Penny Lane's Top 10 Whatever of 2014

Oh 2014. I don' think I'll be sad to see you go. This year brought me leaving a job I hated for four years to finding a job I tolerated for six months, to getting promoted to a position I've loved for the last four months, but still don't feel quite settled into yet. And then there was the obsession with an immature asshole for five months (which I am happy to report is over). Meanwhile starting my own business (www.cursingsailormgmt.com). All, while trying to feed myself and have fun, trying not to get fat in the process (lost six pounds bitches), and seeing a ridiculous number of shows (I think I spent about $900). This year has been both amazing and a hot mess. Regardless, it does not excuse the fact that I have been Queen Slacker on DCILY this year. I have posted a total of 56 times, this being my 57th. Shameful. Utterly, shameful.

Busy as I may have been the past 12 months, you know I always have time to pontificate about my favorite albums of the year. So getting it in four days before the actual end of the year, here is...

Penny Lane's Top 10 Albums of 2014 (in order)

10. Thom Yorke - Tomorrow's Modern Boxes
Tracks: Guess Again!, The Mother Lode, There Is No Ice (For My Drink)

9. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga - Cheek to Cheek
Tracks: I Won't Dance, Anything Goes, Sophisticated Lady

8. EMA - The Future's Void
Tracks: Neuromancer, Cthulu, So Blonde

7. Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun
Tracks: Motherload, Ember City, Tread Lightly

6. Sia - 1,000 Forms Of Fear
Tracks: Elastic Heart, Chandelier, Fire Meet Gasoline

5. Strand of Oaks - Heal
This dude has had to deal with a lot of fucked up shit in the last 10 years or so. Cheating wife, moving to Indiana and almost dying. It's no surprise this aptly titled album is full of ranging emotion. I had never heard of Strand of Oaks or Timothy Showalter before the beginning of this year, but haven't been able to stop listening to this album since.
Tracks: Goshen '97, JM, Wait For Love

4. Beyonce - Beyonce
I hadn't included Beyonce's self-titled album in last year's list, simply because I had already created my list when she surprised us all with the album the second week of December 2013. So I feel justified in including it for 2014. This woman is amazing. Her voice. The lyrics. Each video. A tour, I am very disappointed I missed. EVERYTHING. Every once in awhile someone will say to me, "I just don't understand why people love her so much." And to those people I say, Bye Felicia. I don't understand how you could not love her. She is the epitome of the woman I want to be. Strong, independent, business woman, compassionate human being, wife and mother,. She is literally everything and we all need to bow down (bitches)...
Tracks: Blow, Mine, Pretty Hurts (and, of course Drunk In Love)

3. Interpol - El Pintor
Interpol and I have had a love hate relationship almost since the beginning. In one album I can love a song so much it makes my entire being hurt, but in the same breathe hate a song it feels almost the same. Pleasure and pain are synonymous. Then comes along El Pintor and it shot that whole theory to shit. I love every song on this fucking album. Only slightly disappointed when I went to Austin City Limits Festival, in October, that they didn't play more from this album (it was an Antics heavy performance), but what they did play was incredible.
Tracks: My Desire, Ancient Ways, All The Rage Back Home

2. Lykke Li - I Never Learn
This album is dark. Like, sit in a corner cradling your body while you ugly cry for three hours, dark. I'd love to talk to Lykke for 10 minutes to just get an idea of what kind of fucked up relationship she had been in to write such an album. I suppose from the deepest pain, we find creativity. And if that is the case, she fucking bled. Her pain is our pleasure...
Tracks: I Never Learn, No Rest For The Wicked, Never Gonna Love Again

1. TV On The Radio - Seeds
The week this album came out I listened (guesstimating) 15 times. Upon finding out they were going to be playing two shows that same week at Music Hall of Williamsburg I emailed a friend to see if she could get me some tickets, since the website said they were sold-out. Scored two tickets and it all happened that fast. I fell in love with this album. I honestly don't even think there is one song on the album I don't like. I like them all! Which hasn't happened in awhile.
Tracks: Careful You, Trouble, Seeds

Buy 'Seeds' on TVontheRadio.com

**I should also probably note that I only recently bought Taylor Swift's new album 1989 and am listening for the first time. Had I gotten my shit together and bought it when it came out (or if it had been on Spotify, ahem), it would likely be on this list...again...Queen Slacker ;)

Penny Lane's Top 10 Concerts of 2014 (in order)

10. Greighwolfe at People's Lounge and Bar
9. Pete Yorn at Gramercy Theater
8. Justin Timberlake at Barclays Center
7. TV on the Radio at Music Hall of Williamsburg
6. Band of Horses Acoustic at Town Hall
5. Built to Spill at Music Hall of Williamsburg
4. Stevie Wonder at Madison Square Garden
3. NIN at Jones Beach Amphitheater
2. Fleetwood Mac at Madison Square Garden
1. Pearl Jam at Austin City Limits Festival
(side note: stood on the rail for 7.5 hours in the blazing hot Austin, TX sun just so I could capture this picture...)

Total Slacker

CK Jeans

Penny Lane's Week In Music

From shows to new releases to close encounters of the music kind, this weekly column will feature a recap of all things music in the life of Penny Lane.

The last week of July. Totally depressing and yet totally AWESOME! Friday August 1st, kicks off a whirlwind of shows for me through the end of the year. Acts that include 90s powerhouses Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails and my favorite horribly-named-punk-stars-on-the-rise, Diarrhea Planet, the last five months of this year are going to be filled with musical awesomeness.

Hope you all had as great a week as I did!
Peace, love and music is all that matters,
{PL}

My week started off pretty great when I accidentally stumbled upon a music video being shot in my neighborhood. There weren't that many people hanging around so I thought maybe an independent project and was pleasantly surprised to find Aussie-darling Kimbra (of Gotye"Somebody That I Used To Know" fame) standing in the middle of Noble St. with a colorful dance crew behind her! I didn't hang out for too long, if you've never been on set during a video, let me tell you what it's like...BOOOOOORING! It's a lot of standing around and waiting. So I watched them go through the dance number once and went on my merry way...

Wednesday was an incredible day for me. A friend of mine had an extra ticket to see David Gray on Live on Letterman and I was more than happy to tag-along. Gray has been on my 'list' for awhile, but I've never gotten around to seeing him, so this was the perfect opportunity. Not only was the show free, but it was going to be in the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater (you know...where the Beatles played), so I was pretty excited. The entire experience was magical...

Friday's show has been a long time coming. I bought tickets for Soundgarden/Nine Inch Nails at Nikon Jones Beach Amphitheater about four months ago. They've been on my fridge, staring at me in anticipation, ever since. But yesterday was the day and it was well worth the wait. This was my first time seeing NIN and I was absolutely blown away. Apologies for the photos, didn't have the greatest seats (or the worst) so the pics are a little far away, but you get the general idea...

Soundgarden

NIN 

NIN

NIN

All photos taken by Penny Lane (aka Erica Fegely)

Concrete Bed

Happy Fucking Friday! I don't know about you, but this week seemed to last a lifetime. But here we are, Friday at last. I am, of course, wearing my Friday uniform (black tank top, skinny jeans, black flip flops), which as it turns out, is my every-day-of-the-week uniform. Weird. Anyway, I'm experiencing a case of the Universe giving me exactly what I needed today in the form of my morning album selection. As I've said before, I believe everything happens for a reason, there is no such thing as a coincidence. So when I left the house this morning and selected The Weight Is A Gift by Nada Surf, I just thought it was because I hadn't listened to it in awhile. Turns out there was much more to it than that (duh!). "To find someone you love, you've got to be someone you love..."

The weather is perfect today in NYC (warm, but not sweltering, cool breeze blowing) and the air actually smells good (as opposed to the usual, pee and garbage). I took a moment to realize how lucky I am for a multitude of reasons and just went about my merry way with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. Time to refocus for the last six months of the year and really make the best of this life or at least this year. And there is my hippie thought for the day...

Hope you all have a great weekend!
Peace, love and beach weather,
{PL}

"Concrete Bed"

The world's locked up in your head
You've been pouring it a concrete bed
Your habits ossify
You don't realize you're fried
To find someone you love
You've gotta be someone you love
The reason's somewhere in the din
But it takes years 'til it sinks in
You've used up the easy streets
And you lost your taste for treats
So fried
Stay high if you have to
Do whatever it asks you
You've got another calling
Don't let it pass you
You know it coz you wrote it
You just didn't think you'd actually do it
It's just another wish you wished 
In a very long list
To find someone you love
You've gotta call your own bluff

I've got thick skin and an Elastic Heart; 1000 Forms Of Fear Album Review

Sia – 1000 Forms Of Fear

Released: 7/8/14
Label: RCA (division of Sony Music Entertainment)
Noteworthy tracks: (all of them, but specifically...) Chandelier, Big Girls Cry, Hostage, Elastic Heart, Free The Animal, Fire Meet Gasoline

I have been anxiously awaiting the release of Sia's new album 1000 Forms of Fear since "Elastic Heart" was released on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Soundtrack last Fall. And then again when "Chandelier" was released in March of this year. Two virtually perfect songs on one album could mean one of two things. This album was going to be full of "hit-worthy" tracks, since Sia is an acclaimed songwriter for others and not just herself ("Pretty Hurts" - Beyonce, to name just one...) the chances that she would really knock her own album out of the park were pretty good. Or the rest of the album would be an incredible disappointment, yielding the only two tracks worth listening to previewed before the album was even finished. I mentioned to a friend yesterday that I was nervous to listen to the album, I didn't want to be disappointed. So many of my favorite tracks have been accompanied by less than stellar releases. One of the pitfalls to releasing singles so far in advance of the full release. 

After listening to the album back-to-back-to-back, I can categorically say this album is phenomenal. Sia absolutely knocks it so far out of the park, the ball is never found. Each track brings something unique but cohesive to this collection of songs. Feel free to do what I did and listen three times in a row. Afterwards, I'm fairly certain you will be in love with this album as much as I am. Now, the question is...will she tour in support of this album? She has already done several appearances for "Chandelier" and in promo for the album, however it is unlikely she will tour. Sia is typically one who shies away from celebrity and public appearances in general, so my guess would be she will skip a nationwide/worldwide tour. Total bummer and I hope she proves me wrong...

"Chandelier" (Official Video)

Vision of Love

I understand the concept of a vision board but haven't been capable of building one I could really connect to. *This is going to be some hippie-dippy shit, so if you're eyes are already rolling I implore you to hit close on your web browser and continue on with your day.* The items on your board are supposed to invoke inspiration for things you are currently doing or things you want to do in the future. The idea is that if you see what you want, truly focus on what you want, you can manifest it into being. The power of attraction. Bringing positive things to you, instead of waiting for them to just happen.

Thursday I checked Facebook while drinking my morning iced coffee and saw a post by a friend of a friend. She posted an article she had just written for DoYouYoga about how to attract positive energy with vision boards. Something I did not see as a coincidence (everything happens for a reason, whether you choose to believe it or not). About two months prior to her article, the friend we share had given me some instruction on how to build my own vision board and I did, but it didn't feel right. It felt like what I should want my board to contain. I had no real connection to it.

Nicole's article came at the right time (again, everything happens for a reason). As I was reading, it was as if someone just switched on the light. The bulb above my head was illuminated. Yes I'm being overly dramatic, because it literally seemed to happen in seconds. I knew exactly what my vision board should look like and I went into work knowing what I would print out and what I would pin to the board when I got home that night.

I've stopped asking why and just accepted that this stuff just happens when it's supposed to because that's the plan. No over analyzing. No wondering. No wishing. Just accepting that little nuggets of wisdom and inspiration come when they are supposed to. When the time is right and you are in the right place to use the wisdom and inspiration to the best of its uses...

Enjoy my vision board below and please click the link to Nicole's article to gain your own inspiration!
Peace love and doing what makes you over-the-moon happy,
{PL}

Side note: Yes, that is a picture of Hilary Clinton, I don't really give a shit about your political preference, this is my vision board and she belongs on it. So suck it...

Deep Blue Day

Toms

Oh, Inverted World; How Broken Bells Turned Me Back Into a Shins Fan

It all started with the movie Garden State. A movie that everyone loved and I have no idea why. I mean, it's a great movie, but it has to be one of the most depressing movies I have ever seen in my entire life. I file this movie in the 'I've seen it once, so I don't have to see it again' category, because on a whole, I like for my movie-going experiences to be pleasant. I do not like to cry or be depressed. Fuck. Who does?! But that is where my loathing of The Shins started. 

When Natalie Portman and Zach Braff are in the doctor's office waiting room and she tells him he has to hear this one song, "New Slang," it will change his life. Disagree. That is by far the WORST song on that album and it would not (did not) change my life. The fact that this song I loathe was used in this movie that makes me want to cry just turned me to off. I had that album three years before Braff put that God-forsaken song in his movie. And the movie only intensified my distaste for not only the song, but James Mercer and the entire album. Like a snowball effect my hatred kept building every time I'd watch the movie. I was living in New Jersey at the time, blocks from where Braff grew up, rueing (is that a word?) the day he was born. A year later I moved out of NJ and never listened to the album or watched the movie again.

Fast forward to Spring of 2010. I was working for a mastering studio in Chelsea and one of the engineers told me about this album he just mastered. He thought I would like it because "it has the guy from The Shins on it." Clearly I had never expressed my disdain for The Shins in his presence. I thought to myself why the fuck would I listen to an album that contains a member of a band I absolutely loathe? Well, the answer is I wouldn't. And I didn't. For about 3 months after the album came out. One day I was going through my CDs and came across Broken Bells' self-titled album and thought I'd try it, in the privacy of my own home, where no one would know if I secretly liked it. The first track, "The High Road," was it. It was all I needed to basically fall head over heels in love with James Mercer, again. Fuck. What have I done?! His voice used to bother me so much, it would make me sick. Now, I'm staring googly-eyed at my speakers wishing he was singing in front of me. It happened. Hell hath frozen over. I didn't immediately run back to The Shins. Matter of fact, I held my ground two years through 2012 and the release of Port of Morrow. And then I heard the single in a commercial or a movie or something. "Simple Song" ruined my hatred. I listened to that song over and over and over. Eventually listening to the entire album and liked it. Sigh. No, loved it. The wall came down and I became a fan of The Shins. Again.

How did this happen? His voice is the same. But something was so different about Broken Bells that it allowed me to forget about how much I hated him and The Shins (and Garden State). I still don't like "New Slang," and I don't think I ever will, but I've decided to put the disgust I have for that song aside and see the band for everything else they have contributed to the world.

Meet me again, in the rain

In the movie of my life, the most perfect song to walk around NYC in the rain to is "Oceans" from the new Coldplay album Ghost Stories. They have quite literally perfected the art of the ballad and I'm not mad. There are some songs that require the perfect mood to really resonate and others that just click any time. I enjoyed this song from the start, however walking down 9th Ave in the rain today, "Oceans" just made all the sense in the world. AND 'rain' is even in the song. So there's that...

Anyway. Mercury Retrograde seems to be fucking my shit up. I've been going backwards, which makes all the sense in the world if you are familiar with MR. Past behaviors, people from my past, miserable feelings from my past. Past, past, past. But I am aware and trying to make better decisions knowing things are a little messed up. I don't think you can ever completely avoid making mistakes during MR, but you can just be aware of what is happening and react differently. And take comfort in the fact that everyone else's world is being fucked up by MR too! Misery loves company...

I thought I would provide some links for those of you experiencing the symptoms.

Purpose Fairy - 5 Ways to Keep Your Sanity During Mercury Retrograde
Cafe Astrology - Mercury Retrograde in Cancer/Gemeni

Stay safe out there kids!
Peace, love and music,
{PL}

It's all happening...

I've always been a little hippie deep down inside, but recently I've stopped suppressing it. If you're my friend you've probably been on the receiving end of my suggestion of yoga for whatever ails you. Feeling depressed? Do yoga. Sad about the current state of your relationship? Do yoga. Not sure where your career is taking you? Do yoga. I get a lot of eye-rolls, but my response is, try it. If after the first class you don't feel like you have a greater insight into your problem, then I'll shut up and never mention it again. I've also started suggesting meditation. This suggestion gets me even more eye-rolls and a few groans as well. Again, just try it. If it doesn't work, never do it again. But the not trying part is bullshit. It may not solve your problems in one sitting, but I promise, you are more likely to find what you are looking for at the end of a meditation than at the bottom of a bottle. Trust me. I've done the leg work.

Since the unofficial start of summer is next weekend (Memorial Day), I have decided I am going to let my hippie flag fly; the Summer of Love 2014! I am taking on a new mantra {I have enough, I am enough}. I am going to be positive. I am going to smile, a lot. I am going to manifest the shit out of this summer. Good things are coming...it's all happening.

Peace and love,

{PL}

Twenty Years Ago: Weezer - The Blue Album

Weezer - self titled, aka The Blue Album

May 10, 1994

My Name Is Jonas

No One Else

The World Has Turned and Left Me Here

Buddy Holly

Undone – The Sweater Song

Surf Wax America

Say It Ain't So

In the Garage

Holiday

Only in Dreams 

From the first note in "My Name Is Jonas" to the last note of "Only In Dreams" I love this album. Every track. Every chorus. Every everything. I was thinking about it before I started writing this, if I love this album because it reminds me of a certain time in my life and the answer is yes. And no...

Of course I love this album because it reminds me of my youth. Freshman year of High School. In love with the cool, hot senior on the basketball team. Getting picked on by the bitchy senior girls at the table across from me and my friends at lunch. Doc Martens. Tight rolling jeans. Watching the "uncool kids" skateboarding home after school while I walked. My white Esprit tote bag (which I still have). I hear this album and I am instantly transported back to me and all my awkwardness. But I also love this album because the music is fucking amazing. The guitar, though not entirely complicated doesn't have to be. It's purposeful. The voice, hitting those high notes you didn't expect. The lyrics, singing about the every man or kid depending on your perspective. You understood how he felt. Guy or girl. You understood the heartache. He was you, singing about you. It just made sense. And it always will...

I wonder what will be said about this album in another 20 years? I'm pretty sure my opinions won't change, if anything I'll fee closer to it than I do today (which always feels like the case the farther from something you get). And I'm pretty sure the music community as a whole won't change their opinion either. I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Have a great weekend! Don't forget to call Mom!
Peace, love and Buddy Holly glasses,
{PL}

Crocodile Rock

I haven't done a post strictly about shoes in awhile (shame on me) so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity and rainy day to show off these super cute new shoes I got. (note: of course the sun came out while I was typing this, le sigh)

I pretty much think Crocs are disgusting. Intended for the medical and chef professions and children who are notorious slobs and need a good hosing off every now and then. Well that all changed after one of my FAVORITE Project Runway alums, Mondo Guerra, released a line for the brand.  I felt a little dirty walking into the store, surrounded by plastic shoes and seriously ugly plastic shoes at that..but I took one for the team (and by team I mean my feet).

If you don't know much about Guerra, I've included some pics of his designs below the shoes. As you can see, the shoes are VERY much inline with his design aesthetic. A man that designs in mostly black and white with pops of color?! Is a man after my own heart.

For pricing and store locations check out the Crocs website!

Peace, love and shoes,
{PL}

My happy feet!

Photos care of (1) {PL} Instagram, (2,3,4) Crocs website, (5) BuddyTV (6) MarieClaire (7) Examiner

A Lack Of Color

I've lived in NYC for quite some time now and one thing about my wardrobe remains unchanged from day one. All black everything. My handbag, black. My jacket, black. My dress, black. My tights, black. Okay, sometimes purple. My shoes, black. And occasionally gold. I have no idea who created the NYC uniform, but I have clung to it for the last eight years. It is true black is a very flattering color. But it can also be a very boring color. Or lack thereof if you want to get technical. 

I've been taking baby steps over the last year to incorporate some splashes of color into my sea of black. It's not easy, because black is a VERY popular choice for every garment type. And as I said makes any shape look amazing. But there comes a time in every NYC woman's life when appearing as if in constant mourning is no longer the goal. Here are a few suggestions to take the leap. 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Peace, love and shoes,

{PL}

JCrew

JCrew

Michael Kors

JOA

Splendid

All photos care of Pinterest

Mind Over Matter

I've been on an inspirational quote kick lately. I'm going through a Spring Awakening of sorts. Trying to figure out some pretty key aspects of my life. As cheesy as it sounds, quotes really do help. They motivate. Inspire. Provide a little bit of encouragement. It's like having a cheerleader on retainer. Any time I feel my spirits falling a little, I tap this never-ending resource. They're everywhere. No matter what ails you. A plethora of "go get ems!" and " you can do its!" at the click of a mouse button.

We all need a little encouragement sometimes and there ain't no shame in it. Find what motivates you...

Almost the weekend!
Peace, love and shoes,
{PL}

Martha My Dear

I have every studio album The Beatles released in one form or another. Only two are consistently played. Rubber Soul. And their self titled, more commonly known as The White Album. I can't explain it, but this album has been on repeat for about three weeks. Four sides, 30 tracks and 95 minutes of awesome. There is one song in particular that I have not been able to stop listening to and again, I can't explain why. For some reason this song feels new to me. I don't remember hearing it outside of listening to it on this album. I don't remember it ever being played on the 'oldies' radio station I grew up with and well...I don't listen to the radio now, so I definitely wouldn't have heard it since I moved to the city.

Now that I'm really thinking about it, maybe I can explain it. What I love about this song is the horns, more specifically, the tuba. That is a ridiculous thing to love about a song. Maybe I love something else too. The other thing I love about this song, is the lyric, "When you find yourself in the thick of it Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you..." It isn't just the words, but how Sir Paul sings it. It's just one of those things about a song I can't let it go of and find myself repeating in my head for hours. In the middle of yoga, work, spin, making dinner, walking from the train. You get the idea. I guess I could explain it...

There aren't many songs that have this kind of affect on me (coincidentally two on the same album - "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" being the second). So when I find one that does, I hold on to it.

Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday! Almost to the weekend!
Peace, love and shoes,
{PL}

Want to hear the whole album? The White Album

Pink Matter

I don't have children. Am very rarely around children on purpose. And yet here I am at home on my couch, forced to work remotely, because I have pink eye. How did this happen? Who is to blame? Where is the little germ factory that infected me?

Right now, pink is my least favorite color. So I thought I would compile a list of beautiful pink things to remind me this is only temporary and I will be able to wear makeup again soon...

Happy Monday!
Peace, love and shoes,
{PL}

Photos care of Pinterest