Confessions of a Music Lover's I-pod

No, I did not abandon this permanently. Another post will offer the half assed explanation ;). Starting off with an old reliable that this also a favourite.....

This should be interesting as I am listening to tons of new to me tunage. Heading to the Coachella Music Festival (California) in a few weeks so lots of new peeps to listen to. All the tunes below are at the festival. Not that I hadn't heard of most of them. They just weren't on my current rotation, ya know.

Here's how you do it: I-Pod. MP3. Other listening device. Shuffle all songs. Write down first 15. Only skip if an artist is repeated. No cheating!

1. Yeasayer - Final Path
2.Grizzly Bear - Fix It
3. Mew - Apocalypse
4. Vampire Weekend - Taxi Cab
5. LCD Soundsystem - Movement
6. As Tall As Lions - Be Here Now
7. The Gossip - Got Body If You Want It
8. She & Him - Ridin' In My Car
9. David Guetta - This is Not a Love Song
10. Gorillaz - White Flag
11. The Middle East - Lonely
12. Beach House - Norway
13. Corrine Bailey Rae - Till It Happens to you
14. Miike Snow - Faker
15. MUTEMATH - Valium

Super crazy beyond stoked about Coachella. As always seems to happen, it is ending up costing double what it was originally intended to. Boo f*cking hiss to that. What was planned as a fun 9 day road trip for 4 is now a very quick 3 day trip for 2. Oh well. That is the way it goes. Still should be amazing.

Just waiting for the schedule to be released so I can start to plan the days...... There are a number of bands that I am (not) literally dying to see. Florence and the Machine, She & Him, Sleigh Bells, Phoenix, Muse, Matt & Kim, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Band of Skulls, Frightened Rabbit, The Gossip, The xx, Vampire Weekend, The Avett Brothers, Imogen Heap, Thom Yorke..... the list goes on. Gonna be epic and fantastic. If they would release the fricking schedule. I know what days people are playing, but not times or stages. Argh.

Anyone else going? Anyone I should not miss?

XX

Confessions of a Music Lovers Ipod

Lazy post to start the day (although if I am being honest, it is more like late afternoon here in Vancity).....

Easy game for everyone!! Shuffle all your I-Pod or MP3. No cheating. Only skip if there is a duplicate artist. The goal is to have 15 different artists in the list below. This is a safe place. There is no judgement of the unmitigated cr*p that is hiding on you I-Pod.

1. Blindness - Metric
2. Cold Shoulder - Adele
3. Can't Take that Away - Paddy Casey
4. Breathe - Alexi Murdoch
5. Say it Ain't So - MoZella
6. Apparitions - Matthew Good Band
7. My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson
8. Like A Prayer - Madonna (Hope for Haiti version)
9. Souled Out - Conor Oberst
10. Lump Sum - Bon Iver
11. Loving You - Paolo Nutini
12. Fans - Kings of Leon
13. Cold Hands Warm Heart - Brendan Benson
14. The Professor - Damien Rice
15. Secret - Missy Higgins

Nothing I am ashamed of. I love Kelly Clarkson. She is awesome.

First Song from Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland.

One of my dirty little secrets is a fondness for the music of Avril Lavigne. I know. I am deeply ashamed of this. But musically, she is a'right with me. As a person, I find her pretty much irritating as hell. She is in her mid 20's and still dresses like the punk poser she was as a teenager. And acts like she is five. But whatever, she is not the first singer I have listened too that I wouldn't want to associate with in real life. She is just the one I am probably most ashamed to admit to liking....

Avril Lavigne is contributing to the soundtrack for Tim Burton's ridiculously anticipated Alice in Wonderland. In fact, she is not only contributing to the soundtrack, she has the lead track on said soundtrack. The song "Alice" will be released along with the Soundtrack on March 4th. Other contributors include Franz Ferdinand and All American Rejects.

Thoughts? Obviously this is not the video for the song. It is not bad. It is not great - Avril often yells a little when singing. I am pretty sure it will grow on me....

What do you think? Did Tim Burton completely miss the mark having Avril Lavigne contribute the lead single off this soundtrack? Is he hurting the film? Or to answer a bigger question.... do Soundtrack's even matter anymore? I can't recall the last time a song from a movie has been so huge that everytime you hear it your mind automatically goes to the film??

For me, I gotta say the Aerosmith song from Armaggedon. That was huge. Oh, and I am also sorry for admitting that I liked that song and that movie :( Sh*t, I am totally blowing any musical credibility I ever had with you aren't I? Heh!

XO

The return of Joaquin Phoenix

Do y'all recall when Joaquin Phoenix had what appeared to be a very public meltdown on Letterman? At the time I was *this* close to calling bullsh*t on the whole thing. I expected him to reemerge in a few months, promoting the crap out of something. But no, he has been pretty much in hiding since the start of last year.

For some strange reason, Joaquin Phoenix chose to make his return to the public arena with Miley F*cking Cyrus. Trying to get people to vote for something to do with a Suicide Prevention website. I don't know. I stopped paying attention when Miley jumped onto the screen. She really is one of the most conceited individuals on the planet isn't she? I am all for self confidence, but come on. Ugh. She just bugs me more than words can say. The only redeeming thing in this entire video is the reunion of Joaquin and Liv Tyler. Apparently they were very very hot and heavy back in the day. It did not end well. They seem to be doing okay being in the same room. Maybe they could bond even further by getting rid of Miley.... They say that nothing brings a couple together like offing a teenage superstar.

To rid your mind of thoughts of the image of Ms Miley, check out these punk kids totally and completely rocking out to Party in the USA. I am sorry that you have to suffer through the song to get the full effect. I highly recommend only watching it once. That f*cking song gets stuck in your head.... trust me. I am sure every person in this clip is now in hiding. Any street cred they may have had is completely gone now that the world has seen them dancing and singing to Miley Cyrus. Ha!

PS: apparently Joaquin Phoenix has been working on his music in the time he has been away. Someone I can't be bothered to google said it is Ah-mazing. Too good to even be released. Cause Joaquin can't handle to inevitable fame and money and award shows and concerts that would result from said an-mazingness. Please.

XO

Confessions of a Music Lovers I-pod

I have put tons of new tunes on my I-pod over the last few weeks. Thank you Pitchfork Media, New Moon Soundtrack and Pink is the New Blog for the advice and suggestions! Here we go:

1. Sam Sparro - Waiting for Time
2. Hunters & Collectors: Throw Your Arms Around Me
3. Alicia Keys - If I Ain't Got You
4. Laura Marling - Anywhere with Meaning
5. Regina Spektor - Wallet
6. Bright Eyes - Ship In A Bottle
7. Alexi Murdoch - Crinian Wood
8. Brendan Benson - Don't Wanna Talk
9. Missy Higgins - Secret
10. Pete Yorn - Four Years
11. Dixie Chicks - I Hope
12. Adele - Right As Rain
13. Damien Rice - Rootless Tree
14. Miike Snow - A Horse is Not A Home
15. Jack Penate - Torn on the Platform

Ha ha ha ha. Snort even. Only ONE new artist on this list. Brendan Benson. The rest are existing faves. Okay, as I am all about spreading the musical love around.... here are six random songs from my New Jams playlist

1. Grizzly Bear - Slow Life
2. White Lies - Nothing to Lose
3. The Editors - You Don't Know Love
4. MoZella - Going Home
5. Bear In Heaven - Fake Out
6. Florence & The Machine - Girl With One Eye

Much Better. Florence & The Machine are phenomenal. Check them out please.

Below is a quick video of St Vincent who is my very first concert for the year in a few weeks at The Venue (lamest name ever).

XO

Grammy Preview.

You all know I am a big big fan of the music. I am fairly vocal about it. I have even bought my first concert ticket of the year - St Vincent - early February - at the worst name concert venue in the stratosphere - "The Venue". Gah.... Excited for the concert though! Anyways... music's biggest night in music is next week - The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards are next Sunday and I can't fricking wait. Tons of music, great performances, many outfits for me to mock :)

A lot of big names have been nominated for Grammy's this year. Everyone's favourite country sweetheart Taylor Swift has a ton, as does the wacky yet amazingly talented Lady Gaga. Beyonce, Greenday, The Black Eyed Peas, even my eternal beloved Dave Matthews Band. DMB has been nominated for album of the year and according to EW's insider, they are the front runners at this point. While I don't know if I agree with that .....it would be a nice screw you to the Grammy idiots who left LeRoi off of their "In remembrance" scroll last year. It is not that I don't think they deserve it. I am just not sure if anyone can derail the Taylor Swift juggernaut. And the rationale that the only reason they will win is because the Academy voter traditionally like "rock fare" is a little insulting.

The advertising campaign for the Grammy's has been decent this year. Capitalising on the social media frenzy going on all over the world, they launched the We are all Fans campaign. This is pretty cool. According to the Grammy website: this is " a first-of-its-kind interactive fan experience — featuring portraits of GRAMMY-nominated artists composed entirely of real-time, fan-generated YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, and Facebook postings. This user-submitted content is continuously gathered from these social media platforms and refreshed on the campaign site to form a constantly evolving, "living" portrait of each artist. TV, print, out-of-home, and interactive all support and will drive traffic to the site."

Super cool right? The still images above do not give the campaign justice at all. Check out this You-Tube video for Gaga. Ah-mazing right. Can't wait for the Awards. Will you be watching? Who do you want to win? How wrong is it for me to say I kinda want Taylor Swift to be completely shut out. I don't know if I can take any more of her "aw shucks....me?" schtick. I know I know. I am burning in Hell. Should I save you a seat?

XO

Where have you been Cher?

Browsing through the celebrity blogosphere over the last week or so, my interest was piqued just a little when pictures of Cher were showing up. She hasn't been on the scene recently, so I got to thinking..... What is she up to? Then they announced that she is a presenting with Christina Aguilera at next week's Golden Globe Awards. Interest level rising, so I poked around and have figured it out. Cher is making a new movie ya'll!

Photo Credit: Splash News Online/Pacific Coast News Online

The Movie is a musical called Burlesque and according to Collider.com: Ali (Christina Aguilera) is a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to LA. After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue, Ali lands a job as a cocktail waitress from Tess (Cher), the club’s proprietor and headliner. Burlesque’s outrageous costumes and bold choreography enrapture the young ingenue, who vows to perform there one day.

Soon enough, Ali builds a friendship with a featured dancer (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer (Kristen Bell), and garners the affection of Jack (Cam Gigandet), a bartender and fellow musician. With the help of a sharp-witted stage manager (Stanley Tucci) and gender-bending host (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage. Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, though not before a charismatic entrepreneur (Eric Dane) arrives with an enticing proposal…

Cher. Singing. Cute boys. Stanley Tucci. Veronica Mars. I am there.

I loved Veronica Mars. Over the Christmas Break I bought and pretty much watched all three seasons of Veronica Mars. Because I have no life. I very much enjoyed this show. It was very witty and well written. And again was a show that was cancelled before it should have been. Stupid TV executives. Or perhaps, it was the stupid viewing public. Kristen Bell is adorable. And I loved Logan Echolls... bad boy to the bone. Sigh. Jason Dohring? Where are you now? What have you been up to? Call me. The theme song is awesome. Even when they changed it for season 3 - made it more noirish - still loved it. Dandy Warholls - A long time age..... we used to be friends... but I haven't thought of you lately at all. I would very much like the Season 4 rumour to become a reality.

I also bought seasons 5 and 6 of Dawson's Creek. Primarily so I could watch the Series finale. Cause it makes me cry like a little baby every time I watch it. Like a baby.

XO

Confessions of a Music Lovers I-Pod

It is that time again people and I know that you have all been waiting with baited breath to see what has been playing on my I-pod recently. I made some changes to my music last week, so hopefully some new tunage will show up for you...

The songs change, but the game remains the same..... All songs, shuffle, only skip an artist if it shows up twice. No cheating. The music gods will know. And they are the vengeful type....

1. Owl City - Swimming in Miami
2. Terry Reid - Gimme Some Lovin'
3. Crowded House - That's what I call Love
4. Alicia Keys - The Life
5. Bat for Lashes - Glass
6. Bell X1 - Rocky Took A Lover
7. Meiko - Sleep
8. Animal Collective - Guys Eyes
9. Duffy - Syrup & Honey
10. Dave Matthew Band - Squirm
11. Missy Higgins - Scar
12. The xx - Night Time
13. Lily Allen - Nan, You're a Window Shopper
14. Leona Naess - All the Stars
15. Joshua Radin - Do you Wanna

Yay to my Dave coming up.... Happy Birthday to my secret husband. It actually is today. PS: Congrats on the Grammy nominations. Well deserved, espacially in light of their douchebaggery last year when they left LeRoi off the Remembrance roll call. F*ckers.

I
Animal Collective. One of the hottest bands out there. Everyone loves them. I am trying again to give them a shot..... I saw them at Bumbershoot and it was pretty heinous. And not in a good way. I do like a few of their remixes....so am giving them a second go around. Still not totally in love, but I do like them a lot more than I did.



Happy Saturday. It is miserable here in Vancity, so I am happily ensconced in my apartment sorting out my tunes, contemplating starting to continue writing again and procrastinating about cleaning.... which is what I really should be doing. Oh well.

XO

2009 - My Musical Discoveries

As someone who rarely, if ever, listens to the radio expanding my musical horizons to new bands and acts can sometimes be a little tricky. I rely on friends, TV shows that thankfully actively promote their tunage, Soundtracks and word of mouth. Such as discovering Laura Marling late in 2008 when an actor I liked mentioned them.

While I couldn't even conceive of listing my favourite songs or even artists of 2009.... I will leave that to many many others who I am sure are doing an admirable job. My favourite songs of 2009 include songs that have been around for many many years. While I love discovering new musical loves, I tend to go back to what I have known and loved. It's the reliability, you see. However, that is not to say that i have not become enamoured of a few new artists this year. Instead, to keep things interesting (for me as well as you fair reader), I am mixing it up a little.

Below are 5 artists that I discovered this year. To be clear - they are generally not new artists in 2009. Some have been around for years and years. And I am shocked, amazed and frankly a little embarrassed that I was not a fan before now. These are simply acts that came onto my musical radar during the course of the year.

1. Metric Metric Metric.

Okay, so it is just Metric. Hands down my favourite new discovery of the year. I ended up seeing them three times this year. Loved each and every show. Metric is a Canadian indie rock band that have been around since the early-nineties. They have an eclectic sound that for me is firmly anchored by the talent and charisma of their front woman - the amazing Emily Haines. I have already admitted to having quite the girl crush on this chick. Her dance moves kill me. Her clothes, her vibe. I hate using words others use regularly but it is her steeze that gets me. She is beyond cool without trying and an amazingly talented performer. An awesome mix of rock, pop, synthesised Beats - Metric has it all. They totally remind me of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (who I also saw this year a couple of times). Their latest album - Fantasies - is amazing and fantastic on so many levels. I am trying to think of one song that encapsulates their amazingness and can't.


2. Cold War Kids.

This indie rock band from California has been around since 2004. I distinctly recall when I first heard of Cold War Kids. I have a friend who has pretty awesome taste in music and he posted something about them on Facebook. He once told me to buy Dashboard Confessional's - The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most - with a guarantee that if I did not like them he would give me my money back. I think he was also the one that started my DMB love. So I have trust for his musical recommendations.

While they have in no way reinvented the wheel when it comes to a musical style or sound, I love Nathan Willett's voice. They are another band I got to see live this year - Bumbershoot, in Seattle - fantastic. I could and have listened to Hang Me Out To Dry on repeat for hours. So good.




3. Alexi Murdoch

An admission before I go on. I saw Alexi Murdoch in concert late last year. He was opening for Alanis Morrissette and was actually the person that informed me that Obama had won the presidency. While I really enjoyed his set, I didn't know his name and promptly forgot about him. Until I saw the movie - Away We Go. Murdoch was the soundtrack to that film. After I got out of seeing it I immediately went and bought the soundtrack.

His voice is haunting, deep, soulful and amazing. Simple songs, simple tunes. Exactly how I like my musicians - full of angst and talent. Just beautiful.



4. Lady Gaga

Oh Lady Gaga. What a long strange journey we have had this year. At the start of the year, I found you pretty much annoying. Then I came to appreciate the substance, but hate the show. All the crap - the costumes and antics - that is what I disliked. Thankfully - happily - I was able to look past this by the time I saw her in early December. Ninth Row Centre Bitches. And holy mother of Xenu - was it an amazing show. Best show of the Year? I don't know. But it was pretty fricking phenomenal.

Gaga - she of the unfortunate stage name and wacky persona - is undeniably talented. She can sing. And not just sing, she can sing well. She can play the piano. She writes her own music. Yea, it's pop music, but so what? Talent is talent. Although I would still prefer the substance over the styling, I am a convert and am proud to call myself a monster.



5. Miike Snow

This electropop outfit from Swedon were co headlining with Jack Penate at a show at the most ill named venue in Vancity - The Venue. Lame name for a .... um.... venue, right? Gah. Anyways, I have been a fan of Jack Penate for a few years - he toured with the magnificent Adele so I checked him out and.....love. Anways, teeny little show. 2 acts. Convinced someone to come with me. Fricking awesome.

Different from what I typically listen to. I am more of a boy/girl with a guitar/piano kind of music lover. But this was cool and has now opened me up to a whole new type of music.... which I guess is a good thing right? Live they were a trip, coming out in masks that they kept on for half the show. They are coming back in April - bigger venue. I will be there!



Okay, so that is five acts that I am happy to have discovered in 2009. As I just subscribed to Rolling Stone - Happy early Birthday to me! - I am sure my catalogue of muscial boy/girlfriends will increase even more in 2010. I know I know. I am quite the musical slut. I am fine with that. Who did you discover musically in 2009? Who made your panties drop?

XO

Confessions of a Music Lovers I-pod

I feel like I am using this game when I am to lazy to write an actual post. That is only partly true. Granted, I am a little preoccupied right now, but according to my meticulous records, I should have written this on Saturday.

I-pod on shuffle. First 15 songs are written down. Skip only if their is a repeat of an artist. Don't cheat. This is a safe, non judgy place.

1. Elbow - The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver
2. Fiona Apple - Never is a Promise
3. No Doubt - New
4. Regina Spektor - Apres Moi
5. Adele - My Same
6. Eric Hutchinson - Jettison
7. Crowded House - Kill Eye
8. Bon Iver - For Emma
9. meiko - You & Onions
10. Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan
11. Damien Rice - Cold Water
12. Leona Naess - Earthquakes
13. Conor Oberst - NYC: Gone gone
14. Kings of Leon - Closer
15. The Replacements - Here Comes The Regular

Lazy or not. I like this game. meiko is awesome. She needs to tour here. Adele needs to come back so I can see her when I am not completely hammered.... Tee hee hee. One of the most fun days/nights ever.

I think I need some new tunes though. Who gets you off musically right now? What is your favourite band that I haven't heard of?

XO

Brittany Murphy Will Never Tell

Apologies for the time away from this wee blog gentle reader (s?), but I have had some real life crap going on that has kept me preoccupied. Things are in no way resolved, but I am trying to keep positive and Soldier On as they say.....

So Brittany Murphy died on Sunday. Holy. Did not see that one coming. Cardiac Arrest. At 32. According to TMZ and other sources, Murphy had been sick for a number of days, with severe abdominal pain and shortness of breath. There are also reports that she had a history of hypoglycemia, and was hospitalised earlier in the year for low blood sugar. While a plethora of prescription meds were removed from her house, no alcohol or illegal drug paraphernalia was found on the scene. An autopsy is being performed and the results won't be known for up to 6 weeks.

This is very sad news. While I would probably not consider myself a fan of Brittany Murphy, I did like her in pretty much everything I ever saw her in. So maybe I am a fan. Hmm. I think I need to define what makes a fan. Later. Friends, former coworkers and Hollyweird sycophants have taken to the interwebs and of course the Twitter to express their shock and sadness at this tragic event. Many have commented on her brightness and her spark, her smile.

I loved her in Clueless and 8 Mile, but really, really liked her in Don't Say a Word with Michael Douglas. She played the damaged crazy very well. She also had a small role in the amazing Drop Dead Gorgeous. She made a ton of other films that I never saw, as well as her voice over work in King of the Hill (a show I really do not enjoy).

But did you also know about her music career. She recorded this fantastic dance pop song with the legendary Paul Oakenfold in 2006 - Faster Kill Pussycat. Love it. Super cool track.

So sad to think that she is gone. So many rumours swirling around about what happened. Some are claiming she was a junkie. Some are pointing at a possible eating disorder as a possible cause. Others still are saying that her husband of two years was somehow responsible. Whatever the reason, I hope that the vultures let her family grieve in peace. Prolly not. They will be circling for a while.

Fuckers. But then again, I am just contributing to this aren't I. Pfft. It is not as if I am not aware of my extreme hypocricy.

XO

Music Monday: From my Keyboard to your I-Pod

I have been so wrapped up in a Brett Dennen - Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Lady Gaga haze for the last few weeks that I have been neglecting some of the others on my Playlists. I am such a bad girlfriend I know.

This weeks instalment is courtesy of a friend of mine who knows my deep and abiding love for music. I saw her briefly at a work function and she mentioned this amazing band to me. Told me I would love them. She then emailed me the entire CD to my work account, which was fine except it was about 80 MB! Eek.

I had to email each song to one of my personal accounts individually as I couldn't get more than one to go through at a time. So totally and completely worth it though. The band is The XX. From the UK, this is an uber cool group of kids who write about love and loss - all with a kicky synthesised beat. I heart them. A lot. They may be touring here next year. Sometime in April. Weeeeee!

They remind me a titch of Miike Snow, who I adore and saw a few months ago. They too are touring next year. In April. Sigh. I can already tell that 2010 is gonna be a hot and heavy year for me and my boyfriend - music. Do you know him? He is dreamy. And I am his eternal slave. Forever and always.

XO

Until We Meet Again...

In all my many years of watching the TV, I do not recall hearing the phrase "fall finale" as often as I have this year. Apparently it is the fault of the 2010 Olympics. Pfft. But so many of my shows do not have new episodes until "next year"...with some, such as the awesome Glee... not coming back until April.

April. That is 4 fricking months. And the Olympics don't even start until February and will be over by Mid March (assuming you include the Paralympics - which most people probably don't). Until that time I will have to be content rewatching the fall finale over and over again (yay for my PVR) and scouring the interwebs for clips from the shows.

Speaking of, did you watch the finale on Wednesday? A-mazing right? Lea Michelle doing Rain on My Parade was effing genius. Audio above. Phenomenal. Fantastic. Pick a superlative and throw it in there. And for some inspired casting, do you not think that Barbra Streisand, who immortalised the song in "Funny Girl" would be perfect as Rachel Barry's birth grandmother (or possibly her birth mother if they had really really good make up and/or lighting). Video below from the movie - leaves me speechless every time.

I had actually wanted the amazing Idina Menzel to be Rachel's birth mother (if you were not aware, Rachel has two adoptive daddies). But she is *this* close to signing on as the coach of New Direction's rival for Regionals (along with Lea's costar from Spring Awakenings - Jonathon Groff as the male Rachel in the rival glee club). Perhaps they could consider a shocking end of season twist where it is discovered that Rachel and the yet to be named coach of the rival club are actually mother and daughter? Oh happiness. Oh Glee. Here is Idina singing the same song - live - in 2008 at the Kennedy Centre Honors.

I am not making any comparsions. I will leave that to others. It is 3 amazingly, phenomenally talented singers. I wish I had one iota of their talent.


Until April, I will just have to console myself with these pictures of the boys of Glee, which will be featured in an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair. These are not the actual pictures, obviously. Just pap shots of the shoot. I wonder if they are getting the Cover? That would be pretty cool. They would be like the Twilight cast of the small screen.

Is it April yet?


XO

Confessions of a Music Lover's I-pod

Trying very hard to be consistent with this. You know the game: "shuffle all" your electronic listening device and write down the first 15 songs that come up..... only skip if the same artist shows up.....no cheating. Give me your shameful musical secrets. I can handle it. I even have a few of my own :)

Here we go:

1. Black Hole - She & Him
2. Get on Your Boots - U2
3. When I Go - Brett Dennon
4. What I Got - Sublime
5. Little White Lies - Alexz Johnson
6. My Interpretation - Mika
7. Nan You're a Window Shopper - Lily Allen
8. Polly - Nirvana
9. Just a Girl - No Doubt
10. Season of the Witch - Terry Reid
11. Don't Drink the Water - Dave Matthews Band (Central Park Concert)
12. Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd
13. Manhattan - Kings of Leon
14. Teeth - Lady Gaga
15. Secret - Missy Higgins

Wowsers. This is an odd mix. Good, just a little odd. I am seeing both Brett Dennon and Lady Gaga this week.... Weee!!!! Much excitement for both.

And much love and congratulations to my eternal musical boyfriend - The Dave Matthews Band for their Grammy nomination this year!! Yay yay yay! Not that this makes up for the Le Roi diss at last years awards, but it goes a little toward it.

Happy Sunday y'all. I am off to the movies......

XO

Music Monday: From my Keyboard to Your I-Pod

Greetings & salutations friends. I am feel just a little crappy today. Not quite sick, but feeling like it is about to happen any moment. Preemptive action was required. This involves bed, hot strong sweet tea and drugs. Wish me luck. Busy busy week at work, can't be sick. I am refusing to allow it to happen. I am blaming Paris Hilton. She was in Whistler over the weekend and apparently that was enough to make me sick. Bitch, really needs to stay the f*ck out of my country.

She also hugged one of the Olympic mascots. Anything bad that happens at the Olympics can now be blamed on Paris Hilton. I am serious. Already one of Canada's best hopes at a medal in skiing (I think, I don't know from sports) was injured on the weekend. Paris is to blame. I bet Stephen Colbert sent her up here to f*ck our sh*t up.

Anyways, only a very quick post today. Music music music is my boyfriend and today I bring you two indie peeps that I love. They are playing at the Commodore next week and I have just decided that I must attend.

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. My friend Kent asked me how I had heard of these guys, and I have no f*cking idea. Maybe Grey's Anatomy? Cause even though the show sucks balls, they have good music. I just know they are awesome.

Brett Dennen..... he played with Missy Higgins a few years ago. Was supposed to see him at Bumbershoot in September, but the timing got all f*cked up and I couldn't swing it. Boo Hiss. Love him.

Love. Anyone else going next week? Then I have Gaga on Thursday. Very different styles I know. But that is how I roll.

XO

Why People Suck.

I am not really a fan of Adam Lambert's music. I am typically more of a "substance" rather than "show" person when it comes to musical taste. I was not very impressed with his performance at the American Music Awards last Sunday night. Not because of anything he did specifically, although I did find his whole performance completely over the top and unnecessary, it was also that I didn't feel that his vocals were very strong. However, the complete and total hypocritical bullsh*it taking place on American Network TV right now makes me want to support him.

In case you were not aware, Adam Lambert closed the American Music Awards show by shoving his crotch in a dancer's face, making out with another member of his band and doing something to someone crotch that completely reminds me of this stripper I saw once..... True and funny story ...... About 10 or so years ago I was at the North Burnaby Inn with a bunch of people from work. They had a $3.99 Roast Beef Dinner, and really cheap beer. This girl was dancing, doing her thing, and she got upset that the dudes in the first row were not paying attention to her. So she stuck her hand down her g-string, dug her fingers in there real good and then...ummm...how do I say this..... there is actually no way to say this without cringing...... she flicked her juices in their faces. It was both hysterical and disturbing. I have never seen anything like it. Maybe that is what Lambert was doing. Getting ready to flick the juices of one of his dancers in Jay Z's face?

Anyways. Off topic, but funny as hell right? Back to Adam Lambert. There was an "outcry" after his performance. ABC edited most of it out of the West Coast feed and apparently received over 1,500 complaints. And not one of them was about his screechy performance. As a result of this "outcry", Lambert was disinvited from a scheduled performance on Good Morning America. Citing concerns over whether his performance would be appropriate for early morning TV. Cowards. F*cking cowards. Not because of anything he might do. But because they caved to the f*cking conservatives. CBS's The Early Show snapped him up quickly and he appeared on their show on Tuesday. Good on them right? Way to not completely overreact right? At first.

During the interview they had with Lambert, they chose to blur out the kiss between Lambert and his bandmate, but showed that stupid Madonna-Brtiney kiss from the MTV Awards a few years ago. When questioned by advocacy groups and entertainment shows about this blatant double standard this is the response they gave: "We gave this some real thought. The Madonna image is very familiar and has appeared countless times including many times on morning television. The Adam Lambert image is a subject of great current controversy, has not been nearly as widely disseminated, and for all we know, may still lead to legal consequences.” BULL-F*CKING-SH*T. What they should have said was: "We were to scared that seeing 2 men kiss would freak out our advertisers and incur the wrath of the bible belt." Again I say F*cking cowards.

But for me, this pales in comparison to what the powers that be at ABC decided. In a true demonstration of how f*cking insane people can be, Good Morning America invited convicted felon Chris Brown to be on their show. You remember Chris Brown right? He is the non-repentant asshole who beat the crap out of his girlfriend. Back in February, while in a moving car he choked, bit, punched, slammed her head into the window & dash of his $250,000 car and threatened to kill his girlfriend. Yes, he took a plea. Yes he apologised. But what has he actually done to show he is sorry? To the best of my knowledge, everything he has done has been mandated by a judge. There has been no actual regret. This is not cowardly. This is F*cking insane and infuriating and incomprehensible.

An openly gay entertainer may offend the viewing public? Because what - is he gonna go at it on stage with someone? Pfft! But an unrepentant abuser of women perfectly acceptable.

People wonder why I am so cynical and typically dislike people. This is why.

XO

ABC = the moral majority and J-Lo's b*tch

WTF is up with ABC editing out J-Lo's fall on the American Music Award's? One little fall, which she recovered from admirably and they edit it out on the West Coast feed. Anyone wanna bet that J-Lo had a hissy fit backstage and demanded they do something about it. I guess she failed to realise that editing it out would just make everyone wanna see it more. And that it is all over the interwebs for us all to watch... over and over again.

Also, WTF was up with that song? Clearly Jennifer has absolutely no interest in relating to 95% of the population who have never even seen a Loubouton, let alone worn a pair. Sigh. Jenny needs to check herself and understand that songs about $400 pairs of shoes just prove to everyone listening that she is not Jenny from the Block anymore.

Another huge WTF to Adam Lambert for f*cking up his attempt to break free from the mantle of Idol Alumni. Making out with a boy... blah blah blah.... shoving a guy's face in your crotch, and grinding..... blah blah blah... doing something odd to a female dancer crotch ( I still can't figure out what he was doing)... blah blah blah..... average singing... ding...ding...ding!!!

I don't care that he kissed a boy, and he liked it. But saying it wasn't staged? C'mon Adam, do we all look new to you? I call bullshit on his "in the moment" claims. He did it for the press. I have no doubt in my mind. What are we all talking about today? How shocking he was! How daring! Ugh. Be a fame whore. Do it. But try a little subtlety.

I agree there is a double standard.... But what I am interested in is that he singing was mediocre at best. Screechy and flat are two words that immediately spring to mind. I was never really on the "Glambert" bandwagon. I am typically about the singing as opposed to all the showy crap around the performance. Give me a someone who can just stand there and sing (Kelly Clarkson..... for instance) and I am a happy happy musical geek. Adam Lambert was always about the performance. Not the singing. He seems to be all about the show. And as it stands right now, that is all he has.

PS: Kelly Kelly Kelly Clarkson. I love you. You are an amazing talent. But please please please, hire a stylist, or have very stern words with the one you currently have. Yes, it is all about the singing. But when you can wail like Ms Clarkson, you can afford to puit some effort into the outfit as well.

PPS: Awards were given out. Click here for a list. Jermaine Jackson needs to GO AWAY.

PPPS: I know I am gonna burn even deeper in Hell, but am I the only one who is a little over Taylor Swift's "aw shucks I won again" schtick? I love her, but no-one can be that sweet. Just saying.

XO

Confessions of a Music Lovers I-Pod

Trying to get back on track with this here little musical interlude.

For those of you new to this game, "shuffle all" your i-pod and write down the first 15 songs that come up. No cheating! Unless artists show up more than once :)

1. The Replacements: Talent Show
2. Adele: Cold Shoulder
3: Robert Pattinson: To Roam (he he he)
4. The Smiths: Girlfriend in a Coma (weird coincidence - I am reading Douglas Copeland's book of the same name right now!)
5. She & Him: I Should Have Known Better
6. Cast of Spring Awakening: My Junk (with Lea Michelle from Glee!)
7. Joshua Radin: Friend Like You
8. George Harrison: What is Life
9. Lily Allen: The Fear
10: Nirvana: Polly
11. Monsters of Folk: Slow Down Joe
12. Mika: Grace Kelly
13. The Filthy Youth: Come Flash All Your Ladies (Ed Westwick from Gossip Girl's band)
14. Regina Spektor: Begin to Hope
15. Damien Rice: Sweet Avenue

Well there you have it. Anything new and exciting for you to scope out? Hit me up with some suggestions.

Although they didn't show up on this 15 I am throwing out a special mention to Bon Iver. Kristen Stewart was on Jimmy Fallon this week and mentioned them (I think they are on the soundtrack?) and she specifically mentioned an amazing acapella version of For Emma done in the hallway of a venue somewhere in Paris. I had heard it before, but forgotten about it. Thanks for the reminder Kristen! I was supposed to see Bon Iver at the Sasquatch festival earlier this year, but they were 20 minutes late and I got peeved and went back to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

And yes I kinda regret it as I saw the Yeah X3 again at Bumbershoot a few months later.

PS: Julian Casablancas tomorrow night at The Commodore! Very excited. It has been like 2 weeks since I have seen a live show!

XO

Like, it's like totally awesome, like you know? Like.

When I first moved to Canada my first job was at one of the major Tourist attractions as what basically amounts to a tour guide. It was a very popular attraction and there were a couple of regulars who I saw 2-3 times a week. I have fond memories of one woman in particular who used to bring her two little girls on what seemed like a daily basis for a number of years, so I got to know them pretty well.

These girls were adorable. Hailey and… f*ck I can’t remember her name. Their mom’s name was Amy. Anyways, for a while we had this game we would play. A little back-story for you: I pride myself on my command of the English language. I write, I read, I know and am comfortable using “fifty-cent” words. But there was one word that I would overuse. Like, incessantly. Like, ridiculously a lot. The game was very simple. Every time I said the word "like" they would say the word "ding". They said “ding” a lot. The girls found this game hi-larious and I quickly realised that I need to find another filler word.

Can you think of anyone who would benefit from this game? I know! I know! Let’s see if you can figure out who it is. Here are a few clues. This almost 17-year-old superstar loves pole dancing in short shorts at awards shows. Although she claims to love God she takes mildly suggestive photos of herself and posts them on Twitter for the world to see.

Do you know who it is yet? No? Let me give you a few more clues. She seems to think the smacking gum incessantly during interviews is perfectly acceptable and doesn’t listen to Jay Z because that is “pop” music - which she doesn’t listen to. Her words not mine. She also deleted said twitter account because a boy suggested it - and wrote a rap about it (sorry, I guess this would be pop, not rap right?). Finally this girl has obvious daddy issues and hates the Twilight phenomenon …. for no discernable reason. A catty person might say that her Twilight rant reeks of jealousy…

I know you know who it is? How could you not? Homegirl Miley Cyrus needs to find someone to play the “ding” game with her. Pronto. If your ears can handle the twang and the gum smacking, listen to this radio station interview where she disses the Twilight franchise and uses the word like more than should be allowed. I gave up counting after about 30.

Whoever is tasked with assisting Miley in expanding her vocabulary should also consider helping her to not sound like an ungrateful brat. Cause that is like exactly how she comes across in like every interview I have like heard recently. Couldn’t have something to do with all the positive press surrounding her BFF Taylor Swift could it? Sour grapes Miley? Tsk tsk. That is not very Christian of you!

XO

Confessions of a Music Lover: From my keyboard to your I-pod

Haven't done this in a while - so much for my bi-weekly plan.

You know the game. Shuffle your i-pod and write down the first 15 songs that turn up. Skip only in the event that an artist turns up twice.

Here we go.....

1. The Smiths - There is a Light that never goes out
2. Jackson Browne - Oh My Love (John Lennon song)
3. Ben Harper - In The Lord's Arms
4. Joshua Radin - The One You Knew
5. M.Ward - Afterword/Rag
6. Cold War Kids - Saint John
7. Daniel Johnston - You Are A Writer
8. Kings of Leon - On Call
9. Leona Naess - Blue Eyed Baby
10. Paulo Nutini - Alloway Grove
11. Elbow - Starlings
12. Van Morrison - Cyprus Avenue
13. Crowded House - I Feel Possessed
14. Bob Dylan - I Got You Babe (with Janis Joplin)
15. Missy Higgins - Scar

A new twist is the bolding of those I have seen in concert.

This makes me wanna go through and add some new tunes.....and suggestions?

What are you listening to these days?

XO