See Slo Blog

Days 17 and 18 - A Song That You Hear Often on the Radio / A Song That You Wish You Heard on the Radio

I don't listen to the radio much because I'm always on my iPod, but the other day in my friend's car, I heard Grouplove's Tongue Tied on 98.7. I don't know how often stations have been playing this song, but I know that Grouplove are deserving of whatever radio recognition they can get. Never Trust a Happy Song is a solid, fun, catchy debut album, and Tongue Tied is the perfect little taste-test of what Grouplove are all about. The song boasts simple addicting bass lines, a great mix of both acoustic and electric guitar, a little bit of that feel-good-synth and keyboard, and is of course easy to sing-a-long to.

However, right now, I'm actually more in love with the Gigamesh remix of Tongue Tied. The remix just adds a new level of awesome to the song, and turns it from a cheery-indie-pop tune, to a full-fledged dance party track. It reminds me of the way I felt about Friendly Fires' Paris (sweet on its own), when it got the remix treatment with Au Revoir Simone/by Aeroplane (instantly the bees knees). The Gigamesh remix makes me smile, and will probably be one of my summertime anthems this year. I can't wait to blast it by the beach with the sun in my face, or late into the night with my party pants on and my friends by my side.

Summer 2012, you ready?

Tongue Tied

Tongue Tied (Gigamesh Remix)

Today, I Write Love On My Arms.

Today, To Write Love on Her Arms celebrates its sixth year of spreading the message of hope, faith, love, and rescue. The organization means the world to me -- for reasons involving family members who have struggled with Depression, for reasons involving friends who have battled and dealt with their own personal demons, and for reasons personal to myself. Today, I write love on my arms and wear TWLOHA to remind myself that there is so much to be hopeful for, and that I am not alone -- that no one is ever alone. 

There's a blog post that founder Jamie Tworkowski wrote in 2007 that I've shared before, and would like to share again. It's a post that I've read and re-read countless times. It speaks volumes of what TWLOHA is all about, and what we should all try to remember in our daily lives. No one is perfect and pain is inevitable, but if we stick together, things will be all right. You are important, and your story is important -- don't ever forget that.

---

My friend Byron says that life is hard for most people, most of the time. He is a very smart guy.

I suppose that hope suggests a need, and it suggests that something has not yet ended. To have hope is to believe for change, to believe for a better ending. I have been thinking a lot about hope because I have reminded lately that I am a person in need of hope.

I believe that pain is universal, which is to say that all of us can relate to pain. We break and don't fix easy. We break in different ways, at different times, for different reasons. We lose things. We get stuck in moments. We are slow to forgive, slow to change, slow to ask for help. We are slow to truly love people.

It is easy to talk about love. Easy to write blogs about it, easy to talk about it on stages. Love, in that setting, is an idea, and ideas make for great conversations - inspiring even. It is another thing entirely to love people. I suppose it's because ideas are more comfortable than actions. It is a much more challenging gig to be a person who loves other people.

Love is a choice. It is an action. It looks like this:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

It is tempting to write these things as if I always have it all together, as if I am a person without need, a person who cares about pain but is not affected by it. The truth is that I am a person in need, a broken person, a person who fails, often. I have a lot to learn. I have a long way to go.

The last few weeks have been some of the hardest of my life. It has little to do with the tour. The shows, the bands, the crowds, the conversations – all of that is great. The issues are personal and I suppose I'm writing just to say that we're the same, and to share some things I'm learning.

Pain seems to scream. It asks for all of our attention. Pain suggests that we are only broken, that we are only all the things in us that ache. Certainly, we are responsible for our actions but "forgiveness" is a beautiful word. "Change" is a beautiful possibility. "Hope" and "rescue" are important words.

We are a people in need. We need so many different things: Friendship, love, conversation, medicine, encouragement, wisdom, hope. Whatever is broken, whatever your needs are, it's okay to be honest about those things. It's beyond okay, it is essential. Your heart, your life, your mind, these things are golden, priceless. Please be careful with them. And your friends, your family, the people you love, they are golden too. Please be careful with them. Consider your words and actions, the way they affect people. 

We've been given dreams and gifts and talents and ideas, and there are people in our lives that we are called to love. Pain would like nothing more than to destroy all of it. 

Each of us will have to fight for the things we call important - the things we hope for, the people we love. It will be a different sort of fight, one of patience and prayers, actions and choices and change. It will be a surgery of sorts, and we will need other people to go with us. It may sound difficult but there is much to be hopeful for.

I am learning to love other people, and I am learning to love myself. 

Peace to you.
jamie

---

Thanks for everything, TWLOHA.

My Top 10 Albums of 2011

Back from my hiatus to post about my Top 10 Albums of 2011...over a month and 12 days late. But, just in time for it to still be semi-relevant before the Grammys air tonight. 2011 was an amazing year for music, with an overwhelming abundance of good albums -- which is why this list was so hard for me to arrange; in fact, I'm still not even positive about the final order of this list. At the same time, though, none of these albums are close to being as mindblowing for me as The Suburbs was for me last year. You can take all of this however you'd like. Regardless, here are my favorite albums from 2011.

10. Justin Bieber - Under The Mistletoe

My #10 spot is traditionally filled by an album that many people may deem unfitting for a Top 10 year-end list. This year, many of you may see my #10 pick and lose all respect for my judgment and taste in music, but that's totally fine. I'm not going to pretend that Under The Mistletoe wasn't one of my most played albums of the year (and it came out it in November). The fact of the matter is, I love Christmas music. I love it at Christmastime, I love it right before Christmastime, I love it all the dang time. It just makes me so happy, and anyone else who loves holiday music will probably agree that Justin Bieber managed to put out one of the best holiday albums in a very long time. It's only an added bonus that this album also contains one of the best lyrics, of all time -- "You leave some cookies out; Imma eat 'em all."

Christmas Eve

9. Lady Antebellum - Own The Night

I don't pretend to know much about country music -- but I do think I know what good mainstream/crossover country music is, and this is it. Own The Night may not be the most complex album, or the best country album of the year, but it's amazing in it's own way. I know it in its entirety like the back of my hand, from beginning to end. It's easy to sing-a-long to, perfect to drive with. And, without getting too deep into it, this album hit home for me in a lot ways, and just came at a perfect time in my life. 

We Owned the Night

8. Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys

I never really thought there'd be a day where Death Cab would come out with an album that would fall short of my year end Top 3, but Codes and Keys just didn't make the cut. It's a great album, and I have nothing against the "less-guitar-driven" sound the guys were aiming for, but overall it resonated the least for me out of all of Death Cab's albums. Still, it was one of my most played albums in 2011. St. Peter's Catherdral is beautiful and Stay Young, Go Dancing has to be one of the most charming, cute, love songs Ben Gibbard has ever written. (I just try not to think about the fact that it he may have written it about Zooey Deschanel, because that just makes me lose hope in everlasting love.)

Stay Young, Go Dancing

7. Foster The People - Torches

This debut album was just so well executed and produced that it makes me sick. Literally, I get a little nauseous thinking about how much buzz, excitement, and credit Foster The People got in just one short year. How many bands can come out with their first full album, and then sell out two shows at the Gibson Ampitheater by year's end? The same Ampitheatre where Oasis graced the stage on a world tour, or where KROQ hosts its massive Almost Acoustic Christmas each year? Underneath what sounds like my skepticism and bitterness is a huge layer of respect, admiration, and love for this band/album. It's an album that you can't not smile or dance to when it's on.

Houdini

6. Washed Out - Within and Without

After putting out two EPs, this is Ernest Greene's first full length album -- and one that I think helps put a concrete and recognizable sound to the genre that is chillwave. It's an album that makes me wish I could float in a pool with the sun in my face, all day. The entire album comes in at a very short 40 minutes, but they're some of the most amazing, and for lack of a better word, chill, 40 minutes this year had to offer. The final track on the album, A Dedication, is stylistically the most different from the rest -- it showcases the most prominent vocals and lyrical songwriting on the album, but not in a bad way at all. It's a slow song, a ballad almost, that makes me hope for the day I will meet a musician who will pen a song for me.

Eyes Be Closed

 5. Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials

Like Own The Night, a lot of this album hit home for me. A decade from now, I know I'll be able to hear some of these songs and remember exactly how I felt, or what point in my life I was in, when I first heard each track. In a way, the impact that certain songs have on my life, carry a lot of the same meaning and weight that tattoos have for many people. Each one a different marker for a personal milestone, whether it be a struggle or a success. With that said, this is an incredible album -- heavy and dark at times, but orchestral and uplifting at others. Florence Welch just has some of the most powerful vocals of any female singer-songwriter I know of.

Never Let Me Go

4. Jay-Z and Kanye West - Watch The Throne / Drake - Take Care

I know it may be a little offensive or rude that I'm lumping these two albums together, but it just feels like the right thing to do for me. Individually, these albums were huge hip hop releases for the year. Together, they make up the most devastating game changer for the entire scene -- setting the bar so high for any album to follow, that it probably wasn't even fair or wise to release one within a six month range of WTT or Take Care. Filet-o-Fish and Mary Kate and Ashley aside, Watch The Throne is the stuff legends are made of -- two of the biggest names in the game, combining their talents and their genius to pick and produce the best samples and pair them with each rapper's own distinct style of fire-spitting. As for Drake, Take Care is just so raw, that you have to both wonder and respect where he gets the courage to let you into his life and the life of his family and friends, as he does. Marvin's Room is one of the most depressing songs of the year -- a full 5:47 of absolute heart-wrenching gut-twisting lyrics. In other words, it's perfect.

Otis (feat. Otis Redding)

Underground Kings

3. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Everything about Bon Iver's sophomore album is just so beautiful -- from Justin Vernon's distinguishably unique vocals, down to every delicate tap of a snare or ring of a bell. As much of a cop out as it may be to reference someone's elses review on my own Top 10 list, I love what Amanda Petrusich said about the album in her Pitchfork review -- that "Eventually, these songs start to play like emotional Mad-Libs, and a declaration like 'I was not magnificent,' with its excruciating combination of hubris and humility, becomes an undeniable prompt, a blank to fill in. A cue for whatever kind of self-examination 2011 might have wrought." When I think about that quote, I think about the times I've stared into space, fallen asleep, or driven to this album, not necessarily making any sort of direct connection to or revelation with the lyrics, but simply using the music as both a backdrop and catalyst for diving into aspects of my life that I'm usually too hesitatant or unmotivated to think about, otherwise.

Holocene

2. Cut Copy - Zonoscope

Cut Copy can do no wrong in my book. Zonoscope's filled with nothing but feel good tunes to get the fingers snapping and Molly Ringwald-esque feet sliding. Need You Now is probably one the best album openers of the year. Similar to LCD Soundsystems' Dance Yrself Clean, it's a long track that starts and warms you up slow and steady, before erupting into a full on dance party by the end. I also remember hearing the band debut "Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution" at Lollapalooza in 2010, and just knowing Zonoscope would be stellar. I've said this before, but...there's something awesome about about hearing a song for the time, and immediately being able to sing and dance along to it, but there's something magical about an entire crowd of people hearing a song for the first time live, and immediately and naturally exploding into a sea of excitement.

Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution

1. Friendly Fires - Pala

When I did my first run through of Pala, I honestly thought it would never take over the spot in my heart that Friendly Fires' debut album occupies. It just didn't have the same immediate impact and hold over me. But, the more I listened to it, the more I fell in love with it. At the end of the day, it has less bass work and is a little less catchy in terms of simple synth lines than the debut album, but it has more noticeable hints of disco (always a good thing), and definitely still makes me want to dance around like a complete idiot (maybe even slightly moreso than the first album does). It also actually boasts more production value than the first album, and the songs don't really all "sound the same" as I feel like they kind of do in the former. Plus, the entire album just makes me think of Ed Macfarlane shaking his butt, and that is priceless.

True Love

Day 16 - A Song That You Used to Love, But Now Hate

The closest situation I can think of where I love a song but end up hating it, is when I really like a song but it gets overplayed on the radio. For example, Foster the People's Pumped Up Kicks. Now, don't get me wrong. I love this song, and I love Foster the People, but I love this song on my own terms -- when I can listen to it when I want to listen to it. Not when I'm walking into LA Fitness or when I'm standing in line at Chipotle. Not when I'm flipping through someone's radio presets and it happens to be on AMP, KIIS, KBIG, and Power, all at the same freaking time. And certainly not when I'm trying to listen to my own music in my own car, and the dude in the car next to me is blasting Pumped Up Kicks so loudly with the windows down that I can almost see his car shake, and I can't help but crinkle my nose in discontempt. (Yes, red car outside of Pavillions yesterday, I'm talking to you.) So, for all you Pumped Up Kicked lovers out there who have inadvertently ruined the song for me, I'm here to provide you with some alternative options -- in my opinion, the best remix of the track, by a couple of my favorite producers/DJs from Chicago, and a super sweet ultra-danceable track off of Foster the People's excellent debut album, Torches.

Pumped Up Kicks (The Hood Internet Remix feat. Hollywood Holt)

Houdini

Day 15 - A Song That Describes You

I've been a fool and I've been blind
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around

All of these questions, such a mournful sound
Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground

And I am done with my graceless heart
Tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart

So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope

Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out

Day 14 - A Song That No One Would Expect You to Love

People are always very surprised to hear that I actually and genuinely like Justin Bieber. I'm honestly more surprised by the people who absolutely detest him, for no real reason. The kid -- well, I guess he's not really a kid anymore -- can sing. In 2009, I even wrote about him in an edition of (the now defunct) WTF, it's only Wednesday? I'm not saying I spend long nights listening to the Biebs on my headphones and contemplating life, but I will say that I've (along with many of my other friends) spent many a time (or two) dancing and singing-a-long to his songs -- Somebody To Love, being one of them. There's something completely amazing and hilarious about a bunch of grown adults belting Somebody To Love at the top of their lungs, and I'll take it. There might also be something a little embarassing about a grown adult blasting Somebody To Love in a car by herself, but I'll take that, too. Especially when it's Usher's remix. Play on playas.

 Somebody To Love (Remix)

Day 13 - A Song That is a Guilty Pleasure

All right, I'm not even going to front. I've been listening to a whole lot of Colbie Caillat recently. And to be honest, I'm not even really guilty about that. What I do feel a little sheepish about is the fact that I have, on several occassions, worked out to Colbie Caillat. Worked. out. to Colbie Caillat. Never in my life did I ever think I'd say that. There is absolutely nothing about Colbie Caillat's music that amps me up to go on a run or do pushups. Or...is there?

In all seriousness, I have my buddy, Jamie Bell, to thank for my current obsession with Colbie Caillat. Jamie's the kind of person who will (and is the only person I know with the balls to) come into my car, and skip songs on my iPod or switch out my iPod for hers without even asking. (Rude, right?) And her taste in music is, well...let's just say it's questionable at times. Anyway, I'll never forget how offended she sounded when she was flipping through my music library a few months ago and asked, "You only have one Colbie song on here!?" to which I responded, "Um...yeah?" In my head I was actually thinking, "I have a Colbie Caillat song on my iPod!?" Needless to say, after many car rides with Jamie, her iPod, and Colbie Caillat on repeat, Colbie's music has grown on me more than I ever thought it would.

Now, go pump some iron to this.

What If

Day 12 - A Song From A Band You Hate

Hate's a strong word, but it's safe to say that I seriously dislike Nickelback.

In fact, here are ten things I would rather do than sit down and listen to Chad Kroeger cry about photographs or about how some girl reminds him of not making it as a wise man, or cutting it as a poor man, or whatever it is he sings about in that awful single:

• Eat a spoonful of sawdust
• Have a pineapple thrown at my face
• Drink a warm glass of goat's milk
• Re-watch the Lakers lose to the Mavs in the 2011 NBA Playoffs
• Tumble down a short flight of stairs in front of a group of strangers (think: Tai/Brittany Murphy in Clueless)
• Step in a pile of steaming dried dog poop (No one wants to step in hot poo; that's the worst.)
• Get caught in a 14th Street - Union Square train stop turnstile during rush hour
• Sit through an awkward sex scene in a movie with either of my parents
• Get my feet run over by a group of kids racing to class with their rolling backpacks
• Listen to Creed.       ...PSYCH! Come on, really?

Photograph 

Day 11 - A Song From Your Favorite Band

I'll admit that I'm a little bit of a comittment-phobe and that I have several favorite bands. I've already talked about a couple of them (Death Cab for Cutie and Paramore) in my 30 Day Song Challenge, so I thought I'd post about another -- Tegan & Sara. The Con is is the title track to my favorite album from the Quin sisters and perhaps one of my favorite albums ever. I'm not sure if it's just by sheer coincidence that I'm normally a larger fan of Sara's songs than I am of Tegan's, but I found and still find myself connecting a lot more to Tegan's share of songs off of The Con, than Sara's.

I don't remember the first time I heard The Con, but I do remember the countless times I used to play it on repeat, and the chills that ran down my spine and knots that formed in my chest every single time I heard the song live during Tegan & Sara's promotion circuit for the album -- at a capacity-filled acoustic session at Amoeba, at an un-airconditioned but completely intimate acoustic session at Fingerprints, at the beautiful and lovely Performing Arts Centre in Malibu, on a cold New York City winter's night at Webster Hall, and finally at the breathtaking Gorge for Sasquatch 2008. There's something incredible about a song that floods you with emotions and memories every time you hear it, and for me, that song is The Con.

I listened in
Yes, I'm guilty of this
You should know this
I broke down and wrote you back
Before you had a chance to
Forget forgotten
I am moving past this, giving notice
I have to go
Yes, I know the feeling
Know you're leaving

The Con

The Con (Daytrotter Session)

Day 10 - A Song That Makes You Fall Asleep

When I fall asleep to music, it's usually to the same few bands or musicians: Death Cab for Cutie, Tegan and Sara, Snow Patrol, the National, and Bon Iver. Justin Vernon just has one of the most lovely, unique, and soothing voices, and on many songs, it's perfectly paired with his slow and steady acoustic guitar compositions. Needless to say, a lot of Bon Iver's music is great to put on before going to bed. One of my favorites is Blindsided off of For Emma, Forever Ago. I don't think anything I could say about this song would do it justice, so I'll just leave you guys with the track, and my thought that it's one of the most beautifully bittersweet songs I know.

Blindsided