Songs for a love scene involving Zach Braff

Hipsters rejoice! I have finally included Lykke Li (pronounced Lykke Li) on the blog. Just listened to Youth Novels, Lykke Li's highly regarded debut album from last year. (Click for more info here, here, here, or here.)

A lot of these reviews pretty much nail my general sentiments on the album (sounds like Feist or Bjork, could easily be featured on an iPod commercial, etc.) I liked the album for the most part, but the vocals were a shortcoming - more like whispers rather than actual singing. But as the title of this post suggests, I could easily see many of the songs on this album featured in any love scene with Zach Braff.

Here are a couple of good tracks from the album.

Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance
(Thanks to Aural States for the link.)

Lykke Li - Hanging High
(Thanks to Backseat Sandbar for the link.)

Also, in case you were interested, she is performing at The Fillmore in SF on Feb. 15.

Dr. Leo Spaceman

"Boy, it's crazy to think we used to settle questions of paternity by dunking a woman in water until she admitted she made it all up. Hmm, different time in the 60s."

One of my other favorite tracks from The Killers most recent albums, Day & Age. (My favorite track was featured earlier on The Pun Spot.)

The Killers - Spaceman



Here's my review of the album: Half 80s saxophone rock a la Huey Lewis or Human League. Half New Wave/Synthpop/Erasure-esque stylings. Half stadium rock akin to U2 or Coldplay. (That's right three halves. What?) All with lyrics that don't make a lot of sense.

Regardless, check out the album. Good stuff.

Puneet can come up with the title

Coldplay - Life in Technicolor II



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EDITOR'S NOTE: Ray shares this video from the recent Coldplay EP, Prospekt's March, which was released in November of last year. Also, this video is reminiscent of Kanye's "Champion" video from last year. Finally, Puneet did not come up with a title.

China's Underground Hip-Hop Movement

Article from the NY Times on China's hip-hop movement.

Unrelated to John Denver. And by that, I mean directly related to John Denver

Fleet Foxes released one of the best albums of last year. (At least according to those elitist, hipster jerks at Pitchfork.)

I liked it. But I'm not sure that I would say it was the best album of 2008. Kind of a throw back to late 60s / early 70s folk rock. Check it out.

Fleet Foxes - Blue Ridge Mountains
Fleet Foxes - Mykonos

Thanks to Stranger Dance for the free downloads. w00t.

And thanks to Anita K. for the recommendation. That's 2x.

P.S. I have to post this. One of my favorite songs as a kid.

John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads

Copyright holders took down the other one, check out this one. Not sure that this is actually John Denver, but take a listen. (Again, imeem registration required.)

John Denver (maybe) - Take Me Home, Country Roads

Recommendation Engine

1. Really cool song from Bloc Party that was recommended to me by a friend. (Sorry, can't remember which one, otherwise he/she would get a shoutout.) Thanks to Anita K. for the recommendation. Very unlike any other song on last year's Intimacy. And I just found out it was recently featured on an episode of Gossip Girl. (Whack.) Check out the song below. (Again, imeem registration required, but it's FREE.)

Bloc Party - Signs



2. Below, a song from The Veronicas that I heard during a recent trip with some friends. Alright lyrics, really good beat. Can't help nodding your head along. Thanks Shalin P. for the recommendation.

The Veronicas - Untouched



3. And finally, Slate recently recommended The Rub: "the History of Hip-Hop megamixes by the DJ crew the Rub - a downloadable encyclopedia of practically every great song from the genre's first two decades." Check out 1999.

The Rub - 1999

Ay, there's the rub. (Sorry, couldn't help it.)

The definitive source for hip-hop critique?

Well, probably not, but Slate does have a great article on The Notorious B.I.G. and his legacy in hip-hop.

He's one of the first hip-hop artists whose music I loved. I loved everything about it - the beats, the rhymes, the attitude. And there's no reason for someone like me to relate to this guy, but I can't help it.

As for my favorite Biggie song of all time, is there any doubt?

The Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy



Some of the greatest lyrics ever to be uttered

Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis
When I was dead broke, man, I couldn't picture this
Fifty-inch screen, money-green leather sofa
Got two rides, a limousine with a chauffeur
Phone bill about two G's flat
No need to worry, my accountant handles that
And my whole crew is loungin'
Celebratin' every day, no more public housing

P.S. The new movie isn't getting much love.

pwnage x 2

1. I like Hype Machine a lot. Therefore, you should, too. It seems they've organized the year in music in a much cooler way than most other trite year-end lists. They have aggregated year-end lists from the most-read music blogs on the web. (Not sure that our site made that cut.) Check out their Music Blog Zeitgeist 2008. (Shout out to Ajay G. and Avani D. for first turning me on to Hype Machine. And shout out to Bryan K. for the link.)

2. I also like Slate a lot. And again, you should, too. They also put together a well thought-out discussion of the year in music. These guys (using the term gender-neutrally) are very smart and talented; and they think and write about music very seriously. We, on the other hand, are none of those things and are barely literate. So thank you readers for bearing with us.

Is anyone out there?

Oh hello 2009. Let's listen to Wayne tell us what G is (while Gatorade pays him to do it). Rumor has it that he's real into voice-overs these days - that maybe just be the start of him falling off this year (a la Nas).