Songbird
Feb
14
All Time Favorite #12
By Rachel | All Time Favorite | 7 Comments
Nothing says Happy Valentine’s Day like a little BDSM!
Secretary is really just a superb film, it is surprising actually. Directed by Steven Shainberg who I personally have never heard of nor have I seen any other films in which he directed but bravo to him for this film. Secretary also introduced me to the work of Erin Cressida Wilson who wrote the screenplay and Mary Gaitskill who wrote the short story, but regardless of the unknown this film was so well done and I applaud all who had a hand in creating it.
I am sure some were probably hesitant to see this movie because of the sadomasochistic plot but I think as long as you are not my grandma (who actually did see this film not knowing the plot outline and being the miserable closed minded person she is you can only guess what she thought of it) I recommend giving it a whirl, I think you may just be pleasantly surprised unless of course you are a miserable, bitter and closed minded person then you may not like it so much.
Leonard Cohen’s sultry I’m Your Man accompanies Gyllenhaal’s character as she crawls on her hands and knees towards her boss’s office, and with that this makes Secretary my official All Time Favorite #11 on this mushy love blah blah blah day. ;-)
I’m Your Man (mp3 expired) – Leonard Cohen
Secretary (Soundtrack) 2002 [Get it]
also available on I’m Your Man 1988 [Get it]
Feb
13
Random Music #3
By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 3 Comments
Land of Talk members include Elizabeth, Bucky and Chris they are a Montreal-based band started by Elizabeth Powell. Elizabeth has been making music for awhile but it wasn’t until she met up with drummer Bucky was Land of Talk formed, then Chris (bass) came along and the intricate beaming rock of Land of Talk was complete. Their debut album Applause Cheer Boo Hiss was released on Dependent Music on April, 11th 2006. Weeeeee!
Sea Foam (mp3 expired)- Land Of Talk
Applause Cheer Boo Hiss
Get it
Nurse & Soldier is collaboration between 4 members who hail from Brooklyn, New York and I urge you to read their bio here, quite entertaining. Their new album, Marginalia was released on Brah/Jagjaguwar on January 23rd.
Fishing (mp3 expired)- Nurse & Soldier
Marginalia
Get it
Helene I have posted about before here she has released a new single, Apostille Series 8. Her angelic voice is always a pleasure to listen to.
Apostille (mp3 expired)- Helene
Apostille
Get it
Feb
10
Rewind Repeat #3
By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 2 Comments
I know I have been away for too long but I do have some wonderful music to offer you…What has been sparking my interest this past week? Well let’s see…
Bloc Party’s Weekend in the City was officially released this past Tuesday and I immediately noticed Okereke’s apparent lyrical growth. The lyrics of songs like “Waiting for the 7:18” and “I Still Remember” are much more expressive in a strikingly direct way. “I Still Remember” recalls an attraction of two schoolboys with such an eloquent tenderness:
And on that teachers’ training day
We wrote our names on every train
Laughed at the people off to work
So monochrome and so lukewarm…
–I Still Remember, Bloc Party
It is hard to deny that Bloc Party has demonstrated their growth and experience by giving us an album that retains the same energetic post-punk Bloc Party we have come to love and combines it with an emotional intimacy, which has created a connection that resonates in the listeners mind. Get it here.
(mp3 expired) Hunting For Witches
(mp3 expired) I Still Remember
Other music I was enjoying this week?
The Apples In Stereo have released their long awaited new album, New Magnetic Wonder. Get their new album here.
(mp3 expired) 7 Stars
(mp3 expired) Beautiful Machine 3-4
Also, I highly recommend giving Eleni Mandell a listen, her new album, Miracle of Five was just released and it is fantastic. Get it here.
(mp3 expired) Moonglow, Lamp Low
(mp3 expired) Make-Out King
Feb
9
All Time Favorite #11
By Rachel | All Time Favorite | 9 Comments
Dead Melodies (mp3 expired) – Beck
From Adaptation (2002)
Available on Mutations (1998) [Get it]
This All Time Favorite almost didn’t happen but then while I was requesting pip’s vote on a possible ATF contender it dawned on me and then suddenly the clouds in the sky parted and golden rays shined from the heavens and I was granted immortality…Actually wait can I change what’s granted to me because I would so much rather have the ability to teleport! That would be so rad! But I have really just gone off on a fanciful tangent that may have been exaggerated just a smidgen…
Going in to see Adaptation in the theater I don’t really remember anticipating it’s release but I loved this film! Directed by the very cool Spike Jonze who also directed Being John Malkovich, as well as numerous music videos for artists like Björk and the Beastie Boys.
The screenplay was written by the Kaufman brothers and I think it is Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman who really deserve the gold stars for how well this film turned out.
I must add that I think it might just be my favorite Nicholas Cage film who is actually playing Charlie and Donald Kaufman in the film. (He was unbelievable in Leaving Las Vegas but I mean you don’t feel like celebrating much of anything after watching that film)
And of course Beck’s, Dead Melodies makes Adaptation an official All Time Favorite. Happy day! It’s Friday! Next up I’ll rewind the week…
Last little query of the day…Is it wrong of me to find this just a bit ridiculous? The headline reads, What made us care about Nicole?
Seriously? I care about the baby she supposedly had a few months ago, I mean does anyone care about that? (sorry there is my gossipy two cents on a bit of Hollywood star soap opera crazy talk)
Feb
7
Peter Bjorn and John, Writer’s Block
By Rachel | Album Picks | 8 Comments
Chills (mp3 expired)
Objects Of My Affection (mp3 expired)
Peter Bjorn and John, Writer’s Block [Get it]
The poster above is from a free in-store the Swedish indie-pop band Peter Bjorn and John did at Fingerprints on 2/2. They also sold out The Roxy in LA on 2/1. The official US release of Writer’s Block has finally arrived and now I want another live show please. ;-)
Writer’s Block is a solid well paced album, the kind of album you pop in and enjoy all the way through and maybe even repeat it.
You can hear the entire album spin here.
That’s all I got for you at the moment, still looking for a job, learning about the stars and chilling with Puma (she sleeps a lot)
Weeeeeeee for Wednesday!
Feb
5
Rewind Repeat #2
By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 8 Comments
Farewell sweet weekend till we meet next time…
So last week I started classes again to finish off the last couple of credits I need, basically kids, my only advice is something my dad would always say, “Eat your peas before your dessert” because it is just so much easier to get classes like Astronomy or Math and Survey of Literature out of the way. The lit class really is one of those classes that could be cool with the right professor but you know that is not always the case, and as much as I love reading the epic poem, Beowulf I do feel as if these classes have become much more of a thorn in my side than they seemed when I was a weeee college freshman at the bright age of 18! Holy shit I am old!
Anyway let’s see what my old ass was listening to last week ;-P
Gong (mp3 expired) – Sigur Rós
Takk (2005) [Get it]
Sigur Rós has been playing on my headphones quite a bit due to their January 13th announcement of a new album in the works. This gets me excited, so to celebrate I revisited their glorious 2005 album, takk…
And I don’t think there is anything I could say that could possibly top this…
‘takk…’ is, according to the band (with icelandic tongue firmly placed in icelandic cheek), a “rock’n’roll record†– and it certainly is on occasion played both loud and fast – but few of the clichés of the genre come through sigur rós intact. in fact, listening to ‘takk…’ it is not images of rebellion or off-the-peg degradation that comes to mind, but more a feeling of being washed clean by music. even when they rock sigur rós provide a clear spot of, dare i say, sanctity, and, at the end, of the record the prevailing feeling is one of peace. –Sigur Rós website
An album which is high upon my all time favorites list, play it loud and often (just broke the cliché-o-meter with that one I think). Also check out a couple of Sigur Rós covers over on their site:
HoppÃpolla Acoustic (mp3 expired) version by We Are Scientists
Starálfur Acoustic (mp3 expired) version by Special Moth
Feb
2
Still Toasting The Shins
By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 2 Comments
Your Algebra (mp3 expired)
Oh, Inverted World (2001) [Get it]
Baby Boomerang (mp3 expired)
Fighting in a Sack (2005) [Get it] also found on
A House Full of Friends (2005) [Get it]
Happiness Is A Chemical (mp3 expired) – Darren Hanlon
Featuring special guests: Jesse Sandoval (The Shins), Mark Monnone (The Lucksmiths), Katy Davidson (Dear Nora), Lenka Kripac (Decoder Ring) and Cory Gray (Desert City Soundtrack).
Fingertips And Mountaintops (2006) [Get it]
So I’m still celebrating the music of The Shins…Shit I need to celebrate something after this never ending hell week. But it’s Friday! Weeeeeee!
Feb
1
King of Prussia, Save the Scene
By Rachel | Album Picks | 5 Comments
Cheerleaders (snippet)
Shades of Hippiedom (snippet)
->The songs above are now snippets of the original song for you to preview, I highly recommend the entire album you won’t be disappointed. Support the band buy Save the Scene
King of Prussia hails from Georgia (Another band from GA? Yes, no joke.) And I am now officially placing GA on my “considering to live” list. These 5 guys have really left quite an impression on me…And their debut 7 track album consists of majestic sweeping pop that is quite simply some of the most promising indie-pop I have heard in quite some time. I can really go on and on praising this band, but I know as soon as you hear their music it will speak for itself (forgive the cliché, but I am serious).
Since this fantastic band is currently checking out some possible label options this debut album hasn’t been the easiest to come by, so I have heard (I have a magical genie so I am lucky in that respect) But as of right now you can pick up a copy of their new album, Save the Scene on their myspace. They are playing a series of shows in Georgia but I am hoping if I ask real nicely, King of Prussia will head out West in my direction sometime soon in the near future. ;-) I know they’re working on it.
Jan
30
All Time Favorite #10
By Rachel | All Time Favorite | 9 Comments
Rob: I get by because of the people who make a special effort to shop here – mostly young men – who spend all their time looking for deleted Smith singles, and original – not re released, underlined – Frank Zappa albums. Fetish properties are not unlike porn. I’d feel guilty taking their money, if I wasn’t…well…kinda one of them.
High Fidelity as one of my All Time Favs? What a cliché, but a damn good cliché! I think I have watched this movie like 52 million times, maybe that’s an exaggeration, it might be more like 51 million. My copy isn’t in it’s box and I have no idea where it is but that’s alright because it was a VHS and after watching it 51 million times it only really had one or two more viewings before it went to VHS heaven right along side my VHS copy of Kicking and Screaming (1995). But I digress…
John Cusack is a cutie patooty and he can make me a mix tape any day…This movie appeals to both men and women and that is rare. The soundtrack really just completes the package nicely with gift wrap and a big giant red bow.
Selecting one song to include this pick as an All Time Fav was not an easy task…Stereolab, The Beta Band, The Velvet Underground and then some appear on this soundtrack and if you don’t own this soundtrack…Go buy it right now. Seriously stop what you are doing and go to your nearest record store and pick up a copy ASAP.
After careful consideration…
Cold Blooded Old Times (mp3 expired) – Smog
High Fidelity Soundtrack (2000) [Get it]
also available on Knock Knock (1999) [Get it]
Smog is awesome, Bill Callahan is brilliant…
the type of memories
that turn your bones
turn your bones to glassand though you were
just a little squirrel
you understood every wordand in this way
they gave you clarity
a cold-blooded clarityCold-blooded old times
Cold-blooded old times
Cold-blooded old timesthough how can I stand
and laugh with the man
who redefined your body?…-Smog (Bill Callahan)
Fucking chilling it’s so good.
Jan
26
Rewind Repeat
By Rachel | Music Mix Up | 4 Comments
What’s this you say? A new feature? Yes, you are correct sir!
The way this feature plays is quite simple, the following is a mix of songs which have been playing repeat style on my pod throughout the week. So the songs vary from brand new album releases to not so new album releases. Some songs may be from albums that have previously been featured on Untitled but I will never re-post a song. Is everyone following my complicated explanation? Hope so…I make everything ten times harder than it needs to be, a terrible flaw I admit.
But pish posh let us get to the music….Weeeeeeeee!
Of Montreal released their new album, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? Quite an original album title don’t you think? Of Montreal create some of the most unique synth pop-rock I have heard in awhile and in all honesty their new album is electric. The album has something for everyone, which is why I think it is so appealing. The opening track “Suffer for Fashion” is a magnetic pop gift from the heavens that I never want to end. Other tracks like “Labyrinthian Pomp” and “She’s a Rejecter” are equally enjoyable in a amusing bizarre way. You can stream the entire album here
Sink The Seine (mp3 expired) – Of Montreal
Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (2007) [Get it]
The Shins have also released their new album, Wincing The Night Away, hopefully there are still some of you who avoided the leak and held out for the official release. This is what I did and as always this makes it so much more enjoyable for me. This is another album I was pleasantly surprised by and after 3 Shinless years this album was highly anticipated to say the least. So did they live up to the hype? Well, they did and they didn’t…I think this album demonstrates the progression of their tra-la-la pop to a swirly symphonic layered tra-la-la pop that is quite pleasing. But I think some fans have yet to appreciate the evolution of sound, and I say they are missing out. I have to raise my glass to toast The Shins as they have succeeded in expanding their music without loosing what made them so delightful to begin with. Cheers!
Stream the entire album here
thank Chad over at Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands for that.
I leave you with a taste, the opening track, dreamy fan-fucking-tastic pop…
Sleeping Lessons (mp3 expired) – The Shins
Wincing The Night Away (2007) [Get it]
This next band is courtesy of Rich over at the always fantastic Cable & Tweed. He introduced me to the music of Chainestereo and their debut EP Magnetic South, which proves that some of the best indie-pop rock is coming out of Georgia. A strong and very enjoyable 6 track EP from this fairly young unknown band that I highly recommend giving a listen. The EP is available at Criminal Records [Phone: (404) 215-9511] or contact the band.
Appomattox (mp3 expired)- Chainestereo
Magnetic South EP (2006) [Get it]
My last song for this first Rewind Repeat post is from a band I previously covered here. But I think they deserve a bit more attention. They recently signed a 3 album contract with Polyvinyl sharing the same label as our friends Of Montreal. The first album is a re-release of their debut full length, Broom which is just quite simply fan-fucking-tastic. Catchy glee pop that is honest and personal. I highly recommend checking out the album, here is a sample track which has been playing non-stop on my pod…
House Fire (mp3 expired) – Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Broom (2006) [Get it]
Disclaimer
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.
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