Idealize LA

Flash Delirium--New MGMT

2010-03-09T19:42:00.001-05:00

In case you're not following any other blogs out there, or you're just super selective and only like this one:

MGMT - Flash Delirium (get it from their website)

This pretty much flies in the face of every reason I write a blog, but I'm a little caught up in the hysteria and can't think rationally. I don't even know if it's a good song yet. It seems cool, sounds like MGMT... and a few other bands that sound like MGMT.

Mashups on Caffeine

2010-03-08T09:58:00.001-05:00

Hood Internet - Wetter and Jeffe (Twista vs. Boyz Noize)

The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be.

- Pagnol

If Girl Talk is mashups on cocaine, Hood Internet is mashups on caffeine. That sounds tame but it's not, it's actually about the speed of substance abuse that is right for mashups.

This should have been posted as a weekend track because it's that kind of great. Check out this track and other free Hood Internet tracks at Soundcloud.

There's A Place For Us

2010-03-04T20:05:00.003-05:00

Reni Lane - Place For Us (buy)

Because you needed another electro-pop-dance-lady singer in your library. There's a line where electronic music gets too electronic even for indie music fans. Reni Lane and this remix of her first real single "Place For Us" are on the fun-but-I'm-not-at-a-rave-yet side of it. Just like contemporaries Ellie Goulding, Little Boots and Marina and the Diamonds, it's easy on the Boyz Noize and A-Trak bass thumps of the aughts. Which is so euro. Sorry someone would have said it if I didn't.
Reni Lane's Ready is out on the 16th.

The important parts of her Amazon.com bio:

Virginia transplanted high school band geek Reni escaped suburban life through writing and performing. She took it one step further, moving to New York City at 18 and eventually entered Columbia University. She built a stage in her dorm room and put on shows for classmates throughout the school year. "I wanted to figure everything out and really make it on my own, so I attacked my dream with everything I had. I performed every week at The Sidewalk Cafe (where Suzanne Vega and Regina Spektor were discovered), and worked with other seasoned songwriters like David Poe and Joseph Arthur."

Lastly, sorry about the mess this week. I had to move hosted files somewhere that would permit me more bandwidth, and when I updated links, they were crawled again by Hype Machine. Ugh. Thanks for dealing with it.

PS. when did "euro" become a burn?

Girls Gone Oscar Wilde

2010-03-01T15:10:00.004-05:00

~~Kisses~~ (removed at request of label) Bermuda

It's been tough lately to find new songs that really grab me, so I'd been going backwards into old albums that deserved a dusting. That was until EMPT and IGIF pointed me in the way of the insipidly-named Kisses. A moniker that should have already been claimed by a 90's girl group, was somehow available to the LA-based Jesse Kivel and Zinzi Edmundson. Their self-prescribed tag line: "Girls Gone Oscar Wilde" is about as inspired as the color of my socks. Not a clue about what that is supposed to mean.

Kisses is about two weeks away from blowing up (when they'll play SXSW). The warmer weather that suits this disco-influenced chillwave pop will make them about as irresistible as milkshakes and Shack Stacks. Check out their Myspace, which yesterday had less than 4,000 views. But that's probably just because no one uses that shitshow anymore. I'm sure they're already a big deal in Asia.

"Bermuda" is set to be released as a 7-inch single this spring on Surrounded By Sound. No buy links at this time, but check their empty website at blowkisses.info.

The Weekend Chills

2010-02-28T12:47:00.003-05:00

Phoenix - Victim of the Crime (buy)

Slightly embarrassed to admit that I didn't listen regularly to Phoenix before It's Never Been Like That. "Victim of the Crime," like most of Alphabetical is a slow-by-Phoenix-standards jam most notable for its staccato keyboard harmony. It's so simple, yet so awesomely timely. This texture isn't prominently used in much of any music--the only other use that comes to mind is on Dr. Dre's "Still D.R.E." from 2001. Alphabetical may be my least favorite Phoenix full-length, but if there's a time in the week for it, it's Sunday afternoon.

Washed Out - Feel It All Around (buy)

While we're turning the page back, there's no better Sunday go-to than Washed Out. The two singles that came from the summer 2009 EP stand far above the other four songs, but this dream-fi/chillwave feels like memories...
An excerpt from Marc Hogan's great write-up:

Pastiche and intertextuality are as ancient as postmodernism-- not to mention disco, hip-hop, and the remix-- but childhood memories, in particular, are present now like never before. Today's blockbuster movies are based on yesterday's beloved toys; today's wars and political battles are sequels, too. It isn't surprising that music would reflect the zeitgeist. What's striking is how an international cohort of rising artists has successfully translated this culture of watery VCR transfers and Fisher-Price cassette rips into 1980s-inspired psychedelic music.

We Are The People

2010-02-25T14:11:00.007-05:00

Empire of the Sun - We Are the People (buy)

You know what's better than drooling in anticipation over a new MGMT album (even if you think it'll suck)? Listening to a band that sounds just like them! Empire of the Sun's debut is more than a year old now, but they've captured the rapture of MGMT singles only like MGMT can. I've written already about the mashup with Wiz Khalifa, which I think is one of the top two "mashups" of 2009. "We Are The People" features the vocal-emoting, often hollow lyrics that make it seem like it could be about anything. Add a big chorus with backup vocals and you've got a recipe for success.
Update: A commenter on Indie Shuffle has brought it to my attention that "The Thrill" isn't really a mashup, but just Wiz Khalifa rapping on top of the Empire of the Sun song for his mixtape, Burn After Rolling.

Let Me Take You Out

2010-02-22T11:59:00.005-05:00

Class Actress - Let Me Take You Out (buy)

Over the past week I've been working, occasionally watching the olympics, and going to Class Actress shows. I've written about the group's singles that preceded Journal of Ardency, but not the whole EP. I didn't think the early-Madonna comparisons were grounded, or compliments until listening through it. Elizabeth Harper's carefree vocals in "Let Me Take You Out" guide you gently through dreamy riffs and beats that remind you of floating over city streets like you did the last time you got some decent sleep. It won't make you sleepy, but it just feels so damn comfortable once you try it on.

The rest of the EP expands the range of Class Actress beyond the dance-pop structures of "Careful What You Say" into longer hooks like "Someone Real," pulling out more developed synth lines than usual dance fare. Like blogger I Hate Kids Like You says, the combination of her sultry voice and 80's synths is pretty much kryptonite to all of man. But why pay $5 a minute to 1-900 numbers when you can pick up the EP for the same price?

World Sick

2010-02-19T18:56:00.001-05:00

Broken Social Scene - World Sick (download)
White Hinterland - No Logic (buy)

Broken Social Scene is back, and in the spirit of internet hype the first single "World Sick" is up for free download on their site. In BSS fashion, it's big and full of lots of guitars and cymbal crashes. It has the epic feeling of big things and great ideas, not unlike the equally epic single from The Knife's opera.

White Hinterland played with Taken by Trees just last week here in NYC. The latest comes from their upcoming Kairos and debuted via GvsB. It's a slow and simple song whose character is completely built around the strange texture of the ukulele. The time for cold-weather songs is quickly leaving...

We're now on Hype Machine; check us out, follow, heart, repeat.

Phantogram Live at Union Hall

2010-02-12T13:48:00.004-05:00

Phantogram brought them out last night in the basement of what's effectively known as Bocce Bar. It was small, dark and loud. Sold out of advance tickets, people lined up before doors to get in. It didn't sound like anyone was at this show because there wasn't anything better to be doing on a Thursday (there was La Roux and Savoir Adore/Uninhabitable Mansions); these were no casual Phantogram fans. Eyelid Movies is out on Barsuk Records as of 2/9, buy it here. Photos after the jump.

Listen to "You Are the Ocean."

Junk Culture opened:

Class Actress / Yeasayer Live at MHOW

2010-02-11T00:53:00.076-05:00

It was the hottest $16 ticket I have ever seen. Everybody is going nuts over the two new Yeasayer singles, and they should be. The takeaway for me wasn't that Yeasayer do a fun show, but that Class Actress lives up to the CMJ hype that I've been hearing about since October.

CLASS ACTRESS/ Her charismatic stage presence was really too sweet for the opening slot in Tuesday's lineup. It shouldn't be so easy to get on stage and dance around. They're playing two more shows in the next week (this was the second since Saturday's Glasslands show: photos from Stereogum) so if you're trying to find me, I'll probably be at both. One's free. Buy her EP from iTunes or on Vinyl.

YEASAYER/ This was the hardest set to shoot for me in as long as I can remember, that's saying something about how amped this crowd was--that or how big the ponytail of the girl in front of me was. The energy of the crowd and the way the band communicated reminded me of Hot Chip. Even though "ONE" is my favorite track of theirs, the highlight was "Ambling Alp" which was awesome to see performed. You know that intro riff that sounds like a keyboard? it's a badass bass guitar. Buy Odd Blood here.

Sorry about the mediocre photos here, really not my best work.

I Know A Place Where Diamonds Never Fade Away

2010-02-05T11:51:00.004-05:00

Tanlines is a Brooklyn (where else?) duo that has paved their way by making a few really great remixes to promote their originals. Since they're playing tonight at Brooklyn Bowl, this serves as warning of what you're going to wake up feeling like you missed Saturday morning (today is Friday for those keeping score). Remixes of Au Revoir Simone and (Minneapolis-based) Solid Gold aren't get-famous-quick choices, but this track record is golden. My favorites are "A New Chance" originally by The Tough Alliance (buy), and Solid Gold's "A Matter of Time." You probably recognize the captivating hook from the former, but these are radical (read: rad) changes to each of these songs that makes them instantly more grown-up. The Doppler-effect vocal harmony of "A New Chance" should have been on top of pulsating synths and a big bass line in the first place, instead of the acoustic guitar/piano combo that The Tough Alliance chose; the original feels like a steel drum beach song. Soundtrack your weekend with this rapturous "I know a place where diamonds never fade away aaahhhhHHHHHAAAAaaaaaahhhHHHHHAAAaaaahhh."

Odessa / Zebra

2010-02-02T10:43:00.056-05:00

It took a few listens but I'm jumping on this--the new track "Odessa" from Caribou is awesome. It's a dance song, but it doesn't play like dance music. It's a less dressed up, grittier Hercules and Love Affair with a funk guitar riff. Download it for free from Caribou himself, his album Swim drops on 4/20.

Teen Dream, the latest from Beach House came out last week. I questioned their indie royalty until I heard "Zebra," the album's second single. This is the kind of chilled out, cleaned up glo-fi that could take photos all by itself. I've been saving this photo for the right song. This cut comes from the Daytrotter session, which is free as well. Check the video after the jump.

Chase the Tear

2010-01-27T12:06:00.006-05:00

Portishead - Chase the Tear

Portishead recorded this track for Amnesty International. It may sound repetitive at first, which with the help of the video, I've realized is the sound of moving or driving. It's a simple rhythm that is fun to watch performed in what looks like a moving truck. Buy it here, see it after the jump.

A Prostitute From Marseille

2010-01-22T13:38:00.004-05:00

My Night with the Prostitute from Marseille
Not really weekend playlist material, but this is a gem from Beirut's year-old release. It's FREE for download at Amazon. This is the most like Hot Chip that I've ever heard Beirut before. A drawn out vocal hook, rolling on top of a synth loop and a drum groove that appears in the chorus. Sweet.

A Boy From School
If Grizzly Bear covered your favorite Hot Chip song, complete with vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar crescendos it would sound like this. Without the backbeat it's not a dance song anymore; it's now a kind of sad, raw song about lost love.

Charlotte Gainsbourg with Dinosaur Feathers at The Bell House 1/20

2010-01-21T14:35:00.016-05:00

Dinosaur Feathers admitted to never having played to a crowd this big before, and yet they didn't seem to feel the stage fright. Their pop brand of world-influenced rhythms and ingenious harmonies really takes off in their latest single "Vendela Vida." The song has a handful of hooks, some surprising when you think you know where it's going next. The occasional falsetto and high-pitched melodies capture for me their happy-pop essence.

Not so hard to believe that it was really only Charlotte Gainsbourg's second public show. The signs of shyness were apparent, especially after hitting the stage moments after at-ease Dinosaur Feathers. Ms. Gainsbourg has a beautiful voice but it was frequently drowned out by the band. Her breathy delivery at times sounded like a whisper. Beck-influenced songs were easily distinguished from her 5:55 material, mostly for their guitar-driven grooves and keyboard samples.

Weekend Mix Tape: Digital Love

2010-01-15T11:45:00.041-05:00

Welcome to the weekend everyone. Click the bar on the bottom to play this carefully composed tape featuring the best new Hot Chip track from One Life Stand (so far).

Hot Chip - I Feel Better
"I Feel Better" makes us very excited for the new Hot Chip album; dramatic strings over an understated drum beat that layers and builds vocal lines until it stops... and it comes back banging.

Uffie - MCs Can Kiss
Uffie, an American-born, Hong Kong-raised, Paris-based singer has had singles floating around for a couple of years now, but her debut album won't be out until Valentine's Day. "MCs Can Kiss" sounds at first like it could be a Beastie Boys sample and opens into a more fun and lyrically interesting version of pop contemporaries such as Ke$ha (see Lizzyville's discussion on this). She's definitely better looking, Uffie that is.

PNAU - Baby (Breakbot Remix)
This is what it would sound like if Daft Punk started adding children's choirs to their songs.

Alphabeat - Digital Love (Daft Punk Cover)
This one's for a couple of friends that are probably too into Alphabeat. This is one of those groups whose name and appearance makes me think that they're a recently reunited 90's pop group, well they're not. Their first single landed in 2007. Huh.

The Hood Internet - Good Ol' Fashion Rump Shaker (Beastie Boys vs Matt & Kim)

Simian Mobile Disco - Cruel Intentions

Heaven Can Wait (Nosaj Thing Remix)

2010-01-11T12:02:00.002-05:00

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Heaven Can Wait (Nosaj Thing Remix)

Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM

Finally something to look forward to. "Heaven Can Wait" is the first single from the January 26 release, IRM. The original version was ok for me, but the Nosaj Thing remix made me love it. The lazy vocal sounds great on top of the repetitive electronic riff. She's playing 1/23 at Hiro, not sure what kind of show she does.

UPDATE: After the jump is the accompanying awesome video. I can't decide what my favorite image is yet. Maybe the man running from the spinning axe?

Mr. Grieves

2010-01-07T13:35:00.003-05:00

The Pixies - Mr. Grieves - ~~Hey~~

In this lull of the new year I've been undusting albums that are too good to have become dusty. There may or may not be a post about the songs of the year, but there will be a post about the Pixies. It's not easy to hear Doolittle without thinking about how influential it was twenty years ago. The prominently featured bass guitar and raw guitars made them the band that even Kurt Cobain acknowledged as one of his biggest influences. Kind of embarrassing for my generation to think that our introduction to this band came from the credits of Fight Club.

Happy 2010!

2010-01-01T13:29:00.000-05:00

Class Actress - Journal of Ardency

Can't wait for the soon-to-be-released EP from Elizabeth Harper (aka Class Actress) on Grizzly Bear's Terrible Records label. She's also playing February 17 at Brooklyn Bowl.

Albums of the Year 2009

2009-12-18T13:59:00.006-05:00

If you're not quite sure of how good 2009 was, take a look at 2010's most anticipated releases--yeah, 2010 can wait. To sum it up: Two bands (whose albums are among my favorites) released decidedly more popular music (Animal Collective, Yeah Yeah Yeahs). A couple of bands who have been around for a while, blew up with their 3rd and 4th albums respectively (Grizzly Bear, Phoenix). And after year-long delays, two highly anticipated female rappers released disappointing debuts. So here's how it looked for me, and remember you can play all by clicking the bar on the bottom.

10. BITTE ORCA dirty projectors

Everyone blew their load when "Stillness Is the Move" made it's way into their ears, but while that song was fun and accessible, the album was not. It may be intelligently constructed art-rock, but it was not the good time that its single appeared to be. That may not sound like an endorsement so here: it's still pretty good. "Two Doves"

9. FACE CONTROL the handsome furs

This was one of the more underrated releases of the year for me. It had some great hooks and excellent beats. Sufficiently rough sounding to still be considered a rock album, it's just an awesome time every time it spins. "All We Want Baby Is Everything"

8. TWO SUNS bat for lashes

"Pearl's Dream"

7. XX the xx

Debut of the year for certain. The hype factor behind this band became astronomical this fall, peaking at CMJ where they played nearly 10 shows, causing one band member to quit thereafter due to "exhaustion." The combination of an unconventional array of influences from dub-step to R&B was surprisingly good. The precocious teenagers' use of negative space in production showed maturity and delivery that was intimate and minimal. They created duets that emphasized the qualities of each singer, without being one of those bands that has its singers take turns, and they did it well (unlike, sorry, Chairlift). The pop-appeal of the album is similar to that of last year's indie-to-pop darlings, The Ting Tings who were claimed by the Top 40 charts and Victoria's Secret; can The xx avoid such a fate? "Heart Skipped A Beat"

6. VECKATIMEST grizzly bear

"While You Wait For The Others"

5. MY MAUDLIN CAREER camera obscura

Camera Obscura's brand of sixties pop was the happiest, most summertime album of the year. It was the first thing I reached for in the park, and it evoked images of friends jumping on sofas dancing. This is the sound of carefree. "Honey in the Sun"

4. MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION animal collective

Honestly I didn't like this until last week. I heard it when it came out, and I just didn't really like it, but I thought that was because I never really cared much about Animal Collective. Maybe it was the slow evaporation of the hype that allowed me to actually hear it, or maybe you just need to listen to it a lot, but now I dig it. It's more accessible than previous AC releases in that it doesn't sound like misplaced and accidental sounds. Now that I see (only) some of the order of the compositions, I think I'm seeing some of its greatness. "Brother Sport"

3. ACTOR st. vincent

At first it was only appealing because of the timbre of Annie Clark's voice. It was hard to hang on to some of the songs because their distinct sections and lack of hooks. It felt like the distortion and the piano licks were disagreeing like your girlfriend's parents at dinner. The difference is that now I like that. I like that Actor asks you not to ignore it, but to listen closely; every time you start to wander, the cacophonous crashing cymbals and screeching guitar chords wake you up and pull you back into it. "The Strangers"

2. WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX phoenix

Although not stylistically different from previous releases, this was the Phoenix album that simply blew up. When I heard "1901" for the first time last winter I was floored. I thought that it was the best pop song in years. And then I heard Lisztomania, saw the Brat Pack mash-up video, heard the album, and saw them live. I couldn't believe that I hadn't been listening to this band since United. The stuttered vocal delivery and ecstatic pop hooks made this album totally irresistible. I wanted to host dance parties to it; that would of course end with "Love Like A Sunset," the song that to me, knows more about the world than I do. "Lasso"

1. IT'S BLITZ! yeah yeah yeahs

I always had Fever To Tell and Show Your Bones, but I never loved them until It's Blitz!. With all the negative reaction to this album--that it was a discobeat sell-out--people overlook how massively it increased the band's fan base. That's usually an unpopular thing, and I understand why; I hate it too when "Heads Will Roll" is playing at TopShop and every other retailer on Broadway. Try to ignore it though, because It's Blitz! has the rough-enough production and the raw-enough screams to make you dance/jump/mosh/sing/fight. These songs may feel more like pop than any previous YYY's tracks, but their sound is perfectly current. The vulnerability of tracks like "Skeletons" are balanced against the shouts of "Dull Life." Master EP fans should not be disappointed, Karen O is still the same endearing rock star. The second time I saw the band this year, they played "Art Star" and "Our Time." This was the right album for one of the best still-living live bands, and it's best appreciated in a sweaty mob of jumping friends.

Albums of the Decade

2009-12-17T11:41:00.004-05:00

I initially shied away from making this list because too many people were making them, and a list like this is really too big for most blogs. It's more appropriate for the big magazines, with the scope and the resources (see: P4k, NME, Paste, Rolling Stone). Stereogum has some relevant, and insightful thoughts on the importance (or lack thereof) of music's oldest institutions like RS and MTV. At this point though I can't resist.

1. Figure 8 Elliott Smith

2. Funeral Arcade Fire

3. Kid A Radiohead

4. You Are Free Cat Power

In a decade that saw Cat Power release more covers than original songs, it's frustrating to see her best work come on her own work. You Are Free is an example of efficient songwriting, using chord progressions of only four chords throughout several songs, allowing the vocal melodies alone to determine the song's sections (see: "Names," "Keep On Runnin," "Evolution"). "He War" is four-chord guitar riff placed over Cat Power's most riveting rhythms ever, and the repetition of the instrumentals in many songs allow for her to develop some really amazing harmonies (see: "Maybe Not"). What makes this album so breathtaking is not just the beautiful sheet music, but Chan Marshall's emotional delivery. The power of her voice ironically is the greatest when her voice sounds its weakest. It's vulnerable and heartfelt, qualities not easily found or portrayed.

5. Fever To Tell Yeah Yeah Yeahs

6. Let It Die Feist

See the rest of the top 25 after the jump.

7. From a Basement on the Hill Elliott Smith

8. Turn On The Bright Lights Interpol

9. It's Never Been Like That Phoenix

10. Stankonia Outkast

11. Radiohead - In Rainbows
12. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
13. St. Vincent - Marry Me
14. Portishead - Third
15. Feist - The Reminder
16. Kanye West - The College Dropout
17. Brazilian Girls - Talk To La Bomb
18. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
19. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
20. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
21. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
22. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
23. Atmosphere - Lucy Ford
24. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
25. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

Elliott Smith only lived a few years of this decade. This was one of the biggest reasons I felt like making this list. I am frankly surprised at his absence from virtually all decade lists because in folk-rock I see his songwriting unmatched still. Today we think of the (dying) singer-songwriter genre as Conor Oberst, Bon Iver and (hopefully not) John Mayer. By Wikipedia's account there are many more. I exclude Bob Dylan because his best records are most likely behind him, as are his biggest decades of impact. The fact is that I do not listen to singer-songwriter music now that I am not in college trying to learn songs to play for potential girlfriends on an acoustic guitar. Either the genre is receding, or I'm growing out of it. Singer-songwriters of today are pastiche crooners, penning the love songs that some dope will karaoke to his wife at their tasteless and inauthentic wedding. Unless they sing Coldplay; wait that wouldn't be different. Simply put, a songwriter with lyrical depth and melodic ingenuity has not lived since Elliott Smith.

Figure 8 is Smith's most orchestral full-length. His major-label debut was XO, and Figure 8 followed in that vein, where Smith's style of guitar strumming was given the full studio complement. Perhaps his least raw recording, and more polished and presentable than any live show he ever put on, it features much of his greatest songwriting.

Chasing Pirates, Remixed by Santigold and Snotty

2009-12-11T17:16:00.003-05:00

Norah Jones - Chasing Pirates (Santigold and Snotty Remix)

I normally associate Norah Jones with middle-aged people with marginally better taste than their Coldplay-digging counterparts. These are the middle-aged people (the former) that I would like to be friends with. Norah's mass appeal is just about as detracting as Neko Case's, so it's with trepidation that I consider her new music. That said, new single "Chasing Pirates" is kind of fun. It doesn't take any risks, but it is an update to the sleepy-style-piano jazz of Come Away with Me. And Santigold and Snotty's remix takes it into even more interesting territory; by slowing it down and adding vibrating synths, it turns into a foreboding dark car ride through Bon Temps. It doesn't feel so family-friendly anymore, and the lyrics seem to describe something totally different.

Stereogum says it better than I can right now:

"Chasing Pirates" is a song about a mind wandering and a heart yearning. For Norah that meant the warm, stately lock of a quietly killer keyboard-and-drum groove, giving the angst a playful quality. But for Santi -- joined on remix duties by Snotty -- it's all about the desperation, rendered in darkened electro via sinister synths and killer drum tones its own. But the twist is the twisted take on Norah's vocal, masked and pitch-shifted, as if Jones never found those pirates and re-visited the song with her newfound L.E.S.-artiste friends after 20 years of smoking cigarettes and staying up too late at downtown clubs.

Ohhh Regina!

2009-12-08T14:05:00.005-05:00

White Denim - Regina Holding Hands
  Austin-based White Denim is more characteristically blues than Regina may make you think. At first it felt too acoustic, too Dashboard Confessional, but the deep soul-style vocal inflection feels fresh. I love a good song about a girl with a funny name.

The Middle East - ~~Blood~~
  In same way as Regina, Blood begins quietly folkish. The first two minutes feel exclusively like guitar arpeggios and drum brushes. This one ends in folk too, but its five-minute crescendo is surprisingly satisfying.

Dr. Dog - ~~Heart it Races~~
  This is a couple of years old but it fits with the mood today.

(play me in the bottom)

Weekend Mixtape (Birthday Edition)

2009-12-04T12:37:00.004-05:00

"Qui Est Cette Fille"

Your weekly mixtape, for celebrating things like birthdays. More words next time. Tracklisting after the jump.

1. Yelle - Qui Est Cette Fille
2. Miike Snow - Animal
3. Kid Cudi - Cudderisback
4. Major Lazer - Cash Flow (Clasixx Glass Bottom Dub Mix)
5. Washed Out - New Theory
6. Brazilian Girls - Pussy

Nico's "These Days" Covers

2009-12-02T09:30:00.001-05:00

St Vincent - These Days

Elliott Smith - These Days (Recorded Live in Portland 10/14/99)

This is not dance music. Something for the middle of the week to mix it up. Two excellent covers of the closest thing to a classic I can think of.