tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25659245596216399102012-03-08T21:49:19.692-05:00Random thoughts, rants, raves, reviews (albums, songs, live shows) - the one thing tying it all together: music. As long as it somehow relates to music and the experience of it, I consider it "on topic".Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.comBlogger1271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-35098949025410134822012-03-07T11:15:00.001-05:002012-03-08T21:49:19.726-05:00

I had my plan for next Monday all worked out, I had the play list made and on my iPod - I was determined to get back to the origin of New Music Monday and only have honestly new music.  Not necessarily new chronologically speaking, but by artists that are new to me.  In other words, not stuff written or produced by artists I've rambled on about at length, no guitar or backing vocals by anyone I

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-35880096011955399582012-03-06T10:32:00.000-05:002012-03-06T14:52:08.128-05:00

Do you ever feel an urge to listen to music that doesn't make you think?  You know, the kind of stuff that just flows around you and in one ear and out the other without disrupting what's in between?  Obviously, I prefer my music profound.  I like for it to really have an effect on me one way or the other.  But every so often, I like to just jam and not think about anything in particular. 

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-77114944427879488412012-03-05T10:12:00.000-05:002012-03-05T10:20:55.841-05:00

I only have one legitimately new song for you, but I have five legitimately awesome songs for you, so it seems like a fair trade.  All of these are relatively new to me, as in I've come to own them recently, so by my broad definition of "new music", they qualify. "Relapse" - Betty Goo This song is from their album Superchthonic.  I just got that one in the mail this past Wednesday but I already

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-45580676689364104172012-03-04T20:19:00.000-05:002012-03-04T20:19:36.453-05:00

During my weekly (biweekly, whenever-I-think-of-it) internet search (by the way, I search for them in real record stores too, but my chances of finding them there are even less) for a couple obscure cassettes that I'm becoming more and more convinced I'll never find, I came across the Stop Pop and Roll website.  From this website, I learned that Betty Goo broke up in 1999...so this means that we

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-37532718401267956572012-03-04T19:02:00.000-05:002012-03-05T15:30:57.818-05:00

Today my husband and I ventured out into the world (even though we didn't really have to) and killed two birds with one stone.  By that I mean that we supported my record habit and our local record shop at the same time.  Our store is Joe's Records - they have 4 locations so if you ever find yourself in Corydon, Indiana; Evansville, Indiana; Mt. Vernon, Illinois; or Defiance, Ohio stop in and buy

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-2731993182861121452012-03-03T10:33:00.000-05:002012-03-03T22:41:02.960-05:00

I've been asked on a couple of occasions why I don't write more about things I don't like.  Why this blog is just all syrupy goodness about the music and artists that I adore.  Well, I have written a couple posts about less-than-awesome songs (although it's early in the morning and I don't feel like digging them up right now...just trust me, they're there) but things I don't care to listen to

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-72737900497981760082012-03-02T10:59:00.002-05:002012-03-02T12:02:01.879-05:00

You know me, I'm always buying some music.  I can't have a drug habit because it would cut into my music fund and that would not be cool.  Wednesday and Thursday were lovely days for procuring music.  Here's what joined my collection: First, the first Betty Goo CD Superchthonic arrived in the mail Wednesday afternoon.  I say the first "CD" because they had a debut release that was only released

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-38862726682671228322012-03-01T10:41:00.000-05:002012-03-01T10:41:43.971-05:00

I have heard it said that the first song on a record is always the best one.  To defend this argument, The Black Keys' Rubber Factory and El Camino were sited.  In fact, one might go so far as to say that the first half of a record is always the best half.  Personally, I have to respectfully disagree.  IF I'm going to prefer one part of a record over the other (this used to be referred to as the

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-56923863852915144462012-02-29T10:00:00.003-05:002012-02-29T10:00:13.391-05:00

There are certain songs that cut right to the bone.  Even tossed into a play list among other more innocent tunes, some songs just have the ability to stop me in my tracks.  I am helpless to resist their power. Of course, sometimes a song will strike me that way that never has before and never will again, but there are others that do it every time.  A lot of the pleasure I get from music stems

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-56971150584357445222012-02-28T10:26:00.000-05:002012-02-28T10:26:47.362-05:00

Album: Micah - EP Artist: Micah Release: July 14, 2006 How have I not talked about this one already? (honestly, I kind of thought I had)  This was Micah's debut but of course I got it last because I do everything backwards.  I would say that this EP has my favorite Micah song on it, but that would require me to pick between "Wasted" and "Goodbye" and this just isn't gonna happen.  So we'll

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-88665661886780913462012-02-27T09:51:00.000-05:002012-02-27T09:51:24.925-05:00

Album: As I Make My Way - EP Artist: The Commuters Release: August, 2011 These songs aren't incredibly new as they were released last August, but then again, they're the best kind of new because they're all tracks from their upcoming album Release which will come out April 17, 2012.  I don't remember where I heard about these guys or how I ended up with this EP (I'm assuming I downloaded

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-57742426699333519622012-02-26T21:21:00.001-05:002012-02-27T12:50:52.789-05:00

If you know me at all, you know that it is 100% amazing that I have actually uploaded a video from last night's concert already.  I never ever record anything, so I think it's remarkably steady, but it is quite narrow because clearly I did something wrong, sorry about that.  We all have my husband to thank for this little captured memory because he reminded me at some point during the show that I

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-87899516637123771602012-02-25T23:36:00.003-05:002012-02-27T15:03:30.581-05:00

As I may have mentioned a time or two, we went to see Matt Nathanson at Headliners Music Hall in Louisville, KY last night.  I have seen him twice before (at the KY State Fair and at Cannery Ballroom in Nashville, TN) so I was pretty sure it would be a good show and for the most part, I was not disappointed.  Honestly the only thing that let me down about this show was lack of connection between

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-28511663261168599712012-02-22T08:46:00.003-05:002012-02-22T08:46:55.444-05:00

In case you haven't noticed, we're going to see Matt Nathanson at Headliners Music Hall in Louisville this Friday night.  To say that I'm excited would be a gross understatement.  The excitement is, like quadrupled because Aaron Tap will also be there (obviously) and I'm also really looking forward to seeing Rachel Platten who is opening the evening. I will definitely report back this weekend

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-72845265316316452352012-02-20T10:45:00.000-05:002012-02-20T10:50:10.858-05:00

Last week I was a major slacker in the new music arena.  I have more than made up for it this week.  I originally intended to listen to Green River Ordinance for today so I made a little nighttime playlist of their songs to that end.  However, I made the mistake of putting Matt Nathanson, Ryan Schmidt, Aaron Tap and Carbon Leaf in front of them on the playlist.  As a result, I only got through a

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-90063328279233673412012-02-19T21:13:00.000-05:002012-02-20T20:45:05.097-05:00

Yesterday afternoon we went to Half Price Books and I browsed the used CD rack for a while.  I was lucky enough to find Regina Spektor's Begin to Hope and Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water.  I'm telling you right now, if that song ("Bridge Over Troubled Water") doesn't, at the very least, put a lump in your throat, you really need to have a serious conversation with yourself about

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-63257443204354163262012-02-18T12:19:00.002-05:002012-02-18T12:19:50.726-05:00

What does it mean to have your mind blown?  What is the criteria for something to be mind blowing?  I suppose if we could answer that question, we'd all be millionaires.  Or would everyone knowing the secret devalue it completely?  I'm pretty sure no one "knows" the secret because it is different for every person - and probably different for each person every day.  I do know that something that

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-88847802595644749502012-02-14T10:21:00.001-05:002012-02-14T10:21:00.469-05:00

So now that we've all had a day to get over our shock and awe (or disappointment and boredom), I'll recap the Grammys from my perspective.  Also, just so you know, this is from memory so it is almost certain to be out of order and disjointed.  Enjoy. LL Cool J hosted this year.  Ah, LL...I remember him back in the day, back in the "Knock You Out" days when he was oh-so-fine (and really, he

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-63944067533452333562012-02-13T08:56:00.000-05:002012-02-13T08:58:42.184-05:00

No new music this Monday morning.  I'm sorry.  The simple fact is that I'm still completely ate up with the Betty Goo album that I got last week and I haven't made time to listen to anything else.  Well, except for Nothing/Everything by Paula Kelley which came in the mail Saturday, but I've scarcely listened to it enough to have an opinion.  I have a plan for upcoming Mondays though, so in a

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-79049525479876385362012-02-10T16:46:00.001-05:002012-02-10T20:55:07.780-05:00

Album: Gooicide Artist: Betty Goo Release: 1997 Just when I thought I knew how much of a genius Aaron Tap is, I got ahold of a copy of Gooicide by Betty Goo, which he sang and played guitar for in the 90's and...Holy Shit.  I had found bits and pieces of this record online and had listened to as much of it as I could find, but I've only listened to the entire thing twice now (give me a

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-71039173824803026012012-02-09T23:59:00.000-05:002012-02-10T08:42:26.972-05:00

In this world of constant contact and the ability to reach out and touch more people in more distant places than ever before, it seems we somehow keep becoming more and more isolated.  We share every thought, every action, every stupid thing that passes through our minds on facebook or twitter or whatever and yet, real human to human contact has become more and more rare.  We're closed off in our

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-12540277926525253482012-02-07T23:06:00.000-05:002012-02-29T21:06:14.542-05:00

Several times, I've mentioned my "shopping list" in reference to Aaron Tap's website.  The funny thing is, I actually do have a music shopping list.  You know, a list of new (and old) things that have tickled my fancy that I want to own one day.  I can't possibly just jump and buy every single thing that turns my crank at that moment (although I have been doing just that at an alarming rate

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-57534769393974214412012-02-06T10:02:00.002-05:002012-02-06T10:27:41.567-05:00

I have been listening to a ton of new music lately; so much so that I kind of feel like I'm neglecting some old favorites.  I'll have to rectify that situation soon, but for now I'm really enjoying finding new artists and expanding my collection.  This week I'm going to share a few new albums that I've come to own recently.  A couple of these are new to the world, a couple aren't, but they are

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-35617576285704472072012-02-04T22:22:00.000-05:002012-02-11T23:25:38.577-05:00

Album: Love Is Another Drug (single) Artist: Jesse Macht Release: February 22, 2011 Hey look, I finally got to something before it was a year old.  Yes, it's only 20 days shy of being out for a year, but still. Anyway, this is another one that I found via Aaron Tap's website (you can find my shopping list here) and, once again, my music guru was right.  Here's what I ask from the singers

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-80758903119760167102012-01-31T23:08:00.000-05:002012-01-31T23:08:37.683-05:00

I've been pondering the difference between skill and talent.  Is there a difference?  Or is it more than a "difference"?  Are they more like two completely different things?  I mean, sure, some people have a natural talent for something, but can someone without said natural talent learn to do that thing just as well?  Now that I think about it, I think yes, anyone can learn to play a guitar as

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-75657635924199961872012-01-30T10:36:00.001-05:002012-01-30T10:36:00.281-05:00

Album: Be Here Artist: Rachel Platten Release: April 25, 2011 This Monday's new music is Rachel Platten's Be Here.  It's not THAT new as it was released last April, but it's totally new to me, so that's good enough.  Rachel is opening for Matt Nathanson on his All Night Noise tour this year so I'll be seeing her in February in Louisville, KY.  I always prefer live music that I'm familiar with

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-80101484721011254132012-01-28T10:09:00.001-05:002012-01-28T10:09:30.612-05:00

Album: Train Artist: Train Release: 1998 I've rambled on about some of my new favorites for a while now, so let's get back to one of my old favorites.  Train's debut album, the self-titled Train, was released in 1998.  I didn't come to own it until it was already several years old, so I can't claim to have been a Trainiac from the very beginning (surely you know by now that I'm always a few

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-29084654603483323062012-01-25T11:46:00.000-05:002012-01-25T11:46:39.786-05:00

Because this is Post Number 100 I've decided to be even more self-indulgent than I normally am (hard to imagine...right??).  This one is pretty much just to put some of my favorite things that I've found on Youtube all in one place.  And of course, because I love these things, I automatically assume that you will too (and I'm not wrong).  So here we go with some fun stuff... Aaron Tap and Matt

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-9193887181609927742012-01-24T10:19:00.002-05:002012-01-24T10:19:00.787-05:00

Given all the music that I listen to, it seems it would be impossible for me to have a favorite song/artist/album/anything.  And it's true, I have a favorite song of the day, of the week, of the minute.  Who I listen to most, which songs I'm in the mood for, which album I'm currently running into the ground, it all changes frequently.  My tastes and preferences are fluid and can't even really be

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-41582968336854584902012-01-23T08:15:00.001-05:002012-01-23T08:15:00.600-05:00

Well, it's that time again.  Time to start a new week.  Time to shake off the weekend and put the old nose back to the grindstone.  And more importantly, time to check out some new tunes!  I have some good stuff for you this week (mixed in with the stinkers, of course): "Let's Go" - Madi Diaz - Far From Things That We Know First up is "Let's Go" by Madi Diaz.  She was recommended to me by Micah

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-85618455571236575152012-01-21T22:41:00.000-05:002012-03-02T09:43:26.934-05:00

On the way home from work this afternoon I couldn't decide what to listen to, so I put my iPod on shuffle.  After System of a Down ("Chop Suey") and Train ("If It's Love") had their way with me Counting Crows took a shot with "Long December".  Naturally, I burst into tears.  It's just one of those songs.  That got me to thinking about the songs that have that effect on me and why.  Some of the

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-74592107953083145972012-01-17T23:31:00.000-05:002012-01-17T23:31:53.966-05:00

As I mentioned earlier, I'm reading Rob Sheffield's book Love is a Mix Tape right now.  I'm loving the shit out of this book, it's sweet and sad and nostalgic and wonderful.  It makes me love him and it makes me miss Renee - an apparently incredible woman I never even knew.  Anyway, as I read this book, I can't help but think about mix tapes I've made in the past.  I used to have a sweet ass

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-13545895737921792412012-01-16T14:39:00.000-05:002012-01-16T14:41:57.423-05:00

For those of you not familiar with Lana Del Rey, here is what her song "Video Games" supposedly sounds like: However, when she got on Saturday Night Live this past Saturday and performed it live, this is what it sounded like:  That, friends and neighbors, is a pretty significant difference.  Personally, I don't care for either version, so I'm not all that worked up over the SNL

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-30769150302602761952012-01-16T08:36:00.003-05:002012-01-16T08:36:18.154-05:00

So, today's New Music Monday music was supposed to be Ryan Schmidt's White Horse EP.  However, after only 4 days of listening to it, the awesomeness of it was eating a hole in my brain and I just had to write about it sooner.  Sure, I could have written the post and scheduled it to publish today and left it at that, but where's the fun in that?? You can read about White Horse here here and here

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-28909835321218989752012-01-15T17:26:00.001-05:002012-01-15T21:48:22.954-05:00

For my birthday, my in-laws gave me Rob Sheffield's Love is a Mix Tape (among other things, including A Night At The Opera  by Queen on vinyl!).  I'm only 40-some pages into it and I would already recommend it to anyone who has ever made a mix tape (or, for the younger set, a play list).  After reading the first couple chapters last night, I felt very emotional and strange about the insomnia play

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-5052362820084156412012-01-14T10:07:00.000-05:002012-01-15T19:18:06.636-05:00

Album: White Horse EP Artist: Ryan Schmidt Release: January 10, 2011 I have been listening to Ryan Schmidt's Black Sheep, Run incessantly ever since I bought it so I was super excited to find out that his next offering, White Horse EP would be coming out January 10th (the day before my birthday - what a lovely coincidence!!).  I intended to buy it at midnight when it became available but,

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-58282700658330202322012-01-12T14:24:00.000-05:002012-01-12T14:24:26.522-05:00

I'm aware that last night I said I didn't know any Concrete Blonde songs, but it turns out I was wrong.  I had no idea they did "Joey"!  Here, listen: That song is amazing.  I haven't had a chance to listen to the entire CD yet, but the parts I have listened to are all as good as this song.  In Johnette I have officially found another female singer that can keep me mesmerized as long as

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-44646765753252946832012-01-11T22:37:00.000-05:002012-01-12T14:25:01.839-05:00

So, today is my birthday and to celebrate, I bought myself a few things.  Here's what I got: First was Ryan Schmidt's debut Burning Bitter Years (which I can only assume to be high school) that was released in June, 2007.  Check him out on the cover - can't you just see the young jumping off him??  I got this one because I knew I was going to buy his latest release as soon as it came out and

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-77303602609875251792012-01-09T22:11:00.000-05:002012-01-17T12:54:56.378-05:00

I had a bit of a conversation the other day that got me to thinking about the way we listen to music. (I say a "bit" of a conversation because it was Twitter and you may have noticed that I am far too verbose to have a truly satisfying conversation in 140 characters or less at a time.) Anyway, it started differently but the part that started my synapses firing was a distinction between passive

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-22062048299950605212012-01-09T08:19:00.004-05:002012-01-12T14:25:30.533-05:00

The first time I listened to these four songs, I thought "Yuck, I've struck out this week", however, because I am a woman, I reserve the right to change my mind willy nilly.  And I have - sort of.  Honestly, I'm not sure I'm going to keep any of these songs, but on the other hand, I've come around to realizing that they're not bad songs, they just didn't grab me right away for whatever reason.

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-27585611510032766962012-01-08T17:49:00.000-05:002012-01-13T13:05:32.441-05:00

As you may or may not know, I've recently started collecting vinyl (you can see my collection here) and I finally got something to play them on for Christmas. The first album I wanted to hear on vinyl (and, honestly, the one that got me started on this in the first place) was Matt Nathanson's Modern Love.  After reading his blog post about hearing it on vinyl for the first time, I knew I had to

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-49502073779294559692012-01-07T21:39:00.000-05:002012-01-07T22:04:33.514-05:00

21 - Adele Producers - Jim Abbiss, Adele, Paul Epworth, Rick Rubin, Fraser T. Smith, Ryan Tedder & Dan Wilson Engineers/Mixers - Jim Abbiss, Philip Allen, Beatriz Artola, Ian Dowling, Tom Elmhirst, Greg Fidelman, Dan Parry, Steve Price, Mark Rankin, Andrew Scheps, Fraser T. Smith & Ryan Tedder Master Engineer - Tom Coyne Nominated - Album of the Year I finally got around to listening to this

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-21642041016383967762012-01-07T00:15:00.001-05:002012-01-08T13:48:33.742-05:00

The social media that's available today has put me in a position that I never expected to be in which is having the ability to actually converse with the artists that I'm actively listening to.  I have to say, for someone who came of age well before the internet was anywhere near what it is now and listening mostly to dead people, it is kind of bizarre. I'm used to them being very far away and

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-89577096731169154002012-01-05T23:51:00.001-05:002012-01-08T19:02:36.654-05:00

There are apparently only 4 tickets left to the Louisville, KY show of Matt Nathanson's All Night Noise Tour on February 24th (which is the one I'm going to).  So go here http://headlinerslouisville.com/ and snatch them quick before they're gone!!  You know you want to be there!  If you can't make that one, go here http://mattnathanson.com/tour/ and find a show you can get to. This is how

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-54421738809752132972012-01-05T22:51:00.003-05:002012-01-05T22:54:44.574-05:00

"All of the Lights" - Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie Songwriters - Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West Nominated - Song of the Year All I really have to say about this song being nominated for a Grammy is...what the hell?  First of all, let me say that I'm not a huge fan of Kayne West.  I think he is totally full of shit and largely overrated (except for that moment

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-17463561117504133242012-01-03T23:34:00.000-05:002012-01-03T23:34:11.314-05:00

I hadn't looked at my 25 Most Played list on iTunes for a while because it didn't used to change.  In fact, I used to listen to the list so often that I pretty much secured the ranking of those songs.  So when I checked it out after syncing my iPod the other day - color me surprised!!  Keep in mind that iTunes has been keeping track of these songs for 6 1/2 years, so it's a little shocking to me

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-72111397865405561532012-01-02T21:06:00.000-05:002012-01-02T21:12:50.715-05:00

I found Pearl Jam's Yield at Half Price Books a few weeks ago for next to nothing and finally got around to listening to it this morning.  While I was listening to it, I had an epiphany: Pearl Jam just isn't that amazing. Yes, I am full well aware that you hate me now, and that's cool, I understand, but at least give me a chance to explain.  I'm not going to take it back because I think it's

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-18070364197887273032012-01-02T10:40:00.000-05:002012-01-02T10:40:26.094-05:00

On this, the first Monday of 2012, I have 4 songs for you - none of which have impressed me very much.  I've only listened to these a couple times, so my opinion on them is possible (possibly likely) to change, but these are my first impressions. "Northern Mentality" - Mathieu Santos (Massachusetts 2010) I'm not going to lie, after the amount of music I came to love in 2011 that originated in

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-42885742789389925942011-12-30T22:01:00.002-05:002012-01-02T01:52:08.576-05:00

As a general rule, I hate those "Best Of" lists that pop up everywhere at the end of every year.  The reason for my distaste is that the vast majority of those lists only contain critic-friendly crap.   You know: Coldplay, Feist, Adele, Katy Perry, Radiohead...junk that for some reason the people who are supposed to "know" about this stuff always love but I always really, really don't love. 

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-83633371482958989852011-12-29T10:42:00.000-05:002011-12-30T09:22:50.765-05:00

I'm not a huge believer in therapy in the traditional sense of the word.  I've had some pretty useless therapists in my life (which explains why I do not have one now) and they were all extremely expensive and not nearly as effective as 3 minutes of the right words mixed with the right music and sung by the right person can be.  It has always amazed me how lyrics written by a perfect stranger can

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-10768730933875236012011-12-28T22:12:00.000-05:002011-12-29T11:54:32.851-05:00

Album: Yourself or Someone Like You Artist: Matchbox Twenty (or weren't they called "Matchbox 20" back then?) Release: October 1, 1996 Yourself or Someone Like You, Matchbox Twenty's cleverly named debut album is one of my favorite albums of all time.  I can't remember when or where I got it, but it was pretty new at the time, so I must have picked it up right after my first semester in

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-30131772522046224452011-12-26T21:42:00.005-05:002011-12-27T08:34:50.892-05:00

Album: Coast to Coast Artist: Micah Release: July 2010 Micah is a singer/songwriter from Rochester, New York (you can find him here and here); his album Coast to Coast was gifted to me by an apparently generous and hardworking music elf.  It has quickly taken its place as one of my favorite things I've received this holiday season.  This album is a roller coaster ride through the ups and downs

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-209042735285617392011-12-26T12:14:00.000-05:002011-12-26T12:14:48.557-05:00

Somehow in my cookie and eggnog induced haze, I've managed to select 4 songs from my collection for New Music Monday.  I'm not terribly in love with any of these songs, but to each their own, I suppose. Here we go: "Changes" - Dirty Vegas This is the gem of this collection. It's off their album Electric Love and it is very electric sounding indeed.  I have another Dirty Vegas song that I like

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-67407000253888416432011-12-26T02:38:00.001-05:002011-12-26T02:39:39.668-05:00

Right this very moment (yes, at 2:29AM the morning after Christmas) I'm listening to Matt Nathanson's Modern Love on vinyl for the very first time.  It is incredible.  I keep expecting to look up and see that a stage has been installed in my living room and that he's on it.  The sound is so warm, so real, so alive.  "Kiss Quick" is playing right now and I have to say, this is a close second

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-18255294077141679582011-12-24T10:46:00.001-05:002011-12-24T18:51:15.931-05:00

Myself, I like my Christmas music either old school awesome, such as Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas". Or just plain awesome, such as Paula Kelley singing...well, anything. Here, enjoy: http://soundcloud.com/divinepk (and don't ignore the first song at that link, it's not Christmas music but it is my favorite of her songs). Merry Christmas.

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-76285782793660914272011-12-22T23:15:00.001-05:002011-12-27T22:16:29.811-05:00

Album: Black Sheep, Run Artist: Ryan Schmidt Release: 2010 Ryan Schmidt was recommended to me by one of those people who really should know about this sort of thing, so of course I gave him a listen.  I was told by the aforementioned source that the wicked talented Paula Kelley has worked with him as did Aaron Tap, so it has to be good stuff, right? (After Modern Love, Airports , this and this

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-38155650700420600132011-12-22T08:10:00.000-05:002011-12-22T08:10:48.624-05:00

Song: Grenade Artist: Bruno Mars Album: Doo-Wops & Hooligans Nominated For: Song of the Year & Record of the Year "Grenade" was the second single off Bruno Mars' smash hit Doo-Wops & Hooligans.  It's a heart breaking song about unrequited love.  Or at least, she's not giving it back at the same level that he's offering it.  He goes into pretty graphic detail about the physical torturers he would

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-33945287018402963612011-12-21T08:13:00.000-05:002011-12-21T08:13:20.675-05:00

At the end of the year, everyone makes lists of the best this and the greatest that of the last year.  Myself, I like to fly in the face of convention, so I'm going to tell you what I didn't like.  My biggest disappointment of 2011 wasn't even an album that was released in 2011.  Quite the contrary, it was released in 1993.  I waited 18 years to own this album - so you can imagine what a huge

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-67316009995399119312011-12-20T23:44:00.000-05:002011-12-20T23:44:32.032-05:00

In the coming weeks (I'll have to work out a schedule, cause I'm weird like that), I'm going to give my opinions on some of this year's nominees. Album of the Year: Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans Adele - 21 (I reviewed Foo Fighters - Wasting Light a while ago) I'm not doing Lady Gaga's album or Rihanna's because I don't own either of them and I don't care to. Record of the Year: Adele -

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-62417567688980975842011-12-20T08:05:00.000-05:002011-12-20T08:05:00.537-05:00

Album: American Standard Artist: Seven Mary Three Release: September 5, 1995 Ah yes, and now we're back to one of the great albums of my formative years.  I was first exposed to Seven Mary Three at the Kentucky State Fair in the summer of 1996 (awesome shit happens there) when we heard a cover band playing "Water's Edge".  I went out and bought American Standard - on cassette - very soon after

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-6192640976291899352011-12-19T06:42:00.000-05:002011-12-19T06:42:10.669-05:00

New Music Monday is back! (Look, I'm trying to be excited that it's Monday...just go with it)  Here are this week's victims picks: "My Time Has Just Begun" by The Dead Trees This song, from their album WHATWAVE is my favorite of these.  It's upbeat with heavy drums and a tambourine!  (I love a tambourine)  I like a song I can sing along with and this is definitely that.  I looked into some of

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-25771049280511091792011-12-18T20:09:00.000-05:002011-12-18T20:09:09.728-05:00

Album: Airports EP Artist: The Paula Kelley Orchestra (The PKO) Release: July 29, 2008 As I was baking christmas cookies and listening to my sweet-ass "Cookie Baking Play List", it dawned on me that I had not shared The Paula Kelley Orchestra's Airports EP with you.  I love the shit out of this little four song collection.  Not only that, but upon further reading, I find out that the one and

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-4147586660339563112011-12-16T21:35:00.001-05:002011-12-17T20:12:57.743-05:00

In an attempt to make this Christmas as not normal as possible (and because I got my husband a sweet-ass replica light saber that I could NOT keep secret any longer) we exchanged presents tonight.  And I got vinyl!! Look: That's Foo Fighters There is Nothing Left to Lose and The Colour and The Shape and Pearl Jam's Ten. Merry Christmas to me!!

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-41780513597392207842011-12-15T21:03:00.002-05:002011-12-20T11:25:05.386-05:00

Wondering what to do this winter/spring because you think no one tours during the cold months?  Well think again, my friend!!  Matt Nathanson has extended his All Night Noise Tour into 2012 throwing in some headlining dates between his shows with Kelly Clarkson (because apparently it would kill him to rest for a few days here and there...not to mention that we would go into withdrawal).  I don't

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-7468049313889255132011-12-15T05:15:00.000-05:002011-12-15T05:15:00.451-05:00

Before I get too for into this rant/ramble, go here and read about what comedian Louis C.K. has done with his most recent release: https://buy.louisck.net/statement (if you can't be bothered, he basically produced his own comedy special, with his own money, and rather than signing a contract for someone else to market it, he pretty much just sold it himself for $5 each.  His idea was to see if

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-24054935782782815042011-12-13T22:36:00.001-05:002011-12-14T08:10:18.895-05:00

As I was browsing around the iTunes store tonight, my husband had me buy the rest of Appetite for Destruction - a part of the soundtrack of his youth.  I played for him my recent purchase ("Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode) to illustrate the difference between the things he tends to like and the things I tend to like. Then, we revisited our common ground - the power ballad.  Sure, when he was

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-89073107081904129582011-12-12T05:45:00.001-05:002011-12-13T09:04:43.980-05:00

In the interest of making Monday something better than just the start of the work week, I'm going to institute New Music Monday.  I'll give my first impressions of a few songs that I discovered over the last week (or weekend, as is the case today).  Through the discovery of all this new music, I am learning that there are simply not enough hours in the day for me to listen to all the things I

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-55089239492593414422011-12-11T08:18:00.002-05:002011-12-13T09:05:25.506-05:00

I just listened to Neon Trees latest offering "Everybody Talks".  The first time was with the little video they put up on Facebook and my very first impression was "oh my god, this is horrible."  I really liked Tyler Glenn when they first appeared on the scene, but now I'm kind of afraid his ego is going to eat that band alive.  I think maybe this fame thing is going to his head.  I guess that

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-45407005203916811222011-12-09T12:38:00.003-05:002011-12-14T13:12:53.981-05:00

How has it been 2 1/2 hours and I haven't mentioned this yet?? I just bought tickets to go see Matt Nathanson at Headliner's Music Hall in Louisville, KY on February 24, 2012!!!!**  I got 4 tickets as my sister and her husband (of vinyl donation fame) will hopefully go with us.  To say that I cannot wait would be a gross understatement.  Also, I'm not sure if I mentioned, but my 2nd copy

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-14001317199352370882011-12-09T11:35:00.001-05:002011-12-09T11:40:20.559-05:00

As I mentioned, I got 5 downloads from Spinner's MP3 of the Day site.  And by the way, it is the coolest thing in the world to be able to check these bands out that don't get a lot of exposure otherwise.  I had never heard of any of these bands (except Cowboy Junkies, of course) before this, so any comments I make here are based solely on these songs and nothing else they've recorded.  So

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-10041530285320068042011-12-08T10:27:00.000-05:002011-12-08T10:27:12.165-05:00

I was cruising around over at The Huffington Post last night (reading about Alec Baldwin's latest exploits, of course) and somehow I ended up over at Spinner's MP3 of the Day page.  Honestly, I have no idea how that happened.  I guess it's something to do with that "surfing" thing we tend to do online. Anyway, imagine my delight when I found out that I could (LEGALLY) download free music!!  It

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-9489233201699273872011-12-06T14:23:00.007-05:002012-03-02T22:11:03.145-05:00

My husband said to me this morning that he doesn't think any of this new music has any value.  Of course, Florence + the Machine was on VH1 at the moment, so I didn't have a good argument right in front of me.  I just said, "That's not true."  So he challenged me for a name...ahh, the pressure of a name!! Naturally, I replied, "Matt Nathanson.  And the Foo Fighters' new record, and Red Hot Chili

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-50990432235295139132011-12-05T06:09:00.003-05:002011-12-05T08:52:55.167-05:00

I'm sitting here watching "Foo Fighters: Back and Forth" and just learned that Dave Grohl turned down an opportunity to play drums for Tom Petty. Because he had this dream of starting Foo Fighters (this was after he had recorded the demo that was all him on all the instruments - but before there was actually a band) and being the lead singer/guitar player, which was something he had never done

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-74164460456882941442011-12-04T05:45:00.001-05:002011-12-04T12:13:04.527-05:00

Today - 12/03/2011 (which will actually be yesterday, or some other day in the past, by the time you read this) - is the greatest day I've ever known.  Ok, maybe not the greatest, but it is the day that I finally came to own the Smashing Pumpkins album Siamese Dream.  This record has a song on it, "Today" that I have literally wanted to own for 18 years.  And I never have.  Can you believe that?

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-67040175165266586302011-12-03T20:33:00.000-05:002011-12-03T20:33:06.666-05:00

At the urging of my niece (who thinks that he makes "beautiful music") and because my sister has high speed internet and I don't and I just so happen to be at her house tonight, I finally give you my video of Matt Nathanson (and band) performing "Modern Love" - November 5, 2011The Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, TN Sorry for the poor picture quality, I wasn't looking at the phone at all while I

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-71263649697124715272011-12-02T07:57:00.000-05:002011-12-02T07:57:08.411-05:00

I love lyrics.  To me, the lyrics are the most essential part of a song.  This is not to say that I don't appreciate a good guitar riff or a heart-thumping drum, because I do.  Pearl Jam's "Yellow Ledbetter" is a perfect example of a song that pulls (rips) at your heartstrings even though 90% of the lyrics are completely unintelligible.  And it's cool, I love that song, but I much prefer a song I

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-55231240321183831832011-12-01T06:17:00.001-05:002011-12-02T12:50:50.290-05:00

The best and by far the worst thing about the way we buy music these days is the fact that you can buy one song at a time.  Sure, there have always been singles released, but they had cover art and a B-side, in other words, they were packaged as a mini experience. These days, you can buy pretty much any song you want, one at a time, with no respect for the album it was a part of.  Songs aren't

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-74698525722254865482011-11-30T09:14:00.000-05:002011-11-30T09:14:04.740-05:00

Album: Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. Artist: Simon & Garfunkel Release: October 19, 1964 Perhaps the greatest gift an artist can give us is the gift of music.  I don't necessarily mean their own music (although, that is a precious gift to be sure), but the music that inspires them.  The music they listen to.  It not only gives us something new (and possibly awesome) to listen to; it also gives us

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-73979185584679271462011-11-29T09:19:00.000-05:002011-11-29T09:19:10.635-05:00

This song was wrapped in an amazing bow (in the form of Matt Nathanson and Aaron Tap) and given to me as a gift November 5th at The Cannery Ballroom.  My packaging isn't as awesome, but here it is for you: Genius.

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-31731268874340234162011-11-28T13:43:00.000-05:002011-11-28T13:43:09.415-05:00

If any of you own the Matt Nathanson album At The Point then I am sure you are fully aware of his cover of Drivin' and Cryin's "Straight to Hell".  Before I owned this record, I had never heard the song.  In the interest of comparison, I went in search of it.  Holy crap - what a stinker!  I would rather paper cut the web between my thumb and first finger than hear the original version of this

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-88773139398237064012011-11-28T08:26:00.000-05:002011-11-28T08:26:02.450-05:00

Have you all heard this new Jessie J. song "Domino"?  I tried to fight this song, I really did.  Between the opening line "I'm feeling sexy and free" and the jewels glued under her eyes in the video, I was certain I would never like it.  It is all so contrived...like a doll in a package.  But, when the powers-that-be at VH1 want you to listen to a song and want it embedded in your brain, you

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-16425774356127062672011-11-27T19:32:00.000-05:002012-02-09T11:34:19.700-05:00

Album: Give Me Something - EP Artist: Scars on 45 Release: January, 2011 So I took the advice of "Anonymous" (who, I'm fairly certain is closely related to "They") and bought Scars on 45's first EP Give Me Something.  "Anonymous" said that it was far better than Heart on Fire so for that reason, I should check it out. I have to respectfully disagree.  I'm not saying it's bad, not by any

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-47346617616133746992011-11-26T08:25:00.001-05:002011-11-26T08:25:00.436-05:00

In an effort to clear out some of our DVRed stuff, I watched a couple episodes of 120 Minutes with Matt Pinfield the other night and I saw a couple things worthy of mention. First, "First of the Year (Equinox)" by Skrillex.  Have you heard this song?  If not, don't bother, it's pretty awful.  It's like a traffic jam in my eardrums, just noise and chaos.  Not only is it noise, it's offensive

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-69792085887190936392011-11-25T05:24:00.000-05:002011-11-25T05:24:00.447-05:00

As you may or may not know, Matt Nathanson is somewhat known for doing covers during his shows.  He often works other songs into the middle his own stuff, or uses them as intros to his songs (he frequently leads into his *perfect* song 'Pretty the World' with Florence + the Machine's *less than perfect* 'Dog Days').  The amazing part about this is that his covers are always just as good and

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-77505698901981546272011-11-24T06:17:00.000-05:002011-11-24T06:17:00.344-05:00

I hate sampling.  For years, there hasn't been a good song out there that contained any amount of sampling.  If you want to cover a song, cover the damn thing, don't butcher it.  Don't pick it apart and turn it into something it was never supposed to be.  Unless, evidently, you're Train.  Apparently if you're Train, you can pick apart a classic, a song I love, and rearrange it and put it back

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-72570900667662868172011-11-23T13:20:00.000-05:002011-11-23T13:20:18.416-05:00

Because I am in a terrifically crappy mood today (Happy Holidays, my ass), I thought I'd make of list of my top ten angry songs.  So just in case you are loving this time of year too, here is a little play list for us to share: 10. You Oughta Know - Alanis Morisette - Jagged Little Pill       This was Alanis at her angry, angsty best.  The song doesn't fit all aggravations, but it is fun to sing

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-63010625591752338962011-11-22T11:03:00.000-05:002011-11-22T11:03:48.680-05:00

After someone inquired about my red vinyl copy of "Modern Love" recently, I did some looking around and found that not everyone who bought one got a red see-thru copy like mine.  So, because I'm a nerd like that, I have ordered myself another copy.  If this one is red too, then sweet, I'll get to watch the beautiful red vinyl spin on the turntable.  If not, then I'll play the black one and hide

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-1091616238354288952011-11-21T22:15:00.000-05:002011-11-21T22:15:47.972-05:00

If you aren't spending all of your free online time over at Vinyl District then what is your problem??  If you're like me, it is only because you didn't know it was there and now that I've enlightened you, you'll change your evil ways. Earlier today I was followed by @Rachelanthecity over on twitter.  What possessed her to follow me?  I have no idea.  She (Rachel Hurley) has a very impressive

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-47156009810284366382011-11-21T09:00:00.000-05:002011-11-21T09:00:02.639-05:00

Have you seen this list of backstage riders over at The Smoking Gun? http://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstage If not, you should check them out.  Who knows if they're real, but some of them are really hilarious.

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-40678955029680132562011-11-20T22:56:00.000-05:002011-11-20T22:56:01.776-05:00

Album: Save Me, San Francisco Artist: Train Release: October 27, 2009 I would like to preface this post by saying that I love Train.  I love them.  I've seen them twice in concert, I loved Pat Monahan's solo album, I loved their live album.  What I'm saying is, I'm a fan.  But, and this is a big but, I'm not in love with this album.  In fact, there are parts of it I don't even like. Still, one

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-18743035766427562422011-11-19T09:26:00.000-05:002011-11-19T09:26:00.179-05:00

So the other morning I was innocently eating my cereal watching VH1, hoping against hope that they would come to their senses and play 'Faster' for me.  No such luck.  They did, however, play this new song by Sara Bareilles, 'Gonna Get Over You'.  Have you heard this one? It's just a peppy little pop ditty.  Frankly, nothing special, except for this one line, "I'll be alright, just not tonight."

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-43084245241268813192011-11-18T12:27:00.000-05:002011-11-18T12:27:34.958-05:00

The night before last, I made myself a little mixed tape to bring to work to listen to (and by that I mean that I created a play list in iTunes and burned it to a CD, of course).  Here it is: 1. U.R.A. Fever - The Kills - Midnight Boom 2. Curve of the Earth - Matt Nathanson - Beneath These Fireworks 3. Sour Cherry - The Kills - Midnight Boom 4. White Blank Page - Mumford & Sons - Sign No More 5.

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-76114082655818048762011-11-18T10:53:00.000-05:002011-11-18T10:53:36.942-05:00

It dawned on me the other day that I neglected Bush's new release in the retro post.  This song is classic Bush, but brand new.  I love it.  Gavin Rossdale's voice is still just as magical as it was 17 years ago and my heart still dances like I'm 16 when I hear it.  Enjoy. 'Sound of Winter' (2011) And for a little nostalgia - 'Comedown' (1994)

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-62987626109169097532011-11-17T21:09:00.002-05:002012-01-19T11:04:59.688-05:00

Album: Heart on Fire - EP Artist: Scars on 45 Release: October 24, 2011 I finally got Scars on 45's new release Heart on Fire EP tonight.  Apparently their song was featured on Grey's Anatomy, but I never watched that show so when I saw them open for Matt Nathanson (there's that guy again) a couple weeks ago, that was the first I had heard of them.  Even though I couldn't sing along, their

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-62314924551028964912011-11-17T13:08:00.001-05:002011-12-28T09:29:28.806-05:00

Album: Violent Femmes Artist: Violent Femmes Release: April 1983 I am, admittedly, a late bloomer (very late, perhaps) to the Violent Femmes scene.  Of course, I was familiar with 'Add It Up' and 'Blister in the Sun', but that was pretty much the extent of it.  After having 'Blister in the Sun' implanted in my head at a recent live show, I finally bought it.  I wore it out for a few days and

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-18040892186156823892011-11-16T23:11:00.001-05:002011-11-16T23:15:19.440-05:00

I'm about to watch an interview with Axl Rose on That Metal Show.  I'm pretty sure this is going to be almost as painful as listening to Chinese Democracy...or a root canal. Appetite for Destruction Appetite for...um...fur and feathered hair?  WTF?

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-2302828567375201482011-11-15T10:07:00.001-05:002012-03-02T22:04:03.274-05:00

You know how I'm always saying that so-and-so's* lyric's are perfect?  They aren't awkward or weird or forced, they just flow naturally?  Well, I have found of a perfect example of lyrics that are the exact opposite of that, just so you'll know what I mean. Have you heard this relatively new Dawes song, 'Time Spent in Los Angeles'?  Personally, I don't like it, it's too whiny and sounds out of

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-66241185373408195422011-11-14T11:03:00.002-05:002011-11-16T22:58:00.169-05:00

Album: Lazarus Artist: Travie McCoy Release: June 8, 2010 On the eve of Gym Class Heroes' new release "Papercut Chronicles II", I thought I would bring you the lead singer Travie McCoy's solo offering, "Lazarus".  You may not think you know who Travie McCoy is, but believe me, you do.  Unless you live under a rock, you were exposed to his massively popular duet with Bruno Mars, 'Billionaire'

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-29353507780328070352011-11-13T23:17:00.001-05:002011-11-13T23:17:24.174-05:00

I know, I know, I said I would stop talking about him, but it just dawned on me that I hadn't mentioned Matt Nathanson's duet with Sugarland on the CMA's last Wednesday.  Here's video, in case you missed it: In general, I'm not a country music fan.  I like Sugarland (mostly because Jennifer Nettles can flat sing the shit out of anything), but I really do not like Lady Antebellum and I just get

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565924559621639910.post-20399732855607665782011-11-13T20:49:00.003-05:002012-01-20T16:21:55.796-05:00

Album: Beneath These Fireworks Artist: Matt Nathanson Release: October 14, 2003 Ok, I'm going to go ahead and talk about Beneath These Fireworks and get it out of my system.  I feel like this is turning into The Matt Nathanson Blog, but that is so all I've listened to lately that it's not even funny.  I still have At The Point and the SXSW EP to review, but I can hold off on those. As you

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399186150603582393noreply@blogger.com2