There’s an awesome mix over at Music vs. Misery. I would especially recommend Song #9 as The Good Natured covering Sufjan is incredible–reminiscent of First Aid Kit covering Fleet Foxes.
I was surprised to find I already had some of the songs I thought I didn’t know in my iTunes (#s 6 and 26 for example). Need to go on a “what haven’t I listened to” quest sometime soon.
But you don’t need to know that to know that this lovely sentence by Carrie Brownstein is exactly how I feel as well: Over the years, music put a weapon in my hand and words in my mouth, it backed me up and shielded me, it shook me and scared me and showed me the way; music opened me up to living and being and feeling.
I know Lady Gaga is completely nutters crazy but her music IS indeed fantastic and here’s how you can tell.
An acoustic cover of Bad Romance by Lissie.
A (piano) acoustic cover of Paparazzi by some insanely talented 12 year old boy.
Oh. YES.
“Airplanes” – B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams of Paramour.
You know how I love my rap and my pop all mixed up together.
Listenin’ to Owl City “Ocean Eyes” a lot this month. Sounds just like a new Postal Service album. And by “just like” I mean, if you didn’t know different…
A little less angst-y. And with occasional female vocals chiming in.
I’ve changed my mind on Company of Thieves, the lead sounds EXACTLY like Erin McKeown. Is it her? I should google it. As Sashi would yell at me if I asked him, “GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND.”
Eh. Maybe later.
The best movie I saw in November was nonexistent. 🙁 Waah! I had no time to go to the movies! Too much studying to do!
The best book I read in November was a tie between two books by the same author Fire and Graceling by Kristin Cashore. They were FANTASTIC!!
The best gig I went to in November was the only gig I went to: it was Joseph Arthur and he was amazeballoons. Just overflowing with talent and creativity.
My favorite tunes in November, besides Joseph Arthur who I listened to constantly all month, were songs featured on my favorite show Sons of Anarchy like “Mary” by Patty Griffin and a cover of “Ruby Tuesday” by Katey Sagal. I also listened to a lot of Matt Hires, with some Shwayze thrown in for good measure.
The best movie I saw in September was…whoops! I didn’t make it to the theater even once in September. How sad!! 🙁
The best book I read in September was a tie between Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins and White Time, by Margo Lanagan.
The best gig I went to in September was also nonexistent. My concert-going in 2009 was extremely LOW and 2010 is looking to be even lower. I may need to just eliminate this category in monthly write-ups!!!
My favorite tunes in September were albums from The Avett Brothers and Kid Cudi as well as songs from two of my favorite TV shows Sons of Anarchy and Glee.
Absolutely Love & Adore:
Sons of Anarchy: Shelter EP – Yup, another EP from my favorite TV show. Katey Sagal covers “Ruby Tuesday” in a beautiful, heartbreaking rendition. The other songs are good too but that’s the one I can’t stop listening to.
Matt Hires “Take Us to the Start” – YAY I have been waiting for this album since the first time I heard “Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song” (which yay is also on here). He’s definitely someone you would expect me to like, a singer/songwriter-y dude with sort of acoustic, mostly cheery songs. What my cousin calls “WB Music” (i.e., something that would have been used in the background on Dawson’s Creek or Everwood). That doesn’t bother me at all. Other fave song: “A Perfect Day” (LOVE!)
Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):
Other Albums I Liked:
Not really for me / but maybe for you!: Nada!!
Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can’t legitimately offer an opinion:
Mos Def “The Ecstatic” – I dug this dude’s acting in both “16 Blocks” and “Be Kind, Rewind,” and then Rolling Stone gave this album a really enthusiastic review…but I’ve barely listened to it yet. Hey! November was a TOUGH month school-wise.
Company of Thieves “Ordinary Riches” – another victim of my inability to listen to music at the end of last semester when I was writing, writing, writing for weeks (my semester was very back-end-heavy in terms of assignments). Cant’ remember what made me buy it, but I don’t think I’ve made it through twice yet. I will say, the lead female really sounds like Rachael Yamagata. And you know, someday I’ll find time to listen and check it out more!!
Absolutely Love & Adore:
The Avett Brothers “I and Love and You” – I’m sure I have mentioned these guys enough times now that you are not surprised to see them. This album just continues their greatness and they’re getting a much wider release and YAY for them. I can’t really even pick a favorite song or two because everytime I listen I either a) love them all or b) completely change my mind on which one is best!
Sons of Anarchy: North Country EP – Yes, that’s right, my favorite show of the year is also releasing little EP soundtracks. And they’re awesome. This one has “John the Revelator” from Curtis Stigers, the song from the season 1 finale, which is so great. And the “Forever Young” cover by Audra Mae is just lovely.
Glee – The Music, Vol. 1 – I had bought a lot of these as singles as they were released, so I just finished up the album with what I hadn’t already bought. This show is, for the most part, a LOT of fun and so are the covers. I have this random, not well thought out at all, theory that covers are ALMOST ALWAYS good because it’s so hard to ruin a good song. Whereas movie remakes, there are just SO many places those can go wrong. And some of these are not just good or decent covers…some of these are GREAT! Faves: “Bust Your Windows” “Take a Bow” “Push It”
Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):
Other Albums I Liked:
Not really for me / but maybe for you!:
J. Tillman “Year in the Kingdom” – a solo album from a Fleet Fox. Some of this is really pretty – I really like “Earthly Bodies” and “Year in the Kingdom” but I can’t listen to it as a whole album: too overall “on the same note” / too slow and methodical. Needs to shake it up once in a while to keep me going, I just end up fast forwarding… Sorry. 🙁
Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can’t legitimately offer an opinion:
Sea Wolf “White Water, White Bloom” – I really like this band, I just haven’t given this album much more than a cursory listen. I KNOW. I got it after school started though and listening since then has been very inconsistent. What I’ve listened to sounds pretty but I know their old stuff a lot better.