Sunday, December 12, 2010

Top 50 Songs of 2010

I already posted my Top Albums of 2010 on my other blog, Multitracking (A Mix Exchange), but as with any good year of music, it's impossible to only showcase the best 10. While I'm more confident than I've ever been in my choices, I also feel like I have a staggering number of other GREAT albums that didn't make the cut, for one reason or another. Many of these albums I like top to bottom, but don't get geeked out about the way I do the ones on my top 10. Some of these songs are the ONLY ones I like on the record. I suppose which is which is best left a mystery.

I was going to control the number/order of these, but they're really in no particular order except the first one. I suggest digging as deep as you'd like into all of them. I added handy links to videos and such to make it even easier to jam.

Although the list is somewhat daunting, I suppose the fact that I felt this many were good enough to post is a sign that good music does indeed still exist.


1) Isaac Russell - "Lighthouse" [from Isaac Russell EP]

2) Tobie Milford - "Tiny Eucatastrophes" [from Alyosha]
http://www.vimeo.com/5645436

3) A Lull - "Weapons for War"[from Weapons For War/Spread it All Round EP]

4) Kinch - "Sunken Treasure" [from This is Flying Blanket Vol 2]

5) MGMT- "Congratulations" [from Congratulations]

6) Rocky Votolato- "Lucky Clover Coin" [from True Devotion]

7) Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs - "For the Summer" [from God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise]

8) Surfer Blood - "Floating Vibes" [from Astro Coast]

9) Mark Ronson and the Business Intl f/MNDR - "Bang Bang Bang" [from Record Collection]

10) Brian Lopez - "I Pray For Rain" [from El Rojo]

11) S. Carey - "In the Dirt" [from All We Grow]

12) Ted Leo and the Pharmacists- "The Mighty Sparrow" [from The Brutalist Bricks]

13) Coheed and Cambria- "Guns of Summer" [from Year of the Black Rainbow]

14) Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos "Will You Love Me Forever" [from Buzzard]

15) Brandon Boyd "Runaway Train" [from The Wild Trapeze]

16) Raining and Ok "Safety Net" [from Living Like a Ghost]

17) Midlake - "Acts of Man" [from The Courage of Others]

18) Back Ted-N-Ted - "The War is Over" [from The Mirror]

19) Erick ARC Elliott - "Plane" [from Noir]

20) Snake! Snake! Snakes! - "City At Night" [from Snake Snake Snakes EP]

21) Oh Land - "White Nights" [from Oh Land]

22) Mt. Desolation "Departure" [from Mt. Desolation]

23) Nada Surf "Love and Anger"(Kate Bush Cover) [from If I Had Hi Fi]

24) Motion City Soundtrack - "Her Words Destroyed My Planet" [from My Dinosaur Life]

25) New Politics "Yeah Yeah Yeah"

26) Skybox "Trout" [from Morning After Cuts]
and
"In a Dream" [from Morning After Cuts]

27) Rogue Wave - "Solitary Gun" [from Permalight]

28) Josh Ritter "Change of Time" [from So Runs the World Away]

29) Weezer f/Sara Bareilles - "If You're Wonder if I Want You To" [from Weezer Raditude (Special for Record Store Day 2010)]

30) Young Man - "Five" [from Boy]

31) Two Door Cinema Club - "Do You Want it All?" [from Tourist History]

32) Vampire Weekend - "White Sky" [from Contra]

33) Dinosaur Feathers - "Teenage Whore" [from Fantasy Memorial]

34) Kings of Leon- "The End" [from Come Around Sundown]

35) Arcade Fire - "Empty Room" [from The Suburbs]

36) Jukebox the Ghost - "Empire" [from Everything Under the Sun]

37) 2AM Club - "Flashing Room" [from What Did You Think Was Going to Happen]

38) Gospel Claws - "Walk Me Down" [from C-L-A-W-S]

39) Miniature Tigers - "Dark Tower" [from Fortress]

40) Young the Giant - "Cough Syrup" [from Young the Giant]

41) Austin Gibbs - "I Like The Ones" [from 1986]

42) The Maine - "Inside of You" [from Black and White]

43) Black Dub - "Surely" [from Black Dub]

44) Ra Ra Riot - "Boy" [from The Orchard]

45) Taylor Swift - "Back to December" [from Speak Now]

46) Horse Feathers - "Starving Robins" [from Thistled Spring]

47) Kopecky Family Band - "God and Me" [from The Disaster]

48) Band of Horses - "Evening Kitchen" [from Infinite Arms]

49) Stephen Steinbrink - "Wet Cloud" [from It's Not Just Kissing]

50) Ry Cuming - "Always Remember Me" - [from Ry Cuming]



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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A 90's Mix for Peter the Intern


Today I was talking with my intern about the music that "raised us". Now, I'm not that old, but he was born in 1990 and therefore missed out on a lot of sweet jams while he was busy learning to walk, read and speak. I mentioned how I used to hide the Alanis Morrissette album from my Mom and he gave me a blank look. DUDE DIDN'T KNOW ALANIS! Additionally, he was only three years old when the Bayside High School Senior Class of '93 graduated. The next few generations of interns are just going to get younger, and frankly, I'm worried about kids who lived in a world without first-run Saved by the Bell.

Therefore, as a goodbye gift for his hard semester of work, I decided to make him a 90's mix. Again, I wasn't that old and not as aware as someone in high school or college, but you know what? I watched a lot of rom-coms growing up and these were always in the background, so I'm well versed in the hits. I threw in some punk and Pavement for good measure, as well as a few other hidden gems. Some of my Twitter buddies were interested in what the final compilation would be, so here it is. . . (in no real order, yet)

1) Alanis Morrissette - "Head Over Feet"
2) Bic Runga - "Sway"
3) Dave Matthews Band - "Crash Into Me"
4) Edwin McCain - "I'll Be"
5) Gin Blossoms - "Til' I Hear It From You"
6) Counting Crows - "A Long December"
7) Foo Fighters - "Everlong"
8) Goo Goo Dolls - "Broadway"
9) Green Day - "She"
10) Pavement - "Stereo"
11) Nirvana - "Drain You"
12) Sister Hazel - "All For You"
13) The Wallflowers - "One Headlight"
14) Elliott Smith - "Miss Misery"
15) Deep Blue Something- "Breakfast at Tiffany's"
16) Ben Folds Five - "Kate"
17) The Cranberries - "Linger"
18) The Juliana Theory - "Into the Dark"
19) Weezer - "The Good Life"
20) The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - "Someday I Suppose"
21) MXPX - "Chick Magnet"
22) The Verve - "Bittersweet Symphony"
23) The Refreshments - "Banditos"
24) NOFX - "Linoleum"
25) Tal Bachman - "She's So High"
26) The New Radicals - "You Get What You Give"
27) Save Ferris - "The World is New"
28) Jeff Buckley - "Grace"
29) Jane's Addiction - "Jane Says"
30) Coyote Shivers - "Sugar High"


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Saturday, August 14, 2010

The Mix Tape Challenge : #1 "A" to #287 "Another Love Story"

I'm about four days into "The Mixtape Challenge", and still sort of unclear as to how exactly I'm going to document it. However, here are a few things I do know:

1) Holy cow, I have a lot of songs: Obviously I knew the number was upwards of about 9,000, but I guess I thought I consumed more songs on average than I actually do. I've had my iPod on during my morning and evening commutes, as well as at work most of the day, but I'm only about to break 300. This might take a while.

2) I'm not always conscious of what I'm listening to: Although I'm not consuming like I thought, I must listen to enough music on a regular basis that it's often just background noise. As I mentioned before, I work in an office that encourages listening to music, and most of my jobs, all the way down to when I was a hostess or cashier, involved music playing at all times. I'm able to function easily with all four of my department/office mates playing music and listening to my own. But between phone calls, getting into a project, etc, I'll have passed 20 songs and not known what they were.

3) I have some really bad music: I'm still very much an "album" person, so most of the time if I like one song, I'll grab the entire album. But sometimes, someone really does just write ONE good song, and I came across a few of those. I'm sorry Nick Cave, but "Abbatoir Blues" starts off great, but is unlistenable after.

4) I have a short attention span: Which is why this project came to be in the first place. This almost came to a halt at the start when I realized that "A" by Cartel, my very first song, was 9:45 seconds long. And then one sleepy morning I just didn't feel like rocking to "All Downhill from Here" by New Found Glory or some afternoons needed something more upbeat than "Alone Apart" by The Swell Season". But I stuck through most of it, regardless of my mood.
So there's that. In the interest of time, if I'm more conscious of the music, I'll give a lot of these songs the "3/4 rule", and if it's something I don't really dig, I might skip over it after a long enough point. At least then, I gave it somewhat of a shot. Again, I'm not sure how to articulate this process, but for now I'm going to go through some of the songs and what came up as I heard them again.

"A" by Cartel - "Another Love Story" by Jeffrie's Fan Club
  • I have five different versions of Elliott Smith's "Angeles". What's funny is I got to thinking that he's one of my only Top 10 artists that I have never and will never see live, yet that's never bothered me until now.
  • I have sooo many songs that begin with "All". I thought it would never end.
  • I really looked forward to when I hit "Alternative Baby" by Reel Big Fish. What a great song.
  • I got really into the band Centro-matic in high school, but despite their expensive discography, I could never find their older albums at my local record stores. It wasn't until I went to LA and browsed the Ameoba Records candy shop that I found at least three of their records, including Distance and Climb. The funny thing is, I never really got into the rest of them, although hearing "Actuator's Great" makes me want to revisit.
  • Drew Danburry is the MAN, and "Accidentally" is a great song.
  • For a lot of the songs, the Daytrotter.com version comes before the album version, and it's really cool to hear them back to back. They are still one of my favorite out-of-the-box music developments in years.
  • I probably should have been in college in the 90's, because I LOVED when Goo Goo Dolls "Acoustic #3" popped up.
  • Further Seems Forever "How to Start a Fire" was such a great record.
  • I felt the need to apologize when Dashboard Confessional came up, even though no one said anything.
  • The Hippos still have one of my favorite covers ever with "Always Something There to Remind Me"
  • Mostly Bears' live version of "Airports" breathes an entirely different life into the song than the album version. I suggest starting with their live album "Team of Spirits" and then circling back to the records.
  • I had to skip over "American Idiot" by Green Day because there's a good chance I heard it in a grocery store or salon recently anyway. That song is STILL everywhere.
  • I unapologetically listening to ALL 8:34 of "American Pie" at my desk.
  • I have an old demo of Dear and the Headlights that I still have named "Andrea" (because I didn't have any of the tracklisting back then and they say 'Andrea's in the room kickin her shoes off). I know it's "Daysleeper", but I will always use the original file name I made up.
  • While I skipped some of my duplicate songs (ie-if I had a live version and album), I listened to ALL three versions of Matt Nathanson's "Angel".
  • I skipped the bootleg I had of Annuals at Bowery Ballroom from '08 because the quality just isn't that good. I should probably just delete it. (still an awesome band though! just bad recording)
  • Lucky song #222 is "Analog Boy" by RX Bandits, and it still rules.
  • Band of Annuals is a nearly perfect band. "Amy's Great Escape" from their first record is excellent.
  • "Ambling Alp" is STILL the only Yeasayer song I like.
  • In a time where a lot of bands are getting back together (Something Corporate, No Doubt) hearing Jeffrie's Fan Club say "Only because we're never gonna play this again" from their Last Show at The Glasshouse was really sad, knowing they never did.
  • Apparently I have just as many songs that start with "Another", which is where I pick up again tomorrow. Til then . . .



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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The Mix Tape Challenge


One time, when I was in college, I was walking across campus to go home when I ran into my good friend Adam Pah skating to class. I almost always had my iPod and headphones on me, as did he, and we exchanged conversation about what we were "rocking". (I literally say it that way, I'm kind of embarrassing) He mentioned that he was trying out a challenge to listen to his iPod on shuffle and NOT skip over anything, and challenged me to do the same. I took my iPod and put it in my purse, getting through about half the parking lot before a song I didn't really like came on and I skipped right over it.

I think about this encounter a lot as I go through my day to day. I live in New York and since 99.9% of my commutes involve public transit, I ALWAYS have my iPod on me. I'm also fortunate to work in an office that encourages music-listening at our desks, often inciting a hilarious "speaker war" between our respective offices. I am constantly around music, only recently replacing my morning music shuffle routine with watching the morning news.

The funny thing is, despite how much music I constantly consume, I still find myself skipping songs over and over and over, even if it's a song I know I love. I've ended up with about 9,500 songs total, which according to my iTunes is about 25 days worth of music. I can't even imagine how many songs are buried deep within my library. There are probably records I don't even remember buying and since I upgraded to the 160gb, I loaded on records I hadn't had room for but were still on my hard drive. It's sometimes overwhelming.

Today I was listening at work and shuffling through, laughing to myself that it would be funny if I finally reached the end of ALL of the songs. And then I remembered Adam, and our conversation, and I was suddenly inspired.

What if I listened to every song on my iPod uninterrupted?

I realize this is twice as daunting as my "The Loop" series (where I wrote about my top records of the last decade - about 150 or so) I am going to make myself listen to each song - the entire song - no matter what it is. However, I'm not necessarily going to put a time limit on it, which should make thing a little easier/rational. I initially thought I'd just hit shuffle and go, but I know my iPod will restart itself if I plug in to add a new record, etc. The only real way to do this is to go through my songs in alphabetical order - that way I can jot down where I start and stop. I know I'll be adding new music during this process (it's amazing how you can "accidentally" end up with about 6 or 7 new albums thank to Amazon.com's $5 deals) and taking breaks to listen to full records, which will probably be necessary. However, this is more about revisiting songs that I had forgotten about. This means every embarrassing ska song, live bootleg, half-demo and emo ballad that exists in my catalog. I had them for a reason at some point, and I want to remember why.

So there you have it. I'm not sure what form this will take quite yet, most likely checking in periodically, talking about songs from one stopping point to another, digging up videos/streams/memories/etc.

I issue this challenged to YOU as well, if you're up to it. I'm honestly sort of nervous about it even now that I've fleshed it out, but I'm excited to see what I discover.

First up : "A" by Cartel

Ready. Set. Go.


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Thursday, May 13, 2010

How the Notes All Bend: What Laura Says and Annuals @ The Empty Bottle [VIDEOS]

I took an impulsive trip to Chicago last weekend, not only to visit some great friends out there, but to catch a tour that I just so happen to be out of town for next month in NYC. This tour features two of my favorite bands, including a band from Arizona that I have been championing for years, What Laura Says as well as the never-fail-amazing-live-set band Annuals.

What Laura Says released their debut full-length, Thinks and Feels on Terpsikhore, a label run by members of Annuals after meeting each other by playing together in Phoenix. They are set to release their latest album, Bloomcheek on June 8th and are touring with Annuals across the country as we speak. The buzz for this band is tangible, and the record itself speaks volumes to their talent, capturing the energy of their much-talked-about live performance and connecting the dots in an outstanding way.

As for Annuals, there was one point in my life where I remember saying that if I could only see one band live the rest of my life, it would be them, and gosh darnit, that's still holds pretty true. They seem to have a new show every time, and as you'll see in the "intro" video, they've added even more live elements on top of what's going on musically on stage. I was fortunate to catch my favorite song, "Brother", which you'll see below. Unforunately the venue was pretty dark, but the sound turned out really well and I think you get the idea :)

It's shows like this where I step band and think how fortunate I am to do what I do, as a fan or otherwise. I am supremely geeked out for the music What Laura Says is about to unleash on the world and for the example that Annuals has set for live bands everywhere. It just plain feels good.

What Laura Says "On the Fence" (new song!)

What Laura Says "On the Fence" @ The Empty Bottle from Seven Watt Media on Vimeo.



What Laura Says "July 23" (extended version)

What Laura Says "July 23" @ The Empty Bottle from Seven Watt Media on Vimeo.



Annuals "Hot Night Hounds" Drum Intro (amazing!)

Annuals "Hot Night Hounds" Intro @ The Empty Bottle from Seven Watt Media on Vimeo.



Annuals "Brother" (my favorite song of theirs)

Annuals "Brother" @ The Empty Bottle from Seven Watt Media on Vimeo.

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

How the Notes All Bend : Miniature Tigers "Bull Fighter Jacket" 4/21/10 [VIDEO]

It's no mystery that I'm a huge cheerleader for Arizona music, despite having moved from the state nearly two years ago (really?) It became such a big part of me and I get beyond geeked out to see some of my favorite people continue to find success in music, because they make GREAT music. Miniature Tigers is a prime example.

The funny part is, I actually hadn't met them or seen them live until AFTER I moved to New York. For one reason or another I had missed when they played in AZ, although I used to play some of their songs on my radio show. Regardless, I'm happy to have jumped on the bandwagon when I did, because it's been such an amazing ride to watch. They have been on tour the majority of the two years I've known them, with everyone from Ben Folds (seriously), Say Anything, Fun., Dear and the Headlights, etc. This was one of the first times I was able to see them play a full headlining set, on the tail end of their tour with The Morning Benders. Charlie has joined our ranks as an AZ transplant living in New York, so it's fun to see them as well received here as they were when I saw them in Phoenix around Christmas.

At any rate, they're well on their way to serious buzz band status. Their new album "Fortress" will drop this Summer, and believe you me, there are some SERIOUS jams to look forward to. I was able to catch one on film below, the song "Bull Fighter Jacket". Keep your eyes on these tigers.

Miniature Tigers "Bull Fighter Jacket" 4/21/10 from Seven Watt Media on Vimeo.

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Saturday, April 17, 2010

How the Notes All Bend : Erick ARC Elliott "Plane" 4/15/10

I've spent much of my two years in New York City trying to figure out what the "local scene" here is. I read a quote from the boys of MGMT once that talked about the "Brooklyn" sound that said, "My least favorite part is that is doesn't exist. My favorite part is the myth of it."

That's when I find a "local" artist, it's all the more refreshing, and Erick ARC Elliott is one of them. He's 100% New York, not just a "Brooklyn" artist whose from Ohio or something like that. He's pounding the streets just like any other artist in any other town and it's nice to be reminded of art in a city so overrun by industry.

Check out his performance of "Plane" this week at Cameo Gallery. It was pretty dark in there and I haven't quite mastered the sound on my camera, but it's a really excellent song. Check out the official video here: http://vimeo.com/10213875

Yes, it's supposed to be dark at the beginning. It's art, yo!

Erick ARC Elliott "Planes" 4/15/10 from Seven Watt Media on Vimeo.

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How the Notes All Bend : Monotonix @ Brooklyn Bowl 4/14/10

I go to A LOT of live shows. I've joked around that I have very few social skills outside of music, but it's kind of true. I live in a candy store of live music and find myself out seeing music up to 6 times a week. I've finally gotten a hang of NYC shows, coming from a much smaller touring market (Phoenix)

However, despite how many dozens of times I've seen certain bands, there are a handful that I can honestly say put on a different show every time I see them, and Monotonix is one of them. I honestly spent a good amount of time thinking how to tee this video up, but honestly, you just need to watch it to fully understand. Pretty good video considering I spent most of the show dodging drinks being thrown. Also : band members.

Monotonix @ Brooklyn Bowl 4/14/10 from Seven Watt Media on Vimeo.

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Thursday, April 8, 2010

How the Notes All Bend : Midlake "Acts of Man" 4/7/10

Last night I caught Midlake's first night at Bowery Ballroom (oddly enough night #2 sold out long before this show did) It's been a very long time since Midlake has done a proper tour, not to mention bring the follow up to their critically acclaimed record, The Trials of Van Occupanther. Not only was the crowd last night restless because of the several-year lull from the band, but it seems they were restless in general, perhaps a result of an 85 degree day in a city that has been abused by winter. Unfortunately it meant A LOT of talking from the room, as you'll hear in the video below.

The band put on a great set, but I'm the first to admit that I'm not totally sold on The Courage of Others. While Van Occupanther had such dramatic shifts throughout the record, it feels like Courage is just linear. Fortunately, when it comes to playing live, the band managed to pull all the dynamics into the performance, pulling in some serious jam moments that I didn't remember from the last time I saw them. Lined up across the front of the stage, they had harmonizing flute duets and, as my friend admired in amazement, a guy with a recorder (Almost as cool as a melodica . . . ALMOST)

It's an on going fight for (as my friend Chad from The Via Maris coined) "quietXcore" to pull in the attention of a short-attention-spanned crowd, especially in a period of music where everyone seems to need to be sold on a song or an album immediately. It's clearly something this band has gotten used to, because they didn't let any of the static over their show deter them from playing a great one. Hopefully someday the tides will turn and the active listener will prevail.

I shot this from the very very back of the venue, resting my arm on the wall in order to keep it somewhat stable. The noisy crowd sort of takes over but you can dull them out if you listen closely to the band (which is the theme of this post, yeah? Metaphors-n-stuff)

Midlake "Acts of Man" 4/7/10 from Seven Watt Media on Vimeo.

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Tuesday, April 6, 2010

How the Notes All Bend : The Temper Trap "Science of Fear" 4/5/10

I caught the second New York-area show for Australia-based band The Temper Trap. They've followed a natural progression as far as NYC shows are concerned, selling out Mercury Lounge last year, shuffling through a literal marathon of shows during the CMJ Music Festival and now selling out two shows in their own right after the US release of their album Conditions. The song "Sweet Disposition" has been the soundtrack a lot of our American subconsciousness, and the soundtrack to their steady rise to notoriety. The show itself proved that they are hardly under the radar anymore, with a seriously impressive light show and some avid fans from a usually "too-cool-and-mostly-indifferent" Brooklyn crowd. I finally got a good view for their last song, "Science of Fear", capturing yet another from-the-balcony video. The sound is a little bass-ier than I was hoping, not sure if it's the fact that I have to compress the file down (tech nerds? advice?) I was less zoom-crazy which I think looks nice, plus the sweet light show made it awesome. The best part? Hearing my friend Alex talk responding to the band's rhetorical "Thanks for having us" and also commenting on the mysterious guy-in-a-suit who seemed to be their roadie/towel manager. Seriously, who was that guy?

The Temper Trap - "Science of Fear" 4/5/10 from Seven Watt Media on Vimeo.

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Sunday, April 4, 2010

How the Notes All Bend : Manchester Orchestra - "Now That You're Home" 4/2/10

So I'm starting a new blog series (or section, or whatever you wanna call it) I recently purchased a fairly good digital camera with HD video recording and I thought maybe this is a cool next step in how to experience music differently yet again. I'm calling it "How the Notes All Bend", because that line (from Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea") is the single best way of describing something as seemingly intangible as music as a verb. In a lot of ways, that's the purpose I feel live music serves, which is why I'm such a junkie.

At any rate, here's my first shot. Not sure if I'll do any fancy intros or how this "series" will take shape, but enjoy the video below. It's not HD because I didn't have the paitience, but maybe down the line I'll suck it up for better quality. This is Manchester Orchestra performing their song "Now That You're Home" from their first album at Irving Plaza on 4/2/10:

Manchester Orchestra "Now That You're Home" 4/2/10 from Seven Watt Media on Vimeo.

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Monday, March 22, 2010

Listography : List the Places You've Seen Live Music

This is just off the top of my head (really). My very first show I went to was at Phoenix First Baptist Church and the last show I went to was tonight at Joe's Pub. It's insane to see this all in one big list. I feel aged.

1) The Nile Theatre - Mesa, AZ
2) Bash on Ash - Tempe, AZ
3) Modified Arts - Phoenix, AZ
4) The Trunkspace - Phoenix, AZ
5) Phix - Phoenix, AZ
6) Chyro Arts - Scottsdale, AZ
7) Venue of Scottsdale - Scottsdale, AZ
8) Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ
9) The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
10) The Real Bar - Tempe, AZ
11) The Sets - Tempe, AZ
12) Nita's Hideaway - Tempe, AZ
13) Yucca Tap Room - Tempe, AZ
14) The Loft - Tempe, AZ
15) Peace Tree House - Tempe, AZ
16) Four White Walls - Phoenix, AZ
17) Paper Heart Gallery - Phoenix, AZ
18) Orpheum Theatre - Phoenix, AZ
19) Dodge Theatre - Phoenix, AZ
20) Celebrity Theatre - Phoenix, AZ
21) Jobing.Com Arena - Phoenix, AZ
22) US Airways Center - Phoenix, AZ
23) The Old Brickhouse Grill - Phoenix, AZ
24) Minder Binders - Tempe, AZ
25) Neckbeards - Tempe, AZ
26) Arizona State University (all over!) - Tempe, AZ
27) Mesa Arts Center - Mesa, AZ
28) Women's Club of Mesa - Mesa, AZ
29) Mesa Amphitheatre - Mesa, AZ
30) Cricket Pavillion - Phoenix, AZ
31) Peoria Sports Complex - Peoria, AZ
32) Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
33) Webster Hall - New York, NY
34) Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY
35) Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
36) Joe's Pub - New York, NY
37) Le Poisson Rogue - New York, NY
38) Cameo Gallery - Brookyn, NY
39) Knitting Factory - New York, NY
40) Glasslands - Brooklyn, NY
41) Matchless - Brooklyn, NY
42) Terminal 5 - New York, NY
43) Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
44) The Bell House - Brooklyn, NY
45) Grammercy Theatre - New York, NY
46) Highline Ballroom - New York, NY
47) Irving Plaza - New York, NY
48) The Wellmont Theatre - Montclair, NJ
49) Hammerstein Ballroom - New York, NY
50) Nokia Theatre Times Square - New York, NY
51) Beacon Theatre - New York, NY
52) Jones Beach Theatre - Long Island, NY
53) Nassau Memorial - Uniondale, NY
54) Stubbs - Austin, TX
55) Emos - Austin, TX
56) Austin Music Hall - Austin, TX
57) La Zona Rosa - Austin, TX
58) The Parish - Austin, TX
59) Red Eyed Fly - Austin, TX
60) Maggie Mae's - Austin, TX
61) Schuba's - Chicago, IL
62) Union Park - Chicago, IL
63) El Rey - Los Angeles, CA
64) The Mayan Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
65) Staples Center - Los Angeles, CA
66) Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
67) Central Park Summerstage - New York, NY
68) Coney Island - Brooklyn, NY
69) Cake Shop - New York, NY
70) The Living Room - New York, NY

... more to come!
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Sunday, February 28, 2010

Listography : List Your Guilty Pleasures


1) Party in the U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus
2) The entire Ke$ha album
3) On the Way Down - Ryan Cabrera
(Once upon a time, when my brother and I hosted our weekly radio show called "Team Awesome", I went out of town one week and left him my iPod. He then played a game of "let's find the most embarrassing thing on Ashley's iPod and this was it. I retaliated by taking his freshly washed underwear and throwing it all over his car in front of the house. Win.)
4) Tomorrow, Fire Burning and Face Drop - Sean Kingston
5) Most pop punk (specifically, as of late, The Maine)
6) For You I Will - Teddy Geiger
7) Jason Mraz
8) Ska music
9) No Air - Chris Brown / Jordin Sparks
10) I'm With You - Avril Lavinge
11) Single Ladies and Halo - Beyonce
12) Sick Cycle Carousel - Lifehouse
13) I'll Be - Edwin McCain
14) Paramore
15) Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas
16) Taylor Swift
17) Coldplay (sometimes, the old records, and that's not just a line)
18) 3 - Britney Spears
19) The All American Rejects
20) Dashboard Confessional
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Sunday, February 21, 2010

Listography : My Music "Bucket List"

This category isn't a part of the "Listography : Your Life in (Play)Lists" book, but I've been thinking a lot about this recently. Basically, I grew up on music and spent the better part of eight or so years "working" music in some capacity. I'm constantly thinking, talking, writing, working, listening to and watching music and I've had a hard time finding hobbies or social skills outside of it (not that I'm complaining).

At any rate, as a fan or as a music businessladyperson, there are certain things that I've been fortunate enough to experience but other things that I still want to do in order to fully understand the entire process. I'm not getting any younger, unlike the average age of a lot of us working in music, so before I get to old to rock or stop liking music (whichever comes first), here are the things I'd like to do:

1) Go out on tour for two weeks.
-This could be in any capacity: tour managing, merch girl, shooting content, etc. I just want to know how it feels day to day and do some traveling.

2) Take a class on ProTools.
-I have a very basic understanding from working in college radio, but certainly fudged some of it.

3) Sit in during a band's writing process.
- I'm still so fascinated by the way a song is written since I can't write myself.

4) Learn to play the guitar.

5) Go out for a week on Warped Tour.
-Preferrably not through Arizona or anywhere where its 115 degrees in July.

6) Go to the following festivals:
  • Sasquatch
  • Bonaroo
  • Coachella
  • Glastonbury
  • Lollapalooza
  • Newport Folk Festival
  • Soundwave
7) Speak on a SXSW panel
- Y'know, about . . . uh . . . something?

8) Convince SXSW to hire me.
-Seriously though, WHO GETS TO WORK ON THIS FESTIVAL?!

8) Be a part of a band's entire recording process.
-From pre production to mastering and everything in between. Not sure what I'd contribute, maybe just being there to watch.

9) Write a treatment for a music video.

10) Start another live music radio show
-Or podcast, or video blog, whatever.

11) Finish reading "All You Need to Know about the Music Business"
-Before another new version comes out, which I'm sure will be soon.

12) Take a class on Entertainment law.

13) Learn to Swing Dance.

14) Work in some capacity during a band's appearance on a late night talk show.

15) Dance on stage with a big group during one of my favorite bands' sets.

16) Sing with a band on stage.

17) Work at a record store.
-Even if only for a little while. I never got to growing up, even though I tried.

18) Go to a music award show.

19) Sequence a movie or TV show soundtrack.
-In the romantic way of just picking songs that sound awesome and of course the paperwork.

20) Have one of my favorite artists perform at my wedding.
-Right now I've narrowed down my wedding song to either "Re:Stacks" by Bon Iver or "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds. Both are welcome to come party.


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Sunday, February 14, 2010

Listography : List a Song That Reminds You of Each Boyfriend You've Had

The trick is that I won't tell you which song is for who. :) Sorry boys. Some of the boys have multiple songs and many reference the crushes, the not-quite-boyfriends and dead-ends that we're all familiar with. . .

1) The Brilliant Dance - Dashboard Confessional
2) Blizzard of '77 - Nada Surf
3) Carry You - Jimmy Eat World
4) Don't Get Spin Spin - Skybox
5) Satellite - Dave Matthews Band
6) Photobooth - Death Cab for Cutie
7) Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
8) Time Restrains - Goodbyetomorrow
9) No Sensitivity - Jimmy Eat World
10) Anyone Else But You - The Moldy Peaches
11) I Am Yours - The Adicts
12) Skies So Blue - The Rocket Summer
13) Galaxy 500 - Reverend Horton Heat
14) Midwestern Dirt - Dear and the Headlights
15) Suspended - Matt Nathanson
16) Janet - The Format
17) Suspended in Gaffa - Ra Ra Riot
18) Suicide Medicine - Rocky Votolato
19) The Engine Driver - The Decemberists
20) Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits

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Saturday, January 30, 2010

Listography: List the First Albums You Ever Owned

Clearly, once upon a time, I used to listen to female singers and Christian ska music. I only really accounted for records I remember listening to in middle school or earlier. Many of these records were likely purchased by my brother (and stolen over time) or through the Columbia Record Club way back when. I think I still owe them $13 or something, but now they employ me, so we're even?

1) The Cranberries - "No Need to Argue"

2) No Doubt - "Tragic Kingdom"

3) Alanis Morrisette - "Jagged Little Pill"

4) Five Iron Frenzy - "Upbeats and Beatdowns"

5) The O.C. Supertones - "Supertones Strike Back"

6) The Insyderz - "Motor City Ska"

7) Reel Big Fish - "Turn the Radio Off"

8) MXPX - "Life in General"

9) The Cardigans - "First Band on the Moon"

10) Clueless - OST

11) The Hippos - "Heads are Gonna Roll"

12) Noggon Toboggan - "Snapcase"

13) The Ataris - "Blue Skies, Broken Hearts . . . Next 12 Exits"

14) Celine Dion (shut it) - "Falling Into You"

15) Mariah Carey (shut it again) - "Butterfly"

16) TLC - "CrazySexyCool"

17) Ace of Base - "The Bridge"

18) Green Day - "Dookie"

19) Nirvana - "Nevermind"

20) The W's - "Fourth from the Last"
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Saturday, January 23, 2010

Listography : List Your Favorite Cover Songs

1) Matt Pond PA - "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" (by Neutral Milk Hotel)
2) Ra Ra Riot - "Suspended in Gaffa" (by Kate Bush)
3) Jimmy Eat World - "Half Right" (by Heatmiser)
4) Matt Nathanson - "Romeo and Juliet"(by Dire Straits)
5) New Found Glory - "Glory of Love" (by Bryan Adams)
6) Jeff Buckley - "Hallelujah" (by Leonard Cohen)
7) The Format - "This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us" (by Sparks)
8) Band of Annuals - "Echo" (By David Williams)
9) Ben Folds - "In Between Days" (by The Cure)
10) Five Iron Frenzy - "Sweet Talkin' Woman" (by Electric Light Orchestra)
11) Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" (by Paul Simon)
12) The Fray - "Heartless" (by Kanye West)
13) Go Big Casino - "I'm Leaving" (by Reubens Accomplice)
14) The Hippos - "Always Something There to Remind Me" (by Naked Eyes)
15) Iron and Wine - "Such Great Heights" (by The Postal Service)
16) Joshua Radin - "Only You" (by Yazoo)
17) Lenka - "Gravity Rides Everythig" (by Modest Mouse)
18) Ryan Adams "Wonderwall" (by Oasis)
19) Ted Leo "Since U Been Gone / Maps" (by Kelly Clarkson / Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
20) Ben Folds "Bitches Aint Shit" (by Dr. Dre)
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Listography : List Your Favorite Live Albums

[For you live music fans, I highly suggest NPR's All Songs Considered Live Concert Podcast. They are amazingly up to date and include the Tiny Desk Concert videos. I listen to them constantly at work]

1) At the Point - Matt Nathanson
2) Clarity Live from The Marquee - Jimmy Eat World
3) Proof that the Youth are Revolting - Five Iron Frenzy
4) Last Show at The Glasshouse - Jefferies Fan Club
5) Unplugged in New York - Nirvana
6) iTunes Live @ London Festival '09 - Mumford and Sons
7) Live Warehouse EP - Band of Annuals
8) Live at the Electric Factory - The Fray
9) The Daytrotter EP - Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos
10) Cabin Ghosts - Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Listography : List Advice You Follow from Song Lyrics


Listography : List Advice You Follow from Song Lyrics
  1. "This is what she says gets her through it: If I don't let myself be happy now then when? If not now, when?"
    - Jimmy Eat World "For Me This is Heaven"

  2. "Do you believe in something beautiful? Then get up and be it!"
    - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists "Me and Mia"

  3. "I wait in 4/4 time and count yellow highway lines that you're relying on to lead you home."
    - The Weakerthans "Left and Leaving"

  4. "You can own the stage, but the lights and glare will not make you real."
    - Margot and the Nuclear So and So's "A Light on a Hill"

  5. "Sees the ocean fall and rise. Counts the waves the somehow didn't hit her."
    -Elliott Smith "Baby Britian"

  6. "Signing up for that second semester cause you won't marry me without the degree. Once I fix things up right you won't be so embarrassed of me. I'll never make it now but at least looking in the mirror won't feel like lying."
    -Dear and the Headlights "Grace"

  7. "Dancing out on 7th street. Dancing through the underground. Dancing little marionette, are you happy now?"
    - Ryan Adams "When the Stars Go Blue"

  8. "C'mon c'mon, spin a little faster. C'mon c'mon, the world will follow after."
    - Counting Crows "Accidentally in Love"

  9. "There's still some living left when you prime comes and goes."
    - Jimmy Eat World "Big Casino"

  10. "Please don't put your life in the hands of a rock n roll band, they'll throw it all away"
    - Oasis "Don't Look Back in Anger"

  11. "I'm trying to find truths in words and rhymes and notes and all the things I wish I wrote."
    - The Format "I'm Ready I Am"

  12. "And I do need the wind across my pale face. And I do need the fern to unfurl in the spring. And I do need the grass to sway, yes I do need to know my place."
    - Bowerbirds "Northern Lights"

  13. "I sat and stared at the sky, I knew I'd find myself there again. I wondered how else to cope with the air. And I know, I won't feel it again if I just played along. "Stupid games are for stupid people" and they end just like a song."
    - New Found Glory "2s and 3s"

  14. "To find someone you love, you gotta be someone you love."
    - Nada Surf "Concrete Bed"

  15. "I always wanna feel like part of this was mine."
    - Jimmy Eat World "A Praise Chorus"

  16. "Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls that brought me here. And in a wide sea of eyes I see one pair that I recognize."
    - Ben Folds "The Luckiest"

  17. "What a curious life we have found here tonight, there is music that sounds from the streets. There are lights in the clouds and there's ghosts all around, hear their voice as it's rolling and ringing through me, soft and sweet, how the notes all bend and reach above the trees."
    - Neutral Milk Hotel "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea"

  18. "Head under water and you tell me to breathe easy for a while. The breathing gets harder, even I know that. Made room for me it's too soon to see if I'm happy in your hands. I'm unusually hard to hold onto."
    - Sara Bareilles "Love Song"

  19. "Don't test the ones you love, it will only tear us down. If you want to feel alive, then learn to love your ground."
    -Mumford and Sons "Sister"

  20. "When I accellerate, I remember why it's good to be alive. Maybe this weight was a gift, like I had to see what I could lift."
    - Nada Surf "Do it Again"
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New Blog Series! : Listography



So it's been a while since "The Loop" series ended and I posted my top 10 albums and top 25 songs of 2009. I spent a lot of time over vacation thinking of what to do with this blog. Let's face it, EVERYONE HAS A BLOG. If I were to make this a "music news" site, it'd probably just be news recycled from other (better) music blogs. Not to mention that I work a regular 9 to 5(ish) job so my news would be lagging since I'm supposed to be working during those hours (ha).

I really liked having a "series" as part of this blog with the decade retrospective, so I think I'll try it again, but with a different theme. For Christmas, my coworker Todd gave me a book called "Music Listography : Your Life in (Play) Lists", which is basically a journal with pages of themes for several different "mixtapes", not to mention some really cool artwork. I really like the idea of it, very much a challenge in this iPod shuffle world of ours.

When I was in high school, up until about halfway through Senior year, I had a walkman and made mixtapes with various themes, one that I specifically remember being the "emo" mix. Some of my favorite gifts were tapes that friends made for me. There was such a personal element to all of these tapes, not only because you're hand choosing each song, but because you have to record it in real time, listen to every song in full and carefully piece it together. I loved how invested you could get into it, even moreso than a mix CD or shuffle on iTunes. I have been thinking about this for a while, but after seeing a friend's top 100 songs of the decade list, and extra free time thanks to a slow Winter concert season, I was inspired to get this going.

So here's the plan : I'm going to spend this the next few months (through the end of February) and go through some of the pages of this book and make my lists here on the not-so-personal internet. Feel free to comment on the songs or make your own list, I'm curious what everyone else feels fits these categories. I won't go through the WHOLE book, but a few fun pages. If you like it, you should buy the book and do it yourself. Books will probably last longer than the internet, anyway.

This won't be everyday (or multiple times a day) like "The Loop" was, so hopefully by being a little less daunting, I can have a little more fun with it. We've got nothing but time to explore old tunes. And maybe by March, I'll have figured out what to do with this blog. Or at least a new series.

Enjoy!
-Smashley
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