Here is a short list of shows that must forever run re-runs during the afternoon and late at night on those programming-hungry networks, local, national, et al. Without these quality shows, I would surely go insane. And some should be shown forever for more important reasons – they give us a glimpse into a time period lost to the past, and help us prepare for the future of television.
I post on this site every day. Every day, I am either one of the following:
1) Bursting with inspiration
2) Too lazy to post anything of substance
3) Having serious writer’s block
If the case is 2) or 3) I turn to YouTube to do my work for me. Today, the answer is 3) – so enjoy some videos! Yay!
I have long been a vocal supporter of M83’s Saturdays=Youth, Anthony Gonzalez’s forray away from the typical instrumentals his project had produced. Instead he made a near-flawless dream pop album inspired by his teenage years. Ken Thomas produced the album, a guy who knows a thing or two about the John Hughes-inspired 80’s sheen Gonzalez was going for, having worked with Sugarcubes, Suede, and Cocteau Twins in the past. I adore the album, and so it seems fitting that many have recommended I listen to the last band in that list – the Scottish trio the Cocteau Twins.  A friend suggested I start where most Americans did; he told me to go find a copy of The Pink Opaque.
The group’s record label, UK-based 4AD (a label the group is historically synonymous with) struck a deal stateside with Relativity Records to distribute the emerging band’s back catalog to the US – they were growing in popularity due to increasing airplay on college radio. However, rather than releasing the plethora of EPs the Cocteau Twins had recorded between 1982 and 1985, Relativity made the decision to instead release a compilation of highlights for newcomers to get a taste of what the Twins were all about.
The Pink Opaque is a compilation released in January 1986 featuring ten previously recorded tracks. Also put out in the UK, it was 4AD’s first CD release ever. The album has long been out of print, but I managed to find it on iTunes. While I can hear the similarities in the comp from M83’s 2008 effort, the Twins certainly hold to their own sound – it makes sense this group was so influential for the dream pop movement. At times the group has new-wave tendencies, at times they have the bass thump of the Cure, at times they are scary, at times they are beautiful, but they always manage to stick to their trademark collage.
I can probably name you groups and artists that were influenced by this album, but I would have difficulty in categorizing the music of the Cocteau Twins – they sound like their own entity. The immediate standout is Elizabeth Fraser’s mouth-music vocals, indecipherable words that she usually chose to fit with the vibe of the song rather than conform to having meaning or message.
Needless to say, thanks to the Pink Opaque, I have fallen in love with the Cocteau Twins; I just wish I had listened to them sooner. While I delve deeper into their back catalog, get a taste of this excellent compilation for yourself – a sampling of my three favorite tracks can be found below.
This guy thinks soccer=socialism. Bigots these days have to be creative if they want YouTube hits.
Also, from The Onion:
Third Amendment Rights Group Celebrates Another Successful Year
‘This American Life’ Completes Documentation Of Liberal, Upper-Middle-Class Existence
Today I continue my ten-part series showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of last year.
30. Magic Kids – Hey Boy
San Francisco has churned out some pretty awesome music as of late, and the 50’s-esque Magic Kids are too fun to pass up. Mix up a little Beach Boys, add some poodle skirt twists, and throw in the finest moments of Grease, and you’ve got “Hey Boy,” a girl/guy sing-along my sister and I have mastered.
Once every three months I list the best of what I heard in albums/songs/remixes for the quarter. I do this to personally keep up with all the awesome music I hear, as it ultimately helps me at the end of the year when I do my overall listing for the previous twelve months. I also do it to introduce you cool cats to tunes you may have missed independently.
Continue reading
While Austin’s Beauty Bar isn’t exactly my favorite place for a number of reasons, it is the weekend hotspot for high-profile after parties and A-list DJs. So I find myself there from time to time.
This past Saturday, my favorite mashup duo rocked the house: The Hood Internet. They’ve been around for three years, and you’ve probably heard their work if you’ve spent time cruising the web. I would be safe in saying they’re probably the most popular mashup group out there, second only to Girl Talk. Needless to say, they got the place bumping. Afterwards, I browsed their site extensively, and I have compiled the finest of their work. Browse the list and don’t be afraid to sing along and shake your money maker.
Today I continue my ongoing feature showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of the past decade, posting ten songs at a time.
230. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
Plinking pianos, soaring background vocals, and an accessible approach to the band’s quiet tendencies brought Grizzly Bear their breakthrough track in 2009. While Veckatimest still had the trademark off-kilter minor keys and dark lyrics, “Two Weeks” came out of the oven ready for Gossip Girls. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.
