Sorry to Ruin Your Weekend
If you think the surge is working, if you believe democracy is on the march, if somehow you still think the Bush administration is populated with stand-up guys, you really need to read this article about Iraq war profiteering. If it doesn’t leave you seething, then it’s definitely time to put down the Kool-Aid.
- posted by Liebs @ 6:53 PM 0 comments

 
Still Here, People
I’ve been busy with that whole cross-country-move-start-a-job thing the last few months, but it’s time for a roundup of the music I’ve been digging while I get used to this whole West Coast situation. Let’s get to it.

Mark Ronson - Version
I can’t stop playing this record. All cover tunes, and all killer no filler. My favorites are the fantabulous Lily Allen taking on the Kaiser Chiefs’ "Oh My God" with a laid-back (stoned?) pseudo-reggae vibe, and Kenna putting a whole lot of soul into Ryan Adams’s "Amy". But every track is strong, choose your own favorites.

Feist - The Reminder
An exception to my rule that Canadian music blows, lovely Leslie Feist hath given us a rustic smile of a record, sometimes a little goofy, but come on, she is Canadian. Apple just started using her exceptional video for "1 2 3 4" in their fat nano ads, so expect that one to get stuck in your heads for the foreseeable future. I keep playing "The Limit To Your Love" a whole bunch.

CSS - Cansei de Ser Sexy
Apparently, even stoopid is damn sexy in Brazil. [Note to self: go to Brazil.] Standout tracks include "Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above" and "Alala". And how can you not love a record with the opening track "CSS Suxxx"? I’m not sure what their caipirinhas were laced with, but it got results.

M.I.A. - Kala
Maya Arulpragasam can’t spit lyrics like Jay-Z, but that’s ok – this is alien hip hop. I’m not sure if I mean the foreigner kind of alien or the intergalactic kind of alien, but that’s kind of the point. "Paper Planes" is absolutely stunning, a terrorist threat that’s sexy and scary at the same time. The musical influences on the record are global, and they all work. If you’re attracted by the type of woman who might stab you or light you on fire at any time, M.I.A.’s your goddess.

Junior Senior - Hey Hey My My Yo Yo
Everybody’s favorite gay-straight electrofunk duo from Denmark are back. I was taught that the whole point of music was to make a room full of people have fun, simple as that, and Junior Senior come from the same school of thought. Throw this on, and you just have to rear back and shake that ass.

Kelly Willis - Translated From Love
The sweetest voice in alternative country, if not the world. Put this (or any) Kelly Willis record on the stereo, hop back under the covers with your significant other, and there’s the greatest Sunday morning ever. You’re welcome.

UNKLE with The Duke Spirit - "May Day"
The title of sexiest voice in rock now belongs to The Duke Spirit’s Liela Moss. Her band’s record, Cuts Across The Land, is very much worth checking out as well.

Tegan And Sara - "Back In Your Head"
Wait, what did I say about Canadian music? Maybe that’s just the dudes – yes, I’m talking to you Nickelback-Bryan Adams-Barenaked Ladies. Who doesn’t love cute twin lesbian sisters singing about sleeping around?

Wilco - "The Thanks I Get"
A B-side off the really nice Sky Blue Sky, you can hear a bit of it in the Volkswagen commercial where the tow truck guy moves the Rabbit instead of towing it. Wilco have gotten a bit of criticism for putting several of the songs off their new album in a string of V-Dub ads (my only problem is I want Miss Helga back - "You got an F!"), but they can’t exactly rely on radio and MTV to get people to hear their music nowadays, now can they?

LCD Soundsystem - "North American Scum"
"And for those of you who still think we’re from England/We’re not/No" Greatest lyric of the year. Thank you James Murphy.

Justice - "D-A-N-C-E"
That’s pronounced jus-TEECE, people. French cheese is the best cheese, right?

OK, that’s enough for now, more posts to come soon.
- posted by Liebs @ 9:34 PM 0 comments