listen to me! i'm on the stereo, stereo.

I have made mixes for quite a few people in between this and "The Mixed Tape" post, but I particularly want to share the one I put together for my bandmates. [We're indie/shoegazey, I'm the singer, we don't have a name yet, and I will definitely give more details when we do...] Anyway, this mix cd was meant to inspire songwriting, to help with band bonding, and to show some of the songs that I've been loving. Here it is:

1. starrsha- ringo deathstarr
2. sixteen- skywave
3. 23- blonde redhead
4. bled white- elliott smith
5. blue jeans*- blur
6. the drowners- suede
7. blasphemy- miracle fortress
8. all things ordinary- the anniversary
9. everything's alright when you're down-
the jesus & mary chain
10. stereo- pavement
11. angry mulch- voxtrot
12. summer babe- pavement
13. welcome to new jersey- the glands
14. center of the universe- built to spill
15. the only moment we were alone- explosions in the sky

* "Blue Jeans" shows up on basically every mix I make because it's just that meaningful. I also repeated "Summer Babe" because it's a pretty solid example of a song I'd like to emulate.

i had a name. i let it leave me.

[I haven't written extensively about Voxtrot because they have been in some sort of limbo since I started this blog. They are one of my favorite bands, but I have not heard the real deal on why things are on hold. I have my ideas, but I can't stop hoping that they'll get it together and start work on a new album. Regardless, they are worth talking about and I won't put it off any longer.]

For the past few years I have been into Voxtrot, an Austin-based indie band. I stumbled into them on Myspace, took in a few shows, and have been obsessed ever since. I don't want to get into a lot of background in this post, but I will say that each of their EPs is worth listening to for different reasons.

Often times it is telling to listen to a band's rare or unreleased tracks. Lately, I have been favoring "The Warmest Part of the Winter" because it highlights Ramesh Srivastava's tender vocals, a slide guitar line, and introspective lyrics. There is a melancholy tone in the melody giving a sobering view on love. When Voxtrot recorded their full length album, I think they lost touch with some of the simplicity found in this song.



I would also recommend "Angry Mulch" and "They Never Mean What They Say," though MP3s are hard to come by at this point.

my president is black, my lambo's blue.

Young Jeezy - "My President"


Nas - "Black President"


P.S. Do you think Pac cares that Nas sampled him when it's a matter of civil rights? I feel he'll be watching from the sky tomorrow and loving it all. Holler if you see me at the inauguration!

they call you sentimental.

In my previous post I mentioned that I've been listening to a lot of The Glands. As with many of this fall's discoveries, they came to me in a 14-disk package sent by a west coast enigma. Introducing me to The Glands was a good choice because they have sucked me in. I have trouble explaining why I love them so much, I think because I feel an emotional connection to the songs. They hit me in a reminiscent way as though I've been hearing them for years and am revisiting the story. Lyrics which may seem simple have an eloquence and elegance in execution. Musically, they benefit from many unique influences and are a bit Guided By Voices or Pavement-esque. I have heard them described as "high-quality '90s college radio fare" and I can't say that I disagree.

My question is why this band never achieved greater recognition or even a cult following. Reading articles about them from the late 90's and early 2000's, it seems like the journalists put The Glands as being poised for success. Their self-titled sophomore album (2000) was hailed as "...an indie-rock masterpiece" (9 of 10 rating) by Spin Magazine. Today that is juxtaposed with the same record being on a list of "the best indie albums no one's ever heard." No one really knows if they broke up, and there is a cloud of mystery surrounding their period of silence. There is also a third album in limbo due to a rumored squabble with the Capricorn label. Ultimately, I want to disseminate information on The Glands because I believe in them at a high level. With the right marketing, or a few years later, this band could have blown up. I sincerely hope that they have more to bring to the table.

The following are snippets of my most highly recommended songs:

• Fortress by The Glands
• Welcome To New Jersey by The Glands
• Skin by The Glands
• When I Laugh by The Glands

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and everything is going to the beat.

This cold and dreary winter I have had trouble locating my normal and healthy amount of musical inspiration. It's been more difficult to find a song that can both calm me down and hype me up. Instead I have been huddled under the covers with 23 (2007) by Blonde Redhead, The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003) by Explosions in the Sky, and various lyrical lo-fi tracks by The Glands. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, I need something with more pep. I need something that suits blustery, yet helps me forget my blues.

Passion Pit are quickly filling the void with their addictive melodies and electronic charm. They mix layers of mellow with hyper synth and falsetto vocals. "Sleepyhead" is my favorite so far- it's in a commercial, but who cares. It's been stuck in my head for three days straight. "Live to Tell the Tale" is also highly recommended, with its tender vocals and dreamy synths.