On Caffeine and Music

There’s music you can sing and dance to, there’s music to intensely listen to and there’s music to sleep to. None of that music is on todays subject, I just wanted to tease you. Today’s music is going to be about chilling, dreaming, having fantasies, falling asleep, sitting at a cool bar, doing nothing, just being. Calm, inspiring music. This is the kind of music they’d play at Starbucks if they weren’t so douche-y and hooked on that jazz sickness (that is not to say that jazz music is bad; au contraire, but they really take it to a ridiculous state by pretending to be all sophisticated and shit, I really hate that).

Here’s my Best Of Stargazing Alone In The Woods Soundtrack:

Burial – Shell Of Light Dubstep at it’s finest moment. It really doesn’t get better than this, so watch out for Burial.

Burial & Four Tet – Moth Again with the Burial, with the British, with the Dub. This person is a genius, and now with the brilliance of a Four Tet, this track has got me shivering under the stars. Seriously. Goosebumps. Don’t drive and listen to this, it’ll haunt you forever.

Broken Social Scene – Looks Just Like The Sun This could be abused for frisky sessions of endless love, but to me it’s more like reading a book while it’s raining outside… every now and then stealing a glance at the beautiful person next to me (except there hasn’t been anyone lying next to me in a long time, so fuck that fantasy).

Little Dragon – Twice Same as above, difference is less instruments and a stronger voice. I love the lyrics.

Nothing like hot stuff for this blog!

El Perro Del Mar – Change Of Heart This song makes my heart ache, it’s so beautiful. This is definitely nothing like background music, it’s music you lose your mind to. The kind of song you cry or laugh to, depending on the situation, the context you’d been living it with. El Perro Del Mar must be one of my proudest (personal) discoveries. Dreams are made of music, my friends, they really are.

The Kings Of Convenience – Sorry Or Please What Erlend Oye touches turns to gold, and so is one of his latest project, Kings of Convenience. All of their songs, sans exception, sound like a childish summer in the grass, picking flowers. Blonde girlfriends, saggy sweaters, sensitive boys and smiles. Basically, a prospect for happy youth on the countryside.

The Six Parts Seven – Saving Words for Making Sense I’ll go with the title of that song and save my words. No vocals, only dreams freeing your soul.

That was a quickie, but I’ll try and add more to this playlist by the week; there are so many songs on that “Chill Out” playlist, I wouldn’t know where to end it. So by every two weeks, I’ll try to pick five or so and post them again, and again until I run out of comfort music. Peace Out!

Weekly Roundup

Because there are so many good songs, good and old, lying around my harddrive, just waiting to be shared with the world, I decided the time is ready for a weekly roundup of music.

That is, I will try. I am already seeing myself desperately fighting for more time so I can make Sundays the weekly roundup days, but bear with me and my efforts if I don’t make it on time. Anyway- the weekly roundups are soley based on what I deem a good song, particularly one that I’ve been listening to the whole week. As I said, it doesn’t have to mean I’ll be picking out only new songs, though they’ll probably be rather recent than old.

So here are the rules: Every week, I’ll add a new post about 10 songs that have been somehow intruiging. I might even simply post the charts from my Last.FM account, but I’ll leave that to creativiy. If you have any more suggestions on how to improve this game, let me know. And if you have any more criticism, feel free to hit the comments.

Here are this weeks top songs I loved listening to (that is, what was left besides Kings Of Leon):

Florence, maker of awesome music

Florence and the Machines – Cosmic Love
This is a powerful song. Florence has got herself some energetic voice there. This sounds like it should be played when the hero rises from the ashes to the sky. Sounds a lot like Bat For Lashes, though not yet exactly of the same quality.

M.I.A. – Way Down In A Hole (ft. Blaqstarr)
That woman just knows how to make my brain pop. This one’s an awesome interpretation of the Tom Waits original, Blaqstarrs voice gives it the hardcore dark-spirited touch it carries throughout the whole track. There should be more M.I.A. songs, preferably on a daily basis.

The Gossip – For Keeps
I hate when people say that The Gossip are post-punk. They’re not. Actually, they’re more techno than post punk. This song proves how decent and quality pop music should be done. Beth Ditto, you had me at Hello.

Prince – Erotic City (Morsy Remix)
Really, there are only a couple of remixes I like, there are only a couple of Prince songs that I like. A perfect match right here, enjoy.

Robots In Disguise – Turn It Up
Meh, I don’t usually like electroclash/pop/hipster music, but there are a couple of exceptions. This one, albeit old, still gets me hooked. It’s also the only song from the RID-discography that I like.

She Wants Revenge – Sister
She Wants Revenge have some sort of talent for making evil music. Seriously, when I listen to them, it’s like I’m watching a movie about drugs and sex and human brain waste. Sounds a lot like Interpol, even catchier though. Song is not very special, but a hooker.

The Trucks – Zombie
“You just can’t hate a girl that looks good dancing”. So true. Indie-pop, synth-pop, call it what you will, I approve.

The Dance Party – Sasha Don’t Sleep
Yeah, I don’t know what that is exactly. Fall Out Boy meets Metro Station meets a shrill voice meets something about Sasha who likes to dance alot and you’ve got me a dance floor boomer. I don’t really approve, and yet I do. Figure that.

Michael Jackson – Scream
Yeah, it’s caught up with me too… I swore I wouldn’t fall into the hype-trap but I eventually did. I’ve always loved that song and someone played it a couple of days back at a party, and here I am now, dancing to it like it’s 1999…

Alright, that’s it for last week’s random picks, let’s see if I can find something new for next week then.

Summer Breaks

Every year people pop out their summer playlists. Sometimes, it’s full of new, hyped tracks. Sometimes it’s just a best-of collection of what most people would say are good summerish songs. That’s pretty much like adding one song per year to that list.

I won’t do that. Instead, I’ll give you a very subjective list of songs that I think sound a lot like summer. I’m clever like that. You probably won’t agree with me on most of what I’ll suggest, but if you give it a shot and try to lie back in the sun while listening, maybe you’ll be able to imagine where I get my hunches from..

The list is not limited to more recent songs, but I will try to avoid rather famous-summer-feeling songs for the sake of finding something new.

Belle & Sebastian – If She Wants Me
Aww dear Lord is that the cutest song in this shit hell hole of a universe or what? This reminds me of wine glasses, best friends and picknicks in dog-turd infested parks. This song has such a perfectly catchy and innocent beat, it’s practically got summer written all over it.

The Jealous Girlfriends – Lay Around
This is a very special song; special as in rare. First time I heard it in a love scene on some TV show or another, I can’t remember what it was exactly. So this song, it’s smoking a joint on a warm summer evening on your balcony, watching the streets and the cars and the nighttime in your big city, in your small but really nice apartment, drinking wine, just staring out there, thinking, smiling, and it might not be good, but it’s good enough. And this is what this song is. Jazzy, poppish, reminds me of Shivaree. One of my favourite all-time tracks.

The Kooks – Naive
Who doesn’t want to start up the cars engine and just go for speed on that one? Or dance downtown in a shabby club with friends, screaming the chorus along from the top of your lungs? Or border the plane and watch the sea below when flying to an exotic spot somewhere in the world? Or just feels the sun on their skin when crawling out of your tent at that awesome festival where everyone is getting drunk? … if this song does not deserve the “summer” label, I don’t know what will.

I like Kings of Convenience

Kings of Convenience – Gold in The Air of Summer
Ah well, that one gives it away from the title. A slow tune with guitars, perfect for a bon fire. Not everything has to be happy in the summer. Sometimes you just have to take a slow moment with yourself. This song is a perfect back up for the tough times without being depressive. Again, the genius of Erlend Oye never ceazes to amaze me.

The Low Life – You Are Everything
This might SOUND like a funny, good-timish song. But listen closer and you’ll hear a story of a murder, cleverly wrapped and hidden in reaggae, pop, indie and some funk tunes. This one kills all the other summer song, literally.

Nottee – Young Modern Life
I think I really dig that “driving around in cars in the sun with loud music coming from the stereo” feeling, which is why most of the songs here are just perfect for that. This here, it’s a summer fantasy on summer nights. It’s riding bikes with the significant other and ending up doing the do on the wet grass with birds and bees flying over your heads. My personal pick for “best find 2009 award”, an award exclusively given and received by myself.

Asher Roth – I Love College
Snap man, I hate that song. I mean, I kinda do. But I don’t really, I just pretend to hate it because it’s really not good. The beat is basically boring, the rapping.. I mean it’s Eminem, but not a very good Eminem. I don’t know what to think! Wait, let me get drunk first. I think I might like it, anyway. Damnit, I just love it.

The Cure – Mint Car
It took me a while to overstep my ignorant music fascism and actually give The Cure a try. It’s been two years and I’m addicted like fuck. I never regretted The Cure, even though on second thought they’re creepy pop singers with Emo looks. But: they were so before any of it made any difference to popularity, status or genre. Mint Car is one of those songs that makes you get lose in good mood. Not my favourite Cure song, but a perfect summer song.

El Ten Eleven – Central Nervous Piston
I cannot begin to describe the glory nor the beauty of this song, of what it means, if it ever means anything at all. If there was just one album I’d have to listen to the whole summer, then it would be El Ten Elevens self titled album. Actually, I’d listen to it for the rest of my life. This is beautiful music, and although I’m the greatest pirate of the nets I insist you go buy the album if you liked the song. Please. They deserve every penny for this masterpiece of work.

• Bonus add: El Ten Eleven – My Only Swerving

Phoenix – Everything is Everything & If I Ever Feel Better
Cute, you thought I’d be pushy about their new album? Suck it, bitches, there’s no new album for me. I love Phoenix, but someway, somehow, their new stuff hasn’t found it’s way into my brains. Not that it’s not good… but sometimes it’s just not the right time for the right music. So, you know, I’ll keep it around, that Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix thing, and some day I’ll randomly listen to one song that matches everything I feel. Until then, I’ll be celebrating these two brilliant and witty songs in the sun.

Tilly and the Wall – Beat Control
Yeah, I can’t resist the hype… what can ya do. It just makes me want to dress up in hippie clothes and get down.

Emiliana Torrini – Jungle Drum & Unemployed in Summertime
Two songs of the same artists that couldn’t be more different, probably induced from the fact that they’re on two different albums from two different phases. Jungle Drum is pretty obvious, but Unemployed in Summertime has a very personal summer-meaning to me. There really are no words to describe either songs, I guess everyone has to decide for themselves whether it’s their “thing” or not.

Oh man, there are just so many more songs I’d love to post here. Let’s see, I might do a follow up in a month or two on the summer-side of the music world, there really isn’t enough time and space for that right now. If you have any recommendations or adds, I’d be happy to check into that, too, so don’t hesitate to comment. Peace out.

Kings Of Leon – Playlist & Wallpaper

Kings Of Leon

I apologize for the lack of updates, there was an urgent emergency that occured Saturday evening: I went to see the Kings of Leon show at o2 World and ever since I haven’t been able to listen to anything else (which is a blatant lie if you check out my last.fm profile, but let’s just pretend for the sake of it). See, I know there should’ve been an MJ update of some sort, but I thought: why bother? Let the kids get their info somewhere else. Besides- I mean come on. You don’t come here for news and gossip.

I’d been thinking about doing a posting about the Kings, I think now is the time. First of all: the show was amazing! They hit every chord right and I still dream of Caleb Followill (the singer) at nights. He used to look like total crap, but with that haircut he’s sporting these days.. oh my, I haven’t felt so alive in a while as I did at the concert. The crowd was great, many people of all kinds, freaks, rockers, parents, kids, grandparents, teenagers- and then there’s me, somewhere in the middle of it all. Calebs voice carried our minds to another place of magic and energy. Despite him getting drunk as fuck, and despite Mew, the opening act, being the shittiest act I’ve ever witnessed (seriously, I just wanted someone to rip my ears off so I’d never hear that shrill voice of the lead singer again), I think this concert was just one of the best concert I’ve ever seen (even better than Red Hot Chili Peppers!).

Whenever I hear Only By The Night, I remember the drive to Berlin when I moved here. Five hours with my best friend, last year, who kept getting on my nerves because she hated Kings Of Leon, especially Calebs voice, which I think is the best part of it all. I get goosebumpy even now, because these moments in the car induced a paradigm shift for my whole life. I was growing up, listening to “Closer” and “Be Somebody” made me realize that then and there. Good lord, it just means so much to me, somehow. And I’m glad it was the Kings of Leon album on rotation back then, not some other shit, so I’d always conserve these feelings and open up to them every time their songs are played…

Anyway. I believe that Only By The Night is pretty much their best album so far. That doesn’t imply though that I did not love their older albums. I especially like Aha Shake Heartbreak, which I think was their debut (but correct me if I’m wrong). Now there are two things I want to share with you: First of, my personal favourite’s playlist, which includes pretty much every known song and some gems here and there. The second thing is a wallpaper of Caleb Followill. It’s not very special and even kinda ugly, but since I couldn’t find a nice one on the web (that I could dress my desktop at work in), this had to do.

Caleb Followill Wallpaper

Kings of Leon – Be Somebody (from Only By The Night)

Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire (from Only By The Night)

Kings of Leon – Use Somebody (from Only By The Night)

Kings of Leon – King Of The Rodeo (from Aha Shake Heartbreak)

Kings of Leon – The Bucket (from Aha Shake Heartbreak)

Kings of Leon – My Party (from Because Of The Times)

Kings of Leon – On Call (from Because Of The Times)

These don’t really belong to my favorites, but consider them a bonus for your KoL loyality:

Kings of Leon – Notion (from Only By The Night)

Kings of Leon – Knocked Up (from Only By The Night)

Kings of Leon – Closer (from Only By The Night)

Kings of Leon – Camaro (from Because Of The Times)

Cover Mania

Everyone knows I’m a fan of unknown music; well, at least not mainstream music. That’s not because I don’t like mainstream music. In fact, I love pop and I love Britney and I love the jink that’s going down on the radio. What I hate is the ever so obsessive rotation of popular songs. It does ruin the mood if you’re hearing the same track gazillion times in a row.

So that is why I like discovering new stuff, preferably by artists who’re never going to make it to the surface, no matter how good their music is. I like to call them “my precious”, and I hate sharing (unless I get to take the credit for my great discovery, which never happens, so I quit that too). I will share with you though.

Today’s theme is: famous songs covered by unknown artists OR known artists who’ve made absolutely awesome acoustic covers. I’ve already picked some in my last posts, but I’m sharing them again for the sake of it. Have fun! (Links are all Mediafire).

I Call Shotgun – Ride With Me (Nelly Cover)
Yeah, I found this one by accident and guess what, it’s awesome. I still remember when I first heard the Nelly track on MTV. It’s one of the rare hip hop/pop songs that still makes me smile (probably also induced by the use in one of my favorite TV shows, Scrubs, in a really light-hearted scene). The singer messes things up by the end, he starts doing the chorus to “Cupids Chokehold” by Gym Class Heroes. I do like that song, too.

Bat For Lashes - totally missed her concert last month

Bat For Lashes – Use Somebody (Kings of Leon Cover)
I will make an individual entry for both Bat For Lashes and Kings Of Leon soon, but for now enjoy this glorious combination of awesome singer and awesome lyrics. Use Somebody is probably going to hit the Top 10 of the most inspiring songs of my twenties (mind you, I’m not even 21), and this cover does it. Still not hitting the original mark, but good enough.

Lykke Li – Hustlin’ (Rick Ross Cover)
The transition of rap song to a hyped indie track seems to be very popular these days. This one’s especially charming because I’ve seen the video to it (which I’m too lazy to look up right now, google it), and I love how Lykke Li starts posing like a bonafide rapstar.

Goldfrapp – It’s Not Over Yet (Klaxons Cover)
Awwww. This is a cute one because I don’t like the original song that much (correct me if I’m wrong, but I think even that one is actually a cover of another song), but Alison Goldfrapp does some magic with her voice and voilá… although, I suppose the reduction of those scary keyboard sounds that Klaxons have overused on their album(s) might also be a reason.

The Gossip – Are You That Somebody (Aaliyah Cover)
A tribute post-mortem is not always the best option to go, especially when you’re a lesbian indie-rock band attempting to cover one of the greatest R’n'B songs created to this day. But what can I say? It’s a good cover, it’s not too much, not too strong, goes with the flow and gives it a different, yet subtle new touch. I approve.

Cat Power – Wonderwall (Oasis Cover)
I won’t dare comparing anyone to the genius of Oasis (well- Oasis from “back then”, anyway). This song is untouchable. I’m a huge skeptic when it comes to Cat Power, which adds to my opinion about this cover. Yet I wouldn’t mention it if it wasn’t something great, good enough at least. Cat Powers songs might sound almost the same, but sometimes I find a pick like this and remember why everybody loves her so much. She makes me want to die inside, a little bit.

Klaxons – No Diggity (Blackstreet Cover)
What is it with the hip hop covers, again? Now that Klaxons have been done, they’re probably taking on that cover-level, too. I don’t know how old this cover is, but it’s a good change to the even older (but still good!) and classic Blackstreet track (I’m ashamed to say it’s also the only one I know or remember). They really hit it on the second verse!

Katy Perry – Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)
There she is again, our beloved Katy Perry. Seriously, I love her. She rocks at covering music, I’ve mentioned that in my post from a week back- “Hooked on Katy Perry“. She kind of jumped on the acoustic-cover-of-hyped-bands bandwagon, but I don’t mind as long as she stays fresh.

The Kooks – Crazy (Gnarks Barkley Cover)
Oh damn, that one’s seriously old. I know I heard it first before I heard the actual Gnarls Barkley, which then became crazy famous. I still prefer this cover over the pop-track with the terrible video. It’s also pretty much the only song by the Kooks that I like (except for Naive, also one of the greatest tracks I’ve ever heard).

Hot Chip – Wearing My Rolex (Wiley Cover)
Not an acoustic cover, I know, I cheated. But I suppose it’s unplugged so that makes it fair again. Also, I can’t think of another theme that I would put this one in, I saw this fit. There you go.

Radiohead - Greatest Band Alive

Milow – Ayo Technology (50 Cent & Justin Timberlake Cover)
This one’s relatively new and going through German radio station’s like swine flu through Mexico. This one, you don’t listen to the lyrics very much, because if you would, it wouldn’t sound so grown up anymore. I have never heard a mommy-track like that. It’s for grandmothers, seriously! … I dig it.

Katy Perry – Black & Gold (Sam Sparro Cover)
… and there she is again! Black & Gold, a very intruiging (what the fuck I won’t even try to spell that) song, can’t be beat in it’s original version, but give this one a shot for more KP love.

John Mayer – Kid A (Radiohead Cover)
Alright, so this one’s a no brainer. Again, I have no clue how long it’s been cruising the interwebs, but I’ve had it in my music library for a really, really long time already. I’m a day one Radiohead fan. I even bought their give-away album, that’s how much I love them. On the other hand, I hate John Mayer. Come on- Your Body Is A Wonderland? I’m this close to calling Nickelback better than that! … though, on another thought, forget that. Anyway. Kid A. Great song. Guess what? It’s even better now.

A honorable mention is reserved for Jay Brannan, who covered “Straight Outta Compton” from NWA. What a daredevil! I couldn’t find the mp3 to it, so here’s the video. Be cautious though, he didn’t censor the swearing.

If you have any more good covers to suggest, don’t hesitate dropping a line!

Cave Singers

I’ll be quick and honest with you: I know crap about Cave Singers. I do know that they remind me of that Fleet Foxes stuff that’s being hyped so much. I don’t like the folksy music thing, really. It reminds me too much of young people who pretend to be old and a last leftover of the hippy regime.

Anyway, Cave Singers have produced a song of such a beautiful magnitude, it makes me want to curl up and die because I can’t be in that place, in that glorious beach house, in that life they’re singing of.

And with that said, download.

Cave Singers – Beach House (from Stereogum)