One Sweet Song

Zoos of Berlin//Electrical Way

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:47:00 +0000

Enjoy this Local Music Friday at the Zoologischer Garten.
Tell me...what is this Local Music Fridays?

We had the pleasure of playing with these guys last month at Cake Shop. It's not that often that I go to a show and actually want to dance to the live music being played. While Zoos were playing, I couldn't keep still. Their tracks have a way of entering with an upbeat, danceable bang and then emptying out into a mellow jam.

Zoos has been around for a while and many of the group's members have played in other bands, including Red Shirt Brigade, Pas/Cal and The Pop Project (who I can remember seeing many times at The Halfass). They recently released a new album, Taxis, which is awesome through-and-through. Best CD trade I ever did. Buy it here.

This song is one of my favorites on the album (along with "Black in the Sun Room") and gives you a good idea of why it would be hard not to dance at one of their shows.

Electrical Way.mp3

And it's all about personal control.

The Whitest Boy Alive//Burning

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:04:00 +0000

Once, I played this song for Sean and Jon (the fraternal jazz-inclined rhythm section of my band) and asked them what they thought the name of the band was.
Sean thought for a second and then replied, "We're Really White."
"Close!" I said.

Racial stereotyping aside, Sean answered this way because The Whitest Boy Alive is really "white," in that they play things that could be funk in a really uptight staccato way. The band obviously understands this because they chose a particularly self-deprecating name.

The group started as a Berlin electronic outfit but has since become one comprised of all live instruments. There's also a familiar and much-loved face handling guitar and vox duties. That guy really keeps busy, huh?

This song is insanely catchy and good.

On another note, burning is also what I'm going to be if the bill in the NJ State Senate to legalize gay marriage fails. People think it will. Please direct your rage here.

Burning.mp3

So many people telling me one way.
So many people telling me to stay.
Never had time to have my mind made up,
Caught in a motion that I don't wanna stop.

Elvis Costello//You Belong to Me

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:13:00 +0000

I was DJing on New Year’s Eve at a restaurant in Park Slope, which was actually really fun. I spent a lot of the night talking to a group of people who had stopped in after the Dean and Britta show at Southpaw. They were kind of a DJ’s dream in terms of moral support—they kept cheering me on and asking questions about my selections.

At one point, one of the women in the group asked that I not play any Elvis Costello. I told her that I was thinking about playing “Watching the Detectives,” because it’s so awesome. But generally, I understand the pushback. I think This Year’s Model is one of the best albums ever Ever EVER, but I’ve also played it roughly 88 million times and may have played it out. Also, once you’ve got a talkshow (even if it is on Sundance), it’s over.

That said, GOD, I love this song with such abandon that I can’t resist putting it up here. Costello (whose real name is Declan Patrick MacManus—good move on that change) is one of the original school of punks—the kind featured in this essential book (a must read if you haven’t yet). He also pranked SNL in 1977, a stunt for which he should be lauded.

You Belong to Me.mp3

What are you girls gonna tell your mother?
I don't want to hear another word about young lovers
Or hiding your boyfriend in the cupboard.
She's been to see the doctor, so you hope that she recovers.

The Innocence Mission//Brave

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:29:00 +0000

On my way to work this morning, an Innocence Mission song from a friend’s mix popped onto my iPod. I was suddenly sent reeling down the rabbit hole of nostalgia.

People talk about smell being the most visceral sense memory and I believe that they’ve scientifically proven it to be so. That said, certain old songs can really tug me to very specific places and times in my life. The Innocence Mission’s album Glow brings me straight back to 1999. I remember listening to it in my room while lying on my bed staring at the ceiling. I remember listening to it in my friend Liz’s car as we drove to school on cold mornings or home from volleyball games with the sunroof open. It brings me back to a time when I didn’t really have much to worry about and for that reason, I am finding revisiting this album kind of addictive. I’ve been listening to it all morning.

A friend informed me that IM is a Christian band. I was slightly shocked, largely because I could never understand the lyrics—when I looked them up for this song, it became very apparent. I went to investigate further. Exhibit A: In 2000, they released an album containing their favorite hymns called Christ Is My Hope. Exhibit B: Perhaps even more “damning,” the band met during their Catholic school's production of Godspell. Yeek. That said, I don’t really have anything against subtly Christan bands (see: Pedro the Lion) and definitely don’t have anything against Christians (actual Christians, not right wing wingnuts who think we’re all (seriously ALL of us) going to hell).

A few quick interesting tidbits about IM—if you think they sound a little like Joni Mitchell, it might be because their first few records were produced by Larry Klien AKA Joni's ex-husband who also produced many of her records. Also, if you were culturally aware in the 90s, they may sound familiar to you because of their extremely successful commercial placement. Their songs were on the soundtracks of two 90s classics—the film Empire Records and the TV show Party of Five.

Brave.mp3

You cannot still your limbs.
Somehow, knowing what you do know
still you tremble out and in.

EP Island//Heart Fit

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:13:00 +0000

The First Monday Mail of 2010!
What is Monday Mail?

Hello OSS and welcome to the fourth day of the not-aughts! I missed you! It’s been a long and somewhat restful break. My holidays involved a mix lots of snow, drum lessons, pagan ceremonies, airports, hotel-dwelling, sight-seeing and bar-drinkin’ that spanned over three American cities. How were yours?

At the height of the “giving season,” LL from Down the Lees and EP Island wrote:

Guess what?? We are full of the giving spirit. So we are giving away free downloads for both EP Island albums! That's 6 songs (plus a bonus track) absolutely free! No catch - just free. So go to our bandcamp site and download Good'ish and Rad'ish - on us!

EP Island is an interesting concept. From the “band’s” page:

LL Schultz and Melanie Covey are EP Island, which is a home-studio-based songwriting and recording project, executed over intensive periods. They wanted to work together musically, but without the usual format of a band with weekly practices.

Basically, the group gets together and records EPs. This sounds way fun to me.

As you can probably imagine, the tracks coming out of these sessions are more raw than they are polished. That said, there’s something refreshing about listening to music that’s been conceived this way. Unprocessed and unpretentious, the songs capture some of the experimentation and spontaneity that come from jamming (for lack of a better word).

This song, “Heart Fit”—for those of you on New Year’s Diets, mixes the vox a bit to the back, which I enjoy. This, combined with the overlapping guitar lines, makes for something a bit like Sleater-Kinney lite. Not a bad start to the year at all.

Heart Fit.mp3

You can download both EP Island albums for free here.

OSS’s Sweetest Songs and Notable Moments of 2009

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:16:00 +0000

It’s that time of year again—every music blogger and their music-blogging mothers are writing out their “Best of the Year” lists. Don’t get me wrong—I’m highly appreciative of this trend. It helps me remember to check out albums that I may have missed throughout the year and gives me fodder for bickering with friends (“Bitta Orca is their number four. I knew there was a reason I liked that blog!” vs “Really!? THAT made their list?”).

Last year, I didn’t do a “Best of the Year” list. And, because I think there are just too many lists already, I’m going to shy away from it again this year. HOWEVER, I do want to make a list because it’s the end of the year and I think it’s a nice way to look back and recap. HENCE, I am pleased to present OSS’s Sweetest Songs and Notable Moments of 2009, a compendium of my favorite tracks featured on this blog over the last year (in chronological order), a synopsis of what makes them essential in 2009 and an alternate (and also sweet) track by the same artist.

OSS’s Sweetest Songs and Notable Moments of 2009

1/20: Nina Simone//Feelin’ Good
A liberal president finally shows up to break the hell-streak of GWB and to break down some racial barriers in America. Obama is inaugurated, we feel “good”…until of course we remember all those problems we still have as a nation.
Alternate Take: See Line Woman.mp3

1/29: Brothersport//Animal Collective
I hereby declare this the jam of the year.
Alternate Take: College.mp3

2/9: Jeff Buckley//Hallelujah
The ninth of February was the day that my girlfriend left for Minneapolis to be in a show for two months. We had only been dating for two months. It blew.
Alternate Take: Dream Brother.mp3

4/15: Edith Piaf//Milord
A. and I weep uncontrollably over the life and death of Edith Piaf after watching Ma Vie En Rose. Later, we Netflix I’m Not There, the even-weirder Bob Dylan biopic. We shed no tears over it.
Alternate Take: Padam, Padam.mp3

6/25: Fleetwood Mac//The Ledge
My friends, Mitch and Karen, get married. We take a trip out to the Midwest for the wedding and stop in Chicago to see friends. Ali gives me her summer mix, which brings me the brutal realization that there is a Fleetwood Mac song I actually like.
Alternate Take: Enough for Me.mp3 (Also off Tusk, which is actually a good album).

6/26: Michael Jackson//Billie Jean
2009 was our last year with the King of Pop. Jackson died, shockingly, on June 25th.
Alternate Take: Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.mp3

9/29: Graceland//Paul Simon
My band went on tour and listened to this album nonstop, which made me understand that it was truly awesome.
Alternate Take: I Know What I Know.mp3

10/20: Atlas Sound//Walkabout
Ethan and I went to see Atlas Sound and Broadcast at La Poisson Rouge. Broadcast permanently damaged my hearing.
Alternate Take: Criminals.mp3

12/2: Beyonce//Single Ladies
NY State Senate votes down Marriage Equality, dooming me to a life of being unable to “put a ring on it.”
Alternate Take: Crazy in Love.mp3

12/8: The Monks//Shut Up
I finally listen to the birthday present that Ali gave me. My mind is blown. Also, it should be noted that I was listening to this album during The Great Computer Disaster of 2009(which, by the way, resolved positively—my computer lived).
Alternate Take: Drunken Maria.mp3

And with that, friends, I am going on vacation (to Minneapolis and DC). 2009 has been an awesome year for me and for OSS. Hope it's been good to you too.

Have lovely holidays and see you in the new year.

World Atlas//Girl on a Boy's Bike

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:56:00 +0000

So Twee, So Local: Local Music Friday.
Tell me...what is this Local Music Fridays?

We played with World Atlas at the same show we played with Knight School and they were equally awesome. It just so happens that friend Fred Thomas also used to play with them. AND! Palmyra is playing again with them and Zoos of Berlin tomorrow night at The Cake Shop.

I really enjoyed this quote, from The L Magazine:
“Some might say they sound too much like Belle and Sebastian, but we think they sound just the right amount like them. By which we mean, well, exactly like them."

WA does sound A LOT like B+S, but it's still quite enjoyable. Also, I'm a girl who rides a boy's bike. That's cool.

ANYWAY, I'm going to step out now. It's my anniversary and I am taking my girlfriend out for a "night on the town." Where are we going? It's a secret. See you (and World Atlas) tomorrow, perhaps. Snowball fight to follow.

Girl on a Boy's Bike.mp3

Girl on a boy's bike,
What do you feel like
Waiting for the other kids to catch you up?

James//Laid

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:44:00 +0000

Manc, the hotbed of post-punk and post-industrial decay, also gave us James.

The band started out as Tribal Outlook and eventually changed their name (good move, guys) to James after bassist Jim Glennie. A gig at the Hacienda got them signed to Factory. They went on tour to support The Fall and The Smiths. Still, they didn't really break until the 90s with the release of their album, Gold Mother. A few albums later, Eno produced a double album, one of songs (Laid,) and one experimental (Wah-Wah).

This song, probably the band's biggest hit, is full of sex, gender-bending and pyscho-therapy. What's not to love?

James broke up in 2001, but they're back together again now and planning to release a new album in 2010.

Also, my friends over at The Party Store alerted me to the awesomeness of this video:

Laid.mp3

My therapist says not to see you no more,
She says you're like a disease without any cure.

Orbital//Halcyon & On & On

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:27:00 +0000

And while we’re on a bit of an electronic music kick…
I’m beginning to think I should just ask Ali to come do some guest posting here, since I unabashedly poach so many songs from her.

I can’t even listen to the opening piano notes of this song without being transported back to my freshman year of college. At the beginning of school, everyone was sharing music like crazy and people were being opened up to bands and groups they had never heard of, as well as bonding over slightly obscure shared favorites (Archers of Loaf). Ali downloaded this onto my roommate/BFF Kot’s computer and we became hooked on it.

Orbital, an electronic duo made of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll, has been cranking out the pretty electronica and ambient techno since 1989. Though these have never really been my favorite genres, the skill and craft of what these guys do is pretty impressive.

Recorded in 1999 at Glastonbury, in a time before the word “mashup” entered the popular vocabulary, this live version of Orbital’s “Halcyon & On & On” served up a pleasant surprise halfway through in the form of expertly cut and layered samples from Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” and Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth.” Eight years into the era of Girl Talk, this relatively simple bit of mixing still produces a truly astounding artist effect.

Halcyon & On & On (Live).mp3

Shot to the heart
And you’re too late
You give love
A bad name

Koushik//Pretty Soon

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:22:00 +0000

I first heard this song (over and over again) in a friend’s car. Then, when I was on outing hunting for this, I saw one of Koushik’s albums, a limited edition instrumental thing, displayed prominently in Other Music. We all know what that means.

Koushik is a Canadian DJ and electronic musician who has (predictably) worked with Caribou (and also Madlib and Fourtet). I believe that much of this music has been produced by label mate/founder and recipient of much revival-hype, Peanut Butter Wolf.

Like Caribou, his music has a hazy retro feel, with one foot in the past (analog quality, references to lazy bossa nova, 60s pop and mellow funk) and one in the future (tight highly-edited drums often cascade in to form delicious beats and Koushik’s soft and breathy voice compliments the tracks nicely).

Pretty Soon.mp3

Pretty soon I’ll be ready to die.

Ro Spit//Renaissance State Of Mind

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:26:00 +0000

Login, Refresh, ~~Monday Mail~~ Monday Facebook Status Update.
What is Monday Mail?

A friend of mine posted this awesome video (see below) on her Facebook yesterday. I was instantly charmed.

Anna said:

I'm from DEEEEtroit. Had to repost this.

Detroit just happens to be on my mind a bit lately. I met this awesome guy at a party a few weeks ago who produces this radio show. One of their first episodes is on Detroit and featured an old housemate of mine! The show was great. It was a nice reminder that even though the D has such a shitty rep, there are a lot of really cool things happening there now.

Please put your hands up for Detroit with this catchy jam from hometown hip-hop hero, Ro Spit.

Renaissance State Of Mind (Feat. Monica Blaire).mp3

Old English D,
Yeah, you see it on the brim.

The Candy Band//Ken Lost His Head

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:06:00 +0000

Kid Friendly Local Music Friday.
Tell me...what is this Local Music Fridays?

You may remember, in roughly 2005/2006, there was a movement emerging of moms playing in bands. Dubbed "Mom Rock," by some, the movement garnered a lot of national media attention.

Around this time, I had to pleasure to play on a show with one of these bands--The Candy Band from Detroit. These gals played some awesome punk rock kids songs and were really fun to watch.

This song is about a favorite childhood toy theme: headless barbies. Considering the holidays are coming up, if you have kids in your life, you're bound to see some of these appearing soon. That said, if you're looking for presents for your friends who are kids and who are also awesome, think about this.

I don't know what the status of all those mom rockers these days, but I hope they are keepin' on keepin' on--for the children!

Ken Lost His Head.mp3

He can't eat Barbie's cookies.
He has no mouth.

Patsy Cline//Walking After Midnight

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:39:00 +0000

I am such a sucker for a pedal steel. Honestly, I can feel so-so about a song...then add pedal steel--suddenly, I'm sold. I know, what a cheap date.

Let's face it though, this song would be incredible if Patsy Cline was just singing it a cappella. Cline's got this way of fully embodying romantic tragedy in her voice that few people can pull off.

As a late '50s/early '60s country singer who enjoyed a lot of crossover success, she's got plenty of hits. It's hard to choose just one of her songs to put up here. Although "Crazy," and "I Fall to Pieces" are two other predictable favorites, I've always had a special fondness for this song, even though Cline herself was never very into it. I think it's a very honest portrait of how love can kind of make you do ridiculous/rash/insane things.

Something truly interesting about Cline is that she broke through many barriers for women in country music and the entertainment business as a whole. From wikipedia:

She was so respected by men in the industry, that rather than being introduced to audiences as “Pretty Miss Patsy Cline” as her female contemporaries often were, she was given a more stately introduction such as that given by Johnny Cash on their 1962 tour together: “Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only Patsy Cline.” As an artist, she held her fan base in extremely high regard (many of whom became friends), staying for hours after concerts to chat and sign autographs.

Cline was not only the first woman in country music to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall (which she did with fellow Opry members and disapproval from gossip columnist Dorothy Kilgallen—whom Cline fired back at) but also to headline the Hollywood Bowl with Johnny Cash and, later, in 1962, the first woman in country music to headline her own show in Las Vegas.

According to legend, Cline also predicted her own death, which came in a 1963 airplane crash. Creepy.

Walking After Midnight.mp3

I go out walking after midnight,
Out in the moonlight,
Just hoping you may be
Somewhere a-walking after midnight
Searching for me.

Plastic Bertrand//Ca Plane Pour Moi

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:17:00 +0000

I woke up this morning with this song in my head and thought, "this would be a great song for OSS today. It follows The Monks well and it kicks away the Wednesday blues." The problem? I had no idea what it was.

When it comes to figuring out little puzzles like this, I always assume that the internet will know, provide and generally have my back. However, decoding this song was a formidable challenge. I didn't know much about what it was besides the fact that:

1. it was in a foreign language. I assumed it was Western European and had a hunch it was a French song, although I thought it also might have been German.
2. it sounded kind of 60s, but then again, it could have been a later era copying the 60s.
3. it had a surf feel about it.
4. I had definitely heard it in the company of my friend Cara before, although I couldn't remember who had put it on. Also I had heard it many other places, possibly on a soundtrack. I frequently asked what it was and never remembered the answer.

After sifting through dozens of not-it Serge Gainsbourg tracks on Hype Machine and LastFM, trying that stupid site where you can tap out songs on your keyboard (which doesn't work--they kept telling me this was a Guns and Roses song) and searching "French Surf Hit," French Rock Hit 60s," "German Surf Hit" and "What is this song in my head?!?!" to no avail, I finally turned to a trusty old friend.

All Music Guide, based in Ann Arbor (rep!), might be the best music resource on the entire internet. Although their site is outdated and slow in terms of interface, you absolutely cannot beat the information they have. I went to the International section, then to the Foreign Language Rock section, then to the French Rock section, which spit out a list of top songs. Even though Plastic Bertrand was Belgian, this song was number two on their list.

Of course, AMG also has everything you need to know about it.

And so, I am pleased to present to you, the perfect song for today. I hope you find it as satisfying as I do.

Ca Plane Pour Moi.mp3

OOOOooooOOOOoooooo!
Ca plane pour moi!
(This life's for me!)

The Monks//Shut Up

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:54:00 +0000

Ali gave me this as a birthday present this year. A few months later, she asked me if I had listened to it yet. I hadn’t. I have a lot to listen to. I forget sometimes.

Finally, I ended up picking it up and putting it on. I’m so happy I did. The Monks are SO delightfully weird.

The story: five American GIs stationed in Germany in the mid-sixties start a garage band. They get discharged from the military and keep playing music, calling themselves The Monks and dressing the part.

They didn’t sound like anything else around at the time—and many credit them with being the first to define a certain early lofi proto-punk sound (think Velvet Underground, but weirder), which strayed away from many of the elements found in a popular rock and roll at the time. Drawing from sensibilities that seem like they could only be routed in Dadaism, their lyrics are sometimes nonsensical, sometimes offensive and often hilarious.

Shut Up.mp3

World is so worried,
World is so worried.

Gospel Gossip//Sippy Cup

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:09:00 +0000

Fumble, Mumble, Monday Mail. What is Monday Mail?

Ok, OSS, I’m telling you this story because I need to get it off my chest. I already feel terrible about this, so please try not to judge me too hard.

I was having a good weekend. I was getting a lot done—-working on my book and a number of other things. Thursday night, I stayed up very late to write. Friday night, I cleaned my whole apartment in order to try to support productivity.

Friday night was nice. I was happy. I went to the grocery store to buy some things for dinner and I also bought one, count ‘em!, ONE! beer to enjoy with dinner. I ate dinner. I was drinking the beer, doing something on the computer when I got up to get something from the other room. As I stood up, I knocked the beer over and watched about an eighth of it poor into my laptop. Awesome.

I panicked and ran into the kitchen to get a rag. By the time I got back to my computer, most of it had seeped inside. I mopped up what I could and poured out the rest. The computer kept working fine and I thought, “huh. Maybe it wasn’t that big of a deal.” Then, the hard drive started making a weird noise. Yeah, it was a big deal.

I started uploading things I hadn’t yet backed up to Gmail as fast as I could, but it was to no avail. Within 15 seconds, the screen went blank save for some random splotches of blue and purple. PRETTTTY. Also, it sounded as if a metallic demon was in there, banging on tiny microchip pipes.

I got online and searched “I spilled beer on my computer.” The amount of people who have spilled beer on their computers across the country would boggle your mind. It’s incredible. In case this ever happens to you, here’s what you should do:

1. Turn the laptop off and remove the battery ASAP. If you do this quick enough, you can avoid causing a short. Sadly, I don’t think I did this quick enough.
2. Flip it over and pour out the beer/liquid. Mop up the rest with a towel.
3. Take it apart and clean it with rubbing alcohol. Or take it to your local reliable computer shop. Mine’s currently having a fun AND fancy vacation at Tekserve.
4. Let it dry. For days, apparently. Don’t use a hairdryer. Do use a fan.
5. Try to turn it back on. Cross your fingers. Please cross yours for me.
6. Dance around or cry, depending on what happens.

Or better, don’t be dumb like me. Don't drink beer next to your computer, especially when you quit your job to work on a book that you haven’t fully backed up. And if you absolutely have to, consider using a sippy cup.

I’m pretty sure that Minnesota-based band Gospel Gossip probably didn’t write this song for me, but I like it anyway.

Band member Sarah Nienaber wrote in a while back to say that GG was going on tour. While they’re not on tour anymore, they play often in Minneapolis and you can hear some more of their stuff on the trusty internets (obviously I’m here by the grace of another computer). They also scored many points with me by using a negative Pitchfork quote on their myspace. Well done, guys.

This song’s got a balanced mix of feed-backed shoegaze guitar and strong melody; a nice distraction for the wake of The Great Computer Disaster of 2009.

Sippy Cup.mp3

I never knew my love could get so far away from me.

Knight School//Pregnant Again

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:54:00 +0000

I wear my sunglasses at knight on Local Music Fridays.
Tell me...what is this Local Music Fridays?

We got to play with these guys last summer for the Northside Festival at Public Assembly (where my friend Tim is Djing tonight, coincedentally). I don't think I got to talk to them much, but their show was super fun.

I've got mixed feelings about this “fuzz on everything” trend that seems to somehow still be the hip thing to do. I don't think that fuzzing the hell out of something makes it instantly good. That said, sometimes it is good. Knight School has a retro punk sound with a just hint of pop. They really get it right and pull it off.

If you're in NYC, catch them in exactly a week at Silent Barn. If you're elsewhere, check out this compilation because our friends City Center are also on it.

Finally, I would like to mention that I think "Pregnant Again" is a really good name for a song.

Pregnant Again.mp3

Listen to more Knight School.

Jurassic 5//Power in Numbers

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:14:00 +0000

I've been enjoying J5's brand of conscious hip hop for quite a few years now.

In 1993, the group formed, weirdly, at LA health food store The Good Life, which was the host to a sort of hip hop renaissance in the city. Sadly, they broke up in 2007 because they "weren't seeing eye-to-eye."

I've always enjoyed the flow and the old school production on J5's records. Some things I particularly like about this song: the piano hits, the mix of rap bravado and humility, and, most obviously, the FLUTE.

If You Only Knew.mp3

Yo, how many times I got to hear
Some fanatic in my ear
Tellin' me I got to keep it real
When they ain't payin' my bills
Or feedin' my kids, judgin' me on how I live
If my crib in the hood or if its up in the hills?

Beyoncé//Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:49:00 +0000

Apparently I am having a poppy week. That said, I am not ashamed at all of how much I like this song.

Although I'm sure I've heard it millions of times, I didn't really think about it until I was watching Glee (the jury's still out on that one) with my mom, girlfriend and little sister at Thanksgiving. My sister showed me the clip where the show's gay character Kurt gets caught mimicking the video of this song with his friends and then somehow ends up going out for the football team and teaching it, choreography and all, to the players. Yeah, it's TV. Still, I haven't been able to get this song out of my head since then.

I also stumbled upon this amazing post on Carrie Brownstein's Monitor Mix shortly thereafter. Now the track is firmly implanted in my brain.

Hey. If you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it! Oh wait. You can't. Yep, this song just happens to also be timely today, as the NY State Senate voted down marriage equality. As my other sister said, "Rat Bastards."

According to Beyoncé (and everyone knows that Beyoncé is not only a class act, but also omniscient), not proposing in time can lead to disaster. Thanks to this recent turn of events in the Senate, my girlfriend may now opt to put on tight jeans, get wasted and dance with dudes in a club. This is not cool, NY. Not cool at all.

Also, last time I looked, this state (and definitely this city) is full of homos who pay taxes to pay your salaries, Senators. We fund your pet projects and we vote you in. If you like us, then you should think about putting a ring on it...or we're going to find some new man to dip up on and you're gonna know how it feels to really miss us.

Until next year, when we can revisit this bill...

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).mp3

Your love is what I prefer.
What I deserve
Is a man that makes me, then takes me
And delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond.
Pull me into your arms,
Say I’m the one you want.
If you don’t, you’ll be alone
And like a ghost, I’ll be gone.

Ida Maria//Oh My God

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:04:00 +0000

Oh! My! God! I can’t stop listening to this album. I have absolutely no idea where it came from or how I heard about it, but it’s amazing.

Although the sound is a little glossy for my usual tastes and the songs are written a a bit weakly, Ida Maria has impeccable timing, borrowed obviously but not annoyingly from ‘70s garage. She’s also got a voice that would sound like Rosemary Clooney if she were singing American ‘50s standards, but in this context, hits these amazing graveled-out snarls and screams, more Mick Jagger than Mambo Italiano.

From Norway, and currently living in Sweden, Maria has won many awards in Europe. She’s also a synesthete, which I think is awesome.

Despite some recent controversy over her performance on Perez Hilton’s music fest (yeek), I am still hoping she’ll end up in New York soon. She’s sadly cancelled the rest of her tour, officially citing exhaustion, with rumors of drug/alcohol problems swirling unofficially around the internet. Console yourself by buying her album and listening very loud through headphones (preferably over a roaring A train).

Oh My God.mp3

Find a cure,
Find a cure for my life.
Put a price,
put a price on my soul.
Build a wall,
Build a fortress around my heart.
Oh my god!
You think I´m in control?
Oh my god!
Oh, you think it´s all for fun.
Is this fun for you?

Bebel Gilberto//The Real Thing

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:44:00 +0000

Smoooooth Monday Mail. What is Monday Mail?

It’s very hard for me to resist a collaboration between the daughter of João Gilberto (Astrud was his wife) and Winehouse-producer Mark Ronson (SamRo is his sis).

Myles from Sneak Attack says:

Originally performed by Sergio Mendes and written by Steve Wonder, Bebel Gilberto and Mark Ronson put their spin on "The Real Thing". The original version is an undeniable disco track, but one would never know from this reinterpretation. Bebel's sultry voice and Mark Ronson's killer horns and percussion reintroduce this classic to a new generation of music fans. "The Real Thing" appears on Bebel Gilberto's new album All In One, out now.

The production on this is, predictably, lush, fabulous and lounge-y. So sit back, relax and try to let go of your anger at having to return to work post-four day weekend.

The Real Thing.mp3

Had a chance to look forward
To be part of your love in my dreams,
But I can't be happy with
Fantasizing instead of the real thing.
The real thing, not my dreams--
The real thing.

Johnny Cash//Cocaine Blues, Folsom Prison Blues

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:55:00 +0000

I had a fantastic Thanksgiving. It included an amazing meal shared with amazing people, a lovely walk, foosball competition, saxophone performance and some kickass country songs. Round two was filled with whiskey, pie and a hilarious charades-style game called Celebrity. How was yours?

I have so much to be thankful for in my life! It's overwhelming! Since we're giving thanks, I want to give you a double dose of songs to be thankful for, by a man we should all be thankful for, Johnny Cash.

Mr. Cash passed away in 2003. If you want the full (overdramatic/exaggerated) history, go ahead and watch Walk the Line. What's worth knowing: he was a country legend who made incredible music, was an active advocate around a number of political issues and crossed paths with plenty of other country legends ( and their kids).

These songs were performed by Cash, who felt a lot of compassion for prisoners, live in Folsom Prison in '68 (he played San Quentin in '69). What's amazing: the first song tells about how a man (Willy Lee, or Bad Lee Brown in a much earlier version) gets himself into Folsom. The second is about a man's experience in Folsom, after killing a man (in Reno). You can almost imagine that these two men stuck in Folsom together, trading stories of their respective fates.

Last night, Karen's dad, Dr. Bob, played rousing renditions of both these songs for us. Karen also told us that when her mom wasn't around, and Dr. Bob was charged with putting her to bed, he used to play her "Cocaine Blues" to get her to sleep. Now, that's what I call awesome parenting.

Cocaine Blues.mp3

Folsom Prison Blues.mp3

I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down.
I went right home and I went to bed.
I stuck that lovin' '44 beneath my head.

Earthworms//Mo' Taters

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:18:00 +0000

I'm sitting here in my family's kitchen in New Jersey, playing today's song for my grandparents. They are dancing along. Mamoo heard the first line and exclaimed, "this is my kind of music!"

It's Thanksgiving and everyone knows that the best part of the traditional American meal is not the Turkey, but IS actually the potato dish. Whether you eat yours roasted or in sweet in one of those caserole-with-mini-marshmallow situations, potatoes are the jam.

I prefer my potatos white and mashed and made by Mamoo according to her secret recipe, which I think includes A LOT of butter.

I came across this song on a LP, called Las Vegas Grind, that Ethan (who I've coicedentally celebrated Thanksgiving with three years in a row now and who is on his way here AS WE SPEAK) gave me. He bought it for me because my favorite graphic novelist/life hero Dan Clowes did the cover (see below). I really love Dan Clowes. I only have one tattoo and it's a frame of Ghost World.

This band is so obscure that there's virtually no information available about them anywhere (and the internet can't decide if they're called "Earthworm," "Earthworms" or "Earthworms!"). LVG doesn't have liner notes and although we can assume that these are all '50s bands, it's kind of hard to tell anything beyond that.

What is clear, however, is that this song is a complete celebration of "taters" and all the many different ways you can enjoy them. It is also a jam, and highly danceable for kids of all ages.

So, from OSS, Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you are hanging out with people you love and eating plenty of delicious food, including potatoes.

Mo' Taters.mp3

Mo' taters, Ma!

PJ Harvey//The Mess We're In, This is Love

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:52:00 +0000

Angelina recently reminded me of the awesomeness of Stories of the City, Stories of the Sea (a quintessentially New York album), thanks to her recent re-obsession with "The Mess We're In," featuring our favorite depressing British man, Thom Yorke. I've been playing it a lot again. It's a fantastic album.

I really like PJ Harvey, even though she's a total Patti Smith rip-off (she denies this over and over, but I don't understand how it could possibly not be true). Although the two can be sonically and vocally very similar, her stuff often has a slightly different energy. I'll never tire of songs like "C'mon Billy" and "Yuri G." Like Smith, everything's raw and tough.

With gobs of buzz and critical acclaim, SotC,SotS was really Harvey's mainstream breakout. For me, it will always represent this very specific time of life. I bought it just before I went on vacation with my family the summer after my senior year of high school. My boyfriend and I had just gotten back together and he came along for some of the two weeks in Maine. My dad's blue Acura was on it's way out at the time, but this unofficially became our car on vacation and I drove it much too fast on tiny winding island roads. We'd go out after everyone would go to sleep and smoke cloves by the dock. We dyed our hair with henna and madeout a lot, all the while spinning the hell out of this album, Amnesiac and a short EP Nick bought me called The Modern Age, put out by a band no one had heard of at the time called (haha) The Strokes.

That summer was perfect, golden. In a few months, I would go to college. Nick and I would break up again, this time for good. 9/11 would happen. Life changes. But I can almost taste the cloves and feel the cool New England air of the summer of '01 on my skin when "This is Love" comes on.

The Mess We're In.mp3

This is Love.mp3

I can't believe
Life's so complex,
When I just wanna sit here
And watch you undress.

Hurricane Bells//The Winters in New York

justonesweetsong@gmail.com (g) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:59:00 +0000

BRRR: Monday Mail.
What is Monday Mail?

The winters in New York are cold, but not as cold as the ones in Chicago, where it is always at least 10 degrees colder. I’m back from there now and that said, we actually had pretty awesome weather this time around. It was warm enough to be outside without scarves and hats much of the time.

Neha, from Vangrant, says:

Vagrant's latest signing is a band called Hurricane Bells which was created by Longwave vocalist, Steve Schiltz. The band's debut album, Tonight Is the Ghost, was released on Nov 11th… The band gained attention by earning a spot on the highly credible Twilight: New Moon soundtrack released last month.

While I highly DON’T CARE about their Twilight slot (if anything this makes me NOT want to listen), I have to say, I’m glad I did because this band is nice. I hear a lot of subtle influences in the sound: vox that are reminiscent of The Shins, drums/ guitar/keyboard combo actually sounds a bit like Varnaline, electric guitar tone that reminds me of vintage 10KM. All good except that weird overdramic guitar solo, which I am not sure if I like yet.

Doing a bit of research, it seems as though this band/guy (Bells is really just the solo project of Longwave’s Steven Schilitz) was relatively unknown until his not-much-viewed myspace page led him to the Twilight gig. That’s some serious luck, huh? Of course, having talent certainly doesn’t hurt.

The Winters in New York.mp3

The winters in New York are hell
With bitterness and cold.