The 30-Day Music Meme: Day Twenty

Day 20 — A song that you listen to when you’re angry

Define "angry." There are many kinds of angry and lots of reason to get angry. I don't listen to that typical brand of "angry" music - you know, when you feel all "GRRRR RAWRRRR ANGRY," Incredible Hulk-esque (ie. metal).

This isn't a political blog and I'd never feel confident enough to argue my views in a public forum but I feel strongly (or keeping with the theme, "get angry") about women's rights, animal rights and how media skews and spins issues to influence impressionable minds. Those are really general terms, but that's as close I'm going to get.

Reality is the new fiction they saw
Truth is truer these days, truth is man-made
If you're here 'cause you want to be entertained
Please go away.

I've read that Sleater-Kinney's "Entertain" is a commentary on copycat bands and sell-outs in the music industry. However, I think the lyrics that I quoted embody my concerns about media spin and the perception of what is real and what society "accepts." I think that if this is the shit that gets you angry (which it does for me), then this is kind of the theme song for it.

Also, back on the topic of music, this song ROCKS. And so does Sleater-Kinney in general. I miss this band so much.

The 30-Day Music Meme: Day Nineteen

Day 19 — A song from your favourite album

I don't really think I have ONE favourite album. But I definitely love A LOT of albums. Brian Wilson's SMiLE is up there on the list. This album (if you know anything about the history of the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson) was a labour of love - it almost didn't happen! A college friend of mine burned the early versions of the songs onto a CD for me and I was hooked. The old version of "Surf's Up" is amazing because you can hear the youthfulness in Brian's voice.... but the completed, final version is a gem that, I'm pretty sure, will bring tears to my eyes if I am so lucky to hear it performed live when I see Brian Wilson in June.



I pretty much love every song on SMiLE - it is truly a masterpiece. End of story!

March 11 update: Oh man! Am I somehow prescient or what?? Beach Boys' Lost 'Smile' Album to See Release in 2011. Oh my god, oh my god!

Tennis fever

I'm going to really try to make an effort to get back into the habit of blogging, or at least finish that damn 30-Day Music Meme (does anyone care about it anymore? I just want to complete it just so it's not hanging in my mind as this thing I never finished!).

Anyway, let's talk about stuff I've been digging lately - mostly music-related of course! I haven't been able to stop listening to Cape Dory by Tennis, as recommended to me by Ben at I have 19 voices. I don't think I ever would've discovered this album otherwise! But seriously, when I say "can't stop listening," I mean it - check my Last.fm charts for the past three months.

Clocking in at 29ish minutes, it's the perfect morsel of pop perfection wrapped up in an album. I love the sweet vocals and harmonies, the simplicity of the songs and the entire album's ability to make me smile, want to dance and sing along. As a side note, though, I have to be honest and say that I hate the album cover - it's far too cheesy and 80's looking. I still need to buy this on vinyl, but I don't want to cringe every time I look at the cover, haha.

Preview two songs via their official Facebook page.

When is the next Dum Dum Girls record coming out?? This EP is killing me with anticipation - it contains three new songs and a cover of the classic Smiths' tune, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out." Gahhhhhhhh. I love it.

Preview the title track "He Gets Me High" (and some older songs) via their label Sub Pop.

So of course, while I was away on my Seattle/Portland vacation in February, BOTH Tennis and Dum Dum Girls played in Toronto (I also missed Nicole Atkins, but she played on the same day as Dum Dum Girls... had I been around, I think I would've chosen to see Dum Dum Girls?). Worst timing or what? Really hope these bands come back to Toronto soon....

The EP was co-produced by Sune Rose Wagner of The Raveonettes and I would just like to put this out there - if The Raveonettes and Dum Dum Girls were to tour together (and bring the tour to Toronto, of course), I WOULD DIE OF HAPPINESS. I think they'd be perfect tourmates.

I've also been listening to my usual mix of Jenny Lewis/Rilo Kiley/Jenny and Johnny, and SHIT, what about the new Radiohead album? I admit, I haven't played the hell out of it, but it's a damn good album. In fact, I might listen to it right now...

HI.

Oh my god, I fail at blogging. I didn't even realize that I hadn't updated at all THIS YEAR.

I don't even have anything I want to blog about at the moment, but I did recently come back from a week-long trip to Seattle and Portland. Can I just move there now, please?