Trust The Streets

For most of college, I was pretty convinced I should marry Mike Skinner or Jack Allsopp. Both walk that strangely appealing line of being British MC's and DJ's. The Streets and Just Jack as they are known respectively, were pretty much on repeat for me and definitely still hold a special place in my heart. But I'm not moving to Birmingham anytime soon. Sorry Mike.

Trust Me by The Streets by ialas

Misty Morning

I woke up this morning to one of those incredibly grey and misty days this city specializes in, where the clouds are so dense all noises become muted, and time feels like it slows down. This was ideal after the dancetastic weekend I had, so after de-couching my favorite c-walker, and making some coffee, I found my favorite pair of ripped jeans and settled into a morning of catching up on reading and baking scones. This of course requires some solid mood music and today's band of choice is Gold Panda.

Gold Panda is one of those band/producer types that isn't as accessible to the bulk of my friends I have forced him upon recently, but something about his brand of electro feels like a patchwork reminiscent of four tet but with a distinctly moody feel thats all his own. Friend group lack of adoption not withstanding, I'm seriously digging his stuff on a day when clouds are floating underneath the window.

Quitters Raga by Gold Panda

Ratatat and DOM tonight

I'm going to the Ratatat show tonight at the Warfield and while I was already excited to bust some moves there, I just realized that Dom is opening. My local friends have recently accused me of being a little into what they deem 'electro' music, but I think what they mean to accuse me of is a penchant for the synth-pop chillwave movement. Hipster accusations and labels aside, Dom has a reputation for putting on a memorable live show, and with giant hooks like 'It's so sexy to be living in America' who doesn't want to put on their skinny jeans and bust some dance moves? Wish you were here Dowks!

DOM - Living In America by TLOBF

I still haven't decided if this is just a great viral ad for Levi's or something a little more homegrown but either way, the song rocks and this video makes me think of getting and RV and driving across the country with some of my favorite ITA'ers.

SCREAMIN Deal on Ratatat's new album

My buddy Grantus just pointed me to Amazon where they're having a $4 special on Ratatat's new album, LP4.  I am downloading it now, and will have thoughts later this week.

For now, enjoy this vid from their self-titled debut album, Ratatat...

Ambling Alp African Style

I had to bribe Weis to stay up late for the Very Best's set during SXSW last spring. He wasn't siked but by the time the backup dancers started busting moves during the second song, he was sold on the awesome. Not only do they make great music on their own, but they took Yeasayer's already fantastic song and made it uniquely theirs. Check 'em out here

Mark Ronson for President

Un, deux, trois! Bang, bang, bang!

Ronson has been blowing up tracks since his first album came out in 2003.  The Brit has enjoyed success internationally, but hasn't had a big presence in the US.  I have been listening to Mark Ronson for about a year now, and have heard a couple great collabs of his.  One track I recently found on the always delicious et musique pour tous is something that Mark Ronson & the Business International (his new alias) put together with rapper Q-Tip and electro artist MDNR, whom I'll have to look into more...

Check the track, lemme know what you think!

01 Bang Bang Bang (Feat. MNDR and Q-Tip) by eclectricity1

a chilly fall in the northwest?

Snow in Seattle is rare, even in the thick of winter, but as it turns out, the stars have aligned and we'll actually be getting some this October! Ok, perhaps it will be Miike Snow, and not Snow snow....but still cool, methinks, aaaaaaand...my friend Les just let me know there is a ticket waiting for me, one month from today @ the Showbox at the Market.  Thanks Les! (and Kate)!

Actually, the band makes frequent appearances in Seattle, and has performed across the city on several occasions over the past year.  I was lucky enough to make it to one of their shows last year with my friends Sean and Erica.  The crowd was fantastic, and I think it has something to do with the odd persona of the oft-masked Swedish trio, Andrew Wyatt, Christian Karlsson and Ponstus Winnberg; the masks add to their mysterious stage presence while the ffffffffat beats and light show put everyone in a great mood.

As you can tell, their concerts are great, but don't count out the work they do in the studio.  They've done some work with Passion Pit, Peter Bjorn and John, as well as this excellent remix of Vampire Weekend's The Kids Don't Stand a Chance.  Check them out, you won't be disappointed.


Miike Snow - Vampire Weekend VS Miike Snow - The Kids Don't Stand A Chance by telilys

Pop goes my heart

I would like to think I have unerringly excellent and somewhat hip taste in muzak. But truth be told, I also have a huge love for catchy pop music. Much like Dowk's love of GaGa, I've started really digging Katy Perry's last album. Something about it makes me feel like I'm 16 and driving around in the middle of summer in Triscuit's mustang. Ok let the mocking begin super indie hipster friends.

Re-mixed

I've been digging some very mellow remixes recently from both RaRaRiot and Vampire weekend. Then I found this picture and knew it was meant to be.

Vampire Weekend "White Sky" (Basement Jaxx remix) Alloedit by AllofyaBooshikA

Ra Ra Riot - Boy (RAC Mix) by Remix Artist Collective

Ever since Return to Cookie Mountain was the only CD I kept in my car for a two hour commute to a terrible job in a galaxy far far away, I always associate TV on the Radio Dave Sitek’s vocals with driving away from mind-numbing, soul-suckingness and back into the life I wanted to lead. I'm digging his solo project from the few tracks I've listened to thus far.

Maximum Balloon ft Theophilus by Hypecloud

Summer Anthem

I'm the worst contributer ever. But I have legitimate musical related excuses. Specifically I've been too busy driving visitors around forcing them to listen to my epic summer mix-tape. With that in mind- here is the amazing video to a band I fell in love with during SXSW and has felt like the soundtrack to my spring and summer adventures. I try really hard not to be susceptible to the hipster music trends, but chill-wave has definitely found a warm place in my heart......

Washed Out - "Hold Out" from John Lipari on Vimeo.

Right Above It

Just listened to this new Weezy track for the first time last night, and it definitely get's me pumped for when his new album comes out later this month.  The song features Drake, who is certainly not getting shit confused, sounding sick, as per usual.

Check it out....neow!

Gaga for Gaga

I've had a lot of time on my hands this summer, and have devoted a fair amount of time to the gym. While LA Fitness plays hits radio on the loudspeakers, I've gotta have control. I rock the iPhone without fail, using my Scosche soundKASE, which I pretty highly recommend, although I just saw a Belkin at my buddy's place, and was kinda jelly.

Now down to business, as the title suggests, I am a big fan of Lady Gaga's music.  A lot of it make's great gym music, with two of my recent favorites being a pair off the Fame Monster's "B-Sides."

Paper Gangsta is a pretty upbeat song about in this case....paper gangsters.  While I'm not too sure I know many of those, I love her line "Cause I do not accept any less, than someone just as real, as fabulous"  I'm totally behind that...don't settle for less than you deserve.

Starstruck is the latter of my two gems today.  The whole song is super sexy, but the chorus is really what puts me in a great mood and put some energy behind my swol sesh...