Category Archive

Or, take your Valentine to this! I know I would.

5. Under the Blacklight, Rilo Kiley 

Jenny Lewis’ solo album grew on me and continues to do so to this day. Just a few weeks ago on Nip/Tuck, “Rabbit Fur Coat” accompanied Kimber Henry on a path of destruction and while my soul was crying for help from the evil I was putting it through by watching Nip/Tuck (And really, you’re not? Get on it.), I couldn’t help but think that that is one hell of a song. When I first heard Under the Blacklight, I had a similar initial reaction that I did to Rabbit Fur Coat, somewhat boring and uninvolving. UTB sounded a lot like the full band tracks from RFC. Yeah, it was good, she’s got a voice like an angel, but I couldn’t see myself giving it any sort of heavy rotation or finding something unique and inviting. Well, in Rabbit Fur Coat fashion, Under the Blacklight grew on me, and fast. A random shuffle one day on the iPod threw down “Silver Lining,” which is a sing-a-long, dance-a-bout, get-stuck-in-your-head-for-days piece of pop goodness if I’ve ever heard one. This album is stuffed to the gills with catchy melodies and biting lyrics that create beautiful musical contradictions. If you like a little spice with your nice, get your paws on this one.  

4. Our Love to Admire, Interpol

There a few albums that I am compelled to put on my favorite album lists year after year, because most times I listen to those more than anything that’s new. Interpol’s 2004 release, Antics, is one of those consistently amazing albums each and every time I put it on. I was nervous about Our Love to Admire before its release, but about 3 seconds into hearing the first single, “Heinrich Maneuver”… Nerves, be gone! This is a band that continues to evolve and enhance their sound with each album they put out. Sure, there’s still that basic dance-ridden Interpol sound that I absolutely adore and those lyrics that are poignantly sharp, but listen closer. It’s like this massive Interpol Renaissance happening right there in your speakers! It’s fresh, without being too out there and captivating time after time. With each listen you notice a different layer or sound that only prompts you to hit the repeat button just one more time. Carlos D, per Antics, carries this albums with his bass lines that give your toes a tap and Paul, my dear, loving, wonderful Paul, haunts you with his delivery of more strife-filled relationship-riddled lyrical goodness. “Heinrich Maneuver” will reel you in, but the five minutes plus “Pioneer of the Falls” will keep you. 

3. The Girl That Killed September, Garrison Starr

Garrison Starr is not a real person. Clearly, she’s some mythical creature who finds herself capable of putting out two of the best albums I’ve ever heard in back-to-back years, on top of an endless touring schedule and putting together a nice little collection of live studio tracks of songs most requested by fans. Rachael Yamagata: Take note. When she first gave a hint of this album’s release, I didn’t think it would ever see the light of day as she described it as an album without a home and those stories don’t usually have a way of turning out in our favor. But, damnit, Garrison. Bless you and your determination, because this year you bestowed upon us the gift of The Girl That Killed September, and from what I’ve heard it’s some of your most brutally brilliant and amazing stuff yet. I still haven’t gotten over hearing this album for the first time and each time I listen I find a new track that pops out of the speaker and clings to me for days at a time.   That being said, it’s impossible to pick just one or two favorites, but “Understood” gets me every time with rock, rock, rock and a voice that conveys emotion better than the actual words she’s singing. “Goldrush Heart,” is like nothing I’ve heard before and the title track has a permanent chokehold on my heart. Just do all of us a favor: Grab some Garrison, and spread the love. 

2. Begin to Hope, Regina Spektor

How can you make a Best of 2007 list and not include Regina? That’s just it, you can’t. This album was everything it needed to be to create that alternate listening universe that so many of us long for when popping in some new tunes. The poppy melodies, snarky lyrics and inventive songwriting styles makes Begin to Hope one album that is good to the last drop and packs some serious punch.  My instinct is to feel that when two of my favorite femme fatale songwriters are almost always MIA (Miss Yamagata and Miss Apple), I’m relieved to have some other incredibly talented women filling this void left behind. But, saying that does no justice and is in fact an insult to Regina as she’s in a league of her own and needs to be recognized as such. I love singers whose voices create an entire new element and are a unique instrument of their own, and Regina is just that. She’s more than a gorgeous voice; she’s a completely separate entity.   So, if and when Rachael and Fiona decide to get down to it, I’m really hoping that Regina is still rocking out the good tunes to deliver some more of these addictive and fantastic pop songs. And it’s worth mentioning, that all the videos for this album are equally awesome and cool and should not be missed (Namely “Fidelity”). Check ‘em out. Notable tracks: “Fidelity”, “Samson” and “On the Radio” 

1. The Reminder, Feist

O, Canada! O, Leslie! When I first heard Feist a few years ago with her smooth, stellar and saucy album, Let it Die, I was impressed, especially considering that I counted on not liking her at all due to her direct involvement with Peaches. However, Let it Die was a not to be missed album of 2005. “Even with a Bee Gees cover?” Yes. Even with a Bee Gees cover. Trust me, her version of “Inside and Out” is white hot. But, we’re not talking about Let it Die, 2007’s release of The Reminder introduced Leslie to the masses as the single “1234″ made everyone under the sun want a fancy new iPod Nano and/or the opportunity to put on (and look hot in) bright colored spandex and dance around a warehouse for hours. This is the album I could not turn off and couldn’t even begin to try and get out of my head. Starting off with the sweet and bewitching “So Sorry,” Leslie introduces us to her honest understanding of those things that often lack explanation. So many lyrical instances on this album had me crying out to my stereo in pain and elation, “Leslie! How did you know?” Too many favorite tracks to list, but if you must take a suggestion, pick up “Brandy Alexander”, “My Moon My Man” and, of course, the sweet, endearing and gentle melody of “The Park.”  

EXTREMELY HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Nighttiming, Coconut Records and B-Sides and Rarities, Cake 

This is one of the best written articles ever. And it makes me twenty times more excited that I am seeing F.H. Jon Brion in no time at all.

This is my favorite part in the history of favorite parts, ever:

“In a town that has over-commercialized nearly everything that made it so wonderful in the first place, it’s comforting to know that there’s still a place out there that remembers where its true meaning lies.”

Goodness gracious, Gremlins! Where have I gone?

In case you haven’t heard, I got a job working here. I still work for The Siren, so as you can imagine my work week is getting in the way of time to report back here on all things fun, wonderful and interesting. Though to be fair, there hasn’t been much.

So! Here’s a little FYI on all things blog-worthy

1. We’re going to talk about last week’s Office tonight. I’ve managed to get three hours of sleep in the last 48 hours, but I can’t let that sit there any longer.

2. Happy Birthday yesterday to John!

3. One week from tomorrow I’m leavin’ on a jet plane to attend The Office Convention in Scranton, PA with the lovely Tracy Kay! Pretty much, it’s going to be the most exciting week on the blog, ever. Can’t wait! See ya there!

4. I’ve got a crap ton of photos to get up on Flickr, so when they’re there, I’ll holler and you can check it out.

5. Garrison Starr’s new album. Seriously. Get on that. Discussion coming soon.

One of the things I miss most about Los Angeles is Largo. Anyone who’s been, myself included, will stand by the fact that there is nothing better to do in L.A., Monday to Saturday, then attend every one’s favorite friendly Fairfax venue. The food is spectacular and so is the company and no matter what night you’re there, you’re destined to be in for a treat.  Anyone worth your ear is familiar with Flanagan and his fine establishment and seeing them perform in this kind of place is like nothing you’ve ever experienced.  There was a good chunk of time there where my friend Eric and I were making the trip almost every weekend to see our favorites in action. Anyone who has been can tell you, Largo cannot be beat.

Not convinced? WELL!  There appears to be a film coming out on this most hallowed of grounds and the website offers quite a good sampling of what’s so awesome about the whole experience, with short video clips of Jon Brion, Fiona Apple, Amiee Mann, Zach Galifianakis, Grant Lee Phillips and many more. Actually, if you’re at all a fan of Brion, and really, you should immediately ensure that you are, watch his clip. His Largo sets are the stuff of legend and being that if you even thought of taking out a video camera during the performance, you’d be slaughtered, you’ve never seen anything like this. And it’s just a taste. Check it out: www.largofilm.com

More on this as the information becomes available!

I could totally go for some Baked Honey Chicken right now.

Any self-respecting music appreciator should immediately direct their attention here.

If you don’t, I’ll smash you with a hammer.  

One of the most talented women rockin’ her shit in the music industry today is Garrison Starr. Once you start listening, there is no stopping. I’ve yet to hear one of her songs that wasn’t catchy, thoughtful and pure rocket powered rock n roll. And! She’s hilarious! And gorgeous! And incredibly sweet and kind!

If you haven’t checked her out, please do. Her 2006 release The Sound of You and Me is, from start to finish, one of the greatest albums ever. And since then, she’s been touring, recording a Fans’ Greatest Hits album and writing and recording another studio release! She is a Superhero, these days.

And ever since the first whisper of this next album, it’s been riddled with drama of not having a home and not having the support it needed (Meanwhile, I’m having a hard time finding anything else that’s being released that’s worth my fifteen bucks. ANYWAY…).

Update! I did research. Forget what I said earlier. Except for going to the show in Nashville. That part is still true. But. It looks like the album is due out on Thursday, October 18.  But, check this out. It looks like the 18th will be this “social networking release only” and then possibly sometime later in October (or maybe even December as previously reported) will have an actual hard copy release. Maybe it’ll be like Fiona’s MySpace release of EM? Stay tuned, gang.

One thing that I find so cool about this album is her will to get it released. I can only wish and hope that some artists *cough* Rachael Yamagata *cough* would take a cue from Ms. Starr and GET THEIR FRIGGIN ALBUM RELEASED! It’s that kind of dedication to her craft and her fans that once again, makes Garrison one in a million.

 For some GStarr tunes to get you hooked and all other sorts of media to send your senses in a flurry, check out her MySpace. The song “Unchangeable” which is slated to be on September, is totally awesome. And, when I saw her at Hotel Cafe a few months ago she played the song “Fireworks” which is brutal, and honest and wonderful. I lub it! And I hope you will, too.

I didn’t watch the VMA’s.

But, I’m not quite immune to the buzz surrounding Britney Spears’ performance last night at the awards show that took place in Las Vegas. Though I wish I was.

Here’s the video.  You decide. You’ll either laugh, or cry, or lose your breakfast. I guess the spectacle of it all is kind of enjoyable. But only if you’re deaf. And have really bad eyesight.

And really, if you watch a few of the videos that come on after Britney’s Bomb, it’s pretty on par with the rest of the evening.

UPDATE: Again, I didn’t watch the show. But. Really? The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? “Her?” I’m not crazy about it.

UPDATE: PART TWO: I did a little Wikipedia action on “Crystal Skull” and here’s what we came up with. So, I feel a little bit better about this whole operation. I still wish it was Indiana Jones and The Chelsea Graham Caper.

The good news is that this video from the Air Guitar World Championship might redeem your Music Monday.

I’ve had this weird crush on Jason Schwartzman ever since I saw Rushmore. The kind of crush where all you want to do is sit over a bottle of wine and talk for hours about anything. It doesn’t help that he’s terribly handsome, a great actor, and as were going to see in September, a wonderful writer, too. I never really got into Phantom Planet, though I was always sure his musical abilities were stellar, just like everything else he does.

WELL! Proof that he’s freakin’ totally talented and worthy of my undying love and affection!

 Check out this interview with Jason. First thing that should pop out to you is the grace and intelligence with which he discusses Darjeeling.

“Years ago, Wes said to me, “I’d like to do a movie about brothers on a train,” and he wanted me to be one of the brothers. We ended up living together in Paris when he was promoting “The Life Aquatic” and I was filming “Marie Antoinette,” and the story crystallized. We’d walk around and tell each other stories about our lives, and we’d ask each other what these brothers were doing on the train and where they were going. It felt like a murder mystery that we were trying to figure out.”

I think one of the coolest things to hear about a movie before you watch it is the writing process. I love hearing about the things that inspired the wit and humor or the soul crushing drama. It’s good to see the enthusiasm on their end and see how well it translates to the finished project. I’ve seen too many movies with lazy and careless screenplays, it’s refreshing to know that there’s still a writing process out there, somewhere.

But! What I thought was cooler than cool about this whole thing, was the revealing of his solo-project, Coconut Records!! His multi-tracking is freakin’ awesome and all the songs I’ve heard so far are just super catchy (”West Coast” is my favorite!). I smell a ‘One Track Mind’ post in our near future…

Love it. Can’t wait to get the album and listen to it on my way to the theater to see The Darjeeling Limited!!!!

(Also! If you go to the official site for the movie, you can get eyefulls upon eyefulls of behind the scenes videos from shooting! Watch them! And then don’t tell me what happens.)

I do love you, Rachael, really, I do. But I must admit that I’ve become very tired of waiting for your next album to come out. I know it’s going to be wonderful, and I know it’s going to be fantastic, I just wish it wasn’t taking so long. I’m not pointing fingers, I’m just expressing my feelings on the matter. In case you were interested.

So, while we may be coming up on year 4 of waiting for the follow-up to her 2004 album, Happenstance (that still kicks my ass every time I listen to it), she has been touring. Very, very, very sparingly and as of very soon, you’re going to be able to catch Ms. Yamagta on tour with none other than Ms. Mandy Moore, who was most recently caught sharing the sack with my Main Man and Future Husband, John Crushinski in License to Wed (Which I still have to see. I’m the worst Future Wife ever. I’m waiting for Dollar Theater.).

Mandy’s a doll. I wish she didn’t have to sing in her movies, but there is no part of me doubts that she’s an absolutely wonderful person.

Mandy and Rachael have written together on many occasions and actually, when I most recently saw Rachael at Hotel Cafe back in L.A., Mandy was there in the audience and she really is that beautiful.

So, here’s a link to the tour dates. Like I said, I really don’t think that any of us are able to check ‘em out, with an exception of Katy, but it’s good to know that Rachael is doing something substantial with her life and talents. Whoops, did I say that out loud?

Quick! Scurry over to Nickel Creek’s MySpace page to hear three EXCELLENT quality recordings from their Charlotte show!! Outstanding!!  My favorite is the version of Extraordinary Machine. Hands down. What about you!?

(You can read about my night at the show here!)

Last night I had the great, great pleasure to have one of the finest auditory experiences of my life as I saw Nickel Creek and Fiona Apple live at Lifestyles Community Pavillion in Columbus, Ohio.

Since last October, Nickel Creek has been discussing going on hiatus for a while and calling this last year of touring their “Farewell (For Now) Tour” (Don’t worry, it’s so they can all further develop their alreadly sterling solo projects). And we all know how fickle Fiona can be, here today, gone tomorrow, so there was no question that I had to attend this concert. I am infinitely glad that I did.

Before the show, I met up with my friend Alli and we shared some deliciously hot chicken wings at Rooster’s which ended up being not far at all from the venue. So after being completely stuffed on wings, Alli put me in the right direction to get downtown in plenty of time. The venue is pretty small, almost like an industrial, mini sized Verizon Wireless/Irvine Meadows, if you’ve ever been there. I was able to snag a close spot on the grass and wait for the sun to go down and the Fiona Creek to come up.

 At a little bit after 8, out came Nickel Creek, or as I’d like to call them, Three of the Most Talented People in Music. Period. They played about six songs, combining Nickel Creek numbers, and some songs from the individual members’ solo projects and then called out Fiona Apple. She was an absolute vision. Wearing a long, dark blue, strapless cotton dress that was flowing in sync with her beautiful hair in the cool summer breeze Fiona was singing as gorgeously and confidently as I’ve ever heard her.

They played a few Fiona songs (spiced with Nickel Creek bluegrass!), including one of the most amazing versions of “Limp” that I’ve ever heard, and after a short intermission, Fiona Creek was out for more. ”Parting Gift” and “Oh Well” rocked my socks pretty well, but then they brought out the big guns by playing the most amazingly different and innovative bluegrass version of “Criminal” that could have ever been imagined. Some wonderful fan at a different show got a pretty good video of the song!!! Look!

 It took me the entire song and then half of the one that followed to pick my jaw off the floor.  Fiona was dismissed until the encore and Nickel Creek continued to absolutely rock it. They played a new song called “If You’re Gonna Leave Me,” which is as hilarious as it is sweet (”If you leave me, who am I gonna make out with when I win a Grammy?” It’s been in my head since last night.). 

For the encore, Nickel Creek played one solo and then called out Fiona for two covers, “When I Get Low, I Get High,” and ”Tonight You Belong To Me,” which was performed as an absolutely spellbinding duet with Miss Sara Watkins (I wanna be Sara Watkins when I grow up.).

I’ve never seen four musicians enjoy each others’ company more than I did last night. Fiona seemed so happy and comfortable and it was a surprisingly wonderful change of pace from seeing her nervous quirky behaviors we know from when she’s on her own. She told jokes (including a borderline inappropriate and yet still hilarious Patsy Cline joke. Actually, you can click here to see a video [from a differnet show] of the Patsy Cline “Walkin’ After Midnight” cover that they did!), danced and laughed and I know that if you had half the fun that it appeared those on stage did, you definitely had one of the best times ever.  The only thing missing from this show was some Baked Honey Chicken and Flanagan, but still, the intimacy of the show, even in front of 2,000 people, was astounding and refreshing.

The show was all-in-all incredible. Nickel Creek really is one of the most talented groups of musicians out there these days and to be paired with Fiona is like a dream come true. Each song soared to galactic heights and just kept soaring long after the show was over. This tour is going on for a little bit longer, so if it’s headed to your area, please check it out.

Heads up: This Fall, Nickel Creek is headed back out for the final leg of their”Farewell (For Now) Tour” and likely headed to a city very near you. I couldn’t possibly recommend it more that you get out to one of these shows, I know I will.

In a promise to get things back to normal around here, we’re bringing the heat with our used-to-be-somewhat-regular Tuesday Feature, One Track Mind, where I pick one song on iTunes every Tuesday and review it for your potential listening or money saving pleasure.

This morning when I opened iTunes in search of a new release to check out, it was a toss up between a song from The Rocket Summer’s new album (which so far sounds like a super catchy, super fun, summer album that rockets my sockets to Jupiter.) or Vanessa Carlton’s new single. Being that Vanessa Carlton has been non-existent for the past… who knows how long… I decided that I’d give it a spin.

Here’s some background:

We all recognize Carlton’s name, piano melodies, and incredibly full voice from her 2002 release Be Not Nobody, with the single that I never seemed to get out of earshot from, “A Thousand Miles.” Released within a year of Michelle Branch’s butt-kicking album, The Spirit Room, Vanessa Carlton spent most of her hype and 15 minutes on my backburner.  However, I always really did enjoy the first track from the album, “Ordinary Day.” An upbeat, catchy and driving number with excellent lyrics to carry it along. Zammo! I could listen to it on repeat for days and still think it’s a great song, top to bottom. But then what happened to Little Miss Carlton?

In 2004, Carlton released her sophomore album, Harmonium, which not only completely slipped under my radar, but that of millions of Americans as the album only sold 179,000 copies, causing her to part ways with her label, A&M. Since then, label-less and pretty much out of at least my conscious thought, looks like she’s been on-again, off-again dating Semi-Charmed Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind, who also co-produced her next record, Heroes and Thieves, slated to be released early October on The Inc. Records (formerly known as Murder, Inc., a primarily hip-hop label, that boasts such artists as, JaRule and Ashanti. That’s not totally bad. After all, in 2005, Fiona Apple teamed up with well-known hip-hop producer Mike Elizondo, to create one of the greatest albums ever recorded by anyone in the history of music. Ever.).

Which brings us up to today, July 17, 2007, when we see the release of the first single from this album, “Nolita Fairytale”.

The song starts out with the promise of something different, an energized drum beat that gets joined by Carlton’s signature punchy chord progressions and her voice that sounds exactly like it did in 2002.  Starting low, the track gives promise that it has nowhere to go but up, up, up. But it never quite makes it to any sort of climax or peak. In fact, the song remains completely flat, unexciting, and something you’re likely to find in the closing credits of a Hillary Duff film, instead of your car stereo.  This is “sell-out” pop music at its absolute best today. An artist, producers and label that are looking to cash in on the unoriginal, uninspired and uninteresting garbage that gets eaten up by the masses.  She’s being produced by people who don’t understand the genre as much as they understand business, and that’s exactly what I see to be completely wrong with the music industry today. Vanessa did not grow up with her audience. Through this single, she has shown us that she’s remained the same and is living in the “Fairytale” that if she writes a boring and formulaic pop song, she’ll make it big once again.

Upon first listen, you can see that it’s just a tragically misproduced and mismarketed song. Without really paying attention, you could hear potential peeking through, if only Carlton got her own taste of Elizondo on her side. But when really listening to the music, this song whines and complains like an angsty and unintelligent hate-letter to A&M for a grueling three minutes and twenty-eight seconds (”So take away my record deal, the one I don’t need.” Right.).  To me, she’s proven to be an immature and loose cannon of a song writer, relying on the same old tricks, same old combinations to try and rekindle at least 30 seconds of her long gone 15 minutes. At 27, Vanessa Carlton has officially re-defined “has-been.” 

As my friend John so brilliantly put it, “I’m surprised that Third Eye Blind guy still gives her permission to sing.” I couldn’t agree more.

Final verdict: Pass. Pick up a track from The Rocket Summer’s ultra-super-mega fun release, Do You Feel.

Go here and watch Zach Galifianakis interview the lead singer of the Spin Doctors, Fiona Apple.  You will not be sorry.

 I don’t think I am what you would call the “biggest” Rufus fan. I just never got into it that much, and always thought he was kind of an ass, to he honest. Kind of the same reason I do not like Ryan Adams. Nope. Not at all. Thanks for playing.

ANYWAY, I never really respected him as a person, but I have always at least appreciated his brilliance and creativity as a musician.  When I first heard “Oh What A World,” I immediately fell in love with his musicianship as he included the theme from one of my favorite classical pieces ever, Ravel’s “Bolero.” Staggering. Gorgeous. Incredible. Also, the sentiment of that song is just amazing (”Wouldn’t it be a lovely headline? ’Life Is Beautiful,’ On the New York Times. Oh, what a world we live in.”). And that’s what I think I can learn to like about Rufus. His lyrics truly speak to the reality of things, and even his songs that can be called more “self-indulgent” (and believe me, I think A LOT of it is) the lyrics (for the most part) are, at their root, are about a lot more than being the gay messiah.

So, last Sunday when I was in Barnes and Noble browsing around, I saw a free CD that had the single off Rufus’ album put out today, Release The Stars. It was free. I picked it up and if I hated it, I’d pass it on to my friend Adam who is a HUGE Rufus fan. The track is titled “Going to a Town,” and speaks volumes to the “Oh What a World” mentality we visited on Want One.

Sometimes, and I know we’ve all been there, you read the news, or you see something on TV and it shakes you to your core that this is what humanity has become. I’d be lying if I said that every once in a while I didn’t feel pretty dejected by the state of the world we live in. Certainly there are the good parts of it all, but sometimes it’s a verrrry bitter pill. And when I listen to “Going to a Town,” I hear that Rufus understands the composition of the pill that somedays just wont go down.

The song’s simple instrumentation of guitar, piano, bass and piano builds as strings dance in and out and an army of back up singers emphasize the pain that can only be compared to that of a broken hearted love song. The players are all here, and to me, that’s exactly what this is. A heart that’s been “burned”, “disgraced” and “let down” by the thing that should mend you and offer comfort in light of all that goes awry. This song speaks to the root of our unspoken fears that ’America,’ has lost her luster, her glamour and her beauty.

Broken hearted, indeed, Rufus.

“You took advantage of a world that loved you well. I’m so tired of you, America.”

Saving money sucks. Mainly because I can’t spend massive amounts of it on music (but let’s be honest, that’s what gets me into “I have no money” messes in the first place.). But just because you can’t spend doesn’t mean you can deny the hunger for something new and wonderful spilling out of your speakers. So, every Tuesday I am going to allow myself to buy one new track on iTunes and then let you know if it’s worth your 99 cents, too.

“1234,” Feist
“1234″ (a track off her third album released last Tuesday, The Reminder.), delivers a strong, upbeat and catchy departure from Feist’s sultry and moody normalcy that can be found throughout the sophomore release, Let It Die and in large part on The Reminder, too. One thing I find almost bittersweet about Feist is the simple nature of her songs. Sometimes it’s exactly what you need, a basic piano part, maybe some guitar and some auxiliary percussion to push the song along, and her saucy voice gliding over everything. All of her songs have this classic jazzy feel, but often times I find it falls just short of really being pushed to any extraordinary lengths. “1234″ pushes it to the point of being just outright spectacular and does so much of what I wish more of her songs would do. Instead of just your piano, acoustic guitar and auxiliary percussion, we’ve also got banjo, brass, strings and an entire army of voices backing up hers that is still as sweet and unique as it is everywhere else on the album. This time, however, instead of just gliding over her instrumentation, she’s playing with it and teasing it to the climax of the song where you can’t help but wear a smile.

It’s cute. It’s sweet. It’s catchy and she’s definitely taking a page from the Regina Spektor book of bouncy and adorable song writing. Take a listen. I think this track is a winner.

Favorite Line: Sweetheart. Bitterheart. Now I can tell you apart. Cozy and cold, put the horse before the cart.

See? Simple and sweet. Splurge on this track.

Kind of.

According to a few sources, Sara Ramirez (the foxy fox who plays crapped on Callie O’Malley in aforementioned Grey’s Anatomy) will be shedding her scrubs during the summer hiatus to record an album, co-written by Eric Idle.

Hmmm…

Normally I shun such behavior. You’ve got a talent and stick with it. Let the singers be singers and the actors be actors and let’s just carry on. But, I have significantly less of a problem with Ms. Ramirez, being that she came to Seattle Grace from starring in a musical, Spamalot (hence the Idle connection). And may I add, this got her the title of Tony Award Winning Sara Ramirez…

That being said, there is still an air of mystery around Callie’s involvement in the upcoming-sure-as-hell-gonna-happen-even-if-they’re-gonna-run-it-into-the-damn-ground season 4 of Grey’s Anatomy and I am hoping that her singing career doesn’t keep her from seeing patients and being the ballsy yet terribly insecure doctor I adore.

When Ramirez first showed up on the series, the mean and awful things that people were saying about her around the online community made me furious and just that much more happy about her place in the show. I’ve become a fan of the woman she is and the woman she is trying so hard to be. I want Callie to make good, I want her to be happy and I want her character to grow. I hope they make that happen.

That being said, I have pondered the end of the season storyline that I fear will play out if things continue on the path they’re on and from the previews for tonight’s episode, it’s full steam ahead.

Tonight sees another new episode of Grey’s. Desire looks like one of the “funnier” episodes that they usually throw in right before something incredibly dramatic. A kind of “clean the slate/set up” episode for stuff to come. Usually, these are some of my favorites (This season’s Camping episode I mentioned before! Brilliant! I’ll say it again! Brilliant!), but the previews offer a glimpse into what can only be called “thin ice” as far as I am concerned.
Tread lightly, Ms. Rhimes. You’ve got fans in the balance.

I feel that it is due time I publicly thank Flanagan and the good people over at my absolute favorite place in the whole wide world, Largo. For just about 3 years now Largo has satisfied my hunger for only the best in both entertainment and Baked Honey Chicken.

One of the saddest things about moving is leaving behind this gem that my friend Eric and I have often referred to as the best thing to do on ANY night in Los Angeles. If you haven’t been, I’m sorry. You may think this is an exaggeration, but if you’re a fan of music, musicians and good people (and I know you are), Largo is the only place for you to call home.

Anyway, I went to the website today and checked out a schedule that would make any music lover weep with joy. May is filled to the brim with everything I could want to see in my last month of being so close to such a charming little spot. Glen Phillips, Watkins Family Hour (With Special Guests [Potentially Brion, Apple & Co.]), B.J. Novak, and (!) though I am not really a fan, Neil Young. Neil Young is my mom’s favorite musician of all time in the history of ever and I have long been waiting for someone to pop up on the Largo schedule that would be worthwhile for me to bring mom along to and introduce her to the place I disappear to once a month or so. Thanks, Largo. You’ve made my day.

When I called to make my reservations, the machine let me know of quite a few little details that aren’t on the website of shows in the near future that are slated to feature people like “Wee Fiona,” “Wee Jon Brion” and “The Great Dave Palmer”. I’m still grinning ear to ear.

Sad news.

What’s a girl to do?!

It’s old news that I have been making efforts to stick to my guns on this whole “saving money” business.
Sticking to them so much that this week when Glen Phillips played at Largo, I had to say Lar-no and stay home to conserve cash (only to later learn that Glen had Garrison Starr there with him and I missed what can probably be called a once-in-a-loooong time opportunity). I was pretty bummed that I missed that, but knowing that the end of my week would bring partial redemption, I carried on.
And that partial redemption ended up redeeming itself in full as I got to see Garrison last night at The Mint.

I was accompanied by my very dear Anthro buddies Tracy, Erica and Brianna, all of which had never heard of Garrison before last night. I am thankful that they were willing to come along with me, risking losing cash and a Friday night if they weren’t keen on what Garrison was dishing out, though I doubted this would be the case. Before we went to the show we stopped at the ever wonderful Farmers Market, located next to the beautiful and pricey… beautifully pricey… Grove. I ate at Tusquellas Fish and Oyster Bar, and although my shrimp quesadilla took impossibly long to make, when it came out I took it with a smile and sat down to enjoy after the other girls had nearly licked their plates due to waiting so long. The quesadilla was delicious and came with a salsa verde that had whole pieces of ‘cado in it, something I had never tried before but will be trying again, and again, and again.

After our filling meals we headed over to The Mint in plenty of time to catch Garrison and some of the openers, also making sure that Brianna and Erica got in as they didn’t have tickets in advance.
We got in, beverages were purchased, and we watched the end of Shannon Moore’s set. I found it was odd because this was her record release party and there were signs all over promoting her as “being heard on Felicity.” I was pretty sure that the show went off the air ages ago, but I wasn’t sure if I should respect her perseverance in making sure her album gets out years after being discovered, or kind of odd and funny that something like that was her claim to fame. Ah, Hollywood.

Garrison was slated to go on at 10 and by 10 Shannon was just finishing up, and we still had Abra Moore (no relation, I think…) to sit through. She was interesting, but I had a hard time really hearing her as people were talking impossibly loud and we were positioned far too close to a speaker.

The Mint is usually a really cool place to catch a show, but last night it was just awful. No one was listening to the music, everyone was talking as loud as they could trying to compete with the music, and the sound was doing some funky stuff with feedback. I was hoping these kinks would be fixed before Garrison took the stage, and as it turns out they were. Also, they usually let you sit on the floor in front of the tables, but they weren’t last night so you either had to stand in the mob next to the bar in the back or snag a table and oblige their two drink minimum. About halfway through Abra, we opted for the latter. To top all of this off I got beer spilled on me by an drunk older man who was a little bit too apologetic and just made me uncomfortable. No bother though, I wanted no more of this and no more Moores, bring on the Garrison.

She went on at about 11 and opened with a new song that is just gorgeous. I didn’t catch the name of it, but it had that sad sweetness that Garrison captures so well. She looked absolutely beautiful and refreshed and ready to sweat it up rockin’ out on stage, which she definitely did. It was her and a band (Neilson Hubbard and “Jesus” (real name Kurt?), the guys who (I think) recorded the Fan’s Greatest Hits Volume 1 with her) and they completely rocked. I wish the tables weren’t there and there was actually room to get up and dance a little, but I danced pretty well from my seat if I do say so myself.

She played almost everything I wanted to hear with perfection and added some new twists to familiar songs that I absolutely adored.
“Superhero” especially rocked the shit and it was impossibly hard not to sing along and dance around like a crazy person during this incredibly well driven and well constructed masterpiece of a rock song.
And I’ve come to love the song “Pretending.” It’s painful, sadly easy for me to relate to, and gets better every time I hear it.
She played “Unchangeable,” a song from her yet-to-be-released album that is currently on rotation over at her myspace page(Check out “Gardenia.” You won’t be sorry).
Her encore consisted of a cover “Time After Time” (which was missing the Gabriel Mann piano and Adrianne back up vocals but was still gorgeous), and she wasn’t sure what to do for the last one, so those in the know were shouting out requests. I threw in “Wonderful Thing,” she looked at me, smiled and said “YES!” until someone said “Inside Out” which made everyone cheer and it ended up being the closer. Totally stellar and incredible.

As always, her banter was top drawer. Hilarious, charming and often obscure, Garrison knows how to please an audience with her musical gift and her sharp sense of humor and wit making an hour set simply not long enough.

For fans who want to know, she made the same mention of said yet-to-be-released album, that it is currently without label or release date. Sad, I know. If I were a rich girl…

I’ve heard her make this same sarcastic comment before about “wanting to keep her career a secret,” and it makes me laugh but also upset. Garrison has got more guts, talent, and spunk than almost all the stuff that is making millions of dollars by the minute. She’s passionate and writes some of the best rock songs that I can think of coming from, not only a female rocker, but ANY rocker in the past long while. It terribly tragic how artists like this get buried and left by the wayside, and I think once you hear Garrison, you’ll understand. She’s a wonderful thing. Tell all your friends.

About two weeks ago I was browsing the Largo website just seeing if there was anything special and wonderful coming up and my heart stopped when March 9th popped out and nearly popped me out of my chair. “Fiona Apple Benefit Show.”
And how do I not go to that? My long time favorite at the most wonderful place in all of Los Angeles. Jacta Alea Est. The die is cast. There was no turning back.

Silena and I left promptly at 6 (On my way out of the house my mom told us to have fun at
that “Applebee’s” show) and didn’t end up getting down to Largo until 7 (after I preformed what I’m going go ahead and call the best parallel parking job performed in all of L.A. last night, which puts me in the running for best parallel parking job worldwide). Doors weren’t til 8:30, but we wanted to make sure that we got a good table, so with the iPod handy we watched two Arrested Developments and an Office episode and then sat around watching and waiting for Mike to come out and give what I have come to call “The Safety Talk.” As in, for your safety, “no cell phones, no cameras, no recording devices” and if you break the Laws of Largo you are greatly jeopardizing your safety. Because Mike will prank you. With a tire iron.

Anyway, once inside we got a great seat. It was a shared table, but one of the booths, which ended up being a million times more comfortable than the solid wood, ass-killer chairs, and it was much easier for me to squeeze Silena’s arm in excitement or be able to tell her stuff during the show. And we were directly facing the stage. I love that table.
Anyway, we sat down and both already knew exactly what we wanted. I ordered a glass of the cabernet and Silena got the chianti and a bruschetta appetizer to share. The wine came first and the cabernet was fantastic, followed by the bruschetta which was only three pieces of bread, but the massive amount of tomatoes and basil and olive oil surely made up for it. Our food came shortly after that, and if you’ve never been, one of the very best things about Largo is the food. I ordered the chicken parmesan and Silena got the solid gold oldie, the honey baked chicken. The chicken parmesan is no weak piece of chicken and breaded in what could only be described as the most blessed of bread crumbs. Topped with a delicious red sauce that has copious amounts of basil and even better amounts of garlic and then on top of that is a piece of mozzarella cheese. The cheese in chicken parmesan can often make or break the deal, but this one made it and is one for the books. Underneath this chicken parmeyum was a lush bed of pappardelle noodles, my new favorite noodle. It’s like a giant egg noodle that is easily an inch and a half wide and a foot long. At least. And topped with more of that fantastic sauce, you’re in for one of the best meals ever. Silena’s baked honey chicken was also quite delicious, as always. That dish is solid and knocks it out of the park every time.

Shortly after the food arriving, Fiona and Flanagan went up on stage to welcome everyone, and you knew it was going to be an excellent night when Fiona went on stage and was literally hopping around as she yelled, “TURN OFF THE MUSIC AND LISTEN UP!!!!!” And she flashes this smile that makes you feel like you’re watching a little kid on Christmas morning tear into presents. Lucky for us, Fiona knows how to put the smile away when it’s time to rip into your heart with some of her masterful lyrics. But more on that later. She and Flanagan explained that the $75 at the door was for her production manager, Gangi, who was diagnosed with cancer. He seems to mean the world to her and she kept telling us, “You’d love him! You’d love him!”
This is a really weird comparison, but for some reason during her banter, her mannerisms and speech is filled with an innocence and sweetness that is timeless and almost unrecognizable today. The best way I can describe it is that it reminds me of Dorothy Gale. As in The Wizard of Oz. I know. That’s weird, but it’s really the best way I can think of to describe it.

The opening act was that Bunny from the DVD portion of the EM DualDisc. (”Oh, Rabbit why’d you do it? What’d you do that for”) It’s like this Aphex Twin/Boards of Canada thing. Kind of weird, but different and cool. And just watching her jump up and down with excitement as she was announcing him made it totally worth it. Fiona was happy last night and it was definitely contagious.

Then when he was done out comes Fiona with her arsenal of man, Mike Elizondo, Dave Palmer and a gentleman whose name ALWAYS escapes me. Palmer on piano, Elizondo on stand-up bass and the other was on the electronic keyboards. No one on percussion, which is key, because think about how many of Fiona’s songs have some weird percussion driving in the background. I didn’t even really notice until half way into the set that there wasn’t percussion, but once I did, everything sounded so different.
She opened with perhaps the best rendition of “I Know” that I’ve ever heard. She snaps into this separate orbit than the rest of us and you can’t help but sit and admire (The belting of “Baby, I can’t help you out, while she is still around” was astounding. And it was only the first song of the evening). And the ever crafty Fiona ended “I Know” and called out sweet Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek fame to play violin on an adorable version of “Paper Bag.” Sara left the stage after the song and she did “Slow Like Honey” which was both surprising and wonderful. (The last time she pushes out, “Slow like honey, heavy with mood,” was absolutely chilling). Following that was a cover of “When I Get Low, I Get High,” which was both charming and though it’s a familiar tune, spiked with that Fiona brand of kick that we all love. She covered “Blue Skies,” “Cry Me A River,” and “All Alone” in a string of tribute to where she gets so much of her inspiration and style. And she can do it all.

“Sullen Girl” was next up and it was as, well, sullen and haunting as it was beautiful and glistening. After that the band left the stage and she called upon The Power of The Watkins, both Sean and Sara this time. And if you thought you loved “Oh Well” then… you should have heard it being danced around by Sara’s violin and Sean’s acoustic guitar. The violin weaved through Fiona’s voice and added a depth to that song that I hadn’t imagined possible.

The band came back on stage and there was a massive orgy of musical genius on stage as they did “Waltz,” “Knoxville Girl,” “Extraordinary Machine,” (which was beyond extraordinary) in every single way. Then Sara and Sean left the stage and the army of man did a version of “Fast As You Can” which can only be described as supernatural. So much of the backbone of that song is percussion and you’d think that it would drag just having the piano and bass, but it soared and with Fiona dancing her heart out at the helm, how could it have gone wrong?

There is no knowing Fiona until you’ve seen her live. Her lyrics pack punch, but when you see her physically packing the punch, it makes it all come together in a way that defies definition. It’s the way she dances around the stage. The way she sings with her hands. Pounds her fists into her legs just to let you know how much it hurts to feel what she’s feeling. It’s the way she stomps her feet into the ground as if to make herself heard and make herself seen. I promise you Fiona, we’re all looking. And I really think that’s the beauty of her as a performer. She makes you believe that she feels what she’s singing about. She’s incredibly expressive and her 90 minute set will take you to the highest highs and the lowest lows to the point where you want to rip out your heart and give it to her if it will make her feel any better. She’s passionate. She believes in what she does and for that I believe in her.

She’s an extraordinary machine.

I’m supposed to not be spending money right now. I’m supposed to be saving. I’m supposed to be responsible. But I had to check the Largo website. And I had to see that Fiona is headlining a 75 bucks at the door benefit. How do I not go to that? It’s Fiona. At Largo. I probably spent that much on tickets and gas alone when Silena and I went to Vegas. It’s Fiona. I mean, how do I not?

I’m supposed to not be spending money right now, right? Oh, well.

I’m Fionawhipped.

It was somewhere around that weird Eagles‘ tribute that I thought, “I should be making some sort of live bloggings of this event.” Mainly because I got the sudden urge to express how much I “hate the fuckin’ Eagles, man!” But then I didn’t and now this morning I can’t remember nearly all of what I saw last night.

But let’s go through this:

 Performances:

The Police was admittedly very cool and they are apparently announcing tour dates this morning. I wouldn’t mind seeing that. I was half expecting at least Stewart Copeland to look like hell, but father time hasn’t been to bad for him at all!  They barely showed Andy Summers, so maybe time hasn’t been too kind to him I’m not a huge Sting fan, but my dad is so I grew up listening to his stuff all the time and can honestly say that even though he isn’t one of my favorites, he’s pretty damn talented. Pretty damn talented indeed.

Justin Timberlake! Is there anything that this guy can’t do? I thought his Blair Witch camera moment during his performance was a little funny, but I ignored it because he’s just so much damn fun. His moves are smooth, his songs even smoother, and he’s got some absolutely undeniable talent on the instruments. I totally regret not seeing him a few weeks ago when he was in town. Curses.

The Dixie Chicks know more about kicking your ass with sweet harmonies, awesome guitar parts, and good looks than anyone that performed last night. That song is fantastic and I didn’t mind hearing the snippet of it every time they won a well deserved award.  When they got towards the build up of the song, on the album there’s an army of strings that comes in, and I love that. LOVE that. And when it pulled back live to reveal this small country of strings, I got chills. It was beautiful and I am way impressed.

(I am probably out of order and missing so many of these things, but whatever)

I like Shakira. Really, I do. But those hips are out of control. And I mean this totally seriously, in any video or performance or anything does she ever not do the hips thing? Just asking. I think that’s the jealousy speaking though.  That performance didn’t really impress me, though. Mostly because I hate the song.

John Mayer is a F-O-X and probably one of the most talented guitar players I can think of. Holy crap. I melted into a puddle of girly ga-ga. Talented boys with guitars. Yikes.   I’m over Corrine Bailey Rae, but I do like that song that she performed. And I’ve tried, but John Legend just ain’t my thang.

Dear Smokey Robinson,

Someone needs to turn in their frequent buyer card at McNamara/Troy.

Jesus!!!! That was terrifying. And that shirt! Why would he do that?!

But Lionel Richie, totally awesome even though I was giggling during his whole performance because that song is used in The 40 Year Old Virgin during Andy’s porno night which turns into Everybody Loves Raymond. One of the funniest parts in that whole movie. For sure. And Chris Brown? What? Who? No. He should have just stuck with the cool  tap dancing thing. That was cool. But other than that, no. Just no. The little kids break dancing was cool. But man, I can’t listen to that.

Carrie Underwood is just not getting picked up on my radar of someone I would consider listening to. I don’t watch American Idol so I don’t know anything about her, except that she’s just another blonde pop singer. Yay. We can always use more of those. And Rascal Flats. I don’t like ‘em.  But not as much as I “hate the fuckin’ Eagles, man” but that whole thing was not tolerable. At all.

Gnarls Barkley wasn’t someone I really got into in 2006, but they are tons of fun. And that song has got it going on where it needs it.  And the slowed down, orchestra, vocal ensemble version they did last night was very cool and appreciated.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are, in my opinion one of the great rock bands of the 90’s and have really held their on in the 00’s (I can’t stand writing that ’00’s’. I miss the 90’s.) Flea is a force to be reckoned with and the only other person I can think of from last night who shares the throne with John Mayer is John Frusciante. Holy crap. He’s good.

I’m sure I’m forgetting more. But let’s move on to the awards!

Awards:

Maybe it’s because I’m a sensitive girl, but I teared up so bad first award of the night when Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonderwon.  Gawwwwsh, my heart cried.  And that’s all I’m going to stay about that.

Yay, John Mayer!!! You floppy haired, sexy guitar player you. He deserved that. He way deserved that. And Waiting On The World To Change is one of my favorite songs of 2006. And Continuum is truly one of the best albums of the year. John Mayer, you rock. Even if you are “Frankenstein Scissorhands”

I am so glad that little no talent ass clown, James Blunt, did not win. The TV was lucky to survive his painstakingly awful performance and would not have survived a win.

Dixie Chicks deserve every single award they got last night. Talented, beautiful, smart, mommies, wives, powerful, inspiring and deserving. These girls have been horribly snubbed by the CMA’s because of their willingness to speak their minds, but my heart smiles for the fact that they were recognized for being the gutsy, talented and fantastic musicians they are. Keep rockin’ girls. Keep rockin’.

Again, RHCP deserved that award. Like I said before, they are one of the best rock bands of the past 20 years and don’t get recognized nearly enough. They’ve all been through a lot as musicians and human beings and I have nothing but respect for them and everything they do. (Please note: If I were in charge of the world, Best Rock Album of the Year would have been given to Muse.)

Ludacris thanked Bill O’Reilly. Hehehe.

Other Comments:

Scarlett Johansson needs to stop and just go away and leave everyone alone. That includes someone forcefully removing her from the recording studio and every single magazine cover. Please.

Al… Gore?

Christina Ricci needs to eat, but looked better than she has in the past few years.

Did anyone else catch that weird Prince commercial??? That was just… weird.

And I am officially just a wee bit sick of Miss Mary J. Blige. I get it. You’ve been through a lot. And I’m sorry. But now you’re sitting on a goldmine. Thanks for playing.

That’s all I’ve got for now. And I do think it is quite a bit. But if more comes along, more shall be posted.

Here’s to 2008 where the Grammys are swept by Rachael Yamagata and Garrison Starr.  And Mary J. Blige. Just for being herself. (No seriously. Norah Jones released an album last week. 2007 is already sealed up. She breathes on an album and she wins a Grammy. It’s like Newton’s Law or something.)

When you decide to have your first show in for-ev-er, please make it in fucking GERMANY. That would be awesome.

Thanks,

Chelsea

So Coachella might actually be worth getting third degree sunburns and dust and dirt permanently lodged in my lungs. It might be worth sitting in the car for hours in traffic, being too sweaty for my own good, and nearly dying of head exhaustion. Twice. I’ve never been to Coachella. But I look east into the future and this is what I see.
I guess I had better go find a good ‘Coachella hat’.
Fuck it. This might be the last Coachella I can easily go to. Why not. Why. Not.

My iTunes gift cards are spent, I suppose that’s the true meaning that the holiday season is over. One of my purchases was “Mirabelle” by Jay Nash with the rest of the All-Star Conquistadors. Such a fun little diddy. If you have the means, I highly suggest picking one up.

Saw Children of Menlast night. I truly enjoyed it. I thought that the concept was just so weird and different, but they made it work. You understood why everyone acted the way they did in a situation that is really not something you think of right away when you think of world destruction. Clive Owen was phenomenal as was Julianna Moore and Michael Caine.  The direction was also really well done. Some super interesting choices when I think about it, but I appreciated them all.  Why am I writing this here? Now? Because we are not repeating 2006 when it comes to remembering movies I saw this year.

 Is it the worst thing ever that I cand wait to see Music and Lyrics? I will always love you, Hugh. (Though Clive Owen is really creeping up the scale of sexiest man with an accent. And he’s got scruff… so that gives him a bit more of an edge.)

Music! Music! Music!

I’d have to say that when looking back on it, 2006 actually did fairly well for music.

And that being said, I totally chickened out. Totally.

Instead of making a top 5 I made my mix CD for 2006. Too many albums had too many great tracks to take one over the other. And just to be fair it does all fit on one album, so if you wanna taste of the glory, you can ask and I will assist you in getting your mitts on a copy of this compilation of classics. 

Let’s do this:

1. “Both Sides of the Gun,” Ben Harper- It’s funky, it’s fresh and it’s got a groove that you simply cannot escape. Not to mention it’s nearly perfect for your car compilations. The title track to Ben Harper’s dual CD set is, in my opinion, one of the better songs he’s put out. The opening verse is definitely my favorite.

“Living these days is making me nervous
Archaic doctrine no longer serve us
Now we’re left as silent witnesses
We don’t know quite what this is
Other than a war that can’t be won”

2. “Rio Seco,” Juana Molina- *If* I did pick a song/album of the year, this would be it. It’s a gorgeous, full and intriguing acoustic guitar matched with interesting ambient track in the background that gives it a perfect twist which keeps it at anything but your average acoustic guitar with vocals duo. And, oh, the vocals. Juana Molina is mesmerizing and her voice is truly and entity of its own. This song/album/woman is not to be missed.

3.  “Sally’s Song,” Fiona Apple- Do not. For one second. Be surprised that I put this on here. Or perhaps you aren’t. If you really know me, you’re not. My favorite vocalist of all time takes an “oh-so-very-her” twist on one of the best songs Danny Elfman has ever written. It’s spooky as to how perfect she trades off with the gorgeous strings section as my mind pictures it serenading Sally strolling through Halloweentown.  She’s perfect for the song and it’s spooky how much I love it.

4. “Man in a Garage,” Coldcut- There isn’t too much electronic music I can really get into these days. So much of it is cross-filed as rock, so it doesn’t even count, but this most definitely is not and for damn good reason. There’s something so magnificently different about this song and I can’t quite pin it down. I’ve had this CD for almost a year,  and every time it comes on, my ears perk up and I hear some different layer, or notice a different instrument change, or something. It’s magical.

5. “My Valentine,” Rhett Miller- Sweaty Rhetty did a damn good job with his album “The Believer.” But, track that opens this album is one hell of an ass shakin’, toe tappin’ diddy.  When Rhett brings the rock, he brings it hard. This whole album is pure fun, top to bottom, but this track just sends the whole thing into intergalactic kick ass orbit.

6. “Portland is Leaving,” Rocky Votolato- I’ve always had massive respect for Rocky as a daddy and a husband just trying to make some money to support his family via music career. And the fact that he’s an incredibly nice guy. But that’s really as far as my love for him went. “Portland is Leaving” changed all that. This song is tragic, yet terribly sweet and has a wonderful story to share, if you’re willing to listen. And for some change in your diet, wait for the harmonica to come in. It works. It’s awesome. And it speaks just as well as his lyrics. “Love’s a train wreck, you’re a mistake.” Yep.

7. “I Wouldn’t Mind,” Duncan Sheik- This is the song that introduced me to Future Husband Duncan Sheik. And this song is what convinced me to make him Future Husband. I can hardly thing of a sweeter notion than the one expressed in this song, “I wouldn’t mind if all my big plans fell apart and left me empty handed. I’ll start again, like new. If you’re with me, how can I lose?” And yet it has this thread of sadness that runs through it and broke my heart into a million pieces, “Nothing like facts and the facts as they are, are harder to take, ’cause there’s a part of me that’s ready to break.” Oh god. It stings. Deep burn.

8. “Beautiful in Los Angeles,” Garrison Starr- Ms. Starr brings us back up, up and away with a song that comes from one of the (if I made a list) best albums of the year. This song has made it’s way on to nearly every car mix I’ve made since I heard it and it has a special place from here on out. Garrison’s got a voice that’s sweet and she really knows how to carry it well, and she especially knows how to make it rock. This song gives you the best of both worlds. Sweet, sweet Garrison paired with some absolutely rocking catchy guitar and outstanding lyrics. This girl has got talent in spades. She’s definitely still Beautiful in Los Angeles. And everywhere else this song is blasting from speakers.

9. “Everything But You,” Glen Phillips- I didn’t really like Mr. Lemons. Too much of one thing and not enough of the other, if that makes sense. But, this song is definitely the best that that album has to offer, and it makes up for most of the not-so-great stuff that comes after. One thing I’ve come to love about Glen is the massive amount of love and emotion he is able to pour into some 3 minute something-second song. This song has more going for it than most albums can muster up with 12 tracks. The imagery in this song is absolutely gorgeous and worth cherishing.  As he lets out the last ”You terrify me, you are everything,” I didn’t think I could relate to anything better in all my days of listening to music. Until…. “I’m proud to be your fool. Everything’s a crutch. Everything but you.” Oh, Glen, you’ve done it again.

10. “Lullaby,” Dixie Chicks- I enjoyed this entire album 50 times more than I thought I would. Heck, from the first day I heard them I enjoyed the Dixie Chicks 50 times more than I thought I would. But this song is perfectly resting in the middle of this kick-ass album and takes the cake for “Sweetest Song Written in 2006 and Quite Possibly Ever.” I think the first day I heard this song I listened to it over and over for quite a long time. To hear this song is to love it and find yourself in love with the sheer notion of being in love. Which is the next best thing to actually being in love. I think. “How long do you wanna be loved? Is forever enough?” That brings a tear to my eye and makes my girly self get all girly. So simple. So perfect. So indescribable. I guess kind of like love.

11. “I Like Birds (Live at Town Hall),” Eels- An old tune with a new twist, it’s live! My love affair with Eels was reborn this year and this album being released in early 2006 allows me to express this new love. This is one of my favorite Eels tracks and any song that can throw in mention of astronauts in the first 20 seconds is a-okay in my book.  This song is easy, and it’s fun, and it’s Eels. What more could a girl want?

 12. “Starlight,” Muse- ATTENTION: There is NO ALBUM RELEASED IN 2006 THAT ROCKS HARDER THAN MUSE’S BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS. NONE. YOU WIN NOTHING. GOOD DAY, SIR.

Okay, now that that’s out of the way. This song jumped out and bit me in the face the first time I heard it. It’s got the dance feel that I LOVE which is brought on by this great keyboard riff.  And the line “My life, you electrify my life,” made me smile the biggest smile ever the first time I heard it. And synchronized clapping! And a bassline that, let’s be honest, if it doesn’t get you moving, you’re a corpse. Corpse.  This album. Is amazing. This song is fantastic. This band is phenomenal. The on the Muse Cruise.  (MASSIVE apologies to Clayton. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you when you told me how good this CD was. Wow.)

13. “The Greatest,” Cat Power- I am very late in getting to know Cat Power, but from what I’ve heard and been told, “The Greatest” is, well, the greatest she’s done so far. She’s got this smokey voice that rings of the “I’ve been smoking cigarettes with Rachael Yamagata since we were in the womb” variety, but she brings so much more to the table than a pack of cigarettes. The title track off this album has a great piano part, and a hidden violin, if you’re listening close enough and floating over all of it is a great song with a lazy back beat that tells an absolutely brilliant story.  It’s sexy, sassy and not to be missed.

14. “Melt Your Heart,” Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins- Not gonna lie, I really didn’t care for this album when it first came out. It was too boring, too flat and though it featured the sweet, sweet Jenny Lewis, I didn’t think she was working without the zapp of Rilo. But this song is one that I really did like at first. It opens up with a guitar part that would make Hope Sandoval proud and in Hope Sandoval, and Rilo fashion, it’s a tragic, sad, and absolutely beautiful song. Jenny Lewis knows how to write little singular lyrics that jab you in just the right way, and she does this better than almost any other writer I can think of.  “It’s like a Valentine from your mother.”

(HORRIBLE MIX CD TRANSITION. DO NOT USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE. AND DON’T BLOW CHUNKS ON YOUR KEYBOARD.)

15. “LoveStoned/I Think She Knows Interlude,” Justin Timberlake- Would I have listened to N*SYNC? Effing HELL NO. But will I listen to JT Money? Oh, WILL I. Justified is a far superior album toFutureSex/LoveSounds. But guess what I bought the day it came out. This album is a ton of fun, and this song has got it going on in all the right places. It’s got his beat boxing, which it shall be known that beat boxing will ALWAYS make me go jell-o in the knees, and it’s got his vocal talents, which are quite good, and the super fun, super exciting and well done beats that make Justin Timberlake so damn addicting. Really, I’m sure that next to none of you have this song. Please ask me for it.  Would I replace this song with “Dick in a Box”… well, considering I had the damn song in my head for three days straight I’m going to have to say yes (And the fact that I am oddly attracted to Justin Timberlake in that video), but I don’t have an mp3 of it, so I can’t put it on a cd. (Hint, hint)

16.  “Waiting on the World to Change,” John Mayer- I seriously think that John Mayer is one of the best things that “newer” music has pumped out in the past few years. To be totally honest, the man is an incredible guitarist as well as musician and writes some absolutely outstanding songs.  Sure, “Your Body is a Wonderland” might be one of the cheesiest songs ever written, but it’s not *bad* by any means. “Waiting” works on so many levels. He’s got his fantastic musicianship, but these lyrics are smart and well written. (Twenty million times better than “Wonderland” foreplay.)

“And when you trust your television
What you get is what you got
Cause when they own the information, oh
They can bend it all they want
That’s why we’re waiting
Waiting on the world to change
It’s not that we don’t care,
We just know that the fight ain’t fair”

17. “Cosima,” Joanna Newsom- I don’t care what you say. You cannot think of a more unique voice in music than Joanna Newsom’s. Or a more fantastical and and interesting song writing style. She’s original. She’s different. And she makes it work. Not original and different in that way that you describe crap artists, she knows exactly what she’s doing. ”Cosima” highlights everything I love about Newsom. It’s got her beautiful harp and her voice that you’re not quite sure how it works, at points almost Bjork-y, but others it’s like nothing you’ve ever heard. This song builds and flows and when you think it couldn’t possibly get any more interesting and well written, it dances circles around everything  you just heard. Joanna Newsom knows she’s an acquired taste, so while she’s at it, make something different and beautiful, which she has definitely done.

18. “Mexican Blue,” Jolie Holland- Jolie also gets grouped in the uniquely amazing category of my music library. This song impresses me on so many different levels. I feel that it is the one song I’ve heard of hers that makes her voice work exactly how it should, floating, serenading and telling an absolutely beautiful little love story. This song paints a beautiful picture that is something out of a movie you know you’ve seen, or dreamed, or something. But then again, it’s like nothing you’ve never heard before. “I saw you riding on your bike in a corduroy jacket in the night. Past the hydrangeas that were blooming in the alley, with a galloping dog by your side.” Her jazzy voice and hypnotizing piano does a number on your imagination, something truly distinct from almost every other song you’ve heard this year.

“They said they started to get worried about me. They were happy we had finally met, we had finally met.”

And that just about does it for you, 2006.
If you’re still reading, I congratulate you. I know this was long, but it was the best way to do it and keep my mind at ease (movies was hard enough.)

Here’s to 2007. Great flicks, fantastic albums, and much love all around.

Tonight, at the beautiful Greek Theater in Griffith Park, I attended what was my 9th Death Cab For Cutie concert. I’ve noticed in the past that every time I leave one of their shows I feel so cleansed. So fantastic. So complete. And the only difference from tonight versus all the rest was tonight was the best time I’ve ever seen them live, and when the lights came up… I felt so clear. It was strange, but I’m chasing the feeling.

Mates of State and Spoon opened and both we’re pretty fantastic. Mates of State is just plain cute, and Spoon was great fun. But I’m not gonna lie… my eye was on the prize. There’s been too little Death Cab in my life and too many clouded nights and I needed this. The set was outstanding. They had these big cut-outs of bare trees in the background and two odd looking little houses on either side of the stage. It reminded me a lot of the Directions DVD, which was cool. One thing I love that they do live is they put these insanely powerful and bright lights on the stage that literally just bathe the audience in lighting and you can close your eyes and just feel the greens and blues and reds wash over your body as the notes and lyrics creep into your ears and crawl through every inch of your insides. And for a little bit, everything is okay. You’re healed. And you’re fine. And you’re happy.

They opened with 405 and I knew everything was going to go according to plan. And they played everything. Almost every album, including Something About Airplanes, got some attention. “Company Calls” was outstanding. It was SO nice to hear “President of What?”. “Title and Registration” and “The Sound of Settling” were better than ever… but when they started playing “Tiny Vessels,” I knew what was next. On the album, Transatlanticism, there exists a magical grouping of songs that Graham Taylor called “The Triforce” because it just is. Tiny Vessels bleeds into Transatlanticism and that leads beautifully into Passenger Seat, and it works so well. It’s beautiful. Please listen to these three songs in a row the next time you get a chance. I’ve only heard them do the complete Triforce once, and tonight they just did Tiny Vessels into Transatlanticism. But holy cow.

“Transatlanticism” must be one of my top 5 all-time favorite songs ever. It’s so beautiful. And so perfect. Yet so simple. So, so simple. And every time I hear that ending I get the chills and I feel weak.

I cannot accurately describe what this band means to me. I cannot accurately describe exactly what went through my mind tonight when I heard the first chord of “Transatlanticism”. I cannot describe the way it feels to be totally wrapped in sound and under the spell of something so beautiful.

But what I can accurately describe is that right now, in this very moment, everything is okay.

The atlantic was born today and i’ll tell you how…
The clouds above opened up and let it out.

I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere
When the water filled every hole.
And thousands upon thousands made an ocean,
Making islands where no island should go.
Oh no.

Those people were overjoyed; they took to their boats.
I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat.
The rhythm of my footsteps crossing flood lands to your door have been silenced forever more.
The distance is quite simply much too far for me to row
It seems farther than ever before
Oh no.

I need you so much closer

I need you so much closer

So come on, come on.