My main squeeze Jeff Klein just uploaded a rough mix of "Hit The Lights" from his forthcoming album.
About the song: "'Hit The Lights' features help from Atom boyd of The Honorary Title on drums, Mike Dillon of Critters Buggin on percussion, Rick Nelson of Polyphonic Spree on strings, and Mark Lanegan lending background vocals. This is an unmastered rough mix preview."
It's dark and beautiful at the same time, kind of like Klein himself.
I can't get this song out of my head today: "The Dress Looks Nice on You" by Sufjan Stevens, from Seven Swans. It's so simple and so sweet. We all need more simple and sweet in our lives.
I'd share an mp3 if I had one here, but instead you'll have to settle for this bootleg video. You might have to look away so you don't get dizzy.
I ran into my dear friend Aaron Burtch backstage at the Bright Eyes show at Great American on Saturday night. I met Aaron back in '99 when he was the drummer for Grandaddy and I was working for their label V2 Records.
Aaron is an awesome visual artist. Check out his work here.
Our trip to Alcatraz was fun!
I'm declaring today Chihuahua Friday.
First Lilia suggested this awesome photo for the [this is good] box, and I couldn't resist. (See more chihuahua goodness on Myla's blog.)
Finally, I have a chihuahua video to share. When my dear friend Laurie was in town a few weeks ago, we stopped by my friend Blakely's store R.A.G. (anyone in SF must visit the store - she carries only local designers) and then we went to see Blakely's new apartment and of course her chihuahua, my beloved Chupa. As you can see, Chupa and I go way back:
From my 3/8/2007 show:
New music:
1. the gun - chad van gaalen -- from the limited edition double gatefold vinyl release of Skelliconnection!
2. to the country - laura veirs
3. spring flight to the land of fire - the cape may
Geographical:
4. paris is burning - st. vincent
5. california - david poe
6. jerusalem - mirah
Live stuff:
7. golden star (live) - my brightest diamond
8. mexican army (live) - joseph arthur
9. the book of right-on (live) - joanna newsom
10. promising actress (live) - john vanderslice
Over it (plus this week's *soundalikes):
* 11. stop draggin my heart around - stevie nicks & tom petty
* 12. sneaking around - juliana hatfield
13. the way it is - nicole atkins
I'll add the artists links in later.
Just a reminder to listen in at 4pm PST (or later at 10pm) today for my fourth show ever on BAGeL Radio.
To listen: In iTunes -- click on the radio tab and look under "Alt/Modern Rock" for "BAGeL Radio" -- or at the BAGeL Radio website.
Get your BAGeL fix while it's still around, as the Copyright Royalty Board just substantially increased the fees internet radio sites must pay to record labels -- fees not paid by traditional radio stations -- a move that BAGeL founder DJ Ted predicts "will kill off every last independent online radio station and websites like Pandora." Read Ted's entire post here and if you want to support internet radio, please take 2 seconds to sign the petition.
(Coworkers: you can tune into my iTunes share and listen to the "BAGeL Show #4" playlist at any time).
OK. I love Emmylou Harris. She is a phenomenon. Her voice is unmistakable and she's made amazing, lasting contributions to music. And she's way sexy with her long silver hair.
But I'm calling for a moratorium, Emmylou: No more contributing backing vocals on other people's albums. For at least a year. Just take 12 months off. Please. So it can be surprising and endearing again.
Listening to this album sent me over the edge, I guess.
