Having one of those times where what I'm actually listening to is much different than what I want to be hearing. Does that make any sense? I better grab the iPod by the click wheel and queue up some of what I'd like to enjoy. Anyway, here's what I'm listening to whether you dig big names or not:
Hard Candy, Madonna
This album isn't bad! Some of the songs are pretty dang catchy. (Get down! Beep Beep! Gotta get up outta yer seat!) It has a bit of a period piece element, as if Madonna & company decided they missed the roller skating, funk and disco of the late 70's and figured they might as well make a record. The thing that troubles me about it is I can't help but feel if someone other than Madonna had recorded it, it would be their breakout or at least get them on the charts.
Good for: Cleaning the house, pretending you can roller skate, reading about Fire Island
Viva la Vida, Coldplay
Alright. I haven't really listened to it intently or with any seriousness. But as I was driving through the haze of Virginia this tune came on... sounded like a country act happening into a surprise crossover hit with a political song. The DJ came on and just gushed to the effect that he hates Coldplay but loves their new album, and you just heard "Violet Hill." That struck me, so we nabbed the album and intend to hit play on it more.
Good for: Figuring out what the fuss is all about, coffee shop music, Coldplay fans who believed they'd be back
Hodge Podge
- A little Tom Petty (some recent stuff + some Mudcrutch, right on!)
- A smattering of Beatles
- A pinch of Missy Elliot
Good for: Thinking about playlists I'll never actually make, finding the perfect song for a fleeting thought, wondering if artists think about their legacy when they record their works.
So inspire us all: What are you listening to?
________________
Julia Schrenkler
Interactive Producer
Minnesota Public Radio
American Public Media
Objects in Mirror
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 21
Great tune!
If you want some good summer country, I'd suggest Max Stalling - his voice goes down as smooth as a beer while barbequeing. And uncommonly literate for the genre at that.
Damien Rice too.
Tilly & The Wall - O
The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing
The Submarines - Honeysuckle Weeks
The Cars - Anthology
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits (inspired by watching the documentary "Running Down A Dream")
Sloan - new one
The Fratellis - new one
and a little shuffle for July:
Leonard Cohen - Closing Time
Lily Allen - Everything's Just Wonderful
The Cars - Candy-O
Utopia - The Very Last Time
The Submarines - Maybe
Missing Persons - Words
Rancid - Junkie Man
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
Amy Rigby - Time For Me To Come Down
Texas - So Called Friend
Tullycraft - Rumble With the Gang Debs
Green Day - Extraordinary Girl
The Knack - My Sharona
Chris Isaak - Fade Away
Joy Division - Disorder
Jon Hassell & Blue Screen - Zeitgeist
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile)
Flight of the Conchords - Hiphoppopotamus vs. Rhymenocerous
Keller Williams - Life
Lou Barlow - Mary
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Nature Boy
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp!
Men Without Hats - Where Do the Boys Go?
Sex Pistols - Bodies
NIN - Closer
Robert Plant/Alison Krauss - Polly Come Home
Honeymoon Suite - New Girl Now
Leon Redbone - Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)
The Thompson Twins - The Gap (remix)
Michael McDonald - The Eyes of A Child
Anyway, Julia, I like to listen to music of musicians that I'm planning to see in a live gig. I haven't purchased my ticket, yet, but I'm listening to the Iguanas and Los Lonely Boys, both of whom will be at the Minnesota Zoo in August. Habib Koité will kick off the Pan Africa Festival at the Cedar Cultural Center in early August and I've a couple cuts of his on compilation CDs.
I'm doing major driving this week as I schlep two kids to summer camp. I spend those three hours of daily drive-time rocking out to an oldie, but fav: Live From the Left Coast by you-know-who.
Anyway, I am listening to whatever seems good. Country, Classical, Classic Rock, Soundtracks, whatever I feel like.
It's called the St. Paul and Ramsey County Libraries. Lots of stuff gleaned from CDs. Although, to be fair, a majority of the songs on the list were purchased in one way or another. I'm not a complete criminal.
I haven't listened to my CD's at all in the last three months or more, nor do I listen to the FM Radio any more at all. I want background music only for some reason now.
Check out the I Will Possess Your Heart video.
new names: Self, Wired All Wrong, and Call Florence Pow all of which are related to:
Apes and Androids
myspace
"Blood Moon" has become my current album of the year (yes, passing up both King's X and the mighty Ours). I can't get enough of this thing right now. It's pretty much a perfect record that continues to grow on me more every time I play it. Reminds me of SSTP in that way. Very ORIGINAL sounding, even with the elements of other bands. They somehow have carved out their own unique sound.
riyl: Queen, Bowie, Prince, Thomas Dolby or experimental 80's sounding synth-rock rock-operas.
Here's my review:
allmediareviews
myspace
later this month the 1st of 3 new Margot and the Nuclear So and So's releases is expected to drop. Then next month, the new Woven among some others.
Here's my entire 2008 albums list some stuff is moving there and more stuff to be added soon I suspect.
still listening to Cathie Ryan and Carrie Newcomer, their latest releases [The Farthest Wave
from Ryan.
also
Maria Dunn, We Were Good People
Emily Smith, Too Long Away
The Barra MacNeils, Album [20th Anniversay collection]
Mary Black, 25 Years 25 Songs
Mary Black, By the Time It Gets Dark
Crooked Still, Still Crooked
Garnet Rogers, All That Is
Yesterday was all about the 40th Symphony, today is piano quartets.
I never run out of Mozart.