Top 5: Soundtrack for a Vampire Obsessed Nation

It seems inappropriate to talk about anything non-Michael Jackson related these days, but I have watched enough tribute specials, heard enough "Billie Jean" on the radio, and even laughed at enough dead MJ jokes ("His heart just couldn't beat it anymore...") to know that there is no such thing as "too soon". 

Instead, I'd like to write about a trend that has been and continues to sweep the nation. Vampires. They've always been present in common folklore, but suddenly they've taken over the books we read, the movies we watch, and even HBO. Not only are these blood-lusting creatures, inexplicably sexy, but they've got indie cred too. Although the Twilight soundtrack surprised me with moments of goodness, Radiohead's "15 Step" in particular, I can't help but think that a few of these tracks may have also benefitted. Here are my favorite vampire songs for your listening pleasure, in between episodes of True Blood and Twilight novels, of course.

• Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, "Vampires in Blue Dresses" mp3
  

It was with the help of this Indiana band that vampires found their way into chamber pop. With lyrics such as, "Your mother is a vampire/ She sucked your old man's life away/ Turn everything off/ Just cover your neck/ Cause life is full of your regrets/ And I should be one," and a drumbeat outro resembling an execution, this song is utterly appropriate. 

• Chad VanGaalen, "Red Hot Drops" mp3
  

If you have ever listened to a Chad VanGaalen song, or better yet, watched one of his animations (recommended) you know that just about everything he creates is eerie in the most terrific of ways. Check out his new album, Soft Airplane, and give this creepy ditty a listen. It reads like an vampiric meditational chant, calmly urging, "Sharpened teeth that dive deep into veins/ Slowly draining with no pain, sinking and drinking in a thick way." It's no wonder he creates everything in a hermit-like style, barely emerging from the privacy of his Calgary basement. 

•  Arctic Monkeys, "Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But..." mp3
  

Who could forget the English breakout band from Myspace? The term "vampire" is used as an insult in this song, and it sure sounds like one through Alex Turner's churlish Yorkshire accent as he snarls, "Cause all you people are vampires/ And all your stories are stale/ And though you pretend to stand by us/ I know you're certain we'll fail." 

• Sufjan Stevens, "You Are The Blood" mp3
  

Although not quite about vampires, this song still fits the mold with the unearthly quality it possesses. Stevens turned this Castanets song into an odd anthem weaving in and out of genre's all in the name of good will. The cover was released on Dark Was the Night, the compilation release for the Red Hot Organization, a charity dedicated towards HIV and AIDS awareness and research. 

• Radiohead, "We Suck Young Blood (Your Time Is Up)" mp3
  

Radiohead are the champions when it comes to producing hauntingly beautiful music. Thom Yorke poses questions in his trademark falsetto, crooning, "Are you sweet?/ Are you fresh?/ Are you strung up by the wrists?/ We want the young blood." Whether it's young blood or true blood, these days, it seems like everybody wants it. 

List: 5 Winter to Spring Trade-ins

Spring has arrived! (At least for now). It is time to put away the wool sweaters and take some light blazers out of storage. It is time to trade the fuzzy ugg boots for converse sneakers and ballet flats. It is time to bust out the sunglasses and the straw bags and, in due time, the bathing suits and flip flops.

In addition the many wardrobe changes associated with the beginning of over-50 degree weather, I find that when the first spurt of spring arrives so begins a shift away on my recently-played list. I exchange my Ray Lamontagne and Fleet Foxes records for something more whimsical and light, like a Camera Obscura or a Noah and the Whale.

So in honor of that, I have complied a list of some spring "trade-ins" - meaning replacements for those bands that really only fit into the cold blustery days. Bust out your sunglasses, it is going to get bright in here...

From Fleet Foxes to Noah and the Whale

Fleet Foxes is one of my favorite "mountain-y" bands, as I have stated before. The fact that their sound emits certain 'snow covered mountain' imagery is unmistakable. So when the sun is out and the snow has melted, trade in your Fleet Foxes for your Noah and the Whale. NATW is pure joy and features ukulele, piano and clapping. Like Fleet Foxes, NATW has choruses and verses of enchanting harmonies. "Five Years Time" even has whistling! Delightful!

• Noah and the Whale "Five Years Time"

From Joshua Radin to Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers

Both of these male singer-songwriters have a certain amount of mainstream charm but have been largely unable to cash in. Radin, on one hand, is the perfect fall/winter artist. He even has a song named "Winter." His vocals are quiet, yet powerful. Kellogg is a lighter version. Even though he is from Massachusetts, there is a certain degree of Southern twang in his voice. He is a great lyricist who departs wisdom on his listeners. He captures how it feels to be young and innocent in songs like "Summer" and "Blue Jean." "Milwaukee" (from 2007's "Glassjaw Boxer") is all about growing up and dealing with the changes of life. Throughout the song he repeats "I guess I learned that too" as a response to all of the experiences that occurred in his young years.

• Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers "Milwaukee"

From Interpol to Spoon

One of the major characteristics of "spring" bands for me is the use of lighter instruments, like ukuleles, tambourines and percussion shakers. In creating their own signature style, Spoon utilizes these tools. 2007's "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" is an excellent example. It includes Britt Daniel's charming vocal style and melodies. "Don't You Evah" and "Rhthm and Soul" both feature light drums and could be inserted into any road trip mix cd.

• Spoon "Don't You Evah"

From The Frames to The Long Winters
Glen Hasnard, front man of The Frames, has a strong presence and a stronger sense of how to construct interesting lyrics. John Roderick, the front man of The Long Winters, also shares this talent. The Frames are much heavier than The Long Winters and that is why TLW are one of my favorite spring band replacements. The acoustic nature of many of their songs lend themselves to a feeling of airy goodness. One song, "Hindsight," wonders what happens when the snow melts: will things be the same? Of course, TLW use some electric guitars ("Rich Wife," "New Girl," and others) but Roderick's vocals, harmonies and acoustic sounds are the most noticeable. Overall, when listening to this band, you will imagine open fields and crave the sunshine.

• The Long Winters "Clouds"

From Ryan Adams to Limbeck

Limbeck is one of these bands that I believe more people should know about. Hailing from Orange County, California, they are an alt-country rock band whose influences include The Beach Boys, The Replacements and Old 97s (according to their wikipedia page). The great part about Limbeck is the way they play - with pure enjoyment. Their songs are geographically aware and touch upon experiences that are incredibly universal - like hanging out with friends, trying to decide what to do ("Everyone's in the Parking Lot"), feeling frustrated ("Trouble") and being home ("Let Me Come Home"). Their use of tambourines and hand claps is unmistakably interesting. "Honk and Wave," one of their best tracks, is kind of about a road trip and kind of about a broken heart. The version on "Hey, Everything's Fine" (an acoustic/live recording of the songs found on 2003's "Hi, Everything's Great) features banter and hand claps. It is as if the band is reliving the experience via a sing-along with all of their fans and friends.

• Limbeck "Honk and Wave"

Top 5: Songs for a Snow Day

The snow is a beautiful thing, especially when it lets you stay home from work and/or school. It is like a mini-vacation from life where you can sleep late and stay in PJs all day long.  Even though it only lasts a day, it is a wonderful time to take a moment away from the daily grind and lay back.  Here is a list of 5 songs perfectly suited for that type of wintery day:  

1.  The Arcade Fire "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" mp3

"And if the snow buries my neighborhood/ and if my parents are crying/ then I'll dig a tunnel from my window to yours." 

Arcade Fire are originally from Montreal and have some pretty wintery songs.  Win Bulter's roaring vocals along with the violins set up this song that conveys that "snowed in feeling" of childhood (or adult-hood).  It is that feeling where all you want to do is meet up with friends at a local hill and sled down over and over again. With wind in your hair and frost on your face, it is a time to make everlasting memories. 

2.  Interpol "Obstacle 2" mp3

"I'm gonna hold your face and toast the snow that fell/ because friends don't waste wine when there's words to sell." 

Typically Interpol is one of those "rainy" bands and not in the "snowy" bands category.  But this song reminds me of that type of snow that happens in college: classes are canceled and friends gather to take advantage of the mid-week snow day by, often, enjoying a few cocktails.  Paul Banks seems to be no stranger to those wine-filled days. And his voice is a perfect match for the mood of the song which is mysterious and devoid of all responsibility.   

3.  Honorary Titled "Snow Day" mp3

"Please let the snow swallow the streets whole./ Keep the bus from coming./ Let us stay home/ so we can avoid the daily drudgery." 

The night before the possible snow day is often the hardest. In sleep, you hope that the snow will be enough to cancel whatever plans you have for the next day. Hopefully you will be able to stay in bed all day and drink hot chocolate as you watch the snow slowly falling outside your window.  This song holds on to that hopeful feeling.  

4.  Stars "Heart" mp3

"You disembark the latest flight from paradise./ You almost turn your ankle in the snow./ You fall back into where you started/ make up words to song you used to know."

Stars is another Canadian band that has so many songs about love and winter, but this is one of the strongest.    The dual vocals are just like two hopeful lovers meeting on a snowy evening, engaging in conversation that in the past never seemed to match up.  But suddenly they get it and realize they really are "still in love" with each other.  All it took was one snow-flaky evening.   

5.  Jimmy Eat World "Crush" mp3

"Faintest snow keep falling, falling/ Yeah/ Hands around your waist./ Nameless, standing cold, standing cold...My lungs are so numb from holding back." 

Jimmy Eat World really knows how to write and execute songs that hold on to a specific feeling. It was never done better than on 1999's album "Clarity." This song has always been one of my favorites. It outlines the evening where the slow snow is the main characteristic of an evening. It always makes things more magical.  As the cold air seeps into the lungs, words are harder to come back and every sentence must be chosen carefully as not to waste one breath on pointless words. 

Top 5: Music Icons That We Love/Hate

1. Sting
Moms love Sting. If I could poll all the mothers of the world, I would prove it. My own mom loves Sting. She loves him so much that she spent $26 to purchase his book, “Broken Music”. I decided to borrow it, because I like Sting (although I’m not a Mom). I like his music (The Police and his solo stuff), I like his style (Sting loves yoga, chess, and is a vegetarian), and so far, I like his book too. Allie, on the other hand, has no love for Sting. Shocked as I was, it got me thinking of our personal agendas with music icons. Allie, for instance, thinks Sting is creepy. Part of it is probably the whole tantric sex thing. Personally, I don’t mind Sting's affinity for tantric sex. Neither do most Moms. They think Sting is hot.

2. Bono
Most dads love Bono, although arguably not as much as moms love Sting. This is mostly because they think he looks cool with his perpetual sunglasses and he still rocks out even though he’s almost 50. They secretly want to be him. I hope I don’t get crucified here, but I don’t really like Bono. I think those sunglasses make him seem arrogant (Yes, you too, Kanye), even if he says it’s because his eyes are very sensitive to light. I’m sorry, but I’m not buying it. Although Bono is well known for his humanitarian work, it doesn’t come without controversy. His 2006 Vertigo Tour proved to be the second-most profitable tour of all time, grossing $389 million in ticket receipts alone. He promoted his ONE campaign, but according to Billboard, the revenue went to companies in Ireland with the intention of minimizing taxes. Questionable. Focus on the music.

3. Bob Dylan
Although Laurie has probably killed most of these heretics already, there are still some people out there who don’t fully appreciate Bob Dylan. Some accept that his songs are sheer brilliance, but do not believe that his voice lives up to them. Others put certain songs on such a pedestal that other creations of his could never live up to them and most of them shouldn’t. On top of this, he has aggravated countless interviewers and has had more split personalities than Sally Fields in “Sybil”. In a sense, Robert Zimmerman has deceived us all. Details! I still think he’s a musical genius.

4. Lou Reed
Much of the same can be said about Lou Reed, a principal member of one of the most influential bands of his time, The Velvet Underground. I love Lou Reed more than most. My dad even told him this when he met him at a concert, but I will try to keep an open mind. Lou is mean. You will know this is you’ve read any interview he’s ever done. I blame it on all the drugs. He also doesn’t have the most beautiful and melodious of voices. Okay, it’s downright gritty, but it matches the tonality of the music. You can’t have pretty harmonies when your subject matter is heroin. You just can’t.

5. Oasis
They claim to be bigger than the Beatles, and in terms of sales, they actually are, ever since “Morning Glory” beat out “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Yet, we also must take their shenanigans into account. Drug abuse and constant fighting in the public eye? Guilty as charged. The dueling Gallagher brothers are both amusing and annoying. The question is, which are they more of?

Friday Top 5: Sneaker Songs To Step To

Just a few days ago, I was listening to Matt and Kim’s new album, Grand. The Brooklyn duo’s tunes have the ability to make you feel like you’ve ingested too much fun dip and it’s inevitable that you will tap your feet in time to the music. As soon as “Daylight,” began to play, I turned to Allie and said, “This song really makes me wanna dance… but with sneakers on." Allie promptly agreed with me on this notion. Certain bands just call for a dance party in sneakers. And don’t try to wear some other kind of footwear because it simply won’t do.

Matt and Kim, Daylight mp3


Another song that this applies to is MGMT’s “Kids”. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden formed the band previously known as The Management while they were both students at Wesleyan in a somewhat accidental manner. What started out as a joke soon became success. “Kids (Afterschool Dance Megamix)” climbed the charts at a rapid rate and music lovers everywhere grabbed their sneakers and danced to its synthy beat.

MGMT, Kids mp3


The Ting Tings are responsible for the next electro-pop goodie, “That’s Not My Name”. It doesn’t seem possible to listen to this song without moving although I’d triple dog dare you to try. Jules De Martino and Katie White of Manchester make up the group and topped the UK charts with this delightful song. You may keep the same dance moves, but in this case, substitute the word “trainers” for “sneakers”.

The Ting Tings, That's Not My Name mp3


Black Kids first single, “I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You” is another song that practically begs for sneakers. Perhaps it’s the count off (One! Two! Three! Four!), or the amusing lyrics (He's got two left feet and he bites my moves) that calls to our youth and makes it so appealing. Or maybe it’s just a catchy song…

Black Kids I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You mp3


Lastly, almost all Electronica music beckons for you to grab your sneakers and dance. Metallic Chuck Taylors are your best bet, but any color or brand will do. If you need a starting point, kick it off with some Daft Punk. Just thinking about Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter in their robot suits should be enough to get you going. Dance off!

Daft Punk, Harder, Better, Faster Stronger (in light of the Grammys) mp3

Thursday Top 5: Booze-Filled Tunes for V-Day

So, with Valentines' Day coming up this weekend, I wanted to do a list of songs related to this day that, I believe, was created by greeting card and florist companies to make loads and loads (and loads) of money on one day. But instead, I decided to do a list of songs, in no particular order, that are drenched in booze, feelings and all that good stuff. Enjoy!

1. The Good Life, I Am Island mp3

“Because the night’s tragic rambling/ is the next day’s apology. / So if you can just sit tight until the sun hits the blinds / we can settle everything.”

No one knows how to describe the sullen mood of boozing quite like Tim Kasher and The Good Life. His howling voice accurately conveys the feeling associated with those booze-fueled evenings that end with regret of what was said. The drunkard in this song is unsure of everything. He hopes to soothe the uncertainty with a drink or two but finds it just makes things worse. In just under 2 minutes and thirty seconds, the mood goes from trying to work things out to realizing that he is just a “selfish” and a “dysfunctional fuck up” who quits, baby.

2. The Hold Steady, You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came To the Dance With) (live) mp3

“I was out of my head so it was out of my hands/ White wine and some tall boy cans./ They powered up and they proceeded to jam man.”

The Hold Steady have so many songs about drinking. But this is by far my favorite one. To me, it is almost educational. Let me explain that: In the Live at the Fingerprints 2006 performance, Craig Finn bantered about how this song title isn’t about dancing, per-say. It is a simply piece of advice that you have to stick to one type of alcohol per night otherwise you will regret it in the morning. Everyone has made that mistake and, without fail, has woken up with a nasty headache, stomachache, and sometimes, heartache. Listen to The Hold Steady on this one; they know what they are talking (singing) about.

3. Bright Eyes, Well Whiskey mp3

“Now I let my troubles solve themselves./ I used to get involved, but I’m just no help./ But tonight let’s pretend that we’re just like we were./ Let me stay until the morning, I will sleep on the floor.”

Omaha, Nebraska-native Bright Eyes has a history of writing great songs about alcohol (“Hit the Switch,” “Lua,” etc). This one has a special charm to it. Whiskey is a drink associated with, often, the most unattended of folks. The smell that flows from the glass can be alienating at best. And the taste is as overwhelming as the odor.

The whole song is basically a testimonial to what happens when whiskey is the drink choice. Whether it be from the every-day well or the special occasion “top shelf,” the mood is one where postulating about the past and future is the norm. Control is exalted to the glass and nostalgia takes over. Whatever the outcome of the night is, a swift washing of clothing will be performed in order to get the stink of the night off the rags. Whiskey never fails to leave a stench on all it touches.

4. Deer Tick, Art isn’t Real (City of Sin) mp3

“I am just going through the motions./ I need an old fashioned potion./ There has gotta be some old recipe / ‘cuz I gotta get drunk/ I gotta forget about some things.”

Hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, this band released their first studio album “War Elephant” in 2007. Their folksy sound is paired with the raspy voice of lead-singer John McCauley. In this song, which is the second song on the album, he describes an obsession with thinking. He is hopeful for things to get better, but for the time being, he feels that they might not. He is regretful for wasteful actions. He dwells on bad memories. He wants to go back the simpler times but cannot. It is a familiar feeling that, to be sure, has been experienced by most 20-somethings trying to find their place in the world after four years of blissful college life.

5. Regina Spektor, Bartender mp3

“I’ve been too candid./ Now I’m barely standing./ Just call me a taxi and prepare for landing.”

Now it should be stated that the extent to which I like female vocalists is pretty limited at best. But I love Regina Spektor. There is something so raw about her persona that I feel the emotional severity in each note she sings. And with this song, I can relate to every single word she utters as she slams on the piano. Even the smallest details of this song, like the way she repeats ‘bartender’ over and over again emphasizing each syllable, is a perfect portray of the way one feels after clasping to the bar stool all night. Things get fuzzy after a point and last call is coming. It's time to put down the glass and get on home. Things will never feel quite the same until next time of course.