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Walter Meego's Forever

2008-07-17T11:59:00.002-05:00

as seen on the Heineken commercial

Daydreamer

2008-07-10T00:20:00.004-05:00

I haven't been able to post anything of lengthy substance yet, but Adele's Daydreamer came up on my player today and commanded me to slow down and chill a little. So have a listen and fall in love with Adele.

Background story: it's been reported that "Daydreamer" was inspired by Adele's bisexual ex-boyfriend. Adele stated she didn't have a problem with him being bi. She realized that he couldn't be what she needed him to be and going further to say she couldn't fight off both boys AND girls. She gets jealous enough already. I love this girl.

The Sweet Serenades

2008-05-29T15:58:00.011-05:00

At first listen of the Sweet Serenades's First Taste EP (2007) you might be a little confused, thinking you didn't put the Arcade Fire or the Counting Crows in. No, you didn't. The music of the Sweet Serenades is a mesh of energetic sound and gutsy lyrics reminiscent of Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Although not as strong as glockenspiel rockers The Boy Least Likely To (new album hopefully coming this summer), the glockenspiel in "I Can Never Die" signals catchy lyrics that leave you feeling empowered and ballsy. You should definitely check out "Coming Closer", too.

Considering the recent onslaught of what I call "the Swedish Invasion" of really good indie music (led by Jens Lekman, El Perro del Mar, The Perishers and most recently Lykke Li), the Sweet Serenades are on their way to becoming the next Swedes to rock your ears. Their debut album should be released on Leon Records in September 2008. In the meantime check out these songs and buy their First Taste EP.

MP3
01 I Can Never Die from First Taste EP (iTunes, CDBaby)
02 First Taste of Trouble from First Taste EP (iTunes, CDBaby)
03 Coming Closer from First Taste EP (iTunes, CDBaby)

Sites
Official site
Add them on myspace!

Bleakviews

2008-05-16T11:24:00.005-05:00

I had a horrible night last night. In the middle of a promising month and positively dramatic shift in life, I had to say goodbye to a friend.

So I woke up this morning and came in late for work with my chest cavity feeling like it was harboring a hot air balloon. And even more so like my entire endocrine system was hanging out. In other words, I felt/feel terrible.

So I was in search of something beautiful and billowy instrumentally and found some selections from last night's Grey's Anatomy episode. They've been stroking my head for an hour now.

Things to remember...
Even though it may feel like it, it's not the end of the world.
Leave the past in the past and focus on what's in front of you.

MP3
01 The National About Today [zshare]
02 Bon Iver Flume [zshare]

Bonus tracks
01 Coldplay Violet Hill [zshare]
02 Natasha Bedingfield Pocketful of Sunshine [zshare]

An Intro to Lykke Li

2008-04-25T09:53:00.007-05:00

I just discovered this girl. And I'm afraid to listen to more of her because I love "Dance Dance Dance" so much, I don't want to break it. It's so sweet and it's got that 60s girl group feel to it. I've had DDD on repeat all morning. I heard her Rough Trade debut Youth Novels (produced by Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John) was pish, but I'll let you know for myself.

She recently did a few shows with El Perro del Mar, which is very very appropriate considering the cute, sweet voices her and Sarah Assbring have in common. Throw in some Victoria Bergsman/Taken by Trees and you've got a whole lotta yearning sweetness.

MP3
01 Lykke Li Dance Dance Dance [zshare]
02 El Perro del Mar Glory to the World [zshare]
03 Taken By Trees Sweet Child O' Mine GUNS N ROSES COVER [zshare]

I apologize for the inconsistent postage, but you can subscribe to my RSS feed and be alerted when I update Reflector. Thanks for reading.

lovemusic177's Touch My Body Suite

2008-04-16T10:05:00.004-05:00

Check this out. It's pretty brill.

JICUMI: Kathleen Edwards

2008-04-10T18:03:00.014-05:00

Just in Case You Missed... Kathleen Edwards on the Elizabethtown soundtrack or at Austin City Limits or being praised in Blender and Rollingstone, then here she is again. If you even remotely appreciate the subject matter of Ryan Adams albums and like harsh, brooding female voices, then you'll love Kathleen Edwards.

Being a country boy and living in the city I miss the simple life of living out in the wide open spaces. The KE's tunes put me there. I really can't even compare her to anyone else, but she definitely broadens the alt-country genre. If it helps any, she was a backup singer for John Doe, former member of the punk band X. You can definitely here a kind of rock grit in her voice along with a bit of twang. I can't wait for a Ryan Adams/Kathleen Edwards duet. Here are a few selections from her first two LPs, the debut Failer (2003), which wasn't a failure at all); and Back to Me (2005), which she co-wrote with and was produced by her husband Colin Cripps.

Failer, 2003
01 Six O' Clock News [zshare]
02 The Lone Wolf [zshare]
03 National Steel [zshare]

Back to Me, 2005
01 In State [zshare]
02 Back to Me [zshare]
03 Summerlong [zshare]

Her newest album, Asking for Flowers (2008) is in stores now. Visit kathleenedwards.com for current tour dates and other release dates.

Official site
MySpace

Grey's Anatomy Mix [Part 2]

2008-04-08T02:22:00.006-05:00

I know, I know. Finally, part 2.

A lot of these songs recall a very dreary point where I could see nothing but dark clouds and rain everyday for months on end. Most of the songs on Grey's Anatomy Mix I & II are "mellow" (a hated word, but I'll save that rant for another entry), but they're really good and reflective. Thinking everything through and putting all into perspective is what helped me get through my dark moments. Without these songs and the show itself I probably wouldn't have come to certain conclusions as thoroughly as I would have without them. I earmarked (*) the ones you have to check out.

It's funny. I used to listen to Butterfly Boucher's "Never Leave Your Heart Alone" and think the song was saying "Never leave your heart unattended otherwise someone will come and do harm to it." But I just listened to it and realized that it was saying the opposite: "Don't shield it because then no one will ever get in."

Most of these songs were featured on episodes from Grey's Anatomy circa Seasons 1 and 2. Other songs are "inspired by" the TV series by extension. So here's part 2:

Grey's Anatomy Mix II (Journey 82)
01 Tegan and Sara Fix You Up [zshare]
02 Emiliana Torrini Sunny Road [zshare]
03 The Radio Whatever Gets You Through Today * (myspace, official site (with free mp3s))
04 Keren Ann Not Going Anywhere [zshare] *
05 The Coral Sea Look At Her Face [zshare]
06 Emiliana Torrini Today Has Been OK [zshare] *
07 Kate Havnevik Nowhere Warm [zshare]
08 Brandi Carlile Tragedy (Austin Cello Version) [zshare]
09 Yeah Yeah Yeahs Gold Lion [zshare]
10 Róisín Murphy Ramalama (Bang Bang) [zshare]
11 Regina Spektor On The Radio
12 Emiliana Torrini Serenade [zshare]
13 Tricky Christiansands [zshare]
14 Snow Patrol Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking [zshare]
15 Pete Droge Under the Waves [zshare]
16 Joshua Radin Winter [zshare]
17 Iron and Wine Naked As We Came [zshare]
18 Tegan and Sara Walking With a Ghost [zshare] *
19 Róisín Murphy Night of the Dancing Flame [zshare]
20 The stiX; Corinne Bailey Rae Young & Foolish
21 Snow Patrol Chasing Cars [zshare]
** Butterfly Boucher Never Leave Your Heart Alone [zshare] *

* These songs are lifesavers.
"Journey" is an old series of mixes I used to do.

Grey's Anatomy Mix [Part 1]

2008-03-31T01:31:00.006-05:00

For the past few months, I've been going through my hard drive and clearing out old files. Why? Because my free space is sittin' on 1GB aka empty. The main reason why there's so little is the accumulation of files over six (6) years. And yes, before you ask, I have a lot of music on my computer. Unfortunately, my old music has to make way for the new music. There are countless, expensive remedies to spare me the heartbreak of having to delete said music, but I'm sure you know how that goes. ANYWAY.

So, today I came upon my Grey's Anatomy Mixes. And this particular deletion is going to hurt big time, since these mp3s helped me through a pretty ugly, rough and tumble period of my life. I figured if I posted them here, then maybe it will help saying goodbye to them. You know, by passing them on, maybe someone will listen and love them as I have; I'm paying it forward.

Most of these songs were featured on episodes from Grey's Anatomy circa Seasons 1 and 2. Other songs are "inspired by" the TV series by extension. So here's part 1:

Grey's Anatomy Mix I (Journey 81)
01 Martina Topley-Bird I Only Have Eyes For You [zshare]
02 BC Camplight Blood and Peanut Butter [zshare]
03 Joshua Radin Closer [zshare]
04 Brandi Carlile Tragedy
05 Róisín Murphy Prelude to Love in the Making [zshare]
06 Róisín Murphy Love in the Making [zshare]
07 Kate Havnevik Grace
08 Moonbabies War on Sound
09 Róisín Murphy Ruby Blue
10 Carmen Rizzo; Kate Havnevik Travel in Time [zshare]
11 Brandi Carlile What Can I Say
12 Phoenix Run Run Run [zshare]
13 Kate Havnevik Unlike Me (A Capella) [zshare]
14 Gomez How We Operate
15 Kate Havnevik Unlike Me [zshare]
16 Joshua Radin The Fear You Won't Fall [zshare]
17 Goldfrapp Beautiful [zshare]
18 KT Tunstall Black Horse and the Cherry Tree (live) [zshare]
19 The Fray How to Save a Life
BT Esthero Everyday is a Holiday (With You) [zshare]

"Journey" is an old series of mixes I used to do.

Little Possibilities

2008-03-10T16:53:00.005-05:00

I want to have kids and continue being one. ¿Es posible? I think so.

MP3
01 MGMT Time to Pretend from Oracular Spectacular
02 MGMT Kids from Oracular Spectacular
03 Vampire Weekend The Kids Don't Stand A Chance from Vampire Weekend
04 Sigur Rós Hoppípolla from Takk...
05 We Are Scientists Hoppípolla (Acoustic)
06 Vampire Weekend Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Black Dominoes Remix) by DJ Kellen John Kid Danger

Tempoduro EP: Music for Hard Times (repost)

2008-03-10T08:30:00.017-05:00

As you may or may not know, I'm a loser and I make mixed "tapes". These mixes usually reflect a situation or feeling I got going on. It's an extension of my artist's expression — humor me.

This is not the same as the Tempoduro Mix. This is actually the EP that preceded it. It's about being stuck in the muck and not being able to get out of it. Essentially, it's music for hard times.

Tempoduro EP

01 Patrick Watson The Great Escape
02 Patti Scialfa Stumbling to Bethlehem
03 Luke Temple Make Right With You
04 Martha Wainwright Far Away
05 John Mayer Gravity
06 Toots and the Maytals Time Tough
07 Ron Sexsmith with Chris Martin Gold in them Hills (Remix) [online only]
08 Emiliana Torrini Today Has Been OK
09 Joni Mitchell Both Sides Now (original version)
10 John Mayer The Heart of Life
** Jill Scott Golden (Kenny Dope Remix)

I must say that these are intended as samples of the artists. If you like 'em, buy 'em. If you are the artist and wish these to be removed, contact me and I will with no problem.

Camera Obscura B-Sides

2008-03-08T21:18:00.005-06:00

I don't know how I got into Glasgow band, Camera Obscura. Actually, there was a considerable amount of buzz about them one or two years ago. So I downloaded a couple of songs from Let's Get Out of This Country and then the whole album. Next thing I know "If Looks Could Kill" is being featured on Grey's Anatomy. And then I'm tracking down every b-side and EP I can. I don't really care for them too much (I kid), but there's something about them that's appealing. Simple melodies, Tracyanne Campbell's achy voice... I don't know. But here are some b-sides from a few of their singles. Definitely check out "Alaska".

MP3
01 I Love My Jean from I Love My Jean
02 Marathon Not a Sprint from I Love My Jean
03 Alaska from If Looks Could Kill
04 San Francisco Song from Old Enough 2 Know Better - 15 Years Of Merge Records

Tempoduro Mix (Promo Edition)

2008-03-06T01:11:00.006-06:00

I made this playlist for a certain someone who has been having a crummy time; it deals with the roughness of life. It starts out with a wish to be elsewhere and delves into explaining the trouble that has occurred and ends with seeing the bright side of things. It's very dark. And I have several themes going. Sufjan Stevens' "Romulus" is so heartbreaking and I like how it fits well with "Boy With a Coin" (Iron & Wine). That's my favorite part of the mix so make sure you play them back to back (not Back to Black (but play that, too)). The version I'm posting is the online "lite" version with just a select few songs. Maybe one day I'll post the whole thing but this is good enough for now.

01 Phoenix If I Ever Feel Better
02 Amy Winehouse Back to Black
03 Jamie Lidell Multiply
04 Sufjan Stevens Romulus
05 Iron & Wine Boy With A Coin
06 Jim Noir The Key of C
07 Laura Veirs Saltbreakers
08 Ray LaMontagne All the Wild Horses
09 Amy Winehouse Back to Black (The Rumble Strips Remix)

~~Tempoduro Mix Promo Edition [zip (42.31MB)]~~

Duffy covers Hot Chip

2008-03-03T12:41:00.005-06:00

I have yet to truly discover Duffy, but I have witnessed the power of this awesome Hot Chip cover.

She was recently in the Radio 1 Live Lounge performing "Ready for the Floor", which oddly sounds really cool live. It is amazing, very stunning. This was my first time actually hearing her sing. There was a lot of editing in the lyrics of course, so much that I wouldn't even call this a cover actually. Words like "re-imagined" or "re-worked" are more appropriate. Anyway, Duffy's voice is cute yet powerful. Her vibrato is "off the chain". It nears being out of control, but she handles it well. The back-up vocals are pretty good. I actually wanted to hear more of him/them. Here's a sort of mash-up vid someone posted on youtube using clips from Hot Chip's video for "Ready for the Floor" and Duffy's video for "Rockferry".

Duffy Ready for the Floor (Radio 1 Live Lounge) (ysi)
Hot Chip Ready for the Floor from Made in the Dark (ysi)

Heartburn (Xico Remix)

2008-02-29T10:57:00.008-06:00

If having the smallest of conversations with someone makes your heart and belly burn a little, if you're approaching their exit on the interstate and notice you are, if that person sends you an instant message with a smiley face in it and you instantly remember their smile, if you're thinking about them and they call you magically at that moment, if you're thinking all these things and still don't know what it means...

then you need to listen to these songs.

01 Jens Lekman Your Arms Around Me from Night Falls Over Kortedala (ysi)
02 Sondre Lerche To Be Surprised from The Dan in Real Life Soundtrack (ysi)
03 DeVotchka How It Ends from The Little Miss Sunshine Original Soundtrack (ysi)
04 Ghostland Observatory Heavy Heart from Robotique Majestique (ysi)
05 Dr. Dog I Hope There's Love from We All Belong (ysi)

There are actually a few songs from the Enchanted soundtrack that I want to include, but I'll refrain. This is sappy enough.

Jon McLaughlin

2008-02-24T12:32:00.006-06:00

This guy was pretty talented even before he was featured in the Disney movie Enchanted and touring with Kelly Clarkson. I remember downloading a few of his songs from his self-titled independent LP and thinking, "Wow, this is really good. Why doesn't he have a record deal?" A couple of years later he was signed to Island Records and showing up in a movie and touring with an American Idol.

His music could be best described as poppy jazz, great voice (yes!), piano that balances between classically-trained and jazz-influenced. I have yet to listen to anything from his major label debut, Indiana. Definitely check him out if you haven't already.

He will be performing "So Close" from Enchanted tonight (Sunday, February 24) at the Kodak Theatre for the Academy Awards on ABC, 7pm central.

Blue Skies (ysi) from jon mclaughlin
Already In (ysi) from jon mclaughlin

Rare Hot Fuss-Era Killers Remixes

2008-02-23T22:41:00.003-06:00

I'm just cleaning my hard drive up a bit and figured I'd post these great remixes from The Killers I used to love. I miss the Hot Fuss. I haven't lost the album; it's in my CD wallet. But I played it to death when I bought it years ago. I thought I would feel the same about Sam's Town but no. It was very much the sophomore slump to me. But I hear they're supposed to be returning to their new wave sound on the next album, which will be great and may even push me to buy Sam's Town (I don't like gaps in my album collection). We shall see. In the meantime, enjoy these.

Mr. Brightside (The Lindbergh Palace Radio Remix) (ysi)
Smile Like You Mean It (Fischerspooner Remix) (ysi)
Somebody Told Me (Mylo Mix) (ysi)
Somebody Told Me (King Unique Vocal Mix) (ysi)

Monday Mix (02.18.08)

2008-02-18T10:16:00.005-06:00

I slipped in at 3 (or so) am and I am in full automatic mode. I don't know how I was able to walk to work. Or if I'm even going to be able to stay awake to do work, but these songs are working for me right now.

Monday Mix (02.18.08)
01 Stars Your Ex-Lover Is Dead (Final Fantasy Remix) from Do You Trust Your Friends? (ysi)
02 Hot Chip We're Looking For a Lot of Love from Made in the Dark (ysi)
03 Jens Lekman I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You (Spoolwork Remix) (see Spoolwork's myspace) (ysi)
04 Jens Lekman The Opposite of Hallelujah from Night Falls Over Kortedala (ysi)
05 Kanye West; DJ Premier Everything I Am from Graduation (ysi)
06 Iron & Wine Boy with a Coin from The Shepherd's Dog (ysi)
07 Jens Lekman I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You from Night Falls Over Kortedala (ysi)
08 Stars What I'm Trying to Say from Set Yourself on Fire (ysi)

Feist's 2008 US Dates

2008-02-08T10:41:00.000-06:00

Feist fans go to https://tixx1.artistarena.com/feist/ for the Ticket Pre-sale.

04/10 Detroit, MI Fillmore Detroit
04/11 Bloomington, IN Indiana University
04/12 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
04/14 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom
04/15 Austin, TX Stubb's: Outdoors
04/16 Dallas, TX The Palladium Ballroom — I GOT MY TICKETS
04/18 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
04/19 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt University Alumni Lawn
04/20 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
04/22 Athens, OH Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium
04/23 Cleveland, OH Palace Theatre
04/25 Northampton, MA Smith College
04/26 Charlottesville, VA Charlottesville Pavilion
04/27 Philadelphia, PA Academy of Music
04/29 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
04/30 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom

The Bravery Completes 'The Sun and the Moon'

2008-02-08T09:57:00.002-06:00

I got this info from the The Bravery newsletter. Mark your calendars for March 18th!

The Sun And The Moon Complete Available March 18^th
The Bravery's The Sun and The Moon Complete, a two disc set featuring The Sun (the original Brendan O'Brien Produced 12 songs) and The Moon (the same exact 12 songs, in the same order, but re-imagined and re-worked by the band) will be available in stores and on line March 18^th.

The Moon Singles Pre-Release On iTunes
Starting February 19^th, iTunes will pre-release a different song from The Moon every week building up to the March 18^th album release.

iTunes Release Schedule:
Feb 19 - "Believe" (Moon Version)
Feb 26 - "This Is Not The End" (Moon Version)
March 4 - "Bad Sun" (Moon Version)
March 11 - "The Ocean" (Moon Version)
March 18 - The Sun And The Moon Complete Album Release

Check out the Bravery on tour! I saw them in Dallas at the Granada and they were so great and so fun.

TOUR DATES
Fri Feb 8 - Baton Rouge, LA - Varsity Theatre
Sat Feb 9 - Atlanta, GA - Roxy
Tue Feb 12 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
Wed Feb 13 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
Thu Feb 14 - Cincinnati, OH - 20th Century Theatre
Fri Feb 15 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
Sat Feb 16 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom
Mon Feb 18 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club - SOLD OUT
Tue Feb 19 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
Thu Feb 21 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
Fri Feb 22 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore At TLA
Sat Feb 23 - Portland, ME - The Station - WCYY Radio Show
Thu Mar 13 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore

The Bravery Dallas/Granada Show

2008-02-07T16:07:00.000-06:00

Wed 6 Feb – The Bravery, Switches, Your Vegas, Electric Touch

The Bravery themselves were phenomenal. I am so glad I finally got to see them. I'll spare you the whole shpill about the show I was supposed to go to back in '05. But basically, had the tickets, friend forgot ID, therefore I didn't see the Bravery or Maxïmo Park perform. They played the new versions of some of their songs from The Sun and the Moon album that are supposed to be featured on "the Moon" disc of their new album coming out in March entitled The Sun and the Moon Complete. This new album acts as a bridge between their current sound and the electronic/new wave sound we first heard on their self-titled debut album.

Again, awesome show with a buttload of opening acts.

Opening Acts
Electric Touch — Really great stage theatrics, the sound was really good too.
Your Vegas — They were good too. Very short set due to the vocalist's cold.
Switches — The actual opening act was actually a let down; it seemed like they were thinking "we're on the bill so we're automatically good". They had a couple of songs I liked.

Setlist
01 Split Me Wide Open
02 No Brakes
03 Public Service Announcement
04 This Is Not The End
05 Tyrant
06 Believe [zshare]
07 The Dandy (Rock)
08 Time Won't Let Me Go
09 Every Word Is a Knife in My Ear
10 The Ocean
11 An Honest Mistake [zshare]
12 Swollen Summer

Encore
13 Fearless
14 Tragedy Bound
15 Unconditional

Intro

2008-01-25T01:29:00.000-06:00

Shouldn't I be sleeping or something?