When I imagine you I think of that room.

One of my favorite albums of all time is The Con by Tegan and Sara, and though I didn't like their followup entitled Sainthood, I still get excited for new music. It's probably mostly due to my subscription to Rdio, but more on that later. The only song I'd heard off Heartthrob previous to its release was "Closer," and it's a catchy electronic tune. It really set up what the album would sound like -- and it's pretty good. I have some issues with some of the songs - there's a few sounds I cringe at (particularly the intro to one song) and some lyrics are quite plain and seem uninspired in comparison to what I know these two brilliant women are capable of. The beats are fun though, and I did some cleaning tonight with them as my soundtrack. My current favorite track is "Drove Me Wild." After a few days of listening, I'd give Heartthrob a solid B.

Has anybody else listened? Thoughts?

In other music-related news...

>> She & Him announced their album will be released May 7th! And they will have a summer tour! HOORAY! Thanks to Emily from NeverBeenHeard for letting me know at the same moment that I got the She & Him newsletter in my inbox! (Also, her music blog is rad.)

>> Jason Tate, founder of AbsolutePunk.net, wrote about why he prefers Rdio to Spotify and I have to agree with him on all counts. For myself (unlike Tate, my job is not 'music'), I think Rdio has piqued my interest in music again; I might not have checked out Tegan and Sara's new album on release day had it not been available to stream on Rdio. I know for a fact I never would have checked out the Nashville soundtrack without it. By the way, Rdio sends me e-mails whenever a new song by the Nashville cast is added to streaming - these are great e-mails to receive.

>> How convenient, Rdio is currently offering up to six months of their service for free. Go forth and check it out. Thanks to Erica for giving me my own free subscription for three months originally!

>> Speaking of AbsolutePunk.net, I signed in today and realized next month I will have been a member of that site for ten years. Dude, I feel old. I remember when I first signed up as a sophomore in college, it was to read stories about Midtown, Dashboard Confessional, Drive-Thru records (and their owners), Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, etc. OLD. Yet, the site is still relevant, and that makes me happy.

>> Besides Tegan and Sara, I'm also listening to The Lone Bellow's new self-titled album. They are great at harmonizing, something I witnessed last Monday night when I saw them play a live acoustic set at the Union Square Barnes & Noble. Talent! Check check.

What are you listening to? I'm always looking for recommendations!

My windows look into your living room.

Last night was a success! After work, Jesse, Sean, James, Adam and I grabbed some Thai food pre-Tegan & Sara. Honestly, I've never been much of a Thai food fan until I met Jesse, who introduced me to Thai Iced Tea, and hell, I'll eat anything as long as I can sip on that glorious concoction.

Moving on.

We met up with Kells at Terminal Five, for my second Tegan & Sara show of the year! It was their second night in a row in New York, so I think the set list was a bit more experimental and ranging than usual. They sounded great as usual, but I liked May's set list much better. The show happened to kick off with one of my favourite songs - "Call it Off" - but I don't think it was the best way to get the show started. Yeah, let's start with the one that makes me tear up ("maybe you would have been something I'd be good at..."). Wasn't feeling it. But not to worry, those girls can sing and their performance with the band rocked. They also played "Living Room," which holds a special place in the hearts of Kells and me, because it was the first Tegan & Sara song we heard when our bestie Amber sent it to us in college. I simply love all of their songs, and they're two of the most endearing people to sing along with.

After the show, the boys and I were walking to the subway when Jesse's iPhone reported that the Angels just tied with the Red Sox in the playoff game. I immediately suggested we find a sports bar before the game ended (I suppose we're not the most typical of Tegan & Sara fans...) We made our way to Barcelona Bar, where we saw Varitek's awesome 3rd base tag-out, and Bay come round the bases for the win! Then the bar gave all the Sox fans a free shot. Drinking ensued.

And tonight, The Bronx is guest-DJ'ing at Trainwreck! I'm going to watch the rest of the debate and head to AK!

You took me out and took me in.

After a week and a half of Erica and I consuming How I Met Your Mother's first season, I can say that I love the show. On Friday night, with both of us feeling a little under the weather, we found comfort in our new friends! But before you deem us pathetic Friday-night social truants, watch the gag reel on the DVD for the first season, and tell me you didn't laugh hysterically! Also, I may or may not have a newfound crush on Jason Segel.

I met up with Sean on Saturday morning for my day as a nurse. We went into Manhattan together and I stayed in the dentist's waiting room trying to phase out all the drills I could hear by reading Twilight, while Sean got ONE wisdom tooth broken and scooped out of his mouth.

He seemed fine when he walked out, and we went to a pharmacy to purchase his meds before heading back to my apartment to spend the day "caretakering" (me) and passing in and out of painkiller-induced sleep (him). Okay, okay, I napped, too. We successfully watched most of Pushing Daisies' first season, and Sean became a fan. Yes! I talked to my parents and told them of the situation and my dad referred to Sean as our apartment's "stray cat." All signs point to yes.

After beating the brothers Walsh at another round of Rummy, I bid them goodnight and spent some time cleaning and organizing the room. On Sunday morning, Jesse texted me to say his plane had just landed and I was so excited - though, there's usually an hour or an hour and a half just to get home from any of the NY airports, so I wasn't holding my breath. However, two minutes after the text, he was at the door! He likes that suprising-trickery stuff.

I'm making up a lot of words in this post, I know.

I'll skip over the reunion barftime (go ahead and breathe that sigh of relief). A couple of hours after his return, apartment 410 SUITED UP and headed out the door to Standings, a bar that plays the Patriots game (because it wasn't on effin' tv...GRR!!). Oh, and by "suited up," I mean in our respective Pats jerseys - yeah! It was a pretty great game to watch, as the Pats won. And it was fun having some other Patriots fans to high-five as well - including JTJ and Perry, and then some strangers (a girl with a # 69 Pats jersey inscribed "Cookie" - hm). Sure, we were also surrounded by the likes of Sarti, Doug, Scott, and other non-Patriot fans, but the place had six or seven different games going on, so there was a lot of reason for any football fan to be there.

Or baseball fan. We headed home after the football game to catch the Red Sox playoff game, but after spending a whole day on my feet drinking beer and cheering the Patriots, I found myself slipping in and out of consciousness towards the end of the game - you know, at ONE AM. Doesn't the MLB know I work on Mondays? And after semi-staying up that late, they lost. Sadly.

But not-so-sadly was finally arriving at the final destination of MY BED! And cuddles. And...sleepy yay.

Tonight, you ask? What are my plans tonight?? Hm, nothing much...except for: TEGAN & SARA LIVE at Terminal Five! Hey oh! Yeah, I bought these tickets months ago and just remembered. YES!

I'm checkin' it out, that's right !

Hey-oh! My review of the Tegan & Sara is show is up now at Almack's Dance Hall! CHECK IT OUT!!!

In other news, last night's Trainwreck Prom was way better than my actual prom (omg stab me if I ever have to re-live that). So many people were there, including the elusive Katie Brown and all members of Curbside. I haven't seen Justin and Tyler in forever, and it was so fun because they got all excited to congratulate me and see my engagement ring. My friends rule. Pictures via Jiscilla, Meik, and NickyDigital forthcoming!

And, oh, the happy news of yesterday: I'm seeing Jesse at the end of May. Sixteen days! He's all "in Canada" right now, so it's been tougher than usual to talk, which obvs makes me miss him more, so I'm really really really really excited to see him. Plus, errebody on tour and Joyce, etc., etc., etc. Oh, and I'll get to celebrate his birthday.

Tonight my plans include finally RELAXING on the couch. So stoked.

EDIT! Here are a few of Meik's pictures :

Me and the J-Bomb

My LAMB dress -
The back has a big flounce and tiers down. It's awesome.

Justin, Erica, Tyler, Me, Bright Light.
I was trying to position my hands so you could see the big ring on my finger.
Too bad the light blotted it.

Erica and I: meditation

Having a laugh

I'd spend the night and I'd lose my mind.

Okay! Last night's show ROCKED. I'm currently writing a live review for Sarah @ Almack's Dance Hall (check it out for all the fun shows that go down in NYC every night!), and I'll let you know when it goes up. But for now, here's the setlist for anyone who cares:

01 Dark Come Soon
02 The Con
03 Burn Your Life Down
04 Walking With a Ghost
05 Like O, Like H
06 Take Me Anywhere
07 Speak Slow
08 I Bet it Stung
09 Are You Ten Years Ago?
10 So Jealous
11 Call It Off
12 Not Tonight
13 I've Got You
14 Where Does the Good Go?
15 Relief Next to Me
16 Nineteen
17 Hop a Plane
18 Back in Your Head
---
19 Fix You Up
20 Living Room

[Tegan and Sara, Terminal 5, May 12, 2008]

James, Sean, and I had a great time! It'll all be in the review - which I should go finish up. :)

Albums.

Tegan & Sara's "The Con" is taking over the #2 spot this year so far.

The album is beating Ryan Adams, but "Easy Tiger" didn't play on repeat for two days straight. He'll have to settle for #3.

And it's hard to be unbiased, but "Even if it Kills Me" is the best thing I've heard this year. I'm completely serious. The amount of repeats of that album can't even be counted anymore...