Forever Young

I always used to babysit, and for a whole summer I interned at a 3rd grade tutoring non-profit organization. At this moment, I can't STAND being around kids. It's not that I don't think they're cute and even fun sometimes. But you have to look after them constantly. Ugh. I know I'll like them again in a few months. But for now, I'm enjoying conversing with people over the age of ten. However, songs with children's voices can rok.

There's a Gorillaz movie out called "Bananaz!" Yes!
Gorillaz - Dirty Harry

New songs! They brought in a children's choir to do these
Passion Pit - The Reeling
Passion Pit - Little Secrets

Lullabye rendition of Radiohead. Play it to budding scenesters.
Rockabye Baby - Karma Police

Moshi Moshi

I hate being American and not Japanese because our stars look like this or this and Japan has Perfume and their fucking cuteness overload. We have hershey's bars, they have pocky in hundreds of flavors like kiwi and blueberry cheesecake. And Japanese commercials actually make me laugh. Maybe in another life I'll live in Japan, turn on the television, and have access to five channels at any one time showing trannies throw themsevles at velcro walls. Sighhhh.

The song that inspired the post. Check out the video too!
Perfume - One Room Disco

Speaking of bizarre, the Books are high up there.
The Books - That Right Ain't Shit
The Books - Tokyo

I don't think that Supercar makes music anymore, sadly.
Supercar - Otogi Nation

Japanese New Yorkers! YAY!
Asobi Seksu - Happy

Plur Plur Plur!

From dirtydirtydancing.com

Sometimes you just need to grab some kandi and flail to those house beats. I've never actually been to a club... or a rave... but I make do by myself with iPod speakers and a pair of silver leggings. Here's what I pump (all alone) at two in the morning (in my room).

Nothing in the world makes me as happy as this song. Kinda sad...
Giantess - You Were Young

New group I'm liking a lot. They're very physics savvy as well.
Tesla Boy - Electric Lady

Love you, Fred Falke. So monotonous, so satisfying!
Mini Viva - Left My Heart in Tokyo (Fred Falke Dub Remix)

Three insane, japanese girls who like the word "nipples."
Trippple Nippples - RIP Meat

What's In a Name?

BFF with your baby?

It's funny that over the course of high school, everything changes and nothing changes. I've been friends with (pretty much) the same people for four years. Is that depressing? Hopefully not.... Either way, they're amazing and attractive, and their names are in many great songs!

Biffer Sara is currently dating a boy named Za(c)k. I KNOW! ITS CRAZY!
Ben Folds - Zak and Sara

Lovable eco-terrorist. Confession: I don't use reusable grocery bags. Don't kill me.
Caribou - Irene

I don't know a Kim, but I do know a shlemiel, stylin' little bundle named Jessica.
M83 - Kim & Jessie

I love Bear. He's superman, John McCain, and a tipsy lumberjack all in one.
Softlightes - Girl Kills Bear

NOTE: I'm surprised the band "Softlightes" is not more popular. They're fantastik!
Softlightes - The Microwave Song

Shout-out to Abby, Peeper, Willa, Core Four and my other heads. It's not that I don't love you, it's just that no band gives a shit about your name.

2Getha 4Eva

My school is putting on a performance of Footloose, and my boyfriend is playing the lead part, Ren, (the lovable bad boy who teaches the town to dance, and love!) Though it's slightly embarrassing, I also think he looks pretty cute up there on the stage when he almost kills himself doing front hand springs. Here's to all the cute couples in the world, especially the ones making killer music!

Matt & Kim are the greatest band/couple I have ever experienced. When I saw them at Lollapalooza '07, and I vowed to kill Kim and marry Matt.
Matt & Kim - Good Ol' Fashioned Nightmare

I recorded and pieced together some of their conversations from the concert
Matt & Kim - Talking @ Lolla '07

My mom and I share a love of Elvis Costello and the Talking Heads, but also the adorable and severly talented pair that form the Weepies. My mom always cries when she hears these, but she also cried at a mastercard commercial.
The Weepies - Nobody Knows Me at All
The Weepies - Riga Girls

Sufjan Stevens did a cover of this song over at La Blogotheque, but I love the original. Apparently they're a couple too.
The Innocence Mission - The Lakes of Canada

Stumptown

Looks nice... what else can I say about Portland?

I don't know much/anything about Portland, Oregon. My nanny used to live there and she was the most crunchy granola, crafty west-coaster I ever met (She made tiny, little beds for tiny little people for NO REASON. That's just how DIY she was.) But Portland is the birthplace of many great bands! Yay!

One of my recent favorites, Hockey.
Hockey - Too Fake
Hockey - 3 AM Spanish

The Thermals remind me of Ted Leo, since they're angry AND cute. This is a newish song with "oh-way-oh" in the chorus! Check out the Pillar of Salt video.
The Thermals - Now We Can See

Oh my god, Pavement OWNS me. So I love Mr. Malkmus.
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - (Do Not Feed The) Oyster

I admit I bought my first Menomena album 'cause it had a cool cover.
Menomena - Muscle'n Flo
Wet and Rusting music video

I've gotta go watch Heroes. It sucks, but I've invested too much time to stop.

Your Song by Me

Pink Nasty in the tub with a strange man.

Oh, cover songs. There's nothing better than discovering your favorite band has just covered your OTHER favorite band. And just last week, THAT band covered the first band, and so on and so forth. Wooo for artist stealing material for their own gain!

I have at least five covers of this song.
Mobius Band - Digital Love (Daft Punk Cover)

Guilty pleasures team up to create a perfect cover.
The Format - Wild World (Cat Stevens Cover)

Nice white girl channels her inner gangster, I guess.
Pink Nasty - Burn (Usher Cover)

I didn't think this song could get better. I was wrong.
Emil and Friends - Sleepyhead (Passion Pit Cover)

Aww this song is very cute.
Ben Gibbard - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cindy Lauper Cover)

We're gonna rock down to electric avenue!
Woodhands - Electric Avenue (Eddy Grant Cover)

Also, see Sufjan's rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Free Man in Paris" off the Tribute to Joni Mitchell album. It's so fucking good, though my mom (die hard Joni fan) thinks he raped the song to pieces.

A Fearful Summons

Does depression make me look fat?

Almost every teenager goes through that phase. You know, the one where you think no one understands what you're feeling. The phase where you simultaneously hate yourself and laud your own distinct ability to transcend the "phoniness" of the world (See Catcher in the Rye.) Everyone went through it, and that's why there's a special place in our cultural lexicon for Hamlet (depressed and crazy, but who can blame him?) and those weepy emo kids that hang around Starbucks parking lots. We've all been there, completely and indulgently sad.

Colin Meloy's voice sounds like a cat dying. Beautifully.
The Decemberists - Everything I Try to Do, Nothing Seems to Turn Out Right

This gurl's got issues. But SClub7 does rock.
Emmy the Great - Canopies and Grapes

We'll be friends forever, but I'm afraid you'll never love me
Jeremy Messersmith - Beautiful Children

Sufjan Steven's was even sadder as a youngin'
Marzuki - I Love You I Hate You

The only song that's ever made me cry.
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Extra: CFCF - Forbidden Colors (Ryuichi Sakamoto Cover)

"People always clap for the wrong things"
Bravo, Holden Caulfield

Suburbs Schmuburbs

"Oh, this tea party is an excellent use of our Ivy League educations!"

I live in the suburbs of New York City, and often times it is sickening. Women go to Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and then they give it all up for a membership at Equinox and daily trips to the nail salon. Well, I'm being a little hyperbolic. But my life has undoubtedly been shaped by my hatred for the town I live in. There's nothing like claustrophobic suburbia to develop teenage angst. And with all that pent up frustration, music becomes super important. So here it is, my life as a reluctant suburbanite.


Ben Folds is the king. If you meet a northeastern burbs-er, just mention you love for Guster, Dispatch and/or the early Ben Folds. You'll immediately be accepted.
Ben Folds Five - One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces

You may, however, meet a hipster suburbanite. When in doubt, jam to Devendra Banhart. If said hipster is wearing neon raybans, you'd better go with Justice.
Justice v. Wale - WALEDANCE

Bone up on the local jams. Freak out at lyric's references to hangout spots.
Fountains of Wayne - Fire Island
Quintus - Orienta

Finally, go to college and realize you miss it all.
Miracle Fortress - Can You See in Your Dreams
All-Time ¡Quarterback! - Dinner at Eight in the Suburbs

I Luv Brinkley

Yeah, I know guys. The Civil War is so lame.

Last year I took AP American History and it was amazing. I never slacked on my weekly Alan Brinkley "American Survey" textbook notes. The same could not be said about my Physics work. I loved the crazy, little narratives that weaved their way into the course, like when Charles Sumner was beat with a cane in the House of Representatives. Or when William Henry Harrison died after only a month as President. Still, the work was grueling, and often times music kept me sane. Here's a study mix:

Prohibition was kind of stupid.
Feist - Lover's Spit (Broken Social Scene cover)

Jefferson totally fathered a child with Sally Hemings.
Tiger Lou - Oh Horatio

Reconstruction really didn't reconstruct.
US Royalty - Keep It Cool (Bo Flex Giantess Remix)

Ulysses S. Grant was a much better general than President.
Pogo - Go Out and Love Somebody

"Only thing we have to fear is fear itself" biddies!