Music this week: aka music this Decemeber

Here are some tunes that have been helping me get through this month . . .

(1)  Froot - Marina and the Diamonds
Marina has a new album coming out soon!  The more I listen to this track the more fun I think it is and the more clever I find this lyrics.  She also has the haunting Happy on this album.

Music this week: MONKEES and others who are likely to be British

Turns out I DID get to go see the Monkees!

My parents got me tickets for my birthday and we went to see them in Philadelphia at the great Mann Center.  I was a great show and I really enjoyed myself, although my mom did immediate ask upon the start of the show "Is it going to be this loud the whole time?"  And I was super pleased that they did "What Am I Doing Hanging 'Round" and got "Pleasant Valley Sunday" in during the encore!

But in honor of the Monkees, and one of the songs they did live that made me like it a lot more than I used to, the first song I've been listening to a lot these past few weeks is

1.  Steppin Stone - The Monkees


Cuz I'm not your steppin stone!

2. Along Together - Fall Out Boy


I've never listened to them before, but I got a little in the new Fall Out Boy album.  This song is definitely my favorite (even if some of the lyrics are a tiny bit weak . . . they are not nearly as weak as some of the other songs).

3. Boyfriend - Marina and the Diamonds


My little sister turned me onto this song and it amazes me.  I had to go back to watch the Bieber version and it is basically unrecognizable.  This version is so much better!  Marina is great.

4.  Black Flies - Ben Howard


I had the great great privilege of getting to see Ben Howard yesterday perform in Central Park.  It was a night of beautiful music.  Probably the best concert I've been to (excepting F+tM of course).  Black Flies was a song he just completely rocked out in a transcendent way, so here he is performing it live at the Isle of Wight.

5. The Girl Who Got Away - Dido

I was randomly listening to this while running and it was so relaxing but had a great beat.  I felt one with the world.

Music this Week: Some Pop and Some Oldies

Wow it has been a long time since my last Music of the Week.  I have picked up a couple new albums but have still been listening to a lot of the same old tunes: Florence + the Machine, Marina and the Diamonds, Billy Joel and I've definitely been having a Monkees Revivial--- probably to console myself that I can't afford to go see them on tour this season.

1. Pompeii - Bastille
(Sorry the music video is a little lame, but song is good!)

First I need to point out this song because I LOVE IT.  I was pleasantly surprised when I went to itunes to buy this song and it was itunes' Free Single of the Week last week.  I instantly listened to it 10 times in a row.  I actually forced myself to take a 2 day break from listening to it as a precaution in case I was getting obsessively insane about it.  If you want to check out other songs by Bastille try Bad Blood or Sleepsong.  Those are my other two major favorites.

2.  I Wanna Be Free - The Monkees

Like I said, been listening to the Monkees a lot.  They are great.  I really like them a lot.  This song has really stuck with me a lot lately.  When I was a  kid I thought this was lame song about a guy who a lame committment-fobe, but now I feel like it is about actually a much more sophisticated a concept and might be a major part of my philosophy toward love.

3.  Casino - Nashville

SURPRISE! Yes, it's another song from Nashville! my favorite new tv show of the season!  I can't wait for the next season.  Til then I'm going to sing along to this.

4. You'll Be Mine - The Pierces

My sister turned me on to this folky-pop duo, who apparently sing the credits song for Pretty Little Liars.  They had a couple songs I really liked so I got their album, and the whole thing really grew on me.  My favorite song though has to be their beautiful cover of Simon & Garfunkel's 'Kathy's Song.  I find it truly moving.

5.  Just Desserts - Marina and the Diamonds & Charlie XCX

New super-fun Marina song!  Lyrics are not always outstanding, but who cares?  Just dance. (Also I got this as a free download! woooo!)

6.  Rhiannon - Stevie Nicks

A classic and such a good song.

7.  Ramblin Rose - Nat King Cole

I also have just been really enjoyed belting this out on my commute to work for some reason. RAMBLIN ROOOOOOOSE . . . RAMBLIN ROOOOOOOOSE

Music this week: Muse, She & Him, and a bunch of British chicks

Been listening to a lot of tunes lately!  I guess I've really needed to be in the groove/needed a pick-me-up!

1. 'Never Forget You' - The Noisettes

Love her smooth voice and the retro vibe of the song!

2. 'Obsessions' - Marina and the Diamonds

Not from her most recent album but such a good song!  Been listening to it 3-4 times a day randomly!  Also, been listening to 'Numb.' 

3. 'Boy' - Nina Nesbitt

Just stumbled upon this one and been listening to it non-stop.

4. 'Dig Me A River' - Gemma Ray

I wanted to post 'No Water' but I couldn't find a video.  I've had a bit of a Gemma Ray revival of late and have been listening to her Lights Out on Zoltar again.  'No Water,' 'Dig Me a River,' and "You Got Me In a Death Roll" have got the highest play count so far.

5. 'Only You' - Alison Moyet

It's a old one, but it was on Fringe a few weeks back which got me hooked all over again.  'I Go Weak in the Presence of Beauty' is another favorite of mine.

6. 'Madness' - Muse

I finally broke down and got the new album this weekend.  Loving most of it (two of the songs I don't like).  Digging this one the most right now.

7. 'Thieves' - She & Him

I dunno why this one just randomly popped up on my itnues and it's perfect.


8.  'Tightrope' - Walk the Moon

Another one that I'm not sure how it made it's way into my itunes library but I'm ok with it.

9.  'Breath of Life' - Florence + the Machine

Yes, again!  It's soooooo good!

Other goodies: 
Of course I've was on an all Mumford & Sons diet for a little while there.  Still listening to 'I Will Wait' and 'Below My Feet.'  Their 'Ghost that We Knew' makes me cry, so I don't listen too it as much but love it too.  Been really digging 'For Those Below' lately.

Calvin Harris/Florence's 'Sweet Nothing,' of course.  Kinda bummed that the music video is so lame though.

Guilty pleasure: Cher Lloyd.

Music this week: Mumford & Sons & Paul Simon, Girl Power music

I've been getting really excited about all the concerts I'm going to be going to this summer.  I'm going to see my idol (goddess?) Florence Welch perform with Florence + the Machine at the end of the month in Cleveland.  She just posted on her Facebook page that she has sustained a vocal injury; let's pray that she heals beautifully and speedily!

I was going to see Mumford & Sons in Hoboken, but the tickets sold out.  I've been wanting to see them live ever since I heard their album, but it's probably just as well.  Their show was in the middle of the week, and the tickets were a bit steep.  I also almost went to see fun. in June, but I had a change of plans and couldn't make it.  Good thing I'd already seen them live before!

But next, I'm going to see Marina and the Diamonds in mid-August in NYC with some groovy friends. I'm psyched; it will probably be a pretty spirited and fun event!

Then in September I'm going to see Florence again! Woo!   She was coming to Camden (only 45 min from me), so I had no excuse not to get tickets!

Anyways, with all of this music excitement--- plus the news about Greenday's new albums and Pink's new song & album announcement--- I've been in a real musicy frame of mind lately.

So what have I been listening to?

1.  Paul Simon - So Beautiful or So What (the whole album)

My disappointment with not getting Mumford & Sons tickets sent me off on a wild Paul Simon binge for some reason.  I'd recently bought my dad the new album for Father's Day; so I stole it from him and it's been my work soundtrack for the past several days.

My favorites are Dazzling Blue, Rewrite, and Love is an Eternal Sacred Light.

Dazzling Blue
Favorite line: "roses red, fine white linen, to make a marriage bed."  I don't know why, but I always seem to tune in especially for that line.

Rewrite
Favorite line: "when I said help me help me help me help me, woah, thank you, for list'nin' to my prayer"

Love is an Eternal Sacred Light
Favorite line: "Big Bang/ That's a joke that I made up/ Once when I had eons to kill"

2.  Jerry Hall feat. Mumford & Sons - The Boxer (by Paul Simon)

And given my Mumford & Sons-inspired Paul Simon binge, I was ecstatic to discover this gem:

Favorite line: "Lie lie lie, Lie lie lie lie lie lie lie"


3.  The Lumineers - The Lumineers (new album)

In the same folky, Americana genre, I found out that The Lumineers now have an album.  It includes their popular song Hey Ho, and I've only listened to a couple of the tracks, but so far I'm digging Submarines:

Favorite line: "I did spy periscopes"  --- how often do you get to sing that?

4.  Girls Aloud - Theme from St. Trinian's

One the COMPLETELY OPPOSITE end of the spectrum, my iTunes shuffled me to one of my favorite loud, raucous, girl power songs: the theme song from St.Trinian's.  And I promptly listened to it over and over and over again, just as I did when I first saw St. Trinian's--- a campy, teen pop British movie that is really hard to explain, it's about a private school for crazy, mischievous girls and their hilarious hijinks (involving Colin Firth).  But this song can be sung, screamed and unceremoniously howled by girls everywhere (and includes some less-known british slang, for those interested).

Favorite lines: "Feel the fear, we're MANIACS, saaaaaaiiint Trinians" and basically the whole chorus, especially, "Check out our BATTLE CRY/ a song to TERRIFY/ no one can stand in our waaaaayyy."

5. Marina and the Diamonds - Electra Heart (new album)

I've been pumped about this album for two months now. It is finally here.  Or almost here.  Mine probably won't arrive until next week, but I've been listening to a lot of the songs online.

My current selection is Power & Control (so radio-worthy! I hope to hear it on the dials soon!)

Favorite line: "Yeah, you may be good-looking but you're not a piece of art."

 Bubblegum Bitch was a close second.

6.  Florence + the Machine - Shake it Out

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE remixing their own song.

Favorite line: **all of it**

Their whole concert is also on youtube, woo!

The more embarrassing tunes:
Give Your Heart a Break by Demi Lovato (yes, i know . . . dangerously close to me liking a Taylor Swift song)
Payphone by Maroon 5
Wild One by Flo Rida
One Thing by One Direction (or is it just prep-school NSYNC? hahaha)
Scream by Usher (so much dance dance energy!)

Stuff I keep forgetting to check out:
First Aid Kit (I've got one of their songs, but never investigated further)
the new (well, 2011) Blondie album
Coldplay's 2011 album (I know people seem to hate Coldplay, but I think I've heard some of their stuff recently and liked it.)
Fiona Apple???  Is she good?  All of a sudden everyone seems to be worshipping her.

Songs I was listening to in May

So oops.  It's been almost a month since my last post.  May was a pretty crazy busy time at work and I had to rather drown myself in statistics for a couple of weeks for a final exam.  But now it is summer, and I should have more time to be punctual.

To kick things off in an easy manner here are some of the songs I've been listening to in May.  It's been a lot of female singers and pop.

Tokyo Sunrise - LP

Um. What can I say.  I really really like this girl.  Here voice is so unique and her music is very refreshing.  I probably listened to this over and over and over again.

She just released a studio version of her most well-known song, Into the Wild, and it sounds pretty great (crank up the volume and get lost in it).  I also really like Wasted Love.


100 MPH (in 2nd Gear) - Gemma Ray

This song is so groovy and nostalgic and creepy and anthemic and sorrowful.

 Her full albums are a little much to listen to in one sitting, but they are still really fascinating.  I also really love Fist of a Flower.   The music videos are even darker and freakier!  I feel like she should be in Twin Peaks or something.

Breath of Life - Florence + the Machine

F+tM's latest, so DUH, I'm listening to it. a lot.

The choir in this is so perfect.  Ok, listening to this again, right now, three times.

Albatross - Judy Collins

My itunes recommended Judy Collins and I remembered that one of her CDs was floating around the house someplace.  I tracked it down and this sound really stuck out to me.  I don't know what this song is really about yet, but the lyrics (and the flutes!) are mesmerizing.

Seventeen - Marina and the Diamonds

Marina is coming out with a new album soon so I've been revisiting her last batch of songs.  I've had all her more popular songs for a while (I'm Not A Robot, Oh No!, Mowgli's Road . . . Hollywood--- except I don't really like that one), I thought I'd get to know the other songs. I've been really jamming to Seventeen.

And just because that video is a little silly, you must watch her video for I'm Not a Robot.  It's super cool and beautiful.  (P.S. she was doing the rhinestones on the face thing before Katy Perry)

Come Away to the Water - Maroon 5 (feat Rozzi Crane) for The Hunger Games

Someone said to me this week: "Adam Levine!  That guy is suddenly everywhere!" which is true.  But this song is has such . . . I dunno . . . essence.  It matches the movie really well, but is great as a just a song by itself too I think.  Adam Levine's voice is strangely suited to this song, which I think was originally written by Glen Hansard.

Songs this week.

Sometimes I can't concentrate.  A bit of noise helps.  Music also helps you get your mind off how boring your life is and how your job is lousy.  It also prevents you from dwelling on how much you hate New Jersey drivers when you are stuck in completely unnecessary traffic.

For a complete pop immersion:
Primadonna
I love Marina and the Diamonds.

For when you are really mad at how everyone else is ruining your life, and want to celebrate how awesome you are:
Do My Thing
Um.  Self-explanatory.  Just listen.

Always, apparently:
High Hopes
I've been randomly addicted to Paolo Nutini.  Seriously listening to him non-stop, waiting to get sick of him, and not getting sick of him.  This song cheers me up loads.

I know, he looks like he is doubling over in agony when he sings, but whatever.  It seems to work really well.

And just to give you an overdose, I love driving to this song.  I feel like I'm in the opening of an indie movie.

For a maniacal laugh:
Bird Song
I know its a little macabre and freaky, but I love this song so much.  I think the story she tells is so funny.  The stupid, power-tripping bird sure gets what's coming to him. And then she does too.  Suckers!

When you are not paying attention:
Out on the Town
I had fun. on in the background and suddenly realized that this song was growing on me.

When you are doing work schedules for your students/have been poisoned by Lana Del Rey:
Dreamy Old New England Moon
I was listening to Lana Del Rey while doing some confusing scheduling and it made me really stressed out and unexpectedly wiggy.  So I prescribed myself some smooth, calming Dean Martin.

To unwind:
Sweet Bride
I keep hearing Kate Rusby on soundtracks in small British films and tv shows and I really love her.  So far my favorite has been "Sweet Bride."  I have yet to listen to her most well-known album, Awkward Annie.

For crying:
The Unquiet Grave
Rusby again: "The Unquiet Grave" is tragic and great from when you are emotionally unstable and may make you unexpectedly burst into tears.

To just be happy:
Oh Boy
That last one is a bit of a downer, so I've also been listening to cheery "Oh Boy" by She & Him.