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.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
FLEET FOXES ARE BACK!!
I am beyond stoked.
Helplessness Blues will be released on May 3rd.
Yet another reason to look forward to Springtime. :)
Tour: Tuesday, May 17th they come to Boston! It's at the Orpheum. Tickets for that show just went on sale today at 10am, and are going fast. I just bought two tickets! See you there!
Edit: 2.18.2011
I just wanted to also post the lyrics to this song, because I thought they were pretty good.
Helplessness Blues will be released on May 3rd.
Yet another reason to look forward to Springtime. :)
Tour: Tuesday, May 17th they come to Boston! It's at the Orpheum. Tickets for that show just went on sale today at 10am, and are going fast. I just bought two tickets! See you there!
I just wanted to also post the lyrics to this song, because I thought they were pretty good.
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.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Covers.
Here's my playlist of sweet covers. I found it really hard to narrow down the options for Richie Havens- everything he does is magical. Also, for this live version of "North Country Girl," Pete Townshend stays true to the melody and acoustic guitar part from Dylan's "Girl From the North Country." However, I recommend checking out his recording on the "All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes" album (1982). It's funnier, and much more 80's.
The tracklist (in no particular order) and Youtube playlist can be found below. Enjoy!
1. The Man Who Sold the World - Nirvana
2. North Country Girl - Pete Townshend
3. Rocket Man - Pusifer (Maynard James Keenan & Steven Drozd)
4. Crystalised - Gorillaz
5. Rebellion - Benjamin Francis Leftwich
6. Smooth Criminal - J. Viewz (sassy jazz version)
7. Handle With Care - Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins
8. Mercy Street - Fever Ray
9. Barbarann - The Who
10. Blackbird - Crosby, Stills & Nash
11. Stand By Me - John Lennon
12. Rocky Raccoon - Richie Havens
13. Won't Get Fooled Again - Richie Havens
The tracklist (in no particular order) and Youtube playlist can be found below. Enjoy!
1. The Man Who Sold the World - Nirvana
2. North Country Girl - Pete Townshend
3. Rocket Man - Pusifer (Maynard James Keenan & Steven Drozd)
4. Crystalised - Gorillaz
5. Rebellion - Benjamin Francis Leftwich
6. Smooth Criminal - J. Viewz (sassy jazz version)
7. Handle With Care - Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins
8. Mercy Street - Fever Ray
9. Barbarann - The Who
10. Blackbird - Crosby, Stills & Nash
11. Stand By Me - John Lennon
12. Rocky Raccoon - Richie Havens
13. Won't Get Fooled Again - Richie Havens
Riot Grrrls, Pt. 2
Hey All! I'm sorry that I've neglected Droolycat as of late...I promise to contribute more often! Today, I've decided to respond to Heather's challenge with a Riot Grrrl (or at least, women who rock) playlist of my own! I've included a link to each song on YouTube.
Erase Errata - "Tax Dollar"
Melt-Banana - "Shield for Your Eyes, A Beast in the Well on Your Hand"
Lydia Lunch - "Suicide Ocean"
Julie Ruin - "Breakout A-Town"
X-Ray Spex - "Art-I-Ficial"
The Pandoras - "It's About Time"
Cibo Matto - "Birthday Cake"
Hanin Elias - "No Games No Fun"
Suffrajett - "Mr. Man"
Lolita Storm - "You Make Me High (When You Go Down Low)"
Destroy All Monsters - "You're Gonna Die"
Lydia Lunch - "This Side of Nowhere" (Lydia Lunch gets two songs on my playlist because she's that awesome)
Marie Moor - "Pretty Day"
Au Pairs - "America"
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Sea Goats in Space!
Happy Birthday David Bowie! You are one of my favorite musicians of all time. In honor of Bowie, I have created a Capricorn-filled playlist. I wasn't surprised to find that most Capricorn bands seem to be drawn to psychadelic/space-rock, which actually makes this playlist flow pretty well. Even the Del Shannon number has a Jetsons-type jingle in the middle of it.
"Are You A Hypnotist??" ~ The Flaming Lips (lead singer/songwriter Wayne Coyne, born January 13)
"Lady Stardust" ~ David Bowie (born January 8)
"Runaway" ~ Del Shannon (born December 30)
"Astronomy Domine" ~ Pink Floyd (Syd Barrett, born January 6)
"Fever" ~ Elvis Presley (born January 8)
"House of the Rising Sun (Animals Cover)" ~ Joan Baez (born January 9)
"Dazed and Confused" ~ Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page, born January 9)
"Stay With You" ~ John Legend (born December 28)
"Dancing Barefoot" ~ Patti Smith (born December 30)
"Life On Mars" ~ David Bowie
"Andy Warhol" ~ David Bowie
"Space Oddity" ~ David Bowie
"Bowie Song" ~ Flight of the Conchords (Jemaine Clement, born January 10)
Had to end with a grand-Bowie-finale. That's pretty freaky, Bowie!
"Are You A Hypnotist??" ~ The Flaming Lips (lead singer/songwriter Wayne Coyne, born January 13)
"Lady Stardust" ~ David Bowie (born January 8)
"Runaway" ~ Del Shannon (born December 30)
"Astronomy Domine" ~ Pink Floyd (Syd Barrett, born January 6)
"Fever" ~ Elvis Presley (born January 8)
"House of the Rising Sun (Animals Cover)" ~ Joan Baez (born January 9)
"Dazed and Confused" ~ Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page, born January 9)
"Stay With You" ~ John Legend (born December 28)
"Dancing Barefoot" ~ Patti Smith (born December 30)
"Life On Mars" ~ David Bowie
"Andy Warhol" ~ David Bowie
"Space Oddity" ~ David Bowie
"Bowie Song" ~ Flight of the Conchords (Jemaine Clement, born January 10)
Note: This playlist will play all tracks in order, once started.
Had to end with a grand-Bowie-finale. That's pretty freaky, Bowie!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Happy New Year!
So I've been planning to compile my favorite cover songs for quite some time, but I became discouraged by a number of disgraceful covers I've heard recently. However, my inspiration has been restored by this. It's a version of Rocket Man by Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips and Maynard James Keenan of Tool. Definitely worth a listen, and expect a Covers Mix in the near future!
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...
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