Like A Sleep Twitch

So much has changed in this past year. I have been neglecting this blog more and more because I started graduate school and just haven't had the time to go to gigs or really even think about music very much. I won't be around very much, but you will continue to get the occasional post from me. Apologies.

But honestly, I think the bigger issue this year is that I just haven't been compelled to write and I'm just not excited about music as I used to be. I turn on the radio (internet radio included) and I don't hear anything that makes my ears perk up and think "wow, that's really good." There's no blood in that emotional vein, so it feels.

Here's what I will admit to however-- big thumbs up to Lady Gaga and The Editors.

"Lady Gaga? The Editors? That's the best you can come up with?"

"I knows what I likes. And I'm definitely feeling it."

Firstly, the video to Papparazzi is a little freaky, a little creepy. And LG's ambivalence about bottoms with tops is intriguing. (Although, what would she say about jumpsuits? As it is neither here nor there?) If you've ever seen her acoustic performances, the girl's gotta voice. There's a great version featured below. Second only to the Pirate meets Captain & Tenille inspired ensemble, are props of the year-- the teacup, and the umbrella.



I heard Pappillon the other day, and I felt a current go through my little heart. Yeah, and it's not the most complex song in the world, but fuck, I love this song. Pappillon is French for butterfly, and it's also a dog breed. (Cute little fellas, might I add.) Its use as a metaphor is a little perplexing, but the video makes me want to run with the bulls.



Until next time....

The Editors- Pappillon (buy In This Light and On This Evening)

Acts of Love

I haven't been to a show in so long... it's pretty sad. So I was so glad to break the dry spell seeing Gliss last night at Mercury Lounge. They have been my new fave band for a while now. I'm kind of a fan-geek when it comes to this band so I'm pretty sure it was dorky to gush about how much I love them to their bassist/drummer Victoria, but hey, what can you do.

In any case, it was sweet to see them sporting some new guitars, and playing songs off their new album, Devotion Implosion. Even after a minor snafu with broken guitar string, they rocked the house. 29 Acts of Love, Morning Light, and The Patrol are my favorite tracks.

Shows at Union Hall, and Pianos to follow. I probably won't be able to make it but this is definitely a band you should see live if given the chance.

Gliss- 29 Acts of Love
(Buy Devotion Implosion!)

Never Just A Dream

It was over 50 degrees in New York today! Also kind of scary since I swore I saw some snow flurries yesterday. (Damn you global warming.) Anyway, I digress. Emma Lee's voice has an old school quality to it, that I am ever so fond of these days. Close your eyes, and envision a smoky jazz bar, a whiskey, and a lone spotlight. Yeah, you know you're there.

Check out her myspace for more songs. I also highly recommend "Isn't it Obvious." So great!

Emma Lee- Never Just A Dream
(visit her myspace, and website)

Mouth Full of Attitude

Surprise, surprise… !

Apologies for neglecting this blog. I have a lot of projects and applications that I have been working on and should be working on, but of course right now I can’t pass up an opportunity to procrastinate. Music-wise, 2008 was a bit of a yawner. Only a couple of albums reached heavy rotation on my iPod, namely The Kills and Santogold. Crossing fingers 2009 will be a better year.

Currently I am obsessed with a song by Ladyhawke. I don’t know what it is about 80s music throwbacks that I love so much. I surmise I was a few years shy of being old enough to wear lace gloves and feathered hair when the first opportunity arrived, and now Ladyhawke is granting second chances.

I’m not one to hit the dance floor, but if “Magic” is playing, it’s just not possible to stand still.

Ladyhawke- Magic
(Buy the album)

#44 is a Magical Number.

No lie, I was a sobbing, puffy mess last night when Barack Obama gave his speech as the President-elect. Pinch me, it really happened! What astounds me is how his campaign mobilized so many Americans to believe in the power that we have as voters, and as citizens. You just have to give a damn. The votes of millions of Americans propelled him to the presidency, and although I know what a tough job he has a head of him, I'm not cynical about whether or not he can get it done.

Stevie Wonder- Signed, Sealed, Delivered
(Greatest Hits!)

Might I add, Senator McCain also gave an incredibly gracious concession speech last night as well. Except for the people ruining the vibe with the classless and unnecessary taunts, which he quickly shot down. That was truly maverick-y. They could learn a lot from Elisabeth Hasselbeck who uncharacteristically supportive of Obama this morning on The View. That was a shocker!

But hey, today anything is possible.

Nicole Atkins has got you covered.

I totally forgot to put up these photos from All Points West. I mean, the whole event was kind of meh, but Nicole Atkins really rocked the joint I think. Who knew she was going to ham (and egg) it up too.





She’s got a new EP out, aptly named, “Nicole Atkins’ Digs Other People’s Songs,” including covers of Mama Cass, Nada Surf, and The Church.

Available via digital download (Amazon or iTunes)

Nicole Atkins- Under The Milky Way (The Church cover)

PS- Bowery Ballroom with Salt & Samovar and The Nouvellas 11/14! Have you got your tickets yet?

Superman Cometh

Izza Kizza loves Family Guy, comic books, and given the Shirley Ellis sample on this slick track, playground chants like The Clapping Song. It gives it a throwback cred that begs for a singalong. Well, there's that and digging up the jump rope in the back of your closet for a double dutch throwdown.

I was never very good at double dutch, so singalong it is!

Izza Kizza- Walk The Dog (ft Missy Elliot)
(Check out the myspace for info on how to download his Kizzaland mixtape for free!)

How do you do it? Make me feel like I do?

Currently I am reading Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield, which was highly recommended by my music loving friends.

The book made me so nostalgic for the mix tapes I made 10 years ago that I went digging through my drawers and boxes looking for the cassettes that had all my old favorites on them. I found one with some Incubus and Sarah McLachlan songs and happily popped it into my stereo.

I was bopping around singing “Stellar,” and generally having a grand time, when suddenly the tape stopped. Funny, I could have sworn there were more songs on this one. When I opened the deck, a whole blooming ribbon of cassette guts tangled the spindle, forcing me to do something I haven’t done in a decade—rewind the damn thing with a pencil*.

It’s funny how time forces you to remember the correct course of action for a problem that now feels utterly alien. Rewinding ribbon?!? I know I could just as well listen to an mp3 of the song or listen to the CD, but the low-fi, static buzz of my ancient recording takes me back to 1999, belting out this song with my best friend, and making it my secret love song for some boy I can’t even remember the name of right now**.

Incubus- Stellar
(Buy the album- Make Yourself)

(Buy Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield)

*- Almost completely sure that the tape is ruined. :(

**- Henry? I think it was Henry?

Judgement Day

Season 2 of Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles premieres tonight on Fox.

I caught all of Season 1 on Hulu, and I am a believer now-- this is a great show. I hope Season 2 is just as good. Me thinks it will because Shirley Manson joins the cast, playing Zeiracorp executive, Catherine Weaver. Tune in tonight!

By far my favorite Garbage B-side...

Garbage- Trip My Wire

During her hiatus from Garbage, Shirley helped Jane's Addiction's Eric Avery with his solo album, lending a hand with lyrics and vocals. It certainly doesn't sound like anything Jane's Addiction or Garbage has ever released, but it's got kind of a lovely post-apocalyptic, off-beat charm. (Yeah, I don't think I've ever used "apocalypse" and "charming" in the same breath before.)

Eric Avery- Maybe ft. Shirley Manson

(Buy the album, Help Wanted)

Superpowers of Lykke Li! Part II

(Photo: Andreas Öhlund)

Although it hardly feels like autumn in New York right now, when the air gets cooler, I know this song will be on heavy rotation for my September playlist.

I'm completely enamored with this song. More than a "little bit." Music is Love. For serious.

Happy autumn. Happy 24. So many reasons to be happy.

Lykke Li- Little Bit

(Buy the album, Youth Novels)

The Notorious C.H.O

Growing up as an Asian American in the 90s meant slim pickings when it came to representation in the media. My idols were Kristi Yamaguchi, and Margaret Cho. One is an Olympic gold medalist, and the other just got a g-shot in her vagina.

You gotta love The Cho.

Now the All-American Girl has a reality show on VH1 called “The Cho Show,” and you can watch the first episode online here!

She may also add Broken Social Scene member to her resume soon.

Could this be the result of pleading with Kevin Drew’s answering machine during her visit to The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos?

Hi Kevin Drew,

This is Margaret Cho. I am such a fan of yours and I wanna join the Broken Social Scene! There are so many people in the band no one will notice if there’s just one more person. I wanna join, and I can play any instrument. I’ll learn really fast. I’m Asian! I’m a quick study. Please let me join your band!

Will she rock the rain stick or the triangle? I can’t wait to find out.

Broken Social Scene: Cause=Time
(Buy the album here)

Everything Has A Place

Interior design is not a field in which I am particularly skilled. In any case, I came across this spread from Domino Magazine from 2007, which featured a house tour of Blonde Redhead's apartment, complete with photos of their baubles and knick knacks.



I'm kind of surprised actually, because listening to their moody melodies, I expected their living space to reflect the same darkness I hear in the music. Maybe my biggest surprise is that they have a cat. They're cat people! Who would have guessed? His name is "Toto" according to this interview.

Everything in the space is so delicate, fragile. Even Toto looks like he might shatter if you try to pet him, and yet it all fits. Everything has a place. My favorite piece in the apartment is the perculator on that stove. I know it doesn't seem very special considering all the other antiques, but the smell of brewing coffee says, "We are living here."

That's really the only thing that matters.

Blonde Redhead- Elephant Woman
(Buy Misery is a Butterfly)

Behold the Golden Age

Ooh, so stuff from the new TV On The Radio album, Dear Silence* has leaked. I wanted to get really excited about this, but I'm not feelin' the new track. It's called "Golden Age" and if you are curious, you can snatch it up over at Pretty Much Amazing. While I hear some electro-beats in the same club as LCD Soundsystem, it's not shaking the rafters for me. Maybe after a few more spins, I'll issue a change of heart.

It's no Wolf Like Me, that's for sure. Man, that was a great song!

TV On The Radio- Wolf Like Me

(Buy the Return to Cookie Mountain)

* Well color me red, and call me Fred. The name of the new TVOTR album is Dear Science, not Dear Silence. Thanks for the correction, Sofi!

Oceans Will Rise

I remember the first time I saw The Stills perform. It was in college, and they made chit chat about the wine selection at our local university haunts. Pretty much after they played their last song that night, Killer Bees, I was hooked on this band.

Today, this Montreal quintet releases their third studio album, Oceans Will Rise. Well, do the oceans rise? Or rather, have they met expectations? Every fan of this band remembers their stellar debut album, Logic Will Break Your Heart, supported by tours with indie darlings, Ryan Adams, and Interpol. Their next album, Without Feathers left Logic fans behind, so what can you expect from Oceans? You must guess they’re not going to do the same old thing again.

They haven’t, and I’m not disappointed either. I think Oceans will confirm that reinvention is always in vogue. Snakecharming The Masses is a hypnotic, frenzied refusal to pander, backed by some intense percussion work. Statue of Sirens sprints to the other end of the spectrum, a beautiful and pensive soliloquy that I really love, and sounds like something that would be highly approved of by The Doves. (Kind of makes sense, since I love The Doves too. Ha.) The only song I could do without is Being Here, which does nothing for me. Although I find the music video for that song supremely funny in a Sleepy Hollow meets Monty Python kind of way.

The Stills- Snakecharming The Masses

The Stills- Statue of Sirens

Buy the album

CBC Radio interview
Check out tour dates

Magic Wands

You know when you were thirteen and your parents insisted you go to sleep away camp, but you thought it was a really lame idea? Like, you’d have to wear khaki shorts and make lanyards and birdhouses all summer? Not to mention the extreme sunburn potential and mosquito infestation.

But then you caught the eye of a girl at the all girl camp across the lake, and you thought, “Wow, she’s kind of awesome.” Next thing you know, you two are falling in love, rebelling against authority, and struggling to find a way to canoe into the sunset together.

Sigh, Teenage Love. ‘Tis a lovely thing.

Magic Wands- Teenage Love (box link)

Head to their myspace for more info. Did I mention they’re touring with The Kills, The Virgins, and Black Kids? Magic in the making, I tell ya.

What's up, b? Wasabi

Cover songs! My guilty pleasure.

I really like this cover of “Superstar” by Dallas group, Shock of Pleasure. The electronic chill out vibe hits the mark. Karen Carpenter would approve. I would listen to this a lot more if I was sad, drunk, or in love. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish one from the other.

Shock of Pleasure- Superstar (The Carpenters Cover)
(Buy their EP on iTunes)

So how many of you remember Cibo Matto from the glorious 90s? After seeing them perform on Sessions on West 56th, I bought their second album, Stereo Type A. I remember getting my friend to listen to “Sci- Fi Wasabi,” and she turned to me and inquired as to why I was listening to such crap. Sci-Fi Wasabi was not top-40 material, but hearing Miho Hatori rap about economic duality gave me chills, I admit. This is a cover of Nirvana’s About A Girl. Somehow I can imagine Kurt Cobain crossing his arms up in heaven, all snug in his grandpa sweater, and nodding along.

Cibo Matto- About A Girl (Nirvana Cover)
(About A Girl is from the Moonchild-Sampler. Checkout the album, Stereo Type A, here)

The Beginning Is Never The End

One of the earliest albums that I bought for myself was the soundtrack to the 1997 film, Batman & Robin. Yes, that would be the film that tanked the franchise until Nolan and Bale resurrected it from the dead with Batman Begins.

What few people realize was that even though the film was one of the worst movies of the decade, the soundtrack was an unexpected mishmash of brilliance. (I have it on cassette! I was a bit of a late bloomer and didn’t have a CD player till much later in life.) Sandwiched between two versions of essentially the same Smashing Pumpkins songs were tracks from Bone Thugs, Jewel, and trip hop group, Moloko. It was an unconventional mix that really worked for me. Anyway, I only started thinking about this because best buddy and I caught the trailer for 2009’s graphic novel film de jour, The Watchmen, when we went to see The Dark Knight. I recognized the song as Smashing Pumpkins’ The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning from B&R. It's also available on their album of singles and rarities.

Recycling a Batman song in a trailer shown before a new Batman movie? I kind of love it.

Watch the trailer for The Watchmen:




Smashing Pumpkins- The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning
(Buy Batman and Robin, or the Pumpkins’ Singles and Rarities)

The truth is here. Again.

David Duchovny is promoting the hell out of the new X-Files movie. It’s an older, wiser, and grimier looking Fox Mulder, and I’m not sure I still want to believe.

Speaking of Duchovny, I don’t know how many of you remember Bree Sharp, but her claim to fame in the late 90s was penning a song about her love for David Duchovny. And then they played the song on the radio and everyone responded with, “Wow, that girl either insane, or incredibly talented. Or both.”

Afterwards, she continued releasing albums under her own label, and is slated to release her third studio album sometime this year. You can hear the new material on her myspace page.

Bree Sharp- David Duchovny

(Buy the album)

Smokey Rolls Down A Bollywood Music Vid

I’m really not the biggest Devendra Banhart fan, but I’m digging the song, Carmensita right now. Yup, it’s the song from the Bollywood inspired music video featuring Natalie Portman and Banhart in, “racial drag,” as the Asian-American culture blog, Disgrasian puts it.



I wonder what inspired the Venezuelan-American born folkster to go Bollywood? I don’t condone racial drag, but at the very least it’s not The Love Guru.

Props for a catchy song, but I'm on the fence about the mv.

Devendra Banhart- Carmensita
(Buy the album)

Who Would You Rather Be?

After all this is gone,
Who would you rather be?
The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?

There’s a lot thinking going on these days about where my future is heading, so it helps me, I think, to just let it all go, and figure out what kind of direction I want for myself. (Easier said than done) They say these early years make the bulk of a quarter life crisis, and it couldn’t be closer to the truth. Sigh.

In any case, the bright side to my inclination for quick distractions helped me discover Metric’s acoustic version of Give Me Sympathy, which is off their forthcoming album. It was performed at Coachella for SPIN. I heard other live versions of this song, but I think I like it better acoustic. It gives it a little something extra, no? In fact, I love this song so much, I woke up this morning humming the melody. Wouldn’t surprise me if I was singing it in my sleep.

Emily Haines, now there’s a cool chick I admire. She and the guys are touring the festival circuit these next two months, and they’ll also be at All Points West in Jerz! It’ll be hot.

Metric- Give Me Sympathy (acoustic)
watch the performance here