I like Top 10 of [year] lists but after a while they start to all read the same way, don't they? With minute debates over SHOULD [album] BE BETTER RATED THAN [album b], these end of the year things start to bore me. So, here is a list of the best 10 things my ears heard this year (but not necessarily released this year). Apologies if any links are broken.
Here we go, in no particular order:
jj kills
swedes make a killer mixtape featuring the best beats of 2010 (and before) download here. if you haven't listened to it yet you are missing out.
cults cults
i am still kicking myself for missing them in august. refreshing and fun. were they overplayed in the states? this was just a lovely album. download here.
beirut east harlem
the new beirut album was excellent. but i could listen to this song all day (and i did).
hot chip
hot chip is a band that i have had sitting in my itunes for several years and finally i got around to giving them a proper listen. I was blown away. download: one life stand | made in the dark | the warning
frightened rabbit, the midnight organ fight
this is a serious breakup album, but it is like ear-crack. you've been warned. That said, i don't think they're really big in the us - is this a hidden scottish gem? somebody report back. download here, but I'm serious about the ear-crack thing.
lil wayne feat. drake right above it
i think it is no secret that i love obnoxious hip hop (and socially aware hip hop of course) but this is just a fantastic song. drake's new album is good, but I find he's a much better guest than on his own accord.
nicki minaj pink friday (deluxe edition)
i have gushed about nicki minaj here before (& see above comment about obnoxious hip-hop). every time i listen to this album I find more things to love. Download here.
m83 hurry up, we're dreaming
i could probably talk at length why 'midnight city' is a serious contender for song of the year, but there are so many other wonderful moments happening here. i have a secret theory that anthony gonzales is taking the same beats and reversing them and flipping them over & over and it is STILL nice for a full one-and-a-half hours. download it here
wild flag, wild flag
let us not kid ourselves. i like nearly everything related to riot grrl and especially sleater-kinney. 2 members of sleater kinney + 1 member of helium + 1 member of the minders = a band i will probably like no matter what they created. this album rocked just as hard as i hoped it would. download here
chad valley shell suite
i apparently listened to a lot of electronica this year. this is a lovely little tune that i can't stop loving.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
st vincent cruel / beyonce 4 / cut copy zonoscope / holy ghost! holy ghost! / tune yards whokill* / pj harvey let england shake / the kills blood pressures etc etc.
What were your favorites?
*tuneyards live was easily the best gig i saw this year!
Showing posts with label heather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heather. Show all posts
Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
you guys i am working on something for the end of the year - you will see in due time - but i would like to draw everyone's attention to beyonce's amazing song countdown
it is perhaps a little-known fact about me that i take occasional beyonce breaks in my day
i think this is valid use of my time
i don't really care if you think this song is overplayed, because DAMN GIRL.
it is perhaps a little-known fact about me that i take occasional beyonce breaks in my day
i think this is valid use of my time
i don't really care if you think this song is overplayed, because DAMN GIRL.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
things heather likes, oct edition
You guys I have finally finished my thesis! I even turned it in A WHOLE DAY before its deadline. It is 159 pages long, and there were lots of things that should have gotten in the way of this happening - including a conference I was presenting at in Norway the week before the deadline and the 30 pages I had to write the week before I left for Norway - I DID IT. I am now starting my PhD this month because I am clearly delusional.
Since we have established that I have questionable taste while writing - at one point I actually downloaded a Ke$ha song to listen to while editing - I decided it might be safe to take a quick break before returning to Droolycat. But I'm back, bitches! & with a new set of Things Heather Likes.
1. Marina and the Diamonds - Radioactive (How To Dress Well Rework)
How To Dress Well is a minimalist hip-hop musician (for lack of a better phrase). I know, I know... Basically, he takes familiar aspects of r&b and piles on shit tons of reverb and backchannels to make really ethereal music. But god damn does this man have an ear for pop music. I really like Marina and the Diamonds but her original version of this is just ... boring in comparsion to HTDW's cover. Take a listen and try to get it out of your head.
2. Bibio - K is for Kelson
I don't really know where to begin with Bibio. He does some sort of experimental instrumental-electro-producing thing. If you listened to me ages ago and downloaded Summer Babes (which, PS, you totally should - this was one of my favorite 'albums' all year) you will probably be familiar with Lover's Carvings (make yourself familiar). Like Lover's Carvings this is catchy and summery and fun... even if it is fall.
3. Holy Ghost! vs. Black Van - Holy Mashopolis (I Will Come Back vs. Yearning)
The only thing I know about Holy Ghost! is that I was supposed to see him DJ once, but because I had no idea who he was I didn't go. In hindsight I am disappointed in myself. (Sidenote: I am skipping 2 symposiums, one in Lancaster and one in Belfast this coming weekend to catch a Peaches DJ set with a pretty girl. This is probably the correct prioritization.) His 2011 album Holy Ghost! was pretty great. Here's an earlier track, remixed with something else.
4. Girls - Hunny Bunny
Girls is a band I like but they are nigh impossible to Google, as you might imagine. Here is their attempt at 60s surf rock.
5. The New Feist Album, Metals
It's fall! And there's a new Feist album! This is about love falling apart but I still want to spend all day reading in bed while this plays in quietly in the background.
6. St Vincent, Strange Mercy
Ashley and I saw St Vincent open for Andrew Bird a few years ago. It was - as an understatement - a very strange opening set, especially because we had never heard of St Vincent. There was a tiny woman on stage who was prone to careen between very beautiful, melodic sections and a violent, stompy, discordant noise parade. It was truly an exercise in Pixiesesque loud/soft dynamic, and we didn't like it very much - especially because we were here to hear a violin looping virtuouso! what was happening! Boy, were we ever wrong. Admittedly St Vincent has sort of toned down the extremism here; this album's much more controlled than her other two albums, but Ashley- this one's for you. Give her a second chance (if you haven't already!)
Since we have established that I have questionable taste while writing - at one point I actually downloaded a Ke$ha song to listen to while editing - I decided it might be safe to take a quick break before returning to Droolycat. But I'm back, bitches! & with a new set of Things Heather Likes.
1. Marina and the Diamonds - Radioactive (How To Dress Well Rework)
How To Dress Well is a minimalist hip-hop musician (for lack of a better phrase). I know, I know... Basically, he takes familiar aspects of r&b and piles on shit tons of reverb and backchannels to make really ethereal music. But god damn does this man have an ear for pop music. I really like Marina and the Diamonds but her original version of this is just ... boring in comparsion to HTDW's cover. Take a listen and try to get it out of your head.
2. Bibio - K is for Kelson
I don't really know where to begin with Bibio. He does some sort of experimental instrumental-electro-producing thing. If you listened to me ages ago and downloaded Summer Babes (which, PS, you totally should - this was one of my favorite 'albums' all year) you will probably be familiar with Lover's Carvings (make yourself familiar). Like Lover's Carvings this is catchy and summery and fun... even if it is fall.
3. Holy Ghost! vs. Black Van - Holy Mashopolis (I Will Come Back vs. Yearning)
The only thing I know about Holy Ghost! is that I was supposed to see him DJ once, but because I had no idea who he was I didn't go. In hindsight I am disappointed in myself. (Sidenote: I am skipping 2 symposiums, one in Lancaster and one in Belfast this coming weekend to catch a Peaches DJ set with a pretty girl. This is probably the correct prioritization.) His 2011 album Holy Ghost! was pretty great. Here's an earlier track, remixed with something else.
4. Girls - Hunny Bunny
Girls is a band I like but they are nigh impossible to Google, as you might imagine. Here is their attempt at 60s surf rock.
5. The New Feist Album, Metals
It's fall! And there's a new Feist album! This is about love falling apart but I still want to spend all day reading in bed while this plays in quietly in the background.
6. St Vincent, Strange Mercy
Ashley and I saw St Vincent open for Andrew Bird a few years ago. It was - as an understatement - a very strange opening set, especially because we had never heard of St Vincent. There was a tiny woman on stage who was prone to careen between very beautiful, melodic sections and a violent, stompy, discordant noise parade. It was truly an exercise in Pixiesesque loud/soft dynamic, and we didn't like it very much - especially because we were here to hear a violin looping virtuouso! what was happening! Boy, were we ever wrong. Admittedly St Vincent has sort of toned down the extremism here; this album's much more controlled than her other two albums, but Ashley- this one's for you. Give her a second chance (if you haven't already!)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
my life, my swag
Hello droolycats! I am in the middle of finishing up my masters dissertation! Lately I have been listening to my thesis anthem, The Bad Girl Workout Plan, while I write. Listen along! The whole thing is excellent, but my favorite part starts at 14:28.
Bad Girl Workout Plan by djlilray
ALSO, I accidentally made a really excellent hipster breakup/rebound mixtape. this is hilarious because i am a) not seeing anyone and b) not going through a break-up, but I am c) a giant hipster. (recently in Urban Outfitters I was mistaken for an employee.) Enjoy.
01. abducted - cults
02. bedroom eyes - dum dum girls
03. romance - wild flag
04. get some - lykke li
05. heavy cross (RAC mix) - the gossip
06. we can't stop [ft ne-yo] - jj
07. try sleeping with a broken heart (alicia keys) - chad valley
08. indestructible - robyn
09. super bass - nicki minaj
10. last friday night (tgif) (viceroy poolside remix) - katy perry
Yes, i can hear you judging me from over there for the last few tracks. Thanks. I bet you'll secretly love them anyway. Download this mix, which i have pretentiously named 'this is not a love song' here.
Bad Girl Workout Plan by djlilray
ALSO, I accidentally made a really excellent hipster breakup/rebound mixtape. this is hilarious because i am a) not seeing anyone and b) not going through a break-up, but I am c) a giant hipster. (recently in Urban Outfitters I was mistaken for an employee.) Enjoy.
01. abducted - cults
02. bedroom eyes - dum dum girls
03. romance - wild flag
04. get some - lykke li
05. heavy cross (RAC mix) - the gossip
06. we can't stop [ft ne-yo] - jj
07. try sleeping with a broken heart (alicia keys) - chad valley
08. indestructible - robyn
09. super bass - nicki minaj
10. last friday night (tgif) (viceroy poolside remix) - katy perry
Yes, i can hear you judging me from over there for the last few tracks. Thanks. I bet you'll secretly love them anyway. Download this mix, which i have pretentiously named 'this is not a love song' here.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
things heather hates
We spend a lot of time on this here blog talking about music we really love.
What about music we really hate?!
I went through my iTunes the other day, looking for some. And then I remembered I make a concious effort to not curate music I hate on my hard drive. But then I was curious about something I'd really not want to listen to for any extended period of time (ie. more than 30 seconds). I have a bunch of artists I don't really like, per se, but upon revisiting them 2-5 years later, I love them (see exhibit a: Hot Chip. God DAMN was I missing out. I'm just getting into them now- good thing I saved those three albums of theirs!)
But this still doesn't solve my mystery of music I really hate... or does it?
Here are some things that I, Heather, cannot stand to listen to:
1. Rap-Metal.
Why did this have to happen.
2. Modern Pop-Country Music.
I actually really love country music - old stuff (Johnny Cash!) to newer alt-country (Neko Case! Wilco!), bluegrass (Crooked Still!) and even Dolly Parton (yes I said it, you guys can stop taking me seriously now...) But this shit? Terrible.
3. Musicals.*
I really dislike when people leap up out of nowhere and start singing and dancing. Musicals, therefore, I something irrationally hate. Maybe this means I don't like fun, I don't know.
* I make four exceptions to this rule: 1) Mamma Mia, as I sometimes get drunk for the sole purpose of watching the DVD (and the entire thing is people singing - they don't stop singing OR dancing, so it's sort of okay); 2) Rocky Horror Picture Show; 3) Hedwig and the Angry Inch; 4) The Muppets. #2, 3 and 4 are weird enough as it is, so adding more unnecessary weirdness is just entirely campy and over the top and therefore enjoyable!
4. Matchbox 20.
Fuck off, Rob Thomas.
What about music we really hate?!
I went through my iTunes the other day, looking for some. And then I remembered I make a concious effort to not curate music I hate on my hard drive. But then I was curious about something I'd really not want to listen to for any extended period of time (ie. more than 30 seconds). I have a bunch of artists I don't really like, per se, but upon revisiting them 2-5 years later, I love them (see exhibit a: Hot Chip. God DAMN was I missing out. I'm just getting into them now- good thing I saved those three albums of theirs!)
But this still doesn't solve my mystery of music I really hate... or does it?
Here are some things that I, Heather, cannot stand to listen to:
1. Rap-Metal.
Why did this have to happen.
2. Modern Pop-Country Music.
I actually really love country music - old stuff (Johnny Cash!) to newer alt-country (Neko Case! Wilco!), bluegrass (Crooked Still!) and even Dolly Parton (yes I said it, you guys can stop taking me seriously now...) But this shit? Terrible.
3. Musicals.*
I really dislike when people leap up out of nowhere and start singing and dancing. Musicals, therefore, I something irrationally hate. Maybe this means I don't like fun, I don't know.
* I make four exceptions to this rule: 1) Mamma Mia, as I sometimes get drunk for the sole purpose of watching the DVD (and the entire thing is people singing - they don't stop singing OR dancing, so it's sort of okay); 2) Rocky Horror Picture Show; 3) Hedwig and the Angry Inch; 4) The Muppets. #2, 3 and 4 are weird enough as it is, so adding more unnecessary weirdness is just entirely campy and over the top and therefore enjoyable!
4. Matchbox 20.
Fuck off, Rob Thomas.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
what the hell is 'chillwave' ?
I have no idea. I keep hearing (about) it. It sounds like some sort of new hipster thing that we'll look back on and laugh & laugh. Remember emocore or whatever that was? Thursday and Taking Back Sunday and stuff? That was hipster music before there were hipsters, right? (how appropriate.)
BUT WHATEVER TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT CHILLWAVE. I have three mixes for you, which I did not make but rather gratuitously lifted from Perfect|Midnight|World. I think these generally fall under the category of "chillwave" though.
I'm going to need you to suspend your hipster disbelief for approximately 3 hours, as I think i have accidentally found the perfect trifecta of summertime soundtracks: one for when it is too hot to move, one for late-night rides, and one for quietly putting on while having friends over. I've been writing and listening to them a lot, too. I think these might actually just be perfect anytime playlists, really...
---
---
You are welcome.
BUT WHATEVER TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT CHILLWAVE. I have three mixes for you, which I did not make but rather gratuitously lifted from Perfect|Midnight|World. I think these generally fall under the category of "chillwave" though.
I'm going to need you to suspend your hipster disbelief for approximately 3 hours, as I think i have accidentally found the perfect trifecta of summertime soundtracks: one for when it is too hot to move, one for late-night rides, and one for quietly putting on while having friends over. I've been writing and listening to them a lot, too. I think these might actually just be perfect anytime playlists, really...
- Cloudy Busey - Broken By Inertia
- Warm Speakers - Waves
- Summer Heart - Simple Minds
- Teen Daze - Let’s Fall Asleep Together
- Art Imperial - The Inbetweener
- Seapony - Dreaming
- Cheerleader - New Daze
- Saskatchewan - Dreamboat
- All Tiny Creatures - Holography
- Beach Fossils - Plastic Flowers
- Women - Bullfight
- Guards - Swimming After Dark
- Ham1 - Ghost Loop
- Dirty Gold - California Sunrise
- Eddie the Wheel - Nearsayerfive
- Kids on a Crime Spree - Sweet Tooth
- Real Estate - Younger than Yesterday
- We Are Trees - Teenage Heartbreak
- Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr - If It Wasn’t You
- Still Corners - Endless Summer
- Banjo or Freakout - Go Ahead
- Soccer Legends - Leeroy
- Chad Valley - Acker Bilk
- Active Child - Playing House (Ft. How To Dress Well)
- Washed Out - Eyes Be Closed
- Pulsprogramming - Island Answer Anywhere
- Dead Gaze - Take Me Home or I Die Alone
- All Tiny Creatures - Breathing Set
- K.C. Accidental - Ruined in ‘84
- Teen Daze - Watch Over Me
- Atlas Sound - Quick Canal
- John Maus - Hey Moon
- Porcelain Raft - Come Closer
- Film School - Sick of the Shame
- Zaza - Don’t Bleed Me
- Arrange - Golden Neighborhoods
- Stumbleine - Wasted Summer
- Trouble Books & Mark McGuire - Floating Through Summer
- Asche and Spencer - Under the Stars
- Neighbors - Bad Timing
- Zola Jesus - Run Me Out (Acoustic)
- Ducktails - Sitting
- Girls Names - I Could Die
- Teen Daze - Cliff Jump Love Song
- Beach Fossils - Face It
- Flake Music - Deluca
- Grandaddy - Summer Here Kids
- Real Estate - Out of Tune
- Dream Cop - Beach City / Carol I Know
- Thee Oh Sees - Corrupted Coffin
- Tyler Jon Tyler - Seperate Issue
- Dom - I Wonder
- Atlas Sound - Day Out
- Pavement - Grounded (Alt. Version)
- Cloud Nothings - Forget You All the Time
- Black Tambourine - By Tomorrow
- Surfer Blood - Catholic Pagans
- Yuck - Stutter
- Pinback - Tripoli
- Youth Lagoon - July
- Dead Meadow - I’m Gone
You are welcome.
Friday, June 17, 2011
this is the remix!
You guys, seventeen year old me is really jealous of twenty three year old me. On Wednesday I went to a Belle & Sebastian music video launch, and tomorrow I'm going to a symposium on the Historical Thesaurus of the OED.
But never mind all of that.
because...
guess what time it is?
TIME FOR MORE THINGS HEATHER LIKES AW YEAH
(otherwise known as 'i have been writing and here are some things I have been listening to, perhaps unhealthily, on repeat')
1. Alpine Ski Champion
Alpine Ski Champion is one of the approximately six bands (this is only a slight exaggeration, though by the time you read this it might be accurate) that my friend Suse is in. ASC is her electro project with her bandmate-in-one-of-her-other-bands/friend Frazer Graham. Both Suse and Frazer are DJs as well, and brilliant ones at that, so needless to say the combination of all of that into an electronic project is pretty fucking fantastic. I recently saw Alpine Ski Champion play live, and they were most excellent. (SIDENOTE, electronic music performed live is much more interesting than i expected it to be.) You can check out all of their tracks on Soundcloud, but check out this remix of Gwen Stefani ft. Pharrel Williams' Ice Cream Island--
Ice Cream Island (Gwen Stefani & Pharrell yummy vocal edit) by AlpineSkiChampion
If this doesn't win you over, nothing will!
2. Bon Iver, Self-Titled
Confession time: I barely listened to For Emma, Forever Ago. (I am aware of the massive crime against humanity that this represents.) Something about this album gave me extraordinary bad luck. So when I heard that Bon Iver was coming out with a new album, I was ready to miss it again. And then I heard Calgary and everything - EVERYTHING - changed. Christ on a bicycle, you guys, this stuff is fantastic. Get the whole new album here. You are welcome.
*BONUS: to fit the theme of this post, here is Calgary, Remixed:
Bon Iver - Calgary (Thunderlust Remix) by Thunderlust
3. The Jackson Pit (the jackson 5 vs passion pit)
YOU GUYS THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR HOW PERFECT THIS IS.
4. This remix of Run This Town vs Fireflies.
Remember that time that Owl City was a thing? Also this comes off a mix called "Best of Bootie". Just saying.
5. http://historysaidwhat.tumblr.com/
This isn't music but this is pretty fantastic.
But never mind all of that.
because...
guess what time it is?
TIME FOR MORE THINGS HEATHER LIKES AW YEAH
(otherwise known as 'i have been writing and here are some things I have been listening to, perhaps unhealthily, on repeat')
1. Alpine Ski Champion
Alpine Ski Champion is one of the approximately six bands (this is only a slight exaggeration, though by the time you read this it might be accurate) that my friend Suse is in. ASC is her electro project with her bandmate-in-one-of-her-other-bands/friend Frazer Graham. Both Suse and Frazer are DJs as well, and brilliant ones at that, so needless to say the combination of all of that into an electronic project is pretty fucking fantastic. I recently saw Alpine Ski Champion play live, and they were most excellent. (SIDENOTE, electronic music performed live is much more interesting than i expected it to be.) You can check out all of their tracks on Soundcloud, but check out this remix of Gwen Stefani ft. Pharrel Williams' Ice Cream Island--
Ice Cream Island (Gwen Stefani & Pharrell yummy vocal edit) by AlpineSkiChampion
If this doesn't win you over, nothing will!
2. Bon Iver, Self-Titled
Confession time: I barely listened to For Emma, Forever Ago. (I am aware of the massive crime against humanity that this represents.) Something about this album gave me extraordinary bad luck. So when I heard that Bon Iver was coming out with a new album, I was ready to miss it again. And then I heard Calgary and everything - EVERYTHING - changed. Christ on a bicycle, you guys, this stuff is fantastic. Get the whole new album here. You are welcome.
*BONUS: to fit the theme of this post, here is Calgary, Remixed:
Bon Iver - Calgary (Thunderlust Remix) by Thunderlust
3. The Jackson Pit (the jackson 5 vs passion pit)
YOU GUYS THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR HOW PERFECT THIS IS.
4. This remix of Run This Town vs Fireflies.
Remember that time that Owl City was a thing? Also this comes off a mix called "Best of Bootie". Just saying.
5. http://historysaidwhat.tumblr.com/
This isn't music but this is pretty fantastic.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
summer time and the living's easy
It is currently "summertime" in Glasgow (this is arguable). As a result, all the stores are having sales on their "winter" clothes. So, I have been spending a lot of time in H&M lately stocking up on sweaters that are on sale. (I should point out that i am still wearing said sweaters indoors. Yes it is June, thanks for asking.)
The other day while I was in there trolling the bargain racks for the third time (and picked up a fantastic woolen thing for £5), I decided to make my best H&M mixtape. Because, you know, whatever. I concede my hipsterdom to the point of admitting that half of these are songs I've actually recently heard at H&M.
AND it has a bit of a summery feel to it! So there, Glasgow. 55F and rain does not constitute "summer". Just saying.
01 wrong feels right - dum dum girls
02 we're happening - the vaccines
03 still (dr dre) - jj
04 baby says - the kills
05 southside (ft. gwen stefani) - moby
06 night jogger - those darlins
07 wild young hearts - noisettes
08 make time - cults
09 invisible light - scissor sisters
10 after dark - le tigre
11 if you wanna - the vaccines
as per usual, grab it here!
The other day while I was in there trolling the bargain racks for the third time (and picked up a fantastic woolen thing for £5), I decided to make my best H&M mixtape. Because, you know, whatever. I concede my hipsterdom to the point of admitting that half of these are songs I've actually recently heard at H&M.
AND it has a bit of a summery feel to it! So there, Glasgow. 55F and rain does not constitute "summer". Just saying.
01 wrong feels right - dum dum girls
02 we're happening - the vaccines
03 still (dr dre) - jj
04 baby says - the kills
05 southside (ft. gwen stefani) - moby
06 night jogger - those darlins
07 wild young hearts - noisettes
08 make time - cults
09 invisible light - scissor sisters
10 after dark - le tigre
11 if you wanna - the vaccines
as per usual, grab it here!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Los Gatos Drooly! Yo soy en Madrid por ahora!
In fact, I've been in Spain since Wednesday - Earlier this week I was presenting at a conference in Valencia, and I'm about to head back to Scotland tomorrow morning. I can't take a lot of time off for a vacation; I have to get ready for my next conference in 3 weeks' time...
But! Spain's beautiful; I took a bus from Madrid to Valencia and back again to see some of the countryside, But anyway, the Spanish countryside lots of greens and oranges and little shrubs in lines, some much more advanced than others, with the occasional half-an-ancient buidling and a couple little italian-esque mini towns of stacked houses here and there. Mostly I had to remember that I wasn't actually in Arizona or something, but SPAIN. Espana!
So what do we listen to during our time in sunny Spain, before we go back to rainy Glasgow?
Oh yes.
On my way through the desert I finally got around to listening to the Kills' new album, and I don't think I will ever not associate that experience with this album. Here's what hour 2 of the four hour bus journey feels like:
But! Spain's beautiful; I took a bus from Madrid to Valencia and back again to see some of the countryside, But anyway, the Spanish countryside lots of greens and oranges and little shrubs in lines, some much more advanced than others, with the occasional half-an-ancient buidling and a couple little italian-esque mini towns of stacked houses here and there. Mostly I had to remember that I wasn't actually in Arizona or something, but SPAIN. Espana!
So what do we listen to during our time in sunny Spain, before we go back to rainy Glasgow?
Oh yes.
On my way through the desert I finally got around to listening to the Kills' new album, and I don't think I will ever not associate that experience with this album. Here's what hour 2 of the four hour bus journey feels like:
Monday, March 14, 2011
hello droolycats, it is time to talk about Things That Heather Likes! Otherwise known as "heather's latest musical obsessions, you are welcome."
1. "rolling in the deep" by adele
there is not much to say about this song other than "holy fucking shit". i don't know who has pissed her off so much but i would like to have her always be this upset if it will mean more albums like 21. Also, this video, omg etc.
2. jj's album "kills"
okay, so this is a swedish group that takes hot beats from pop music and adds sometimes tweaked, beautiful, ethereal vocals to the mix. think a very restrained girl talk + beach house. I am loving their mixtape kills (download for free).
they have a couple other albums that are less mixtape/sampley but still amazing (jj nº 2 and nº 3)
3. cut copy, "need you now"
there is some sort of neo-disco revival situation happening right now, which simultaneously makes me sort of upset (because, you guys, remember how embarrassing disco was?) and very, very happy. I imagine this is sort of fueled by the success of those 2 MGMT songs. I don't know if this is just a european/uk thing or if it's made it over to the states already, but get your ears excited!
4. the gaslight anthem
I don't know where i've been, but these guys are awesome. American Slang was the first album of theirs I heard, and it's very good, but The '59 Sound is awesome- sort of bruce springsteeny punk. they are also from new jersey. something must be in new jersey's water, or it has something to do with the perpetual smog cloud that lives there.
5. "get some" by lykke li
lykke li's new album is okay - not as good as youth novels, but this track is excellent. i have tickets to see her in april, but it turns out i'll be in spain at a conference. whoops. who wants to come to glasgow and see lykke li for me?
6. summer babes // a mix by sebastian barr
Sebastian is a Stranger From The Internet whose blog I follow; he posted this mix a couple of weeks ago and it's amazing. (it is through his blog that I found out about jj in the first place.) Now that it's warming up and we're all dreaming of summer and/or warmer climes, go download part 1 & part 2
You won't be disappointed. Get your beach hipster on!
1. "rolling in the deep" by adele
there is not much to say about this song other than "holy fucking shit". i don't know who has pissed her off so much but i would like to have her always be this upset if it will mean more albums like 21. Also, this video, omg etc.
2. jj's album "kills"
okay, so this is a swedish group that takes hot beats from pop music and adds sometimes tweaked, beautiful, ethereal vocals to the mix. think a very restrained girl talk + beach house. I am loving their mixtape kills (download for free).
they have a couple other albums that are less mixtape/sampley but still amazing (jj nº 2 and nº 3)
3. cut copy, "need you now"
there is some sort of neo-disco revival situation happening right now, which simultaneously makes me sort of upset (because, you guys, remember how embarrassing disco was?) and very, very happy. I imagine this is sort of fueled by the success of those 2 MGMT songs. I don't know if this is just a european/uk thing or if it's made it over to the states already, but get your ears excited!
4. the gaslight anthem
I don't know where i've been, but these guys are awesome. American Slang was the first album of theirs I heard, and it's very good, but The '59 Sound is awesome- sort of bruce springsteeny punk. they are also from new jersey. something must be in new jersey's water, or it has something to do with the perpetual smog cloud that lives there.
5. "get some" by lykke li
lykke li's new album is okay - not as good as youth novels, but this track is excellent. i have tickets to see her in april, but it turns out i'll be in spain at a conference. whoops. who wants to come to glasgow and see lykke li for me?
6. summer babes // a mix by sebastian barr
Sebastian is a Stranger From The Internet whose blog I follow; he posted this mix a couple of weeks ago and it's amazing. (it is through his blog that I found out about jj in the first place.) Now that it's warming up and we're all dreaming of summer and/or warmer climes, go download part 1 & part 2
You won't be disappointed. Get your beach hipster on!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
One of our running jokes is that we could probably start a (very strange) band out of the English studies department - we have a lot of people who are/have been in bands! For instance, I just found out that my two supervisors were in a punk band together for a while. To be honest, it's not hard to know people in bands here - almost everyone's in one (or two or three!)
Anyway, whenever someone in the department has a gig, we all usually try to go. Tonight my friend Alan had a gig. We love Alan, he wears Christmas sweaters year-round and spends lots of time staring blankly at the wall looking thoughtful instead of working. Here is his band; he's the singer & guitarist in the video. He sounds nothing like this in real life.
Basically, I had no idea who would follow Alan's melodic indie-folk-in-Christmas-sweaters music, but when Standard Hipsters practically clipped from an American Apparel ad started setting up I had moderately low expectations. They turned out to be this amazing postrock band. I should point out that Mogwai is from Glasgow, so we've got a bit of a postrock tradition here.
I really like postrock but it's difficult to pull it off correctly without being too heavy-handed or contrived. I don't really know how to describe Last Lungs, but you can stream their whole album here.
Anyway, whenever someone in the department has a gig, we all usually try to go. Tonight my friend Alan had a gig. We love Alan, he wears Christmas sweaters year-round and spends lots of time staring blankly at the wall looking thoughtful instead of working. Here is his band; he's the singer & guitarist in the video. He sounds nothing like this in real life.
Basically, I had no idea who would follow Alan's melodic indie-folk-in-Christmas-sweaters music, but when Standard Hipsters practically clipped from an American Apparel ad started setting up I had moderately low expectations. They turned out to be this amazing postrock band. I should point out that Mogwai is from Glasgow, so we've got a bit of a postrock tradition here.
I really like postrock but it's difficult to pull it off correctly without being too heavy-handed or contrived. I don't really know how to describe Last Lungs, but you can stream their whole album here.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
another office playlist
Hi.
This is what I've been up to lately:
Oh, and listening to a lot of music - that's right everyone, it's time for another music from the office playlist! I've started writing my thesis, so here's some music I've been listening to while I write.
01 american slang - the gaslight anthem
02 come back home - two door cinema club
03 i am not a robot (clock opera remix) - marina & the diamonds
04 mine is yours (passion pit remix) - cold war kids
05 everywhere - vampire weekend
06 fireworks - whitest boy alive
07 total life forever - foals
08 i'm good, i'm gone - lykke li
09 islands - the xx
10 rome - phoenix
11 royksopp forever - royksopp
12 indestructible - robyn
13 feel it in my bones - tiesto ft. tegan & sara
14 stereo love - edward maya ft. vika jigulin
15 shook (mobb deep and sigur ros remix) - emancipator
CONFESSION TIME: I really, really like to write to pop music and remixes, mostly because it means i can kind of just tune out everything else and just focus on the beats to keep me going. i realize this isn't for everyone, but i think "pop music" can encompass a lot of things without being terrible, so at least give this one a try before you say "heather, what the hell are you doing?"
(i promise to return with something profoundly douchey and pretentious next time.)
This is what I've been up to lately:
Oh, and listening to a lot of music - that's right everyone, it's time for another music from the office playlist! I've started writing my thesis, so here's some music I've been listening to while I write.
01 american slang - the gaslight anthem
02 come back home - two door cinema club
03 i am not a robot (clock opera remix) - marina & the diamonds
04 mine is yours (passion pit remix) - cold war kids
05 everywhere - vampire weekend
06 fireworks - whitest boy alive
07 total life forever - foals
08 i'm good, i'm gone - lykke li
09 islands - the xx
10 rome - phoenix
11 royksopp forever - royksopp
12 indestructible - robyn
13 feel it in my bones - tiesto ft. tegan & sara
14 stereo love - edward maya ft. vika jigulin
15 shook (mobb deep and sigur ros remix) - emancipator
CONFESSION TIME: I really, really like to write to pop music and remixes, mostly because it means i can kind of just tune out everything else and just focus on the beats to keep me going. i realize this isn't for everyone, but i think "pop music" can encompass a lot of things without being terrible, so at least give this one a try before you say "heather, what the hell are you doing?"
(i promise to return with something profoundly douchey and pretentious next time.)
Sunday, January 16, 2011
So every once in a while the UK music press likes to masturbate all over one or two artists, claiming that they are the best thing to happen since sliced bread. Sometimes this makes them lose credibilty, and sometimes they are absolutely right.
Droolycats, meet Anna Calvi, the current Rising Star of the UK:
This album's not out in the US yet (to the best of my knowledge!) but you can grab it here.
If you liked this, also check out Florence + the Machine's 2009 album Lungs and Lisa Hannigan's (of Damien Rice fame) 2008 album Sea Sew, which was equally gorgeous.
Droolycats, meet Anna Calvi, the current Rising Star of the UK:
This album's not out in the US yet (to the best of my knowledge!) but you can grab it here.
If you liked this, also check out Florence + the Machine's 2009 album Lungs and Lisa Hannigan's (of Damien Rice fame) 2008 album Sea Sew, which was equally gorgeous.
Monday, January 3, 2011
riot grrrls
Hi Droolycats, happy new year! Team Droolycat has big plans coming up for your ears early this year, which you'll be hearing about soon, I'm sure. Anyway, long story short, I got a little bit distracted while working our upcoming surprise.
+++
Besides Belle & Sebastian and being a fucking hipster, there are two other things I really, really love, which sometimes surprises people:
1. 90s riot-grrl punk and everything derivative of it
2. Trashy pop music
(I will save us all from #2 for now.)
I follow a bunch of blogs and a few months ago, one of them featured an all-female mix. While I love this sort of thing, half of it ended up being some quiet acoustic things - which I appreciate, of course, but wanted to see a mix that was purely girls rocking. Since then, I've been thinking about how I would approach this myself, and finally got around to making it just now.
I set myself some rules: there must be at least one woman in the band (ideally two - i made an exception for Beach House), and they had to sing. By the end of it, I kind of succumbed myself - it's harder than you'd expect!
(picture from flickr)
01 heavy cross - the gossip
02 black tongue - yeah yeah yeahs
03 oh! - sleater-kinney
04 eau d'bedroom dancing - le tigre
05 i'm good i'm gone - lykke li
06 combat baby - metric
07 soft shock (acoustic) - yeah yeah yeahs
08 we got the beat - the go-go's
09 dance song '97 - sleater-kinney
10 divine hammer - the breeders
11 he war - cat power
12 undertow - warpaint
13 walk in the park - beach house
14 stratford-on-guy - liz phair
download this mix here
For more ladies rocking out, check out the following:
Bikini Kill I tried so, so hard to get them on there, but it just didn't make sense in the playlist. They practically invented riot grrl. Kathleen Hanna's amazing, and she gets a shout-out via Le Tigre, but you guys, BIKINI KILL.
Julie Ruin Kathleen Hanna's side project between Bikini Kill & Le Tigre
M.E.N. JD Samson is a former member of Le Tigre and this is her new band. They rule.
Bratmobile
PJ Harvey
Patti Smith
Vivian Girls sort of a 2000s-noise-rock response to riot grrl.
The Corin Tucker Band Sleater-Kinney is one of my favorite bands - I was very sad when they broke up after their album The Woods. this is the latest from their (former) lead singer.
What would be on your female-only mix?
Besides Belle & Sebastian and being a fucking hipster, there are two other things I really, really love, which sometimes surprises people:
1. 90s riot-grrl punk and everything derivative of it
2. Trashy pop music
(I will save us all from #2 for now.)
I follow a bunch of blogs and a few months ago, one of them featured an all-female mix. While I love this sort of thing, half of it ended up being some quiet acoustic things - which I appreciate, of course, but wanted to see a mix that was purely girls rocking. Since then, I've been thinking about how I would approach this myself, and finally got around to making it just now.
I set myself some rules: there must be at least one woman in the band (ideally two - i made an exception for Beach House), and they had to sing. By the end of it, I kind of succumbed myself - it's harder than you'd expect!
(picture from flickr)
01 heavy cross - the gossip
02 black tongue - yeah yeah yeahs
03 oh! - sleater-kinney
04 eau d'bedroom dancing - le tigre
05 i'm good i'm gone - lykke li
06 combat baby - metric
07 soft shock (acoustic) - yeah yeah yeahs
08 we got the beat - the go-go's
09 dance song '97 - sleater-kinney
10 divine hammer - the breeders
11 he war - cat power
12 undertow - warpaint
13 walk in the park - beach house
14 stratford-on-guy - liz phair
download this mix here
For more ladies rocking out, check out the following:
Bikini Kill I tried so, so hard to get them on there, but it just didn't make sense in the playlist. They practically invented riot grrl. Kathleen Hanna's amazing, and she gets a shout-out via Le Tigre, but you guys, BIKINI KILL.
Julie Ruin Kathleen Hanna's side project between Bikini Kill & Le Tigre
M.E.N. JD Samson is a former member of Le Tigre and this is her new band. They rule.
Bratmobile
PJ Harvey
Patti Smith
Vivian Girls sort of a 2000s-noise-rock response to riot grrl.
The Corin Tucker Band Sleater-Kinney is one of my favorite bands - I was very sad when they broke up after their album The Woods. this is the latest from their (former) lead singer.
What would be on your female-only mix?
Friday, December 24, 2010
Since high school I have been making a yearly mix cd of songs/bands that I've been listening to all year for some friends at home. I usually would burn a big pile of copies and give them out to friends- it's a fun little gift to give people.
Since I've been in London for the past week, I've been annoying the other hotel patrons by playing these songs over and over again, but I finally finished this year's edition of The Chrismukkah (what, it's a good word) Mix, and I thought you guys might be interested too. Merry Christmas, team droolycat!
(Those of us who frequently follow my posts might recognize some of these tunes - sorry for posting them repeatedly!)
tracklist
01 i didn't see it coming - belle & sebastian
02 miami - foals
03 good intentions paving co - joanna newsom
04 someone great - lcd soundsystem
05 i heard it through the grapevine - the slits
06 john, i'm only dancing - david bowie
07 tighten up - the black keys
08 12:51 - the strokes
09 inspiration information - sharon jones & the dap-kings
10 one - yeasayer
11 not in love (ft. robert smith) - crystal castles
12 used to be - beach house
13 all the wine - the national
14 abel - the national
15 snowfall - esquivel
download the chrismukkah mix 2010 here
If all things go to plan, tomorrow i am booked on flight #3 back to the States. This Time Tomorrow is one of my favorite songs about flying:
i hope i make it home sometime this year! wish me luck...
Since I've been in London for the past week, I've been annoying the other hotel patrons by playing these songs over and over again, but I finally finished this year's edition of The Chrismukkah (what, it's a good word) Mix, and I thought you guys might be interested too. Merry Christmas, team droolycat!
(Those of us who frequently follow my posts might recognize some of these tunes - sorry for posting them repeatedly!)
tracklist
01 i didn't see it coming - belle & sebastian
02 miami - foals
03 good intentions paving co - joanna newsom
04 someone great - lcd soundsystem
05 i heard it through the grapevine - the slits
06 john, i'm only dancing - david bowie
07 tighten up - the black keys
08 12:51 - the strokes
09 inspiration information - sharon jones & the dap-kings
10 one - yeasayer
11 not in love (ft. robert smith) - crystal castles
12 used to be - beach house
13 all the wine - the national
14 abel - the national
15 snowfall - esquivel
download the chrismukkah mix 2010 here
If all things go to plan, tomorrow i am booked on flight #3 back to the States. This Time Tomorrow is one of my favorite songs about flying:
i hope i make it home sometime this year! wish me luck...
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
GET ME BACK TO MY CONTINENT
As you may have heard, the UK is experiencing an extreme weather event (six inches of snow, not the 2 feet they're making it sound like) which is causing airports to shut down, flights canceled, etc. Basically nobody can get anywhere. I've been trying to get back to the states since Saturday - I had no problem getting from Glasgow to London, but then I sat on a plane on the tarmac for 3 hours while we waited to be de-iced, and then that flight was canceled, despite the fact that we had just sat there for 3 hours. Long story short, everything was canceled or overbooked indefinitely, so I got myself on another flight from London > Paris > Boston for the 21st, but then my flight from London > Paris was canceled. Everyone's trying to get back home, so all buses and trains anywhere are booked until sometime into next year. Luckily I was able to cancel my flight from Paris to Boston. I am now booked on a third flight from London to NYC on Christmas Day.
Thankfully I am not still sitting in Heathrow Hell (the below picture is 100% true - those are people sleeping under tinfoil for warmth)
but rather in a hotel in Windsor, London - with all my bags, a bed, and a shower. I am VERY grateful to be here (I've been here since Saturday night) - it was a good plan to get a hotel room after I got myself on a new flight; shortly thereafter I was kicked out of Heathrow itself. More people kept showing up, and if you had alternate plans you were being asked to leave to make way for more people.
But in the meantime i present to you my ANTHEM OF HEATHROW HELL 2010
Thankfully I am not still sitting in Heathrow Hell (the below picture is 100% true - those are people sleeping under tinfoil for warmth)
but rather in a hotel in Windsor, London - with all my bags, a bed, and a shower. I am VERY grateful to be here (I've been here since Saturday night) - it was a good plan to get a hotel room after I got myself on a new flight; shortly thereafter I was kicked out of Heathrow itself. More people kept showing up, and if you had alternate plans you were being asked to leave to make way for more people.
But in the meantime i present to you my ANTHEM OF HEATHROW HELL 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
step into my office, baby
There are two perks of being a postgraduate research student.
Perk #1 is having a card that says "[University] Researcher"
Perk #2 is spending my days in an office where the only directive is really just to read.
(Implied Perk #3 is that i have an office.)
Luckily I'm the sort of person who can read and listen to music at the same time, but unluckily we do not have access to Pandora here in the UK. I understand there are ways around this, but lately I've been playing with the Genius Button on iTunes for a similar sort of effect. There have been some great things coming out of this, actually.
Since it has been a while since I've posted some music (braver! newer! oh god!) I return triumphantly with THINGS I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO IN THE OFFICE, the mix. My office faces all of the city; it's a beautiful view and I've been trying to get a halfway decent picture of it, but the major weather pattern here is "Gray", which makes it kind of hard to get a good picture. I've been trying for ages, believe me. So here is another picture of me, because clearly I am important, in my office. Come listen to some tunes with me.
1. 23 - blonde redhead
2. mistaken for strangers - the national
3. gila - beach house
4. lloyd, i'm ready to be heartbroken - camera obscura
5. shine a light - wolf parade
6. all my friends - lcd soundsystem
7. i heard it through the grapevine - the slits
8. bigmouth strikes again - the smiths
9. undertow - warpaint
10. i didn't see it coming - belle & sebastian
download this (.zip)
So now you too can pretend to be in Glasgow reading about pronouns! Fun facts: Camera Obscura and Belle & Sebastian are both from here, and this city might be the perfect place for fans of The Smiths. (Seriously. The Queen is Dead could be the soundtrack to this city.)
Also, I just started writing some stuff this week, and I also just started compiling a database of sorts. For reasons I can't quite explain, I really like listening to pop music and/or hip hop when I do this (I may or may not have written large chunks of my senior thesis to Lady Gaga.) Girl Talk just released a new album which you can get for FREE here, which is perfectly timed! I am very pleased. Like any mashup album, it has its hits and misses, but it is worth a listen to just to hear "Hey Ladies" (the beastie boys) vs "lust for life" (iggy pop), even for a few seconds.
Perk #1 is having a card that says "[University] Researcher"
Perk #2 is spending my days in an office where the only directive is really just to read.
(Implied Perk #3 is that i have an office.)
Luckily I'm the sort of person who can read and listen to music at the same time, but unluckily we do not have access to Pandora here in the UK. I understand there are ways around this, but lately I've been playing with the Genius Button on iTunes for a similar sort of effect. There have been some great things coming out of this, actually.
Since it has been a while since I've posted some music (braver! newer! oh god!) I return triumphantly with THINGS I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO IN THE OFFICE, the mix. My office faces all of the city; it's a beautiful view and I've been trying to get a halfway decent picture of it, but the major weather pattern here is "Gray", which makes it kind of hard to get a good picture. I've been trying for ages, believe me. So here is another picture of me, because clearly I am important, in my office. Come listen to some tunes with me.
1. 23 - blonde redhead
2. mistaken for strangers - the national
3. gila - beach house
4. lloyd, i'm ready to be heartbroken - camera obscura
5. shine a light - wolf parade
6. all my friends - lcd soundsystem
7. i heard it through the grapevine - the slits
8. bigmouth strikes again - the smiths
9. undertow - warpaint
10. i didn't see it coming - belle & sebastian
download this (.zip)
So now you too can pretend to be in Glasgow reading about pronouns! Fun facts: Camera Obscura and Belle & Sebastian are both from here, and this city might be the perfect place for fans of The Smiths. (Seriously. The Queen is Dead could be the soundtrack to this city.)
Also, I just started writing some stuff this week, and I also just started compiling a database of sorts. For reasons I can't quite explain, I really like listening to pop music and/or hip hop when I do this (I may or may not have written large chunks of my senior thesis to Lady Gaga.) Girl Talk just released a new album which you can get for FREE here, which is perfectly timed! I am very pleased. Like any mashup album, it has its hits and misses, but it is worth a listen to just to hear "Hey Ladies" (the beastie boys) vs "lust for life" (iggy pop), even for a few seconds.
Monday, November 15, 2010
braver newer musics
Do you ever think to yourself, "I am not reaching my potential as a pretentious person?"
Sometimes I feel this way. To fix this, I went to an experimental music festival this weekend.
INSTAL, an annual pretentiousness festival, was pretty much as ridiculously obnoxious as advertised. A lot of it was obtuse for the sake of being obtuse - a lot of it was about how to destroy self-expression in music. That said, there were some really cool parts that were doing something really interesting. I was there for Saturday for about six hours until I really couldn't take it any more - I left shortly after a piece that was entirely samples of sirens.
Soon I will post some tunes again, I promise! I've met a couple of DJs, so if you are looking for some hot beats, this should tide you over for a while. (This second link will contain some Braver Newer Musics from Instal.)
Sometimes I feel this way. To fix this, I went to an experimental music festival this weekend.
INSTAL, an annual pretentiousness festival, was pretty much as ridiculously obnoxious as advertised. A lot of it was obtuse for the sake of being obtuse - a lot of it was about how to destroy self-expression in music. That said, there were some really cool parts that were doing something really interesting. I was there for Saturday for about six hours until I really couldn't take it any more - I left shortly after a piece that was entirely samples of sirens.
Soon I will post some tunes again, I promise! I've met a couple of DJs, so if you are looking for some hot beats, this should tide you over for a while. (This second link will contain some Braver Newer Musics from Instal.)
Saturday, October 23, 2010
if it's too loud you're too old
Hi Team Droolycat! I have planned a busy weekend for myself - I'm having a proper Glasgow weekend full of gigs. I've mentioned the list on Droolycat before - last night was their 25th Anniversary party at The Arches, which is this underground performance space. It promised to be the best of Scottish indie culture; since I don't know any good UK things, it was worth my while.
Here are some of the bands I saw:
Come On Gang! (postpunkish)
King Creosole (if neutral milk hotel was scottish and less intrigued by Anne Frank, OR, what I want Okkervil River to sound like.)
Errors (Have you ever wondered what would happen if Giraffes? Giraffes! and Animal Collective were in the same band? WORRY NOT, I have solved your problems.)
RM Hubbard
Tonight I am seeing KT Tunstall, because I like to imagine Life at 40 preemptively, and on Sunday night, a guy from my program is headlining a metal show for charity. I hope I still have eardrums on Monday morning.
Here are some of the bands I saw:
Come On Gang! (postpunkish)
King Creosole (if neutral milk hotel was scottish and less intrigued by Anne Frank, OR, what I want Okkervil River to sound like.)
Errors (Have you ever wondered what would happen if Giraffes? Giraffes! and Animal Collective were in the same band? WORRY NOT, I have solved your problems.)
RM Hubbard
Tonight I am seeing KT Tunstall, because I like to imagine Life at 40 preemptively, and on Sunday night, a guy from my program is headlining a metal show for charity. I hope I still have eardrums on Monday morning.
Friday, October 15, 2010
in which I am pretentious / high art, local news
Glasgow might be a hotbed of hipster indie rockers, but there's all this culture to experience. I don't think I've mentioned this here, but I live across the street from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Droolycat is probably a little bit more oriented towards "not classical" music, but I still think this is pretty cool, you know?
This weekend is Minimal Weekend with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
I wasn't able to find a picture of the advertisements around town, but this flyer is basically what they looked like. (Also, I am all dressed up for a Night At The Orchestra!)
It's across the street from me, and with a lineup like that I couldn't bring myself to miss it! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to attend everything (though I wish i did), so I decided I was going to see two performances. It's hard to explain what minimalist music is like and make it still sound appealing, so I figured I would just go by myself and enjoy it. Instead of going out to a pub or a club or something, I figured I could get cultured. When's the next time this is going to be on my doorstep anyway?
I just got back from Brian Eno's Apollo (This Is For All Mankind), as performed in its entirety by the BBC Scottish Orchestra, a band called Icebreaker and BJ Cole on pedal steel guitar. Holy shit you guys, it was awesome. If you don't already own it, download Apollo here.
I ended up running into my professor and his wife tonight; we sat together and we're meeting again tomorrow for Philip Glass' Music With Changing Parts. If it's anything like tonight's performance, I am already excited.
This weekend is Minimal Weekend with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
I wasn't able to find a picture of the advertisements around town, but this flyer is basically what they looked like. (Also, I am all dressed up for a Night At The Orchestra!)
It's across the street from me, and with a lineup like that I couldn't bring myself to miss it! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to attend everything (though I wish i did), so I decided I was going to see two performances. It's hard to explain what minimalist music is like and make it still sound appealing, so I figured I would just go by myself and enjoy it. Instead of going out to a pub or a club or something, I figured I could get cultured. When's the next time this is going to be on my doorstep anyway?
I just got back from Brian Eno's Apollo (This Is For All Mankind), as performed in its entirety by the BBC Scottish Orchestra, a band called Icebreaker and BJ Cole on pedal steel guitar. Holy shit you guys, it was awesome. If you don't already own it, download Apollo here.
I ended up running into my professor and his wife tonight; we sat together and we're meeting again tomorrow for Philip Glass' Music With Changing Parts. If it's anything like tonight's performance, I am already excited.
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