My Top Artists of the Week (Dec 15 - Dec 21)

(via my last.fm)

Last week I did a lot of listening to Fall Out Boy, because I obviously love that album, and listened to a few of my tops of 2008. My list will be ready after I get back from Massachusetts. Remember last year's? Anyways, like every year, I can't listen to every album or see every movie (seriously, my "Must See" movie list has about twenty films). In retrospect, my #1 movie of 2007 would have been There Will Be Blood, but it didn't hit wide release until January 2008, so I wasn't able to see it in time for my year-end list. The same will probably happen this year. Stay tuned!

Sad news to report.

After a full week of listening to the new All-American Rejects album, I have to divulge in my disappointment. I'd rather keep this short - because it's not a ranting and raving sort of disappointment. It simply doesn't click with me, and that's sad coming from a band who always did. And, to be sure, their new songs are awesome live. Better than on the album. There's just no oomph to the production and where their first album's pop charmed me, and their last album was a basic hit parade of epic proportions, this album just falls flat.

I will say - while you won't see When the World Comes Down on my Best of 2008 albums, it definitely won't be on my Worst. I'm hoping this all changes as I continue to listen to it. Sometimes albums come around after a few listens, a few years. Sometimes they don't.

In the end, as a band, they're still tops for me.

Has anybody else heard the album? What do you think?

My Top Artists of the Week (Nov 24 - Nov 30)

(via my last.fm)

I upped the anty on music-listening last week (given that I've been doing far more reading than listening lately) because Jesse and I went on a road trip. And for road trips you must have music. That's a universal truth, right? However, since Jesse was doing the driving, I mainly let him listen to his music, except for one day. Where I got to play some old favourites out of nostalgia.

I'm still on an All-American Rejects high. And in keeping with that post's theme, I'm going to share another music-related memory - NOT about the Rejects. But about road trips and music.

In August 2005, Erica, myself, and a few others traveled from Rhode Island to her childhood home in Maine for Lobster Fest. I had recently bought Missy Elliot's The Cookbook, and loved it. But, again, I was not driving on the way up! There were four girls in the car, and all the windows were down. We sported our sunglasses and enjoyed the scenic ride up the northeast coast. At one point, in the middle of some slow-going traffic, Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" came on the radio and we immediately turned it up and started singing our lungs out. During our in-car karaoke, we passed by a bridge with three or four shirtless (& healthy-looking) young men who were suddenly jumping on the railing and then into the river below, where other swimmers were bathing on that hot summer day. We all hooted, hollered, and kept screaming Kelly Clarkson, while onlookers smiled and laughed at us. Then traffic picked up and the song ended and we were all left smiling.

Whenever I hear that song, I think of that four-minute moment. I know a lot of people associate "Since U Been Gone" with break-up vengeance and stuff, and that's cool. Do it! It's a wonderfully cathartic song if you just dumped a dirtbag. However, that wasn't the case for any of us girls at that time; we just dug the fact that sometimes even a radio-friendly pop song can bring out the silly in us. And for all the deep, meaningful and serious songs I have appreciation for, I still respect the power of any song, no matter pop or indie or emo, to elicit a response or assist in creating a treasured memory. Now I'm bordering on cliche, so I'll stop.

The whole caravan that weekend. (I'm in the middle in blue!)

Okay, I absolutely LOVE hearing stories like this from other people - stories of ONE song that you associate with one moment or a person or something. In my last post, I was intrigued by all the albums associated with periods of time...so, what about that one song? What memory does it drudge up (for better or for worse)? Even if you never comment, leave one! Anonymously if need be! I'd love to know.

My Top Artists of the Week (Nov 2 - Nov 9)

(via my last.fm)

Oh man, it's Monday! The past week was kind of a whirl with the election and how busy I was at work - and then just trying to relax it all away this weekend. Last week started out pretty anxious, so I think I tried to keep it mellow with some Cardinals and Death Cab. On November 5th, I started blasting No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom for the rest of the week - because it's one of my all-time favourites and there's nothing like Gwen's singing and some horns to keep me smiling along with my mood. Definitely "End it On This," "Different People," and "Sunday Morning" were repeated last week.

And this week? Well, I'm only three or four songs in on the new Butch Walker record, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to love it as I was already smiling to the lyrics while I walked into work this morning. It also comes highly recommended by two of my besties, Gaby and Erica, whose opinion I trust on most things musical (um, Dragonette!). Anyways, the album, called Sycamore Meadows, officially comes out tomorrow - buy it for good tunes. I'm not going to lie, there was already a song that reminded me of Butch's previous band Marvelous3 (Cigarette Lighter Love Song, anyone?!?!)

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THE WEEKEND!!!

On Friday night, our apartment had an official PARTINI GAME NIGHT. Many of our friends came over, and we had a lot of fun in our competitive exploits. There was a lot of screaming, laughing, groaning, and humming. It was fantastic.

On Saturday, we awoke to a dreary rainy day - perfect for curling up on the couch! Jesse had made reservations for a little date night at a great steakhouse in Manhattan called Ruth's Chris. It was, legitimately, the best steak I've ever had. I ordered a filet and it was perfect. PERFECT. I also did something I've always wanted to do, which was order the wine recommended with the steak. And, again, delicious! Jesse also enjoyed his ribeye. I think I probably ate most of my meal wide-eyed and in surprise of how incredible it was. Seriously.

We ordered some coffee after the meal, and I was sipping slowly (must take it all in, of course) until Jesse said, "would you want to see Joel McHale tonight?" My eyes flew up: "What...are you talking about??" And Jesse had gotten us tickets to see The Soup host do stand-up at Town Hall. It was about 715, and he goes, "We have tickets for 730..." Cue the squeal. We got up and headed a few blocks down to the venue, and settled in for the hilarity. It was a great surprise - Jesse is really good at surprising me, and really good at what he surprises me with! Joel McHale was, at one time, the only other man up for the "husband" role in my life. Yes, he has a wife and two kids, but this is beside the point: Jesse has decided to take on this particular challenge.

After the show, we headed to Justin, Ali, Tyler and Jim's place for Justin's 25th birthday party! It was a lot of fun, and devolved into games again, as it apparently always does when we're around. We played some epic games of Uno, and taught some people how to play Rummy.

On Sunday, we got ourselves out of bed and headed to a bar to see the Patriots v Bills game, which we won. Yay! The rest of Sunday I spent doing errands, cleaning up a bit, napping and reading. And today is Monday, in the second week of November, and I can't believe it!

My Top Artists this Week (Oct 27 - Nov 2)

(via my last.fm)

Wow, my weekly listening has been pretty stagnant lately, huh? Well, the reason is two-fold: first of all, I'm obsessed with Ryan Adams & The Cardinals' Cardinology and nothing else is quite fitting my mood - except for the soundtrack to High School Musical 3, which, oddly (and perhaps even fortunately) did not scrobble from my iPod. (I have a fear Efron may have overtaken DR Adams this week...). And second of all, my quality listening time has been cut short due to the fabulous book I'm reading every morning and evening commute instead of listening to my iPod. I haven't even listened to three weeks' worth of the podcast This American Life because of my need to read. (WOW, that may have been the nerdiest sentence-ending I've ever written.)

In related news, thanks for friending my on Goodreads.com! :)

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So, to the weekend festivities! Our impromptu Halloween Party was a hit! Nearly all of our friends showed up, and it was quite the costumed affair. Since Jiscilla (our resident paparazzo) was MIA, I took to the picture-taking and made sure I got all the costumes photographed! You can check them out on my Facebook album's public link HERE!

I wish I could post them all here, because nearly everybody turned out costumed and everybody who came is AWESOME. If any of you are reading, thanks for making the party! And everybody can see the pics on that Facebook link. Here's a choice few:

Kells, Gaby, and Erica were a trio of ghosts!

Arguably the best group costume: the cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia! Seriously, amazing. And, yes, they tried getting a Green Man costume, but it was sold out far in advance! (from L to R: Jim, Jimmy, Tyler, Nick, Ali, Justin, and Ben!)

Mike (as Dr. House!) and Ashli (as a unicorn) taste the jello brains that Jesse made. As you can see, he was quite proud of his party-hard concoction.

Check out the rest of my amazing friends and their costumes in the album!

On Saturday, us tennants of 410 mainly cleaned the joint, which actually wasn't too bad. Then we watched a lot of movies and ended up trying out some new board games...including one called PARTINI - you've seen the commercials, I'm sure!

On Sunday, Jesse and I went to see Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and it was definitely a return to comedy for Kevin Smith - who did NOT make a cameo! Weird. Anyway, it was highly enjoyable, though, you know, risque and with plenty of curse words. I'd say the entire rainbow of curse words. But this somehow added to it's hilarity. Also, I've always kind of loved Elizabeth Banks since her turn in Wet, Hot American Summer.

We returned for the Patriots v. Colts game, along with Sean, Jim, Tyler, and Sam. Unfortunately, the Patriots lost, but we lifted our spirits with some PARTINI! Jesse describes it as a mix of: Cranium, Name that Song, Flip Cup, Charades and Beer Pong. In one word? FUN. And our newest players enjoyed it as well, because we played three games, staying up until 130am. I will also just add that we rotated teams, and I was on all three teams that won. Yes, if you ever decide to play, you should always ask me to be on your team.

Also, please don't forget (really, how could you?!) - VOTE TOMORROW! I can't wait!

My Top Artists this Week (Oct 20 - Oct 26)

(via my last.fm)

You know when you get a new album, and it happens to be one you instantly fall in love with, and you must listen to it on repeat? Yep, that's what the new Ryan Adams & The Cardinals album, Cardinology, has done to me. Technically it's not released until tomorrow, but if you're a Ryan Adams fan, I'm sure you'll dig it just as much as I am. Each day had a different favourite song. This morning it happened to be the first number, "Born Into a Light." You all obviously know of my Ryan Adams love, I mean, if you do a search there are probably over thirty posts that show up or something (I fear to even try this experiment myself, because it could indicate stalker/obsessive behavior).

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RE: SNL !

Gaby, Erica, Jesse, and I had SO much fun at the SNL dress rehearsal. The only bum out was when we first got seated, which was in the seats to the furthest right side of the staging area, which even Jason Sudekis (the audience's off-camera host) pointed out, "all the seats here are great, really great - well, except for those [points directly at us], those seats f*ck*ng suck, sorry." They were at an angle where we couldn't see the SNL band, but it didn't worry me too much as we actually saw most of the skits, and there were monitors right in front of all the seats to view the whole show. Also, a few of the skits were right next to us or right below us; including the Mad Men skit, in which I was able to view Jon Hamm's beautiful cerulean eyes up close...

Okay, before I get too distracted by that memory - I watched the live version last night, and there were some significant differences. The skit that opened the entire show, with Joe Biden at a rally, was in the middle of the dress rehearsal and hands-down the worst one. There was hardly any laughing in the audience - which, to me, was an indicator it would probably get cut. I was shocked to see it as the opener, because the past few openers starring Tina Fey have been so spectacular, and this one was downright lame. The dress rehearsal actually opened with the Obama variety show, with guest-star Maya Rudolph (who went to school and is besties with Gwyneth Paltrow, who's married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin - yeah, useless info I put together in my head as I watched, whatevs...). It wasn't THAT much better, but definitely more snazzy and better-fitting for current events and the audience.

A skit that got notably cut was one that took place at a wedding reception, where Fred Armisen gets his old band back together (him, Hamm, and two others in graying wigs) for the bride. They're all saying great, loving things about the couple, and then the first note keys in some crazy punk rock (Fistfight in the parking lot! Fistfight in the parking lot!) and Armisen basically starts moshing with the crowd and dives into the wedding cake - it was HILARIOUS. And Jon Hamm singing backup and with a guitar was pretty sweet, too. I was cracking up SO hard during the skit, and the song got stuck in my head for the rest of the show. Why let Coldplay play again?? This skit was WAY better.

Other changes: in the Vincent Price Halloween skit, Hamm did an impression of Dean Martin, not James Mason, in the dress rehearsal - his Mason was far better than his Martin, so that was a good switch. Elisabeth Moss, or Peggy Olson of Mad Men, was not in the dress rehearsal - but Gaby and I saw her when we stepped out of the elevator, as she was going up. (Sidenote: Gaby and I rode that elevator down with Chris Hansen of To Catch a Predator, ha.) John "The Silver Fox" Slattery did make the dress rehearsal, and is apparently a big fan of Coldplay's, as he came out during each of their songs and bopped his head. Also, our credits rolled with Coldplay's THIRD (not fourth) performance, of a very messed up "Yellow" (I don't think he even sung the titular word), and Jon Hamm & Silver Fox were so bro'ing down during it - shaking hands, hugging, putting their arms around each other in a total bff way; it was both adorable and awesome. The only other skit that I don't think made it was a "playing themselves" quickie where Sudekis tries to explain Mad Men to Kenan Thompson, but gets flustered when realizing all the African-American roles in 1960 are usually relegated to service industry roles, and Jon Hamm comes along unable to help the situation. It fell a bit flat, and felt like filler, anyway.

Overall, I loved the experience - seeing the sets go up and come down in mere minutes by the nimble stagehands. Seeing Jon Hamm getting pulled off the scene as soon as the feed cut, and being dragged (literally) backstage for costume change. And all in all, it seems like a lot of work. It's quite incredible to see it all pulled off, and even more so when it's live. So kudos to that cast and all the people who make it work behind the scenes, because I would probably crumble under all that pressure!

We DID get to witness some taped skits that are supposed to air on an election special the Monday night before election day. So, you can hear my laughs then. MWAHAHAHA <---I decided to go "evil-themed" for Halloween, though it will air post-Halloween, so that was all for naught. Just kidding!

....it will still totally be funny.

My Top Artists this Week (Oct 13 - Oct 19)

(via my last.fm)

I can't believe it's Monday again. I can't believe it's October 20th! 2008! Where am I? Just kidding. Kind of. So, I pretty much listened to Against Me! all last week due to their incredible show I told you about. And the usual standby favourites of She & Him and Dragonette were there as well.

Oh - and look! It's Monty's Fan Club! So, last week there was one day that I was on my way to work, and I was tired and kind of bummed out for some reason (me being bummed out is usually a fleeting feeling, so I don't even remember why), and I was listening to the This American Life podcast when they segued a story with Warren G's "Regulate." This song immediately conjures the sounds of a Monty's Fan Club live show because they used to use the same clip to intro into their song "Handy With the Steel." And sometimes it only takes a little ska and memories of VFW hall shows to pick up my day. Of course, Monty's Fan Club became Monty, and then finally Monty Are I. They just officially announced that they're recording in LA with producer Matt Squire (Thrice, Panic! at the Disco), and I couldn't be happier for them - I'm sure the album will rock.

This week is CMJ in New York, so I may or may not be seeing a lot of shows - I'm basically going where my little music event planner Erica the Dagger takes me. I do know that I might see The Bronx, Butch Walker, The Photo Atlas, Minus the Bear, and The Hard Lessons! All of which are exciting prospects. And if I can't catch the shows, there will be afterparties. Oh, the parties.

And finally, don't forget to vote for Motion City Soundtrack for the Woodies' Best Video!!! Vote often!

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Wait, wait, wait. I didn't tell you about my weekend! Okay, there's not much to tell besides lots of kitten hangs, Fianz cuddles, and sports-watching. The Red Sox just couldn't make it this year, sadly enough, and I'm so sick of those Tampa Bay cowbells that I'm just going to go ahead and root for a National League team, the Phillies, in the World Series. Tonight is the Patriots football game versus the Denver Broncos. And by the way, we definitely plan on suiting up the kittens with their very own Patriots neck bandanas. Oh yes, there will be pictures.

My Top Artists this Week (Oct 6 - Oct 12)

(via my last.fm)

It would seem that I didn't listen to very much last week - but I did. I listened to The Matches pretty much on repeat, along with a solid day of Tegan & Sara (post live show, obvs).

It's amazing how live shows can get me so amped on a band. This weekend I saw Against Me! for the second time live (Warped doesn't count), and I was blown away again. Okay - okay - okay, let me backtrack about this weekend...

On Friday evening, after a long day at work and dismal news, I came home to find Jesse working on our now glorious living room, and so I helped with the trash and cleaning and whatnot. We reveled in the new comforts when Erica got home and invited friends over for poker and general hangs. Adam, Tyler, Sean, Gaby, Kells, and Jim made it for the fun! The night went far later than I thought - you know how digital microwaves sometimes just stay at a certain "time" when you pop the door early? Well, I thought it was 1:10 AM for about three hours. When people started leaving and I was looking at the microwave, I was like, "Weird, why is everyone leaving so early? Though I suppose I am tired..." When I went up to bed it was 4:15 AM. Oops.

On Saturday, Erica, Jesse and I went a huntin'. More on that, later. This week. (Positively!)

That night, Jesse and I went to Webster Hall to see Ted Leo & Against Me! We met up with Jonah and Steven; Steven is a bonefied cat expert, and gave us a lot of info and facts between sets, ha. Jonah sat idly by talking about his womanizing, per usual. Anyway, Ted Leo was pretty fantastic - I've never seen them live. But Against Me! blew them away. Seriously, seriously, SERIOUSLY - if you haven't heard Against Me!, check out their last album, New Wave. It kicks ass. I believe you can stream some of their stuff here.

Okay, besides their songs being rad, their live shows are such great examples of fist-pumping, everybody-yelling-along unity that I wanted to jump from the balcony into the swaying crowd below - and I've never crowdsurfed. I know a lot of people use this word about live shows, but there was so much energy in that place! They even sang one of my favourite cuts from New Wave, a song entitled "Borne on the FM Waves" - which is a duet with none other than Tegan from Tegan & Sara. Of course, Tegan wasn't there, but that didn't mean they didn't sing it. Funny enough, Jesse disappeared during the set for a few minutes and came back with a t-shirt for me: the one created for that very duet song (there's a shirt for each song on New Wave). I simultaneously sang, danced, and pumped my fist during the whole set, and during the last song, the audience started climbing onto the stage and all singing. It was a great hurrah, a winning ending to a fun show. Everybody was smiling by the end of their show - and that, in this world of musical snobbery, is a hard thing to achieve.

Okay, I think I'm done going on and on about Against Me! But, even just thinking about all that fun and that show fills me with excitement again! (nerdout)

After the show, I think we surprised our friends with our extreme dorkiness by saying we were going to head home to watch the rest of the Red Sox playoff game. Good choice at the time, epic fail of a game.

Yesterday I managed to relax most of the day, and enjoy the couch. However, me falling asleep (contacts in) in the extra innings of the Sox game the night before has left one of my eyes all red and it hurts. BAH! It continues to pain me. Last night the pain was only exacerbated by the tragically depressing Patriots game. I don't wish to talk about it!

And today, I'm at work on Columbus Day, when hardly anybody else in the city has to work, and I fear my eye is going to jump out of my head at any moment. Tonight I was going to Roseland Ballroom to see Rise Against/Alkaline Trio/Thrice/Gaslight Anthem (woah lineup, right??), but I think I might enjoy tonight better with some eyedrops and a bunch of tv from last week I need to catch up on! I heart you, DVR.

My Top Artists this Week (Sep 29 - Oct 5)

(via my last.fm)

Similar to last week, but in different rankings. Thanks for all the suggestions during last week's post, as well. I'm going to compile some of the music I haven't heard of and get on it when I have the time.

In other news, last night's Trainwreck was fantastic! I mean, I was dead after work yesterday because of the two previous night's late adventures, but I bucked up with some Venom, and had a blast! Friends, dancing, chatting, etc., etc., etc.

Tonight...there's a surprise in store. I can't reveal anything yet, as I want to do so with a picture, but I have no pictures at the moment. Hopefully it happens tonight! I'm beyond, beyond, beyond excited! Two years in the making = TONIGHT. Stay tuned.

Oh, and also, remember to keep VOTING for Motion City Soundtrack to win the Best Video Woodie Award! Again and again and again! Thank you!!

VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!

My Top Artists this Week (Sep 22 - Sep 28)

(via my last.fm)

She & Him reign supreme once again! They did have some stiff competition with the new Kings of Leon album, which, by the way, is pretty awesome.

I've been in love with a lot of female-fronted bands lately, and I decided to make a love mix for the Fianz with a female-voiced theme. In the past, I've always run into trouble making sweet love mixes because sometimes a dude singing to or about a girl just isn't what I'm trying to get across to my own dude. Also, a lot of female-voiced love songs are just straight cheesy. So I assigned myself to make a mix of female-voiced awesome songs that weren't cheesy. And by this point, I've already used my go-to girl love song anthems in previous mixes for him. Thus, I listened to a lot of woman-fronted music last week, and a lot of it new. But not all those artists made the cut. Sometimes when I make mixes, I have to listen to the "nominees" like 20 times before I decide if they're worthy or fit - or not. And all apologies, but I can't very well share my awesome little love mix with anybody but the Fianz. :)

But! I wrote that whole long paragraph with a point: if anybody has any rockin', non-cheesy, fem-vocaled music they think I'd like, make your recommendation!

And finally, I can't believe it's been nearly a year, but Motion City Soundtrack have been nominated for a Best Video Woodie Award for "It Had to Be You!" You can vote as many times as you want! So, please, please, please, please vote! I'm probably going to get PESKY with this, just saying. Also, it gives me the perfect excuse to repost this screencap of the Fianz from the video, which I still love to death:

YAY!

My Top Artists this Week (Sep 15 - Sep 21)

(via my last.fm)

Obviously, last week was Dragonette week. And apparently it's always She & Him week, ever since I got Volume One. It's still amazing. I listen to it every day without fail.

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Last night's Trainwreck Birthday was so much fun! I am so enamored with my friends and all they mean to me. Some quick highlights (Jiscilla will have pictures soon, obviously!):

- Erica went to the party store and decided to get all BATMAN themed party stuffs. Quote: "You're a bit more Batman than Hello Kitty." It's true, it's true. This included a blue ribbon pin with Batman's face and it said "BIRTHDAY HERO"!!!!! Of course, we forgot it at home. It will be on display a lot this weekend. You know, on my real birthday.

- Margaritaahhhhhs ! & red velvet cupcakes provided via Jiscilla!

- I was a total Betty last night. YEAH! High-waisted dress that hooped it a little bit. And you saw my curled hair and make-up in the last post.

- Co-birthday-er Keller's awesome ladyfriend got us cakes and the bar sang us Happy Birthday!

- A dude I haven't seen since highschool showed up. The first dude to break my teeny heart. I may or may not have relayed that to him last night. Ha! He was very apologetic. :)

- Meik! got me COMIC BOOKS as a present! SO SWEET!

- Perry totes broke out a LAMB watch for me - YES! (see how my friends are awesome?)

- DJs Rob Hitt & Erica Dagley = hearts.

- Green shirt.

- Oh hey, I am understandably angry when a friend lies to me. But, since you're no longer my friend, I guess I simply don't care. I'm pretty sure I never should have in the first place.

- I sat on a couch to rest my high-heeled feet and when I got up, I was wiping crumbs off my seat. When I got home I realized I'd sat in some chocolate cupcake crumbs, and um, it looked like I poo'd. "Poop or chocolate?!"

- Homies. That is all.

- Dancing, nerding out, loving all my friends.

- MEIK! posted a few pics on his flickr!

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Yay! It was so much fun. This weekend the fun continues...in other states! More on that later, amigos.

My Top Artists this Week (Sep 8 - Sep 14)

(via my last.fm)

I knew I'd get obsessed with Dragonette when I first heard them! I've been listening non-stop and I Surrender will be releasing it in the U.S. on October 14th digitally, and in stores on October 28th. On my last recommendation, Paula of Insert My Blog Name Here bought the album (she's in the UK, where it was already released) and became a fan -

Get into it before everybody else does, right? ;)

I'm also so totally stoked for tomorrow and Friday nights because Dragonette are playing BOTH nights and my friends and I are ready to dance. I'll obviously let you know how they are live - I have high hopes and I don't think they'll disappoint.

By the way, Trainwreck was a great success last night, and due to the word getting out about tv cameras in the midst of AK every Tuesday, the place is more packed than ever! Also, Ryan (Take the Crown) is in town visiting Perry, and stepped in to guest-DJ as Hi Deaf. Rob and Erica obviously continue to dominate the dance party jams! AND, surprise, surprise, I got a call from Steve (Monty Are I) yesterday, my dear old friend, and he was in town for the night, so I made him join the fun. Great to see him, as always; I'm super excited for the new Monty Are I album, which the band will be recording in LA for the next couple of months. The great night continued when I got home and got to video chat with Jesse, which hasn't happened in a while due to Fail Internet, but I fell asleep smiling per usual.

And, OH HEY, guess who's having a joint birthday party next week?!?!

PS, thanks for all the feedback regarding my last post and Twilight, I'm still taking any opinions, and will be tallying it soon to see if I read or not. Again, lots of polarizing feelings about this series exist!

PS2, don't forget to join my blog network if you have Facebook, and feel free to add me as a friend!

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My Top Artists this Week (Sep 1 - Sep 7)

(via my last.fm)

I feel like I "remembered" The Cardigans last week. They're truly one of my favorite bands, though, and during the 90s, I listened to their album Life on repeat. I think their breakout album First Band to the Moon is actually my least favorite, but still good. I hated Gran Turismo when it came out in high school, but now I'm obsessed with it. I love that Life seems so happy and sweet and Gran Turismo is decidedly bleak and...to me, it sounds the way a sparsely-decorated, modernly-furnished room looks. And I am not sure that makes sense to anyone but me.

Anyway, all this Cardigans-listening makes sense to me today, because I've been listening to the latest I Surrender signing, Dragonette, and yesterday I couldn't help but compare their lead singer's sweet and honey-like voice to Nina Persson's of The Cardigans. Hold on. HOLD ON! Let me digress.

I SURRENDER RECORDS HAVE SIGNED DRAGONETTE!!!

I've had the opportunity to listen to a few of their songs, as you can on their official myspace, and I am digging it! It's super electro-pop, and a lot of songs are dance-ready. Martina Sorbara's lovely voice plays up and contrasts with some sassy lyrics; it sounds great. There's already a couple of songs' hooks stuck in my head. Some of the songs are even a little Lily Allen-esque with Sorbara's inflections and when she "talks" lyrics (namely on "True Believer"). Though, I have to say, where Lily is coy but rude, Sorbara sounds sugary in the best way possible. The songs also range from familiar-but-updated sounds to bombastic bass beats. My favorite (currently) is obviously the happy circus-y love song, "Get Lucky." It reminds me of Lily + Gwen, but more smiles. Again, thinks in my brain don't make sense sometimes when I'm listening to music!

So, now you know my new obsession, and you should DEFINITELY check the band out. I'd say listen to them if you're into The Ting Tings, Gwen Stefani, Lily Allen, or even Louix XIV. And as for me, I'm beyond stoked because Gaby and Erica informed me that we'll be dance-partying next weekend to TWO Dragonette shows on September 18th and 19th. YES.

Speaking of le Dagger, I should mention that her and Rob hosted a killer Trainwreck last night post-Gym Class release party, and the likes of Kid Rock, Danity Kane, and Adrian Grenier were there. Uh, I didn't see or really care about the first two, but Adrian was right next to Sean and I when we went to get a drink at the bar. Oh hey Vinny Chase! This after spending the past weekend watching Season 4 of Entourage with Gaby and Erica, and the Season 5 premiere the night before. Anyway, the party was awesome and packed and I was sweating profusely, so Sean and I left on the last notes of MC's "Fantasy." It was awesome to see a bunch of friends I haven't seen in a while (summer travels, you know) and kind of kick-in autumn. I am excited.

EDIT - Cobra Starship's Vicky T and Adrian last night - more pics here:

He looked better than this pic. Actually, most of these pics aren't that great. But you can check Erica, Jiscilla, Perry, etc. in them; also, pic 10 - letting you know what's real every Tuesday night.

My Top Artists of the Week (Aug 25 - Aug 31)

(via my last.fm)

I'm late! For obvious reasons...but, last week Midtown reared it's head again, over She & Him. Sometimes I gotta throwback!

Also, I don't know if any of you watch Gossip Girl, but you may have heard Motion City Soundtrack's acoustic version of "Fell in Love Without You" on the show! Yeah! It's climbing the iTunes charts too, now, so get on it if you haven't already.

BUY THE ALBUM!

Or, the single itself - "Fell in Love Without You" Acoustic

Dagger, Adam, and I are off to Sean's metal show!!!

My Top Artists of the Week (Aug 18 - 24)

(via my last.fm)

Ah, She & Him reign supreme! I was a bit lazy last week, though. I didn't listen to anything new and most of the week I played my iPod on shuffle. I spent a lot of last week tired due to Jesse being back in town*, and so my commutes (aka music-listening time) were spent taking naps. I put my iPod on shuffle and skipped anything I didn't know the words to. Ha.

This week I've been listening to a few new things. Rick sent me The Dark Knight soundtrack a couple of weeks ago, and I just got to it, and it's quite good. I have a secret love of movie scores (my favorites - Shakespeare in Love, The Usual Suspects). It's eerie and explosive, as it should be; I was incredibly alert on the subway ride home after work yesterday - ha. But that's next week.

Also, Valencia's latest A Reason To Believe was released yesterday, and you should get into it if you haven't already. Buy it here. It's weird to say it, but it's old-school pop-punk. And yes, by old-school, I mean late 90s/early 2000s. See? Weird.




*It's called me going to work at 7am every day and him sleeping in and ready to "start" his day when I get home at 6pm. Just as I want to crash. Love every minute of it, though. :)

My Top Artists this Week (Aug 11 - Aug 17)

(via my last.fm)

First of all, my iPod started scrobbling again. But it didn't scrobble everything - like when I listened to three albums by Say Hi To Your Mom.

Second of all, She & Him is apparently taking over my life. I'm so obsessed.

Third of all, I am so utterly tired today I can't even write a common sensical post. I'm fried. Jesse slept on the futon last night because it was so hot in the apartment and I ended up getting about two to three hours of sleep. I definitely saw the hours of 3, 4, and 5 in my waking moments. So, in lieu of yesterday's post about being unable to focus, I am again, finding it hard to concentrate due to completely different reasons. Perhaps when I rest up after work I'll be able to tell you about our reunion and my wifey cooking powers I broke out yesterday for his arrival. Perhaps.

Two hours til home.

My Top Artists this Week (Aug 4 - Aug 10)

(via my last.fm)

Last.fm decided to suck it last week and didn't scrobble anything I had listened to on my iPod. And I basically ONLY listen to music on my iPod. So, I only have four top artists this past week. Though Ryan Adams was listened to a whole bunch, #1 probably would have been She & Him. Oh well.

Today I started listening to Say Hi to Your Mom, a recommend from both Lindsay and Rick. I've listened to one album so far, but it seems pretty mellow, Postal Service-y stuff. We'll see if I get as addicted to it as my friends.

The show last night was girl-screamingly loud and intense. I've decided (since, c'mon, this is what you DO with boy bands) that I have a prediliction for Joe. If I were fifteen years old, that is. Because otherwise, not really. I thought back to my past boy band crushes (Jordan Knight) and Joe fits the description best. Plus, Nick's Billy Joel storytelling-whilst-playing-piano bit was just a little too sentimental for me. Oh yeah, he "cried," too. Anyways, Jonas mania is over and I probably won't be writing about them much anymore here, so don't worry to anyone rolling their eyes at my last post. :)

Tonight should be lots of fun, and if you can, you should come -

I'm obviously going for the friends, the free Sparks, and not for the bands the afterparty is actually for.

My Top Artists this Week (Jul 28 - Aug 3)

(via my last.fm)

I'm a little late, forgive me. But it's been hectic! I didn't forget, though. I'd obviously been listening to Four Year Strong last week, knowing that I would catch at least one of their sets this past weekend. I couldn't believe their crowd. The band itself was energetic and hard-hitting; but the audience made it. Every single person in that crowd was jumping and throwing up their fists and completely into it.

In related news, I played She & Him in the car ride from Milwaukee to Chicago and Matt became a fan! He said he even downloaded the album that night when we got to the hotel - when we were wipe-out exhausted. I feel accomplished.

So much going on this week, I still haven't gotten to the "new" music that I'm sure will be dusty and old by the time I get to it. I just like to be able to give my full attention to new artists, and sometimes I'm so groggy in the morning and so anxious in the evenings on my way home, I can't deal with new stuff. As you can probably tell, I do most of my listening via subway commute.

I'll be wrapping up the rest of my fun weekend in a bit!

My Top Artists this Week (Jul 21 - Jul 27)

(via my last.fm)

I was a bit all over the place last week. I hadn't listened to Death Cab in a ridiculously long time and I was enjoying The National a lot, too. Towards the end of the week I started listening to Four Year Strong, something that's been on my "listen to" list for quite some time, but since it was released on the same day as another important album, I never got around to it. The album, Rise or Die Trying, actually helped me realize that I haven't heard a good, continual double-bass drum beat in a while. I think I used to be a little bit obsessed with just that sound, and now I'm stoked on seeing the band live at Warped this weekend, as I've heard good things about their live shows. Also, they're from Worcester? I'm so slow on this particular uptake (I know Gaby & Erica are rolling their eyes right now and going "duh!!!").

In other Warped news, why the eff am I seeing so much adoration for this duo Schwayze and particularly twitters, away messages, and posts regarding the supposed "hotness" of CISCO ADLER? Really? And I'm talking from people I thought had good taste - my dearest of friends, you know who you are, and I've seen your public giddiness for THIS MAN:

I can't - I simply can't - even attempt to understand why people dig Schwayze's song, "Corona and Lime," which besides describes girls going out and getting "messed up and shitty" (how endearing!), you know, actually wants a girl to be his refreshing beer. "Baby, will you be my corona and lime?" - there are many a horrid metaphor in music, I know, but this is a song that's making girls swoon?

Moving on, on Wednesday night The Dagger and I are being filmed for a certain short emo dude's tv show. More on this future embarassing-moment-caught-on-video later!

Tonight, MTV VJ Damien Fahey is DJing at Trainwreck Tuesday, and it starts a lil' early tonight, at nine, which I'm kinda glad about because I need my sleep. I hope to be dancing on that floor, so I expect good things out of the nerdy, clean-cut VJ. I already know I'm gonna prefer The Dagger's mix, but we'll see what he can pull. Come out if you're in New York! And early so we can haz dance partiez!

I leave Thursday night for Milwaukee, and am going to the Chicago and Minneapolis Warped dates as well. Also...just sayin', besides being beyond stoked to see The Fianz and a bunch of friends, this might be happening, too:

Just sayin'.

My Top Artists this Week (14 Jul - 20 Jul)

(via my last.fm)

So, last.fm decided to change the way it looked approximately a month and a half after I started using it, whatever. Unlike previous screencaps, it won't show how much the artist moved up or down each week (i.e., last week Empires was my #3 artist). Also, last.fm doesn't seem to recognize when I play certain Beatles songs on my iPod, which I did a lot of last week, so it should be in the #3-4 range. Again, whatever. And finally, no little artist icons to make it graphically prettier. Fail, last.fm.

She&Him's album top top tops it. I'm still obsessed. I also had little time or want to listen to new music last week, save for She&Him and Valencia. I have much more waiting in the wings.

My Top Artists this Week (6 Jul - 13 Jul)

(via my last.fm)

I obviously listened to a lot of my favorite ladies this past week (save for Empires). Sometimes I feel so inundated by testosterone-fueled music that I need to take a break and get with the girls before I hear another lyric about a harlot who broke your pathetic heart.

In related news, today I started listening to the entire She & Him album (I've been into one gem for the past couple of months) and it's SO GOOD. Rick recommended it months ago, and true to form, I finally got to it way after the fact. It's folksy and has a vintage throwback feel to it I just love. From their bio:

She & Him made their debut record as a love letter to the musicians who inspired it. Volume One (Merge Records) introduces a boy and girl choir hell-bent on making music the old-fashioned way: by hand - and with as few machines as humanly possible.

And in news about bands I don't like, there are a number of acts quite inexplicable to me on Warped Tour this year. I took a look at the roster when Jesse mentioned Motion City (five-year Warped vets) would be doing three weeks of the tour, and scanned over perhaps two good bands and the rest were unbeknownst to me or groan-worthy (coughjeffreestar cough katyperrycough). Don't worry: I don't feel "out of touch" because I'm not listening to a band called The Devil Wears Prada or 3OH!3. I'm kind of worried because from what I can tell, most of the roster seems to be made up of underfed boys.

Another dude had a problem with Warped 2008 as well and included this line about the Higher: "The Higher is an emo band with an R&B singer, a combination that's like reading that you're fired, then having the termination notice squirt acid in your face." That's...about right. Also, I still contend the (male) lead singer looks like Mischa Barton.

I have a bunch of new albums to listen to this week...but for now, back to work and She & Him.