Happy 3rd Birthday Dear Christian, I love you...
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| Christian Louboutin |
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Stuff I Loved in 2013; Penny Lane's Year in Review
And the winner of 2013 is...
The albums, singles and shows I picked are an overall representation of MY taste, what I have been listening to and what I chose to see in 2013. Your opinion matters to you, but certainly not to me.
I'm not sure why I settled on seven. Maybe because five wasn't enough and ten was too much...
Happy New Year and see you in the clean slate, 2014! {PL}
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Top Seven Albums of 2013
1. Diarrhea Planet - I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
~My guess is, if you follow me on Spotify, this is no surprise to you. I have streamed this album approximately 200 times. Not including plays thru iTunes. And I'm still trying to get my hands on the pink vinyl that seems to be impossible to find. I. LOVE. THIS. ALBUM. On the day of its release I went around my office telling anyone I thought would appreciate it, to listen and buy tickets to see any show wherever they could. Just pimping this band for no reason, other than I love this album, the guys and everything they stand for at this moment in time. Bring this back to a world where pop music has completely out shined rock music. Bring back the DIY ethos, that says a band can be successful without selling their soul to the devil. Be punks. Call yourself something so absurd that after awhile, your fans don't even notice how absurd the name is because of how good the music is. Be yourselves. Do what you want. And leave everyone in the fucking dust.
Tracks: Separation, Skeleton Head, Emmett's Vision
2. Ghost - Infestissumam
~The saying is you should never judge a book by its cover. This band is the living embodiment of that sentiment. Their appearance is terrifying. And rightfully so. They're Satan's helpers. Close your eyes for one minute and just listen. The music is equally as terrifying as their appearance, but there's something else there. Talent. Not just a gimmick. Actual talent. Lead singer Papa Emeritus, is perfect. A terrifying father figure with the voice of an angel. Not sure how Satan feels about that, but it makes me very happy.
Tracks: Secular Haze, Ghuleh/Zombie Queen, Body and Blood
3. Pearl Jam - Lightning Bolt
~It took me a minute to warm up to this album, but I did in a spectacular way. Seeing Pearl Jam live twice towards the end of the year didn't hurt either. I don't know what I could say about PJ that hasn't already been said, so I'll just say, they may be a little older, but they are still the same guys we all fell in love with 22 years ago.
Tracks: Getaway, My Father's Son, Swallowed Whole
4. James Blake - Overgrown
~Do you want to cry? Are you feeling blue? Or is it just raining? All good questions to ask when listening to this album. Very ethereal. Dreamy and space like. When James sings, you listen and you listen with intent. This album is spectacular. *Winner of the Mercury Prize 2013
Tracks: Overgrown, Retrograde, Our Love Comes Back
5. Wavves - Afraid of Heights
~There's a whole wave of bands and records coming out that have this very cool, old, grunge, surf rock feel to them. I'm not mad, at all. This is one of those albums and one of those bands and I love them both.
Tracks: Demon to Lean On, Lunge Forward, Gimme A Knife
6. Haim - Days Are Gone
~When this album came out I reluctantly liked it. I have no idea why. But the more I listened, the more I just let myself love the whole feel of this album. Just danceable enough to be fun, just rock enough to be cool.
Tracks: Forever, The Wire, Don't Save Me
7. Big Jesus - One
~I have been obsessed with this album for the last two months or so. Gritty, a little low-fi, dirty, feedback. 100% Fantastic. I am looking forward to seeing this band live.
Tracks: Shards, My Being, Lost Dog
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Top Seven Singles of 2013:
1. Matt Corby - "Resolution"
~Every now and then a song comes along that actually moves me. Fills me with something so special I have no other choice but to listen to the song on repeat until I know every word, every note, every feeling, everything. That is how I feel about this song. I can't explain it. But I know that my life would be missing something if this song wasn't in it (CHEESY!). To say I am excited for more things from Matt Corby is the understatement of the fucking century. What a voice. A voice I hope has a long and lasting place in music.
2. Katy Perry - "Roar"
~I love this woman and I don't care who knows. She is pop. Her music is a little cheesy. But she is amazing and I love her with every fiber of my being. This song, is every reason why I love this woman. It is uplifting, inspirational and so catchy you cannot possibly sit still when listening.
3. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "Can't Hold Us featuring Ray Dalton"
~Wanna see my ass shake all over the dance floor, at my office, in my apartment, in a random bar in my neighborhood? Put this song on and step back in amazement.
4. Hunter Hayes - "I Want Crazy"
~Hunter Hayes is about the cutest lil thing in country music right now. And so super nice. I hope he has a long and prosperous career. Side note: If a guy ever said... "I don't want good and I don't want good enough. I want can't sleep can't breath without your love..." I would marry him on the spot. Just sayin.
5. Drake - "Hold On, We're Going Home"
~Everyone picks on Drake. But I don't. I stare at him with stars (or hearts) in my eyes, hoping he will sing sweet nothings in my ear.
6. K. Michelle - "V.S.O.P."
~If "Can't Hold Us" makes me want to dance my ass across the world, "V.S.O.P." makes me want to strip down naked and find Drake. This is one of the sexiest songs I have ever heard. K. Michelle's voice is soulful, passionate, sultry. And just beautiful.
7. Arctic Monkeys - "Do I Wanna Know?"
~Dark and menacing. This song actually gives me the creeps a little, but I fucking love it so much I can't stand it. Was never a huge Arctic Monkeys fan, but after hearing this song in a commercial and immediately Googling to figure out the artist, I may need to give them another chance.
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Top Seven Shows of 2013
1. Diarrhea Planet - Mercury Lounge, NY
2. Soundgarden - Hammerstein Ballroom, NY
3. Pearl Jam - Barclays, NY (tie)
3. Pearl Jam - Key Arena, WA (tie)
5. Ghost (BC) - Webster Hall, NY
6. Lamb of God - Roseland Ballroom, NY
7. Father John Misty - Webster Hall, NY
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Spotify Links:
Diarrhea Planet – I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
Ghost B.C. – Infestissumam
Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt
James Blake – Overgrown
Wavves – Afraid Of Heights
Haim – Days Are Gone
Big Jesus – One
Singles Playlist - Resolution; Top Seven Singles of 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
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