Monday, July 28, 2008

Time to Make the Donuts

I started my new job today, so I might be a little spotty with the posting for awhile. You know, while I cope with my bracing new reality of getting up early, falling behind on what's going on with Sonny and Kate on Gen Hosp, and being a contributing member of society and stuff.

I like this dude a lot this week. I've been listening to him in the morning while I'm packing my workaday lunch pail.

Telekinesis! - Imaginary Friend (alt link)

Telekinesis! - Coast of Carolina
(alt link)

Telekinesis!space

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Summer Songs, the Sequel

My trip back home was both great and mildly torturous. Not only do I miss my friends, I miss the summers I'm used to: the ramshackle magic of Coney Island, shows at McCarren Pool and Prospect Park, saying I'm going to SummerStage knowing I'll never make it above 42nd Street, drinking at countless Brooklyn rooftops, bars, and backyards, even waiting for the F at 1 am on the brain-scrambling sweatbox that is the Second Ave platform staring at the end of the tunnel with every other single person there, all of us silently praying in unison for the light to reflect off the linoleum tiles. I'm trying (only semi-successfully) to not be homesick, to make the best of my time here in Chicago, and to hope I'll feel it more here once I get into a routine. I just need to embrace my new surroundings, and wow, also try not to sound so self-helpy when I talk about these things, fuuuck.

Anyway, here's some more of my go-to hot weather music. I'm gonna go eat a peach.

Kimya Dawson - Parade (alt link)

Funkadelic - Can You Get to That (alt link)
The first time I heard "Maggot Brain" was on a Chicago visit; I found it in my sister's CD collection from college. I was 16 and it's one of the last times I can remember getting that feeling you get as a teenager when you first hear a certain album and you don't know what it's quite about, but you definitely know you want in on whatever "it" is. The perfect soundtrack for your next bbq. Buy it.

DJ Cam - Dieu ReconnaƮtra Les Siens (alt link)

Quix*o*tic - Sitting in the Park (alt link)

Jimmy Jones - Good Timin' (alt link)

*photo by Jennifer Herbert

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Travelin'

I'm headed home to New York and Philadelphia for a too-short whirlwind trip involving Shake Shack!, snuggling with friends, my cousin's wedding, more friend snuggling, and a watermelon-eating contest on the Lower East Side, in that order. I'm glad Pitchfork's lineup suuucks this year or I would be 1% sad about missing it.

Here's a song by The Black Ghosts that I really like, partially because it reminds me of Phoenix. And Tahiti 80. Man, do I love that easy-breezy Euro sound.

The Black Ghosts - Something New (alt link)

Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better (alt link)

Tahiti 80 - Heartbeat (alt link)

Friday, July 11, 2008

LP3

I got the new Ratatat today, and I'm so pleasantly surprised by how much I like it even on just the first full listen. When their first album came out in 2004 it was a total revelation to me; I remember wishing this was the direction Daft Punk would go in after "Discovery," but the next year they just got even glitzier (and, to me, less interesting) with "Human After All." "Ratatat" sounded like what it was--two Brooklyn dudes futzing around in a room--in the sense that the songs all had the same guitar-and-synthesizer sound. But the bare-bones quality just made it more cohesive as a full album overall, introspective and warm-sounding. I guess I wanted more from their second album because it just seemed like more of the same to me. Maybe I was too quick to dismiss it though, and should stop hating on the fact that they have a 'trademark sound.' I'm officially in love with Ratatat again!
Stream "LP3" here.
Buy it here.

Ratatat - Falcon Jab (alt link)

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Doctor, my foot!

Important health update, you guys.
Last week I was blithely frolicking through the streets of Chicago in my flip-flops (ok I was taking the alley shortcut from the CVS back to my apartment) and one of the 8 million tiny shards of bottle glass, which pave the streets of my neighborhood like so much gold dust, got embedded in my heel. I am equally mad at these mysterious people who can't seem to master holding on to a beer, and at myself for wearing flip flops and then proceeding to walk around a LOT on my flesh wound. Now half the time it hurts real bad and the other half it's totally fine, but I'm afraid to run on it so today I'm going to suck it up and get the fucker cut out. Pray for meeee! It's really tiny I hope they can find it.

Peter Murphy - Cuts You Up (alt link)

bauhausspace

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Summer Songs

The July playlist so far; couple new ones but mostly just stuff I always want to hear this time of year. Enjoy the holiday...I want a hot dog. I wish it was hot out. Hot pockets. Hot toddies. Hott.

Pacific! - Sunset Boulevard (Lord Skywave rmx)** GPB recommended (alt link)

Sexton Blake - I Need Love (cover, dur) (alt link)

DJ Quik ft. Chingy - Get Down (alt link)

Foster Sylvers - Misdemeanor (alt link)

Ghostface - Child's Play (alt link)

Cassie vs Ratatat - Me & U (Siik remix) (alt link)

DJ ST SLV - American Boy (Estelle/The Ting Tings) (alt link)