Tegan and Sarah are a Canadian twin duo that I can’t get enough of. I first heard them on a live recording of their performance at an Apple store. They were entertaining and comical which makes me want to see them live. Sadly they are not coming to CO. At any rate, The Con has been out for 6 months now and I have been meaning to write about it since then. It is a great album with harmonies that make my mind happy. For some reason their similar yet very different voices really complement each other. This is especially evident in the title track. On a completely unrelated note… It’s good to be back. I hope you missed me.
teganandsara.com – myspace – hypem

Pandora : A Folk Influenced, Mellow Rock Structured, Vamped Station

      Pandora page

      Pandora page

      Pandora page

      Kyle Andrews – Your Tester Bunny

This station is one of the first Pandora.com stations that I am actually happy with. In general I have often been unhappy with the overall selection of music for each station I create, whether it be too specific or too broad or just too weird. Not that I don’t like Pandora, but I find myself switching stations too often as well as creating way too many stations. This station, however, hits the mark on overall enjoyability with little need for ‘thumbing down’. One warning, since the station hits a small niche, if you listen to it often you might get repeat songs. This can be a good or bad thing depending on if you like the songs; just be forewarned. Other highlights include Tarkio (featuring Pre-Decemberists Colin Meloy) and Heatriser (featuring Pre-solo Elliot Smith).

M.I.A’s Paper Planes keeps me coming back for more. I have been extremely addicted to this song recently. I could tell you how many times I listened to it these past two weeks but I am actually a little embarrassed. Either way I am going to have to spend some more time with M.I.A’s 2007 release KALA which I carelessly overlooked this year. Also noteworthy, this version has Mathangi sining the entire chorus and the gunshot sound effects removed; Check hypem for the origional version and further listening (I also enjoyed Rene Goulet’s Golden Girl Conspiracy mix for a more relaxing version).
miauk.com – myspace – hypem search

Amiina is a female quartet (three violins and a cello) from Iceland. If you have heard them before it is most likely through their touring/playing with Sigur Rós. I really enjoy their work; their performance in Screaming Masterpiece really impressed me (metallophones make me happy).
amiina.com – myspace – hypem search

Big Stereo is one of the main authorities when it comes to hunting down the latest of The Twelves remixes. I really enjoy the mixes and they are really what I look forward to when reading Big Stereo.
myspace – hypem search

Anyone’s Guess recently posted about Jason Schwartzman’s new musical venture Coconut Records. I really like the sound and agree with Scott that the track is “most especially felt when those choral background vocals kick in around the minute fifty mark.”
coconut records – myspace – hypem search

I am going to be AFK for about a week to go home and see my family for Thanksgiving. Here are seven of some of my favorite songs (and why) to tide you over. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Favorite song : 11th grade
The title of this song is wrong (the real title is an acronym). But the file has been wrongly named since I got it and I can’t remember the real name. Either way this band is from central, PA and I saw them live countless times. This was one of their strongest tunes.

Favorite song : driving around with band
We listened to this song over and over while driving around (to a show / from a show / to wherever). The point was we didn’t really care where we were going and we listened to this song as many times as possible; we eventually covered it pretty well (I thought).

Favorite song : skateboarding / snowboarding
The Cardigans are one of my all time favorite bands. This song in particular has been a favorite of mine to put on snowboarding mixes.

Favorite song : angsty teen
This song’s depressing realism is perfect for the angst filled teen years.

Favorite song : morning wake up
As I am sure my freshman-year roommate can attest to this, I listened to this song nearly every morning that year. The song still relaxes me beyond any other.

Favorite song : under 1.5 mins
At one minute twenty seconds length, who doesn’t enjoy this lyrical pop masterpiece. Mirah makes me smile.

Favorite song : summer
I know, I know, it is (almost) winter. This song is too good to not include it in this favorites list. I made a summer mix a few years back and it is really good and this was one of the key songs.

I hope you enjoy these. Stay safe and have a great Thanksgiving.

In preparation and anticipation for the Sigur Rós Hemia DVD release (Nov 20, US), I picked up the Icelandic pop music documentary Screaming Masterpiece. The film presents an in depth cross section of the current musical climate as well as the deep history of one of the most musically talented and original countries in the world. This is accomplished through full length song live performances from a multitude of Icelandic bands. I emphasize ‘full length song’ because it would have been much easier to only include excerpts and show more bands, however, the film impressed me with the full length songs. This is complemented by interviews with notable Icelandic music icons. Overall the film was moving and compelling as it is obvious that Icelandic bands truly ‘get it’ when it comes to music.

Music is the ultimate artform, it goes past the brain and cuts straight to the heart, you get goosebumps from listening to music, a physical response.
- Dagur Kári Pétursson (Slowbow)

I would recommend this film to anyone who is interested in Iceland or Icelandic music as well as to anyone who enjoys the music of any of the numerous bands that are included (see a few of the major ones below).
amína – apparat organ quartet – bardi jóhannsson – björk – jóhann jóhannsson mínus – mugison – múm – sigur rós – more

The Wombats‘ A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation is out (5 Nov). I picked up the album this week and it is as exceptionally enjoyable as I hoped it would be. I would highly recommend this album to just about anyone. Hopefully this release will serve as a launching platform for the band and we will hear many more enjoyably tracks from them in the future.
thewombats.co.uk – myspace – hypem search

annualsmusic.com – myspace – hypem search