It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

This might be my favorite Christmas song. It's officially my favorite Christmas song that I first heard without registering it as such. I owned a CD of the Pogues If I Should Fall From Grace With God -- and it's really annoying me right now that I can no longer recall the provenance of my Pogues awareness -- long before I heard it on the radio while shopping in the pound store at The Pavilions, Uxbridge, UK in December of '07.

I was just thinking U.S. radio stations and holiday playlists would throw it into rotation, I might cut them a little slack for starting the Christmas music in October. As if... I'm pretty sure you can't say "faggot" on air in the U.S. Even if it doesn't mean what you think it means. (Case in point: I once saw frozen faggots on sale in Iceland. Completely true statement, that. Only makes sense in the U.K.)

In any case, the other day I decided to look up the guitar chords and work on learning them on the piano (actually, Blake's Casiotone MT-100). I didn't realize this video existed until today, but it makes me want to aspire to learning it on my penny whistle as well. (Won't the neighbors love that!)

And speaking of penny whistles - I want to have a holiday party and play the Musical Instrument Game a la Jimmy Fallon.  (To do list: buy harmonium from any Mission thrift shop.)

The existence of which I discovered by watching this other awesome Christmas video. 100% guaranteed to temporarily alleviate Grinchiness.

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Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know

New song obsession: Belgian-Australian Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" featuring New Zealand's Kimbra.

Do you believe in signs?

Valentine's Day, afternoon. Me sitting in the drive through at the bank-that's-really-a-credit-union, wavering on a decision I'd already made when I hear this on the radio:

I want you to move to California for yourself,
I want you to find whatever your heart needs,
I want you to move to California for yourself, but not for me.

Holy....shit, thank you universe.

The song is called "California," by a band called Delta Spirit. Full lyrics to the song (Truth be told I cried a little when I listened to it a second time) can be found here.  Their album comes out on March 13, but in the meantime, you can download an mp3 of the song from their website in exchange for your email address.

Kaskade - Fire in Your New Shoes

Not dead! Just really busy with work and classes. One of my current song obsessions is "Fire in Your New Shoes" by Kaskade featuring Dragonette's Martina Sorbara. My favorite line:

"...and the leg bone's connected to the one in the thigh." I like bones, duh.

Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks

God bless public radio -- where the good music lives. Specifically, WXPN introduced Ali and me to the Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men with "Little Talks" from the album My Head Is An Animal.

I'd just like to note that last night in the car I asked "Is that an accordion?" and Ali said "If it was an accordion, you'd know it," implying that it was not. What do we have here? An accordion. Uh huh. :)

Also, the drummer vaguely looks like a hairier, Icelandic version of my Swedish love. I'm totally down with that.

Kele - Tenderoni

I don't really care about this song's lyrics and the video is kind of shit.  I like the beat.  I need to add it to my workout playlist...and you know, workout.  This is Kele Okereke's (from Bloc Party) "Tenderoni."

Peter Bradley Adams - I Cannot Settle Down

Here is music from Peter Bradley Adams featuring Molly Parden.  I like the laid-back atmosphere of this collaboration in a 1968 Airstream trailer and the beautiful harmony.

Tift Merritt - Mixtapes

I love Tift Merritt and I love mixtapes.  Win-win!

Lost Things

A short stop-motion film called "Lost Things" by Angela Kohler and Ithyle Griffiths starring Alison Sudol and the music of A Fine Frenzy.  It makes me smile. :)

The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

Just so you know, you should be aware of The Civil Wars.  I like how they say "holler" in the song "Barton Hollow."  That's how 'dem folks in Tennessee say it. :)

Neko Case - People Got A Lotta Nerve

I've been enjoying some Neko Case of late.  I love the knitting in the beginning of the video for "People Got A Lotta Nerve" and of course, the elephants. :)  The animation is by Paul and Julie Morstad.

Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine - 1-2-3

My previous post gave me an idea -- I wonder if it's possible to make a playlist of songs that include counting?  A counting song I sang to myself when I was young (and still do sometimes) is "1-2-3" by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.

The Decemberists - Rox in the Box

I forgot to mention that Mama bought me The Decemberists' album The King Is Dead at the Borders "Going Out of Business" sale on my birthday.  Let me just say, it's not much of a sale and demonstrates why I so rarely actually bought books and CDs at Borders (unless on extreme clearance).  Now, coffee, that's a different matter entirely.  Yes, the album was released months ago; I am slow.  And I suppose I'm weird because I still buy hard copies of music (and not in the form of vinyls).  I think my current favorite is "Rox in the Box," and I'm really enjoying Gillian Welch's additional vocals.

I just love NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts. :)  Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek is contributing fiddle and vocals on tour.

Also, I love this skull illusion concert poster for The Decemberists.

Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good

I really hate when people die on my birthday. :(  Rest in peace, Amy Winehouse.

Under the Sea

I've been itching to go to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for some time, and in celebration of my birthday (and because they are also 12-year-olds at heart) my friends agreed to go with me. :)

Like I said, I was really excited.  (Find nail decals here.)

I was especially looking forward to the seahorses because I'm in the midst of reading this:

But alas, only one seahorse species remains.  Boo!

There were bright fish, dull fish, odd fish, stingrays, sharks, turtles, snakes, birds, and so forth.  

Something new and different was the Jellies Invasion exhibit.  Now, generally, I'm not a big jellyfish fan because I was stung more than once at the beach as a child, but behind glass, they're pretty.

We ate at Hard Rock Cafe out of desperation.  Overpriced, mediocre food if you ask me, but we weren't going to trudge across the Inner Harbor during a heat wave in search of something better.  (On a side note, we followed two people inside with bags that referenced a Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference.  Never knew there was such a thing.)  We were seated in close proximity to a creepy bronze bust of Mick Jagger, but while we waited for our food, we rocked out to Journey on the television screen.

Special thanks to the lovely ladies who accompanied me!  Always remember, love will find you!

Louise Burns - Gardenia Blues

I flove her ring!

Today's new discovery is Louise Burns.  Her first album won't be released until August, but that's why we have the Internet. :)  Personally, I'm enjoying "Gardenia Blues."

Dream for an Insomniac

Yesterday, I accompanied Rachel to a charitable book fair and found a poster for one of my favorite movies.  It was kismet...or something.  I credit Dream for an Insomniac with igniting my love for CAKE.

Lost Girl Is Found

I don't watch a lot of television, at least not mainstream television.  My newest obsession is a little Canadian show called Lost Girl.  Yes, yes, I know the "fae" thing is waaaaaay overdone, but I don't care.  The show's entertaining, the stars are hot (and can act!), and major points for the killer soundtrack!  It kind of reminds me of the cheesy early days of Buffy.  Sadly, if you're not in Canada, you're kinda screwed, unless you're sneaky like me. ;)  But GOOD news for the U.S.!  Syfy bought rights to the first two seasons (season 2 airs in CA in the fall).


Now for some music from the show, including phender, You Say Party, The Kills, and Neverending White Lights.

Laura Marling - Rambling Man

Laura Marling's voice is soft yet strong and her lyrics carry such sincerity.  Love!  The video for "Rambling Man" makes me a) cold and b) want to visit Brighton, England.

Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy

Skeletal jamming!  AW, YEAH!  It looks like so much fun!  Here's "Skeleton Boy" by Friendly Fires.