Songbird
Jan
27
Devil In The Details
By Rachel | Album Picks | Leave a Comment
 
I want to take a moment to talk about Bright Eyes. I am not sure what I have been waiting for all these years. It is really a shame that I have missed listening to all of this great music for so long. I avoided it like the plague due to silly stereotypes and just being flat out stubborn. But I was oh so wrong. I dove in head first and fell head over heels in love and now I can’t get enough. Thank you to a dear friend for showing me the way. I am eternally grateful.
Conor Oberst’s voice, his lyrics, the pain, the anger, the passion in his music makes my heart ache in only the best way. His music makes me feel it ALL and I welcome it with open arms.
Devil In the Details – Bright Eyes
Digital Ash In A Digital Urn 2005 (Saddle Creek)
A house of cards
A supple heart
Is not a place to dwellNow you have your cake
Don’t hesitate
Come on just do it,
Come on just do itPut it in your mouth
There is only now
Tomorrow has to waitBut know there’s no backing out
This is gonna be reality
You can never dream it downI have No way
Of telling
The two apartWell I made amends
In the general sense
But the devil’s in the detailsAnd I know the cause
And I want to stop
But I can’t do it,
I just can’t do itThere was love I meant
There were accidents
So tell me which is which‘Cus I just can’t work it out
But for memory and clarity
We had better write it downI have no way
Of knowing the truth
With time it dissolvesI put the past into the ground
I saw the future as a cloud
If there’s still time to turn around
I’m going toIts just one day I fell asleep
And all day all night I dreamed
I am the first one I deceive
If I can make myself believe
The rest is easy…
Tags: Bright Eyes, Music 2005
Jan
23
Never Going Back
By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 1 Comment
Tonight is the last night of my winter break. As you read this I will be sitting in my first class of the Spring 2012 semester. I have spent the last few weeks listening to a variety of different music which I will be sharing in the weeks to come and drinking a little more than I probably should but having a fabulous time…
I was at the bar the other night and this song shuffled on the jukebox. Reminding me just how good Fleetwood Mac is.
Never Going Back Again – Fleetwood Mac
Rumours 1976
Tags: All Time Favorite, Fleetwood Mac
Jan
12
Favorite Songs Of 2011
By Rachel | The Lists | Leave a Comment
It has been a while my friends… The holidays and the end of year just kind of flew right by me. I hate when the holidays come to an end. There is the calm after the storm feeling which is always a little depressing. There are also these few weeks where the music industry kind of comes to a slow crawl, and I am not really done digesting 2011 so it is a limbo. Which is exactly where I am at right now. Change is hard… The new year transition can make me cling to the past. Although I am working on looking forward with a positive outlook I definitely look forward to new music and concerts in the new year, but the rest is a little more difficult to accept…
Tonight I would like to share a small list of my favorite songs of 2011. I am sure I have forgotten at least a handful that I will later remember randomly and curse out loud, but that is the story of my life. The following tracks are in alphabetical order and you will notice that none of the tracks from my favorite albums list are present in order to highlight some of the many artists that have impacted me so greatly in 2011 with their amazing talent. Just a few for you to sample below the remaining have either been posted throughout the year or can be found by following the link to the album.
I hope everyone is having a great start to the new year, wishing you all lots of happiness in 2012.
Adele – Set Fire To The Rain (21)
Ane Brun- These Days (It All Starts With One)
Bon Iver – Holocene (Bon Iver)
Braids – Lammicken (Native Speaker)
CANT – Believe (Dreams Come True)
Coldplay – Paradise (Mylo Xyloto)
DeVotchKa – The Alley (100 Lovers)
Death Cab For Cutie – Codes and Keys (Codes And Keys)
Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out (Ceremonials)
Gillian Welch – The Way It Will Be (The Harrow & The Harvest)
Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know (Making Mirrors)
Ivan & Alyosha – Everything is Burning (Fathers Be Kind EP)
Lia Ices – Daphne (Grown Unknown)
Little Dragon -Â Ritual Union (Tensnake Remix) (Ritual Union)
Lykke Li – I Follow Rivers (Wounded Rhymes)
M83 – Midnight City (Hurry Up We’re Dreaming)
My Morning Jacket – Victory Dance (Circuital)
Noah and the Whale – Life is Life (Last Night On Earth)
Okkervil River – The Valley (I Am Very Far)
Phantogram – Don’t Move (Nightlife)
PJ Harvey – The Last Living Rose (Let England Shake)
Radiohead – Staircase (The Daily Mail & Staircase)
Sarabeth Tucek – The Fireman (Get Well Soon)
Thao & Mirah – Little Cup (Thao & Mirah)
The Antlers – No Widows (Burst Apart)
The Black Keys – Lonely Boy (El Camino)
The Civil Wars – I’ve Got This Friend (Barton Hallow)
The Generationals – Greenleaf (Actor-Caster)
The Head and The Heart – Rivers and Roads (The Head and the Heart)
The Naked and Famous – Young Blood (Passive Me, Aggressive You)
Tycho – A Walk (Dive)
TV On The Radio – You (Nine Types Of Light)
Vetiver – Worse For Wear (The Errant Charm)
Wilco – Black Moon (The Whole Love)
William Elliott Whitmore – Don’t Need It (Field Songs)
Wye Oak – Civilian (Civilian)
Yuck – Suck (Yuck)
Zee Avi – Swell Window (Ghostbird)
Zola Jesus – Skin (Conatus)
Don’t Move – Phantogram
Nightlife 2011 (Barsuk Records)
You – TV On The Radio
Nine Types of Light 2011 (Interscope Records)
These Days – Ane Brun
It All Starts With One import 2011 (Ais)
Tags: Favorite Songs of 2011, Music 2011Dec
27
Eleven Favorite Albums Of 2011
By Rachel | The Lists | 8 Comments
This list is a long time coming and a little later than I would have liked it to be, but I do not take lists lightly so I didn’t want to rush it. For me 2011 was a great year in music. I have opened myself up and listened to a lot of stuff that I don’t think I would have given a chance a couple of years ago. I also saw a fair amount of shows in 2011. Alexi Murdoch, The Decemberists, The Kills, James Vincent McMorrow and these are all albums I consider to have made up a large portion of my 2011 soundtrack. Thank you for listening and reading. I am going on my sixth year of this and I still love it. Thank you so much for sharing this joy of music with me. Happy Holidays!
 
When I first heard the album the only thing I was disappointed with was how short it was. I wanted more. The thing about Radiohead is that they always surprise me. Their music is ever evolving and King Of Limbs is a perfect example of that. I have said from the beginning it is a mix of old and new. It has the eclectic layered sound of Kid A mixed with a new electronic beat driven sound. With each listen new layers are revealed and kudos to them for continuing to expand their music and keeping their fans on their toes. I am waiting impatiently for word of a show in California… Waiting with baited breath.
 
This album took me by surprise. I was and still am obsessed with it which is a strange because I have never been this smitten with any of her previous albums. Metals however is different than any of her other albums. The sound is bigger and more refined. Her voice is complimented so well by the bold melodies. It has been on constant rotation and deserves this spot on my list.
This band exploded onto the scene a couple of years ago and took my breath away. I have a spiritual awakening when I hear their indie rock booming through my speakers. This album is filled with whirling melodies and layered arrangements that are simply stunning. Currently opening for some Radiohead shows… I am determined to see them live hopefully with Radiohead.
Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is An Animal
Oh man I went back and forth on whether I should include this album. But I decided I have it and I have been listening to it constantly and it has been a big part of my life in 2011. This Icelandic band has quickly become my favorite new band. I love their upbeat sing along indie rock and this debut album is a must! It is totally worth the import cost.
p.s. I forgot to mention that there is a hidden track on the last song, Yellow Light. So good.
 
Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince kick so much ass! Blood Pressures simply rocks. I saw them live and I fell in love with them and this album just that much more. It is gritty and dynamic. An absolute must have in your music collection.
 
Boy & Bear is another band I waited patiently for… Their debut album was well worth the wait. Colorful arrangements matched with Dave Hosking’s unique vocals. Their music just makes me feel good which is why it was a definite favorite of 2011.
 
Alexi Murdoch – Towards The Sun
This album is a special one. I have actually been listening to it for about two years since I got a copy at his concert back in 2009 and I have been listening to it ever since. I finally got it on vinyl last night for Christmas thanks to my dear friend. If you are an avid reader or even just a casual reader of Untitled Records you know my undying love for Alexi Murdoch. Seeing him live this year at the intimate Bootleg theater really made me realize he is my favorite singer-songwriter of all time.
 
I wasn’t really expecting this album to make it onto the year end list honestly but here it is. It took me by surprise, I have always enjoyed their music, but on We Are The Tide I can put it on and let it play and play. Their music is infectious and this sophomore album is absolutely fantastic.
 
James Vincent McMorrow – Early In The Morning
Another singer-songwriter I saw live this year. He took me by storm with his delicate singer-songwriter arrangements with his unique vocals that will remind you of Bon Iver, but I feel James Vincent McMorrow has fuller arrangements that compliment his fragile vocals. His debut album, Early In The Morning has been on constant repeat throughout the year and he was such a treat to see live in a fantastically intimate setting which was just perfection.
 
I don’t think there is an album that Zach Condon creates that is not on my end of year list. The Rip Tide is one of my favorite albums since Gulag Orkestar. Trumpet galore mixed with that French Chanson style along with a modern twist that only Zach Condon can bring to the table. Light and beautiful. His prettiest album to date.
 
The Decemberists – The King Is Dead
Oh Decemberists… How I love thee. How I loved seeing them live this year and being in their presence felt like coming home. Their music, their style, their spirit, their lyrics. Everything. This is one of my favorite albums since The Crane Wife but I feel The King Is Dead has taken the top spot hands down. So well done.
Tags: Alexi Murdoch, Beirut, Blind Pilot, Boy & Bear, Feist, James Vincent McMorrow, Music 2011, Of Monsters and Men, Other Lives, Radiohead, The Decemberists, The Kills
Dec
14
Of Monsters And Men
By Rachel | Album Picks | 5 Comments
It has almost been a year since I first discovered Of Monsters and Men and I waited very patiently for word of an album or EP. Well they are finally releasing an EP, Into The Woods on 12/20 and they will be releasing their debut full length album, My Head Is An Animal in 2012. I have fallen head over heels in love with this six piece band hailing from Iceland. It is a mix of Sigur Rós and Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeros. Toe-tapping, dancing folk. Of Monsters and Men has become my new favorite band and I guarantee you will be hearing a lot about them in the next few months as they explode onto the music scene.
p.s. Thanks to a very nice reader their full length album is available through shopicelandic.com
Six Weeks – Of Monsters and Men
Into The Woods EP 2011
Tags: Folk, Music 2011, Of Monsters and MenDec
9
That Year
By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 4 Comments
I can’t fully express what this song means to me. Every word resonates with me and how ironic that it shuffles on today… After all of these years I can’t say we are friends but I can say that I have grown past all of it, I have grown more than I ever imagined I could. Cheers to that.
Give Up the Ghost 2009 (Sony)
Tags: Brandi Carlile, Music 2009, Personal Reflection“That Year”
I must have been sleeping
I must have been drinking
I haven’t been dreaming about you for years
There was a sharp turn and a sunburn
I was too cool for high school that yearIt must have been New Years
No one invited you
You took things too far
But I miss you
And your antics
You were lonesome
And blue eyed
And so special to usYou should have taken a long break
Instead of a long drop from a high place
Ten years I never spoke your name
Now it feels good to say it
You’re my friend againHe said he forgave you
I said I hated you
He was the bigger man
I was sixteen
All the innocence
It took for
You to finally make the year book
That year
That yearYou should have taken a long break
Instead of a long drop
Instead of a leap of faith
Ten years I never spoke your name
Now it feels good to say that
You’re my friend again
You’re my friend againI was angry
I was a Baptist
I was a daughter
I was wrong
Dec
6
Black Moon
By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 1 Comment
Tonight… I just want to sit back and listen to Black Moon on repeat until I fall asleep.
The Whole Love 2011
Tags: Folk, Music 2011, WilcoI was always right
About the morning
Okay, I’m an old shoeDanced above the blaze
Never stopped crawling
Over the black dunesAnd I’m waiting for you
Waiting forever
Are you awake now, too?I’m always one
Without a warning
Old days re-appearLift away, past the gate
Desert keeps forming
Underneath The black moonAnd I’m waiting for you
Waiting forever
Are you awake now, too?
Nov
30
By Your Hand
By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 1 Comment
I like this song a lot… Not the most profound lyrics but there is something about their young indie pop style that just puts a smile on my face when listening. By Your Hand has been on repeat since the albums release. A definite favorite song of 2011.
By Your Hand – Los Campesinos!
Hello Sadness 2011 (Arts & Crafts)
Tags: Indie Pop, Los Campesinos, Music 2011
Nov
24
Dive
By Rachel | Album Picks | 1 Comment
I have been struggling ever since I have returned from Vegas. Struggling with my reality and the monotonous grind of the day to day. When I got back it really hit me, I actually have to go back to work and school… It didn’t all just disappear. My best friend got married which was exciting, but also scary. She is not single anymore, she has more obligations than I and being an only child I am insanely possessive over my friendships it is hard for me to let go a little and share. So I have done a lot of wallowing in self pity over here but I am slowly coming out of it. I am simply trying to remain focused on the here and now, which as we all know is so much easier said than done.
Lately I have been listening to a lot of music on Spotify. Mostly Hip-Hop and “radio” music that I never listen to and certainly never purchase but feel it is important to hear what is current in all genres of music. Must keep up with popular culture. I have been listening to a lot of Jay-Z and Kanye West, Watch the Throne. As well as Eminem, Recovery.
Tonight I want to share the music of Tycho (aka Scott Hansen), a San Francisco based gentlemen (well…I hope he is a gentlemen) that creates swirling electronic melodies that just make me sit back and smile. I believe this is his full length debut however he released an EP back in 2002, The Science of Things. Scott Hansen will be performing at the Echoplex in Los Angeles on 12/08/2011.
p.s. I want to wish a very happy Thanksgiving to everyone. To me Thanksgiving is about great friends, family and good wine. Cheers to the people in your life that you love, tell them how important they are to you. Cheers! xx
Dive 2011 (Ghostly International)
Tags: Ambient, Electronic, Music 2011Nov
16
Lay Myself Down
By Rachel | Music Mix Up | Leave a Comment
Oh, Hope Sandoval how I have yearned for new music from you. Beautiful as always.
Common Burn/Lay Myself Down Single 2011
Tags: Mazzy Star, Music 2011Disclaimer
Music found on this blog is for sampling only. If you like what you hear then support the artist. Buy their music, attend a show and spread the word. If you own the rights to any of the music featured here and you would like me to remove it contact me and I will remove the link immediately.
Click the
tag to listen, right click the song title to save. If you find that an mp3 is not playing chances are it has expired.
Contact
Rachel - Music, FilmAggregator Love
