If I Were A Tree

So, I’ve been on quite the roll regarding posts lately and I figured I’d just continue the roll with another fantastic topic. This one I discovered through iTunes Free Song of the Week last week when the Forest City Lovers song If I Were a Tree was featured. At first I was a little skeptical but after the first second of the happy cheery lyrics, poppy beats and sing-along choruses I knew it was love. And my love has continued through into two new songs Phodilus & Tyto, and Light You Up. Of course the whole CD Carriage is fantastic.

They have this incredible happy, poppy feel. But it doesn’t feel like too much happiness, because we all know too much happiness can begin to feel a little fake. On iTunes their classified as alternative which I wouldn’t say is very correct. But on Last.fm their classified as Indie Pop and Folk which seems much more accurate. although I sometimes find it hard to put music into genres. It is what it is (wow that was deep). I don’t even know how classify my taste in music, any ideas?

But back to the music. I’m going to post the video for If I Were A Tree. It happens to be just as sweet and happy as the song. So sit back relax and for a few minutes imagine yourself as a tree. What kind of tree would you be (I would want to be a willow). Imagine the animals that would make a home in your tree (Chicadee’s for me, their my favourite bird). And lastly imagine where your tree would be (I think my tree would be on the land of our old house).

Did you imagine your whole life as a tree? Or were you too busy listening to the fantastic song and watching the fabulous video? I would understand if it was because of the later because I was in the same boat. There’s just something I really love about the song that I can’t quite put my finger on. Maybe ’cause it’s just so darn cute. Or maybe ’cause it puts me in the Fall mood. For now though I’m out until next time (if you’re really lucky next time will be tomorrow but I doubt it because I have a dentist appointment and that always really depresses me). So, until next time have a wonderful afternoon and fantabulous night!

Eyes Full Of Horse Feathers

It’s Wednesday. Half way through my Hillside week and I have the perfect half-way through band. This is a band that like The Wooden Sky I knew I liked going in but left loving. They blew me away with the beautiful melodies and haunting voices. Horse Feathers combines a whole bunch of techniques to create a really beautiful sound. Some of these including cello, violin and Justin Ringles impossibly hauting and lovely voice. All three of these pieces not to mention the rest of the band are what make Horse Feathers a great live show and a great recording.

But a difficulty arose when I consulted the Hillside schedule to see who was playing and when. The insane schedulers of the Hillside scheduling department put Zeus and Horse Feathers on at the same time Sunday afternoon at 2:00. Now I don’t who did that, but I know I was mad about it. I just couldn’t decide who I would go see. In the end I decided Zeus (even though I’d already seen them twice, this was based purely on weather because Horse Feathers was on the main stage and that can be little risky). But than Sunday came around and it was a gorgeous day and I was back at base one. So I thought go see a few songs of Zeus (just to say I’d been there and than head off to the main stage for Horse Feathers). Well that was the perfect solution. I saw my favourtie Zeus song Kindergarten done, and than a whole lotta’ Horse Feathers.

That afternoon was gloriously sunny with a slight breeze so I sat on my mat and watched Horse Feathers lemonade in one hand, dumplings in the other (if you hadn’t already noticed this festival is mainly about food and the food you’re eating at certain performances, it’s quite an art to plan the perfect meal for the perfect show). People dozed around me sleepily swaying to the music and clapping along. Of course I was completely present for the whole show (no dozing here).

I was completely awed by the band and the music which made me wonder, how to do so many great bands come out of Portland, Oregon and why don’t I live there? I mean what’s so great about Portland, the Pacific ocean air must really get to all the people. Transforming them from fishermen (and women) to budding musicians creating soft indie, folk, country music. That’s certainly what Horse Feathers creates. At first I pinned them as a “country” band and than realized no, their far from that. More a folky, country band. Song titles like Curs In The Weeds don’t really help them from not being named a country band though.

So, if you’re looking for a Horse Feathers introduction I’d try checking out Eyes Full Of Rose and Curs In The Weeds first. And then just dive right in and download a CD. I’m really loving House With No Home right now but be sure to checkout their others to (oh and if you know where I can find a vinyl copy of it let me know, I missed them at the merch tent and couldn’t get it ).

For now though, check out the video for Curs In The Weeds. It’s a simple video and simply lovely song.

So enjoy the rest of your rainy Wednesday and check out more Horse Feathers, but for now have a goodnight until next time.

It’s Called Summer

Okay, so I thought today was a good day (or night) for my new favourite musicians. Kinda like my summer music list. I’m going list my favourite song by each band but be sure to check out all the songs of each one.

1. Juliette – Hollerado (this indie boy band to the max, but perfect for the pool)

2. Bulletproof – La Roux (not my usual, a little to electronic and well…female, but for some reason I really like it)

3. Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons (one of my favourite bands of the year, check ‘em out)

4. Kindergarten – Zeus (another one of my new favourite bands, also invited to the Sensitive Bearded Boys Festival “SBBF”, ‘course theirs are a little more hipper than say Bon Iver or Iron and Wine)

5. Babies Don’t Like Blue Anymore – Yukon Blonde (wasn’t sure about the band or song but it’s really growing on me)

6. Caught In The Crowd – Kate Miller-Heidke (for some reason I’m really loving this right now, kinda quirky, but super good. She’s classically trained as an opera singer, so it’s really interesting. This song is a bit of an eye-opener and a little cheesy, but I’m always up for a little cheese)

7. Your Island – Young Rival

8. This Feeling – Danny Michel (you must check out his newest CD Sunset Sea, it’s fantastic, I’ve had it on non-stop for weeks. Has a very Caribean feeling, yet still very Danny)

9. Golden Age – Jay Jay Pistolet (this guy is very quirky, but quite fantastic)

10. MIA – Emmy The Great (she’s really interesting, love her lyrics, especially in this song, although it’s actually very sad)

11. Bright Future – Bowerbirds

12. Airplanes – Local Natives (this is yet another really fantastic indie rock band, it’s also a really lovely song)

13. Dreamer – Jenn Grant (upbeat and happy, kinda reminds me of Sarah Harmer)

14. Captive – Sarah Harmer (this is from her new CD Oh Little Fire. I Think this song sounds a lot like Ingrid Michaelson’s The Way I Am. The whole CD’s really good in a happy go-lucky, Sarah Harmer way)

15. Not Your Parent’s Music – Hawksley Workman (I’m kinda bummed this is the music that’s making Hawksley popular it’s pretty generic and if it wasn’t him I’d think it was great, but if you’re lookin’ for some good ol’ Hawksley Workman, check out his older stuff)

16. Without A Doubt -Isbells (I’m not even going to say it, I think it’s pretty obvious what it is)

17. Floating In The Forth – Frightened Rabbit (indie boy band, but with a scottish twist, even better. For some reason this song just really gets me and I can’t help but love it)

18. Leftovers – Johnny Flynn (everyone’s favourite British boy)

19. John Had a Bell and a Whistle – Sunparlour Players (a very strange song, a little like Rock Plaza Central)

20. Crooked Legs – The Acorn (taking place as one of my new favourite bands, you have to check them out, you won’t be disappointed)

I just want to clarify, these bands aren’t all knew to me, some of it is just new music and some of them really are new to me this year.

So I have a video I’ve been wanting to share forever. This is video for The Acorns song Crooked Legs. I think it’s a great video and really clever.

I like the editing of this video, and of course the song. I just think it’s super clever, and although it doesn’t quite make sense with the song, some how it works. I like video’s that are a little more abstract, and this one certainly is that.

I and Love and You

Wednesday. Hump day. Not the beginning of the week and not the end. In my opinion Wednesday is a good day. And a good day calls for good music, so here it is. Considering my marathon post yesterday, I’m going to quiet it down tonight. Just a little Avett Brothers and than a little (or a lot) of bed.

The Avett Brothers. A pretty awesome band if you ask me. A little country, a little alt-country, a whole ‘lotta bluegrass, and just a pinch of folk, not to mention a large portion of talent. All of that combined gives you The Avett Brothers, consisting of well the brothers Scott and Seth, oh and some other people too. I can’t say I’ve listened to a ton of their music, but what I’ve listened to hasn’t disappointed, actually its had quite the opposite effect. At first I only knew their song Kick Drum Heart and what a good song it is, with its fantastic shouting and of course the kick drum, but a few days ago (during a thunderstorm of course) I was introduced to a new Avett Brothers song called I and Love and You, the title song of their latest CD. It’s a fantastic song (especially for a thunderstorm). At first I wasn’t crazy about it, but after quite a few listens it really grew on me. It went from whiny alt-country crap, to a really awesome and fun song (still with some alt-country minus the crap). I’m not sure whether Brooklyn is a person or the place, but either way its good.Imagine whatever you want with it, its good music for that.

To me The Avett Brothers is what would come out of the meeting of The Burning Hell and Rock Plaza Central. They’ve got a little bit of The Burning Hells crazy rhythm and beats and Rock Plaza Centrals vocals. Of course they’ve also got themselves to, which is a pretty good thing to have.

Below is the video for I and Love and You. Words cannot explain how much I love this song right now. Listen to it now, and than again and again. If you don’t get it the first few times keep trying I promise you at some point you will see the light, and hopefully a pretty freaking awesome song.

I wasn’t sure about this video at first but it’s really growing on me. There’s nothing much to it, but maybe that’s a good thing. I especially love the singing crowds at the end, apparently their audience is pretty passionate about their music to. I love that. Anyways enjoy the video and their song, and check out more. I’m slowly listening to more and really liking it as well. Especially check out Kick Drum Heart, but for now goodnight, and farewell until next time.

Him & Me

It’s rainy, somewhat cool, I’m almost done school, I’m feeling good and I have the perfect music topic for today. It feels like a very M. Ward kinda day, dontcha’ think? I do, so here it is eyetunes, my take on M. Ward.

M. Ward for me is another one of those guys that my dad loved and repeatedly listened to (so much that listening to again, I still know most of the words) and of course I did to, but it took quite a few years for me to really get and appreciate M. Ward. When my dad first discovered M. Ward he had his CD Post-War, which was pretty much our anthem for the year of 2006 and than M. Ward for us anyways, kind of fell off a cliff and nothing much happened. He released one EP and that was. But than came along Zooey Deschanel. Their collaboration CD She & Him was awesome in a total country twang with a twist of Indie kind of way. Now in 2009 he relased another CD called Hold Time which I am seriously loving. It has the same jangly guitar and M. Ward’s insanly lovely voice, but it also has another twist that I’m having trouble explaining but that I think kind of sets it apart from his other CD’s. But even with all these twists, I will forever and always be a fan of Post-War, with it’s wacky songs and old men (and he really does talk about old men, of course that’s fine by me). Of course Requiem, Chinese Translation, Poison Cup and my all-time favourite Rollercoaster are just a few greats from Post-War, ’cause there really isn’t a bad one. He may actaully be one of the greatest song-writers, I mean you kind of get distracted by that lovely voice, but his songs are really awesome to. Listen, and I mean really listen to some of his lyrics, they will deffiently make you wonder what M. Ward was doing well he was writing Post-War (and I mean that in the best possible way) and why he hasn’t been noticed more for his song writing.

Of course on his new CD Hold Time there are also some great songs like, Shangri-La, Jailbird, and Stars of Leo that are for sure worth checking out, and of course if you haven’t already check out She & Him, although it may not be for everyone, well it’s deffinetly for some people.

So, I was going to show you the video for Rollercoaster, but that literally is really all it is, so I thought I’d go for Requiem instead, and of course it has old men, so what could be better, right? Please still go check out Rollercoaster and all his other stuff, and just let your day roll right on with M. Ward.

P.S. So I have another band question. Why does it seem all the awesome American bands these days and past days seem to come from Portland, Oregon? I mean what’s so great about Oregon, and why don’t I live there? That may be next move, or my first move.

Hey Music!

Music, Music, Music. I love it, I love it, I love it. That could be all I said today but I’ve decided that you fellow music lovers (I hope) deserve more. So, scheduled today I have Hey Rosetta! Yes, Hey Rosetta! I would really like it if you told me you already knew them because that would mean you have fantastic music taste but if not don’t worry, be happy (I always hated that song) because I have you covered. So enjoy and learn (well don’t learn because learning sucks, but embrace!)

So I guess I first discovered Hey Rosetta! last year, but it wasn’t until Hillside (yes Hillside, I know you’re going to be so sick of it soon) that I really got into it. Their live show was great, so great in fact I decided to go and buy a CD of theirs. Well in the merch tent and looking at two possibilities a guy approached me telling me to go for Into Your Lungs (And Around in Your Heart and on Through Your Blood). That was the greatest advice EVER. Although their other CD Plan Your Escape is good too well Into Your Lungs is fantastic. The guys reasoning was, one: Into Your Lungs has much better sound quality and two: the songs on Into Your Lungs are much more listenable, and three: Hawksley did a fantastic job producing it. I couldn’t agree more with all of them. I’ll give the same advice to you.

My mom and I have been listening to them non-stop ever since. Of all the songs on that CD, New Goodbye, Red Heart, and I’ve Been Asleep For A Long, Long Time are my favourites although the end of New Goodbye is rather startling, it’s just a whole bunch of oh so musical static. But my very favourite song is Old Crow Black Night Stand Still from CBC Radio 2′s Great Canadian Song Hunt. Actually that whole CD is fantastic. I especially recommend Hawksley’s, Deep Dark Woods and of course Hey Rosetta’s! But back to Hey Rosetta! Their song they did for Gros Morne is superb. I was really happy when they won, to do the song. Of course I voted for them every single day. But really that song is magic, it’s really pretty. And if you’ve ever been to Gros Morne (which I have because my uncle lives right in the heart of it, which is breath taking) you’ll appreciate the song even more. Good ol’ Newfoundland bands, they really are good.

Below is the video for Red Heart, but I highly, highly recommend you check out the rest of it, especially Old Crow Black Night Stand Still (Hey Rosetta! apparently really likes long names). It is truly amazing. Enjoy the video, it’s pretty simple. People singing, dancing, some nature thrown in there, what could be better.

Trust me I don’t just like them because Hawksley produced them (although that was the initial attraction), I like them for more than that now.

P.S. I can’t watch the video for technical reasons, so I’m hoping it’s the right one, but if not I’ll fix it tomorrow don’t be alarmed.

Thao We Go

Okay, it’s been a couple days since I last wrote, but it’s been a couple of hectic days. School’s done in about a month and a half and the teachers are starting to panic by piling on a whole bunch of work. My biggest project right now though is a essay that’s giving me serious writers block (which often doesn’t happen to me). So all day I’ve been trying to write this essay, but I’m totally blocked. I thought maybe writing a post (where I never get blocks, as you may know) might make my writer juices start flowing again and a A+ essay will just appear. As you can tell alot of pressure resides on this post, helping me get my writing juices (I think they’re mango juice) back. To do that I thought Thao may be good for that. I have no idea why, but it better help. So on this blustery, sunny May day (not August which is what it feels like) I’m going to talk to you about Thao.

Okay, so Thao, another discovery of my dad’s and another great one. I guess it was about 3 years ago (does that sound right?). It was definitely a summer discovery, because it always makes me think of summer, (which may be why I chose it…) sun, swimming and watermelon (no idea why watermelon, maybe I’m craving it?). Anyways, Thao’s great, she has two CD’s out but my favourite is We Brave Bee Stings and All. It features awesome tracks like Violet and We Go, two of my favourites. Her other CD is Know Better Learn Faster, which I can’t say I know as well, but I just checked it out and it to sounds pretty good. I think her first CD has more of an indie, guitar, singer/songwriter thing going on with a little pop thrown into the mix (and maybe even some country?) whereas the other one is more just poppy. It has the same “thing” to it, although I’m not sure what that “thing” is. I can’t really pinpont her music genre, iTunes calls her pop/rock, but I don’t think that’s right either. She definitely has acool vibe going, kind of like Cat Power maybe? Well, no matter what she sounds like she’s great. She has an awesome texture (as you can tell I don’t really know my music lingo, but I try) to her voice, or something. I just find it really fun to listen to all her songs and actually listen to the lyrics as well as her voice. If you checked her out and like it well, one, you obviously have good music taste, but two, check her out with Justin Powers in the Portland Cello Project, it’s pretty awesome. Tallymarks is one of my favourite songs on that CD but they’re all pretty good.

Below is Thao singing Violet. I always like actually seeing the artist singing the song because it gives you more of an inside on what the person is like. In this video I think she seems pretty cool. I’d definitely be her friend, like that would ever happen but still, I’m keeping an open mind like my bube always tells me to do (bube is jewish for grandma if you didn’t already know and not pronounced boobie, trust me it happens more than you’d think). So check her out, she’s awesome.

P.S. check out her radio on Last.fm it’s awesome.

P.P.S. she has really cool boots, that I just noticed (now I really want to be her friend).

It’s Exciting In The Matinee

It’s Wednesday, just a typical Wednesday. Not much exciting happened today except for a kid’s nose bleeding in the hall and that was more gross than exciting, so no, nothing thrilling happened today. In order to break this boring spell, I’m going to write an exciting post, or at least try to. I feel I’ve been in this rather depressed mood actually and have only blogged (what a funny word) about sad things. I apologize sincerely and am now breaking out of that funk (for today at least). I’m actually not sure what to talk about so I’m going to keep writing and some random thing will pop up. Okay, here I am writing, just writing, no pressure to write an exciting blog post or anything.

Okay, it came to me: today I am going to write about Franz Ferdinand (and no not the murdered  archduke, but the awesome band Franz Ferdinand). I mean they’re  exciting and they’re different and, well, perfect. I first heard Franz Ferdinand when I was about 11 or 12 I guess. My dad had just bought their first CD self titled Franz Ferdinand. That whole winter all my mom and I heard was Franz Ferdinand and The Libertines (they’re so awesome too, pity they broke up) over and over again. When I was younger I didn’t appreciate all their greatness. It actually wasn’t until I broke out of my bad music period that I really started to appreciate them. These days, I definitely appreciate them and all their greatness.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Great Britain (especially Scotland) is the only place that can produce gangly, awkward and very talented indie, punk bands which led me to yet another conclusion and that is, I must travel to Scotland so I can meet my perfect gangly band love and move to Scotland to be with them. That would be perfection.

Anyways, forgetting about my little daydream and back onto subject. Franz Ferdinand is a very solid band. They’ve produced many a good CD, that has all good songs, so I can actually listen to the whole CD. I’ve noticed this trend lately where newer bands, their CD’s aren’t fully listenable. I mean they have good songs, but usually only a few good ones but not Franz Ferdinand. They only have good songs although of all their songs, No You Girls and The Dark of the Matinee have to be my favourites. Each song has really clever lyrics, a good beat, and Alex Kaprano’s lovely voice.

Lately they’ve been getting quite popular (but not so popular that I can’t listen to them any more). Sadly though, they’re touring in Europe right now. I really think they should come to Canada again. My dad and I missed seeing them about a year ago and that was a real bummer.

Anyways, enough with my music rant. I must go watch Pirate Radio now — hope my post livened up your day a bit. Below is a Franz Ferdinand video. This is probably my favourite song by them. The video is pretty cool too, more awkward dancing (I think I may have to make a list of awkward dancing bands). The whole band looks pretty cool, all very Scottish looking (tall, pale, and gangly). Enjoy your (now) exciting day.

P.S. you may have noticed my blog layout changed slightly (or not). I was playing around with other layouts and all my widgets got lost in the process. I’m slowly trying to gain them back although my category cloud is looking a little sad. Just wanted to let you (whoever YOU is) that I’m aware of the problem. Oh, and don’t be alarmed if the layout changes soon.

And She Was…Getting A Record Player

Today marked a monumental moment in my music life. Today I got and set up my very first record player. I got it and with it came some of my dads record collection. It was my 16th birthday present and probably one of my favourites. Not only is it a record player but it also transfers records to MP3 format. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to have a life for a very long time I’ll be so busy with it. Sadly though my friends didn’t quite appreciate it the same way I did. Not that I really expected much but one of my friends didn’t know any of the bands except for the Beatles. Another didn’t really no what a record player was.

Anyways, today is not the day to rant about my friends lack of music knowledge and taste. Today is completely reserved for my turntable. I love it so much, it’s shiny and pretty and still has that new electronic smell. My dad had to show me how to work it. I’m way too advanced in my music technology. I can burn CD’s, download music, make playlists, work my iPod but not turn on a record player but my grandmother can. Technologies a weird thing. Once again, anyways, I got some pretty awesome records to start off my collection with. The ones that really stand out are the Tom Waits (2), U2′s Joshua Tree, Talking Heads and the Beatles. Other somewhat staples are Dr. Demento who I have multiple records of (lucky me) and German Drinking Songs (which I may just use for decoration). Frankie Yankovic was one of my first records to play but of course my first record EVER was Dr. Seuss’ Fox in Sox and Green Eggs and Ham. Both classics and totally perfect for me as my first record.

I figured that I’d make my video today the Talking Heads just because their great! Someday I’ll do a post on them (how many times have I said that?) but for now enjoy the song. This is my favourite Talking Heads song.

Who Stole The Keeshka?

Today I was going through my grandma’s old records to pick a few for my collection and came across many good ones. The very best though was Frankie Yankovic & His Yanks record Who Stole the Keeshka? The cover features this rather chubby butcher standing in front of all these sausages, maybe trying to protect them. It looks like a cross of a newspaper article and a picture from a Shel Silverstein book. My mom and I couldn’t stop laughing it was so funny. I’ll have to go home and ask my bube what a keeshka is, although I’m thinking it’s some type of Polish blood sausage. She will know though, I’m sure her family ate keeshkas.

I just felt it was very necessary to share this with you. It’s a very good polka as well, although I recommend listening to the lyrics many times to see who really did steal the Keeshka.