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...)

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

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}

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}

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

And the Grammy goes to...

Music's shining stars headed to the red carpet for the 56th Grammy Awards tonight. I have to say, as a whole I was a little disappointed in the fashions this year. Nothing really wow'd me. There was no glitz. No glamour. But I did manage to find a few that dazzled. And as always, the bad have suffered enough...so they shall remain nameless. Photos care of People.com

The Grammy Awards Best Dressed

Beyonce in Michael Costello

Kasey Musgraves in Armani Prive

Kaskade

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Ozzy Osbourne

Pink in Johanna Johnson

Taylor Swift in Gucci

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}

************************************************************************************************************

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

************************************************************************************************************
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.
************************************************************************************************************
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

************************************************************************************************************
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

I Want My MTV, back...

This story has been written a million times, by a million people and I questioned whether I should write this at all, but as a Gen X'er who can remember actual videos on MTV, I felt it was my obligation to at least touch on the subject.

I can remember the very first video I ever saw on MTV. I don't think my hometown got the channel until maybe 1984, but my first taste of the music channel was Bruce Springsteen's ass against an American flag in "Born in the USA." Mom and Dad were entertaining friends, playing cards, and my older brother and I were in our pajamas enjoying the fact that we weren't being yelled at because we were up past our bedtime. As we flipped through the channels (no remote) my brother noticed a channel that had moveable images, but was still fuzzy. He turned a couple knobs and viola! Bruce Springsteen's ass. We hooted and hollered and acted like lunatics! It was the most exciting day of our lives! We. Had MTV...

Fast forward 29 years and MTV, which no longer means Music Television, isn't even remotely close to the network I fell in love with that fateful night. Reality TV has taken over. And it's not going away. I guess maybe I'm guilty of buying into the hype. I watched The Real World for the first nine years! But after awhile, even that started to feel dirty.

After reading a book penned by the original five VJs, I actually missed MTV. To be fair, when MTV first started out I liked most of the music videos they aired. I am not sure I could say the same if the network still played videos of artists in 2013. But one of the cool things about getting older is that you get to cling to all the wonderful things from your childhood and for me, that includes an MTV that played videos 24/7.

MTV First Day Saturday August  1st, 1981 12:01... by Dale0823

MTV Video Music Awards 2013

I was taught, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. That can be applied to 95% of last night's awards ceremony. The remaining 5% to be praised included performances by Justin Timberlake and 'N Sync, Kanye West and Bruno Mars. As I was watching the show, as well as my Twitter feed, something occurred to me. I'm no longer their demographic. And let's be honest, I haven't been for 15 years. But it could not be more clear than watching Miley...doing whatever it was that she was doing. Or the fact that One Direction won for Best Song of the Summer. The song is fine. I have no problem with the song or even the lads in 1D. But the issue staring me right in the face is this is now an irrelevant showcase of talent for me and my tastes at 35.

The videos below are a perfect example of what defined the VMAs for me. It made sense to me, I got it. It was my music, I cared about the performance, about their message. A message I clearly don't understand anymore.

The VMAs are dead, MTV is dead. A network that played videos 24 hours a day is now consumed with reality shows about teen moms and a plethora of things I just don't get. Why we still care about the awards this network hands out, is beyond me, but I guess as long as people (including myself) keep talking, it remains relevant. I sort of feel like how my parents must have felt 29 years ago and it's an eerie feeling I am not at all comfortable with, but one that will only get worse, instead of better.

Remembering the VMAs:

Whitney Houston - 1986

Paula Abdul - 1989

Madonna - 1990

Nirvana - 1992

Puff Daddy - 1997

Everything

Everyone has their panties in a twist over the new Nine Inch Nails track released Monday. Yes. It is bright and poppy. Yes. It makes me happy and radiate sunshine. Yes...this is VERY unlike the band's usual dark, industrial sound. But it's still a great track. Trent doesn't seem the type to do anything without intention. Even if that intention was simply to piss off his fans. Which wouldn't be horrible. And clearly worked...

Furthermore, I was unaware the animal Trent wanted to fuck me like, was a  unicorn. Let's be honest, I wouldn't complain. Wait...what?

Watch this amazing fan-made video for "Everything"

Hesitation Marks out September 3rd on Columbia Records...

I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this album! The band name, not so much...

Diarrhea Planet - I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

They'll be swinging through NYC on 8/30 - Mercury Lounge - Ticketmaster, I got my tickets...NOW GET YOURS!

In Between Days

I suck. I might be the laziest person in the blog-o-sphere. Probably not, but maybe close. No excuse can justify a month long absence. Worst part, there really was no excuse. Except for laziness. That is my excuse. And for that, I apologize. I can't promise it won't happen again (because it has), but I can promise to do better (although I've done that, too).

I'm sitting on my couch listening to The Cure live webcast from Lollapalooza, looking at shoes for inspiration and eating a cake I've just whipped up in a coffee mug. I might suck, but what I'm doing right now doesn't...

The Cure...

The Shoe...

Ann Demeulemeester

The cake...

Recipe

Ladies That ROCK!: Mavis Staples

 

Mavis Staples on Spotify 

In My Ears: NIN - "Came Back Haunted"

"Came Back Haunted"

It's almost as if Trent Reznor could feel my intense longing for the 90s. This song is so 1994 NIN that it makes my heart swell with an unimaginably painful case of nostalgia. But in a good way. [PL]

Hesitation Marks due September 3rd on Columbia

Ladies That ROCK!

Tegan and Sara

Not only do these ladies make amazing music, but they just might have the best hair in music.

Tegan And Sara – Spotify SessionsTegan And Sara – Spotify Sessions

Buy. Stream. Pass. - April 9th 2013

Happy New Music Tuesday! Should you buy, stream or pass on this week's releases?

BUY. STREAM. PASS.

BUY: James Blake – Overgrown
Hauntingly beautiful. This album is dark, but loving. Fit for a cold, rainy night beside a fireplace, this album feels introspective and complex. Blake's voice is somehow chilling and comforting at the same time. Buy this album and let this album grow on you. I can see how it might not resonate on the first listen, but keep going. Let it sink in and you'll get it.

BUY: Dawes – Stories Don't End
Pure joy! This album is so much fun! Buy and prepare to smile...and dance.

Others to consider?
Paramore - self titled (not yet available on Spotify)
Kurt Vile – Wakin On A Pretty Daze
The Knife – Shaking the Habitual

For a full list of releases go to AlbumoftheYear.org

DON'T FORGET...

For a complete list of what will be available and where, head to RecordStoreDay.com

Wish You Were Here

Today marks the 19th anniversary of the death of Kurt Cobain. A genuine, troubled, talented voice taken from us much too soon.

Kurt Cobain 

1967 - 1994

Buy. Stream. Pass. - April 2nd 2013

Happy New Music Tuesday! Should you buy, stream or pass on this week's releases?

BUY. STREAM. PASS.

STREAM: Alkaline Trio – My Shame Is True [Deluxe Edition]
Although I was a huge fan of AK3 as an older-than-most emo kid in the mid-00s, this album sounds like every AK3 album.  It's good! But it's been done. Over and over. And over again. Usually I would go into a rant about how they need to create a new sound for themselves, blah blah blah blah. But in their case, I wouldn't change a thing. I sort of like that they create the same album over again. Because that album is consistently good. ~PL

BUY: Cold War Kids – Dear Miss Lonelyhearts

There is something about his voice that just does it for me. Though I'm not in love with this album, I definitely like it a lot, especially the first two tracks. Not everything can be "Hang Me Out To Dry," but I like the direction they're heading in these days. ~PL

BUY: Mudhoney – Vanishing Point

There are a handful of bands trying to keep the spirit of the 90s alive and Mudhoney is obviously one of them. As with almost anything else they've done it has a raw edge that speaks to anyone dying to stay firmly planted in the 90s. And on this albums contains a track called, "Douchebags on Parade." I mean seriously, they're still awesome. ~PL

Others to consider?
Tyler, The Creator – Wolf
Telekinesis – Dormarion
The Black Angels – Indigo Meadow

For full list of April 2nd releases visit AlbumoftheYear.com

DON'T FORGET... 

For a complete list of what will be available and where, head to RecordStoreDay.com