baby's Wearing Blue Jeans. Know around gu's house as "weirdly hot."
Lush Scouts, I have a confession to make: I tend towards becoming obsessed. Not in a creepy way, but all of a sudden, I'll just find a particular musical artist, actor, artist, writer so captivating that I basically can't stop listening/watching/reading for a few weeks.
I've always been a big fan of David Bowie, but with the release of his new album The Next Day (which is great, by the way) I have been listening non stop to every album he has released, which is why this particular Heavy Rotation is so Bowie-tastic.
Sorrow - David Bowie
Hazey Jane II - Nick Drake
Atlantic City - Allo Darlin'
Up The Hill Backwards - David Bowie
Weeping Mary - Elvis Perkins
Footstompin' -David Bowie (I find this one to be a particular gem, as it is from an appearance/interview on the Dick Cavett show. Throughout the interview, Bowie is obviously high, clearly has terrible coke nose, and during the performances you can hear the toll that his drug-use was taking on his voice. I still think he sounds incredible though! There is also a very precious Bowie moment around 2:50 that I cannot get enough of.)
