dig it big

Manfriend is on a seemingly never ending Beatles kick. I'm about to rip my hair out, but I think we've found a compromise! Dig a Pony, possibly his all time favorite (the air guitar singalongs are quickly losing their cute factor) covered by none other than Our Lady of St. Effing Vincent.

 Original

she thang

smitten

Today on the St. Vincent front: her cover of Nico's These Days. I know that you're thinking, that this is one of the most overly done songs in the history of songs and singing and shalalaing. But Annie sounds (and looks) so delicate and wistful. I want to eat her face with a spoon (too far?)

be still my heart

So we all know that St. Vincent's third album has yet to be released (Sept?). But what I did not know is that she released a song from said album to satiate her fans in the interim. If I knew what a hashtag was I suppose I could have known about this sooner, but my love for St. Vincent is only paralleled by my aversion to stay technologically in-tune with my generation. Anyways, you can listen here. Saucy.

The main take away from this should be that I love St. Vincent with the strength of a grizzly's bite force (1800 PSI). She is my main lady squeeze. I have a hard time separating my obsession for St. Vincent with my obsession for Annie Clark herself. I mean, look how cute she is:

 image via

It took me most of the morning to decide on this photo because they are all that adorable. How I haven't been fired yet is beyond me. When I started this blog I envisioned a full section being dedicated to St. Vincent and I have yet to post one song. SO, starting now until a date to be determined I will only be posting St. Vincent. Deal with it, lone reader.

This is not an official video, but it's quite clever, no?

create

You know that sensation when you don't see live music for a really long time, and then you break the spell with a surprisingly delightful performance by optimistic, hyper-talented up-and-comers? You leave the venue feeling PUMPED UP, like maybe tomorrow you'll finally enroll yourself in that art class or revisit the idea of adult piano lessons. Now you're ready to learn French. And then you wake up the next morning and go sit in a monochromatic office cube and stare at a spreadsheet and your life stays exactly the same. You know that feeling? Yeah. Me too.

I saw Audiafauna last week and was really impressed with how polished their tracks sounded. It's refreshing to hear a new group with non-formulaic song structures and layered melodies. Audiafauna mixes violin, piano, cello (yes please!), electronic sounds, and front-woman/pixie Kelly's amazing vocals (think Thao Nguyen plus Kate Havnevik) to make inventive, spirit lifting music. I recommend a listen.

breakfast of champions

Every morning, an anonymous employee heats up a breakfast treat in the communal microwave and a sweet syrupy aroma settles over the office. As a fierce supporter of all things breakfast, this is torture for me. What are they eating? Where are they getting it? Is it pure maple syrup or that equally good processed sugar water sold in plastic squeeze tubes? Has someone found a way to make fluffy french toast with the limited supplies of an office kitchen? I am tormented, drinking my tea, eyeing my plain oatmeal with disdain. Sick, sick joke.

So I'm tiding myself over with Little Dragon's new album Ritual Union, streaming in full length on NPR. This ish is GOOD people. French toast good.

stretch armstrong

Slow moving song for a slow moving Monday.

goosebumps

This song terrorizes me. Death by cello please.

Have an inspired weekend. And eat some sweets.

paradise found

A little birdie (the only birdie) told me that the streaming works! 

 This kid knows how I feel.

paradise lost

I fell off the face of the earth and had to crabwalk back up. It was gnarly but I've returned with a sensational tune. 

  

In other news, the Streaming Debacle of 2011 is officially chipping away at my sanity. Sometimes it plays, sometimes it doesn't. Mac yes, PC no, PC yes, PC no. Now that we're all caught up with my trials and tribulations, I'm giving up. I'll just wait for a rapturous epiphany of the IT variety.

Considering my computer skills are limited to Mavis Beacon and excel shortcuts I'm quite surprised I managed to get anything working.

hapnin

fingers crossed.