and because i want a place to always have these links:
the national & barack, round 2. LOVE.
this fucking election.
early voting in evansville, IN.
people in the middle for obama.
generation WE. i'm not sure i've ever been so proud to be a young person in America.
when obama wins.
behind the candidates.
yes we can hold babies.
bruuuuuuuuuuce. oh, how i love you.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
a more perfect union...
I'm not sure I ever thought someone would address race in this country so directly and openly. Never before have I felt so proud to support a candidate for president.
Friday, February 22, 2008
finally...
Yes. It is third week in February. And yes, I am just now posting my favorite music from 2007. I decided way back in December, I just never made the time to sit down and write about why these albums and songs made my list. So, without further ado...
Boxer – The National
This album came out in May; I can safely say that over the last 8 months or so, I have listened to it at least once a week since then. Lately, I’ve taken to listening to it, beginning to end, right before I go to bed. For a while I would listen to it every day on the bus ride to and from work. Sometimes, I just get the urge to put on my good headphones, sit in silence for 3 minutes and 16 seconds, and listen to “Start A War” (mp3).
There are countless reasons why I love this album so much, so I’m just going to list the first few that come to mind: the intimacy of Matt Berninger’s voice; the drums (this album really makes me wish I could play them); the balance of simplicity and grandness; and the way I’ve come to have a relationship with Boxer that lets the same song boost a great mood one day, and fuel melancholy the next.
Random things I learned while being obsessed with this album:
+ At least two of the members were graphic designers before making the band their full-time job.
+ My dad likes them too. I think it's the Springsteen-ness.
+ The first two episodes of One Tree Hill’s newest season used song titles as episode titles.
+ The songs are just as great live, even when it’s 1 o’clock in the afternoon and you’re standing in the middle of Zilker Park with no shade to hide you from the sun.
“I Feel It All” – Feist
Honestly, I loved everything about The Reminder, but there’s just something about this song in particular. Hopefulness. That feeling you get when you spin around until you’re so dizzy you just fall to the ground laughing. “Fly away, fly away to what you wanna make.” Basically, this:
Seriously, I want to be her when I grow up. A mix of Feist and Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights.
Also. At the height of my love for this song, I had a crush on a guy from school who is, of course, taken (all the good ones at school are taken). So that giddy, I-have-a-crush feeling is something I’ll probably always associate with this one. And that’s never a bad thing.
Armchair Apocrypha – Andrew Bird
It’s been almost a year since this album was released, and I still listen to it pretty regularly. I hear something new all the time; discover a new favorite track even though I’ve heard it 100 times before. Andrew Bird tells some truly great stories and I think what really sealed the deal for me on this album was a show at the Guthrie Theater in December. We got to hear the stories behind the stories. Like how "Spare-Ohs" is inspired by actual events. He did the loop-your-own-voice thing, which could end in disaster. Unless you’re him or Feist. And there was whistling. Stunning whistling.
“All My Friends” – LCD Soundsystem
I just have a lot of love for this song. I don’t feel like I’ve really reached the point in my life that he describes, but it’s like I’m slowly inching closer to it. And I don’t wanna.
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga – Spoon
They can do no wrong in my eyes. Srsly. Britt Daniel + A horn section + Jim Eno on drums = EVERY SONG A MASTERPIECE!
“Paper Planes” – M.I.A. (mp3)
My brother listens to hip-hop almost exclusively. He’ll send me songs with lyrics I don’t understand or songs that blast gunshots at the listener and I give him shit for it. I think I have to stop now. For the most part, I have no idea what she’s saying…and shots ringing out in a song have never sounded so sweet to me. Good lord, I love this song.
Raising Sand – Robert Plant & Allison Krauss (stream)
I think I first heard about this album thanks to The Current. A little part of me feels like a lame 40-year-old KGSR listener for buying it. But. Raising Sand is a beautiful, beautiful album. I’ve always been a fan of Allison Krauss, especially when she goes beyond bluegrass/country. The vocals and harmonies are gorgeous. I guess what I really love about this one is that I never would’ve guessed I would like it so much. It surprised me. *eta: Oh typography. You have made me anal. This paragraph ended in a widow when I posted it, so I had to come back and make sure "me" wasn't the only word on the last line of 'graph.
“Sad Sad City” – Ghostland Observatory
I’m pretty sure this is from 2006. But it was new to me in ’07, awesomely, don’t-stop-till-you-get-enough kind of new. This was my ACL Fest revelation. I’m not sure I’d love it as much if I hadn’t seen the laser light spectacular, the throngs of people dancing together and the lead singer moving his hips in an almost inhuman way. But I did. And I wish you’d been there.
Graduation – Kanye West
Oh Kanye. Since I’m writing this so late, I most recently saw him on the Grammys. He was the only good thing about them. His tribute to his mom kinda made me teary-eyed. Graduation was a really solid album that’s still growing on me. Lately it’s been, “Flashing…lights lights lights…” Does someone want to come to Minneapolis over Memorial Day weekend and see the Glow in the Dark tour with me? Kanye! Lupe! Pharrell! Rihanna!
“Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...)” – Jay-Z (mp3)
Dude, this a great song. You know how there are those people who say they like all kinds of music, except for rap and country? Those people are really missing out on some good shit. This track feels like I should be training for a boxing match. Like Rocky. Or something. Heh… I really need to watch American Gangster, and hear these songs in the context of the film. Maybe that boxing imagery will change.
I’m Not There Soundtrack
Okay, so, I’ve never been the biggest Bob Dylan fan. I understand his significance; I respect the way he’s influenced countless musicians, and he’s certainly one of America’s greatest songwriters. But I’ve always had a hard time getting past the voice/delivery of his lyrics. So, getting to hear Bob Dylan through the filter of other people’s voices is the perfect solution.
Jim James doing “Goin’ To Acapulco” is just brilliant. Mason Jennings sounds like he was born to sing Dylan songs. “Ring Them Bells” somehow becomes more Sufjan-Stevensy than some of Sufjan Stevens' own songs. And the “Once” kids doing “You Ain’t Going Nowhere”? (mp3) Goodness, that’s lovely.
A few other favorite things from last year:
Daft Hands
Apple Pie Cupcakes (awesomely good)
Spam One-Liners
Clark & Michael
Starter for 10 (the movie that solidified my James McAvoy love)
Boxer – The National
This album came out in May; I can safely say that over the last 8 months or so, I have listened to it at least once a week since then. Lately, I’ve taken to listening to it, beginning to end, right before I go to bed. For a while I would listen to it every day on the bus ride to and from work. Sometimes, I just get the urge to put on my good headphones, sit in silence for 3 minutes and 16 seconds, and listen to “Start A War” (mp3).
There are countless reasons why I love this album so much, so I’m just going to list the first few that come to mind: the intimacy of Matt Berninger’s voice; the drums (this album really makes me wish I could play them); the balance of simplicity and grandness; and the way I’ve come to have a relationship with Boxer that lets the same song boost a great mood one day, and fuel melancholy the next.
Random things I learned while being obsessed with this album:
+ At least two of the members were graphic designers before making the band their full-time job.
+ My dad likes them too. I think it's the Springsteen-ness.
+ The first two episodes of One Tree Hill’s newest season used song titles as episode titles.
+ The songs are just as great live, even when it’s 1 o’clock in the afternoon and you’re standing in the middle of Zilker Park with no shade to hide you from the sun.
“I Feel It All” – Feist
Honestly, I loved everything about The Reminder, but there’s just something about this song in particular. Hopefulness. That feeling you get when you spin around until you’re so dizzy you just fall to the ground laughing. “Fly away, fly away to what you wanna make.” Basically, this:
Seriously, I want to be her when I grow up. A mix of Feist and Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights.
Also. At the height of my love for this song, I had a crush on a guy from school who is, of course, taken (all the good ones at school are taken). So that giddy, I-have-a-crush feeling is something I’ll probably always associate with this one. And that’s never a bad thing.
Armchair Apocrypha – Andrew Bird
It’s been almost a year since this album was released, and I still listen to it pretty regularly. I hear something new all the time; discover a new favorite track even though I’ve heard it 100 times before. Andrew Bird tells some truly great stories and I think what really sealed the deal for me on this album was a show at the Guthrie Theater in December. We got to hear the stories behind the stories. Like how "Spare-Ohs" is inspired by actual events. He did the loop-your-own-voice thing, which could end in disaster. Unless you’re him or Feist. And there was whistling. Stunning whistling.
“All My Friends” – LCD Soundsystem
I just have a lot of love for this song. I don’t feel like I’ve really reached the point in my life that he describes, but it’s like I’m slowly inching closer to it. And I don’t wanna.
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga – Spoon
They can do no wrong in my eyes. Srsly. Britt Daniel + A horn section + Jim Eno on drums = EVERY SONG A MASTERPIECE!
“Paper Planes” – M.I.A. (mp3)
My brother listens to hip-hop almost exclusively. He’ll send me songs with lyrics I don’t understand or songs that blast gunshots at the listener and I give him shit for it. I think I have to stop now. For the most part, I have no idea what she’s saying…and shots ringing out in a song have never sounded so sweet to me. Good lord, I love this song.
Raising Sand – Robert Plant & Allison Krauss (stream)
I think I first heard about this album thanks to The Current. A little part of me feels like a lame 40-year-old KGSR listener for buying it. But. Raising Sand is a beautiful, beautiful album. I’ve always been a fan of Allison Krauss, especially when she goes beyond bluegrass/country. The vocals and harmonies are gorgeous. I guess what I really love about this one is that I never would’ve guessed I would like it so much. It surprised me. *eta: Oh typography. You have made me anal. This paragraph ended in a widow when I posted it, so I had to come back and make sure "me" wasn't the only word on the last line of 'graph.
“Sad Sad City” – Ghostland Observatory
I’m pretty sure this is from 2006. But it was new to me in ’07, awesomely, don’t-stop-till-you-get-enough kind of new. This was my ACL Fest revelation. I’m not sure I’d love it as much if I hadn’t seen the laser light spectacular, the throngs of people dancing together and the lead singer moving his hips in an almost inhuman way. But I did. And I wish you’d been there.
Graduation – Kanye West
Oh Kanye. Since I’m writing this so late, I most recently saw him on the Grammys. He was the only good thing about them. His tribute to his mom kinda made me teary-eyed. Graduation was a really solid album that’s still growing on me. Lately it’s been, “Flashing…lights lights lights…” Does someone want to come to Minneapolis over Memorial Day weekend and see the Glow in the Dark tour with me? Kanye! Lupe! Pharrell! Rihanna!
“Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...)” – Jay-Z (mp3)
Dude, this a great song. You know how there are those people who say they like all kinds of music, except for rap and country? Those people are really missing out on some good shit. This track feels like I should be training for a boxing match. Like Rocky. Or something. Heh… I really need to watch American Gangster, and hear these songs in the context of the film. Maybe that boxing imagery will change.
I’m Not There Soundtrack
Okay, so, I’ve never been the biggest Bob Dylan fan. I understand his significance; I respect the way he’s influenced countless musicians, and he’s certainly one of America’s greatest songwriters. But I’ve always had a hard time getting past the voice/delivery of his lyrics. So, getting to hear Bob Dylan through the filter of other people’s voices is the perfect solution.
Jim James doing “Goin’ To Acapulco” is just brilliant. Mason Jennings sounds like he was born to sing Dylan songs. “Ring Them Bells” somehow becomes more Sufjan-Stevensy than some of Sufjan Stevens' own songs. And the “Once” kids doing “You Ain’t Going Nowhere”? (mp3) Goodness, that’s lovely.
A few other favorite things from last year:
Daft Hands
Apple Pie Cupcakes (awesomely good)
Spam One-Liners
Clark & Michael
Starter for 10 (the movie that solidified my James McAvoy love)
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