A Narration of Melancholic Elation » 2010

Archive for February, 2010

Strictly 4 My R.A.I.N.Y. D.A.Y.Z.

2/22/2010 5:38 pm

This is a follow-up to last year’s rainy day podcast. There are no explicit lyrics that I know of and 2pac did not posthumously contribute to this play list. If he did, he might still be my hero.

Strictly 4 My R.A.I.N.Y. D.A.Y.Z. (mp3)

The American Analog Set - Weather Report
The Apples in Stereo - High Tide
The Clientele - Reflections of Jane
JayMay - Gray or Blue
Matt Pond PA - This is Montreal
The Books- The Lemon of Pink
Message to Bears - At Top of the Hill
M. Ward - Beautiful Car
Elliott Smith - Rose Parade
The Real People - Untitled
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Toby, Take a Bow
The Notwist - One With the Freaks
Lali Puna - Faking the Books
Atlas Sound - Criminals
Radiohead - House of Cards
K.C. Accidental - Residential Love Song

Strictly 4 My R.A.I.N.Y. D.A.Y.Z.: Download

Categories: Visine for the ears
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Study Music Vol. 3 - Winter Work/Global Grind

2/10/2010 10:02 am

Kyiv. Courtesy of David Sasaki.

As I’ve listened to Volumes 1 and 2 several times, there has been a personal realization that the cerebral nature and introspective quality of this series causes these compilations to be a bit distracting for reading purposes. It depends on the person and context of course, but these instrumental mixes might be better titled as, “Work Music.”

Volume 3 is a multi-genre, multi-cultural escape, from some of winter’s most picturesque places: Germany, Sweden, and Oregon to warmer sounds coming from Ethiopia, England, Los Angeles, and finally, India. Study/Work music, coffee/tea, this chilly season, and “the grind” all go hand in hand.

From Snowpocalypse 2010. Courtesy of Laura Heaton.

Study Music Vol. 3 - Winter Work/Global Grind (mp3)

Tracklist:

Max Richter - Horizon Variations/Vladimir’s Blues/Sofa Chess
Eluvium - Radio Ballet
Peter Broderick - A Snowflake
Mogwai - Stanley Kubrick
Esbjörn Svensson Trio - Did They Ever Tell Cousteau?
Mulatu Astatke - Tezeta (Nostalgia)
DJ Cam - Gangsta Shit
Eligh - Bird Race
B. Fleischmann - Broken Monitors
Ustad Zakir Hussain - Teentaal - Vilambit Matta Taal

Study Music Vol. 3 - Winter Work/Global Grind: Download

Categories: Visine for the ears
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Best Pop Music of the Decade [00s]

2/5/2010 8:33 pm

The National. Courtesy of Matt Benton

When the folks at All Songs Considered congregated to discuss the defining music of the 00s (also known as “The Noughties,” “The Aughts,” or other unspeakable titles), a couple of trends stuck out in my mind that are worth highlighting. First, in the digital age of i-pods and downloading mp3s, there has been an “end of nostalgia” in music because we no longer have to yearn for music that we once knew or owned. These days, everything is available in the palm of our hand or the click of a mouse. Second, the “blurring of sounds” between genres is an incredible progression in music that has allowed for fascinating developments. The music created during this past decade by Outkast, M.I.A., and Radiohead are incredibly complex and impossible to explain in one word.

The 00s were a transformative decade, politically, technologically, and personally. For me, our nation’s political development definitely shares a commonality with music. Both have helped me realize that I dig this country and I’m happy to have experienced more of its offerings. In 2001-02, I would not have said the same. But as I’ve grown older, discovered more jazz, Americana, and hip-hop, as well as traveled to Oregon, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Colorado, I can wholeheartedly say that I appreciate American culture. That being said, there is an immense wealth of music that was churned out of other countries, but only Norway and U.K. are represented on this compilation. Next weeks podcast shall be more global, I promise.

But anyway, here it is. This is what I conjured up. Enjoy.

Best Pop Music of the Decade [00s] (mp3)

Kings of Convenience - I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From (remix)
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Stars - Elevator Love Letter
The National - Secret Meeting
Wilco - Heavy Metal Drummer
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
The Strokes - Is this It
Modest Mouse - Float On
M. Ward - Chinese Translation
Eels - Fresh Feeling
Coldplay - Clocks
Death Cab for Cutie - Soul Meets Body
Broken Social Scene - Pacific Theme
Pinback - Fortress
The Shins - New Slang
The Clientele - Since K Got Over Me
Band of Horses - The Funeral
Radiohead - Morning Bell
Beirut - Postcards for Italy
Sun Kil Moon - Trucker’s Atlas