Turn on, tune in, drop out

Oh Timothy Leary, such splendid words. I have the perfect song for such bliss: Embryonic Journey by Jefferson Airplane. Take a bite out of the 60's and glide through a few moments of your day with this gentle acoustic piece.

Hope is wistful singing

Suzanne by Hope Sandoval (you know her from Mazzy Star) & The Warm Inventions is the song. Prepare yourself for shimmering slow-core with this wistfully somber ballad. And The Warm Inventions is really just Colm O'Ciosoig from My Bloody Valentine. Check out the album Bavarian Fruit Bread. It's a beautiful collaboration and they just released a new album a few weeks ago! with more hazy and haunting gems.

Jango

I went to Hearst Castle yesterday and was inspired by Old Hollywood/1920's charm. Naturally, Django Reinhardt came to mind. When this Frenchie plucks the strings, I feel my heart go pitter-pat. Here is The Sheik of Araby-

I Brush My Teess

Love Affair by Noze is zee song of za day. Yesterday's song- I'm gonna go with Duncan by Paul Simon. Very different but very great in their own special ways. Click on the song titles to hear them. I had a marvelous weekend. I don't want to be on the computer. Goodnight. 

I won't say no, how could I?

Shyness is nice. At least Morrissey thinks so. Look at him in those hipster glasses. What a baller. Ask by The Smiths is from their debut album- The Sound of The Smiths. What else? Ummmmm, listen to the whole album because it will rock you, Amadeus. Another song from this album that was the runner up today- Girlfriend in a Coma. Have a lovely weekend, peeps.

Love and Some Verses

Love and Some Verses by Iron & Wine is a beautiful ballad by a lovely bearded man. Lo-fi, bettersweet and somber, Samuel Beam should thank his muse because she inspired some gorgeous music.

This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather

Ah, Groundhog Day. A day we generally forget. A day that determines the fate of spring. A day based completely on superstition (I think). A movie starring Bill "heart throb" Murray. What am I getting at? Oh yes, the opening song. It's a fantastic little polka-ish composition by George Fenton called Clouds. Below is the opening scene and the first 1:09 is the song of the day. It really is one of my favorite movies. Watch the master at work and hear the Fenton interpretation of a philosophical masterpiece.

Talking with Roy

Working for the Man is something we can all relate to. Do we work for the man to become the man? Why don't we see what Roy Orbison thinks about this. Let me get him on the phone. Roy? Workin' for the man? What's it all about?

........Roy says listen to the damn song and quit bothering me.

Back to School

There's that fall feeling in the air. Autumn is approaching and so an appropriate song (and Donnie Darko scene) is Head Over Heels by Tears for Fears. Here is the full song and actual music video. It's hard to be a man when there's a gun in your hands.

Exprockimental

At last, a true innovation is given to us in the form of Atlas by Battles. Formed in NYC in 2003, they're quite green, but I couldn't imagine a better, fresher sound. The drummer gets my attention and accolades because, well, listen!

Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno

Yes, that is his real name. Brian Eno is a genius. He was light years ahead of music and I do not believe he is of the human species. He is some kind of superhuman. He has mutated genes. He attended Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. You get me, cats and kittens? I am hard pressed to pick a song because he is so varied and talented. In fact, I've already had a song of his featured. But there are plenty more. Like Deep Blue Day where he does his best impression of an ambient musician. The song was also in Trainspotting (quite a disgusting and transcendent scene all at the same time). Talk to me people! HOW great is Eno?

Her dress was a ship at sail

Ah, remember this? Why, I must have been 13 when this came out. Or was it 14? Or was it 22? I could have been 12 actually. The song is Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, or when The Blow covers it- Come on Petunia. The Blow, formerly a he/she duo, is now simply Khaela Maricich from Portland. She's got an awesome stage presence and while I absolutely love this cover, it is by no means her best song. Also check out Parantheses, True Affection, and Hey Boy to name a few. Warning: listening to this artist may become habit-forming.

Remember, the girls in the middle are always the first to fall off

The Celibate Life by The Shins is what one Erin Dillon would call "a great little ditty." That's right, it's a ditty and nothing more. A pleasant indie rock tune with first-rate lyrics and a sound that reminds me of autumn. That seems like more than a ditty. Maybe I don't know what a ditty is. Who cares, just listen to the song.

No bitter taste here

Sour Times (Lot More Remix) by Portishead is the SOTD. Below is a video of the unremixed, actual song. Something about the remix I dig, though. Enjoy Beth's evocative voice and the haunting trip-hop hubbub of this super and timeless band.

Beck, you asshole

Sometimes life is unfair. It's unfair that Woody Allen is SO funny (maybe TOO funny). It's unfair that Michael Jordan is SO skilled as an athlete (he can fly). It's unfair that Ernest Hemingway can write better than anyone (even if he's drunker than a poet on payday). And it's unfair that Beck was given a lighting bolt of creative musical talent (everything he does is too sweet). These people make me feel inadequate. So I give you a song of the day to cope with your inadequacies, or rather, stare them in the face. Beck- Missing from Guero (2005).

The Elf Man

"Smithers had thwarted my earlier attempt to take candy from a baby, but with him out of the picture, I was free to wallow in my own crapulence." -C. Montgomery Burns

Today's song is an homage to two things: one of the greatest composers and THEE greatest television show of all time. Mr. Danny Elfman wrote the incomparable main title theme for The Simpsons. Elfman was leader of the awesome Oingo Boingo and often collaborates with Tim Burton for film scores (and he voiced Jack Skellington). These other achievements pale in comparison to his creation of the greatest theme song to one of the most sensational television shows ever made.

So you're turning 50...

The 50th song of the day! If you've been following, you will be mighty thrilled to know this is post #50. Hawaii 5-0. Halfway to 100. How many more ways can I say 50. Well I think this deserves a tribute. First song that comes to mind- 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon. Oh but I won't be leaving this blog lover, not for a long time.

Department of Beagles

I would really love it if there was a department of beagles somewhere, so until I find them, I'll settle for the Department of Eagles. Song of the day - Teenagers. And the song makes you feel like one again. Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear and Fred Nicolaus of Department of Eagles were roommates at NYU. They started out as amateur samplers, now they're 2 of the most talented folktronica musicians working today. Both of their albums are fantasgreat. Check them out. Shpadoinkle.

Talk is often cheap and full of air

That's why we speak the universal language. You know, music. Here are a couple of golden boys called My Morning Jacket. The song is Golden, too. God I just LOVE this band. Just love 'em. It Still Moves is easily one of my favorite records from the last 10 years. Led by Jim James (or more recently, Yim Yames?) the band is full of 8 other freewheeling prophets. The country twang could make Neil Young purr, and when they rock out with that twinge of psychedelia, you almost think you're listening to shoegaze. But please guys, I beg you, don't release the crap that was Evil Urges or anything like it ever again. Seriously. You're golden gods.

Pick up the Vibe

Luke VIBErt. Yeah I said it. The song? Hot Sick. Don't listen to it unless you can handle freakishly awesome and bubbly electronica/moog hip-hop. This dirty Frenchman knows how it's done. Props for the album cover. And thank you, Rupert Pupkin for the extraordinary recommendation.

With a Little Help From My Friend...

Jessica Beaver, I was reminded that 9.9.9 is practically turning into an international Beatle holiday. Her suggestion for the song of the day? Revolution 9. Excellent suggestion, Jess! It's 8 minutes of tape looping, fading, and impromptu screaming. Appearing on the self-titled or "white" album, Revolution 9 is an early example of sampling. The Beatles did it all I tell ya. Also, because it's Beatleday, I give you 9 more of their vital tunes:

(in no particular order)

1. Mean Mr. Mustard

2. Happiness is a Warm Gun

3. Blue Jay Way

4. I Will

5. I Should Have Known Better

6. Hey Bulldog

7. For You Blue

8. She Said She Said

9. I've Got a Feeling

Electronic Renaissance

Belle and Sebastian are more than mopey Scottish songwriters. They're a full band (7) of Smith-loving, Dylan-imitating pop rockers. Okay, sometimes they're a little whiney, but this song confirms their versatility. Electronic Renaissance is on the album Tigermilk and below is a video of the French cartoon the band is named for:

Air is so dreamy

Hello there. We meet again, blogworld. This time to the tune of Bathroom Girl by Air. You like that? With the blue and the air and the hoyven! Well it's a gorgeous song from The Virgin Suicides soundtrack. Enjoy the delicious flavor. Now I'm going to go take a bubble bath made entirely of champagne.

Rosemary Clooney

The good ole Irish Catholic who could sing like an Italian fat woman. Song of the day? Oh there are too many, but if pressed, I'll go with Mambo Italiano. Don't blame me if you want a cannoli.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Otherwise known as OMD, the song of the day is Talking Loud and Clear. That's all for now. Shite day. Night's looking better. Cheers.

2001

Also Sprach Zarathustra (translated in English to Thus Spoke Zarathustra) was written by Richard Strauss and named for Nietzsche's novel. A song for all and none, you can hear it in the opening scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The song of the day, however, is Jupiter and Beyond, also featured in 2001. It's written and performed by the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. Below is part 1 of the song (it's 15+ minutes). Go to youtube for parts 2 and 3 if you can handle it.

Beacon for Deacon

Baltimore's own Dan Deacon will be performing at FYF Fest this weekend (along with other treats such as Peanut Butter Wolf, Tim & Eric, Ninjasonik, etc). I got my ticket and I can't wait to take the ride. Twill be a whirlwind of good music benefiting a good cause- preserving our state parks! IF you're down you can still buy tickets. They're only 20 bucks and 24 at the door. The festival takes place in historic Chinatown. Anyway, the song of the day is Crystal Cat. If you're reading this blog, you'll get a kick out of the video (and the music is SUH-WEET, especially when he sounds like a moaning crystal cat).

Mike McCalla, this one's for you

Who am I kidding, I like to thrash around every now and then. That's why the song of the day is Forty Six & 2 by Tool. Prog at its finest. And they'd be nowhere without King Crimson. Below is a different song but a badass video. Rage & Roll!

I've Got It!

Yo La Tengo (translated to "I've got it," like an outfielder would say) is consistently one of the most fantastic indie rock bands. They've been around since 1984! The threesome is from Joisey and an easy listen any time. Little Eyes is the song of the day and it's from the 2003 album Summer Sun. If you dig 'em, check out I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One (1997). It's the golden standard.