Hey everyone,
I don't want to disappoint, but this post isn't going to be about a live show I went to. I have decided, on this late date in 2011, to reflect upon the music that has affected my life the most this year. I found some new bands, a favorite band of mine broke up, and as always I have some kind of obsession. With all this in mind, here are my thoughts on this year in music - my music.
1) LCD Soundsystem. I am so sad that they have broken up, because their album "This Is Happening" has pretty much ruled my life for the past six months. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. Aside from the wonderful and most often played "I Can Change," "Drunk Girls," and "Dance Yrself Clean," there are so many more amazing songs on the album. "All I Want" is just, well, beautiful, and gives me that feeling of yearning within which I can experience every emotion I've ever felt in my life (sidenote: I prefer the London Session version). "All My Friends" reminds me of all the great times I've had with groups of friends, and all the good times I can imagine happening in the future. It's upbeat but still has that tinge of reminiscence that deepens the emotion beyond just "happy." I like songs that imply a hint of sadness within what is otherwise gorgeous and exhilarating, so I think it's amazing in its complexity. "Home," both the song and the concept, has had a special meaning for me this year, having lived in 3 different places within these 12 months. All the other songs are equally enjoyable - "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House," "Pow Pow," "Yr City Is A Sucker," "One Touch" - they're never enough! This album is definitely on my "Best Of Eternity" list.
2) The Virgins. I found their song "Rich Girls" just a few weeks ago, and I'm totally hooked. It's catchy, sexy, has fun lyrics, and makes me want to shake my groove thing. I feel rich and sexy when it's on, so of course I love it! I'm desperately hoping that they end up at First Ave or 7th Street Entry sometime next year. I kind of doubt it, since their last EP was released in 2007, but maybe they'll get some more music going and end up in Minneapolis. A girl can dream...
3) Dom. I went to see this band at 7th Street Entry this year - I failed to post about it due to my own inebriation that evening - and I totally love their energy. Their biggest song, "Living in America," makes me feel like life is good, fun, and sexy; that maybe I can still do everything I want to do; and that jumping around in my living room (or at the Entry) with a huge grin on my face is okay.
4) The Goondas. As always, my most favoritest local band deserves a mention. Their new album, Chud, came out this year much to my delight, and their release show at the Entry was super kickass. And how could I fail to mention their awesome set at my birthday party in July!! (Note: Josh's new nickname is Eggman. Ask if you require more details.) I'm sad that I missed their last show in 2011, but I hope to be a regular again at their shows in 2012.
5) Kaiser Chiefs. I know they've already been exposed as one of my favorite bands of all time, but I had an epiphany this year. Their song "Remember You're A Girl" from the Off With Their Heads album has been named my defining song. It's "My Theme Song." Officially. If I make it to their show in Vancouver on March 25, they might be on my list for 2012, too! What is it with me having to cross the country to see them play live?!
6) Jarvis Cocker. I only have one song of his, but man, it is to be relished. "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time" should be the rallying song of all single women everywhere. Or their friends who watch them date morons, assholes, losers, and douchebags. Or bartenders. (Too soon?)
7) M. Ward. My second theme song is his "Magic Trick," and I smile every single time I hear it. I usually sing along, actually, even if I'm at work and get strange looks from my coworkers. Or I mouth along and get even stranger looks. I'm pretty used to that though.
8) Fun dance music. I'll admit, I've done more than my fair share of dancing in my living room this year. All three of my living rooms, that is, usually with a beer/wine/mixed drink on the coffee table. I've been addicted to the following songs for my dancing frenzies:
"SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake;
"Lovesick" by Lindstrom & Christabelle;
"Poker Face" and "Scheisse" by Lady Gaga;
"Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z;
"Living In America" by Dom;
"She's Enough" by Atmosphere; and
"Amor Fati" by Washed Out.
9) Guilty pleasures. Yes, I have a selection of cheesy songs that I'm hesitant to admit that I have loved this year. Like, I loved them so much I paid for them. Yeah. Seriously. Please don't judge - I'm willing to bet that I'm not the only one!
"I Want a New Drug" by Huey Lewis & The News
"I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry
"Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" by Beyonce
"In a Big Country" by Big Country
"Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson
Now, I'll admit, a lot of these happened after watching one too many VH1 "I Love The..." specials while drinking. That's my excuse.
I hope you've enjoyed this musical retrospective. I certainly have. And I'm sure there are a lot more songs or artists that I could have mentioned, but I'm going to call this as definitive as I can make it. I hope you all had a great 2011, and here's to a fabulous 2012!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Wombats @ The Varsity
So I blatantly skipped the two opening bands, the Postelles and the Static Jacks, and went to see The Wombats at The Varsity tonight. What a good way to spend my hard-earned money! I loved the youthful energy they sent out - and the rhythmic clapping was definitely a bonus. They made sure to play 1996, Techno Fan, Walking Disasters, and Let's Dance to Joy Division. After saying how the Varsity had a "very strict curfew" they continued to play a couple more songs...establishment be damned!
Aside from the assholes talking nonstop in front of me for the first half of the set, it was a totally enjoyable show. I even jumped up and down...at my age! Repeatedly! It was a great way to spend a Monday night. I regret nothing!! Plus, they played great music, and had English accents...yum. I guess I have to like Liverpool at least a little bit now.
Aside from the assholes talking nonstop in front of me for the first half of the set, it was a totally enjoyable show. I even jumped up and down...at my age! Repeatedly! It was a great way to spend a Monday night. I regret nothing!! Plus, they played great music, and had English accents...yum. I guess I have to like Liverpool at least a little bit now.
Friday, May 20, 2011
CSS & Sleigh Bells @ First Ave
Hello loyal readers, I know it's been far too long since my last post. I promise to make up for it this summer by attending and reviewing as many shows as I can! Time and budget shall be my only limitations.
Anyhoo, I went to First Ave last night for the sold out CSS and Sleigh Bells show. I forgot it was all ages so my friend and I herded upstairs with the rest of the legal drinking age cattle. We got there in time to catch the end of the second opener, I believe called Neon Indian. It could have been Princeton though since I wasn't really paying attention.
CSS came on next, and totally blew me away. I already recognized a couple of their songs, but I fell in love with a few new ones. I thought the music was tight and well put together, the lyrics were straightforward, honest, and funny, and most importantly, their songs were super fun to dance to! The lead singer was an act all in her own right - she came onstage in boots, black pants, a red plaid shirt, and a black leather jacket, with a misfits-style face paint look going on. Super cool, right? Well it turned out the pants were tear-away, which were torn away to reveal jean shorts with a patterned pair of tights underneath. The jacket came off and the shirt beneath was longer than her jean shorts. Then, much to everyone's growing astonishment, she revealed not one but TWO other shirts underneath that one! She must have been sweltering in all those clothes. Plus, for the second to last song, she put on a pink flowery dress over her clothes and danced around with the zipper open and the dress falling off her arms. She even got down onto the floor with the crowd a couple times, and totally crowdsurfed. My friend called her "awesomely '90s" and I have to agree. They were absolutely amusing and kick ass. The drummer had his face painted too, and the keyboardguitarist was sporting a Sleigh Bells shirt. I love a female bassist so that was a nice touch. I honestly couldn't tell if the guitarist was a man or a woman - but s/he had kind of a fro-rat tail hair style going on, and was skinny but with toned arms. So bizarre but it totally fit! I love CSS. I can see why they're so tired of being sexy.
Then, after a prolonged break, Sleigh Bells came on stage to the opening strains of "Iron Man." Their stacks of speakers had a light show going on around them, and the fog was coming out hot and heavy from behind them. With the LOUD music (must've turned it up to 11), strobe lights, fog, heavy pot smoke, and light show, I was pissed that I didn't have any acid last night (joking of course). It would have been a whole different experience and to be frank, my senses were already close to overload with just some beer in me. To be honest, I wasn't impressed. They just danced around with backlighting for about 20 minutes and then they were done. The singer did some crowdsurfing too, which had totally already been done and seemed totally passe. CSS made it cool again when they joined SB on the stage at the very end of the show.
The lead mic needed to be higher because I couldn't understand a lot of what was being said or sung, and CSS totally should have been the headliners instead of Sleigh Bells. Those issues aside, it was a great show!
Anyhoo, I went to First Ave last night for the sold out CSS and Sleigh Bells show. I forgot it was all ages so my friend and I herded upstairs with the rest of the legal drinking age cattle. We got there in time to catch the end of the second opener, I believe called Neon Indian. It could have been Princeton though since I wasn't really paying attention.
CSS came on next, and totally blew me away. I already recognized a couple of their songs, but I fell in love with a few new ones. I thought the music was tight and well put together, the lyrics were straightforward, honest, and funny, and most importantly, their songs were super fun to dance to! The lead singer was an act all in her own right - she came onstage in boots, black pants, a red plaid shirt, and a black leather jacket, with a misfits-style face paint look going on. Super cool, right? Well it turned out the pants were tear-away, which were torn away to reveal jean shorts with a patterned pair of tights underneath. The jacket came off and the shirt beneath was longer than her jean shorts. Then, much to everyone's growing astonishment, she revealed not one but TWO other shirts underneath that one! She must have been sweltering in all those clothes. Plus, for the second to last song, she put on a pink flowery dress over her clothes and danced around with the zipper open and the dress falling off her arms. She even got down onto the floor with the crowd a couple times, and totally crowdsurfed. My friend called her "awesomely '90s" and I have to agree. They were absolutely amusing and kick ass. The drummer had his face painted too, and the keyboardguitarist was sporting a Sleigh Bells shirt. I love a female bassist so that was a nice touch. I honestly couldn't tell if the guitarist was a man or a woman - but s/he had kind of a fro-rat tail hair style going on, and was skinny but with toned arms. So bizarre but it totally fit! I love CSS. I can see why they're so tired of being sexy.
Then, after a prolonged break, Sleigh Bells came on stage to the opening strains of "Iron Man." Their stacks of speakers had a light show going on around them, and the fog was coming out hot and heavy from behind them. With the LOUD music (must've turned it up to 11), strobe lights, fog, heavy pot smoke, and light show, I was pissed that I didn't have any acid last night (joking of course). It would have been a whole different experience and to be frank, my senses were already close to overload with just some beer in me. To be honest, I wasn't impressed. They just danced around with backlighting for about 20 minutes and then they were done. The singer did some crowdsurfing too, which had totally already been done and seemed totally passe. CSS made it cool again when they joined SB on the stage at the very end of the show.
The lead mic needed to be higher because I couldn't understand a lot of what was being said or sung, and CSS totally should have been the headliners instead of Sleigh Bells. Those issues aside, it was a great show!
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