Friday, August 5, 2011

One Day

It's about that time in the summer when everything is filled with a hot recklessness; everything feels more urgent, at least to me. Simultaneously, lethargy is in the air and the things I most want to do include the kind of creative summer idleness usually reserved for children. (It's a shame to me that sidewalk chalk and laying on the floor first thing in the morning aren't considered nearly as socially acceptable at this age as they used to be...)
One of the biggest balancing acts I have tried to discern lately is how to grow up without losing my imagination. I know that sounds very peter-pan-syndrome to some of you but it genuinely terrifies me that gaining too much perspective on the realities of grown up existence will somehow poison the creative spark I've felt is one of the few small treasures no one can take away from me. From the time I could hold a pencil, I have been writing down the things I imagine. Ask anyone whose been forced to listen to my dreams (always fun, right?) and they will tell you that while in day to day life I can be practical, left to my own devices my subconscious mind over-flows with concepts, characters, and dreams I've always felt I had to share with the world. While the last few years have seen me attempt to garner more responsibility and take more control of my actions, that also means perhaps giving up some of the whimsy and idleness required for genuine creativity to flourish. I worry sometimes (big surprise) late at night that as I try to balance more and more things (as we are expected to do as the years go by), attempt to make my own money and finish school, I am losing sight of who I really am. All my life I've thought I'd NEVER stop writing, and in the last ten years I genuinely thought I'd never stop acting either. Now I only write for school it seems, which usually consists of defending my own writing, or writing about other people's writing, or reading what other people write about my writing, none of which are particularly fun. Meanwhile I try in spare moments to recapture any small semblance of unlimited imagination I used to possess as a child; I listen to music and see others who have fearlessly followed their dreams, read about women accomplishing more than they ever could before, and talk to friends who share the same artistic frustrations. Am I living my dream right now? No. But I'm living A dream right now, an incredibly wonderful life, a crazy beautiful life I'm blessed to have.Working and finishing school are just means to the eventual ends, they do not define me or the person I am working to become. And the fact that these creative yearnings haven't disappeared from my field of vision, the fact that they haunt me in my sleep, whisper to me late at night they will never leave as long as I remember them, gives me hope that one day they will manifest into something amazing which I can be genuinely proud of.

Monday, July 25, 2011

For Amy

The young rich and famous have notoriously made many a front page news column for lude behavior or drug-fueled mishaps. When the world lost Amy Winehouse this weekend, however, they didn't just lose a famous addict; they lost a troubled human being who happened to possess one of the most soulful, promising, and passionate voices of her generation and beyond. Society is so quick to remind us that Winehouse was on a self-destructive path, but what I truly wish they would emphasize more than her troubled life was the legacy she has left behind. Many may copy her bee-hive hair-do, but I dare anyone to listen to her live taping of Valerie or Love Is A Losing Game without standing in awe of the raw talent we unfortunately lost too soon. There are one too many auto-tuned, sexed-up-without-explanation, blow-up-doll-looking pop stars out there and too few artists with soul. I can't explain my connection with Winehouse, all I know is her music was powerful and touched me in a way few artists have. She was haunted by personal demons and, perhaps in some lights, brave enough to release them through song. I sincerely wish she could have pulled herself out of some of her habits but choose to honor her artistic legacy as a woman who sung with unbelievable strength and probably loved just as fiercely. A notoriously shy public figure, I only wish Winehouse is at peace somehow and can see how much her fans appreciated her talent and will continue to remember her amazing voice.
xx this one's for you, wino


Sunday, June 12, 2011

I Won't Keep You

Previous St. Paul resident and Mason Jennings tour-mate Haley Bonar is no stranger to local accolades, but with her recent move to Portland and her latest release, Golder, Haley may be on her way to nationally-renowned musical success. The strongest single off of Golder is easily the delicately nostalgic Silver Zephyrs. Bonar's careful lyrical arrangements and soulful vocal balance create a track of unparalleled beauty and ease.

Tried hard to leave the earth, but the strings pulled too hard
If you want to find escape, there's a place in your back yard
Lying flat upon our backs, watching silver zephyrs pass
The sky is auburn, the night is sleeping in the past...
I won't keep you
Trash piles on the curb, what do you love now that there's no me?
Go and make your pretty world, it doesn't take a telescope to see
I won't keep you


Tuesday, May 31, 2011

[North]-West Coast Folk

Seattle Indie-Rockers The Cave Singers caught my ear with their uniquely orchestrated folk-jam Swim Club. Released on their third LP No Witch, Swim Club is the perfect sampling of what TCS are all about, and every other track comes highly recommended.



Another Seattle folk band, The Head and the Heart, are relatively new to the independent music scene but have already garnered serious accolades for their Avett-Brothers-esque accessibility and easy-going harmonies. Their latest self-titled album is the perfect summer soundtrack to get lost in. Some immediate standouts are Lost in my Mind, Cats & Dogs, and Coeur D'Alene.


Monday, May 23, 2011

Luck

A fan of The Owls since 2005, I've seldom since come across simpler, more poignant vocals paired with such minimalist yet complex lyrics. I heard this on a rainy day and have been obsessed with it whatever the weather ever since.



Friday, May 13, 2011

Stone Rollin'

Obviously.

Happy Weekend





Sunday, May 1, 2011

Rubies & Rocks

Equal parts Regina Spektor and Tegan & Sara, Mirah & Thao are the hottest musical marriage of the year. Capable of taking indie-rock to new heights with slow-building rhythmic melodies and unique emotional nuances most artists can only envy, these are two badass ladies. Their debut album, "Thao & Mirah" was released last week and I can't think of a more promising debut. Two immediate standouts were "Rubies & Rocks" and "Little Cup".

Rubies and Rocks
With a booming brass section and bold lyricism to boot, it's hard to resist M&T's eclectic charm.

i never wanted to stop, stop, stop
just wanted to roll, roll, roll
you kept it hot, hot, hot
you knew how to hold me
but that would not hold


Little Cup
An impressively delicate but carefully arranged moment of love lost, presented with slow-building orchestration and a beautiful beat.

i chose the strangest little cup
to drink you from and stir you up
you were beautiful it's true
and all i ever wanted was
to be good to you

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Two Against One

Latest release from Danger Mouse, featuring Jack White.

make no mistake i don't do anything for free
i keep my enemies closer than my mirror ever gets to me
and if you think that there is shelter in this attitude
wait til you feel the warmth of my gratitude
i get the feeling that it's two against one
i'm already fighting me, so what's another one?
the mirror is a trigger and your mouth's a gun
lucky for me i'm not the only one



Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Yuna

If you've out-played the new Adele record, try a little Yuna. Even in this live performance, this woman possesses one of the smoothest most beautiful voices I've heard.



Monday, March 21, 2011

Satellite

The latest kick ass track from personal brit-rock icon Allison Mosshart and Jamie Hince of The Kills. Something to start your week off to, plus the video is full of vintage cars and an homage to new-wave french cinema. #win.




Friday, March 4, 2011

You Gotta Know When to Fold Em'

Though you may scoff at Amy Wino's bat-wing-liquid-liner or her fondness for day drinking, when it comes to love, the girl's got soul. Look no further than some of the lyrics off her hugely popular Back To Black and you'll find a lady with her share of man troubles. "Self-professed, profound, til the chips were down. Though you're a gambling man, love is a losing hand." And although she may be temporarily AWOL from the mainstream music scene, there are always talented and semi-tormented artists to take her place and pick up the soul/blues slack. Which brings me to (her doppleganger, of course) Cee-Lo Green, whose latest ablum: The Lady Killer, is actually full of fantastic tracks that aren't featured on Glee or sung by Gwenyth Paltrow. (yuck). Both these soulful singers turn the cards they are dealt in love and life into something palpable; digestible; visceral for their audience to relate to. I hope these hyms heal your heartache, your backache, or maybe just quell your Winehouse cravings for now. (I can't be the only one having those, right?)
The uncensored, incredible, non-commercialized Cee-Lo we know and love:


Amy's raw-as-sushi rendition of "Love is a Losing Game."





Monday, February 28, 2011

JLM feat. Intuition

An amazing mashup of Jessica Lea Mayfield & Intuition, love the beat.


i know how you work-
(i am just like you)
no matter what you say,
our hearts are wrong
our hearts are wrong


Monday, February 21, 2011

Thom Yorke's Dance Moves

Off of Radiohead's highly anticpated "The King Of Limbs."
Radiohead - Lotus Flower
Slowly we unfurl
As lotus flowers
Cause all I want is the moon upon a stick
Just to see what it is
Just to see what it is
I can't kick your habit
Just to feed your fast ballooning head
Listen to your heart

Go do a little dance.♥