Scissor Sisters – “Tits on the Radio” (2004)

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Tits. Can you handle it? (The word, not the tits themselves.)

I’m sure some will blush and others will shrug. What drew me into this song wasn’t the tits though, it was that sweet bass line. You can especially hear it at the beginning of the song. Oh yeah baby! That’s what I am talking about!

By the way, if the watch the fan made video note that it isn’t really Rated G, and probably not even PG-13. I’m sure you can handle it though. (The video, not the tits themselves.) Eyes up here! Oh wait… right. I’m a boy.

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Lily Allen
• MGMT
• Mika

I also suggest the music genre:

• Electroclash

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Click here for more info on Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters – “Tits on the Radio”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters

Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance” (2009)

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Somewhere in that space between Madonna and Marilyn Manson lives Lady Gaga. I don’t know as though she has the longevity of either, but who knows… she has only just begun it would appear. Her name is all over the place these days and is thus hard to ignore without some investigation by a musical slut such as myself. I wasn’t terribly impressed with the first song I heard months ago, “LoveGame”, but I am giving her another try. I am far more impressed this time around. I’m not even sure if the song is as good without the extreme visuals of the video. There is something very “The Dope Show” meets “Vogue” about the video for this song, and as it was with those videos, I cannot seem to take my eyes away. Approve or disapprove, original or not, good or bad there is something entertaining and bizarre, appealing and repulsive about Lady Gaga. Advert your eyes if you must, but don’t feel bad if you push replay button. I did.

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Madonna
• Marilyn Manson
• P!nk

I also suggest the music genre:

• Pop

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Click here for more info on Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance

The XX – “Crystalised” (2009)

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I’m feeling subdued today. Tired of the week. Tired of the needs of others placed upon me. Ready to relax and do as I wish. In need of a mental bath. A cleansing.

My job, it drains me. Too much to do. Too little time. High expectations without reality playing a serious role, or so it would seem. Compensation being reduced. Motivation lacking. It contrasts with me. I am not a slouch. I work hard. I strive for quality. I do not fail. As with all opposing forces something will give. Will I change? Will I be force out? Will I fight until I am crushed like a bug? I do not know.

Do I have to keep up the pace
To keep you satisfied

It is funny the things we put up with. Ultimately I do not need the house I live in, the car, the stuff, etc. etc. I need the food, water, shelter and clothing. The sanitation and healthcare are also a plus. But really G and I could cut so much and live so simply. I guess I’d have to give up the Internet connection, though I am more likely to give up the phone first. I wonder if the happiness of a different work life wouldn’t be worth it. Or perhaps I am just a whiny baby? I have a job after all and I believe most people would say it pays well. The stress is what gets to me though. Being forced to work to a lower level of quality than I can face. *sigh*

This song has the feeling I have right now. The flavor… a pensive beat. A thoughtful moment. A worn feeling, but not without a fight lurking underneath. Do you hear it? Do you feel it? Yes? No? Come back when you’re worn down a bit more and we will see.

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Chairlift
• Health
• M83

I also suggest the music genre:

• Dream Pop

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Click here for more info on The XX – XX – “Crystalised” (2009).

The MP3 may be purchased here:

The XX - XX

The National – “Mistaken For Strangers” (2007)

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Sometimes a band or song takes some time to grow on you. You may completely not notice them the first time you hear them, or you may even think of them as dull and boring. After listening to them for a while, they grow on you and you start to question how you did not love them to begin with? How you could ever have lived without them? I had the experience with Arcade Fire earlier this year and I’ve had the same experience with Scotch and perhaps even with G.

My latest example of this phenomenon in my life is “The National”. Everything I’ve read has told me that I should love this band. Yet at first I listened to the album “Boxer” (about 6 months ago) and thought them quite dull and underwhelming. I tried again a few months ago and no change. This past week though I decided I’d give them a serious try. I put the album on repeat and listened 3 times through. The next day I found myself wanting to listen to one of the songs again. Now, a week later, I find I am loving some of the songs, including this one “Mistaken For Strangers”. As I have noted before, familiarity is a huge factor in what music you like or do not like, and perhaps I have forced it with The National and other bands before them, but does it matter? Perhaps it is even a good thing. An acquired taste once acquired can often be far more enjoyable than the sugar laced tastes that frequently lack longevity or depth.

Give “The National” a try. And then another …and another, and report back to me.

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Arcade Fire
• Fleet Foxes
• Interpol

I also suggest the music genre:

• Post-Punk Revival

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Click here for more info on The National – Boxer – “Mistaken For Strangers”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

The National - Boxer

Midnight Juggernauts – “Tombstone” (2007)

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While searching for songs that fall into my “Zombie Rock” genre, I came across Midnight Juggernauts. I’m not sure they quite fit that genre. Close but no cigar. The voice distortion and repetition are there but the dissonance is not quite there. The desire to eat brains is not quite there either. However I could see them totally rocking a dance floor. They do seem heavily influenced by Daft Punk too if I had to guess, and I do love Daft Punk. Go Australia for the rocking electropop scene!

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Crystal Castles
• Cut Copy
• Daft Punk

I also suggest the music genre:

• Electropop

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Click here for more info on Midnight Juggernauts – Dystopia – “Tombstone”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

Midnight Juggernauts - Dystopia

Fleet Foxes – “Your Protector” (2008)

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A couple of you may have noticed I did not write this post in the morning as usual, but rather at night. My corporate overlords have decided to “help me” by providing my team with “resources from India”. Part of my job now is to teach them my job, which also means I will be less productive in my job. I am of the belief this is the beginning of the end for my current job but I have no choice. To facilitate this change I will be going to work in the early morning. I am excited about the prospect of seeing sunlight during the winter months by getting to leave work early but it is bittersweet. Perhaps if I am really successful in the transition of knowledge I will be laid off and then be able to see sunlight all day! Or perhaps because of this post I will be laid off much like Dooce and my blog will sustain me. However, given I have earned about $0.24 in referrals to Amazon after 7 months, perhaps I should fill out that application for food stamps now. I am tempted to simply refer to my Indian counter parts as “my replacements” at work in front of my boss and my boss’ boss. Spiteful? Perhaps. Funny. Definitely!

Yum! Food stamps here I come! I do like a plate of beans and rice!

Anyway, you can expect my songs of the day to be coming to you at night instead of during the day for the foreseeable future. I know all my regular readers may be put out by this… all one of you… but be strong, you and I, we will survive! On the plus side I am far more verbose and hopefully quippy in the evenings when I’m all awake fat and happy. (In the mornings I am just fat.) I can’t tell you how many times in the morning I have spent 15 minutes writing 2 sentences and literally said “crap” out loud. As I reread all I have written tonight it does all still have a “blah blah blah” quality to it. I am just not a writer I guess. Perhaps I should quit this blogging thing and go be a real DJ. Would you be sad? Would I be sad? Would my future radio listeners be sad when they hear be blabbing? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

Moving on…

So I’ve been listening to the Fleet Foxes’ album, also named “Fleet Foxes”, over and over this week. At first it just seemed like some nice chill background music, but now I am hooked. I want more, like zombies want more brains to eat. I am saddened that it is the only album, and yet overjoyed that there are additional songs by them I have yet to hear from the extended versions and the singles. The Fleet Foxes are good and I must share them with you. This song is one of the better ones I think, but the album is very solid and likely to appear on my “Must Own Albums” list in the not so distant future. Recent obsessions though… right now!

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• The Decemberists
• Grizzly Bear
• Iron & Wine

I also suggest the music genre:

• Baroque Pop

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Click here for more info on Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes – “Your Protector”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

Rodrigo y Gabriela – “Buster Voodoo” (2009)

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I rarely watch late night shows, but I just happened to be up and watching Craig Ferguson’s “The Late Late Show” after going to see Eisely in concert on 10/28. Rodrigo y Gabriela played “Buster Voodoo” and it was one of those performances where I just could not take my eyes off of them because it was so different and so impressive. I don’t care how long you’ve been playing guitar, they are doing things on their acoustic guitars you probably could only dream of. So fast. So unique.

I believe this second video is of the album version and if you listen to both, note the energy and speed of the live performance:

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Chingón
• Heart
• Martin Tallstrom

I also suggest the music genre:

• Latin Rock

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Click here for more info on Rodrigo y Gabriela – 11:11 – “Buster Voodoo”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

Rodrigo y Gabriela - 11:11

Album of the Week: Eisley – “Room Noises” (2005)

Track 11: Plenty of Paper:

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Last week on October 28th, G and I drove hours to see Eisley in Toronto for a meer half hour or so in concert. Where we live is not a good location for touring bands to come to, so we are frequently required to drive a distance to see most bands we wish to see, including Eisley from Texas. It did seem like a lot of effort to see Eisley, who was not the headliner, but it was worth it.

Eisley is not one of the most well known bands. Chauntelle, Sherri, Stacy, and Weston DuPree are all siblings and relatively recent addition to the band, Garron DuPree, is their cousin. They have toured under bands such as Brand New, Snow Patrol and Coldplay, thus adding to their credibility in the industry. I think they are a treasure in the musical world. Their songs contain elements from another world, light and solemn, but not without frolic. It was good to be able to see them perform and get a glimpse of their dynamic and personality. It was a pity they did not have more time, though they were indeed performing while quite ill. One of the sisters on guitar (Chauntelle I think) was unable to sing one of the songs and stopped it within the first measure or two, and was practically hunched over during the last couple songs, closing with “Invasion” from their 2007 album “Combinations”.

They started out in the coffee shop run by their parents, and I am sad to say it would probably have been a better venue accoustically. The Phoenix Theatre in Toronto, though a very cool space for a club/music hall, had attrocious accoustics. The sound was flat and at times I’d swear the band was being drowned out by the talking and ambient sound. Aside from the venue, I also blame the guy on the mixing board who seemed almost lost during the sound check (never promising for the band). They would be much more suited to a venue intended for an orchestra or live theatre.

Regardless I hope Eisley comes to the area again sometime as the headliner. G and I did not stay for Sherri’s husband’s band, “Say Anything”, the headliner (sorry Sherri… they’re just not as good as you guys are). We did however do our regular trip to the Canadian grocery store to pick up the goodies we are unable to purchase in the USA like Ketchup Potato Chips (think Salt & Vingear Potato Chips with a little sweetness and a little tomato flavor… so good!), Coffee Crisp chocolate candy bars, and Kinder Eggs among others. Now that Mexican Coca-Cola is available in the USA, we passed on the Canadian Coca-Cola (both made with real sugar, unlike the high-fructose crap they sell in the USA… Why do we have to go to other countries to buy better Coke when it was invented here? I don’t know.) Oh and of course we stopped at Tim Hortons, not the one in the grocery store we went to or the one in the gas station across the road, no the one on the corner between the two. (Yes, 3 Tim Hortons in sight of each other. Canadian’s love their Tim Hortons!)

I think all you Death Cab For Cutie, The Decemberists, Dixie Chicks, Imogen Heap, and Regina Spektor fans should check out Eisley if you haven’t already. For those of you who like what you hear but do not know whether to start with the first or second album, I am suggesting you start with the first “Room Noises”. It is a little more unique than “Combinations”, and perhaps a little more solid in terms of a musical theme, though I love them both, so feel to get both.

Here are my 5 favorites from the album, with “Plenty of Paper” being my favorite. It was difficult to choose the 5 because there is not a song I do not like…

Track 1: Memories
http://www.rhapsody.com/eisley/room-noises–reprise

Track 2: Telescope Eyes
http://www.rhapsody.com/eisley/room-noises–reprise

Track 4: Golly Sandra
http://www.rhapsody.com/eisley/room-noises–reprise

Track 11: Plenty of Paper
http://www.rhapsody.com/eisley/room-noises–reprise

Track 12: Trolley Wood
http://www.rhapsody.com/eisley/room-noises–reprise

Unfortunately I could not find the songs anywhere online except rhapsody.com without any video, but at least you get 25 free listens! Enjoy!

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Click here for other album suggestions!

Click here for more info on Eisley – “Room Noises”.

The MP3 album may be purchased here:

Eisley - Room Noises

Sir FiNiX – “The Haunted Music Box” (2006)

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While searching for creepy songs, I came across this little music box song by Sir FiNiX (and originally posted to newgrounds.com). It is just what one would want from a Halloween music box.

To add to the creepy, this afternoon G and I did purchase 2 rolls streamers and a bag of balloons and the total as $6.66. From the receipt…

1 BALLOONS 9IN ROUNDS 2.59
1 PARTY FAV BRT OR CRP-81 F 1.79
1 PRTY FV SCHBUS YW CRP-81F 1.79

3 Items
Subtotal 6.17
Tax .49
Total 6.66

We bought them to make paper-mâché jack-o-lanterns. How appropriate, right?! I’m sure we’ll have a devilish good time with them too!

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Coraline Soundtrack
• Final Fantasy
• The Polyphonic Spree

I also suggest the music genre:

• Halloween

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Click here for more info on Sir FiNiX – “The Haunted Music Box”.

Bruno Coulais – “End Credits” from Coraline Soundtrack (2009)

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One of the creepier (and best) movies I’ve watched this year is Coraline. I’ve been itching to watch it again because it is perfect for Halloween. The music also has an eerie tone, as large children’s choirs frequently do. Perhaps there is just something creepy about a large group of children all doing the same thing at the same time. Unnatural perhaps?

Written by French composer Bruno Coulais, the song is sung by “The Children’s Choir of Nice”. Can you hear the French? I was straining to understand the lyrics until I learned all the lyrics were intentionally gibberish, some actual words mixed in but no meaning behind the phrases:

Creaking Van Iddli Fla Lu Va
Pretty Sah Lu Feh Iddli Twu Ki Padi
Trelly Goilly Doilly Seli Pretty Chedi
Emi Swalin Gwoh
Seri Ferin Dorin Greh
Fairy Seiry Don
Sweedes Machin Twinky Doo
Fweeden Soreti

Oosi An Tweeban Retiso
Neh-Neh Fehreeden
Sindwee Bin Doh
Swin Ting Lan Twenty Some Dring Doli
Sweet Lan Bih City Tran Dolinda
Pretty Leheleni Switi Kull
Meli Swimmin So

In my search for the lyrics, I found someone has made up a fake translation. I believe it is LIES! As evidence (other than the wiki page that says it is gibberish), here is a quotation from a site that interviewed the director, Henry Selick:

Capone: So what language are they singing in. To me it doesn’t sound like a language I know. It sounds made up even.
HS: [smiles big] It is! It’s all nonsense words. You might hear a little accent, and you’re not sure, but that’s something Bruno likes to do. He uses sounds. It’s all sung nonsense.

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Serguéi Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf”
• Sarah Slean

I also suggest the music genre:

• Songs For Halloween

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Click here for more info on Bruno Coulais – Coraline Soundtrack – “End Credits”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

Bruno Coulais - Coraline Soundtrack

The Decemberists – “Shankill Butchers” (2006)

Audio Stream: http://www.last.fm/music/The+Decemberists/_/Shankill+Butchers

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Oh, they’re real! And the Shankill Butchers were “most notorious for (their) late-night abduction, torture and murder (by throat slashing) of random Catholic civilians”. The Decemberists lead singer, Colin Meloy, had much to say about it in his 2007 interview with Terry Gross on NPR (read the full script here):

…in the 1970s, there was a group of Protestants in Belfast who targeted the Catholics in the city, actually chose to use, as weapons, butcher knives and cleavers. Really, they weren’t necessarily, you know, obviously, political or religious activists. They were really, you know, cold-blooded murders, really. And they would go out at night killing Catholics essentially and, you know, gruesomely filet them alive and things like that.

…

The parents at the time would actually use it as a cautionary tale and would tell children, you know, if they didn’t do what they were told, the Shankill butchers would come and get them. And it just seemed so bizarre and so horrific to me that it almost – it’s one of those moments in history when, you know, human events actually take on the scope of fairytale, and I thought it would – so the song is essentially me imagining what sort of dialogue that would be, the mother telling the child to go to sleep or the Shankill butchers would come and get them.

A gruesome tale indeed, wrought with horror and perhaps one to many “you know”s (Oh I kid Colin… I only noticed it when I saw it in writing. Also, for the record, I love The Decemberists or else I would not have driven hours to see them in concert last year!). Seriously though, an excellent song for the Halloween song list. I wonder if my Catholic Irish mother knows the tale and if perhaps she might have had more control over my siblings and me if she had told the tale.

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• Grizzly Bear
• The Shins
• Sufjan Stevens

I also suggest the music genre:

• Baroque Pop

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Click here for more info on The Decemberists – The Crane Wife – “Shankill Butchers”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

Dog Fashion Disco – “Acid Memories” (2005)

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The opening to this song caught my attention and conjures images of monsters coming to get you. Though the song is not about that, it is disgusting and creepy on it’s own. Read the lyrics here.

I recall a scene it’s Halloween,
And I am dressed as a drag queen,
Peaking to the point of no return,
I met a man, I shook his hand,
He spoke I could not understand,
He was covered in flies and afterbirth

Gross. The flies wouldn’t be so bad, but anyone covered in afterbirth is definitely gross.

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Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• All That Remains
• Primus
• Type O Negative

I also suggest the music genre:

• Alternative Metal

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Click here for more info on Dog Fashion Disco – The City is Alive Tonight…Live in Baltimore – “Acid Memories”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

Dog Fashion Disco - The City is Alive Tonight...Live in Baltimore