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Monthly Music Fix - Top Albums of 2011 Honorable Mentions

2011-12-31T15:27:00.002-06:00

The start of the 33forever top albums of 2011. The following is a alphabetical list of albums that didn't make my top 16 albums of the year, but deserve a shout-out. I listened to them alot (James Blake and Washed Out were played nearly every friday night for a couple months), had a cool concert experience (Bright Eyes closing a show with the ladder song on piano), having long term staying power (My Morning Jacket, Radiohead), blew my mind for some reason or another (tUnE-YarDs, Shabazz Palaces, St. Vincent, Liturgy). All of them have at least one song that I love.

33forever 2011 Honorable Mentions from 33forever on 8tracks.

The Antlers - Burst Apart
This album is not nearly as ridiculously emotional as the previous album, but still packs an emotional punch. "You can't keep running out/kicking yourself off the bed/kicking yourself in the head/cause you're kicking me too."

Bright Eyes - The People's Key
Abit of a different Bright Eyes album. The narration throughout is strangely appropriate and works well with the albums theme of trying to understand...life and the afterlife. Connor on a piano, playing The Ladder Song solo was a live show highlight for me this year...killer. "I know now/how its gonna turn out/we got a calm down/or I'll lose my place/gotta get to the center/gotta get to the concern/run off with a dancer/gonna celebrate"

Cults - Cults
This years, indie poppy, who knows where they will be in two years album. It sounds poppy, but the lyrics are certainly dark. This song is about giving up all the happiness to rave on. Sorta punk!
"on a boat on the sailing ship, of my own /far away from it/give me death but don't give me this /i'll pass if that's ok /to rave on"

James Blake - James Blake
I probably played this album every friday evening for 2-3 months. Its a great album to just chill to. "I don't know about my dreams/I don't know about my dreamin anymore"

Liturgy - Aesethetica
You can just rage to this album. All the screaming and drumming and guitars. it doesn't even matter what they are saying.

Mr. Mutherfuckin eXquire - Lost in Translation
Love this street rap mix tape. There is nothing about this mix tape this is remotely acceptable to play at work or with any sort of mixed company. It also includes one of my favorite hip hop lines of the year: "What's my name bitch/'Mr. eXquire'/don't forget the mutherfucker/without that its nothin"

My Morning Jacket - Circuital
Probably not the greatest MMJ album. But man, they rock so hard.

Radiohead - The King of Limbs (including the TKOL Remix album)
The album makes the list if only because of the TKOL remixes. Its another great Friday evening album.

Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
While I've got alot of hip hop on my top lists, this is really the only "indie" hip hop album. This album has a great mix of awesome beats, smooth flow and intelligent lyrics. "Dynamic electromagnetic style sensors/Golden-tempered circles enjoyed only by the members/Heat sparkles, raining octaves upon the spinners"

St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
This is more of an art-rock album; with a huge rock edge. Annie Clark rocks hard. "I don't want to be a cheerleader no more."

tUnE-YarDs - w h o k i l l
The most creative album on my list. Arty, dancy, rocky. Its all that and more. It may blow your mind. "I am no longer who you thought this would be"

Washed out - Within and Without
Another regular Friday night chill album.

Wiz Khalifa - Rolling Papers
I was looking forward to this album so much. It was good, just not great. Or, at least it just didn't live up to my expectations. Still a good album. "back in the day/money was short/I'm making it taller"

Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation
Dreamy, basement tape lo-fi, hipster, indie...chill-wave. "my whole wall is filled with posters/my whole life is filled with posters"

And here is a playlist with some selections from

Radiohead - Little By Little (Caribou Remix)

Washed Out - Eyes Be Shut

James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream

Youth Lagoon - Posters

Cults - Rave On

My Morning Jacket - Holdin On To Black Metal

St. Vincent - Dilettante

The Antlers - Putting the Dog to Sleep

Bright Eyes - The Ladder Song

tUnE-YarDs - Bizness

Shabazz Palaces - Swerve...the reaping of all that is worthwhile

Wiz Khalifa - When I'm Gone

Mr. Mutherfuckin eXquire - Huzzah!

Liturgy - True Will

Monthly Music Fix - Dance Punk/Dubstep/Electronic

2011-12-14T02:39:00.001-06:00

I don’t have much in the way of descriptions here. These are a combination of chill-out and get you out of your seat and dance music.

Skrillex - Kill Everybody (Bare Noize Remix)

DeadMau5 – Sofi needs a ladder

M83 – Midnight City

Neon Indian – Era Extrana

Zola Jesus - Vessel

M83 - My Tears are Becoming a Sea

DeadMau5 – Strobe

Chemical Brothers– Dig your own hole

Skrillex - Rock N Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain)

Monthly Music Fix - Hip Hop

2011-12-14T02:18:00.000-06:00

The list below is pretty much NSFW. So please read and listen with that in mind.

Drake (ft The Weeknd) – Crew Love
I’m not sure if this is really a Drake song or The Weeknd’s song. This could have easily ended up on the The Weeknd’s Thursday Mix Tape. And dude, god damn, the drake rap is so dopeness.

Jay-Z and Kanye West - Otis
This whole album is all about partying and being awesome with super fly ass beats. “I made Jesus walk/so I’m never going to Jail.” If My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was “genius hip hop summer camp perfection” this album is the celebration victory dance and victory lap. And you know – fuck it, these mutherfuckers deserve it.

Das Racist – Michael Jackson
I just gave you two songs that you could possibly hear on the radio. Please do yourself a favor and give this song a listen. Its jarring, its weird, but man, this is some innovative stuff. Jay and Kanye can only make great music today. They can’t be innovative. You can’t be innovative when you can fly in your G-4 to paris to drink expensive champagne. These dudes are innovative. They are making crazy rap. And, “I’m fucking great at rapping.”

Childish Gambino - All The Shine
Childish Gambino can not get any respect. Pitchfork gave him a 1.6, which was really done as a double wammy with giving Mac Miller a 1.0 to say they gave him a lower score than Childish Gambino. I fundamentally disagree with the Pfork premise of Childish Gambino. Their argument: CG tries too hard and has too much of a chip on his shoulder; he cares too much about what people think of him. They completely missed the point. CG keeps it real yo. He talks about whats important to him. Its fine if you don’t connect, but I don’t understand the push-back on realness. “My n***a like I get you mtv if I could man/but pitchfork only like rappers who crazy or hood man.”

State Property - 666
In case you needed some hood shit after CG.
Download for free on Stereogum.

Danny Brown - XXX
In case you needed some crazy shit after CG.
Download for free here.
Or stream the mix tape below:

Danny Brown "XXX" by foolsgoldrecs

Childish Gambino - Backpackers
Love the vitriol in this rap. Fuck a backpacker.

A$AP Rocky - Trilla
Less crazy, more poppy A$AP Rocky. Expect some huge buzz around this dude in 2012. Click the image below to download

Pusha T – What Dreams Are Made Of
This is sorta aligned with Watch the Throne theme. Talking about reaching success even with the odd against him. “Cocaine Ronald gave us/Then Nancy tried to save us/By that time we had Motorola pagers” Such a great eff you.
Download for free at Pitchfork.

Jay-Z and Kanye West –No church in the wild

This is more of that real shit from Watch the Throne.

A$AP Rocky - Demons
I don’t think you’ll hear songs like this whatever comes out in 2012. This is definitely his darker stuff. Click the image below to download

Drake - Take Care
I know its poppy. I know people hate Drake. But, dude, this album is awesome. And, Rihanna is probably the hip hop equivalent of Jenny Lewis. I love the theme of this song: too hype-dysfunctional people talking about being dysfunctional and taking care of one another.

Monthly Music Fix - Indie Rock

2011-12-14T01:25:00.002-06:00

John Heart Jackie - When You Were Mine (Prince Cover)
I like the original, but I *L-O-V-E LOVE* this version. Prince’s disco-esque song about obsession and a ridiculously unhealthy relationship sounds so much darker in this cover version.
You can get this song for free on the ridiculously awesome I am Fuel, You are Friends blog

Lana Del Rey – Video Games
Getting abit head of myself here. Lana Del Rey’s album isn’t even out yet (drops in Feb 2012), but love this song. I’m not even totally sure what this song is about (maybe has something to do with how her boyfriends treat her shitty and she loves it). But, her voice with the strings in the background (and the ever so light snare drum) create a both dreamy and haunting sound.

Youth Lagoon - 17
Love this Youth Lagoon album with the low-fi, bedroom recording sound.

Only $5.00 on Amazon

Deer Tick - Christ Jesus
Heart wrenching
“Christ Jesus/as I’m drownin/And I struggle to breath/its your face I don’t see/Christ Jesus/Please don’t leave us.”

Joe Purdy – San Jose
The writer singing to someone who is doing some not awesome shit (all of the boys and all of their poison) and wishing they were not doing the not awesome shit.
“you wish things were different/the hand you were given/it just don’t seem fair/yeah you play with what you’re givin/you’re doin fine/yeah but you try not to think about it/most of the time/you just do what you have to/to make sure you get through/yeah but sometimes it hurts” and of course there is the great line (reminiscent of The Hold Steady's Lord I'm Discouraged), "And I can't fight your demons/yeah/cause I'd have to fight you/cause they're so far inside you/and I just can't seem to get through"

You can download this song for free on the totally awesome, I am Fuel, You are Friends blog.

Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune
I don’t think this album is on anyone’s top 10 of 2011 (or even top 50), but It may end up on mine. I think the album comes across as alittle too deep for some.

Damien Rice - One (U2 Cover)
This is not the first and this definitely won’t be the last cover of U2’s, One, but its my favorite so far. Its more haunting, more desperate, more sparse. And, it emphasizes the importance of lyrics – Damien Rice merely changes the “You” to “I” and the song has a completely different tone, approach and meaning. “Did I ask too much?/more than a lot?/I gave you nothing/now its all I got” And then later, “I asked you to enter/and then I make you crawl/and you can’t be holding on/to what I’ve got/when all I’ve got is hurt”
Another song you can get from the Fuel/Friends blog

Red House Painters – Cruiser
Lots of melancholy even though I don’t know what the song is about.

Dan Mangan - Regarding Death and Dying
I was likely going to put this song on this playlist, but wasn’t sold. My paternal grandfather died last week and I’ve been thinking about Death and Dying, so it seemed like an obvious, if cliché, choice. “Oh when death does walk you home/they will take your bones/and rest them peacefully.”

Monthly Music Fix - Birthday 2011

2011-12-09T01:53:00.000-06:00

I try to keep a few rules when making playlists:
1. Don't put the same version of a song on more than 1 playlist
2. Do try to create a good flow for the playlist
3. Do introduce people to new music (song, versions, artists, genres) they may have not heard
For my birthday playlist, I take a break from these rules and just put together some songs that I just want to hear...all the time...right now.

Pearl Jam - Release
"I'll ride the wave/where it takes me/I'll hold the pain/release me"

Rilo Kiley - Better Son/Daughter
Oh Jenny Lewis.
"And sometimes when you're on
You're really fucking on
And your friends they sing along
And they love you
But the lows are so extreme
That the good seems fucking cheap
And it teases you for weeks in its absence"

The Walkmen - The Rat
"When I used to go out, I would know everyone that I saw/Now I go out alone, if I go out at all"

The Mountain Goats - No Children
"Our friends say it's darkest before the sun rises
We're pretty sure they're all wrong
I hope it stays dark forever
I hope the worst isn't over
And I hope you blink before I do
Yeah I hope I never get sober"

The Mountain Goats - Game Shows Touch Our Lives
"People say friends don't destroy one another/what do they know about friends?

"Maybe everything that falls down eventually rises/Our house sinking into disrepair/Ah but look at this showroom filled with fabulous prizes"

The Antlers - Sylvia
Sylvia, get your head out of the oven
Go back to screaming and cursing
Remind me again how everyone betrayed you
Sylvia, get your head out of the covers
Let me take your temperature
You can throw the thermometer right back at me
If that's what you want to do, okay?

2Pac - Thugz Mansion
"no one knows my struggle/the only see the trouble"

Avett Brothers - If its the Beaches
This is the saddest song. but, so good. Damn, that phone from the girl in the middle is amazing. And the end, when seth avett comes with:
If it's the beaches
If it's the beaches' sands you want
Then you will have them
If it's the mountains' bending rivers
Then you will have them
If it's the wish to run away
Then I will grant it
Take whatever what you think of
While I go gas up the truck
Pack the old love letters up
We will read them when we forget why we left here

You have to feel something there.

LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean
I dont care a ton about the lyrics, because man, that point from 3:00 to 4:00 is ridiculous. You just want to shake it. But there are these lyrics:
Don't you want me to wake up?
Then give me just a bit of your time
Arguments are made from make outs
So give it just a little more time
We've got to bring our results
I wanna play it 'til the time comes
But there's a string of divorces
You go and throw your little hands up
I miss the way the night comes
With friends who always make it feel good
This basement has a cold glow
Though it's better than a bunch of others
So go and dance yourself clean ..ooow
Go and dance yourself clean yeah

Weezer - Can't Stop Partying
Rivers lyrics are great:
"Screw rehab/I love my addiction/no sleep no sleep/I am always on a mission"
But Weezy's rap is dopeness
"Party like tomorrow is my funeral/gotta stop mixin alcohol with pharmaceuticals/ and the unusual/is the fuckin usual/man my life is beautiful/and my girl are mutual"

Outkast - B.O.B.
"Pow-er Mu-sic Electric Revival!"
"Cure for cancer, cure for AIDS
Make a n***a wanna stay on tour for days
Get back home, things are wrong
Well not really, it was bad all along
Before you left adds up to a ball of power
Thoughts at a thousands miles per hour
Hello, ghetto, let your brain breathe
Believe there's always mo', OWWWW!"

Pearl Jam - Unthought Unknown
"Feel the sky blanket you/with gems and rhinestones/See the path cut by the moon/for you to walk on"
And of course:
"Dream the dreams of other men/You'll be no one's rival"

Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror

2011-12-03T21:38:00.002-06:00

We haven't done best of 2011, but i already have a vote for best album of 2012.
Sleigh Fucking Bells!!

Monthly Music Fix - Indie Rock

2011-11-25T00:41:00.001-06:00

Back to our regularly scheduled indie rock

Bright Eyes – Nothing Gets Crossed Out
My token ridiculously depressing song of the month. There are great individual lyrics in those songs, but the story line/theme is also great. I interpret this song as the writer’s self consciousness of his depression and hes trying to figure a way out of it. Towards the end of the song he says he “doesn’t want lay here no more,” but, at the end, he gives up, “well everything that happens supposed to be and its all pre-determined, can’t change your destiny.”
I love the line, “I keep making these to do lists, but nothing gets crossed out.” And, this was the first line to get me excited about the song. However, I think my favorite set of lines, “well the future’s got me thinkin such awful thoughts/my heads a carousel of pictures/the spinning never stops/I just want someone to walk in front/and I’ll follow the leader.”

Bon Iver – Beth/Rest (Solo Piano Version)
Justin Vernon on a piano is pretty cool. So, if you hated this song on the album, please give it another shot with him on piano. Killer. I didn't totally hear listen to the lyrics, but with such emotion in this version, I had to check them out. I'm not even sure I totally understand what he's talking about. but this line is great, "I ainʼt living in the dark no more/it's not a promise, Iʼm just gonna call it"
you can download it here on stereogum.

Dan Mangan – Jeopardy
Quickly becoming one of my favorite albums of the year. A song full of questions. “where did I go? What am I doing? What time is it? Have I always been filled with questions?”

Wu Lyf – Concrete Gold
You can't understand what this dude is saying. And, having just seen them live, I can assure you that you'll understand the lead singer less. But, the pure, raw emotion in the singing and the music is clear. And, the lyrics are pretty good and actually help understand the emotion and power behind his bellowing. Mostly though, they just rock.

Youth Lagoon– Posters
Great indie low-fi. This is a 22 year old kid from Boise, Idaho that records in his bedroom.

Waxahatchee – Grass Stain
I know absolutely nothing about this group. But, discovered it on blog radio from the great My Old Kentucky Blog. Great freaking line: “And I’ll fish for compliments/and I’ll drink until I’m happy/and I’ll wonder what you’re doing/but I won’t call”
you can download it from the MOKB for free here.

The Mountain Goats – Thucydides II-58

When The Mountain Goats reached 25,000 followers they released (or rather John Darnielle released) a free song, that he called a false start. Quote from John, ""By downloading you sign e-blood oath not to be That Guy goin' "T58:2 sooo much better than [album track]" next year".

You can download it here.

Mates of State – Mistakes
“oh, I need you/but its not normal/if I refuse/to be by myself”

St. Vincent – Dilettante
This song rocked at the treasure island festival
the album is under $5, get it now:

WU LYF – Heavy Pop
Just rocks. totally freaking rocks

Monthly Music Fix - Chillout/Dance-Punk/Electronic

2011-11-25T00:41:00.000-06:00

I've been getting more into dance music. you'll start to see more of that on the blog.

M83 – Intro
This album is pretty fantastic and a great example of the dubste/dance punk/indie electronic/chillwave/whatever genre definition you want to give it that I’ve been listening to a lot more of lately.

The Rapture – House of Jealous Lovers
This is classic dance punk. A funky beat you want to shake it to; but with screaming, emotion and guitar feedback.

Deadmau5 – Some Chords
I am so ridiculously late to this party. I challenge you to not want to get out of your seat to shake your ass and dance. Maybe even get a glow stick and raise your fist in the air.

Radiohead – Little by Little (Caribou RMX)
I think I prefer the remix of TKOL to the original album.

Washed Out – You and I
Totally love this washed out album. If I could I play it every Friday night when I come home from work.

The Weeknd– Thursday
The Weekend’s ode to a Thursday night. I’d be surprised if the combination of the 2 Weeknd mix tapes don’t make my end of year list.

Download the album here (via The Weeknd's website)

HEALTH– Goth Star
This is probably the most accessible HEALTH song I’ve heard. Very danceable and less noisy. Probably because this is a pictureplane cover.

Download for free here(via Gorilla vs Bear and via NME)

The War on Drugs – Brothers
I couldn’t decide if this song fit on this list or an indie rock list. I decided it flows better here.

Sigur Ros– Inna
My mom hipped me to this song. Like it.

Monthly Music Fix - Hip Hop (NSFW)

2011-11-25T00:40:00.000-06:00

My hip-hop list. As always this list is ridiculously Not Safe For Work…or Not Scott Orn Friendly. Please keep this in mind before hitting play…or reading for that matter.

Childish Gambino – Not Going Back
By far my favorite discovery of 2011. Not a street rapper, but wow, a great poet.
That’s why these fuckin mc’s want their asses back
Don’t you know that I’m a rapist/ask a track
Whiskey sippin/wanna drink the whole bottle
But these smart, middle-class, black kids need a role model
Fuckin hate me/that’s what I’m used
Suck a dick/eat a shit/Metamucil
God damn man there’s gotta be a better than pill poppin all these drugs so I can stay awake

Kanye West and Jay-Z – N**gas in Paris
Man, I wanna get out of my seat an shake it. This shit is cra… a great story about just partying in paris.
Doctors say I’m the illest/cause I’m suffrin from realness

Mr. Mutherfuckin eXquire – Last Huzzah
Whats my name, Bitch, “Mr. Esquire” Don’t forget the mutherfucker/without that’s it nothin
Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire - Lost In Translation by Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire

Danny Brown – Monopoly
Danny Brown looks like a ridiculous crack head and sounds weird. And this dude is coming up. I love this guys flow and his lyrics.
“my n**ga you ain’t been what I been through/and if so you would take a pencil to your temple”
Danny Brown "XXX" by foolsgoldrecs

Mr. Mutherfuckin Esquire – Last Huzzah (remix) ft. Despot, Das Racist, Danny Brown, EL-P
A remix of the previous song in the mix. I love the bad boys reference. “You know we gotta do the remix, right.” I also love how this song includes some big up and comers: Danny Brown, Mr. Mutherfuckin Esquire, Das Racist and the godfather of underground hip-hop, El-P. This is missing A$AP and Tyler the Creator and we’d be set. The whole Das Racist set is fantastic and I love this line, “The worst rapper on this track/3rd coolest”
Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire - Lost In Translation by Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire

Danny Brown – Adderall Admiral
Another Danny Brown joint. The song is pretty dirty.
Danny Brown "XXX" by foolsgoldrecs

A$AP Rocky – Palace
Great mix tape. This is sorta the intro track. Has a wiz khalifa sound. I think he got a $3M record deal.
Another free download here

Shabazz Palaces – Swerve…the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not wi)
The dude from Digable Planets. Very chill hipster rap.

Childish Gambino– Break (all of the Lights Remix)
Another childish gambino track. I love this line, “man I went to the W from doubletree.” And the fandom “dopeness” in the middle of the song….and “I’m so cheesy/my swags got high cholesterol” And how many people find a way to reference Gargamel in a rap.
Childish Gambino has his first LP out: Camp

Tyler the Creator – Goblin
The first song on Tyler’s Goblin album. The entire song is great, but the intro, which basically kicks off what is going on in Tyler’s head: “I’m not a fuckin role model.” And finally ending the intro with, “bastard intro, how the fuck I’m gonna top that” That bastard intro was good. Wow. Just a great kickoff to the album. For those not familiar, the dark sounding voice is Dr. TC (tron cat) his shrink… in his mind. Which adds to impact of when TC agrees, “But they don’t get it/cause its not made for them, the n**ga rappin in the mirror its made for them.” This is definitely the “fuck fame” album, “this is not for you!”

Monthly Music Fix September Indie Rock

2011-09-25T02:16:00.001-05:00

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program. A bunch of new indie rock. Good stuff, good albums. Check this stuff out.

UPDATE:
I forgot to embed the playlist...oops.

Vomit - Girls
There probably aren't alot of love songs that are titled vomit. And if there are any they are probably really, really, hard to digest and don't sound as pretty as this song. I've been a fan of girls for a while, but this is by far their most ambitious album. I don't think i've seen it go below the current price of $7.99 on amazon.com yet and that could be because of the focus of the buzz around their album, "Father, Son, Holy Ghost." Here is what the lead signer had to say about why its called vomit, "It reminded me of this proverb I was told a lot as a kid: As a dog returns to his vomit, so does a fool return to his folly. You can be very aware of how crazy you’re being sometimes, and be very aware of how you’re not able to help yourself." Classic indie rock love song, boy loves girl, girl hates boy and treats him like shit, boy pines for girl and does stupid stuff.

C'est la Mort - The Civil Wars
As my friend Matt Bender says, "I can't decide if I like the Civil Wars or not." Is this just a poor man's Swell Season. I don't know. I like the album though and its only $5.99 on amazon:

California - EMA
Fuck California. Indeed. Wow. She is pissed. Story of a girl who leaves her friends in the boring, small town, midwest to get to the big time in California...and well, it hasn't turned out.
What does failure taste like? To me it tastes like dirt/and I'm begging you please to look away/i bet my money on the bobtail nag/somebody bet on the bay

Only $5.99 on amazon.com

Lounge Act - Jessica Lea Mayfield
I'm not sure I ever loved the Nirvana version of this song. But, wow. Jessica Lea Mayfield owns this song.

You can download the album for free here.

Damn These Vampires - The Mountain Goats
This song could go alot of ways, but really, I just like the way John says, "God Damn these vampires and what they've done to me."

Putting the Dog to Sleep - The Antlers
This song could have easily been on the previous album, Hospice. The theme is very similar in that its about a disfunctional relationship.
"Prove to me/I'm not gonna die alone."
And
"You can't keep running out
Kicking yourself off the bed
Kicking yourself in the head
Because you're kicking me too"

Only $5.99 on amazon.com

Down in the Valley - The Head and the Heart
My buddy Thad Rahn clued me into the head and the heart. Apparently they are supposed to rock live and unfortunately I keep missing them when they come by.

I Used to Be Someone - Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine just released a new album and its pretty ambitious for a guy that i first heard in a small theater, about 2 feet away from him with a shitty acoustic guitar. A pretty big step forward and I'm abit surprised there isn't much more buzz around him.

Amy's Room - We All Have Hooks for Hands
I have no idea who these people are, where they are from or what this song is about. But its catchy and has some pretty cool lyrics...or at least my understanding of the lyrics. I can't find them anywhere. Post on the dude's webpage and tell him to post the lyrics.

"Gettin with the kids who got cancer"
"Guess what we think when we get hurt"

You can pick up the album for free here.

Monthly Music Fix September Depressing Discoveries

2011-09-25T00:51:00.001-05:00

Some sad songs I've come across...

UPDATE: I forgot to embed the link:

If It's The Beaches - The Avett Brothers
God Damn this song is heartbreaking. From the first line, "Don't say its over/cause thats the worst news I could hear/I swear that I will/do my best to be here just the way you like it" to the line, "if its the beaches" just as the piano comes in and the final line, "take whatever you think of/while I go gas up the truck/pack the old love letters up/we will read them when we forget why we left here." But, wow, that voice mail message is just killer...so heartfelt...so freaking real.
"Scott, where are you? Really. I need you, you know? I need you. And, um, I really cant wait to talk to you, so please call me, okay? Don't forget, okay? I love you. I miss you... so bad. Buh-bye."

What Sarah Said - Death Cab for Cutie
So many great lines about watching someone die.
"As I stared at my shoes in the ICU/the reeked of piss and 409"
"And I looked around at all the eyes on the ground/as the TV entertained itself"
"Cause there's no comfort in the waiting room"
"But I'm thinking of what Sarah said/love is watching someone die/so who's gonna watch you die"

Between the Bars - Elliot Smith
Nothing beats a good alcoholic song about indecision
Drink up with me now and forget all about
The pressure of days, do what i say
And I'll make you okay and drive them away
The images stuck in your head

Lover I Don't have to Love - Bright Eyes
I loved this song and then I heard Connor go nuts on state playing this song earlier this year and I'm now totally hooked on the song. This was during Connor's huge drug phase. Disfunctional relationship with a not desperate girl.
The first chorus is great:
I want a lover I don't have to love
I want a girl who's too sad to give a fuck
Where's the kid with the chemicals?
I thought he said he'd meet me here but I'm not sure
I got the money if you got the time
He said, "It feels good"
I said, "I'll give it a try"

Broom People - The Mountain Goats
This is on John Darnell's album about being an abused kid. This version is more or less describing the hell he lives in and his escape into the arms of a girl. But, i love his super descriptive lines:
Floor two foot high with newspapers
White carpet thick with cat hair
Half eaten gallons of ice cream in the freezer
Fresh fuel for the sodium flares
I write down good reasons to freeze to death
In my spiral-ring notebook

Get Me - Dinosaur Jr.
Confused desperation. His girlfriend is not going to help him get through his situation. And...lots of distortion.

Plea From a Cat Named Desire - The Weakerthans
A cat writing to his depressed owner, to tell him to stop being depressed. But, really any loved one to their depressed friend. While the whole song is freaking fantastic my few favorites:
"Why don't you ever wanna play/I'm tired of this piece of string/You sleep as much as I do now/and you don't eat much of anything"
"And listen/bout those bitter songs you sing/they're not helping anything/they won't make you strong"
"All you ever wanna do is drink and watch tv/and frankly that thing doesn't really interest me/I swear I'm gonna bite you hard and taste your tiney blood/if you don't stop the self defeating lies you've been repeating home since the day you brought me home/i know you're strong."
That being said, the actual plea from the cat comes in the middle verse. There isn't one great line, but the entire verse is the cat asking the owner to please just not think about the bad stuff and just try to enjoy life.

Unthought Unknown - Pearl Jam
I went to pearl jam 20 a few weeks ago with my long time best friend mark. We think we've been to over 20 Pearl Jam shows together. The show was amazing and we were surrounded by huge pearl jam fans. As usual, hearing a song live can completely change your appreciation for it (see wilco who make great albums but take their albums to a completely different level live). I didn't appreciate this song until I heard this song live. The passion and meaning, sitting outdoors under the midwest sky in Wisconsin. After a playlist full of depressing songs this song can put it all into perspective. This song gets to the underlying themes of why those folks are depressed. And, most of pearl jam's music comes from a pretty dark place. But, there is a great end to the story.

While the song starts off in that dark place:
All the thoughts you never see
You are always thinking
Brain is wide, brain is deep
Oh are you sinking?

Feel the path of everyday
Which road you taking?
Breathing hard, making hay
Yeah this is living

Look for love and evidence
That you're worth keeping
Swallowed whole in negatives
It's so sad and sickening

It ends in a positive place

See the path cut by the moon
For you to walk on
See the waves on distant shores
Waiting your arrival

Dream the dreams of other men
You'll be no one's rival
Dream the dreams of others then
You will be no one's rival (2x)

Distant time, distant space
That's where we're living
A distant time, a distant place
So what are you giving?

Monthly Music Fix September Chill

2011-09-24T23:58:00.001-05:00

Some great Chill Music. This is a great Friday evening playlist. Come home, pop this on, sit on the couch with a nice drink and just chill. Its helpful to remember that often chill out music like this can sound good as a single, but is really best digested as part of the entire album. If you even slightly enjoy any of the tracks below, I strongly suggest you listen to the album all the way through. I promise it to be a much more rewarding experience.

UPDATE: I Forgot to embed the link

Lonely Star - Weeknd
The Weeknd came out with a mix tape earlier this year that totally rocked. So freaking chill and full of awesomeness - the ridiculously awesome, "House of Balloons" showed up and forced everyone to take notice. You can download that here. They recently followed up with The Thursday Mixtape. There is all sorts of hipster mystery surrounding the band. They don't play live often (if at all), no one really knows what they look like. Very Daft Punk. Definitely download this free album... here.

Come to the City - The War on Drugs
I know pretty much nothing about this band. And, it was hard for me to pick a couple of tracks to add to this playlist, because in general, the album is really great. Its only $5.99 at Amazon.

Eyes Be Closed - Washed Out
There was lots of hype around this band and this song earlier in the summer. And as you can tell it definitely has that easy breezy summer feel to it (sitting by a bonfire at the Ocean maybe). It was even in the running for Stereogum's songs of the summer.

Civilian - Wye Oak
I have no idea what this song is about; for me its the combination of the droning guitar the beating drums and the singer's...disassociated, disstracted and yet intensely focused voice. Great stuff.
Another great album...and its only $5 on Amazon.

Suicide Policeman - Yuck
While almost all the songs on this playlist are musically based (I'm usually paying close attention to lyrics, but the music is just so compelling here). This song clearly does have much more 33forever focused lyrics. I don't really know what a suicide policeman is, but it sure sounds depressing.
$6.99 on amazon and really, its entire album thing. This song doesn't do the album justice.

Original Slave - The War on Drugs
The droning guitar is fantastic.

And, here is the album again

With and Without - Washed Out
This song is fantastically chill.

The Zone - The Weeknd
One of the more standout tracks on the Weeknd's Thursday mixtape. What I find interesting about the title thursday is that this album and specifically this song makes me think of about 3 am on a Friday night. Its late, everyone is messed up, there is some droning music on in the background and some people are hooking up. Its totally a desperate hook up. Neither one is into it. But, they are almost doing it because they have to. However, what does it for this song is the Drake rap. And this line, so great for capturing the moment:
She said make enough so I can try some
I thought taking drugs just ain't you, be you
Yeah girl, just be you

Monthly Music Fix September Loud, Jarring and Offensive

2011-09-24T23:13:00.000-05:00

This is the NSFW and NFSO (not for scott orn) playlist.

Bonfire - Childish Gambino
The first released song from Childish Gambino aka Donald Glover's first non-mix tape album.
I love the siren at the beginning of the song. Everyone should start their songs with Sirens.
"Gambino is a callgirl, fuck you! Pay Me!"
"Told me I was awful, and that shit did not phase me/tell me how i suck again, my memory is hazy."
So excited from the full release of Camp.

The Other Shoe - Fucked Up
This song just totally freaking rocks. The lyrics are killer. The anger is slapping you in the face. Rather than get depressed about the shittiness, they are angry.
"It can't be comfortable when the whole thing's about to fall."
"Love the smell, but i hate the taste/feeling good is such a waste."

Raidcals - Tyler, The Creator "I'm fucking unicorn, and fuck anybody who say I'm not." Well said Tyler.

Not Going Back - Childish Gambino
This song was on Gambino's EP release earlier this year titled..."EP." You can download it here. I think its possible this song will be on the full Camp Release. Its probably the strongest song on EP and this ridiculously awesome set of lines:
Thats why these fuckin MC's want their asses back
Don't you know that I'm a rapist/ask a track?
Whiskey sippin/wanna drink the whole bottle But these smart middle class black kids need a role model
Fuckin hate me Thats what I'm used to Suck a dick, we the shit, metamucil
God damn, man, there’s gotta be a better way Than pill-poppin’ all these drugs so I can stay awake
Like I’m Jessie in this bitch, I’m so excited

Oh Bondage! Up Yours! - X-Ray Spex
This is a late 70's british punk song. And, looked at by many as the prototypical british punk song. There is anger, simplicity, screaming, frustration with consumer culture, attacking a concern head on and catchyness. The last two points are highlighted in the first line of the song: "Bind me tie me chain me to the wall / I wanna be a slave to you all! Oh bondage! Up yours! / Oh bondage! Come on!"

Queen Of Hearts - Fucked Up
Probably the most catchy of the new Fucked Up album. Its basically a punk love song, Hello my name is David/Your name is Veronica Lets be together/Lets fall in love I saw Fucked Up live and it was awesome. The lead singer was in the pit the entire time. Here is a video of them playing a show. The lead singer is a fat hariy dude and takes of his shirt and just goes nuts.

Breed - Titus Andronicus
A nevermind tribute album was released for Nevermind's 20th anniversary. A great version of Breed and well...I love Titus Andronicus.

True Will - Liturgy
There isn't a single person that is on the site or checking this blog for black metal songs. But, wow, this album is good. And this song is probably the most accessible of the songs. Lots of screaming.

Monthly Music Fix Relaunch

2011-09-24T22:04:00.001-05:00

Its been busy at the 33forever headquarters. We're still listening to music, but the music is getting weirder and we haven't had a chance to upload all this awesome music. To set expectations we're going to move to monthly playlists going forward and we're going to try to segment out the music in playlists. For September I'm including 4 playlists (each in their own post):

New Music. A return back to form for a typical 33forever playlist. Some new indie music - weird, rocking, mellow, likely covered on Pitchfork or Stereogum

The 33forever blogpost for the playlist is here

Depressing Discoveries. Spotify, emusic, lots of other tools have made it easier for me to go back in time to find music that i might not have forgotten about. Alittle on the depressing side of things. The 33forever.com blogpost is here.

Chillout/ambient/droning. Genre-wise this is probably dub-step mixed with a bit of droning shoegazer. I've been listening to alot of this on repeat lately. Good stuff sitting inside and drinking a scotch. The 33forever.com blogpost on this playlist is here.

Punk/black metal/NSFW hip hop mix. This list will be loud, jarring and somewhat offensive. I still think its good music, but the music is probably alittle further outside the mainstream. I'll try to create separate left of the dial lists going forward. Here is the 33forever.com blog post.

Midweek Music Fix (Indie Music Playlist Underground Hip Hop Playlist)

2011-04-03T22:27:00.000-05:00

This is another NSFW and NSOF (Not Scott Orn Friendly).
I'm trying Grooveshark this week. Please let me know what you think.

When I'm Gone - Wiz Khalifa
$5 on Amazon
First single off his latest Full Length LP (see above - $5 on Amazon). A great kick off to the album. I love the fist line: "And they say all I rap about is bitches and champagne/You would too if every night you seen the same thing." Wiz is blowin up. "Back in the day money was short, I’m making it taller."

The Longest Text Message - Childish Gambino

This is Donald Glover, from the TV show community. I love his fun flow. Its basically a message to a specific girl (of the many he's hooked up with), but he thinks there are going to be a a few girls that think its a reference to them. "I'm trying hard not to use a specific reference/But you'll probably know that it's you after the first sentence"

All Around the World - Mac Miller (produced by Just Blaze)

Another song from the Mac Miller Best Day Ever Mixtape. A great party track.
"So, crazy, treat it like your last night
Even if you broke, spend tonight like you cash right
It’s the fast life, don’t worry baby we ain’t here to slow it down
Tonight we goin’ crazy and tomorra’ you can hold me down"

Swate - Das Racist

Awesome Das Racist Track. I have no idea what its about.

Bastard - Tyler, The Creator

This is some totally screwed up stuff. Just be prepared before you start listening.

Freaks and Geeks - Childish Gambino

Basically, a song filled with tons of pop culture references.

Rooftops - Wiz Khalifa (ft Curren$y)
ONLY $5 on Amazon!
The "Look we made it!" song.

(Rock) Superstar - Cypress Hill

Abit of a classic song with all the new stuff.

Midweek Music Fix (Indie Music Playlist Underground Hip Hop Playlist)

2011-03-27T00:10:00.000-05:00

A quick note about the playlist. This is absolutely NSFW. Most of my playlists are, but please know before you hit play, this list includes a number of song that are very graphic and explicit. Good talk.

Best Day Ever - Mac Miller

Mac Miller dropped his hot new mix tape a few weeks ago. Some pretty cool/fun music with some good lyrics. "They say I got next/tell em that I got now." You can download the mixtape for free here.

Goodbye - Wiz Khalifa

More Wiz. I was watching the woodies today and wiz was on. It got me excited about his new album (dropping march 29th i think). Love the song

All the Lights (REMIX) - Kanye West (ft Lil Wayne, Drake, Big Sean)

This is an early cut a full on remix that will include all these dudes plus kanye. Weezy and Yeezy you gotta love that. "im ill times ill, dope plus dope." indeed.

Sandwitches - Tyler, The Creator (ft Hodgy Beats)(ODD FUTURE)

I am admittedly abit late to the Odd Future show. But, I am hooked. Angry, reminiscent of early eminem.

Room with a View - Brother Ali

Previous Brother Ali music has been more positive. This is early Brother Ali and its alittle more raw. He really does paint a pretty clear picture of his experience in the "twin cities/american heart land"

Yonkers - Tyler, The Creator (ODD FUTURE)

This song is going to be on Tyler, The Creator's album. A great first line: "I'm a fuckin walkin paradox/no i'm not"

A Gee - Curren$y

After all the anger, I thought we needed to chill with some Curren$y. Just sit back and chill for abit.

Keep Floatin - Mac Miller

See above. Peace.

Midweek Music Fix (Indie Music Playlist)

2011-03-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

Someone Like You – Adele

The new Adele album is full of heartbreak and i think this is one of the most heartbreaking. The boyfriend has moved on and she goes back to let him know that she'll find someone just like him. Her voice here is just killer.

Wedding Bells (Live at 89.3 the Current) – Lissie
A Hank Williams Cover. Lissie has covered Hank Williams and Kid Cudie. Awesome. This is on the free CD I got for donating to 89.3 The Current (a Minneapolis Public Radio Station that plays awesome indie music). You can donate here.

Helplessness Blues – Fleet Foxes

The new Fleet Foxes song. Some good Freak Folk, although i think this is less over the top introspective and less about random stuff in the nature. I'm excited about the new album.

Home (Live at 89.3 the Current) – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Another from 89.3 The Current. Such a fun and sweetly touching love song. And they mention moats and they aren't the Decemberists. "Moats and boats and waterfalls/Alleyways and payphone calls"

Separator – Radiohead

A song about dreams. Dreams separate Thom from reality. Some conspiracy that this is the first half of the radiohead album and this song is the separator from the mysterious 2nd half of the album, "if you think this is over/then you're wrong" oh musical conspiracy theories...so fun.

Unluck – James Blake

This song is a great way to start off your weekend either on a friday night just chilling or as you wake up on a saturday morning.

Have to Explode – The Mountain Goats

Another off of Tallahassee about the alpha couple and their subsequent demise. Whats great is that as the title suggests, the end is inevitable and John's voice signals that there is hopelessness in this inevitability.
"Name one thing about us two anyone could love
We roll out the red carpet
When rotten luck comes down the road"

CCKMP – Steve Earle

Wow Steve Earle. Drug addict blues. And what can kill his pain? Hair-oh-won.

Midweek Music Fix (Indie Music Playlist)

2011-03-12T16:30:00.000-06:00

A pretty dark list this week, but i think one of my best playlists.

Game Shows Touch Our Lives - The Mountain Goats

I believe John Darnell introduced this song like this:
"Okay, it's the one thing that's weird about playing colleges. I'm married, and Peter's divorced, and so we start talking about marriage and stuff and I know I'm talking to a room full of people who go "Yeah, that's in the distant future, you know, and I'm not very interested in that right now"...But there may come a day--and y'all who are talking need to hear this--there may come a day when you get married, right, and --yes!--and when you get there, when you get there and you run out of Vicodin, and all that's left is the cheap vodka because you went to a liberal arts college and you studied poetry. Yeah, and so now, now you're married and poor and strung out on sleeping pills in Central Florida, and all you've got is cheap vodka, and you want to sing love songs to the person you now want to destroy. I want you to know the words when the time comes."
The last few lines are killer:
maybe everything that falls down, eventually rises.
our house sinking into disrepair,
i would look at this showroom filled with fabulous prizes.

A Long December - The Counting Crows

The Counting Crows make lots of sad songs. But this song is one of the saddest, "the smell of hospitals in the winter/and the feeling that its all alot of oysters with no pearls"

Sylvia (Live) - The Antlers

This a live version of a song off of "Hospice," an album about an incredibly dysfunctional relationship between a sick woman and the man who falls in love with her.
"Sylvia, get your head out of the oven
Go back to screaming and cursing
Remind me again how everyone betrayed you"

Why I Don't Believe in God - Everclear

One of the many things I love about this song is that the actual song itself is the reason he doesn't believe in God.

Lord I'm Discouraged - The Hold Steady

One of my favorite Hold Steady songs and such a great line, "She says that she's sick/but she won't get specific"

Amy Hit the Atmosphere - The Counting Crows

Another great, sad, Counting Crows song.
"All I really know/is all don't wanna know"

Release - Pearl Jam

This is from Chicago 2000. A bit of context, the night before this show, Pearl Jam had played the infamous "Ice Bowl," they played alpine valley wisconsin, outdoors, in october. It was below freezing. They played a shorter set, but expressed appreciation to all the people freezing outside. Many of the fans that went to the ice bowl show were coming to this Chicago show. There was an amazing energy in the audience as everyone knew that Pearl Jam was going to play an epic show as a thank you for the night before. They didn't disappoint. You can hear the crowd much more so on this live version than on any others. Such an intense song.

No Children - The Mountain Goats

The same couple from the song earlier on this list. The anthem of the dysfunctional couple.
"I hope it stays dark forever
I hope the worst isn't over
And I hope you blink before I do
And I hope I never get sober"

A Better Son/Daughter - Rilo Kiley

This entire song is great. I can't pull just one great lyrical quote. Hopefully Jenny and Johnny break up and Jenny starts writing songs like this again.

Midweek Music Fix (Indie Music Playlist Underground Hip Hop Playlist)

2011-02-26T14:32:00.000-06:00

Us - Brother Ali

I've been listening to The Current in the mornings (minnesota public radio's indie music station) and they play alot of Brother Ali, so i've been getting more into him. Alot of his music is biographic and this is as well. I love the beginning part of "and not be just the new kid thats albino/make em say "yeah i know, but have you heard him rhyme though."

Haile Selassie - Bright Eyes

I really like the new Bright Eyes album. Its weird in parts, but also harkens back to the Digitial Ash in a Digital Urn/I'm Wide Awake Its Morning days. There is a huge focus on death and what death means on the album.This song is more of the digital ash type of song.

Walking Far From Home - Iron and Wine

This album reminds me alot the Sufjan Stevens album from last year, lots of electronic stuff. You could poo poo this song as high school poetry. Its basically alot of contradictions or non sensical stuff.

Give Up the Ghost - Radiohead

Radiohead released a new album last week. Its being called their most divisive album to date mostly because its...good...but short. and it seems to be missing that whole part where radiohead blows your mind. there are still some good songs on here though.

Styrofoam Plates - Death Cab for Cutie

Hop on over to daytrotter. their are lots of great free performances on the website. This is a great example of death cab doing an old song. "Charity reaks of cheap wine and pity/And I'm thinking of you/I do every year/We count all our blesings/and I wonder what we're doing here." Great lines.

The Wilhelm Scream - James Blake

this is great music to play on a friday evening after a long week of work while you're relaxing, driking some nice bourbon and listening to music. Its light and dark. Mesmorizing, but yet you still need to focus on the music.

Codex - Radiohead

This is almost universally accepted as one of everyone's top 2-3 songs on the album. It sounds dark, very dark. Haunting and beautiful. "No one gets hurt/You've done nothing wrong"

Ladder Song - Bright Eyes

Hands down my favorite song on the new bright eyes album. Apparently, the story behind this song, is a good friend had killed himself after the people's key was pretty much written. Connor went back to the studio and recorded this album...on a keyboard, not the grand piano they had available. This could have easily fit on I'm Wide Awake Its Morning. While I think all the lyrics are amazing, my favorite part is about 2/3 of the way through:

I know now
How its gonna turn out
We gotta calm down
Or I'll lose my place
Gotta get to the center
Gotta get to the concert
Run off with a dancer
Gonna celebrate

Look at Miss Ohio - Gillian Welch

I've been using Pandora more and more. This song popped up on one of my playlists and I was blown away. "I wanna do right/but not right now/gonna drive to Atlanta/gonna live out this fantasy."

Leaning On The Everlasting Arms - Iris Dement

This song is in Cohen brother's move, True Grit (in various forms). I've been more into gospel music lately. not sure why. Its sort of comforting

Midweek Music Fix (Indie Music Playlist) Valentines Day Edition

2011-02-15T01:26:00.000-06:00

In celebration of Valentines Day, I am actually making a mix of real love songs. Not anti-love songs. I made this mix for my wife last year for our 10th anniversary. Next playlist will be full of angry, depressing indie rock and sans hip hop and mushy love songs (or at least not mostly made up of hip hop or mushy love songs). So, bear with me or enjoy...

Hands Down (Unplugged) - Dashboard Confessional

Hey says it at the beginning, "this song is about the best date I've ever had." And, this a perfect description of how a teenager is thinking of his perfect date. lyrics are just so perfect, the crowd singing along as if they all know how this all feels, Chris's passion. such heart on the sleeve emo. The end is the best part, because he's recalling the details in way that only someone who had the perfect date would remember...
the sound of the stereo...
the dim of the soft lights...
the scent of your hair that your twirled in your fingers...
the time on clock when we realized it was so late (the time of the clock, everyone remembers the time)...
the walk that we shared together...
you stood at the door with your hands on my waist and you kissed me like you meant it...

Thirteen - Ben Kweller

This song is reflecting on years together and all the ups and downs in the relationship. Its about Ben Kweller's relationship with his wife and I think its titled thirteen in tribute to the Big Star song of the same name.

Like U Crazy - Mates of State

If I ever have a kid, this song will likely be on the list. I couldn't figure out the line, "i can't resist watching you with him." This song is a love song to her family. she's talking about watching her husband and daughter together.

The Dark of the Matinee - Franz Ferdinand

This song always makes me think of my wife and I. In the second verse, he plans ways to run into the girl. He talks about how hates everything - thinking it will charm her. She smiles at him and talks about how happy she'd be if she could just do the things she likes.

Golden - My Morning Jacket

While the song appears about his Jim James love for his life - its really about the love of his life and willingness to support him in any situation.

In the Summertime - The Rural Alberta Advantage

I heard that they played this song at someone's wedding. Such a great love song. A couple notable lyrics:
"And in your summer dress, was holding you/But you were holding less/It's not the words, it's the ones you stress/I love as I love you just don't love me less"
And at the end of the song:

"And when we're middle aged/You tell me I loved you like a renegade/And how I say the things that make you sway/And mostly I tell you you did the same."

Throw Your Arms Around Me (Live) - Pearl Jam

I've never heard this song live. Love the part when Eddie changes the places he'll kiss her, it changes every time. This time is 155 places.

Do You Remember - Jack Johnson

Similar to the Ben Kweller song above - looking at the relationship - ups and down and everything. lovely song.

Next to You, Next to Me - Shenandoah

Joanna and I never really had a "song." We sorted decided on this song later, because it reminds us of dating in high school in college. And, how great is the line, "bar-b-que chicken and aluminum foil/just enough money for my gas and oil/who needs your shrimp and caviar/i'd rather have you just the way you are."

Midweek Music Fix (Indie Music Playlist Underground Hip Hop Playlist)

2011-01-30T15:13:00.000-06:00

I'm still going through my hip hop phase. As I've mentioned there is alot of good stuff going on in hip hop right now. Especially in the whole mixtape culture. My attraction to hip hop has always been due to the lyrics. So, in the absence of a good description, I've just included some of my favorite lyrics. Also, a quick shout out to the blog: This Song is Sick. A great website for downloading underground hip hop, mix tapes and general awesomeness

Kid Cudi - Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)
$5.99!
"I'm on the pursuit of happiness/and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold, hey/I'll be fine/once I get it, I'll be good"

Hoodie Allen - Dreams Up

You can get this song on his facebook page.
Nowadays I got so much on my mind
Right left side brain but I’ll see you when the time’s right
I’m feelin’ shallow baby this gon’ be a blind night
Left side brain but I see you when the time’s right

Kanye West (ft. Jay-Z) - H.A.M.

Kanye and Jay dropped this a few weeks ago. Even though I tend to like Kanye for his lyrics (I'm in the minority here, most people like him for his beats/production), I like the end with the piano and choir. There are lots of places to get

Wiz Khalifa - Roll Up
A new single from Wiz. The subject is not what you'd think of coming from Wiz. He is dropping his *I think* first, official major label release in March. I'm pretty psyched, but I hope its more of Kush and OJ and less this song.

Curren$y - A Gee
$5.00!!
Really like Curren$y, the more I listen the more I like.

Kanye West - Eyes Closed
This song should have been on MBDTF.

Tayyib Ali - Pretty Little Penthouse
Another song from This Song is Sick.

Kid Cudi - Man on The Moon (Anthem)
$5.99!

"Close my eyes, hide in the dark
It's a curtain call, come one come all
All I try to do is make it simple
The ones that make it complicated
Never get congratulated"

J. Cole - Before I'm Gone

Classic, I made it out the ghetto song.
his daughter starving and she fucking freezing
so no wonder why he fucking squeezing

Wiz Khalifa - This Plane

Um...Another, I got out the ghetto song:
It's lonely at the top, I'm tired of having company
Uh, so while you busy trying to fit in, I'm a stand out

Rick Ross - Aston Martin Music

"Fuck Maintain/Boy/I gotta keep ballin!"

33Forever Best of 2010: #5-1 (top indie records of 2010)

2011-01-22T17:31:00.000-06:00

To anyone who reads this blog, my top 2 albums are not going to be much of a surprise, the minute these albums came out, I began raving about them.

#1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

Funny, Serious, playful, insightful, big, bold, crass, full of insecurity and bravado. This album is amazing both in terms of the album taken as a whole or its individual pieces (hits/singles). The album follows a certain narrative of introducing you to Kanye's inner most thoughts and ending with the very practical - How to Make it America. You might think that Kanye is a pompous ass, a narcissistic idiot who literally wears a crown in a sea of white ballerina's on SNL, but Kanye forces you to react. This album is an accomplishment that all pop albums will be judged against.

#2. The Monitor - Titus Andronicus

I spent most of 2010 thinking this was going to be my top album of the year. Patrick Stickles agonizing, angry, depressed screams over guitars that are both addictive hooks and violent blaring wales makes for the most angry album of 2010. The title is taken from a warship from the US Civil war sets the tone for an album about either an internal battle within Patrick himself or between him and someone close to him...or both. The war manifests itself in the author leaving New Jersey to go to Boston in the first song and ends with him returning to New Jersey (with his tail between his legs) on the last song. In the middle are songs of frank desperation, references to Bruce Springsteen, battle cries and more. Most importantly, this album is full of moments of pure, raw emotion. I'll be listening to this album for years to come.

#3. High Violet - The National

High Violet speaks of a different kind of desperation. Similar to Arcade Fire's The Suburbs, this an album written about an educated person in their mid 30's to mid 40's lamenting their purpose in life. Conversation 16 is a great representation of this album's theme: this dude hates his life, its killing him and he's concerned that its going to cause him to hurt the people he loves. This verse is just perfect,
It's a Hollywood summer
You never believe the shitty thoughts I think
Meet our friends out for dinner
When I said what I said I didn't mean anything
We belong in a movie
Try to hold it together 'til our friends are gone
We should swim in a fountain
Do not want to disappoint anyone
The more I listen to this album the more I love it.

#4. Lisbon - The Walkmen ($5 on Amazon - click below)

This album has quiet desperation and anger and longing. It sounds pretty and beautiful. Its hard to ignore The National's desperation and depression with such a low voice and dark toned music. And, I don't think that you can listen to this album without taking into consideration the previous albums begging for things to change course. I don't seem them begging for things to change course. They are begging for themselves to be ok with the course they are on. High Violet gives in the anger and frustration of the course that the author is on. Lisbon is pleading with someone, anyone to make them ok with where they are today.

#5. Brothers - The Black Keys

This is just an amazing blues album. People have been signing the blues for years. Afterall, rock n roll is really just blues music. Over the years, great artists find interesting things to do with the blues (the rolling stones are really just a great blues band). Given all the interesting things that people are doing with the blues today and the fact that the blues have been around forever, its really hard to make the blues interesting by itself. But, the black keys do that, in spades. just amazing that they take a classic style and make it sound new.

33Forever Best of 2010: #15-5

2011-01-16T20:49:00.000-06:00

I decided to break up my list into 3 parts this year. There was an obvious top 5, but i really struggled putting together a top 10. There seemed to be a group of 10 albums that were better than the honorable mentions, but not distinct enough to set themselves apart from my top 5. These are some great albums that I will be listening to for a long time to come.

Vampire Weekend - Contra

Definitely my favorite album cover of the year and one of my favorite album covers ever. I've always thought that Vampire Weekend was abit subversive and this cover adds alot of credibility to that opinion (the fact that her eyes were red lights at their live show also helps - dude, that was freaky). The two songs I chose, "Horchata" and "Holiday" are great representations of the VW sound and this album. At once using the lingo and tone of the uppercrust and at the same time using this tone and lingo to criticize. Interestingly, VM's focus is alot on older money, contrast that with this article on the new elite in the atlantic monthly.

Sufjan Stevens - Age of Adz

As nearly everyone has mentioned this has a very Kid A feel to it. Traditional rock band adds tons of electronica to the sound. It definitely works here. I think this might be my favorite Sufjan album.

Girl Talk - All Day

I don't know if there is an artist that better captures our culture than Girl Talk. Both a schizophrenic mix of hip hop, classic rock, classic hip hop, current pop and 90's alt and a blistering combination of supposed distinct music styles that shows the similarities and how no matter the time, the place and the type of music, everyone's talking about the same thing: unrequited love, a general mistrust of authority and everyone finding ways to enjoy an otherwise boring, depressing life working for the man. I chose two songs from this album: this list's and the album's opener, "Oh No" and and I end my playlist with All Day's closer, "Every Day."

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

I was scared to buy this album, because I was scared I was going to be let down. That seems like a stupid concern now. Not only does this album have all the typical great aspects of an Arcade Fire album (deep lyrics, anthemic choruses, awesomeness), its a great concept album for an audience that is in their mid 30's struggling with what it all means. Half Light II (no celebration), starts with "now that san francisco's gone/I guess I'll pack in it/wanna wash away my sins/in the presence of my friends" sort of a hopeless call to arms, followed later by "some people say/we've already lost/but they're afraid to pay the cost/for what we've lost," and then finally, "though we knew this day would come/still it takes us by surprise." The album talks alot about a battle against the suburbs (there is even a song called suburban war), but its more of an internal battle raging over whether or not to accept this fate of moving to the suburbs. This is articulated in the other song on my playlist, "Sprawl II (mountains beyond mountains)," where Regine starts off with, "they heard me singing/and they told me to stop/quit these pretentious things and just punch a clock." The world telling her, "ok, great you've had your fun, its time to grow up now." Really, a great album with a great story.

Sleigh Bells - Treats

One of my favorite show's of 2010. This band is loud. L-O-U-D LOUD. Its hard to say, to say exactly what I love about this album. Its just a great punk album. And, it has great lyrics. The song I chose is "Rill Rill" (or "Ring Ring" depending on when you downloaded this song) includes the lyrics, "wonder what your boyfriend thinks about your braces/what about them/i'm all about them."

Beach House - Teen Dream

While most every one of my albums that I loved this year were emotive, subversive, angry, big or loud...this album is just classic dream pop. Early in the year, I played this on vinyl all the time. The song here, "Norway," is very dreamy. I don't have any idea what its about and i don't really care.

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

Pitchfork panned this album earlier in the year. I think because they thought it was derivative and specifically highlighted the avett brothers. I think this is just great alt-country-folk rock (if you wanted to use genre's to define music). "Sigh No More" and "Dust Bowl Dance" are two pretty representative songs from this album.

Phosphorescent - Here's to Taking It Easy

This is a great singer songwriter album. While the title of the album is here's to taking, i think its mostly an album about loneliness. The song I selected, "The Mermaid Parade" has my favorite music moment of 2010. This song tells the story of a couple breaking up and the writer is talking to his ex. At about the 2.30 mark, he says, "but god damnit amanda, god damn it all," and he just sounds so exasperated. Such a great moment in the song.

Angus and Julius Stone - Down the Way

This is an australian brother/sister duo. The girl's voice reminds me abit of Hope Sandoval and much of the vocals reflect some level of hopelessesness. I love when the brother and sister sing together, as in the song on this playlist, "Santa Monica Dream." They sometimes sing the chorus together, but oftentimes its as if they are singing separately, but the same song. Great album.

Kid Cudi - Man on The Moon II

Kid Cudi is the hipster's rapper. HHe even mentions wearing skinny jeans. He is also all of Kanye's insecurity and depression without the bravado. Basically, emo rap. Similar to Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa on my previous list, there is a significant focus on Marijuana (there is even a song called Marijuana). Even my "mojo's so dope," a song that appears to be about bravado has a melancholy tone.

33forever Best of 2010: Honorable Mention

2011-01-09T15:14:00.000-06:00

I started reengaging with hip-hop this year. This is in part driven by a frustration with the irony, melodic direction of indie music. You'll see in my top 5 and 5-15, there are lots of anger, frustration driven and somewhat subversive music. And regardless with what Chuck D says, I think some of the most subversive and emotive music is coming from the hip-hop world. My honorable mention list includes some hip hop (from mainstream to mixtape) as well as some great albums that just didn't make my top 15 albums.

I Will Be - Dum Dum Girls

I love the punk undertones mixed with the girl group vibe on this album. But, my favorite part of the album is the gen x hopelesses that fills every song. There is this sense in every song that there is nothing that the singer can do about the situation they've put themselves in. The song on this playlist "Jail La La" starts off with, "uh oh/how did i get here/i do not know/i just woke up/at this strange show/this woman's clearly/out of her mind/shes covered in shit/and high as a kite"

Romance is Boring - Los Campesinos

A great brit pop album that is just hugely depressing.

Heaven is Whenever - The Hold Steady

I couldn't not put a hold steady album on my year end list. I know this album wasn't popular with critics. I think its because its nostalgic. But, thats where Craig Finn is right now...alot of thinking back on the past. And i think it works well. This song is one of my favorite musical moments of 2010; an absolutely perfectly placed chorus: "heaven is whenever/we can get together/sit down on your floor/and listen to some records"

The Wild Hunt - The Tallest Man on Earth

I think I will end up liking this album more and more over time. Classic singer/songwriter.

This is Happening - LCD Soundsystem

I had initially placed this album in my top 5 earlier in the year. Problem is, it just didn't move me. I found myself not actively looking to listen to this album. And, while it is a great album that you put on in the background, I don't findmyself engaging with it. Why is it still here? It is still a great album. Just not in my top 15.

Sit Down, Man - Das Racist

Now we enter the hip-hop. So much good stuff going on in the mix tape scene. This album is free! There is a huge El-P/Company Flow influence on this album and the song I chose actually has El-P on it. The beats are chill and dark. The lyrics are dark, funny, self-conscious and thoughtful. There is no downside to downloading this album. Go do it.

Kush and OJ- Wiz Khalifa

I know that Wiz is blowing up in hip hop circles, but i think he's about start blowing up in the mainstream world. This is such a subversive album. Such a blatent focus on the chronic hasn't been around since...well, the chronic. This mixtape is also free.

Pilot Talk - Curren$y

This album almost made my top 15. The beat are just so chill, you can put this album on while you're working in the evening and just let it play.

Teflon Don - Rick Ross

Rick Ross just sounds angry and bitter. And, he looks angry and scary.

Recovery - Eminem

I think this was a great em album. It was deeply personal, angry, funny, frustrated and self aware. That being said, the best song on the album has to be weezy's verse (which he killed on SNL). "Be good or be good at it/fuckin right/I got my gun semi-cartermatic"

Midweek Music Fix (Indie Music Playlist)

2010-12-04T13:04:00.000-06:00

Kanye West - Dark Fantasy

If you have not yet purchased Kanye's masterpiece, please do. Yes, Slate, Pitchfork (a 10.0 - that never happens), Rolling Stone, and everyone else loves this album; but, you should buy and listen to this album on repeat because it is amazing. Its big, bold, happy, sad, angry, anxious, and tons of other emotions. This album is both ridiculously inaccessible and totally pop music. Dark Fantasy is the opener for the album and sets the stage for rest of the album. You know its going to be an epic battle between good and evil and specifically, the good Kanye and evil Kanye. He goes from "I fantasize about this back in Chicago," to, "DJ need to listen to the models/you ain't got no yeezy" in a short verse. But, I love this whole exchange:
And refresh the page and restart the memory?
Respark the soul and rebuild the energy?
We stopped the ignorance, we killed the enemies
Sorry for the night demons that still visit me
The plan was to drink until the pain over
But what's worse, the pain or the hangover?

Black Keys - I'm not the one

I love the blues on this album. And the opening lines, "I've been tried/And I've been tested/I was born tired/I never got arrested" is so, freaking simple and great. Dan Auerbach has the perfect blue's vocals.

The Walkmen - Angela Surf City

Another great album with a ton of emotion. I love the line, "lets go happy again/take your head from your hands"

Angus and Julia Stone - My Santa Monica Dream

I've been really getting into this album. I really am not sure what this song is all about, but its sad. I'm not sure what her santa monica dream is, but its certainly awful disappointing that we have to say goodbye to it. The girl's (Julia?) voice is mesmerizing. They remind me of the dutchess and the duke.

The Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains beyond Mountains)

While I love this album, I have to be honest that I didn't love this song and I tend to not like the songs where Regina is the lead singer (and lets be honest, you would think this is an ABBA song). Then I really engaged in the lyrics and this song is fantastic. The entire album is really about growing older and dealing with the trade-offs of responsibility, the realization that your dreams aren't coming through, or coming to terms with the fact that you might actually enjoy living in the sprawl. Two amazing lines in this song, the first line, "the heard me singing and they told me to stop/quit these pretentious things and just punch a clock." and the repeated line, "i need the darkness/someone please cut the lights."

The Walkmen - While I Shovel Snow

"There's no life/like the snow life"

Sufjan Stevens - I Want To Be Well

This album is weird. There is a song that is over 20 minutes. Imagine that Sufjan Stevens decided to make the Sufjan Stevens version of Kid A...thats this album. Here's the thing, its super freaking compelling. You wouldn't really think that Sufjan could do this album. But he does and its fantastic. Whats interesting is that he has moved away from storytelling and become much more metaphoric (my sister could tell me whether or not I am wording this right). This song is on the long side, but please hang with it until 3:59. The chorus of Angels singing "I want to well I want to be well..." while Sufjan is singing, "I'm not fucking around."

Kanye West - Power

I had the remix on last week's playlist. I like that version...but holy crap. While, the first song on this playlist was the first song on the album and prepares you for whats ahead, this is the epitome of the album. This is Kanye at his best. I can't believe that anyone can listen to this song and not feel like shaking it or clapping along. The beats, hooks, flow is all amazing. But, here is what makes it perfect, this is that battle of good and evil in this song. Kanye is almost mocking his self congratulatory nature - so self aware. He understand that he is battered and bruised and full of demons; he knows people hate him; he knows people hate the way he talks about race; but he still talks about how awesome he is. "Screams from the haters/got a nice ring to it/i guess every super hero/need his theme music." Kanye west came to SNL and sang this song, which includes the lyrics, "Fuck SNL and the whole cast/tell em yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass." Why, because hes that good. As lil wayne said, "be good or be good at it." indeed.