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Archive for June, 2009

Bounce | Bounce

Jun 30

Posted by Josh in Music | No Comments

These two songs make me happy. Lately I’ve been singing them wherever I go because they’re happy tunes and remind me of summer love – something that we shouldn’t forget even if we don’t have it. It’s a specific feeling, maybe not as strong as winter love, but it’s much brighter. I don’t know if you understand what I just said, but if you do then these songs will make sense in that context. If not, then hopefully you’ll attach your own feelings to them.


One of the first images that come to mind when I think of Regina Spektor is a piano, maybe that’s why it’s on the cover of her newest album. “The Calculation” is the lead track from Far and my favorite off of a solid album. The ubiquitous piano starts the song off with a bang, already getting your foot tapping. This song definitely could have been from her last album, enjoying the mainstream quality that “Fidelity” had. It’s a delicious folk-style-pop song that highlights how great her voice really is when the chorus kicks in.


mp3: Regina Spektor – The Calculation

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The second song comes from Ingrid Michaelson, who I’ve been on the fringes of stalking for quite some time but after hearing “Winter Song” I became officially obsessed. This song came out in 2008 so I’m quite behind, but I figured some might not have heard it yet. This finger snapping, guitar strumming, cute (I hate that word, but it is what it is) tune can’t help make you smile. What starts as a solo turns into a (cute!) dueling lyric duet melting into a multi-part chorus that breaks out into a hand clapping, foot stomping romp. Kinda what love is like…


mp3: Ingrid Michaelson – You and I

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Sportsday Megaphone

Jun 29

Posted by Josh in Music | No Comments

I’m like a windmill | I’m like a seesaw | I’m like a barbershop sign
I go up and down | Oh I go round and round | I change all the time

Fuzzy pulsing leads into a trickle of keyboards that take over the background instrumentals giving this song life. The persistent pulse keeps it moving along nicely, the words echoing to create a much fuller sound that the original version lacked.

You’re like a windmill | You’re like a seesaw | You’re like a barbershop sign
You go up and down | Oh you go round and round | You change all the time

It’s the calm after the storm, the collective sigh after a fight, the staring at the ceiling knowing everything will be fine because the other person understands. It’s the unnecessary explanation that we are two different people, yet we are people that fit each other. It’s a bright day, full of clarity, full of sun, full of possibility.

We’re both windmills | We’re both seesaws | We’re both barbershop signs
We go up and down | Oh we go round and round | And we meet sometimes.


Sportsday Megaphone – Meet Me In Middle (Max Justus Remix)

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MJ

Jun 26

Posted by Josh in Uncategorized | No Comments

So by now everyone has heard the sad news. I won’t get into it because we all can read CNN or MSNBC or…FOX…for the actual details. I’m here to bring you the music! So, here is a fun mashup of “I Want You Back” and “Digital Love” by Ben Double M and the great song “Scream” with Janet…which is still the most expensive music video ever made coming in at $7M. Apparently screaming is expensive.

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The Big Pink

Jun 24

Posted by Josh in Music | 2 Comments

So far the London based duo of Milo Cordell and Robbie Furze have a fairly limited discography, mainly consisting of their two singles, “Velvet” and “Too Young Too Love”. But so far that’s all they’ve needed to create quite the buzz in the music scene across the pond.

“Too Young To Love” is a song full of sound. From the consistent clack, clacking of instruments in the background to the steady guitar like synth streaming through the entire song, it gives the listener a sense of flowing along a lazy river. Their voices are harmoniously steady throughout, creating a dream like quality where the lyrics melt away and you’re left with wondering where you’ve been for the last 4 1/2 minutes.

“Velvet” is my favorite so far and it’s quickly becoming one of my most played songs of the year. The staccato bass drum line leads into a choral sound which melts fluidly into the first verse. A slight production of the vocals make the words stand out, which is a highlight of the song. The background slowly builds until 2:35 where the instruments and vocals merge and unleash into a huge chorus. I picture him on his knees screaming the vocals at this point…pleading, warning…”You call out my name for the love you need | Which you won’t find in me”. Heartbreakingly smooth, just like velvet.


mp3:The Big Pink – Too Young To Love

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mp3:The Big Pink – Velvet

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Cover Me #1

Jun 18

Posted by Josh in Cover Me, Music | 3 Comments

Every month I’ll bring you 5 covers of songs that I enjoy. These may be of popular songs or obscure ones, but either way it’s always interesting to hear how artists vary in their interpretation of a song. Listen and enjoy!


mp3: Aimee Mann – The Scientist (Coldplay cover)

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mp3: Alphabeat – Digital Love (Daft Punk cover)

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mp3: Amanda Palmer – I Will Follow You Into the Dark (Death Cab for Cutie cover)

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mp3: The Big Pink – Love Song (The Cure cover)

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mp3: The Bird and the Bee – Please Don’t Stop the Music (Rhianna cover)

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Passion Pit – Little Secrets

Jun 17

Posted by Josh in Music, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

I heard Passion Pit last year when they released Chunk of Change (an EP) and “Sleepyhead” found it’s way to my top songs of 2008. They have been on the road touring since they released their album less than a month ago. I got a chance to see them at Black Cat here in DC last week and had a pretty good time. Michael Angelakos sings mostly in glass shattering falsetto so without the production behind it, his voice sometimes got lost among the massive synths and heavy drums that accompany most songs on the record.

“Little Secrets” quickly surpassed “Sleepyhead” as my favorite track on the album. It’s uplifting, upbeat, with it’s snare drums and fuzzy bass, and a chorus that dares you not to get up and jump. This was the one time in the concert where the room was a single movement…higher and higher and higher. Some may call the chorus a bit behind the curve since the same elementary school choir technique was used in D.A.N.C.E., but Passion Pit seems to be far from copying trends. (Also check out Moth’s Wings for something slightly more down tempo and melodic.)


mp3: Passion Pit – Little Secrets

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mp3: Passion Pit – Moth’s Wings

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Mariah Carey – Obsessed

Jun 16

Posted by Josh in Music | No Comments

I guess it’s fitting that my first post will be about MC and on the day her new single hit the airwaves no less. There had been rumors that this song was going to be Mimi’s answer to Eminem’s dis on Bagpipes over Baghdad. Instead of using his name or profanity to get her point across (she’s a classy broad), she coos in her lower register for most of the song phrases such as, “Finally found a girl you couldn’t impress | last man on earth still couldn’t hit this” and my favorite snap: “You’re a mom and pop | I’m a corporation | I’m the press conference | you’re a conversation.”

Produced by Mariah, The-Dream, and Tricky Stewart, they have managed to create a very listenable, rhythmically driven, summer smash hit. The auto-tune isn’t supposed to add power to her voice, we already know she has that, but instead give it that biting quality reminiscent of the lyrics. Also, props to her for channeling Regina George with the opening quote, “I was like, why are you so obsessed with me?” Nice.

mp3: Mariah Carey – Obsessed

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mp3: Mariah Carey – Obsessed feat. Gucci Mane (remix)

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