"In her novel "The Dispossessed," Ursula K. Le Guin makes a distinction between explorers and adventurers: 'The explorer who will not come back or send back his ships to tell his tale is not an explorer, only an adventurer; and his sons are born in exile.'"
- David Dark, What Must I Do to Be Born Again?: The Open Hands of Kendrick Lamar, March 26, 2015, Pitchfork
Read MoreI first posted my Stop, Drop, Electro-Pop, Vol. 4 mix which I think a few people enjoyed, so I'm back with another one! I made this playlist prior to volume four, so it won't have any newer stuff per se, but I loooove this playlist because it's so upbeat and can be played in many different settings, be it a party, a workout, or when you need some energy at work. It's got the regulars like Chvrches, Holy Ghost!, Cut Copy, St. Lucia, and Phantogram, but also a few lesser known bands, such as Lanu, Panama, Jagwar Ma, and Wild Ones.
Hopefully there are a few groups that you haven't heard. Poolside's "Do You Believe" is a song that the second you put it on, people immediately notice. It's a party starter. So start partying!
1994 was a year like none other in the realm of rap and hip-hop records: Common’s Resurrection, Warren G’s Regulate…G Funk Era, Gang Starr’s Hard to Earn, Digable Planets’ Blowout Comb, The Roots' Do You Want More?!!!??!, Scarface's The Diary, Method Man’s Tical, Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth's The Main Ingredient, Outkast’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, Biggie’s Ready to Die, and my favorite rap album ever, the LP that encompasses everything rap represents to me, Nas’ Illmatic.
Read MoreI have an interest in obituaries of all kinds (like my dad says, "Obits are the Irish sport pages"), but when it comes to the deaths of musicians, a retrospect or glimpse into their lives provides so much creative energy for me because their genuine love for art is so inspiring. I had the good fortune to see B.B. (his nickname that stood for "Blues Boy") King live once in my life as he played a show with Buddy Guy about a decade ago. King sauntered up to his chair, took a seat, grabbed the love of his life (his affectionately named guitar, Lucille), and the blues poured out. I felt the notes, the rhythm, and the power of King's vibratos, slides and trills.
Read MoreIn light of Bay 2 Breakers (San Francisco's Mardi Gras) on Sunday, I will let the music speak for itself. Enjoy!
Albert Hammond, Jr., the guitarist of the notorious The Strokes, is set to release his third solo album. I LOVED his first album, Yours to Keep, for its simplicity and Hammond's vocals that were unproduced and raw. The best and most catchy (and probably most Strokes-y) song on the album was "In Transit."
But a track that still stands put to me is the Beatles-esque "Blue Skies," where Hammond, his acoustic guitar, a xylophone, and a slow beat create a sweet love song.
AHJ just released his first single, "Born Slippy," which I immediately took to. What I love in an artist is when he/she is able to take the best pieces of prior albums and build upon them to make even better tracks. This is one of those and might be the best track he's written!
His new album, Momentary Masters, is out July 31!
Read MoreWow wow wow what a trippy instrumental! I stumbled upon these guys last night and could not take my headphones off. The album, Moonlust, which I'm sure to post more songs in the future, is really psychadelic but in a controlled way. I have to say I'm completely shocked that a band into psychedelic instrumentation is named Holydrug Couple. They definitely weren't on drugs while making this album. The band is from Chile, and it sounds like DIY bedroom recordings in the early veins of Tame Impala and Washed Out. I'm stunned at the sounds. Check it out!
Read MoreThe Waterfall runs on a theme of water, its never ending flow and seemingly endless supply stream rampant through our lives and veins, yet as humans this breath of life is finite. We live before we die, we attempt to swim through the currents, sometimes we drown. "Time has come / world in motion / Heart of man swept into the ocean / like a river flowin' / like a river washes away," James sings in "Like A River."
This idea of water, life, and death plays itself throughout the album as James seems to be wandering himself.
Read MoreMy Morning Jacket released their new album last week, and "Compound Fracture" is my favorite song on the album. My review of the album will be published tomorrow!
Best Coast also released their new album, California Nights, last week, and as they tend to do on each of their albums, I become crazily fixated on a few track. In this album's case, it's "Jealously" and "Feeling OK." Bethany Cosentino knows how to make a simply structured song sing. Her formula has pretty much stayed the same since their debut Crazy For You, but it's always worked for me. If you like these two tracks, check out my 5 Faves playlist I made a while back!
Future Island's new track is a continuation of their last album, specifically the tracks "Spirit" and "Seasons (Waiting on You)," so you guessed it - it's a great track!
Ryley Walker is a singer/songwriter I recently stumbled upon. "Primrose Green" should be played outside in a garden, it's sound is so delicate and warm.
Miguel, Miguel, Miguel. This is such a sexy song. This is the version of the song without Wale because Miguel should be the only one singing on a track like this.
We had 11 truly joyful years of the deepest love, happiest marriage, and truest partnership that I could imagine... He gave me the experience of being deeply understood, truly supported and completely and utterly loved – and I will carry that with me always. Most importantly, he gave me the two most amazing children in the world.
Dave was my rock. When I got upset, he stayed calm. When I was worried, he said it would be ok. When I wasn’t sure what to do, he figured it out. He was completely dedicated to his children in every way – and their strength these past few days is the best sign I could have that Dave is still here with us in spirit.
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