"I don't want to be your friend, I just want to be your lover. No matter how it ends..."

Radiohead - House of Cards on Late Night With Conan O'Brien


There's no guarantee how long this one video will be up. NBC has a knack for finding and pulling everything related to their shows pretty quickly. I have to give them props for quickly and efficiently protecting what's theirs, even if it's at the cost of other people being unable to enjoy it too.

"In every city there are dozens of these clubs where men can go..."

The Faint was on The Office!! Well, their music was anyway.

I totally squealed when I heard Worked Up (So Sexual) in the background of a scene where Michael (Steve Carrell) is hitting on a woman. And I loved coked out Ryan (BJ Novak).

Refocusing to what I wanted to say, it's constantly fascinating to me when things permeate the mainstream without having reached a saturation point. There's been a higher occurrence lately of more... independent, I'd say, bands in the forefront of the media but it appears to have risen out of nowhere. Months ago I'd mentioned Shiny Toy Guns in a commercial, Mates of State, etc. Lately, I've been noticing Ben Lee, Silversun Pickups, and so on and so forth, have been populating commercials and television show episodes more than say, your Kelly Clarksons or Rihannas. I don't know what to make of it yet, because I'm not a marketing person and don't know the trends as far as exposing people to what they haven't heard and how these things correlate to big business. Nevertheless, it's just fun to recognize snippets of things you enjoy.

Here's a tiny clip of the Faint's Worked Up (So Sexual)

"It's your godforsaken right to be loved loved loved..."

Odd/fun musical story:

I was driving with my family to the closest Best Buy the other night to pick up the In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 album, when Hungry Like the Wolf came on the radio. That particular Duran Duran song holds some importance to me. At one point in time in college, it was the song I noticed when I thought I had recognized a kindred spirit in someone else. This memory being at the forefront of my mind, thanks to the song, I decided to tell the story to my parents. Upon doing so, I was greeted with a basic question from both my parents. "Just now, why did you feel the need to talk about that person?"

I did not have an answer other than the fact that music of any kind reminds me of people I know. They know this, so I expect they were looking for something further. The song was ending at this point, and I answered, "I don't know, but I let music speak for me and for itself." The moment I said that, With or Without You by U2 came on the radio. And I laughed and said, "See, the music gets it." Right after that? Jason Mraz's latest single. That last one wasn't applicable to the story, I just really enjoy it. It's the perfect song to listen to for this season and for any occasion: Walking down the street merrily, playing it at a party, having drinks with friends, hanging out in the park with flowers, laying at the beach. It's just so lovely.





Jason Mraz - I'm Yours from We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things











Look into your heart and you'll find love, love, love...

"What you give is retaliation. I hope one day we meet again. I hope one day we love one another..."

"But I heard the rumor they will burn down your house..."

Miranda July did an interesting video to the Blonde Redhead song, Top Ranking.

Here it is.
Miranda July/Blonde Redhead - Top Ranking

"Wise and silent..."

I love M83. Oddly enough, I was looking at the cover to the new album, and lo and behold on the front is a kid I went to college with. I'm a teeny bit jealous, I want to be on the cover of an album! In a lyric. Liner notes. I'll take anything ;) In all seriousness though, I think it's awesome he landed that photoshoot and gig. That kicks major ass and more power to him. :)

Also, yay Emerson in the real world!! If you can't tell, it's where I went to school. And it turned out a number of fantastic folks with whom I'm glad to be associated and to constantly love.

Prior to listening to much of the album (or any of it, in my case), here's the video for one of the songs.

M83 - Graveyard Girl from Saturdays=Youth

"But if you let go then I'll let go tonight..."

I heard this group on the radio and thought they were okay, so I figured I'd toss a track up here. To be perfectly honest, I feel they are an act with much room for improvement. The speed of their songs is fine, but their lyrical content is lacking and comes off as a bit repetitive and juvenile. I'm unaware of the ages of the respective band members, but regardless, a more fully developed sound would help them immensely.

Edit: Turns out, one of their main vocalists is Trace Cyrus aka Miley Cyrus' brother. I hope we don't see Metro Station on the Disney channel anytime soon. The Amazon page for Metro Station's eponymous album states that people who have purchased said album have also enjoyed We The Kings and Cobra Starship. Didn't those three bands tour together earlier this year (or are perhaps still touring?)




Metro Station - Control from Metro Station

"Don't you worry, I won't bite - not that hard..."

I heart South Park. And I loved Butters singing What What (In the Butt), but I never knew that was a legitimate song!!!

Oh my goodness.

I like Butters' version better than the original. Sorry, Samwell.


Edit: Hopefully this Butters vid will work.

"You are the only road I know..."

Old Navy has been choosing some great music for their ads this year. First, they really propelled the career of Ingrid Michaelson, and now the Lights are featured as background music in their latest ad campaign. I look forward to seeing how that aids them (her?).

Until now, I've never heard anything regarding this band (or singer, as the case may be). If anyone has any pertinent info, feel free to drop me a line and educate my mind.

Lights - Drive My Soul

"You better know that in the end it's better to say too much than never to say what you mean to say..."

"Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open."

It's ideas such as these that allow me to live a positive life without regret.

Kudos to John Mayer for crafting something simple and true.




John Mayer - Say from Bucket List (Soundtrack)





John Mayer - Say

"Time stops still when you've lost life..."

This is one of the best videos I've seen lately. The main character's enthusiasm and zest winds up being positively infectious.

Goldfrapp - Happiness

"Do you think about me now and then?"

Kanye West feat. Chris Martin - Homecoming