First Quarter Music Highlights! (#17)

Can you even believe that we are already a quarter of the way through the year? Three months have gone by and there has already been a healthy amount of good music that has come out. That always surprises me for some reason. I have this weird fear that good music will run out someday. Like there are only so many instruments, and so many notes, and music has been around for so long that the tank has to be running on E. I know this is ridiculous, and even if my fears do come to fruition down the road we are most certainly not there yet as these past three months have so awesomely proven. Here are some Q1 highlights for you and yours.

Listen to Joey's Playlist!

Gold On The Ceiling - The Black Keys, This duo comprise what might be the most consistent Rock band out there. The Black Keys were put in the impossible position of having to follow up their massively successful album "Brothers" (which was already their 6th by the way). Well follow it up they did, and they knocked it out of the park again. "Gold On The Ceiling" is the 2nd single off of "El Camino" and every second of it is tasty. Listen to that organ growl at you. Careful, it bites!

Hold On - Alabama Shakes, I do not know much about these guys. I don't even know if they're actually from Alabama. I do know that this song awesome though.

Simple Song - The Shins, The Shins are back and with an almost entirely new line up. It is clear now, more than ever, that James Mercer was, is, and always will be The Shins, regardless of who's playing drums or bass. Phew!!!

Cruel - St. Vincent, Holy Annie Lennox vibe! I am late comer to the St. Vincent party, but now that I'm here I like what I'm hearing. Especially that sax!

That Old Black Hole - Dr. Dog, I have had a hard time enjoying Dr. Dog in the past because he sounds almost exactly like Adam Sandler, especially his older stuff. This song forced me to get over it. Great tune!

Sidewalk Safari - Chairlift, Yes, I'm putting this on two of my playlists in a row. Deal with it!

Emmylou - First Aid Kit, I like to imagine that someday when I get to Heaven, there will be a small wooded grove where I can go and sit with my legs crossed and just listen to these sisters sing to me all day long...... Hook it up Jesus!!!

Eyeoneye - Andrew Bird, Mr. Bird is back in all of his Looping Pedal and whistling glory!

Video Games - Lana Del Rey, Poor Lana. Saturday Night Live was not kind to you, and neither was the twitterverse after your performance. It was a tad on the shaky side, but she deserves some slack. She is only 25 , and it was SN-freaking-L! That can't be easy. This has been one of my very favorite songs of the year so far.

Alone - Trampled By Turtles, I think I am one of the few Trampled fans that enjoy their tamer side more than their "face melting fiddle" side. This song is perfectly tempered and easy to listen to.

Beirut - A Candle's Fire, Bust out the Brass!

Bad Girls - M.I.A., Super catchy world pop. I love this chick! Everything she does is different and fun. Please take a moment at some point to watch the music video for this song. It's so cool!

Love interruption - Jack White, I am so pumped for this album. I have literally gobbled up everything that Jack has put out there, and there has been a lot of it. Six White Stripes albums, two Dead Weather albums, and two Raconteur albums, not to mention all the stuff he has produced. I have high hopes for his solo stuff! So far so good...

Well that's pretty much the gist of it... actually I just scratched the surface. There were loads of other yummy tracks, but I thought I would trim'er down for all of our sakes. Here's hoping for a stellar second quarter!

What Jess is listening to. (#16)

It doesn't matter how many times I karate-chop it away, romance just wants me to find it.
Even in all of the music I listen to, it's the lovie stuff that keeps me swaying. Not that all of these songs are about love, but darn it, I listen to it long enough and that's what it'll become.

Oh well. I am what I am.
These songs make me feel romantic.
----------------------------------------------
Listen to Jess's Playlist!

1. In the yard by the Bowerbirds
This girl's name is Beth Tacular. And that makes me want to make a cake for her this Saturday.

2. Hear the noise that moves so soft and slow by James Vincent McMorrow

3. We fell by S. Carey
Sean Carey is in Bon Iver and apparently wrote this album while they were touring. His new album is coming out in May. Pretty dreamy.

4. Say hello by Rosie Thomas (featuring Sufjan Stevens)

5. Your arms around me by Jens Lekman

6. Fighter Girl by Mason Jennings

7. Alike by Efterklang
I saw these guys play at the Walker Art Center after a fantastic opening by Buke and Gass. When you've got 20 minutes to spare, check out 4AD online to see a really great live session.

8. Your head is on fire by Broken Bells

9. Weights and Measures by Dry the River
I'm actually slightly more excited to see this band this Saturday than I am to see the Bowerbirds. They're my favorite current find.

10. In the hearts of men by First Aid Kit

11. Don't be scared by Andrew Bird

Where were you? Here I am!

first hand music (#15)

growing up, i never thought i'd enjoy going to a live concert. i've always loved music, but at a safe distance from large crowds of people ready to mosh. after all, who wants to get punched in the head while you're listening to music that you love? kinda ruins it. at least that's the picture i had in my head. but i was such a fool. i'll take the punch to the head along with sore feet & ringing ears any day of the week! this playlist is dedicated to my friend nicole who took me to my very first concert as a birthday present.

Listen to Danny's first hand Playlist!!
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1. Screaming Infidelities by Dashboard Confessional - that's right. dashboard used to be my favorite band back in high school. chris carrabba is (as my brother puts it) "the pioneer of emo music". my humble beginnings as a concert-goer.


2. Revenge by Jon Foreman - i actually saw switchfoot at the state fair & it was pretty incredible. not long after that i got to see jon foreman perform solo in chicago when his ep's were coming out.


3. Doomsday And The Echo by Lovedrug - they opened for copeland and in my opinion out-performed them in every way. don't you love it when the opener that you've never heard of just blows your mind?!


4. You Have My Attention by Copeland - another emo band that i was really into right out of high school. i know i was kinda talking crap about their live performance, but they're actually really great :)


5. Modern Mystery by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - one of the best band names i've ever heard. these guys opened up for mutemath the first time i saw them. they were really fun to watch. at one point the drummer lead a song... he wasn't an amazing singer, but i liked that they were willing to take a risk like that.


6. Valium by MuteMath - i've seen them 3 times & for me each time gets better. that's just one man's opinion though. they do things on stage that are insane.


7. The Temporary Blues by The Features - another super fun opener that i'd never heard of till i was listening to them live.


8. Wolves At Night by Manchester Orchestra - wow. these guys were incredible live! andy hull knows how to lose his mind on the mic & also have really sweet tender moments.


9. Circles by As Tall As Lions - super bummed these guys aren't together anymore. they opened for mutemath and they had an epic intro including what seemed to be an electric trumpet with pedals & all! the bass player was oozing sexuality which was kind of scary, but other than that... wow.

10. Wolves At The Door by David Bazan - i love how honest david bazan is. he's really easy to connect to in that way and his voice is truly unique.


11. Sparrow And The Wolf by James Vincent McMorrow - i honestly wasn't aiming for a wolf theme... but hey, sometimes things just come together. this was one of the funnest shows i've ever been too. they were so excited to be playing their music for us and we were so excited to be listening. it felt mutual.


12. Bury The Floors by Scattered Trees - aside from the lead singer hitting on my girlfriend, i really enjoyed seeing them in person. these guys need to blow up... they are SO GOOD.


13. Amongster by POLICA - you're gonna think i'm crazy... but they opened for foster the people and i wasn't the least bit interested in hearing them. in fact, almost the whole time they were playing i was wishing they would be done so that foster could do their thing. i had no clue who they were until they played their hit, wandering star. i wish i could go back & thoroughly enjoy what i was experiencing.


14. Broken Jaw by Foster The People - they did their thing. ha... it was the last show of their tour & they gave their all. so much fun to watch people do what they absolutely love!


15. For 12 by Other Lives - they played much too short of a set. i could have listened to them play for hours... but they were opening for radiohead so it is what it is. hope i get to see them again sometime soon.


16. There There by Radiohead - WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! there aren't words fit enough to describe the amazingness of this show. the production was ridiculous. vocals were perfect. i was in the nose bleeds and i felt like i was just as engaged as i would be in the front row. so so so so good. two encore performances. i cried a bit. it was beautiful.


there are a couple shows coming up that i'm really excited for including Gotye & William Fitzsimmons... maybe even Dry The River? we shall see... but hey, get out there & see some shows! it will definitely enhance the music that you love.


what bands have you seen live that you'd highly recommend to others?

PLEASE let this be spring! (#14)

We are all Minnesotans, whether transplant or homegrown, and it is our duty as Minnesotans to have an acute awareness of the weather. Back in January Jessica put up a playlist that helped us embrace those dark, cold days of Winter. This week will be the beautiful other side to that coin. This weekend and week ahead will bring us the best weather we've seen so far this year. We will finally be able to feel the Sun! In honor of this joyous occasion let's listen to some fun music! Grab a Maibock and boogey people!




Listen to Joey's playlist!!
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1. Cameras, Matt and Kim - "Pound my steering wheel we yell to the windshield, I’m finally home! I’m finally home!"... I feel you dog. I feel you. 

2. My Doorbell, The White Stripes - I love The White Stripes! I know they're not everyone's "Cup O Tea" but you can't help but bob your head to this one.

3. Bang Bang Bang, Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. - Bang! Bang! Bang! You're dead Winter!!!

4. Don't You Worry, Jim Noir - Even a "mild" Winter like the one we are coming out of can get to you. We always seem to make it out ok though.

5. Automatic Stop, The Strokes - It is a proven fact that your level of "Cool" goes up when you listen to The Strokes.

6. Houdini, Foster The People - I love it when Mother Nature pulls a Houdini and magically turns Snow Banks and Drifts into Puddles and Streams.

7. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, Vampire Weekend - No band screams Spring and Summer more to me then Vampire Weekend. These guys are easy Summer listening at its finest.

8. Can You Discover, Discovery - How about a quick shot of some smooth Pop for that booty!

9. It Takes A Muscle, M.I.A. - Oh you want some more super smooth Pop music? Ok!!!

10. Roll Away Your Stone, Mumford & Sons - I'm pretty sure that if you play this song loud enough, the temperature will go up by about ten degrees no matter where you are.

11. This Too Shall Pass, OK Go - This one cracked my Top 10 in 2010. Awesome awesome song about gettin through it. 

12. Young Folks, Peter, Bjorn, and John - I hear this song and I'm instantly transported to the beach. BBQ anyone?

13. You Are The Best Thing, Ray LaMontagne - Baby, It's been a long Winter baby, and this freaking Sun is the best thing that's ever happened to me!

14. Sidewalk Safari, Chairlift - This is one of my new favorite songs! It's wild, and crazy, and you can totally blast this with the windows down! UUGH!!!!

15. In The Sun, She & Him - An obvious choice for this playlist, but uber appropriate non the less.

It is March so technically it could be snowing again next week, but let's not worry about what we can't control. Let's just enjoy the Sun, and the birds, and the short sleeve shirts, and embrace the puddles and the mud, and the dirty streets. Put on some good tunes and soak it up people!

my life in rainbows. (#13)

What's this? Oh, it's just the setlist Radiohead played in Tampa.

Listen to this playlist!!
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1. Bloom
Open your mouth wide
The universal sigh
And while the ocean blooms
It's what keeps me alive.
So I lose and start over.
Don't blow your mind with why.
2. Little by little
You know those cutie little egg-shakers? That's what my hands and wrists want to turn into when I hear this song.
3. Weird fishes/Arpeggi"In the deepest ocean, the bottom of the sea. Your eyes, they turn me.
I'd be crazy not to follow, follow where you lead. Your eyes, they turn me."
I've sung these harmonies so many times, it's like I own them.

4. Pyramid SongAll my lovers were there with me, all my past and futures.
And we all went to heaven in a little rowboat
There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt.
This song makes me dream of making music. Also it makes me dream of accepting apologies from everyone who's hurt me and of apologizing to everyone I've hurt.

5. NudeYou paint your smile, you paint yourself white
and fill up with noise.
There'll be something missing.
And now that you've found it, it's gone.
Now that you see it, you don't.

The simplicity of the oooohs at the end of this song drive those lyrics home for me, and finish off with some crazy kind of heavenly hope. Basically, I'm flying by the end.

6. FeralYou are not mine and I am not yours.
And that's okay.
Please don't judge me

Ever wanted to write a song that said just that?
Also, I can't believe I'll see THIS SONG live. I'm just dying.

7. Idioteque
Thom's a huge activist for social justice, so it's not surprising for a lot of his stuff to be a megaphone for that.
"We're not scaremongering, this is really happening, this is really happening."

8. ReckonerListen to the driving guitar chords. Can you imagine singing what he's singing while playing what he's playing??
The first time I listened to this album, In Rainbows, I was in Oklahoma, driving round and around the I40, I235 loop, headphones in, oh my godding every song.
9. All I needI am a moth who just wants to share your light.
I am an insect trying to get out of the night.
You are all I need. You're all I need.
I'm in the middle of your picture, lying in the leaves.

This one reminds me of warm weather, left hand sailing out the car window, hollering harmonies.
10. MyxomatosisI listened to this album, Hail to the Theif, for the first time in 2004, on a solo drive to Nebraska in the summer. This song was playing as I drove around the outskirts of a thunderstorm, nervously watching a slowly swirling and churning dark gray sky in the middle of the afternoon. I may or may not have been so into this cd that I got completely lost.

Atleast I had a good soundtrack for finding my way back.
11. Everything in its right placeI absolutely cannot believe I will see this played live - it's top 5 Radiohead for me.
12. Give up the ghostGather up the lost and sold into your arms, into your arms.
Gather up the pitiful into your arms, into your arms, into your arms, into your arms.
Gather up what seems impossible into your arms, into your arms.
13. Karma PoliceUltimate. Freaking ultimate. I don't care if I've already said this, I can't believe I'll hear this song live and see a wiggly passionate Thom Yorke sing it.

"For a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself.
Phew, for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself."

14. Street SpiritCollege dorm room, Fall of 99, this song on repeat, playing enough Minesweeper on my roommate's computer to make Nate Dohrmann proud, singing my hardest right at the screen.


15. Nobody does it betterI kind of want him to end with this.

Nobody does it better, makes me feel sad for the rest.
Nobody does it half as good as you. Baby you're the best.
I wasn't looking, but some how you found me.
I tried to hide from your love light.
Like heaven above me, the spy who loved me
Is keeping all my secrets safe tonight.

The way that you hold me, whenever you hold me,
There's some kind of magic inside you
That keeps me from running, but just keep it coming.
How'd you learn to do the things you do.

home sweet home (#12)

what is it about the word home? it stirs up so much emotion & memory. some good & some bad. i just spent the better part of the last 2 days packing, moving, cleaning & making a new home for myself. but home is more than just the space that's carved out for me in this old house. this playlist is dedicated to all the people & places that have been home to me & all the people i've shared a home with.

Listen to Danny's playlist!!
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1. There's No Home For You Here by The White Stripes - ever lived with someone you just wish would go away? this song is smangin'. smashin' & bangin'.


2. This Is Home by Switchfoot - i think home is about belonging & this song describes it so beautifully.

3. Walking Far From Home by Iron & Wine - this guy has seen some crazy $#%!... but seriously... the first time i heard this song i was so pleased. and each time after.


4. Home by Jack Johnson - this is gonna be one of those playlists where it's more important to remember the artist than the name of the song...


5. Home by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes - "home is whenever i'm with you."


6. Home by Mumford & Sons - just stumbled on this one! love me some mumf!


7. Home by LCD Soundsystem


8. After We Have Left Our Homes by MethMouth - inside jokes are the worst. this song is actually by MuteMath. "when can we start over?" such a cool interlude!


9. Honey Come Home by The Head and the Heart


10. Home by Sherwood - when i was a youth pastor for a couple years, i had to listen to a lot of music like this... make myself as relatable as possible. this band actually rubbed off on me.


11. Home by She & Him - "it doesn't get better than home, now does it?"


12. Find My Way Home by William Fitzsimmons - this guy makes some incredibly sweet music. he sings in almost a whisper which packs each song with such strong emotion.


13. I Was Young When I Left Home by Antony with Bryce Dessner - originally a bob dylan tune! dylan covers rule!


14. Is There a Ghost by Band of Horses - this is the only song on the playlist without home in the title, but i believe it's earned a spot. sometimes you just need a few simple lyrics to create an amazing song.


i'm glad to be home again... & when i leave this place, i'll be glad to be home again.

looney tunes (#11)

Artists have always been looking for new and creative ways to make music. There is a constant and natural evolution that happens; a building and feeding off of one another. The boundaries in which popular music exist are ever morphing; expanding here, shrinking there, and so on and so on. This week we'll focus on the artists and bands who don't play by everyone else's rules. They sing goofy at times, and use strange instruments. They take their cues from no one, except for maybe each other. Buckle up kids! This is gonna be a fun one! 

Listen to Joey's Looney Tunes!!
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1. In the Flowers - Animal Collective, This is one of my favorites! It starts off all dreamy and atmospheric and then BOOM!!! Am I allowed to say "Eargasm" on here? 


2. Clipping - MuteMath, That.. show.. was.. AWESOME! This track in particular blends a pulsing electro noise with classical instruments. So nice! 


3. Come Alive (War of the Roses) - Janelle Monae, This girl can do, and will do, whatever type of music she feels like, and she'll do it VERY well. Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, Rock... it's all there.  


4. Hljomilind - Sigur Ros, These guys are so over the top creative and imaginative, that Icelandic and English just wouldn't do. They had to go and make up their own damn language called Vonlenska. It's untranslatable and (to quote Wikipedia) "uses the melodic and rhythmic elements of singing without the conceptual content of language" This song is sung entirely in Vonlenska. 


5. The High Road - Broken Bells, Dangermouse + Shins lead James Mercer = Musical gold 


6. Rental Car - Beck, Beck is another one of those artists that can pretty much do whatever he wants. He tinkers and plays with multiple genres and styles. 


7. Mouthful of Diamonds - Phantogram, This Trip Hop duo out of New York describes their sound as "street beat, psych pop". Apparently I'm a massive "street beat, psych pop" fan. Who knew? 


8. It's Oh So Quiet - Bjork, There's a thin line between Genius and BS Crazy. I'm pretty sure she toes that line when she's cooking breakfast, let alone making music. I can't tell if she's on to something, or just on something... probably both. 


9. Kids With Guns - Gorillaz, A virtual cartoon band from a fictionalized universe cranking out Rap, Rock, and Dance tunes... enough said. 


10. Blackout - Muse, Muse is one of the biggest bands on the planet today. While they mostly stick to the rock category, they do tend to bring it in a fresh and creative way every time. Their next album, for example, is described by Matt Bellemy as "christian gangsta rap jazz odyssey, with some ambient rebellious dubstep and face melting metal flamenco cowboy psychedelia". That's obviously not to be taken too serious, but they do mix it up! This track sounds like it should be performed on a Venetian river boat. Enjoy! 


11. Too Much - Sufjan Stevens, You can't blame Jess for putting Suf on this playlist, but you can't blame me either. Listen to this! "Too Much" might take the cake when it comes to "weirdo music" but damn if it ain't catchy in between all of the chaos! 


12. I Can Change - LCD Soundsystem, Try this for boundary pushing... this Dance-Punk band frequently incorporates Spoken Word into their music. Yep! Unfortunately LCD Soundsystem decided to go out on top and called it quits this past year, but not before putting out 3 fantastic albums. 


13. Love Me Girl - Yeasayer, Did I hear a Loon....? Yep. That was a Loon. 


14. Fight Test - The Flaming Lips, Track 6 off of their 1999 album "The Soft Bulletin" is entitled " "What Is the Light? (An Untested Hypothesis Suggesting That the Chemical [In Our Brains] by Which We Are Able to Experience the Sensation of Being in Love Is the Same Chemical That Caused the "Big Bang" That Was the Birth of the Accelerating Universe)"..... I don't really know what else to add here. 


15. The National Anthem - Radiohead, How about we just let these modern day pioneers take us home. 


 There are SO MANY other artists and bands we could've included on this list. There's S.O.S. regulars like Poliça with their ambient vocals and double drums, or Bon Iver with their auto tuned folk music. Other bands too like Cults, Foster The People, and MGMT are always mixing it up to ensure things don't go stale on us. Enjoy!