oh yes

Yeasayer coming back to SLC in April. Finally. (via Stereogum)

mp3: Yeasayer - Ambling Alp

Have you seen the video for this single? Fa reaky. If appropriate.

a weather does christmas

Round here we love free downloads from good bands of classic Christmas song covers. Especially since the 25 Christmas albums that play at work begin to feel more like the same one album on repeat. Thanks, Team Love.

mp3: A Weather - Baby It's Cold Outside

thanks for the plenti

There has not been enough music on mtm of late. Hopefully there will be more when I decide where to host mp3s from now on, and hopefully they will stop taking down the music when I post it. For now, we'll have to put up with 3rd party hosting.

Anyway.

Let's talk about how awesome it is that Paul Banks of Interpol is putting out a solo record under the moniker Julian Plenti and how awesome it is that it's a good record. Unwind is my new song of summer.

mp3: Julian Plenti - Unwind

By the way, what's this about Carlos D. not going by D. anymore?

Klicktrack, I think I love you.

I learned about First Aid Kit from Brooke. They are on the roster at Rabid Records in Sweden, the Knife's own label, which normally has a policy of never taking on new artists. That should tell you something. I couldn't find it anywhere cause it's not out yet in the US, but thank you Sweden, for Klicktrack. I always seem to find the album or remix that can't be found elsewhere, and it's always so cheap.

mp3: First Aid Kit - Our Own Pretty Ways

single songs

Niall had a lovely idea and started a collaborative blog effort called Single Songs. I can't wait to see what everyone does with it. Here was my first post. But go to singlesongs.blogspot.com. Better yet, subscribe.

The Waitresses - Square Pegs

I started watching Square Pegs again recently. Filling in all those holes since I was 3 when it aired. The Waitresses show up in the first episode to play the freshman dance where they play "I Know What Boys Want" and the theme song "Square Pegs." It's even better if you watch it than just listen to it. The singer Patty Donahue has a presence that reminds me a bit of Alison Goldfrapp.

Today's Obsession is

Anton Yelchin. Have you seen Charlie Bartlett? Kid was born to be a performer. It figures I love him, he's Jewish.

mp3: Spiral Beach - Voodoo (from the Charlie Bartlett Soundtrack)

basia, basia, basia

Time to check in on what's getting top plays on the iPod this week.


I'd been seeing that image of Basia Bulat's album cover around the blogs and record shops for a while and just kept thinking, that looks like Michelle Williams. Which is maybe why I didn't listen to it for a while because that resemblance just recalled the melancholy of the loss of Heath Ledger. But one can only resist a cool hat for so long, which is lucky because Oh, My Darling is a sweet and tender gem of a folk album. Uncomplicated but with a range that keeps things from getting boring. "The Pilgriming Vine" in particular is one I wish I'd written and I'll be watching for the upcoming music video.

mp3: Basia Bulat - The Pilgriming Vine

aadoratiion

It's family time extravaganza here, from which I'll pause for a moment to celebrate the release of The Faint's Fasciinatiion today. I picked up a copy last week during my evening with The Faint, a night that made up for my last Faint show in which the douchey In The Venue oversold (which they do consistently and illegally) and turned away half the ticketholders when the fire department decided to show up and enforce the capacity.

Last Wednesday night began with with a tortuous local opening band. I don't know how I've never seen the Cave Dolls before, but I sure hope I don't have to see them again. This is the hateful face their performance elicted from Rosie.

Because I'm just so embarrassed for them, I won't even bother with a photo or detailing why it was the dregs. Rather, what joy it was when I found out that Shy Child, who's last show I attended was quite eventful, was opening also. Today Megan points out another eventful Shy Child performance that is not to be missed.

The Faint can do no wrong, so I can't be objective about the show or the new album. It's been almost 10 years since the first time I saw them play and they changed my life. They always deliver a dark dance fest and this time it continued into the wee hours at the after-party where Todd and the boys dj'd and there was plenty of frolicking room. My photos are sort of sad so check out Jory's better photos of the evening. My camera battery was dead, so I didn't get my photo with the guys, which is probably a good thing because I would have accosted them with hugs for the night they gave us.

I particularly enjoyed Todd's lab coat and goggles.

mp3: The Faint - Get Seduced

Guilty Pleasure Wednesday

So much to say but so little time. I'm exhaustedly trying to rehydrate from my evening with The Faint and pack for my weekend at That Famous Preston Night Rodeo. More on both of those events to come.

Anyway, this is a guilty pleasure not because this artist's hyped history, but because he's a sleazy grod. I won't even make you look at his photo. But man I can never get Mickey Avalon's "Jane Fonda" out of my head.

mp3: Mickey Avalon - Jane Fonda

There's a one who's had some good 'dos over the years. I would totally get that shag.

mailbag

Sometimes I forget to check my MTM email and it piles up. Some attention-worthy things I culled from the droves today:

• Pelle Carlberg is working on a new album and offers up this new track
  mp3: Pelle Carlberg - 1983
  
• ddpesh mashed MGMT, Notorious B.I.G., and Justice
  mp3: Nasty Feel (ddpesh rework)
  
• The plaid-britched Max Vernon home-made a video for his previously mentioned Katy Perry cover and likes to eat cherry chapstick
  
  
  

Remix Tuesday

Am I still allowed to call it that if I don't do it every week? Well, it's Tuesday, and I want to listen to some satisfying remixes. These remixes. With you.

mp3: Goldfrapp - A&E (Maps Remix)
mp3: MPTP - Jim Morrison (Zeigeist Remix)
mp3: Timbuktu - Låt Nr. 92 (Kocky Remix)

Faded Paper Figures

When my brother goes to the movies, he likes to purposely butcher the movie name when he buys his tickets. Just slightly. Getting Smarter, The Mr. Hancock, you know. Just enough so the ticket guy knows what movie he wants, but thinks, what an idiot. This kind of tempted me to entitle this post something like Fading Papered Figurines. But then I decided to be respectful to the band. But then I told you about it anyway.


So a few days ago I received the Faded Paper Figures upcoming album Dynamo to review, which I was a pretty pretty excited about. But my excitement did not even prepare me for how good Dynamo is. Like, Postal Service or Stars good. FPF balance the electric and the organic, the catchy and the honest. I don't always care a lot about lyrics, but in this case it only adds to the charm, something about the lines in the chorus of "Metropolis": Just south of here utopia/For sixty bones euphoria... The lyrical talent in FPF is especially apparent after the struggle I've had listening to The Long Blondes recently because of their laughable lyrics. With FPF it's like a game to see if you can catch the philosophical and historical allusions.

You don't know it yet, but you love FPF. Maybe you've seen Kael's work on that Lexus commercial? Not to mention, John is brother-in-law to the Libbie Linton. And a fellow Mormon academic. So get listening. Check out "Polaroid Solution" here, and a few more on their myspace. They have saved some serious gems for the album, like "Geneva's Gone" and "The Persuaded," so be sure to get it on iTunes when it's released next week or just grab it now from CD Baby.

mp3: Faded Paper Figures - Polaroid Solution

fadedpaperfigures.com

Guilty Pleasure Wednesday

I just realized it's been a week so I can reprise the guilty pleasure theme as an excuse to share this. I can't help loving that ubiquitous Katy Perry song "I Kissed a Girl". I mean, it's just so catchy! So, what a pleasure it was to receive the also very enjoyable, groovy cover from the adorable Max Vernon. Adjective, adjective, adjective.

mp3: Max Vernon - I Kissed A Girl (Katy Perry cover)

And to make it truly a guilty pleasure, I'm partaking in chocolate peanut butter Haagen-Dazs as I type.

The Electrospiracy: An open letter to The Knife

Dear Karin and Olof,

Really? Zeigeist and The Knife are unrelated? So you didn't just create a new band so you could make an easy dance record without comparison to your dark and creepy past work? When your record is leaked in the U.S. with a song tacked on the end by another band that sounds exactly like you, you don't care? Someone uses you, making the world think their song is by you so people will listen, and you do nothing. Except play that song at your rare live shows? Really? No, Karin and Olof, I believe you are not only the geniuses of The Knife, but you have masterminded Zeigeist as well. Both from Gothenburg, Sweden. Similar programming styles. You both just happen to like synth steel drums and vocal pitch manipulation? Both employ elaborate costumes, masks, and theatrical aesthetics, in the same town, and you aren't at least friends or enemies? Really. Karin, aren't the lyrics "I would let you taste my honey" just a veiled reference to your old band Honey Is Cool? We see through you.

Kind regards,
Jo


Around these parts, the consensus is that The Knife are pulling one over on us. Which wouldn't be a surprise, what with the mystery they have always loved to feed us. I know Zeigeist play live, and Karin is not on stage, but there is an explanation. Karin has a golem! Here is her animatron.There is probably a some info floating around in Swedish that I can't understand (yet) that explains all of this. But would I believe it? Someone who has some insider information, please clear up the mass confusosity. In the mean time, love Zeigeist as you love The Knife.

"Bunny" is incredible. Listen and tell me you don't believe the electrospiracy theory.

mp3: Zeigeist - Bunny

And the one we all thought was "F as in Knife" for a while, is in fact "Tar Heart" by Zeigeist.

mp3: Zeigeist - Tar Heart

theknife.net
zeigeist.eu

I'm hot and you're not

When I get something heavy on the brain, giving it to you is my attempt at purging it. Recently this scene from the movie Teen Witch, an old Disney Channel staple, keeps creeping into consciousness. Everything reminds me of it, and I find myself bringing it up in conversation all the time but it doesn't always go over well because usually nobody knows what I'm talking about, so I have to reenact it, and that is just not the same. This is one of the most memorable scenes from a movie ever. It defines sadcore. I love it. Please watch it and then we can all have an unspoken understanding of it's power and I'll never have to try to put it into words again.



What's more, Teen Witch is now a musical. Oh dear.
mp3: Teen Witch The Musical - Top That

Tilly & the Wall @ Kilby Court, 7.2.08

Oh Tilly, how I love thee.

mp3: Tilly and the Wall - Pot Kettle Black

tillyandthewall.com

Guilty Pleasure Wednesday

I've never hated Jimmy Eat World, but I feel like I'm not supposed to like them. Is it that their singer is sort of a poor man's Ben Gibbard? Well too bad, I can't help it. This song crept into my head the other day and wanted to be heard, so here you go.

mp3: Jimmy Eat World - Sweetness

Speaking of guilt and sweetness, I have been having the urge for chocolate cupcakes. I don't particularly like cake, so it was going to be a challenge finding something worth my craving. I tried a recipe from this book, the cover of which always reminds me more of an egg than a cupcake.

They didn't turn out very big, but were satisfying. The icing is basically cream and melted bittersweet chocolate. One thing that made them so good is that there is no white sugar, just the far superior dark brown sugar. And they're not too sweet. Very British, as Kayla says.

Maybe guilty pleasures should become a regular theme around here?

a hurricane in all kinds of weather

One of my most favoritest movies ever is Beetlejuice. So, when getting my hair cut yesterday, Mel wanted to give me bangs a la Winona Ryder as Lydia, I couldn't say no.

Don't worry, we didn't go gothic. They look more like this:

A few surprising facts about Beeteljuice I just learned:
Tim Burton originally wanted Sammy Davis, Jr. to play Beetlejuice. He also had plans for a sequel, Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian. If only.

mp3: Danny Elfman - Beetlejuice Main Titles Ah, the genius.
mp3: Harry Belafonte - Jump In The Line

[Edit] Ok fine, in response to the comments, here you go.

sytycd

I was months behind on Lost, Grey's Anatomy, and Gossip Girl, but when you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything. Now that I'm all caught up, I can devote myself to So You Think You Can Dance. Does this show make everyone wonder if they should have been a dancer, or just me?

Here be my favorite choreography of last night, to Hot Chip no less.
(scroll forward to the dance itself at 2:30 if you wish)


mp3: Hot Chip - Wrestlers (Dirty Sticky Pop Remix)

Who is this new coif-wild choreographer Sonya Tayeh?


SYTYCD, bring her back again!

But I can't help but wish Kourtni had danced this with Mark. He's my number 1. When asked what his favorite dance moments from movies, TV and/or stage are, his response is "2 words 'The Frug'......GENIUS!" Och. Good Answer.

part of The Frug in Sweet Charity (Bob Fosse):


mp3: Rilo Kiley - The Frug

The cool thing about this season is that I love almost everyone. Except Chris. That manchild has GOT to go. Oh and Chelsea Hightower. Blech.

relief

I have been having some serious iTunes drama in which it would freeze when playing music from my external hard drive. I had just about convinced myself to get a new computer with a huge hard drive that would hold all my music. But reformatting the drive and uninstalling/reinstalling/rereinstalling iTunes seemed to be the cheaper option. So now I can finally access my music again. Hallelujah!


And a Hallelujah for new Radio Dept.! They'll have a new album, Clinging to a Scheme, out in September. Freddie & The Trojan Horse is the first single. It's scary how good The Radio Dept. is. I would make a movie to let them soundtrack it, I would get married to have them be my wedding band.

mp3: The Radio Dept. - Freddie & The Trojan Horse