Category Archives: Music

Year Three, Month Three.

Year Three, Month Three.

I’m a few weeks late with this post, sorry. I’m terrible at being consistent.

The Weeknds’ Montreal…

Earlier today I wrote about how I feel disconnected from music lately. You’d think posting these monthly tracks would be a clear indicator that I stay in touch. Honestly, it’s pretty difficult to choose one song to represent each month. Not because theirs so many to choose from either. More than anything trying to guide Riley through life surrounded by better music has made me realize how far me and music have grown. I keep going back to the old standards that my parents raised me on, anythings better than Bieber.

Riley’s soundtrack to her life, Year 3 in progress…
October | Intro
November | Take Care

Music was my boyfriend.

Music was my boyfriend.

I’ve said this before but this week I’m becoming more consumed by the thought… Am I in a music rut because music has changed or have I? Lately I’ve been so thirsty for some mind blowing tunes that I’ve begun rummaging through my favorite albums from the aughts, mostly early to middle. This is certainly my favorite time for music, I haven’t been in love with anything as much since. I thought maybe as I got older I became more detached from the music scene, I go to less concerts, I spend less time listening. I still acquire copious amounts of music but rarely have the time to listen to any.

Today I had another thought about how growing up may have estranged me from music. When I was a younger all I did was sit in my room and listen to music, all day and night. I’d lay in my bed and listen. When I played video games music was on. Music was on when I surfed the interwebs. Music was on while my friends were over. I had a television set that was usually set to old cartoons on mute, my makeshift music videos. When I left the house I walked far distances or took long bus and train rides, always with my diskman handy and a case of cds in my back pack.

I’m not all that old, I’ll be turning twenty-eight in two months, so why isn’t music consuming me anymore? I think the problem is a lack of time alone with music. My bedroom only has a television now, it’s never on mute, I’m usually watching way too much Netflix. I don’t play video games anymore, or surf the web for hours. I don’t lay down with music playing, ever. I drive everywhere, usually with NPR on. This relationship may be lacking because of me. I somehow disconnected from music and I didn’t even notice that all of our quality time was gone.

Right now I’m wearing my headphones and trying to pay attention to the new music I’ve acquired, rather than just having it and never playing it. I’m listening to the much anticipated (I was looking forward to it) Lana Del Rey album… it kind of sucks. So maybe its both of our faults. Musicians and I are lacking, we really need to work on this for the sake of our children. I promise to make more time for you if you promise to be more awesome.

P.S. But seriously, this album is really bad. I still love the three songs on it that I previously gushed over, but that is all. Sad.

“For all of its coos about love and devotion, it’s the album equivalent of a faked orgasm– a collection of torch songs with no fire.” – Lindsay Zoladz (Pitchfork)

Year Two, Month Twelve.

Year Two, Month Twelve.

I absolutely love this song. I think St. Vincent continues to get better with each album, which is nice since most artists are doing the opposite these days. I hope that has nothing to do with my getting older and it really just is the music industry. I don’t want to be that adult stuck in the music past. Fingers crossed.

St. Vincent’s Cruel…

Year Two, Month Eleven.

Year Two, Month Eleven.

Lana Del Rey’s Video Games

 

This song escaped me for months but I finally trapped it.  I first heard it back in August but couldn’t find it anywhere other than youtube.  This chick needs to release an album asap, hopefully it will be half as good as this single.

*****

Now that we’re fast approaching the terrible twos Riley is starting to remind me more and more of Animal from the Muppets. I’m thinking maybe I should incorporate more metal in her mix. I for sure will attempt to snag a photo of her morning afro soon enough so the reference will appear more clear. In the meantime, this is how we get fancy.

Year Two, Month Ten.

Year Two, Month Ten.

This is the best song of the entire year. I know it’s a little soon to call it… but it’s that amazing. I fell in love seconds in, and only became more trapped when the saxophone comes in (the sax really does make the song). I can’t believe I once fell asleep at an M83 show, in my defense it was late, I was drinking, sitting with my head resting on a table and it was a very quiet ambient sound moment. This was before an entire band of musicians graced the stage and it was just Anthony Gonzalez by himself with a laptop and other assorted machines. I doubt anything like that could happen with this song playing, I just dance and get all intoxicated with joy when it’s on. It’s that good.

They don’t have an official video yet so I quickly browsed youtube for a decent user made one, I hate to just put up a still image video with the song on in the background… they bore me.

July’s pick of the month, M83′s Midnight City:

Video by JuliesVidss.

 

Update: Hooray for the official video!

Year Two, Month Five… Six, Seven, Eight and Nine.

Year Two, Month Five… Six, Seven, Eight and Nine.

I have no excuse for my lack of dedication to this site. I think about updating all the time and just take a nap instead. Naps are super delicious.

Month Five: Lykke Li’s I Follow Rivers

Month Six: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart’s Heart In Your Heartbreak

Month Seven: tUnE-yArDs’ Bizness

Month Eight: Fleet Foxes’ Helplessness Blues

Month Nine: Beirut’s East Harlem

(not the official video, but better than watch the album art for 4 minutes)

And there you go, five months of songs in one shot because I’m really bad at life. It’s ok, so far Riley hasn’t noticed.

Year Two, Month Four.

Year Two, Month Four.

Here is January’s pick for song of the month, Smith Westerns’ Weekend:

We were lucky enough to have a whole day with Riley this month and once school let out we were joined by her siblings, Mya and Jakob. They ran around our apartment, played the piano together, learned about fine Nickelodeon programming from my youth (way better than theirs). We had snacks, Mya and I played Pretty Pretty Princess while Terrence and Jakob played Mouse Trap… well… played isn’t the right term. Who actually plays Mouse Trap anyway? Riley just ran back and forth trying to join in with everything. It was a nice day, I look forward to more of these kinds of days with my nieces and nephew, they’re good times.