Happy Holidays

I hope everyone enjoyed their well-deserved breaks, but don't worry, I will still fulfill your musical desires with the highly anticipated song of the day.

Castledoor - Burn the Maps

Castledoor is an indie rock band from the Los Angeles area, and they are not currently signed to a record label. I highly recommend you check them out.

Here's the video:


-Clio

END OF YEAR; LE TIGRE: TKO

The end of the year is always hectic, especially if you're a struggling student wondering why you are even going to college. As the days run shorter because of daylight savings, and as the time to leave the hole where I've kept my sanity hidden for a long while gets closer, I've realized that I will not be capable of adding new material to the blog for weeks and weeks to come. This is not because I am a lazy bum--which, I am, no doubt about it--but because I feel that my writing has come to a level of mediocrity that I cannot handle, therefore, I will leave and not post until next year, when the school begins once more. During winter break, I will be looking for my mojo, and if I cannot find it, then, I will be searching for my muse, and if I cannot find her, then, hopefully time, wisdom, and material being read will allow me to write better material.

As for you, music lover, I can only wish you the best in the holiday season to come, and don't forget to buy music, it is necessary for the lives of artists! hahaha.

I will be leaving you here with a band whose genre I do not understand that well, but who are of my fancy. They are a feminist "punk/electro-pop/New Wave " trio made up of Bikini Kill's former vocalist, Kathleen Hanna, Johanna Fateman, a music journalist, and JD Samson, who is member of different bands as well as of dancing group called Dykes Can Dance.

I found out about this band, I believe, three years ago, when I saw their music video for the song "TKO," which blew me away because of its nice beat, and because of Kathleen Hanna. The band is on hiatus as of now, there are no comments of what will happen. The song "TKO" is from their 2004 album, "This Island."



-C.S.H.



I will be posting the video, now! I apologize, beforehand for the quality of the video, it is not good, but it has good sound. Ha!

LE TIGRE: TKO

I've Been Thinking...

As we draw close to the end of the year, numerous blogs give their list of the "Top 10 Albums of The Year." Personally, I think this is a tad bit cliche. How could I ever chose just 10 albums that standout above the rest. It would be clearly biased, and there are probably albums that would be far greater than anything I would have chosen, but I've just never heard of them.

I started thinking about this because I was doing my usual reading of blogs, and I came across one that asked the readers if they were stuck on an island, and they could only bring four albums, what would they chose and why. This really got to me. How could I ever only chose four albums, and never be able to listen to anything else.

This got me thinking about how fortunate most of us are. I have the privilege of carrying my whole music library, which used to be a difficult task, in the palm of my hand. I've never had to chose just one or two albums. I have all the music I could ever want at my finger tips.

Then this made me think, do I just listen to anything because music has become so accessible. I still buy albums, but not how I used to. There was a time, not to long ago, when I would research an album before I purchased it. Now I'll buy an album just for the hell of it.

I feel like spoiled kid who can just listen to whatever she wants. The sad thing is that while I type this, I am listening to ipod.

After taking all of this into account I did chose four albums that I could not live without. I'm sure that I could change it many times, but for now the four albums I would chose are...

1.The Matches - Decomposer
-Probably one of my favorite albums. I love the musical diversity, and there is a quirkiness to the album that makes it addicting.
2.Beirut- The Flying Club Cup
-This is Beirut's best album to date. I've been listening to it non stop since I first bought it.
3.Against Me! - As The Eternal Cowboy
-It was hard for me to chose just one of their albums, but I ended up with this one. Its just very consistent, not to mentioning that Turn those Clapping Hands Into Angry Balled Fists is one of my favorite songs of all time.
4.Head Automatica - Decadence
-Everything Daryl touches turns to gold. This album is amazing. Whenever I listen to it I can't help but be in a good mood, and it's the ultimate album for when your trying to pull an all-nighter too.

Feel free to post yours too

-Clio

Blondelle: I WONDER

Today is the 66th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

Blondelle. A British quartet made up of Sam Stewart (lead guitar/ vocals), Mike Deegan (drums), Will Cameron Jr. (rhythm guitar/ lead vocals), and Rory O'Donnell (bass). The lads are peers of my comrade and I, ranging in age from 20 to 21.

The band formed, well, the date of this day was announced on their website in prior times, but as of now there is none to go by, but I do know that they formed at the tender age of adolescence, but did not launch what is now Blondelle and its album until last year, I believe.

Blondelle has no record label, and is now currently looking for a new manager.

The lads have been the opening act for bands such as: Editors, Hot Hot Heat, Noisettes, and The View. They have yet to tour the States, but have travelled around Europe and Japan in the last year. They are currently touring in Italy.

Their album, "Started When You Were Young" was released more than a year ago, and as of now they are recording new stuff. You can listen to their new music on theirmyspace page.

They are considered powerpop, and can be compared to Mando Diao, and a happier, perkier, younger Hot Hot Heat.
-C.S.H.

BLONDELLE- "I WONDER"

Sorry...

It's been a while since either of us posted, but as the end of the semester draws near, we have been increasingly busy. Because of this, posting might be a little bit slower for the next couple of weeks. You probably wondering, what has been happening in the world of music since they last posted. Well, for me:

1. I went to the Finch Reunion Show in Pomona. It was amazing, and they announced that they are getting back together and writing a new album.

2. I went to the Chiodos "meet & greet" and fell in love with their new album. I don't know why, but it's extremely catchy.

Otherwise, I haven't had many noteworthy musical experiences lately.


So the Song of the Day is: Chiodos-Lexington(Joey Pea-Pot With A Monkey Face)

Its not really a video, its just the song with a picture of the album



-Clio

Die Romantik: Another Round

I am in dire need of a new band to expose your ears to, but I do not know what band this might be.

After much consideration, I have realized that I do not have a band that veers from what I have posted, so, I will introduce thee to the band Die Romantik. No, they do not sing in Deutsch, though, they do seem to have a song in French. They are a three man band consisting of: Dominic Matar (keyboards), Olivier Bernard (guitar), and Eric Hagemann (drums). I have no idea who the lead singer is; it does not say so on their website.

Paris, 1996, as high school students, they met. The band was formed in August 2005.

They released, Narcissist's Waltz, their debut album, on June 6, 2007.

What genre do they fall in? They are indie alternative rock, perhaps, to my best recollection.


-C.S.H.

Here comes Die Romantik with "Another Round":

Sweetest Girl

After hearing this song once I couldn't get enough. Even though I don't usually listen to hip-hop, I am willing to acknowledge that their is some really good and meaningful stuff out there. So today I chose The Sweetest Girl by Wyclef Jean feat. Akon, Lil Wayne, and Nia for the song of the day.



-Clio

Viva Voce: From the Devil Himself

I am back, and with me I bring Viva Voce, a band that I have been mentioning in previous posts, but had yet to write about them.

Viva Voce, formed in 1998 by Kevin and Anita Robinson--they are married to each other. This indie rock band, is greatly influenced by the pre-punk era from whence The Velvet Underground comes from. Viva Voce's sound is a fusion of psychedelic rock with some hint of experimental Velvet Underground.

The song that I will be posting "From the Devil Himself" is from Viva Voce's third full length album "Get Yr Blood Sucked Out," which was released September 2006 in the States.

They currently have a show in Oregon, which as of today, is their last show for the season, until they begin to tour once more. They were an opening band for The Shins during The Shins' spring tour; they took the gig instead of their original headlining tour that they were to have during spring, with opening band The Village Green.

-C.S.H.


VIVA VOCE: FROM THE DEVIL HIMSELF:

I Hate to be Brief

I don't have a lot of time, but today's song of the day is

& Down by Boys Noize

Its a great dance track, and an all around good song.

Here's the "official" video, but I'm not quite sure if it actually is. Either way I'm just posting it for the song.



-Clio

No Worries

Regarding my good friends last post, I will continue to update our lovely little blog to the best of my ability. However, the song of the day may turn into the song of every other day, or just whenever I get a chance.

So because I didn't pick a song for Saturday, sorry, I will chose one for today.

M.I.A - Boyz

Boyz is off her new album Kala, and I must say it is an excellent song. In my opinion, it is one her best songs yet.



-Clio

Oh, and in light of the last post, my last.fm is last.fm/user/missclio so feel free to check it out