Recently in Music Category

Happy 2008! I swear I'm going to get better at posting this year, so let's begin right now. You have to buy this. I'm a huge fan of The Magnetic Fields and have been eagerly anticipating a new release for several years now. All I can say is wowzas...this doesn't disappoint. Dripping in sardonic wit and whiplash lyrics, this is a soundtrack for solitary times. I listened to the whole thing twice yesterday while doing manual labor and then again during a cab ride across town. Dreamy, hysterical, lonely, boppy, exuberant, reluctant, bashing, delicious music. Here are the lyrics to my favorite track "California Girls" (very fitting for the nation's current fixation on all that is "happening" in The Hills of Hollywood. Isn't everyone sick of this Britney nonsense by now??):

see them on their big bright screen
tan and blonde and seventeen
eating nonfood keeps them lean
but they're young forever
if they must grow up
they marry dukes and earls
i hate california girls

i have planned my grand attacks
i will stand behind their backs
with my brand new battle axe
and when they taste my wrath
they will hear me say as the pavement whirls
i hate california girls

And since we're on the subject of California, please AMPTP, for the sake of my friends who are out of work and for the rest of us who are plagued with soul sucking reality television, please give the writers what they deserve. And please start giving young viewers more shows like Ugly Betty and less shows about girls who spend most of their time modeling, talking about nothing, and getting wasted at beach bonfires.

My dear pal Jeff turned me on to the music of Nico Muhly recently, and now I'm obsessed. It sounds like dancing black bears in Sgt. Pepper clothing. Patterns of bumblebees flying at night. Lonely hearts skating on cracked ice. Sometimes you'll envision a Cherokee chief wrapped in a woolen cloak puffing on a wooden pipe. Other times you'll hear a cello and feel like curling into a ball. Or rolling piano keys will will incite solo, living room twirling...which I'm always up for.

Basically, you need to hear it to see it. Check out Nico's album Speaks Volumes on iTunes.

It's been years since I've seen The Raveonettes (easily one of my favorite bands of all time), and their show last night at Southpaw was sultry, pulsating PERFECTION. My heart trembled. The heels of my weathered oxfords clicked uncontrollably. And golly, by golly, people danced! If you haven't checked out this band before or ridden their molasses waves of 50's tinged melodies in awhile, I urge you to do so today. Their new album will wash ashore very soon, and from what we heard of the new stuff last night it's gonna be snazzy.

Tonight is BJORK night! We have been counting down the days until we gather for pre-show champagne at Radio City! I will decree this day BJORK DAY!

In other news, CONGRATULATIONS CITY MAGAZINE and photographer Horacio Salinas for winning the National Magazine Award for the Best Photo Portfolio of the year! The little magazine that could beat out Vogue (Annie Leibovitz), W (Bruce Weber), and Details (Michael Thompson).

Hi, Jeff. I know, it's your birthday and you'll cry if you want to. Well, I say, "What about breakfast at Tiffany's?"

Happy Birthday, dear friend.

I am currently loving the album below courtesy of new fave blog mexicovers which is written by Sr. Mexicant of Mexicantville, Mexico. Apparently, Sr. Mexicant blogs from "a small town surrounded by pinatas, tequila, and fiesta everyday with his own personal mariachi band that plays for him wherever he goes." I, for one, would like to visit this Mexicantville village the next time I'm in Mejico.

In other news, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAM! This one's for you:

After nearly being struck by a bus on my way to work this morning, not having time to get my usual cup of coffee, being screamed at for accidentally bumping some woman's weighted down Tiffany hand in the street, and then being treated very rudely (as usual) by one of the many Mouseketeers I work with, I shouted...silently and in my head at my flourescent lit desk..."WHAT ELSE YOU GOT FOR ME, WORLD?!"

Well, the world answered in the form of two, sixth row orchestra tickets to see Bjork at Radio City Music Hall. Thank you, Bjork, for rescuing me yet again.