new music from david lynch.

David Lynch just released his latest project - a new full length album, Crazy Clown Time this week.  His aesthetic is similar to his films... haunting, raw but with a more electronic pop sprinkled in.  His work with Danger Mouse in Dark Night of the Soul had me wondering what he would do next.  One of the first singles released, Pinky's Dream, featured a sexy collaboration with the talented Karen O.

David Lynch (featuring Karen O.): Pinky's Dream

new album from florence + the machine.

I love Florence + the Machine!  I have been listening to her first album, Lungs, since it debuted a few years ago wondering when she would release more.  Ceremonies debuted the other day and my favorite song seems to be Bedroom Hymns.  It is the moody, edgy Florence that I love....  

Florence + the Machine: Bedroom Hymns

happy halloween.

While most of the Halloween festivities happened over the weekend, there could be a few things going on tonight to stretch out the holiday spirit!  I know I've said this before - M calls Halloween one of the gay high holy days (New Year's Eve and Pride being the other two!).  No dress up at the gallery this year (damn) but we did OD on candy corn and chocolate.  

The new album by Phantogram drops this week but there have been previews for the last month.  Don't Move - the first single from the album is perfect party ready music....  Happy Halloween! 

PHANTOGRAM: Don't Move (mp3) 

anna calvi.

I desperately need new music and am poised to go on a music buying rampage!  I haven't updated the library in a while but did recently add Anna Calvi.  Her new album is sublime - but I think it is her rendition of Elvis' Surrender (not on the album) that is my favorite....  Happy weekend! 

Anna Calvi: Surrender

arctic monkeys.

This past weekend's Hollywood Bowl trip had me putting Warpaint and Arctic Monkeys on serious repeat.  While I love Arctic Monkeys' 2006 album (Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not) - their more alternative, less Brit punk dance hall 2011 album, Suck It and See, is pretty good.  My friend Lisa likened them to The Clash mixed with Primus.  The recent album is much more Primus - some tracks even remind me of the grunge days of high school (yes - I'm dating myself).  Rowdy and raucus and very sophomoric Arctic Monkeys....

Arctic Monkeys Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair

sharon van etten.

Through all my chaos, I've still managed to go to the Hollywood Bowl twice last week!  One was for a lovely classical show (Handel with fireworks and amazing box seats) and the other was The National featuring Neko Case and Sharon Van Etten.  The National and Neko Case were great but I think the standout was Sharon Van Etten.  I immediately went home and purchased her recent album - dreamy, quiet, wistful...very fall....

Sharon Van Etten: One Day

vetiver.

Every time I turn on KCRW, I hear a song and wonder who it was by.  Each time it was San Francisco band, Vetiver.  Their new album, Errant Charm, is fantastic.  It is a whole-album-worthy-of-purchase kind of thing.  Conceived while walking the streets of San Francisco, the folky charm has less twang and more west coast mellow attitude.  

Vetiver: Can't You Tell

new music from danger mouse.

I am a huge fan of Danger Mouse and find it surprising that there are still so many people who have never heard of him!  Normally music producers are more in the background but his talents resulted in albums with The Black Keys, Beck, Gorillaz; he formed Gnarls Barkley and Broken Bells; he also has solo projects including Dark Night of the Soul.  Edgier projects include the infamous Grey Album (Beatles White Album mixed with Jay Z's Black Album - banned and nearly impossible to find) and a collaboration with artist Banksy to remix a Paris Hilton cd. 

Danger Mouse's new project is sublime - the album Rome just released online and includes Daniele Luppi's spaghetti western score, Jack White and Nora Jones. 

Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi featuring Jack White: Two Against One

new music from fleet foxes.

My current music obsession is the new album from Fleet Foxes.  A Seattle based band, Helplessness Blues is their sophomore album and it is worth it to purchase the whole album.  Start to finish, the album reads as a introduction to modern folk music.  As luck would have it, I missed their tour stop in LA this past weekend (I was at the Junip concert at the El Rey which was fantastic so not entirely heartbroken) but hopefully they will be back again soon.  

Helplessness Blues - the title song from the album is my favorite - currently on repeat on my ipod.  Take a listen here....

Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues

the kills: single released.

One of my favorite bands, The Kills, is coming out with a new album on April 5th in the US.  I couldn't be more excited - my iPod has been getting a little tired.  The album, Blood Pressures, will mark their fourth album and first in 4 years as Midnight Boom came out in 2007.  They are an amazing band live and will probably start touring again soon.

 Only one song has been released but leaves me wanting more!  

The Kills: Satellite MP3 (zshare)

Funny, I have a picture of me wearing similar glasses but I don't look as cool as Alison Mosshart (yes, I have a total girl crush on her).  Looks like I was channeling her though in this pic from Father's Office last year....

best albums of 2010.

2010 was a great year for music.  A list of some of my favorites as the year comes to a close.  Happy New Year!

#1 Black Keys
Brothers - My all time favorite!

 
#2 Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse

Dark Night of the Soul 

#3 Arcade Fire

The Suburbs

#4 Broken Bells

Broken Bells

#5 Blonde Redhead

Penny Sparkle 

 

#6 LCD Soundsystem

This is Happening 

 
#7 Beach House 

Teen Dream 

 #8 Vampire Weekend
Contra

#9 Marina and the Diamonds

The Family Jewels

#10 Bonobo

Black Sands

reuse, recycle (plus mp3).

After finishing a loaf of bread, I always end up with the little ends (or really small pieces) - not enough to make into a sandwich but sometimes too good to toss.  I started saving the ends in a ziplock bag in the freezer for impromptu appetizers or when those water crackers just won't do.  Each time I finish another loaf, the ends just get tossed in the same bag, resealed and ready for reuse down the road.  

The other night I was ready for a little cocktail but not on an empty stomach.  Perfect time to toast the bread ends in the oven a few minutes then top with store bought green olive tapenade and home made chimichurri with my goat cheese stuffed peppadews (seen here).  Final touch: a greyhound (seen here) and some Blonde Redhead....

Misery is a Butterfly.mp3

 

 

holiday music downloads.

I was talking to J the other day about Christmas music and realized I am quite a scrooge.  I don't like about 98% of the Christmas music out there but I realized that it is mostly the garbage they play in the stores between Halloween and Christmas day that is the turnoff!  Whoever said people want to hear the same music over and over again?

So I was off to find some new items for my ipod that were non-scrooge (is that a word?).  We'll see if they can get me off my regular music playlists....  Luckily, I came across two free album downloads with more modern Christmas music.

Hey, It's Christmas, a mellow, indie collection with lilting melodies of traditional holiday songs.  Cue the fireplace, tea and cookies while you listen to this one.  Great for a playlist or during Christmas dinner.

To download the album, click HERE

Target put together a list, Christmas Gig, an eclectic indie mix-up of poppier tracks.  Perfect for a holiday cocktail party!  Majority of the tracks are not traditional holiday songs but they are a fun surprise.  My faves are the retro Best Coast/Wavves song and sweet Coconut Records selection (Jason Schwartzman's solo project).

 To download the album, click HERE

new from matt and kim.

Matt and Kim are a Brooklyn indie duo - adorable, upbeat and fun.  Jaclyn (Stay in the Lines) and I saw them about a year ago in what was one of their first big shows for the album, Grand.  Their new release, Sidewalks continues their bubbly and catchy style. 

Cameras.mp3

Block After Block.mp3

Wires.mp3

old new york.

The other night I put on my new favorite band, The Mumlers, while hanging out at home.  My friend Brody introduced me to them in a recent music swap.  A bay area indie band led by Will Sprott and talented as hell, they mix vintage instruments to produce an eclectic, jazzy, from-a-different-era sort of sound.  All the while, they are decidedly modern.  

MP3: The MUMLERS-St. James St.

The Mumlers reminded of one of my favorite New York City bars, Stanton Social.  Their basil gimlet I had last summer with my friend Jessica takes me to a pencil skirt wearing, jazz baby kind of mood....

Stanton Social Basil Gimlet

Vodka (I used Ketel One straight from the freezer)

Fresh basil (2-3 sprigs)

Fresh lime juice (1 lime)

Lemon simple syrup (recipe follows below)

Add basil and drizzle with simple syrup.  With a muddler or a wood spoon, muddle until broken down.  Add lime juice, crushed ice and vodka.  Shake and pour in a chilled martini glass.

Lemon Simple Syrup

1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp lemon juice (about 1 lemon)

Zest of one lemon

Add all ingredients to a saucepan and stir to combine.  Simmer until sugar dissolves.  Turn off heat and allow to cool.  Stores a month in the fridge (I put it in a jam jar with a tight fitting lid).  

music, and more music.

This weekend was spent with lots of art, enjoying/avoiding the heat (more on that later) and lots of music!  On Sunday night, my friend Yvonne and I went to the Hollywood Bowl again, this time to see Beach House and Vampire Weekend.  Quite a contrast from the last show as it was blazing hot, even late at night.  Our picnic included cheese, crackers, paninis, naughty desserts and crisp white wine.... 

Beach House had a good showing - ever ethereal, lead singer Legrand gave the show a little more edge this time.  Maybe it was the larger venue, maybe it was the year since their last show that I saw.  Either way, it worked for them. 

Vampire Weekend was amazing!  Fun, summery music on an Indian summer kind of night.  They sound great live which can be tricky when you have that many things going on in each song.  At 90 degrees at 9 pm, Horchata was very fitting!  

Unfortunately, all Bowl pictures turned out lousy....  

Last night, my dad, J and I went to see the Black Keys.  It is the second show I have seen and they are worth every penny and deserve every rave review.  Arguably the best live band, they packed the Hollywood Palladium enough to add a second show (tonight).  True to their blues-rock roots, they played sets from their new album, Brothers but also Attack & Release, Rubber Factory.  This isn't a great pic, but Patrick Carney (drummer) is on the left....

Opening act Nicole Atkins is worth checking out - I didn't know her before last night but she channeled Janis Joplin with a killer Hendrix-esque guitarist. 

 
Before the show, we tried to hit up Golden State (closed) so we headed to 8 oz. on Melrose.  Fantastic burgers, small beer list (but decent - they did have Bootleggers on tap, from my hometown, Fullerton, CA ) and unbelievable truffled potato skins....

Beat the Heat Playlist 

(a briefing of all four concerts, this weekend and last):

Marina and the Diamonds: Mowgli's Road

Marina and the Diamonds: Shampain

Vampire Weekend: Horchata 

Vampire Weekend: A-Punk

Vampire Weekend: Diplomat's Son

Phoenix: Armistice

Phoenix: Fences

Grizzly Bear: Two Weeks

Grizzly Bear: Cheerleader

Black Keys: Tighten Up

Black Keys: Girl Is On My Mind

Black Keys: I'll Be Your Man

Beach House: Norway

Beach House: Zebra

weekend of music.

This weekend, I went to two concerts - Friday it was Marina and the Diamonds at the El Rey and Saturday it was Grizzly Bear with Phoenix at the Hollywood Bowl. I love both venues - they have that classic old Hollywood feel! 

Marina was beyond fierce.  She sounded incredible and with such an intimate venue as the El Rey, she really shined as a performer. She is a breath of fresh air to the indie pop world - the exact opposite of someone like Katy Perry.  Talented, appeared fully clothed and exuded real confidence with modern feminism. 

 

Grizzly Bear and Phoenix were amazing at the Hollywood Bowl.  My friend Yvonne and I picnicked and shivered under the stars!

I saw Grizzly Bear last fall at a small venue, so while that show was better overall, it was great to see an indie band play at the Bowl.  A talented group of four true musicians (each play a number of instruments), they sounded fantastic: dreamy, ethereal but complex.  My complaint was subbing in Leslie Fiest to harmonize - last show it was Victoria LeGrand (Beach House) who is also on the actual album.  Fiest's voice didn't float or blend as well as LeGrand's.  This pic isn't from the Bowl, but from their 2009 show....

Phoenix (with Dan Flavin-esque light installations) are brilliant live performers: sleek and slick as their album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.  They were perfect and had energy until the very end.  Lead singer Mars went into the audience twice to sing among the crowd - literally standing with a long mic chord on one of the benches!  Passionate band who are definitely here to stay.  

Note:  As soon as I figure out how to post mp3 songs on the blog, I will put some up.  If anyone wants some of my favorite songs (Mowgli's Road, Girls, Seventeen by Marina; Deep Blue Sea, Knife, Cheerleader, While You Wait for Others by Grizzly Bear), let me know!