music video: local natives "world news"

spot me.

atlas sound

I heard a Panda Bear track on KCRW this morning, which led me to discover this track featuring Panda Bear. I love it all today.

Long overdue: Yellow House

I finally bought Grizzly Bear's Yellow House this morning. I'm in love. And I very much feel inspired by this song.

In the Flowers

colored lights. florals. slow motion.

Happy October. It's almost time to party.

i'd rather be in Paris.

green screen final product.

i went with the guys to film some green screen shots a few weeks back. i'm pretty sure this is the final product of that day. no confirmation as of yet, as it can be a little complicated to connect with a string and 2 tin cans reaching across the atlantic ocean. i kid. i'm just glad it's not 1964. i'm so thankful for videos, chats, internet, and blogs.

[under] Cover song: My Boys - Taken By Trees

This version of Animal Collective's "My Girls" is so dreamy.

Video: Volcano Choir, "Island, IS"

This makes my day.

Anonanimal.

ANDREW BIRD - "Anonanimal"
by Cooperative-Music

I love the choreographed clay - it's my kind of interpretive dance. And I really love this song. It's the perfect soundtrack to a perfect 10 moment.

Talk of the Town

Every time I see another single up for sale, I kind of feel like a proud mama. Or I suppose, a proud girlfriend. Probably more like the latter. Spend those pennies. [Click here.]

woke up in beijing

so very much obsessed with this.

if i could send the world his music i would.

it's a tough place to be in when you've fallen in love with a musician. it's been said again and again, not to go for boys in bands, but girls like me just don't listen to things like that. she'll be warned of poor behavior and neglect, those other girls and the instruments that take priority. but the truth is, while all of those things exist, it's only really tough to fall in love with a musician when it's the one-sided kind of love.

and happily, i've got the not so tough kind. and when you've got that kind, the only real tough part is the almost long distant relationship you must be able to commit to every other month when the band goes on tour.

in the past i've said (at least a few times) that i don't share well... because it was a phrase to be said, and claiming it never made me feel too horrible or selfish. however, i've never really had to share much at all, so saying i wasn't skilled at doing so was really just a joke stemming from my inexperience. barbies.. apartments... boyfriends.. every girl wants them to just be her own.

but i realized today that i must confront said sharing with a giving heart. sharing my boyfriend with other people is completely required for him to do what he loves. and as much as my phrase dropping self (the self inside all of us that has the ability to create a pun out of a blog posting title.. the cliche phrase re-inventor, that self), as much as my unoriginal phrase dropping "i don't share well" self wants to be pouty and frustrated that my boyfriend is gone overseas for two weeks (another tour, another countdown of days 'til he's back), my peaceful and happy self (the self that is loved and is in love... that is supportive and excited for the band... the self that wants me to move forward and achieve, and not be foiled by the negative self), that self says: share him. share him with the world. share him with music lovers and music haters alike. let him do exactly what he is meant to do because the music should have no limits.

and when i let myself let go of the silly phrase that meant nothing at all, i realize i'm just as excited as he is for the trip to london. and to any other place they book shows. because the more shows, the better. if i can't get out and reach the world, at least he can, and that's something positive that i can't help but love.

is it just me?

i love going to shows. seriously, love. but i realized this week, as my music-loving / show-attending boyfriend is still on tour, that i'm still without a partner in crime. i've got best friends, but... all of these best friends live at least 6 hours away. i really wouldn't expect it to be so difficult to find someone who loves to see live music - in the same genre as me - that could fill the shoes that my (forever cherished) girls once did... but it really is tough. that's all for now. twiddling thumbs.

reasons to love you

i heart meiko.. my new favorite song:

"reasons to love you"

give me a reason to fall in love
take my hand and let's dance
give me a reason to make me smile
cuz i think i forgot how

i wanna fall asleep with you tonight
i wanna know that i am safe when you hold me tight
i wanna feel how i wanna feel forever

girls need attention and boys need us
so let's make everybody glad
that they have each other in each other's arms
oh, let's make everybody glad

i just had a decently-sized craving for summer vacation.

we all love our fair share of escapism - the movies - the music - reality tv - but growing up, summer vacation was definitely the highlight of my year. no more sitting in class. no more homework. no more bad weather. summer vacation is the truest escape of them all.... for kids anyway. and being the planner that i am and was from day one, around this time of year, april - may, i always started looking for summer activities: sports camps (hated them), art classes (a favorite), summer jobs (anything by a pool), and trips with the fam of course (i really always have enjoyed these!).

but unless you become a teacher, 3 months of fun doesn't exist anymore. once committed to a 9-5, there's nothing but a change in jackets for summer. every day will still be a workday, and every night, saturday, and sunday will still be my only chance to satisfy the cravings of freedom and guilty pleasures.

but maybe it's better this way. when i was a kid, i couldn't afford a thing, and all that time went to waste. now i've got to choose my activities wisely (definitely avoiding sports camp) and make the most of my nights and weekends.

i think i'm doing well at that. last night i went to the echo with a bunch of friends, and then completed my evening with a sleepover. i refuse to let having a job take over my fun. i mean... maybe i'll have something different to say about all of this after my review with my boss later today, but for now, i'm going maximize my time off - and appreciate the fact that i get to do what i want, even if it is mostly while the sun is asleep.

and on the flip side, as much as i always loved summer break, i also really loved shopping for school supplies. and now i spend 40 hours a week with a computer, desk lamp, stapler, and a never-ending supply of ball point pens. if only they'd order me some highlighters....

when the dust settles.

last year when a group of friends was packing up to go to coachella, i remember sitting on E's bed watching and listening and wondering how i might like a 3 day festival in the desert heat. i've always loved going to live shows, so in that respect, it sounded amazing. on the flip side, the 105 degree weather and stories of exhaustion were really, very intimidating.

self proclaimed coachella experts had all forewarned me about the weekend. the necessity of having a good, strong group of friends, and a place with a shower and a comfy bed. they were right, and i guess this time around i'm thankful that i started planning so far in advance. i locked down a 2 bedroom condo just a short drive from the festival in october, and it was definitely helpful in the recuperation each night. at the end of every day i could feel the layer of dirt on my face, and i can't imagine trying to fall asleep that way. (people actually camp out there. crazy.) i like my bed and shower. that, and sunscreen. i drove back to los angeles on monday without a sunburn... or having lost anything (or anyone), and i'm pretty pleased about that.

so how was it?

it's one of those words can't describe things... day one i was very overwhelmed with the masses of people and huge stages and tents. the heat wasn't terrible. actually, we were too cold friday night to make it all the way through paul mccartney's set. (amazing, of course. yet, i didn't feel it until the beatles came on the radio early this week. my heart fluttered then at that moment -- holy crap. i've seen him. -- sometimes it just takes time.)

i think for a lot of people, coachella is an event of a weekend, or a party weekend, just something to do with music around. that's the vibe i got from a lot of people anyway. but for me, it was about the music. i didn't want to drink - partly because it was too hot - and partly because i thought i might get lost in a sea of people if i was drunk - but mostly because i just wanted to remember it all. i think party weekends are probably best saved for vegas. (also, i guess the only good drinks are in the VIP section, so until then.. i'll be sober. those fake margaritas were not good.)

so the highlights... for me, fleet foxes sang their way straight into my heart. i couldn't get enough of that set... i filled up my memory card with video... and even though i was watching it alone (we all got separated just prior to), i was so very happy and content. i'm listening to their album now actually. i'm kind of hooked.

jenny lewis was amazing. i've been a rilo kiley fan for about 5 years, so when she started singing silver lining, i almost had to hold back the tears. she's so good, and her music has been there through it all it seems.

other notes... i really enjoyed blitzen trapper. and beruit. i need to buy both of their stuff next. (there's really so much i need to get now). okkervil river made me smile. the yeah yeah yeahs were great as always. (i was annoyed, however, by the loud people next to me screaming at a my little pony toy. ugh.) lykke li... i was very excited to see her... and she put on a show.. in the hottest weather of the weekend. devendra was probably my biggest disappointment. sad face. i was expecting something more acoustic and hippie'd out. what i got was a bit of a loud rock show, with people waving their arms. i was confused too.

girl talk was one of the most fun moments of the weekend. we all got really hyper and started dancing around like we just didn't care. amazing.

i wasn't really into the main stage much. the cure sounded flawless, but they're really just too emo to watch. and the killers are just too big. too perfect. i was bored.

i'm sure i'm forgetting some others, but it was a really fun weekend overall. now it's back to the grind which always just leaves me daydreaming and listening to tunes in my ipod. and writing things here. and not getting anything else done. bad girl. more later.

dizzy miss.

i'm running on about 4 hours of sleep, and this morning it is completely possible that i was still drunk when i woke up. classy, i know. as L said, it's the price we must pay, and i am, and i will.

sometimes celebration must take precedent to sleep and sobriety, and last night was one of those times. the boys signed with a booking agent yesterday - a feat well deserved. for some time now the pairing had seemed like it just wasn't meant to be, but the guys stayed motivated and perhaps sxsw was the push she needed to say yes. congrats boys! i'm so proud.

so now i sit at my desk with vertigo and wild beasts colliding in a good way. i'm glad M let me borrow this album. it's completely understanding my mood.

it's blitz

i am loving the new yeah yeah yeahs album. i purchased the deluxe edition on itunes this week, which incluces a bunch of acoustic tracks. "soft shock" is lying on the grass in the shade on a warm summer day. slight breeze. in love. moving into pensive, content smiles. and kisses.

the rest of the album, non-acoustic is still karen o, but a more fun, dance freak out. i like.

this week the action's in austin

it has arrived! sxsw is this week, a big showcase type event in austin for all of the bands and industry people to mingle and schmooze one another. my man's band is on their way there now... off to tire themselves out with lots of music, lots of people who like music, sun and undoubtedly a lot of alcohol. they're playing a bunch of shows and showcases and it should be a really great week for them. i'm really excited to hear all about it.

on the flip side, i so wish i could be in that van right now, road tripping across the states. but i've started a long list of things i will do while they are gone: drinks with friends. yoga. wine night with the girls. spa massage. i've been needing to catch up on some things.

i spent the weekend in a beachside hotel in santa barbara. my favorite moment: wine tasting on the pier while the pigeons danced to live jazz music.