Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Dear Diary,

Since I pretty much failed hardcore in the updates department, here's a new mix just cause.

All of the songs on the list are taken from a playlist of my most listened to songs within the past month or so. There's a little bit of love and flavor for every one here, ranging from super chick tunes (Ingrid Michaelson's "Breakable") to audaciously dude-ish (The Cool Kids' "Bassment Party").

Tracklist:

01. Guster - "X-ray Eyes"
02. Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk - "Paperweight"
03. Adele - "Best for Last"
04. Her Space Holiday - "Tech Romance"
05. Sheek Louch - "Good Love"
06. Little Jeans - "Eskimo Kiss"
07. Brand New - "Jaw Theme Swimming"
08. Tilly and the Wall - "Pot Kettle Black"
09. Ra Ra Riot - "St. Peter's Day Festival"
10. The Pixies - "Dig for Fire"
11. Ingrid Michaelson - "Breakable"
12. Unkle Bob - "Swans"
13. Bon Iver - "Skinny Love"
14. Scott Matthews - "Elusive"
15. Cold War Kids - "Hospital Beds"
16. The Cool Kids - "Bassment Party"
17. Matt & Kim - "Lightspeed"
18. Wolf Parade - "I'll Believe in Anything"
19. French Kicks - "Abandon"
20. I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business - "Whispering Actually"
21. Paramore - "Let This Go"
22. Castledoor - "Fall Apart"

Download Link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=P5QKBOKS

The mix itself spikes and dips erratically every once in awhile. Really, there's no actual theme, it's just a hodgepodge of different songs I'd hit 'replay' for more than thrice.

But yeah, if you're diggin any of these jams, definitely check out the artists and support them!


XOXO,
Marge.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

I suck at this...

So I'm a shitty blogger, who saw that coming? (Probably the PSU coordinator when she saw what a terrific procrastinator I am, turning in my registration forms a day before the deadline and then having to pester her again a week later when I realized I didn't sign up for enough classes). But whatever.

This week's mixtape is all about and for them
bad. fucking. days.

There are many a variety of bad days, some worse than others. Some are erratically shitty, having those rough patches and then catching a good moment, like the vending machine popping out an extra soda just cause - And then diving back into misery when you try to open said soda and having it explode on you. Some are consistently crappy, just a 24 hour shitfest of "why the fuck did I wake up this morning?!" And some are like this mixtape:

1. Robert Rodriguez - Grindhouse (Main Titles) (3:30)
2. Glassjaw - Must Have Run All Day (4:53)
3. The Raconteurs - Many Shades of Black (4:24)
4. Dirty Pretty Things - Hippy's Son (3:18)
5. Louis XIV - Illegal Tender (3:13)
6. Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry (3:38)
7. Interpol - Slow Hands (Britt Daniel Remix) (3:44)
8. Taking Back Sunday - Liar (It Takes One To Know One) (3:47)
9. Rx Bandits - Decresendo (5:47)
10. The Grates - Burn Bridges (2:26)
11. Soko - I'll Kill Her (3:52)


Ominous and wretched beginnings, the laborious strain of pulling yourself through your daily routines and obligations...Until the feeling grates on your nerves, becoming staticky and restless, bunching into tension knots of incoherent delirium and brittle irritation, sharpening and honing until you've found the source. (Or at least a target). Suddenly your frustration has a locus and a steady cadence that you'll march to persistently. And what do you do once you come face to face with the origin of all this madness? Fucking scream at it. And well..., Track 11? You've gone of the deep end, hun, reel it in.

ETA 12/21/2009: Link Updated: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RXHUS35Q

Friday, August 15, 2008

Dude, that's Faux'd Up!

Thought I forgot about Thursday, didn't you? Well, I did. But to my defense, I had a long day yesterday and today's a holiday so suck on that.

1. Tally Hall - "Haiku"
2. Denison Witmer - "Are You Lonely?"
3. Paramore - "My Hero" (Foo Fighters Cover
4. Scala Choir and Kolacny Brothers - "Heartbeats" (The Knife Cover)


In order to make up for being so late, I doubled everything up. That's right, 2 new songs and 2 covers. Consider it the jumbofunpack.

The first track featured is by a band out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. "Haiku" is a fun little track that I stumbled upon perusing the Muxtape galleries. The ambient chatter and catchy casual riff are instant charmers. Tally Hall are an indie/pop-rock band whose sound lean towards Vampire Weekend and The Cab. But, there's something in the lyrics, in the groundwork of their music that errs on the quirkier side, reminding me of an early Soul Coughing, especially in the track "Ruler of Everything."



Track number two is one of my favorite songs of all time. Denison Witmer is the kind of musician that gives you hope that there is indeed something greater that exists beneath the surface of pop culture today. That there is beauty and heart left in music far more immense than the NKOTB reunion tour and High School Musical. "Are You Lonely?" was a track featured on Denison's happybirthdaydenisonwitmer site a couple years ago that to this day, still weighs heavy on my heart every time I hear it. It's a gorgeous song.

For the two covers, we have two more opposing tracks. Before I continue, I'd just like to state, I love Paramore. I don't care how much of a 15 year old girl that makes me, I love Paramore. I also love The Foo Fighters, which is how we ended up with our first cover. Next up, we have Scala Choir and the Kolacny Brothers covering The Knife's "Heartbeats."




I had actually heard Jose Gonzalez's cover of this song way before I heard the original, shame on me, I suppose. However, neither cover are anything like the original. Hell, I haven't heard anything resembling the original by The Knife, which is what makes this cover so intriguing. The same way Crooked Fingers and Prince are vast contrasts, the Scala Choir and Kolacny Brothers are polar opposites to The Knife. The latter is edgy, clashing and tattered, like listening to a boisterous band through tinny speakers with the treble and bass cranked up to 11. The former is slow, yearning, and (yeah) angelic. Two very different sounds. Two very different types of delicious.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Everyday is hump day if you're lumpy...

Ahoy! The weekly mixtape is in y'all, so get it while it's hot.

In order to counter last week's filthy filthy filth, this week's mix is less with the lascivious and more with the "your smile makes me hyperventilate, I think you're dreamy." I figure it's only fair (healthy) to offer a parallel to such a saturated, intense emotion. All the music featured today comprise a soundtrack of utter dorktitude, an area I may as well have a degree in. We start off on a high note, bouncing and giggling down a hill of dandelions and puppy-love, smelling like fresh laundry and ring pops tumbling into the valley of every high school crush you've ever had. We'll reminisce over all those semi-suave socio-romantic moments we've had in life:

- Every Dance Ever (from Middle School to Prom, baby!)
- Finally working up the nerve to speak to That Classmate / Co-worker / Starbucks Clerk
- Having a surprisingly decent evening at that Dinner Party / House Party / Barbecue, totally hitting it off with that friend-of-a-mutual-friend, panicking for the entire following day over when would be the best time to call without seeming eager and really, why haven't they called me first, it's been at least 12 hours, ohmygod, they totally didn't have as much fun as I did, ohmygod, I totally had food in my teeth that entire conversation, didn't I? Ohmygod, I totally offended them with that vegetarian joke, didn't I? Ohmygod - They're calling me right now!
- Etc.


Eventually we'll round out with three of my personal favorites, tracks nine to eleven. Each song I feel quantifies very specific aspects of dorkiness.

"Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig" by Jens Lekman definitely targets the everyday ridiculousness I radiate, narrating awkward asides and digressions spliced with embarrassingly truthful admissions. (The song actually stutters at one point!) Following that is a duet by Josh Radin and Schuyler Fisk (also known as Sissy Spacek's daughter), "Paperweight." Their soft harmonies and lyrics are sweet without being saccharine and meaningful without being longing.



Finally, we close with Her Space Holiday's "You and Me." The entire song is just so endearing, from the story it tells to the flute solo (seriously! it was adorable!). I've heard my share of compelling and very interesting solo bands, Scout You Devil, Graig Markel, Pop Levi, and Tender Forever, but Marc Bianchi! An orchestra! I dare you to look me in the [internet] eye and tell me that after listening to "You and Me," you weren't filled with inklings of joy and hope and optimism that love is out there, completely tangible and plausible! You can't, can you? Cheerio!


Tracklisting:


1. Gatsbys American Dream - Just Like Heaven (3:00)
2. Hellogoodbye - Baby it's a Fact (3:17)
3. The Get Up Kids - Valentine (4:19)
4. Adèle - Crazy For You (3:28)
5. Lykke Li - Little Bit (4:33)
6. The Blow - Hey Boy (2:46)
7. The Get Up Kids - Close to Me (Cover) (3:24)
8. Tahiti 80 - Heartbeat (3:26)
9. Jens Lekman - Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig (4:45)
10. Joshua Radin & Schuyler Fisk - Paperweight (3:30)
11. Her Space Holiday - You And Me (4:36)

***12. Tom Jones - It's Not Unusual (2:00)*** Yes, it's another bonus track. Yes, it's Tom Jones. Yes, you can go ahead and judge me for listening to Tom Jones, I don't care.

Link to the Mixtape: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CN8W9QKB

P.S. That first picture of that cartoon guy...that's what happens when you type "Prom" into Microsoft Clip Art. Fun huh?

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Tunage Thursdays

For Thursdays, I've decided that I'd start a thing where I post songs that I really love and want y'all to love too. Today's post includes two gems that were always highly played on my iPod.


The first of which is a song I heard on an episode of Clone High, one of my most favorite TV shows in the history of ever. If I remember correctly, this song was played during a very touching scene where Joan (of Arc, of course) is being comforted by Mr. Butlertron. The show's lifespan was unfortunately short and even while it was on the air, fans were sparse. (At least in my opinion...I would - and still do - make constant references to the show only to elicit questioning stares. It's a shame really. Especially in the sense that it embarrasses me a lot). It took me ages to track down this song with only two lines worth of lyrics but I feel satisfied with the reward:

Helicopter Helicopter - "By Starlight"
Crooked Fingers - When U Were Mine (Prince Cover) ... This is a downloadable link and goddammit you MUST own this song immediately.

Another band that has not only been around for ten years but also boasts gorgeous guy / girl harmonies on their latest album? Crooked Fingers. Now this has got to be one of my most beloved cover songs of all time simply because "When You Were Mine" is one of my most beloved Prince songs of all time and they cover it so well. Eric Bachmann takes this track to a tremoring, sonorous place that is the complete antipode of the original.

Don't get me wrong, I love the original version just fine. Prince's voice is sharp and raspy and in collaboration with the guitar and drum riffs, the sound of it is unerringly witty. But Bachmann makes this song an experience.

ETA 12/21/2009: So I spent a good 30 minutes to track down the Crooked Fingers cover and I just wanted to reaffirm that yes, this is definitely my favorite Prince song of all time and yes, this is the best motherfucking cover of it in the history of ever. Peace out, shabam.

If you're digging either of these bands, I highly encourage you to check them out. I've actually had Crooked Finger's album Dignity & Shame around for awhile. Admittedly, I have to be in a very specific mood (what mood that is, I'm not too sure) to turn their album on but whenever I do give them a listen, it works. Always.


Further Recommendations:


Crooked Fingers - "Twilight Creeps"
Helicopter Helicopter - "Talented Socialites"

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

What slutty beginnings...

Welcome to the inaugural post of The Ad Hoc Auditorium, a blog built on a sheer whim!

This blog was inspired not only by my slutty cohort, Nipples McGee, (Yeah I'm talking about you, lady) but also by a variety of friends who often ask me where it is that I get my music from. Albeit, on most occasions the query is in form of, "What the hell are you listening to?" but, you know, under the initial layers of irritation and confusion, I sense there's some intrigue.

So in response to Lady Nipps and my companions of the interweb, I present to you this mixtape blog. I'm aiming for a new mix every week but we'll see how that goes.



Now with that out of the way, I present: The Ad Hoc Auditorium - Mix No. 1 "The Slutmix"


The mix starts off tamely with very mild, soft core porn beginnings. But don't be fooled...I guarantee you that by the time you get to the last song, you'll probably feel horrific and filthy. Maybe even aghast (which is one of the best parts).

Tracklisting:

1. Tahiti80 - Paradise (4:01)
2. Scissor Sisters - Lovers in the Backseat (3:20)
3. Death From Above 1979 - Sexy Results (5:53)
4. Maroon 5 - Kiwi (3:33)
5. The Faint - Worked Up So Sexual (2:40)
6. The Beatles - I Want You (She's So Heavy) (7:47)
7. Interpol - Obstacle 2 (3:47)
8. The Blow - How Naked Are We Going to Get (3:14)
9. Brand New - Sic Transit Gloria...Glory Fades (3:06)
10. The Afghan Whigs - Creep (TLC cover) (3:41)
11. TLC - Red Light Special (5:03)
12. Mirah - Dreamboat (1:28)
13. Peaches - Fuck the Pain away (4:45)
14. Cars Can Be Blue - Dirty Song (1:29)
***15. Across The Universe Soundtrack - I Want You (She's So Heavy) (3:44)*** Bonus track. I just wanted to include this version because I adore Dana Fuchs.

LINK: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LEEMRAPA

Monday, July 14, 2008

Oh shet. It's a Beauty Brawl!

Have you ever had one of those friends that pretty much sweat awesome? That person whose wit is so effortless and classic, whose air is so unique and disarming, whose hair is so hip and severely rockin', and who totally pulls off that outfit (yeah, I'm talking about that outfit). You know, that one friend you secretly steal borrow catchphrases and conversational quirks from when you're plagiarizing their existence "turning up the charm" at dinner parties? Well, Kevylicious is definitely that guy in my circle of friends and dammit do I love him for it.


I met Kevyn not too long ago and ever since then I've been trying to become him walking in his footsteps on a path to wittiness and hilarity. But it has recently dawned on me that I may never truly reach the height and sheer deliciousness of his Kevynity. The "Zen of Kevyn," if you will.

What sparked this realization, you ask? The release of his film trailer.

He had been working on this project for a very long time and I've seen how intensely he cares for this film as well as how much work he has put into it. The trailer looks stunning and hilarious so I'm pretty much going to promote the eff out of it, starting now:








P.S. You best believe that this is just a glorified "I KNOW THAT GUY!!" post. And I am a winner for it.


P.P.S. If it's any consolation, Kevy wins a lot more than I do. (For this and in general).

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Happy Birthday, Mixtape.

Presenting: The milestone of my laziness.

This week has usurped me of my cleverity so I'm re-running a mixtape blog I posted on Myspace a little over a year ago.

I'm pretty much useless....

Originally posted May 6, 2007 on Myspace:

As proof that I abosolutely adore procrastination and music, I have compiled a mixtape of songs on heavy rotation on my iPod.

It's vaguely schizophrenic in genres and (as most mixtapes go) I doubt anyone could enjoy each and every song as much as I do. I don't expect everyone to tolerate Avril Lavigne, The Blow, and The Afghan Whigs in one breath. It's ok. (Although, you must take note that the Avril track is an achingly ear-addictive mashup that makes me want to puke stars and unicorns).

That aside, here's the tracklist & megaupload link:

"One Big Holiday" by My Morning Jacket
"Pretty Life" by The Heavenly States
"Carry Me Home " by The Hush Sound
"I Am the Key (Live)" by Spoon
"Closer To You " by Young Love
"Breathing Patterns" by My Hotel Year
"Throwaway Style" by The Exploding Hearts
"Elevator Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne Vs. Guy Sebastian
"Paper Tiger" by Spoon
"Rules And Regulations" by Rufus Wainwright
"Out Come The Freaks" by Was (Not Was)
"Hey Boy" by The Blow
"Wordless Chorus" by My Morning Jacket
"Creep (TLC cover)" by The Afghan Whigs
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police
"She's Mine" by Brett Dennen
"The Shining " by Badly Drawn Boy
"Hey Ya (Cover) " by Obadiah Parker
"Delicate " by Damien Rice
"Consquence" by The Notwist
"Atoms for Peace" by Thom Yorke

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=969F0UZC

If anything, the download is worth it for My Morning Jacket's One Big Holiday, The Notwist's Consequence, and the covers of TLC's Creep and Outkast's Hey Ya done by The Afghan Whigs and Obidiah Parker[respectively].

The textures of sound in One Big Holiday and Consequence are polar opposites but equally delicious. And the cover of Creep fulfills both the salacious and bizarre. I'm struck with the image of bristly men, naked under trenchcoats.

I may be late on the Mat Weddle train, seeing as the cover has been up on youtube for a while...but at least you'll have the mp3!



Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Happy New Year.

So here we are again, starting a new year. We can start afresh. Do things right. Or do things wrong, if you feel so inclined. Any matter, as the New Year tradition dictates, enjoy your three mimosas every morning for the rest of the month. No? That just me? Well go ahead and indulge anyhow. Spend 2008 meeting new friends, making new memories, and most importantly, blogging about those new friends and memories. Maybe I'll do the same.

Now to inscribe my 2008 resolution on the apparently indelible Internet.

I resolve, from this day forward, to never spend another New Years Eve in the same place twice. Cheers 2009, Sicily!

(Mighty poignant, wasn't that? I know. It's the mimosas).

P.S. I'm the winner. But it's ok, so are you.