via:brooklynmutt

The Passion of the Easter Specials

warm, fuzzy memories.

itsthereal:

Jay and the Beans Talk: The Truth hurts.

settingitaside: foreignplanet: annicka:

Whiskeytown - “Luxury Liner”

c. Stranger’s Almanac.

Cover of a tune by Gram Parsons’ first group, International Submarine Band.

Hit me on my celly

Jay Electronica “Exhibit C” produced by Just Blaze| FWMJ’s Rappers I Know

Jay Electranscribes

A Peek At The Wall Street Journal’s New Bay Area Edition | paidContent

Macro and Other Market Musings: Global Nominal Spending History

It’s true, we need more vibes!

galbums:

Album: The Dirty Birds - How The Cause Became The Cure (2009)
Track: “Valentine’s Day”
Buy: iTunes

This is one I’ve been meaning to put up since this blog’s inception but have put off for some reason.

The Dirty Birds, originally out of Ann Arbor but now residing in the City that is New York, have concocted an album with intricate self-arranged awesomeness, from the strings to the melodies, the basslines to the vibes* and lyrics, that manages to stay simple enough to digest and enjoy on a surface level. But it’s really served best if you let your ears and your mind delve deeper.

“What I Realized” starts off with gently sweeping strings leading into a 3/4-waltz when Jared Saltiel’s lead vocals float in: “I was a follower of all kinds of hollow words/I walked the path that lead straight to the sea.” On top of vibes (!) and woodwinds, the song trickles along through a couple momentary key-changes delicately and is a perfect display of the group’s maestroism (is that a word?).

“Miserable Turn Of Events” is pop at it’s most awesome. A “1-2/1-2-3 WHOO!” starts the song, chock-full of clap-clap, claps and eventual “ooh la-la-las” that shows off Saltiel’s vocal range. “Caitlin” (ha) tells the tale of a boy in over his naive-little-head, having fallen in love for the first time, in unfamiliar territory. “It’s just a matter of time ‘til you die.” Indeed.

“Katrina” and “Promised Land” slow things down a bit and show off the lyrical depth of the group. But once again, they comeback with some bonafide pop goodness with a folksy tinge to it, 2 and-a-half minutes of a shuffling drum-beat and harmonica and all.

The “Self-Discipline” is like a Fiona Apple song (in the best sense) with another melodic chorus and more dynamic arrangements, this time with horns. Also, check out the shag-me guitar (and vibes!!).

The album ends just as awesome as it starts, but with much more urgency. “Saudade” and “The Problem” show just how deep they can go, both in subject matter and in instrumentation. Just do yourself and listen, and perhaps pick up some clues as to the meaning behind the album title.

“Valentine’s Day” is a personal favorite, one I can relate to quite a bit I think. It’s the most straightforward, rock ‘n roll intense track. The song steadily builds, and the guitar solo in the middle is over-the-top but kills. “I’ve had a most unsettling fear of another aimless year…”

“What are we doing for Valentine’s Day? What am I doing but wasting away? What does it matter? It’s over anyway” ends the song. How The Cause Became The Cure, however, sounds just like the start of something special.

*contemporary music needs more vibraphone.

Tracklist:

01. What I Realized
02. Miserable Turn Of Events
03. Caitlin
04. Just As Blue
05. Katrina
06. Promised Land
07. Checkmate
08. Self-Discipline
09. Valentine’s Day
10. Saudade
11. The Problem

soupsoup:

The MOTOBLUR

As gorgeous as this phone, the Droid and the Palm Pre are, they can’t beat the virtually unlimited apps available for the iPhone. The iPhone App Store simply destroys anything else out there.

This phone actually looks like it sucks. The Pre seems great and all, but I think it’s doomed.

You’re right when you say the iPhone App Store destroys everything else out there… now. But that won’t be the case within the next, say 18 months. Android will win. Apple’s arduous App acceptance process, plentiful hardware and carrier options for Android (already a 5 MP camera on a few, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon already on), and Google’s service integration (be it Voice or simply your contact list), will ensure that.

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - “Easy Plateau” (Live, September 7, 2008)

thisrecording:

emmylou harris and gram parsons

Just got back in a Parsons mood after hearing “In My Hour Of Darkness” (backing vocals by Emmylou, of course) last night on the radio.

tumbledore:

Jay Electronica - “Exhibit C” (radio rip)

Possibly the best rap song I’ve heard this year. Produced by Just Blaze.