Monday, May 31, 2010

5/31/10

I can't find a suitable video, but the title track from Jenny Owen Youngs' "Transmitter Failure" is a pretty gorgeous song. Like, could be on Grey's Anatomy gorgeous (which, incidentally, I had a very bizarre dream about. Seattle Grace was under siege by pirates and everyone was in water [like Titanic freezing] to death and I was trying to save all the doctors while putting back together a Christmas-themed stamp collection).

Anyway. I like to sing this.

"there's a lot of words in the english language
and i'm just getting started, baby
we could be here all night
we could be here all night
we could be here all night

you say,
'i don't wanna know how you work'
you say,
'i don't want the pieces, i just want the break'

there's some tired words
that would carry the meaning
but i keep stumbling on the first one
we could be here all night
i could put you to sleep
we could be here all night

you say,
'i don't wanna know how you work'
you say,
'i don't want the pieces, i just want the break'

days don't mean anything
i wait 'til i'm the one for you
well, words don't change anything
i know it's coming, soon
i know it's coming soon

you say...
you say...

you say,
'i don't wanna know how you work'
you say,
'i don't want the pieces, i just want the break'
you say,
'i don't wanna know how you work'
you say,
'i don't want the pieces, i just want the break'"

~Transmitter Failure
Jenny Owen Youngs, Transmitter Failure

Thursday, May 27, 2010

5/27/10

The song "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros came up on my playlist today, and it made me miss this past year at Syracuse like whoa. Lazy days and dance parties alike. Absolutely adorable, uplifting song....and really you can't beat whistling.



"Ah home, let me go home
Home is whenever I'm with you
Ah home, let me go home
Home is where I'm alone with you."

~Home,
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Up from Below

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

5/18/10

Of the many bands whose lyrics I adore, few are as capable of putting oft-indescribable feelings into words as well as The Weakerthans.

"My city's still breathing but barely it's true, through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know will never take me anywhere but here. Those stains in the carpet, this drink in my hand, these strangers whose faces I know. We meet here for our dress-rehearsal to say "I wanted it this way." Wait for the year to drown. Spring forward, fall back down. I'm trying not to wonder where you are. All this time lingers, undefined. Someone choose who's left and who's leaving. Memory will rust and erode into lists of all that you gave me: some matches, a blanket, this pain in my chest, the best parts of lonely, duct-tape and soldered wires, new words for old desires, and every birthday card I threw away. I wait in 4/4 time. Count yellow highway lines that you're relying on to lead you home."
~Left and Leaving,
The Weakerthans, Left and Leaving

5/18/10

Maybe someday I'll be as suave and cool as Julian Casablancas, but probably not. Today I learned the fourth Strokes album got postponed until 2011, and I got sad.



Cool song, but I love this verse:

"Well I don't feel better
When I'm fucking around
And I don't write better
When I'm stuck in the ground"

~Heart in a Cage
The Strokes, First Impressions of Earth

5/18/10

I've been listening to random playlists on autoplay on YouTube lately, leads to good background music, and good re-discoveries. I've been in UK band mode lately......Travis is a throwback to high school, sad I sold that record. So good for rainy days.



"Every day I wake up and it's Sunday
Whatever's in my eye won't go away
The radio is playing all the usual
And what's a Wonderwall anyway

Because my inside is outside
My right side's on my left side
Cause I'm writing to reach you now but
I might never reach you
Only want to teach you
About you
But that's not you

It's good to know that you are home for Christmas
It's good to know that you are doing well
It's good to know that you all know I'm hurting
It's good to know I'm feeling not so well

Because my inside is outside
My right side's on my left side
Cause I'm writing to reach you now but
I might never reach you
Only want to teach you
About you
But that's not you
Do you know it's true
But that won't do"


~Writing To Reach You,
Travis, The Man Who

Monday, May 3, 2010

5/3/10

The new Hold Steady, "Heaven is Whenever," is pretty awesome. Their piano player left, but the guitar solos are making up for it. It's a solid record, more of the amazing, storytelling lyrics from Craig Finn about drugs and girls and music, it's such a scene feeling that he manages to encapsulate but I love it tons. Seriously, you don't even have to listen to the song to appreciate the words.

"Heaven is whenever we can get together,
Sit down on your floor, and listen to your records
Heaven is whenever we can get together,
Lock your bedroom door and listen to your records."

~We Can Get Together,
The Hold Steady, Heaven is Whenever


Favorite song so far: The Weekenders



"There was that whole weird thing with the horses
I think they know exactly what happened
I don't think it needs any explaining
I'm pretty sure I wasn't your first choice
I think I was the last one remaining
I wish we hadn't gone and destroyed it
Cause I was thinking we could pull another weekender
You've still got a bit of clairvoyance

I remember the metal bar
I remember the reservoir
You could say our paths had crossed before

So if it has to be a secret
Then I guess that I can deal with it
you and i both know it's a negative thing
In the end only the girls know the whole truth

....
So if it has to be a secret
Then I guess that i can deal with it
God only knows it's not always a positive thing
To see a few seconds into the future

And if you swear to keep it decent
Then yeah I'll come and see you
but it's not gonna be like in romantic comedies
In the end I bet no one learns a lesson
"

~The Weekenders,
The Hold Steady, Heaven is Whenever

Sunday, May 2, 2010

5/2/10

Love Jenny Owen Youngs. I first heard an acoustic version of "Dissolve" that was very beautiful from Paste but her band is pretty awesome. Audio is not great, such is the state of live clips on YouTube.




"tell them whatever you want
you and i know what happened here
tell them whatever you want
we gave each other proof we were there

there's nothing left on you
we sat and watched the glue dissolve

ask me whatever you need
i'm just waiting to obey
ask me the things you don't see
i am living to repay

there's nothing left on you
we sat and watched the glue dissolve

tell me what i deserve
i'm just waiting on your words
tell me i'm fit to be torn
you go, i stay, nothing gets done

there's nothing left on me
but breaks and cuts i know you can see
we're dead, we're bones, we're dust
there's nothing left to lose"

~Dissolve
Jenny Owen Youngs, Transmitter Failure

I love her sense of melody, and her perspective. Her music videos are pretty cool, too.



"Love is so embarrassing
I'm this awkward and uncomfortable thing
I'm running out of places to hide it
I'm running out of places to hide it
What the fuck was I thinking?"

~Fuck Was I,
Jenny Owen Youngs, Batten the Hatchets

Saturday, May 1, 2010

5/1/10

"And you don't want to look much closer
'Cause you're afraid to find out all the hope
That you had sent into the sky by now had... crashed
And it did because of me

and if I hurt you, then i'm sorry
please don't think that was easy.

I always catch the clock it's 11:11
And now you want to talk
It's not hard to dream
You'll always be my Konstantine.

Spin around me like a dream
We played out on this movie screen
And I said,
Did you know I miss you"
~konstantine

an old favorite, remembered suddenly. Beautiful song, so much longing and love attached to it, so rich!! wonderful. Can't find "Played in Space," SoCo's best of, yet, but oh do I want to.