March 15, 2009
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Antony and the Johnsons - Kiss My Name

When I first heard about Antony and the Johnsons, I wasn’t quite sure what to think.  I agree with Pitchfork’s “Best New Music” category about 50% of the time, and the album cover really weirded me out.  Then, I saw this video and I was intrigued.  I’m still not sure how I feel about the album or artist as a whole, but “Kiss My Name” is interesting and catchy, and I’m excited to explore a little bit more of Antony’s catalog.

March 15, 2009 - 3:04pm   |   PERMALINK
FILED UNDER: antony and the johnsons music song of the day 
March 10, 2009
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Cat Power - Fortunate Son

I’m not going to get into an exhaustive breakdown of it, but I love this song.  She takes a CCR classic, eases it into a jazzier, more intimate rhythm, and then does what she does best - sing.  This sort of song is exactly why she’s one of my favorite female vocalists, and is just one among a pack of excellent covers she has done in the past couple of years.

March 10, 2009 - 11:35pm   |   PERMALINK
FILED UNDER: cat power music song of the day 
March 8, 2009
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

“Southern Point” is my favorite track off of Grizzly Bear’s new album, Veckatimest.  I still can’t believe I have it now; it’s not going to be released for over a month and a half.

I think the whole album is killer, but I keep coming back to this song.  It’s got all the Grizzly Bear sound, but with some decidedly new twists.  I’m in love.

March 8, 2009 - 2:53pm   |   PERMALINK
FILED UNDER: Grizzly Bear song of the day music 
January 5, 2009
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Song of the Day: DLZ by TV on The Radio

A lot of “best of” lists put TVOTR’s latest album, Dear Science, near the top of the album lists, but on the track lists the also-good “Golden Age” was the reviewers darling.  DLZ, however, is sick and so it is my song of the day because it deserves a lot more attention.  That’s all, I’m too tired/sickly to write a proper breakdown.  

January 5, 2009 - 9:07pm   |   PERMALINK
FILED UNDER: Song of the day TVOTR 
January 3, 2009
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Song of the Day: Skinny Love by Bon Iver

When it gets down to it, this is probably my song of the year for 2008.  It’s a fine balance between haunting and buoying, and truly one of the highlights on Bon Iver’s excellent debut, For Emma, Forever Ago.  

The whole album was recorded in a shed in Wisconsin, so I’m excited to see what he can do with a little more (but not too much) added production value.  Much of this album’s charm, as with Iron & Wine’s earlier work, lies in the raw, unadorned nature of the songs, and I hope that he can either keep that aesthetic alive or make as successful a transition to a fuller sound as Iron & Wine did.

January 3, 2009 - 8:19pm   |   PERMALINK
FILED UNDER: song of the day Bon Iver 
January 2, 2009
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Song of the Day: Chinese Translation by M. Ward

Speaking of She & Him, the other half of the duo, M. Ward, has an excellent solo album, and this is one of my favorite tracks.  He really hasn’t gotten nearly as much play as he deserves, but hopefully his other endeavor can raise his profile.

Back to school tomorrow…

January 2, 2009 - 9:32am   |   PERMALINK
FILED UNDER: song of the day she & him m. ward 
January 1, 2009
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Song of the day for New Year’s Day: a crazy remix of “A Milli” off of the Carter III.  With this, as with several other remixes, it’s hard for me to decide which I like better, the original or this version.  The way the “mothafucka I’m ILL” line drops in this remix is especially standout compared to the album version, and I love it.

January 1, 2009 - 1:22pm   |   PERMALINK
FILED UNDER: song of the day lil wayne