A Part Of The Weekend Never Dies...

a truly spectacular song, and album i may add. both are shoe-ins for my best of lists which i will go into better detail later. the video reminds me of the imploding social concerns in america today...
what an original title for a post eh? haha, well it seems that the only time i have, and the only time i can ever get a post done is at school waiting for my next class to start, so here i am. and oh do i have so many thoughts on life in general to share with so many of you...
november 4th was truly a day that i will, and i hope, all of you will remember for the rest of your lives. Despite your political views, it was a historic day that has been a long time coming. It makes me angry how self loathing we can be to onto other races. and despite america "accepting" a black man as President, it is obvious that many, many people still have a problem with it. and many, many people are just afraid to say, "i don't like black people." i mean think about it, a poll was done recently that shows that 91% of people would not be honest with a poll person if the question may have been controversial or demeaning to another individual. so i was afraid, that these people who have such horrible feelings towards a race would come to a head on nov. 4th. but, we were fortunate to once again be a country of progression and took another dyanamic move forward as a country. maybe i won't leave this horrid country anymore after i graduate? hmm. nahhh.
godddddddd i don't understand conservatives...really. i mustttt portray my dismay as a Californian with prop 8 passing. not just because my aunt got married to her partner, but because as Americans we have to accept the idea that if we ever want to move forward to an equal society, allllllllllllll people must be treated that way. it is an absolute atrocity to let people's rights suffer due to a bunch of religious fundamentalists. people say that they vote yes on 8 because god says that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. bullshit. now, i consider myself an extremely religious person, but whatever happened to separation of church and state? whatever happened to equality? whatever happened to what we accomplished as a country in the 1960's? Our country has long since moved past the times of dissonance against each other. i thought what was great about being an american was how diverse our culture was? the way prop 8 passed was so hurtful because it represented what government SHOULD fear most...that the power of religious oppression has taken over our democratic ideals. i have heard so many arguments for and against, but overall i just laugh, because what people are really arguing is freedom of equality and human rights. passing prop 8 makes the rest of the world aware that we are no different then those islamic terrorists who turn to the koran for guidance. they base their bombings off of whats in the koran and what is loosely based on muhammad's preachings, so does this mean that since god mentions in the bible that marriage should only be between a man and a woman thousands of years ago, that we must turn to that as our vision of a free society? Absolutely ridiculous. inconsiderate, and immoral.
but i must also mention my discontent with the post prop 8 vision. i don't mind the protests etc. as that is our right as americans, but blaming the mormon church took it too far. Despite my discontent with the funding provided from LDS, no one is to blame but ourselves as human beings. taking our vision as moral citizens and making us barbaric animals. using children as a defense to promote the initiative took it too far, and as Californians it just seemed easier to blame a particular church, because all the people share the same vision, despite the Catholic and various other churches also preaching to pass the initiative. but we can't blame them can we? there are too many of them, its taboo, and also impossible to blame an entire sect of Christianity.
our motives as Americans should be to show we can move away from old religious oppression, and into a more sincere way of life. as i said, i consider myself a very religious individual, but i do not let my feelings toward my faith guide my feelings toward humanity. you may say, i let god guide what i do in life, which is great, but do you think god would want to oppress others in a demeaning way? God mentions many, many times in the bible how all are created under the same hand, so why should all of humanity who was created in "his image" be treated unequivacally? It hurts to know that so many of you feel so strongly about this, and how this initiative passed. every other world power, besides maybe russia is very accepting of homosexuality, but what we are doing is what Iran is doing, further denying that homosexuality exists. As americans we are prolonging the inevitable, and i just hope that since we elected such a minority to office, that someday we can look at each other as equals, and not let our religious ideals guide our views toward human rights.
Californians - we give rights to pigs, but take them away from humans? God, i love this country.
Your opinions are welcomed, here or on facebook.
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The Change in Dance Music
if you only want to read politics, i'm done, now i'm on to what i care about most, music. halloween was truly a great night, despite filled with some missteps, it was a night i will never forget. but one thing, i need to talk about, as a lot of others have been talking about lately, is how commercial dance music and the genres surrounding it have become. while at hardfest, that became even more aware. as me and my friends just want to watch our fave acts, you can't help but be pushed around by some douchebags wearing football jerseys, or worse raider jerseys. in the past year, dance music has changed to appeal to the masses, in large due to the success of justice. justice has changed the genre forever, and despite raising the genre's record sales through the roof, the audience that has been turned on to dance and house are the people that hipsters attempt to get away from. i couldn't help but be angry when i stand in place, where i've waited for, for a long time, enjoying an amazing act, in soulwax, when i get pushed out of my place by a bunch of idiots who start screaming, "bring on justice!" with all due respect to justice, i love everything they have done for the industry, but they ARE NOT as good as soulwax, or many many other acts for that matter. but there is something about justice that appeals to everyone. whether it be the success of "D.A.N.C.E." or perhaps the mega hit "we are your friends," they have become gods in the genre, and i just don't understand why.
what bugs me is not only that myself, along with a lottt of other people are music snobs and don't like our music to become commercial, but its who likes it and why they care so much for this particular band that is so irritating. honestly, i don't think half of the people at hardfest knew who any of the acts were except for justice. but has justice been overrated from the beginning? i absolutely believe so. despite "cross" being a dynamic, and very important and well crafted album, it simply, is not thattt good. i think initially people liked it because it was a new sound that had never before been heard, but i listened to it just last week, and could barely make it through it all. the sound has been done, and redone, (better i might add). and its impact is no longer as strong as it used to be.
as "cross" has now been out for almost 2 years, justice are still touring the world, perfoming hundreds of shows a year, and not working on ANY new material. the funny thing is, justice is largely a US phenomenon. despite being big in their native france and elsewhere in europe, they are not nearly as well respected as others. in fact, i know many europeans that can't stand them... in short, justice have long outstayed their welcome, and i am very curious if they can outlive the sophomore slump. with new albums next year expected from dance powerhouses daft punk, i can only hope that they regain the title as kings, and hope that xavier and gaspard go into the studio, and don't come out till they please their initial audience, and stay away from the douchebag audience that have fallen in love as i once did...

ahhhh. well now since that is off my chest, i'm getting excited as we get closer to the end of the year, which meansssss best of lists!! i have already been preparing my three best of lists for this year, which include: the best albums of 2008, the best songs of 2008, and one i have been working hard on, the best albums of all time (1980 - present). i'm nearly complete with all of them, but the year isn't over yet, as we still have albums from kanye west (allegedly) and deerhunter etc. coming up.
as mentioned, i am a music snob, and you may have been able to tell by what i post on my blog. if you noticed, i don't post dance music, largely because that is the music that means most to me. i honestly hear, at least 50 remixes or covers, or dance anthems a week, but i only post those that i don't care if you like or not, because i always fear i will turn the radio on, and my favorite song will be playing. but despite this, my best of list will include a few of my dance favorites which will be available for download, so i will let you dance your pants off.
okayyyy so for music today, its justtt covers. the first is a classic modest mouse cover from ben lee. the next is an either you love or hate it cover of cold war kids. then a really fun klaxons cover and to close it out an always depressing ryan adams cover haha.
i think this is the longest post i've ever done...wow. well enjoy the weekend. thug life.

ben lee - float on (modest mouse cover)
florence and the machine - hospital beds (cold war kids cover)
kaiser chiefs - golden skans (klaxons cover)
ryan adams - times like these (foo fighters cover)

Halloween 2008

i loveeee john lennon and everything he represented, but i'm not a huge fan of his son's julian's solo work. But sean is different, this song is veryyyy symbolic, and how much he looks like john is creepy! i've been going back between this album and various new order albums for the past few weeks, because i loveeeee anything that has to do with joy division as you alllll know...
its strange because i don't realize how long its been since i post sometimes...since school is back in, and since i'm taking a full load, things are just more then stressful with this and with my life in general. i'm writing this because i have an hour before my next class starts, so why not eh?
so my life...
a week from tomorrow will be an uhhhhmazzzing night. a night that begin barely before midnight and will commense no earlier then 4am in my new favorite place in the worlddddddd, hollywood. i'm so mad i never before spent my time there, it is sooo ridiculously fun and adventurous. sure gas sucks sometimes but its worth it everytime. i'm glad now since i'm 21 i can enjoy so much more, but honestly, halloween is going to be insaneeeee.
so far i know a lottt of people going. so if you are going to the event of all events, HARDFEST then please call me. i'm sure i'll be there by midnight, or earlier, because that is when all the fun begins.
does anyone know if they have released a lineup list? because i can skip some of the bands, but i needddd to see smd, crystal castles, and of course JUSTICE.
i ordered my costume yesterday.....omg. its sooooooooo funny. wait till you see pictures. its going to be beautiful.
we are def in the best part of concert season my friends...seeing black kids a week ago at the mayan was wonderful. the first time i went to that venue, i wasn't 21, and it wasn't half as much fun as it is if you are 21. wow there is so much more to do and see, i now am deeply in love with that venue, i highly recommend it. you can check out the filter review of the show, HERE. my fave part is how she mentions how the crowd knew all the words to "this charming man" when it came on. hahahaha i was screaming it on the top of my lungs like i was hearing stephen patrick myself.
wow. 2 months till christmas. thats insane!
so it looks like i'm studying abroad in london this spring. i wanted to do florence, but london has a program specifically designed for poli sci students, so i can get all the credits i need and still graduate next winter, so i'm psyched. and i think my parentals may help me pay for it because it has to do with my career. there is this organization i've gotten pretty close to, and i would have a one year internship in jamaica/mexico for a semester, and then london for the last semester once i enter my master's program. but in order for me to get in, i need to have a feel for what the agency entails, so it would be the perfect opportunity to expand my career internationally into what i want to do. because god knows i am not staying in america after 2010, DESPITE the election results, which we now know will end in my favor. well i actually am still considering hawaii's grad program, and they have exactly what i want, but Canada and Europe are so much more desirable...i'm not one for the sun, as opposed to the cold and gloomy...
i'm really mad at myself for never really celebrating halloween pretty much at all for the past like 5 years haha. i mean its just weird to think, you can never, ever get that time back, so why spend it on the couch or working or something. ridiculous. if you are young, enjoy your life, don't be afraid to try something new, and don't be afraid to DANCE.
okay so for music today, i have three really fun covers, the first is a good cover of the wonderful vampire weekend but by the mystery jets. the next is a spectacular arcade fire cover in the late tradition of great girl singers i've been posting, like lenka and juju, this one is great guys get on it. And the last...oh morrissey my forever love. its a rogue wave cover of "what difference does it make?"
enjoy them loves. have a reallyyy great halloween, and call me.
yeahhhhh.

Mystery Jets - Blake's Got A New Face (Vampire Weekend Cover)
Sara Lov - My Body Is A Cage (The Arcade Fire Cover)
Rogue Wave - What Difference Does It Make? (The Smiths Cover)

Titanic Vandalism

wowwww. its been a long time since i last posted...i didn't realize it until one of my readers emailed me asking me where i was...well its been so long and so much has happened since that time.
Well first...my 21st birthday....i'm not going to say much about it, just that i danced a lotttt, and it was a lottt of fun. Check out my facebook for pics. sooo funny.
Now vegas was just amazing. not only can you buy 99 cent margaritas, but also just walk around drinking screwdrivers and shopping. The highlight was of course seeing the beatles, "love," which was absolutely mezmorizing, but winning over $200 playing roulette was pretty nice too. Now the dilemma is whether to go to vegas for halloween, or go to hardfest 2008 in hollywood. I mean cmon, justice and crystal castles??? ahhhhhhhh. I don't know!! Again, hilarious pics on the fbook...go check it.
okay...so one of the reasons i haven't had time to post is the gool ol' new school year. I know a lot of you are going to go wtfff when i say this, but it looks like i will probably just stay in pomona now...hahahahaaaaa After everythingggg it looks like i will stay, not because i don't want to head up north, because i reallyyyyy do...but because i checked my transcripts and since i took over 20 units every qtr last year, and because i took summer school and will again this year, i will be done by winter 2010. The thing is, i could move and get a minor so i could be there for longer, but if i move, i'm paying for it all on my own, so i'm thinking that i will just finish fast, with no minor, so then i could move immediately to grad school, (which i was going to anyway.)
one thing i've also discovered is how unimportant money is to me anymore. I always thought i was going to major in business, because thats where all the money is...but thats not important to me...i don't want to be stuck in America, i want to change the world, i want to travel for a living and make a difference. thats what i want to do, thats what i care about. Also, if i stay here, my mom said she would chip in if i wanted to study abroad, which i am for sure going to do this spring if i don't move. Its become either i move up north, or study abroad, and i think i'm going to choose to study abroad. There is nothing like living in a new environment on your own for over 10 weeks...
I've also come to realize, (in a week of a lot of thinking for me) that when i get out of school, i really want to move somewhere in Europe with nothing but the money in my pocket, because it would be life changing to live in survival mode, and i know it would change my perspective on life...
so i went to american apparel yesterday, and they asked if they could take pictures of me...(wtf?) So you may be reading the blog of a new aa model?? hahaha wohhh.
okay so for music tonight, i normally like posting my true love, dance/electronic music....which by far controls my itunes library...but since i have so much, it kind of gets repetitive, so i kinda like posting the songs i find great at the moment...
so the first song, is the new vampire weekend song, from "nick and norah's infinite playlist" coming out soon. Its a good song, hopefully this is the first of many new ones to come.
the next is probably the most covered song of any song in the past 5 years. its a great one, but still, god, i have posted covers of this song since i started this blog. Its yet another cover of young folks by pb & j. but this time by the kooks.
and the last song of course, i have to have at least one electronic song...and its my faveeeee remix(er) RAC, and a remix of the above video, for the virgins - rich girls.
thug lifeee.

Vampire Weekend - Ottoman
The Kooks - Young Folks (PB & J Cover)
The Virgins - Rich Girls (RAC Remix)

CUT COPY FRIDAY!! YEAHHHHHHHHH

My Last Week of Sanity.

I cannot rave enough about black kids. Their album, "partie traumatic" is truly magnificent. easily in my top 5 of 08.
1 week from tonight, the fun will commense in Hollywood and my 21st birthday.
And then the following week in Vegas will continue the celebration.
So i decided to make a facebook as many of you now see. And i don't know why i decided to do it now after all of this time, but it just felt right. And its great...catching up with old friends and such is amazing. so i'm glad i have it now.
I don't have that much to say tonight...just that i couldn't be happier with where i am right now. my life is a giant constant change, but i wouldn't have it any other way.
i am going to be completely honest....being a guy its hard to admit, and i know i mentioned this last week, but pretty much gossip girl is the best show everrrrr. Everyone should watch it. seriously.
Now for some political mumbo jumbo. I can't seem to understand why ANYONE can find John McCain an honest choice for President. He is suchhhh a douchebag, and he is identical to the president we have now, people just think that because he is a war hero that he knows America better. Bullshit.
Don't get me wrong, Barack Obama is far from a perfect candidate, but compared to that conservative idiot, he is gold.
In my opinion neither are really the right choice, but what can we do when our two party system gives no real people an opportunity to change the world. Neither want to change America, and neither are going to change America. Its all lies. But thats what America is, lies and insanity. But i swear to god, if John McCain is elected President, i am not kidding. i am moving to Canada. Hell, i want to move there anyway. so whatever. But i really think the political establishment is just trying to make this race look close when in reality, Obama SHOULD destroy McCain in the election, but whatev.
In my opinion, Ralph Nader is the best choice for America. but no one ever takes him seriously. Maybe its just because i care about the environment too much...
And that whole McCain choosing a woman thing is just a ploy to get all of the Clinton women who are pissed at Obama for winning so they want their votes. Ridiculous. She is horrible...but hot i must say haha.

okay. so for music tonight i have 2 great covers and a great live track. The first is a truly magnficicent cover of radiohead's high and dry, but by a great singer i found by watching the amazing movie, "the motorcycle diaries," which is based on che guevara's life. Well, this guy did most the music for that soundtrack in spanish, but this cover is truly one of the best radiohead covers i have ever heard, and thats saying something considering i have over 100 in my library as it is. The next song is a cover i can't believe i have never heard, despite me being a big fan. Its a DP cover of "Personal Jesus," but by the man himself Mr. Cash. And the last is a live version of truly one of my favorite songs ever, and i'm posting it to commemorate their new album entitled, "You & Me." Its the Walkmen, and "The Rat"
thuggg lifeee.

Jorge Drexler - High & Dry (Radiohead Cover)
Johnny Cash - Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode Cover)
The Walkmen - The Rat (Live)

Melodies & Desires

i loveeee her. A Swedishhh beautyyy. Spectacular album as well...you can find the link to the song below. gooood stuff.
less then 2 weeks till my 21st birthday...how exciting. Hollywood (my new loveee) and Beat It! afterwards, so if any of my wonderful readers plan on being in Hollywood on Sunday, the 14th, come to Beat It! and hanggg with me. I'm always on stage in the electro room hahaha.
So this week has been rather surreal for me. A great week nonetheless, but a week where old friendships were mended, and life for me continues to change.
I find myself rather angry (at myself) because i feel like i completely wasted high school and the beginning of college refusing to meet people and EXPERIENCE life. Life can only be experienced once, so if things aren't going the way they should be, then you really have to look at your priorities and where you are headed. If you are not completely certain, then just think about it....because you do notttt want to regret decisions you made 20 years from now...especially when i'm so fun now! haha
I really want to make a facebook....hmmm.
It is very hard to interpret where things are headed, life throws you curveballs and you have to either be ready or not. I was never ready for things that happened to me because i figured life would never change, but now look at where i am at. I swear to you, i am a completely different person. Despite me getting home at 8:30 in the morning on sunday hahaha (whattt a greatttt saturdayyy) I still (somehow) had the energy to go to church a few hours later, because that part of me never changes...
so hollywood insane costume party or vegas for holloween? idk!
okay...so i know the entire blogopshere shares my love, but there are others who laugh. But seriously, I LOVE GOSSIP GIRL. This is the best show everrrr and the premiere of season 2 is tonight! For those of you who think its stupid or something, the minute you watch this show you will be hooked! It is the absolute best, and sooooo much better then the OC everrr was. So do yourself a favor and watch it, you won't regret it...
okay so for tonight i have two lovely girls with really catchy songs and a great cover. The first is the song from the video above, the gorgeous Lykke Li and the song "Breaking It Up." The next is a song i never liked until i heard it in a club in Hollywood, its "I Kissed A Girl," from Katy Perry, but a really good remix. And the last is a cover of my fave mgmt song, its a cover of "kids" by the kooks.
Thug Lifeee.

Lykke Li - Breaking It Up
Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl (Vanderbilt Remix)
The Kooks - Kids (MGMT Cover)

Tequila Sunrise

oh portishead...i love thee. This song is brilliant.
omg its been a month since i last posted? wow. Well so much has happened in the past month. My vacation was amazing, like seriously. I finally am figuring out who i am as a person. I know for sure where i want to be, but as an individual i feel everything is coming full circle. So yeah, the caribbean was amazing, wow. i have so many funny pictures you all must see, but i don't like posting pictures of myself, so eventually when i get a facebook or something i'll post them. I met so many great people and it was just beautiful. My tan is perfect i must say as well...Next year we are thinking another cruise, not sure where though. But thats also with me and blake going to spain next summer. ahhh hellllll yeahhhh.
so some things happened, and now i'm not moving till january. I'm kind of sad, but not so much, this leaves me more time to get things ready and still enjoy the holidays down here. So whatev. Not to mention all of the crazy fun that will ensue 3 weeks from sunday, for my 21st birthday!!!
Its really strange, i used to hate the taste of alcohol, but when i was on the cruise we were return guests, so there were a lot of open bar, free drink parties, and i started having a few, and then another, then another, then another, then another, and before you knew it, i was drunk for the first time EVER. Honestly, i used to never understand why people drink, i mean why would someone want to get drunk? But i never knew how good it feels! or how incredibly social i become. I mean i was talking to everyone, singing karaoke, it was greattttt. So i mean, this isn't going to be a normal thing for me, but once in awhile its a lot of fun. Like going to Hollywood tomorrow night, who's downnnnn?? Tito's tacos, and club bang, going to be a lotttt of fun. Gooooooo.
Vegas for my birthday is really going to be great. I am soooo excited. 3 more weeks, well 4 more till vegas, because i'm not going to vegas on a sunday...
Okay so now to music. Bloc party, who i saw in concert less then a month ago, unexpectedly pulled a radiohead and released their album YESTERDAY. After announcing it on Tuesday. The release, "Intimacy" is somewhat of a mix between "Silent Alarm" and "A Weekend In The City." I actually don't have it yet, but the digital only release is available now and the hard copy should be available by November or December.
I know what i want to do on Halloween. I know i am def going to celebrate it this year, i can't believe i haven't celebrated it in years, this year will be different though. Nonstop fun, and i already know my costume!! Okay but i really want to go to the "Hard Haunted Mansion," which although it sounds like a bad Halloween porno, its actually a hugeeee dance party in la. Featuring JUSTICE, CRYSTAL CASTLES, SMD, boys noize and a tonnn of others. Its a nonstop costumed extravaganza, so it sounds amazing.
I have a lot of other music news, but this post is too long so i'll get to the free music.
This post will have one song from 3 different genres. The first song i'm posting today, i've had forever but i remembered it recently when i heard it on a commercial. Its the amazing, one of the best songs of the 1960's, its the creedence clearwater revival hit, "have you ever seen the rain?" but a cover by Juju Stulbach. Really, really good. Next is brand new Vampire Weekend song, but a cover of Fleetwood Mac, its really good, vintage VW. Enjoy it. And last is a band i kind of stumbled upon accidentally, i love the person in charge of all of the electronics and his band called YACHT. But before he went solo, he was with a great girl as a part of a duo called The Blow. So this song is beautiful and the girl's voice is very pretty. Enjoyyyyyy. Wow this has been a longgg post, but it's my only one of the month so whatevs. Thug Lifeee.

Juju Stulbach - Have You Ever Seen The Rain? (CCR Cover)
Vampire Weekend - Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac Cover)
The Blow - True Affection

Winning A Battle, Losing A War. The MEGA Post.

i believe erland oye (the great dancer/napoleon dynamite lookalike) is one of the most brilliant songwriters of the 21st century. and thats saying a lot coming from me. Everything from the folky kings of convenience, to the beutiful soft electro of the whitest boy alive, to his solo work is all nothing short of brilliant. If you haven't heard the kings of convenience remix album, "versus" you really are missing out. a truly great work.
so i decided to stay in tonight, largely because this is an insane weekend for me in general. So its nice to just sit at home and take in everything that is going on...starting to get stuff ready for my cruise next week. I am sooo incredibly excited, out of any of the past 5 years, where i have taken at least one vacation (niceee) this year, i need one the most. This year has been so...strange i guess i would say. Some things bad, some things good, but definitely an experience nonetheless.
Okay so tomorrow is my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. How cute is that? 60 years....thats unbelievable. One day i hope i will find a girl i want to be with every single day for the rest of my life....in due time i guess. So its a big celebration at my aunt's house tomorrow night, which is fun, all of my cousins and family from across the country will be there, my cousin from colorado, my cousin from france, so it'll be nice to see everyone.
And sunday, my mom has this what she calls "graduation" which celebrates the ending of these classes she has been taking to be in charge of this ministry, we are going for taps brunch, yummmm and then its time for me and my best girl-friend to head to downtown la for the sweetest event of the year, the annual American Apparel Party. Which has made a huge improvement from last year, because not only is it a flea market sale with a tonnn of stuff for a buck, but this year its an all out, all night party, with Sebastien Tellier dj'ing (who has provided one of the most impressive French dance albums of the year). So that should be fun, i'll be there all night, so if you are going, let me know! Everyone by now knows by complete obsession with aa clothing, strange the first time i bought regular aa clothes, i was buying large, and now i'm buying smalls, but xs fit well too! crazy!
thennn monday is the wonderful kele and bloc party, with another band i saw at coachella this year, "does it offend you, yeah?" Who i don't really care for to be honest with you, but still a worthy opener. So that show is at the glass house, which is amazing enough that a band of such high stature like bp is playing such a small venue. But then i looked at the calender of future shows, and OMG! CUT COPY playing there in oct? Vamp Weekend playing there as well? What the hell is going on? What happened to the days of the el rey and the mayan? perhaps the troubadour and the roxy? Or the fonda and the hob? No, lets play a little place in ghetto pomona guys! alright! Whatev. saves me on parking and gas.
so nothing much has changed in the past week, just continuing to be very busy. i don't know if i'll have time to post again before i leave on friday, but we'll see.
sorry i just have to do a couple quick record reviews. 2 that have constantly been on my mind

the dodos - visitor
this honestly, may be my favorite album of 2008 so far. A truly brilliant album. I have not stopped listening to it, really. The style ranges from beautiful acoustic ballads (below) to ambient klaxon-esque stuff. I cannot recommend this album enough, it is so different, yet so accepting and familiar. This song is one of the most beautiful, yet simple songs i've heard so far this year, sounds like it'd be on the juno soundtrack.
9.4/10
the dodos - undeclared

black kids - partie traumatic
as spin so elequently said, "no band has received this much hype since vampire weekend." And i'd have to agree, i have been hearing about them pretty much every week for months and months, and this week the group finally released their long awaited debut, and it does not disappoint. As spin also says, no lyricist has possessed such songwriting ability since morrissey, or stephen merritt (a la magnetic fields) arguably, and in my opinion, two of the best songwriters ever. But back to the album, it truly is great, mixing the go team! shouting vocals with beautiful vampire weekend melodies. A great debut.
8.5/10
black kids - hit the heartbrakes

wow, a lot of music today! i also have two, amazinggg covers for you. first, is a great australian singer, lenka, covering one of my favorite modest mouse songs, "gravity rides everything." A very interesting take on the song. And the other is a cover/remix of the greatttt 80's hit "take on me," where the singer sounds like ben gibbard, like a lot! enjoy everyone. I hope to post one more time before fridayyyy. Thug Lifeee.

Lenka - Gravity Rides Everything (Modest Mouse Cover)
Karl Kling - Take On Me (A-Ha Cover/RAC Remix)