sweet jamz.

Ivana XL never disappoints, and her latest two songs are no exception. Besides being soul-crushingly good, they stay true to form: her voice is like buttah, her melodies stick to my brain and her lyrics are so smug it hurts.

Ivana XL - 2043
Ivana XL - All Eyes On You Now

Hear more at her myspace.

winter breaks

though it's supposedly spring, the last remnants of winter refuse to let go, and it's affecting everyone's mood. i also find that when the days are grey, i listen to sadder, spookier music. lately i just want to loop songs by colleen, blonde redhead, denali, and st. vincent ad nauseum.

here are two songs to get you in the foreboding/melancholy mood that i'm currently relishing in:



blonde redhead - the dress



the breeders - night of joy

as much as i like this music, i'm eagerly awaiting warm nights filled with drunken dance parties.

i'll play you a story

i love love love french ambient/electronic composer colleen. her music is perfect for rainy days of introspection.



colleen - summer water

p.s. tomorrow my camera arrives!

a little bit twee...

if you have a heart, you love yann tiersen. the man is a brilliant, inventive composer, and his soundtrack to amelie is especially captivating. i youtubed his name and found lots of videos of people playing his songs on accordian and piano. they're even more charming live.

mr. tiersen himself:





and a pretty good (albeit emo-locked) substitute:

the definition of excited:

i'm seeing crystal castles at the ottobar in baltimore this sunday. the perfect way to celebrate easter, ha!



check out this fab liars remix they did:

liars - it fit when i was a kid (crystal castles remix)

if ya don't know right now, doggy-dogg is a freak freak freak!

i didn't think snoop dogg's song (and video) "sensual seduction" could get any better, but this hot chip cover is pretty ah-mazing. also, i want that sweater.



hot chip - sensual seduction

{via mfr}

so sorry.

dear music,

have i been neglecting you? i know in the beginning i pledged to focus on you AND fashion, and i'm treating you like the red-headed stepchild. i just feel so out of the loop lately, and frankly, a little unsatisfied. it's not you, it's me.

well, no more. from now on i promise i'll spend more time doting on you. forgive me?

x
allison

p.s. icy demons - miami ice

holy shit.

there is going to be a denali (my favorite band ever) reunion show in richmond this summer. that's all i need to say.

j'adore...

today is about all things precious.

like, for instance, this philip lim 3.1 dress.


(610 bones [!] at shop)

and this song by jason schwartzmann's latest project, coconut records.



coconut records - west coast

oh ivana...

ivana XL has a gorgeous new song out. it's um, about jesus, who certainly isn't my homeboy (jesus is fine, it's his followers i have a problem with...to butcher a gandhi quote), but the song is just really, truly gorgeous. check it out at her myspace.



{myspace}

better to have loved and lost...

it's always a bummer when i hear of a new band that has already come and gone. some of my favorite bands have broken up so it's a familiar feeling, but i at least had the pleasure of catching a live show or two before they ended things.

so it's a little sad that i found california-based band the finches, only to see that they were no more. i'm a sucker for haunting female voices, and carolyn riggs' voice is a perfect complement to the band's sad melodies.

i'd recommend it to people who are a fan of folksier music, but i think their sound is pretty conventionally appealing.

carolyn also has a new band, palms, that sounds promising.

the finches - nightswimming, ar

[discovered via {frolic!}]

watch the water drop from clouds, it sure rains a lot.

today i realized my ipod was gone. it's very likely i've misplaced it, but even likelier that it's been stolen. i should be upset, but i've been listening to paul simon today. again, the song. try and listen and not feel happy.

the russian futurists - paul simon

plus, i bought cool boots. the picture doesn't do them justice but they're pretty badass.



(well, okay, and i've been drinking.)

oh boy oh boy.

i am EXHAUSTED. i knew sxsw was big but jeeeeezus. at first i thought i’d listen to every rock, pop, electronic, alternative and experimental act, but i have to admit: i got lazy. quick. the ones without soundclips on the sxsw site i eventually (read: after 20 minutes) didn’t bother with. i also passed on a few with lame-sounding names. i’m sure i skipped over a ton of lovely bands but they did it to themselves, really. convenience, people! it’s the american way.

anyway, these are the bands i liked and would want to see if i was going to sxsw. alas, texas is far, and not particularly appealing (outside of austin). i also learned, through this tedious process, that british bands have sexier pictures. that’s not always a good thing. i had a funny example but i lost it. whoops.

go here for an exhaustive list of all the bands and performers being showcased.

bands i like(d) best:

the acorn - lullaby (ft. casey mecija) // myspace
recommended if you like: the folksier side of the arcade fire...though this song is nothing like that.

akron/family - phenomena // website
riyl: psychedelic folk, the archivist

a weather - spiders, snakes // website
riyl: hushed male/female vocals, rhodes pianos

bedroom walls - no wedding cake // myspace
riyl: stars, belaire

bellafea - thornbird // myspace
riyl: des ark, liza kate
(fun fact: they're the reason ambulette changed its name from bella lea!)


black moth super rainbow - sun lips // website
***highly recommended: i've been listening to sun lips nonstop since summer and it hasn't gotten old.
riyl: caribou, psychedelic goodness

the blow - parentheses // myspace
riyl: miranda july's short stories
***highly rec'd: if you haven't heard of the blow, step out from under that rock once in awhile, wouldja? plus, they're from portland. yay!

the cansecos - raised by wolves // website
riyl: chromeo

chromeo - fancy footwork // website
riyl: michael jackson pre-1990, dancing like it's 1999

destroyer - foam hands // myspace
riyl: the new pornographers and the solo work of its members
(painter in your pocket was my favorite song of 2006)

the dimes - delilah (no, not hey there delilah, silly!)
riyl: les savy fav

the dodos - fools // myspace
this song has been in my head nonstop for the past three days. it's posted a few posts below. everyone needs to hear it, so checkit fools.

duchess says - black flag // website
riyl: the 80s, tom cruise movies

eagle seagull - i'm sorry but i'm beginning to hate your face // myspace
riyl: arcade fire, wolf parade, modest mouse

edison glass - all our memories // website
riyl: at the drive-in, dudes with pretty voices (wait for the chorus)

fanfarlo - fire escape // website
riyl: "everything but country". you fucker.


georgie james - need your needs // website
***highly rec'd: dc locals laura burhenn and john davis (ex-q and not u) make the catchiest pop ever. this song is one of my faves.
riyl: the beatles, laura burhenn, girl/boy vocals

ghosthustler - only me to trust // myspace
riyl: the nintendo power glove!

hello seahorse! - won't say anything // website
riyl: camera obscura


islands - i feel evil (creeping in) (live) // website
***highly rec'd: finally new islands! they're such a fun band to see live since they're all so cute and multicultural.
riyl: the unicorns...was that too easy?

the kills - u.r.a. fever // website
riyl: this one reminds me of garbage, except if i actually liked them.

land of talk - speak to me bones // myspace
riyl: pj harvey, pinback, ambulette

jens lekman - the opposite of hallelujah // website
***highly rec'd: he’s probably the most adorable thing ever. his songwriting skills are superb. and the man knows how to make a damn good mix. every boy and girl i know that knows (of) jens is totes crushing.
riyl: poignant lyrics, sweden

lymbyc systym - fall bicycle // website
riyl: the letter y, post-rock

minipop - like i do // website
riyl: emily haines, lady voices (y'know, just in general)

mom - skipping stones // myspace
riyl: babbling brooks, pretty instrumentals

mystery palace - stepchild // website
riyl: understated vocals, blips and bleeps

nancy - doe sangue // myspace
riyl: st. vincent

nik freitas - sun down // website
riyl: jon brion, a little bit o’ cheese

pig out - disco bag (radio edit) // myspace
riyl: architecture in helsinki, lcd soundsystem

pterodactyl - esses // website
riyl: papercuts, panda bear, the alphabet


the russian futurists - let's get ready to crumble // website
***highly rec'd: the russian futurists are one of my FAVORITES. download this song. you won't regret it. i used to just drive around listening to paul simon (the song) on repeat.
riyl: panda bear, peter gabriel

say hi - northwestern girls // website
riyl: dirty liberals (like me!)

simian mobile disco - hustler // website
***higly rec'd: their stuff is amazing. the video is sexy but objectifies women. actually, both videos for it do.

solid gold - bible thumper // myspace
riyl: quiverfull.com

spiral beach - made of stone // website
riyl: land of talk, surf guitar, leopard print

the subjects - the hounds of war // website
riyl: adolescent uncertainty (uh...that's not a band. just so you know.)

torngat - you could be // website
riyl: trumpets, quirky instrumental pop (a la jon brion)

vampire weekend - cape cod kwassa kwassa // website
***highly recommended: if only this song. it's great.
riyl: paul simon, pitchfork

the western civilization - love struck angel // myspace
riyl: camera obscura...a lot.

white hinterland - dreaming of the plum trees // website
riyl: m.ward, regina spektor, charlie brown

woodhands - i wasn't made for fighting // myspace
riyl: the rapture, nerdy white guys

AND FINALLY!!!!

yellow fever - hellfire // myspace
riyl: stereolab, the velvet underground

whew. that was a long one. but i have to add: this lady wins best press photo, hands down.



amazing.

the best time-waster ever.

soon to come!: a bigass list of sxsw performers that i find compelling* (with sound!)

(*yes, i have too much free time on my hands. the pleasures of being unemployed.)

happiness is...

a catchy-ass song. Here are two.


myspace
the dodos - fools


myspace
belaire - step step step

going back on my word....

sometimes i say things forcefully and later embarrassingly have to retrace my steps and pretend the initial sentiment wasn't quite as strong as i first let on. so this is happening again with the cw's latest drama about overprivileged teens, gossip girl. i wrote it off completely at first, with its ridiculous dialogue and overdramatic storylines, but after watching the show a few times, i managed to find one redeeming quality: the real clothing line lorick, which is used on the show as character eleanor waldorf's clothing label. the clothes are pretty and feminine and way out of my price range. i doubt i'll watch the show unless i'm bored to tears, but at least it's not all bad.



also, i know i said i wouldn't post about hot chip, but their newest is so good it's making it hard to ignore. this song is particularly lovely:

hot chip - we're looking for a lot of love

these are a few of my (current) favorite things...

crystal castles (myspace)



this 2-piece band from toronto makes perfect (drunken) dance party music with 8-bit synths and an atari 5200 sound chip. they also make fantastic remixes. according to wikipedia, their music has been described as “innovative but pretty boring and pretentious”. ha!

crystal castles - good time

ivana xl (myspace)



ivana xl’s simple songs are some of the best i’ve heard. i don’t know how i discovered her, but i’m glad i did. her voice is sultry and her lyrics blend sarcasm with the type of heartbreaking honesty everyone can relate to. too bad she only plays in brooklyn (for now!). also, youaintnopicasso is totally crushing on her.

ivana xl - ghosts

mirah and spectratone international (myspace 1) // (myspace 2)



i’ve always liked mirah, but this cd is genius. it’s about insects and is a lot more gypsy-influenced than her other stuff. i’ve never thought of this painfully obvious comparison before, but she’s like a more accessible joanna newsom.

mirah and spectratone international - gestation of the sacred beetle

honorable musical mentions: yann tiersen, belaire, robotnicka, laura burhenn, ghostland observatory, jon brion. (i tried to avoid the obvious: hot chip, animal collective, and now vampire weekend - thanks pitchfork!)

rebecca turbow (website)



i’ve coveted her designs for a long time, and she’s just recently started putting most of them in her online shop. rebecca just appeared in a new york magazine story about new yorkers who only wear one color. for eight years she wore turquoise (and white), but now she’s moved on to gray.

mooka kinney - (website)



i love these girls. i have no idea if jumpers will stay “in”, but thank god that there’s someone out there making clothes that fulfill my desire to forever dress like a little girl (and not in that weird schoolgirl-fetish way.)

portland, oregon (and stumptown coffee!)


(photocredit)
i just visited my friend alex for a week to scope the place out, and i’m planning a relocation as soon as possible. it’s gorgeous, the coffee’s great, the pbr flows like water, and the hipster-watching is fantastic. plus, i've finally found a place in the states that's as liberal as i am.

tobias wong (website)



tobias wong is an interesting artist. his latest piece is the “killer engagement ring” with the diamond pointing outwards. not that it’s meant for practicality, but i know i’d accidentally stab myself in the eye if i dared to wear it. this, on the other hand, is something i want in my apartment. sometimes i think my taste for clean minimalism veers toward patrick bateman’s place in american psycho. oh, wong’s also the one who invented the golden pills that promise to make your shit sparkle. lovely! and lastly...

french bulldogs


(photocredit)
always. no explanation needed.