Good night, and good luck

Sunday's Favorite Selection # 20:

SNL Ben Affleck as Keith Olbermann

Side note: I just saw this last nite, and I couldn't stop laughing. I love me some Countdown with Keith, but this was so over the top that I think I love this even more. So over the top that even Ben Affleck couldn't stop snickering. Now if someone in the SNL can impersonate Rachel Maddox with her saying abou' like any good Canadian I'll be so happy.

Best of whatever 2008

2008 has proved to be a wonderfully crappy year for me! YAY! But lovely sounds were (as always) tuned in and never actually tuned correctly. Who cares about the perfect pop song? The more distorted, noisy, sloppy and almost perfect pop it is-the more it rules. My love for noisy pop music grows everyday, with this year providing new sounds. All these lovely bands from New York who wear their influences in on sleeves (c-86, psych, shoegaze) are the highlights for me this year (like last year). Though I spent most of 2008 discovering music that wasn't made this year, there were a few albums that really had a hold on me. The Raveonettes' Lust Lust Lust was one of them and pretty much will always remind me of this bittersweet year. 2009 is finally coming to save me, and I already foreseeing lots of Minutemen, Swell Maps and Arthur Russell listening for me. February 2009 will give me treats as The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's debut album and Asobi Seksu's third album comes out! Can I already call those out as my favorites of 2009?

Top Ten songs:

10. The Raveonettes-Black Satin
Lust Lust Lust came to me in the perfect moment for me this year. A bit disillusioned, heartbroken, stressed out and anxiety prone for the first time, I found much comfort in this album. "Look who's here to save my soul, sweet night, she's on a roll. Covers me with all her black, satin dress takes me aback, and I drown, yeah drown!"

9. Portishead-The Rip
This song is the doppelganger of the tenderness I felt this whole year. Do I really have to say more?

8. Stereolab-Daisy Click Clack
Holy crap! A pop song about pop music!? Holy Moly Stereolab, you are geniuses! The new album is typical Stereolab-over all good. I do have to say I enjoy the more electronic stuff (Dots and Loops for president!) but this song is a gem that gets stuck in my head for weeks. CLAP CLAP CLAP TAP TAP TAP SNAP! Off beat, on time, make it linger!

7. M83-Jessie & Kim
Stunning! Shoegazy synth pop yum yum! Makes me wanna dance while looking at the floor.

6. Crystal Stilts-Crippled Croon
This song caught me completely off guard back in the spring. How can it so moody and distant yet quite charming? Side note: Listen to their debut while taking a bubble bath. You'll be left confused, sad and so damn relaxed! And how about I'm still a little baffled that the guitarist and vocalist are from FLORIDA! But it makes sense why it's all moody and distant.

5. The Raveonettes-Sad Transmission
Any song that begins with handclaps and then a crazy distortion loop comes screeching in needs a warm embrace. It's the type of song you want to hold really tight to your heart while you caress the song's hair. "Your heartbeat stops, when I tell you that lovers always part. Sad transmission brought to you by someone who doesn't care" I say: WORD!

4. Vivian Girl-Where Do You Run To
The stand out Where Do You Run To has me listening in repeats. Although the rest of the debut album is pretty darn good, this song is the most disconnected to their influences I think. Less punk, more thoughtful, more honest. "Where do you run to, baby?"

3. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-A Teenager in Love
So far all the blogs that I read are citing Everything With You as their favorite PoBPaH song of the year, but mine is this one. It's not the typical noisy pop that the pains makes. It's proves that even with a lower volume, and lovely guitar riffs the pains still crafts pop tunes with wit and tenderness. Plus how can you not love a chorus that goes "a teenager in love with christ and heroin"?

2. The Raveonettes-Young and Beautiful
This song sonically breaks my heart and makes my head explode. The vocals are so dreamy, delicate and completely tragic. This synth pop song makes me want to dance and die at the same time. "When you wait for love, but love just goes by, do you feel it now? you'll never love again...When you wait for death, but death just goes by, do you feel it now? you'll never ever die. You get to be so young and beautiful."

1. The Airfields-Yr So Wonderful
A song that was actually released last year as a 3" cd-r single via Cloudberry Records, but the debut came out this year (and what a lovely debut it is!) This song shines and glimmers forever in my heart. It just hit me that Yr So Wonderful reminds me of Yo La Tengo's Sugarcube if Yo La Tengo turnitup with the noise just a bit. Unbashing love that is a bit chaotic with careful melodic vocals. And how about that insane tambourine playing? "Wonderful, I think you're beautiful, I'm not your fool, oh yes I am oooooh ooh oooooooh ooh ooooooooooooh!"


Favorites of 2008 that came out years ago:

Unrest-West Coast Love Affair
Broadcast-Ominous Cloud
Mahogany-My Bed Is My Castle
Teenage Filmstars-Kiss Me
Black Tambourine-Black Car
Rocketship-People I Know
The Dentists-I Had An Excellent Dream
The Chesterf!elds-Ask Johnny Dee
Swirlies-Sarah Sitting
Rocketship-Naomi and Me
The Bodines-Therese
Black Tambourine-For Ex-Lovers Only
Yo La Tengo-Fog Over Frisco


Best record label:
Slumberland Records!
A label that really should be an American classic released lovely underground pop noise-when no one really was. Almost heading for it's second decade in life, and out of nowhere it started releasing the best of the best music that is out now. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Crystal Slits, and what about those Searching For The Now releases? What gems! I mean yeah Black Tambourine and Rocketship have grown to be one of my favorite bands, but with these recent love for new pop music is rocking and slicing pop kids faces-with a gruesome stale knife of distorted feedback. Mmmmm


Best 7":
Some how, by some glory 2008 was a great year for my favorite format. More labels are producing and more bands making tons of singles (Vivian Girls with 4 this year!), which leaves me happy. I got my hands on quite a few from this year, including ones from singles club, splits, hand crafted love, numbered editions and color vinyl mmm. I have yet to get Sexy Kids' Sisters are Favorite (which is a great song), but I'm ordering soon once money flow starts being stable again (which is soon!)



1. Vivian Girls-Wild Eyes
Back in April, somehow I got myself introduced to Vivian Girls. Wild Eyes literally shook me. Part garage surf punk girl doo woop and part amazing. Plus I really love my sister's version of WHY oh WHY oh WHYYY? Side B's My Baby Wants Me Dead is probably one of my favorite side B of the year. He wants to put a gun to my head, just like this song.

2. Searching For The Now 3 (A Sunny Day In Glasgow/The Sunny Street)
Wowzee! The completely dreamy experimental band A Sunny Day In Glasgow puts me in heaven whenever I hear their cover of the Pastels' Sometimes I Think About You. Makes me as happy as meeting someone new who excites you. The Sunny Street's Pottery & Glass is a bit sad and reflective, but quite beautiful. Put on loud volume (especially for Sometimes I Think About You)

3. Searching For The Now 4 (The Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Summer Cats)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's Come Saturday has to be one the loudest pop tunes of the year. Well this version at least (the newest one via myspace sounds a little lower with it's oooh oh oooh!) but this can just me blasting Searching For The Now 3 so when I put on 4 my ears bleed...just a bit. I have to admit, The Pains are tied for my favorite band of the year (next to the Raveonettes). I mean the band were in 2 different splits, their own single, and opened for the Wedding Present! So what comes next of the loudest pop tune of the year? Summer Cats' Let's Go! the most fun tune of the year. Overall #4 shines! Put on louder volume.

4. The Carrots-Doing Our Part
This 33rpm 7" actually has 3 songs from their EP back in 2006. Doing Our Part is the new one, but my gosh how I love this song. I relate to this song with Jennifer taking lead vocals singing monotonely "do you wanna runaway runaway oh ohh" The rest of songs are reworked, so you won't find the lo-fi glory from the EP. Jimmy Don't Cry has Veronica vocals a bit higher than Jennifer's (whose I vocals prefer more). Side B with Secret Since '99 and Ladies of Givens is more upbeat, faster, and clean. Will people hate me if I say I only like maybe 3 songs from The Pipettes, but The Carrots (who I think is better) every song I love? Even my four year old niece can tell you, and sing to you any Carrots song you want to you hear. CUTE!

5. Je Suis Animal-Painted In My Face
Mr. Cloudberry (Roque) played this for me, and I was pretty wowed by it. Completely sweet-a bit dream pop & psych with a whole lot of love. The b-side Photograph captures my heart. "Yesterday I touched your face, kissed your lips, but you were just a photograph of you."

6. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-Everything With You
Overall this song carries the torch of everything that is great about a good single. Boy/girl vocals, loud, honest and heck very captivating. Side B has The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's theme song The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. This version has Peggy's vocals a bit lower, but I think that's because the music itself is louder. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart will never die, okay?

7. Jacuzzi Boys/King Khan split
Jacuzzi Boys baffle me that they're from Florida, but anyways A Strange Hand is psych garage blah goodness. I actually think they should change the song to A Strange Town. Seriously. Why aren't there more bands like this in South Florida? King Khan (as in The King Khan & BBQ Show and King Khan & the Shrines) delivers a hum drum folk song Desert Mile. Creepy as fuck.

8. Andy From Denver/Red Pony Clock split

This split comes from the Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records' Singles Club and this was a part of the 2nd batch. I was super excited about this because M Coast named it quits, and Andy From Denver is Andy Gonzales newest project. Hanging on a Cloud sounds like it could be a M Coast song but with a more of a sunshine pop AM radio with a bit of funk. Red Pony Clock is a band that I don't know much from. From this single Waiting Four You, I do know I enjoy it very much. Pretty horns and psych pop sounds make me happy.

9. caUSE co-MOTION!-I Lie Awake
Love me some caUSE co-MOTION! Sloppy crash pop makes me bounce with anxiousness written all over. Side B's You Don't Say is like 1 minute long and Cry For Attention bit longer is my favorite in this single.

10. Jennifer O'Connor/Dump split
I was excited to see this because well I don't having anything from Dump, so I had to have it. Why? Because it's James from Yo La Tengo duh! I never heard of Jennifer O'Connor, but I do like I Was So Wrong (which is a Dump remix). Not a big fan of the other song I'm a racecar driver, but it's okay I guess. Dump covers a song that I don't know named I Wanna Get Next To You, and seriously, all I want to do is makeout to song while this song is on repeat. I guess that means like every 3 minute I would have to get up and pick up the needle, but it's worth it.


Best extras in a 7":
BOAT-Topps
Topps drawn trading cards and gum!? YAY! I'm in a funk because I've had it for months and I can't even think about chewing that gum, and I love gum.

Best 7" cover:

Best album cover:


Best compilation soundtrack record:
Yo La Tengo-They Shoot, We Score
HAHAHAHA you really thought I would make a list without including a Yo La Tengo record? Stupid. This record includes scores from Old Joy, Junebug, Game 6 and Shortbus. Be happy and listen to all the different tiny versions of Green Arrow, and let go to all you're holding on to. Dreamy!


Best compilation that actually came out in 2006:
CD86: 48 Tracks From the Birth of Indie Pop
Although I knew a few tracks, the ones I didn't know blew my mind alway. The Bodines, The Raw Herbs, The Servants, The Primitives and The June Brides captured my heart, and kicked me because why the fuck haven't I ever heard of them? And how about that Jesus & Mary Chain song I never heard-Upside Down? I've always liked them, but this song is worth calling me a big fan now.


Most mediocre song of 2006 that I liked in 2008
Evangelicals-Hello Jenn, I'm a Mess
Evangelicals are Apollo Sunshine after recording Katonah then listened to the Flaming Lips who were listening to Cocteau Twins. This song came out in 2006, and although they did release an album this year, I have yet to hear it. Hello Jenn, I'm a Mess is dream pop without being too dream pop, it's indie rock without being too indie rock. It's mediocre at it's best, but it's better than a lot of shit that is out there. Sometimes mediocre is good, and this is one of those time. It's for the anxiety driven or moody motherfuckers like myself. Plus how you pass up lyrics like "loose lips sink friendships."


Most Overrated Band of '08:
1. Glasvegas
Sorry I don't get why people like them. They are extremely boring. Why should I care if Alan McGee thinks they're the best band to come out of Scotland in 20 years? Didn't Alan McGee give us Oasis? So here you go the next Oasis.

2. Beach House
eh. I thought I liked it the first listen, the second seal the deal for me-I don't. I mean am I suppose to like every dream pop band that is out there? I think it's okay to say no once in awhile. Just sayin'.

Coolest music video from another overrated band of 08:
MGMT-Time to Pretend
I only like this video because he rides a cat, and because it was directed by the same guy who directed an amazing short film called Death of the Tin Man. Wooh for Ray Tintori! But really-do we need another Of Montreal? I can only take so much from Kevin Barnes, I don't need another.

Coolest music video:

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-Everything with You. It was recorded with a Super 8! How super. Plus this video reminds me of a typical day with my sister and I. Yup!

Other runners up: Crystal Stilts-Prismatic Room and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-Gothenburg Handshake...because of it's randomness, and pretty cinematic scenes of nothingness.

Yu'le like this

A very special Favorite Selection #1:

Yule Log III-Director's Commentary

Side note: Haha

RUDY! RUDY!

Sunday's Favorite Selection #19:

40 Inspirational speeches in 2 minutes

Side note: I found this video on Paul Scheer's tumblr. This is pretty ridiculous and at the same time amazing. 

Men seldom make passes at girls with glasses

It's been 12 years since I started wearing glasses, yet I was always related myself as a girl who wore girls. My first pair were pretty lame. I had to wear them because since my last name ends with a V, I sat in the back, and couldn't see the blackboard. Soon enough I moved to Florida, and I realized that wearing glasses (or at least these pair) wasn't gonna get me any friends. I stopped wearing them (or at least when I had to look at the blackboard). A few months later I lost them as I was running out my house to catch the bus. I freaked out because I realized I have horrible vision. Two days later my parents took me to get my second and probably my favorite pair of glasses ever. Leopard printed cat framed glasses. Need I say more. I was considered a bit offbeat at middle school, but this threw me off the roof. Guys though were still hitting on me-but I had a few new admirers especially the one I had liked since moving! (Eventually I found the other glasses a few days later in my front yard).

As time passes by even more, this slowed down as boys in high school didn't understand why I wore glasses. Often I would get guys telling me that if I took off my glasses and let my hair down I would be beautiful. I always just shoot them a dirty looked and tell "too bad I don't give a shit." But what bugs me the most is the fact the my own type rarely give me the time or day. Never had I thought I had a type but lets face it-deep down inside I do. I won't even get into that but point is I don't get it. I see them chasing non-glasses wearing girls after they give me that talk. Oh yes. I always get dumbfounded by that, but I never let that bring me down (actually sometimes it does). This past year I've had a hand filled of guys (that I know and don't) telling me that I intimidate them. Possibly my glasses give off the vibe. Im blaming it for the fact that it makes me look more smart, and that scares guys (especially if I'm smarter than them). 

I'm also blaming the media. I can't really think of one female wearing glasses that is smart, independent and well, dates. In order to get the dates you lose the frames. Even Tina Fey's character Liz Lemon in 30 Rock as quirky as she is (and me in a few years) gets no action. Or Ugly Betty gets action, but the show is called UGLY Betty. Lately I've been thinking of getting contacts, but this is me. I feel so weird when I don't have them on and I still do all the things to keep my glasses from falling off my face. So next option is get a new pair. I already have my eyes (haha) on a pair, but from a store in Portland. Anyways I did what they said-resized the photo to the actual measurement, print it out, cut it out, put on face. Sooo pretty. It's the same size as my current ones, but uh vintage. Well point I am getting out is that I'm still going through the trials and tribulations of being a lady with glasses. Who knew. I thought this stuff ends when you're out of high school.

While I'm at it-I am not a fan of ironic glasses...just sayin'.

Ice cream and cake, and cake

Look at this loving family. That kid is too cute- too bad his name is Adolf Hitler Campbell. He was recently denied CAKE because the local ShopRite refused to put his name on the cake. So good ol' Walmart decorated it instead. Now, no kid should be denied cake on their birthday, but really mommy and daddy? The father made a statement that people should look focus on the future, not the past. And this is why his other children are named : JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell.

The past 3 years the father has made the similar request to the same ShopRite asking for a swastika as well. I guess he meant the Hindu symbol and meaning.

What is funny about this whole ordeal is that Walmart decorated his name on the cake. Walmart-the same place where albums are censored.

On a slight side note:  Welcome Art Under Your Nose to the blogosphere! Everyone should go and read, because Misael is awesome (and so is art).

Here's a video for everyone!

Boy oh boy

This entry is split in two separate thoughts/writings

1. Aaron over at Examinations of the Practicality of Objectivism & Other Writings just posted about us having a "healthy competition" and compared us to Rubber Soul and Pet Sounds. I'll like to point out that I am Brian Wilson in this equation because when Aaron started his blog, I was inspired and figured I could do that. Also Pet Sounds is a favorite of mine. Even Aaron's insight on sports inspired me and make me laugh. I thought "hey I have something to say, and I think of myself as entertaining enough to be funny and cynical."

Sadly enough I've been feeling very unmotivated to write and lacking inspiration. Blogs I regularly read have slowed down on posts and things have been a bit mundane in life. I'm not sure if it's my life or society that is letting me down (perhaps both) but I've been kicking myself in the butt lately to do something. I started this blog because it kicked me in the butt and I should not be slowed down. Today I read an interview on New York Times art critic Roberta Smith. She mentioned she loves daily/weekly publications and it's immediacies. That's how I feel about blogs. A fresh thought. About 2 weeks ago The Daily Show had this writer/blogger as a guest and she said something along the line -If you were laid off from your job, you can start a blog! Jon Stewart couldn't stop laughing and neither could I. 

2.

I saw this ad on New Times the other day. I was completely intrigued by it-mostly because it took me a bit to realize it was a dude in the ad. My thought process was like this:

-Nice legs

-Hmm

-They are a bit muscular

-....

-Wait a minute...

-Dude?

-It has to be because they are showing his chest.

Are men being objectified now!? That thought has been on my mind for a bit now, but after seeing this ad I am 100% sure that men are objectified. I remember reading about this in my Aesthetics and Art Theory class, but image is everything now so this made a bigger impact on me. Aside from the fact that it's a vein treatment center what interests me is that his face is cut off. Ads with women rarely ever do that unless it's one of those loss weight before and afters. I must investigate men in ads now.

In the future everyone will be talking in Auto-Tune

Sunday's Favorite Selection #18:

Side notes: My goal in life is to perfect the Auto-Tune voice without Auto-Tune. Also this 5 year old kid is singing Bob the Builder theme song on Auto-Tune. I can die happily now. 

Hey hippie, just wanna get few things straight

After a long wait Langerado finally posted the initial lineup for the 2009 festival set in Miami yesterday. It looks like I'll be going again-after saying this year "I hate festivals, I hate hippies, I hate Langerado" which is the same thing I said the year before, but how can I turn away from Tortoise!? Maybe I can meet John McEntire and ask him questions about the production of Stereolab's Dots and Loops or when is The Sea and Cake are going to make my dreams come true and have a show down here or about his collection of analog synthesizers.

This year's lineup is a bit of a shocker if you're a langeradee and didn't not read that New Times or City Link article a few months ago about the change to Miami and how it's going to be mostly bands who haven't played at Langerado. This leaves out all those jam bands then? Well it happens to be more diverse (more diverse fans) and I think it's a good thing. Not because I'm not a fan of hippies or jam bands (mostly true) but because as a festival it should thrive to change and share music. I read awhile ago how Beat Happening opened up for Fugazi!

I'm planning to go one date only, so I'm hoping for Tortoise, King Khan and the Shrines, DeVotchKA and Tricky perform the same day. 

Here's the lineup so far:

Death Cab For Cutie • Snoop Dogg • Thievery Corporation (Live) • Slightly Stoopid • Ryan Adams and the Cardinals • Dashboard Confessional • The Pogues • Matisyahu • Flogging Molly • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Broken Social Scene • Cafe Tacuba • Umphrey's McGee • The Disco Biscuits • Robert Randolph & The Family Band • Pepper • The Faint • Cold War Kids • Steel Pulse • Public Enemy • Gym Class Heroes • Tricky • Girl Talk • Chromeo • Mute Math • Bad Brains • Ozomatli • Against Me! • George Clinton & Parliament / Funkadelic • Tortoise • DeVotchKa • Black Kids • Grupo Fantasma • Holy F*ck • Budos Band • Tokyo Police Club • Lotus • The Virgins • The Gaslight Anthem • King Khan and the Shrines • Lucero • Murs • Ra Ra Riot • Tortured Soul • Rebelution • K'Naan • The Egg • Zac Brown Band • Tigercity • The Aggrolites • Cloud Cult • Spam Allstars • Rachel Goodrich • Blue King Brown • The Heavy Pets • Awesome New Republic • The Postmarks • Suenalo Sound System • Live Painting by LEBO

Say hi to your mother for me, then jizz in my pants

Sunday's Favorite Selection #17:



Side note: This was the only thing that made me feel better last nite seeing that I'm deathly sick.

OMGz

I found out in this Brooklyn Vegan post that Swirlies are back and are doing a tiny tour. Why don't I live in the North East?

What to expect? "I'm sure something will break, there will be lots of tuning breaks, we'll play too loud and I will consequently sing off key, and no one will remember how to play the songs," says Damon. "In other words, it should be business as usual. What better way to spend my spring break, right?"

My excitement is level red now. That statement is something I want to experience. The great thing is that still I've been working on my best of 2008 list-a Swirlies song is in it. Later on that though as I'm being very productive, getting writing done for this week. But YAY for Swirlies!