I'm a Little Bit Country...

I’ve recently rediscovered my love of country music.

Not really through my own choice but because the radio down at the pool has decided to stop picking up any stations except the two country ones. That’s left me with a lot of twang, heart breaks and pick-up trucks to I thought I’d share some of my favorites.

Something Old

“Crazy”- Patsy Cline

There’s a reason people are still talking about her. The song is great and the whole tragic-death thing adds to the mystique.

Something New

“Springsteen”- Eric Church

This song has all the essentials of a country song: looking back to when you were young, shout outs to famous musicians, summer, stars at night, lover, and some sort of fire (in this case a lighter). It’s all right there.

Something Borrowed

“Hurt”- Johnny Cash

At the risk of being disowned by the country community… I’m not a big Johnny Cash fan. I can’t explain it but he just doesn’t do it for me. However, this song is one of the best covers ever (it was originally done by Nine Inch Nails) and if you can make it through the video with out getting a little misty eyed, more power to you.

Something Blue

“Still Holding Out For You”- SHeDAISY

When I was younger I was absolutely obsessed with SHeDAISY. I have no idea what they’re doing now but I’m going to single handedly bring back their career with this song recommendation. When I was younger, I didn’t really listen to the lyrics to I had no idea how depressing this song actually is but jeez… what a sad story.

Something Random

“How Do You Like Me Now?”- Toby Keith

Toby Keith and I are about as opposite as it is possible to be. I don’t really like anything about him… except this song.

So park your truck out front, take your boots off, open a beer, sit next to your dog, hold your woman real close, and enjoy some country music.

Catchy Like A Rash

You know that annoying song that is stuck in your head all the time and no matter what you do, you can’t get it out? That is… until you’ve heard another equally annoying song. Here are my picks guaranteed to drive you crazy. But don’t lie, you’re secretly enjoying yourself.

Something Old

“Eye of the Tiger”- Survivor

I know you’re thinking, “great. Now I’m going to have this terrible song stuck in my head for the rest of the day” and you’re right! You will. But when you find yourself 10 times more productive today than another day, you can thank me and this ridiculously catchy song.

Something New

“Call Me Maybe”- Carly Rae Jepsen

Oh dear Lord. Not this song again. This song is everywhere this summer. One day I counted at the pool and I heard it 4 times in 4 hours. That’s a lot of “call me maybes.” And as much as I want to hate it… I just can’t. It’s too damn catchy. I have a theory that if you polled 50 people, at least 4 of them would have that song stuck in their head at any given time. Here’s your chance to be 1 of 4.

Something Borrowed

“Twist and Shout”- The Beatles

Remember that great scene in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (insert obligatory “Buhler, Buhler, Katie Buhler” here) with the epic parade? Well Ferris did The Beatles proud… who did the Isley Brothers proud first. And now, I dare you not to walk around the rest of the day singing “shake it up baby now (shake it up baby now)” while pretending you’re in your own parade.

Something Blue

“Graduation”- Vitamin C

Remember how I graduated a month and a half ago? And remember how I’m kind of an asshole? Well combine the two and you’ve got the torture I inflicted on my roommates by singing this song to them in the week leading up to graduation. Sad as hell yet still one of the catchiest songs ever.

Something Random

“Tubthumping”- Chumbawamba

I have no idea what this song is about. No idea what the lyrics mean. No idea what “tubthumping” is or what is has to do with the song. BUT… don’t act like you don’t belt out “I get knocked down…” every single time you hear it on the radio.

And now you’ll be “pissing the night away” singing these songs in your head over and over and over. You’re welcome mwuahahahahahaha (evil laugh)

Live Music

Being back home has really showed me one aspect of New York that I miss more than anything: access to new music. Pierre has 4 radio stations.

River 92.7 which plays a sickening collection of Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Train, Nickleback, Kelly Clarkson, and the novelty song of the week (aka “Call Me Maybe”)

Jack 95.3 which plays a really weird mix of basically whatever they’re feeling. I’ve heard everything from Beyonce to bad 80’s hair metal (a lot of bad 80’s hair metal)

94.5 Country which, obviously plays country hits but from a tower just far enough away that it comes in fuzzy

100.1 the Eagle which is a mix of oldies but goodies. Except for Saturday nights which is all 70’s disco crap.

Anyway, this has made me miss the huge variety of music I had the chance to not only hear, but also see live in New York.

And yes, I am aware this post is absolutely dripping with East Coast Elitism but that comes with the territory. Enjoy these 5 songs from bands I saw this year.

Something Old

“Soul Meets Body”- Death Cab for Cutie

Always a great song. And, luckily for me, I got to see Death Cab play with the Magik*Magik Orchestra which made all the songs sound about 15 times cooler than they already would have.

Something New

“Krocodile”- St. Vincent

So for those of you who don’t know, St. Vincent is fairly to mostly awesome. If you get a chance to see her live, go. She was phenomenal and finished her set with this song off her new record… while crowd surfing.

Something Borrowed

“I Don’t Want Love”- The Antlers

The same day I saw St. Vincent, I saw the Antlers and honestly, I felt a little too high from their music to take it all in. Thankfully, Lexi recommended this song and now I can remember their trippy, f-ed up show in its entirety.

Something Blue

“Lover Gone”- Peggy Sue

Don’t you love when you go to see one band and then find that the opening band is just as awesome, if not more awesome, than the band you came to see? I got lucky like that when I saw the British band Peggy Sue open for First Aid Kit. All of their music is worth checking out but this is my favorite.

Something Random

“Emmylou”- First Aid Kit

Speaking of First Aid Kit, they are my second favorite sister act featuring one or more lesbian (*cough* Tegan and Sara *cough*) and this is just an all around great song.

Enjoy!

Music for the Beach

I live in the middle of a cornfield. Not exactly but I do live a hell of a lot closer to a cornfield than I do to a real beach. That doesn’t keep me from loving beachy music, however.

And considering I’ve been jonesing for some serious beach time (maybe I shouldn’t have watched Blue Crush the other day) here are my five picks for a day at a beach (preferably while the sun is setting and I’m in a rag-top Jeep; hey, a girl can dream)

Something Old

“Swim”- Surfer Blood

This was my song of the summer last summer. In fact, I’m pretty sure Rae hates it from hearing it soooo many times in my car. That shouldn’t stop you from playing the hell out of it though.

Something New

“The Only Place”- Best Coast

If you don’t have at least one song by Best Coast on your summer playlist, there is something wrong with you. This is Best Coast’s first single of their new album (also called “The Only Place”) and yes, I am aware she’s singing about California. I don’t care. Listen and Love.

Something Borrowed

“Young Adult Friction”- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

If I had to describe the sound of every single Pains of Being Pure at Heart song in one word, it would be “summer” so enjoy this one, courtesy of Lexi Gusso.

Something Blue

“Boys and Girls”- Alabama Shakes

This song is like brand new blues and I am loving it! Not to mention the fact that the lead singer sounds eerily like Janis Joplin…

Something Random

“Punching in a Dream”- The Naked and Famous

I, much like you guys, am getting ridiculously sick of The Naked and Famous’ “Young Blood” being used in every single commercial ever thereby ruining what was once a great song. Luckily for us though, this song is untainted by our consumer society. 

The Shins

Funny story, earlier this year I won tickets to see the Shins perform a private show at a club in NYC. Unfortunately for me, they changed the rules at the last second so that only people 21 and older could go in. Yes, yes. I am 21. But, the person I was going with was not. Long story short, I didn’t get to see the Shins. Instead, I saw The Lorax which was a pretty f-ing good movie.

Anyway, here are my five picks for this week.

Something Old

“New Slang”

Why not start it out with the song that started it all? This song was released in 2001 on “Oh, Inverted World” and is still one of my favorites.

Something New

“It’s Only Life”

Luckily for us, the Shins released a new album this year chalk full of great new songs. This is my favorite off the new album.

Something Borrowed

“We Will Become Silhouettes”

This song was originally a Postal Service song written by Benjamin Gibbard (one of the guys from Death Cab). Although it’s great as a Postal Service song, I actually prefer the Shins take on it.

Something Blue

“Sleeping Lessons”

Uh… Great song. End of story.

Something Random

“Australia”

As much as I genuinely love this song, one of the major reasons I picked it for this slot is because I really like the video.

Also, it doesn’t hurt to check out this video for “Simple Song” which ranks right up there with awesome videos.

Roommate Mix

This past school year, I lived with three other girls and, surprisingly, by the end of the year, I still genuinely liked two of them!

We had some good times but I have to say my fondest memories are our awesome jam sessions. Though we had many, MANY songs we listened to, here are some of my favorites.

Something Old

“What’s Up”- 4 Non Blondes

You haven’t lived until you’ve had a loud sing along to this song. Just make sure you get the voice right. It’s kind of a requirement. PS the lead singer of this band is awesome.

Something New

“Can We Go Wrong”- Hesta Prynn

First of all, Hesta gets some serious bonus points for the literary, yet still cool, name. Second, all of her songs sound the way swimming with clothes on feels. (Mind=blown). Thirdly, this is one of the coolest videos I’ve ever seen.

Something Borrowed

“What Makes You Beautiful”- One Direction

This isn’t borrowed in the sense that it is one band covering another. This is borrowed in the sense that my roommate, Michele, introduced me to it. Though I initially hated it and still won’t claim it’s a “good” song, it is catchy as hell and so much fun to sing along to. So c-come on and give it a chance.

Something Blue

“From This Moment On”- Shania Twain

This isn’t really a “blue” song but we didn’t really listen to sad songs in our apartment so for our purposes, the slowness of this song qualifies it as blue. Plus, I really wanted to include it on this list so I could bring up the fact that Michele and I are the best lip syncers ever to this song. Perhaps if you pester my roommate Tara enough, she will post a video she has of this online…

Something Random

“I Want It That Way”- Backstreet Boys

If you say you don’t like this song, you are a dirty, filthy liar. Give it another listen to and find some people to sing the “you are—you are—you are—you a-are” part with. You’re welcome.

Also, I know I have probably shoved Robyn down your throat enough for one lifetime but… she was the designated pop star of our apartment and it just doesn’t feel right not to include her on this.

Summer Songs

It’s officially June!!! That means it’s officially Summer!

Jk. I know that’s not actually how summer works but whatever. In my mind: I’m done with school and it’s fairly nice out. That equals summer.

Something Old

Bryan Adams- “Summer of ‘69”

This one’s kind of a no brainer. Seriously, who doesn’t love this song? If you are shaking your head right now saying “I don’t” then you’re lying.

Something New

Animal Collective- “Summertime Clothes”

Again, I know this isn’t a new song but I haven’t heard a good new song that has “summer” in the title in a long time. So this gets the title of “new” sort of by default. Still a great song though.

Something Borrowed

Janis Joplin- “Summertime”

This is one of those classic jazz songs that everybody and their dog has a version of. I’ve got three different jazz versions from three different people on my iTunes alone. That being said, Janis’s version is still the best I’ve ever heard.I know Janis is something of an acquired taste but… her rendition of this song is pretty epic.

Something Blue

Dashboard Confessional- “Dusk and Summer”

There is something about this guy’s voice that just wants to make you curl up in a ball and either cry or die. Doesn’t help that he sings “you’ve already lost” about 15 times in a row.

Something Random

Bruce Springsteen- “Girls In Their Summer Clothes”

He’s the Boss. No explanation necessary. (Other than the fact that I figured my former roommates would kill me if I passed up the opportunity to include a Bruce song)