currently // 07.31.13

currently, i am...

wondering how more than a year flew by. i was putting together a post on my birthday breakfast-for-dinner dinner (complete with a recipe for orange juice french toast!) and all of a sudden, it's 2013. how did this happen?

remembering how many good shows i've been to these last 18 months: radiohead, heartless bastards, 35 denton music festival (dum dum girls, thee oh sees, built to spill and more), neon indian, eisley, eleanor friedberger, burning hotels, austin psych fest (times two!) (the black angels, wooden shjips, dead meadow, brian jonestown massacre, psychic ills and more), florence + the machine, yann tiersen, m83, the octopus project, sufjan steven's christmas spectacular, bombay bicycle club, best coast, and the seriously life-changing sigur ros (see photo above).

calculating how many miles i've driven across and back and up and down texas in the last 365 days. total: approximately 3,000.

marveling at the fact that i only read 11 books last year. but i've already completed 25 this year, so that's an improvement.

realizing that maybe i should still switch out watching tv (well, netflix-on-iPad-watching) before bed with reading. (but have you seen orange is the new black??)

missing estate sales. i've had a few mornings of estate sales with my sister over the past few months, but nothing else.

disbelieving that my niece, who was born when i was 14, is starting her sophomore year in college next month.

loving that i met andrew mccarthy & alex maas and christian bland this year. and in actual real life, i've met many new and wonderful people.

accepting that i need to figure out how to de-stress. being 32 was not my thing; 2012 was not my year. 33 is so much better; 2013 is so much kinder.

laughing at the fact that i originally drafted this post on 05.17.12. ha!

understanding, after writing it all out, how months have flown by: life is busy.

hoping to be back in the swing of things soon.

wakey wakey wednesday // 02.29.2012

better late than never, huh? wow. it's been a crazy few days. i've been under the weather for over a week and i've fallen behind on most things, including the photo a day project, which ends today. i'm working on getting caught up, though! 

i woke up late and ran out the door before putting any music on, so the first song of the day was from a CD in my car. my friend recently made me an amazing mix and i've been listening to it non-stop. this is the first thing i heard this morning.

song: sound city
artist: burning hotels
album: burning hotels
year: 2011

i was lucky enough to catch them opening for explosions in the sky last fall and they were amazing! i really like their 80s vibe and i definitely dig that they are a local band (from ft. worth). happy wednesday! happy leap day!

spinning // emotions

there's something about the decca label on this record that makes me go a bit weak in the knees. the colors... swoon. 

i picked up this record at an estate sale for $0.25 and it's such a sweet album. it has so many great songs, including when i fall in love, will you love me tomorrow and georgia on my mind. 

every time i put it on, i immediately think of dirty dancing. i remember getting the soundtrack for the movie one christmas and, now that i think about it, i was probably entirely too young to have even seen the movie! i got the cassette, a turquoise and hot pink tape player, and dance club barbie. one of those things definitely does not belong...

and speaking of dirty dancing, i'll be back tomorrow with the many moods of jerry orbach! (he played baby's dad in the movie)

wakey wakey wednesday // 02.15.2012

this song makes me want to hop a plane and head to1950s new york. or italy. you know, whichever. on a related note (see below), i am getting quite excited about the (excruciatingly long-awaited) return of mad men next month! i think my biggest question is how much time will have passed since the end of season 4 in 1965? i've read that it will be the summer of 1967. i can live with late 1960s fashions... as long as we never see joan in a leisure suit. i kid. joan would never wear polyester.

song: botch-a-me

artist: rosemary clooney

album: mad men vol. 1

year: 2008 (originally recorded in 1952)

spinning // la bella italia

i think i can safely say that the one purchase i will never regret splurging on is my record player. it makes me so happy and i love looking for new albums at the thrifts to add to my collection. i have quite a proclivity for picking up records solely based on their cover - you can blame this blog - and i've lucked out that most have been in decent condition. 

i actually drooled over la bella italia on project thirty-three awhile ago, so i was pretty happy to stumble upon it last week. and let me tell you, it's fantastic. quite frankly, i'm a nut for the accordion, but this album really is perfectly cozy, romantic, nostalgic and beautiful.

ciao!

wakey wakey wednesday // 02.08.2012

an oldie today. and one of my favorite works, too. when i was in high school, my band traveled to chicago to play an invitational orchestra clinic and this was one of the pieces we did - ours was irish tune from county derry by percy grainger, though. and it was s l o w.

song: danny boy (londonderry air)
artist: glenn miller and his orchestra
album: a legendary performer
year: 1991

wakey wakey wednesday // 02.01.2012

the lads are always an excellent way to start the morning...

song: tomorrow never knows
artist: the beatles
album: revolver
year: 1966

music // upcoming shows

hi friends! i just wanted to pop in and share a few of the shows i'm excited about going to in the next few months. i feel like the saying "my dance card is full" needs to have a live music equivalent. suggestions?

in february, i have tickets to the octopus project. i've seen them twice before (once just last november, actually), but their shows are amazing, high energy and visually beautiful (they have gorgeous graphic projections). and the theremin-playing yvonne? she's pretty awesome. 

in march, i'm seeing radiohead the night before my birthday. it can't get any better, but i did read that thom yorke didn't really want to go into the older stuff, so fingers crossed for a few from ok computer, kid a, or the bends.

a few days after my birthday, i'll see heartless bastards again. this is actually my video from when i saw them early last year. they're great live!

in april, i'm super excited to go to austin psych fest for the first time! there are a ton of super cool bands playing, including my favorite-ever live music band the black angels. 

in may, it's florence + the machine. actually really stoked about this show. after all her out-there videos, i'm interested to see what her live shows are like.

to end may (and this still-growing list), it's yann tiersen! oh, how much do i love yann? a lot. he was supposed to have a show in dallas last year, but it got snowed out, of all things! he's worth the wait, though...

how about you? any shows (or anything) you're excited about this year? i'd love to hear!

wakey wakey wednesday // 01.25.2012

sidenote: one of my favorite songs ever. days when songs like this shuffle on first make me pretty happy. sigur rós is one of the bands on my life to-see list - if they don't tour the states soon, i have a back-up plan of going to iceland to see them (and the northern lights). that would be an amazing trip.

song: e-bow

artist: sigur rós

album: inni

year: 2011

or 

song: sigur 6 (untitled)

artist: sigur rós

album: sigur rós ( )

year: 2002 

wakey wakey wednesday // 01.18.2012

song: yeah right
artist: dinosaur jr.
album: without a sound
year: 1994

wakey wakey wednesday // 01.11.2012

song: the group who couldn't say
artist: grandaddy
album: sumday
year: 2003

wakey wakey wednesday // 01.04.2012

wakey wakey, eggs and bakey. name that movie.

i am so not a morning person. i set my alarm up to an hour earlier than i have to be awake just to snooze slide into the day (snooze slide. yeah, i just made that up). but once i'm up, i'm up and when i'm up, music is on.

my itunes is (almost) always set to shuffle and i'm always a bit excited to see what the first song of the day will be. sometimes it's a great first song that sets the mood for the whole day. sometimes it's a real stinker and i wonder why that song (or album or artist) is even in my library.

i thought it would be fun (and sometimes very funny) to share the first song of the morning once a week. thus, wakey wakey wednesday.

i pledge to be brutally honest even if the song is trash and i lose a bit of music credibility in the process. who knows, maybe you'll find a new artist to love!

song: hold me now
artist: polyphonic spree
album: together we're heavy
year: 2004

good morning!

so long, 2011

i moved from a tiny, cramped apartment to a perfect (for me) little house that i love.

i listened to so much good music with really awesome people. there really needs to be more squares for this.

i had the best thrift store and estate sale adventures.

i had the best time laughing with my family and friends.

i tried more things. making is my favorite.

i snuggled with this cutie.

and i felt thankful for my amazing family.

i hope you had a spectacular 2011 - see you next year!

the holiday season // 12.02.2011

can we talk about how much i love christmas music? because i do. it's so darn chipper and happy. and sometimes it's wonderfully nostalgic and sad. something for everybody, right?

while you can bet that i am fond of the classic crooners and tunes, i am especially smitten with odd and non-traditional holiday songs. in a weird way, i've listened to these songs so much and for so many years, they have become traditional to me.

one of the first albums i listen to each year (who am i kidding - i listen to it all year) is sufjan stevens' songs for christmas. this album doesn't seem as odd and non-traditional as it did when it first appeared ten years ago (it was actually released over the course of several years) and i'm sure by now it is a staple of the hipster holiday season, but the first time my brother-in-law played that was the worst christmas ever!, i was completely mesmerized.

the album is full of unique renditions of traditional songs, as well. what child is this anyway? is another of my favorites:

and the tenderness of the friendly beasts is too magical not to share:

sufjan stevens' musicality is what has always drawn me to his songs and the same is true for this entire album - it's just a great blend of instruments, vocals, and emotion. if you're looking for a little something different this holiday season, give the curmudgeon who pored over the reader's digest christmas songbook in order to better appreciate christmas a chance.

what's your favorite christmas album?

summer colours week // red + a color soundtrack

(so, this is the pink hibiscus from the other day. it's red in the morning and fades to pink and then to white by the end of the day. neat.)

summer colours week ends today with red, but i thought it would be fun to put together a soundtrack of colors via my favorite singers and bands.

yellow

yellow elevator #2 by the black angels


pink

pink moon by nick drake


blue

the blues are still blue by belle and sebastian


rainbow

i was zapped by the lucky super rainbow by the flaming lips


red

razzle dazzle rose by camera obscura (i totally interpreted 'rose' as red because i love this song so much and wanted to include it)

i hope you had a colorful week!

music // poppies

when it comes to music, i'm pretty much indie. and post rock. and roots rock. and alt rock. and psychedelic rock. so, to sum up... rock.

(source)

however. there are just some times when i want to hear some bands and some songs that are slightly more pop than rock. i'm drawn in and compelled to repeat a track or an album over and over and over. you know those slightly sappy inspirational songs that are perfect for blaring on horrible, terrible, no good, very bad days when radiohead is just too depressing? i call those poppies (terrible, i know) and i thought i'd share a few of my favorites, seeing as how i have a feeling it's going to be one of those weeks.

and, yes, it's only just monday.

but things are looking up because i have keane, perhaps my favorite maker of happy songs! my real guilty musical pleasure is brit pop and keane fits the bill precisely. i think the whole fall of 2004 was devoted to their debut album, hopes and fears. so many fantastic memories associated with that album (and yes, i squee'd quite loudly when blaine sang somewhere only we know to kurt on glee. my secret's out).

snowed under is a b-side to somewhere only we know and i can't tell you how many times i've listened to this song over the years. perfect when you feel like you're overwhelmed with life and work (gah, so much work!)

waiting on the light to change by matthew perryman jones is a song i shazam'd a few years ago in anthropologie. can i just tell you how many times i have tried to contact corporate to ask if they have playlists for their stores because every single time i go into an anthropologie, i find music i love. anywho... i also discovered this slower, acoustic version of the song that i also adore.

if work permits by the format. a great song for when you're ready to move on with whatever's been dragging you down or holding you back. i had to laugh at the comments under this video about whether it was made using a screencast of windows media player (it's not, but close).

what do you listen to when it's been a tough day or week?

music // guster

i had the best time with friends and family this weekend and, as usual, sunday night has come way too quickly. after a great lunch at the spiral diner with my friend sara and her boyfriend on friday afternoon, i headed back to downtown dallas with my friend and her brother to catch jukebox the ghost opening for guster.

the show was at house of blues and here's a nice little tip if you ever catch a show at one of their venues: eat dinner in their restaurant first. if you spend at least $15/person in food and/or drink, you don't have to wait in line to get in the show. you get to cut through the building and you are escorted in before everybody queuing. score.

i'd heard jukebox the ghost from a hear ya live session a few years ago and i thought they put on a pretty great show.

their second-to-last song was a hilarious donna lewis cover dedicated to the guys in guster. *giggles*

i have to admit that i'm not fully aware of guster's complete catalog of work. my friend introduced me a few years ago and i've always enjoyed hearing their music, which some describe as alternative or folk rock or, tidily enough, folk alternative.

however they're labeled, i did pick up on one fact quite quickly. guster have an amazing cult following with extremely loyal fans. every song was sung in full force by the entire audience. most shows i go to have (maybe) one or two songs that everybody knows. friday night's show was nearly two hours of singalong awesomeness.

i was quite happy when they played the song that originally pulled me in. i love satellite - it's just a catchy, upbeat, and sweet song. does there need to be anything else?

if you're not familiar with guster, check out some of their videos on you tube - they're always completely original, interesting, and entertaining.

i hope you had a great weekend! i'll be back to share some vintage store love soon, but right now i need to cram for a presentation i have to give to the city manager tomorrow. it seriously feels like it's grad school all over again!

music style // camera obscura



(my embroidered homage)

when the weather begins to warm up (which is usually pretty early in texas, much to my dismay), my musical mindset begins to transform, as well. do you have seasonal sound favorites? there are some bands that are simply best in winter and some that are simply best in summer. spring, for me, simply means camera obscura.

camera obscura are a quaint scottish indie pop band whose dreamy sound conjures images of decades past. though that may sound elaborated, it's not in the least bit a romantic overstatement (or so i think). the timeless quality of their music is paired with maudlin and personal lyrics, most of which are written by the lead singer, tracyanne campbell (who i once met if you count waiting in line for a show near the tour bus and having to move so she could get in meeting her, which i do).

besides their amazing vintage sound, the band, as a whole, has an inspiring vintage vibe. their musical style is physically embodied in their album artwork, music videos, stage presence, and photo shoots.

(2010 show in denton, texas)

(source)

i personally think joan holloway could have been inspired by carey lander, yes?

(source)

i wanted to put together an etsy treasury to proclaim my adoration for camera obscura, so here it is! i've included items that i think tracyanne and carey would wear, as well as items from some of my favorite songs, videos, and album covers.

Vintage 50s/60s THICK B... sugarlily $32.00	Vintage Tartan Kilt O F... sianuskavintag... $12.00	The Brass Anchor Locket... TheBumblingBir... $25.00	Classic Black 1960s Pat... ragsfeathers $22.00
VINTAGE Flower Sweater ... punksrus $10.50	SALE. vintage yashica s... Lemonshackvint... $30.00	Vtg 50's Bombshell ... sssggg $58.00	Vintage Dorothy Dales B... Thequeenofre $18.00
VINTAGE Mad Men 1950 ... bluebarnvintag... $25.00	Retro Americana Flower ... malibloom $12.00	vintage hat- 1940's... PranceAndSwagg... $36.00	Vintage 1950s Teddy Bea... farfallashop $32.00
Vintage Burlington Banq... ivorybird $48.00	Vintage black heart ear... KreativeKali $10.00	1888 Antique Map of Dun... bananastrudel $25.00	Vintage CHEER UP silk s... iloveswift $32.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

if you're already a fan, can you match some of the items to their respective inspiration?

happy spring!