A.Blog » music

Camera Obscura and The Love Language concert at the Grand Ballroom

Amy — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:16:01 +0000

Jess had won tickets to the sold out Camera Obscura show at the Grand Ballroom and she invited me along (thanks Jess!). I haven’t been to a real concert in awhile so I was excited. Also, Camera Obscura is one of my favorite bands and my mood for their albums happens frequently enough for me to consider them so.

Here’s a single from their latest album, My Maudlin Career: Download audio file (01-French-Navy.mp3)

The opening act was The Love Language, which I wound up liking alot. I’ve been playing their latest single Heart to Tell alot. Download audio file (06-Heart-to-Tell.mp3)

Camera Obscura went on and play songs from their previous two albums, as well as some new songs¹. More photos here.

though they may have been songs from their first album, which I haven’t listened to

Mixtape for You: Valentine’s Day 2010

Amy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:36:16 +0000

I’ll have to admit that this is one of my more upbeat mixtapes. Yet each song has some kind of desperate plea, a refrain that is masked by poppy, energetic melodies. Stream the mixtape here.
Track Listing:

Good Weekend by Art Brut I have a new girlfriend and I have not slept for about four days.
White Russian Doll by Lucky Soul I’ll always be there when you call, no pressure at all.
Your Easy Lovin’ Aint Pleasin’ Nothin’ by Mayer Hawthrone When you pull away girl, just when I think I’m home and you leave me all alone…
Beause it’s not love (but it’s still a feeling) by The Pipettes I just want to catch your eye.
Back the Same by Parachute Musical We can try to think like friends but we’ll end up back the same, I know it.
Swimming Pool by The Submarines When you kiss me in ways I’ve forgotten…
Sellotape by Flight of the Conchords Love is the greatest adhesive.
Sweet Darlin’ by She & Him I think that it haunts me, I want you too much.

Little Boots at Le Poisson Rouge

Amy — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:19:02 +0000

Little Boots – Earthquake Download audio file (earthquake.mp3)

(more photos here) Last night I went to a Little Boots concert with Jess. Sometimes I think that I’m getting too old for late evening concerts on the weekdays. While I did like rocking out, I couldn’t help thinking about all the adult responsibilties Id have to carry out the next day.¹

Nonetheless I did enjoy myself despite the lackluster opening act.The DJ set was pretty good but the band, Hearts Revolution, was not. The beats dropped by the drummer and the keyboard player/Ableton Live operator were awesome but the vocals were unbearably screechy. Also the lead singer was totally wasted, that she didn’t notice her fly was open for the first 15 minutes of the set.

In comparison, Little Boots was a classy and excellent act. Strong vocals, high energy and enthusaism. Just in general her music is much better aligned with my electropop tastes than Hearts Revolution was.². I can hardly wait for the Little Boots LP to drop in June.

Also, if I owned a keyboard (and knew how to play it) it would be this one.

maybe I just worry alot.
so maybe I shouldn’t judge HR so harshly

Mystery solved!

Amy — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:28:37 +0000

Don’t you hate it when you hear a song, and you can’t figure out what the title or who the artist is? So, the company I work for, shares an office with a record label, and often they blast some tracks. Awhile back there was an orchestrated Santogold remix playing and a few months ago, they were playing some catchy dance beat. I couldn’t figure out what it was and I was too shy to go up to any of the record label bigwigs and ask what the track was.
But I was checking out new Treasure Fingers and found the song! Granted it’s a remix but at least now I know the title and artist.

Mike Snow – Animal (Treasure Fingers remix) (12 mb)

Download audio file (miikesnow_animal_treasurefingers.mp3)

Admirer Mix Tape

Amy — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:55:22 +0000

I’ve had this mix tape sitting in my ITunes for awhile (I made it back in April).

Click here (using OpenTape, which is just the open source version of the defunct Muxtape)

Spin Spin Spin Mix Tape to celebrating not dying at the gym

Amy — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:58:34 +0000

So, as you may or may not know, I’ve joined a gym and committed to a year. Each time I don’t go, I feel guilty about blowing my membership. I’ve been pretty good about it so far, going 3-5 days a week but one day I got bored of just going onto the ellipitcal machine, so I decide to try a spinning class.
Spinning (or indoor cycling) was INTENSE. What made it intense was that once in awhile we had to pedal while standing up. I nearly collapsed (the instructor was nice about it because she knew it was my first class).
So to celebrate me surviving my first spin class, I made a mix tape (using the DJ name Am-E, get it?), partly inspired by the instructor playing My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Remix) briefly before class.

Download audio file (spinspinspin.mp3)

Download here

Tracklisting:
If I Could (ft. Jadis) – LA Riots
My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Remix) – Feist
Stress – Justice
A Cause Des Garcons (Tepr Remix) – Yelle
Control (JFK Remix) – Kid Sister
Shut up, American Boy – Estelle vs The Ting Tings
Propane Nightmares (Van She Tech Remix) – Pendulum

Islands w/ The Magic @ Webster Hall

Amy — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:08:51 +0000

More photos here.

Last, saturday, I checked this band out with Jess. They were pretty good and energetic. I don’t understand why the lead singer/guitarist wore white face paint thought. Also, I didn’t know that the band had not one but TWO violinists. Of course both of them were Asian. I read somewhere that they were sort of like some imitation of Of Montreal, which I totally get, but the Island’s sound is a bit more conventional and “mainstream”. Check out one of their tracks, The Arm:
Download audio file (thearm.mp3)

The opening band, The Magic was pretty solid too. Sorta of neu-80′s pop rock, sort of a retro sound. At first I was confused what they were called. I heard them say “The Magic” but I was waiting for them to add something on. Like The Magic Bullets, or The Magic Bass.

I really liked their track, Mr. Hollywood, which is off their EP and reminded me of Michael J. Fox for some reason. Also, the other guitarist totally looked like Ron Weasley.
Download audio file (mrhollywood.mp3)

I am sad that The Magic, doesn’t even have a MySpace, which makes me wonder if they are a band that will stick around long enough to put out an album, because seriously, how can you NOT have a Myspace?

A.Cast # 0 Out (or Amy is pretending to be a disc jockey)

Amy — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:12:27 +0000

Inspired by the Fabric podcast, I decided I wanted to make my own music podcast. Not that I’m any authority on music but the Internet is not about actual credentials, now is it? Increasingly, credence is given to those who are articulate, and eloquent and have well-formed opinions (also at times having MOST LOUD voice helps too).

The podcast is rather short because my five-year old Dell couldn’t handle mixing multiple audio files (also, while making this podcast I’ve added mixing to my list of skills that I-don’t-really-need-but-is-nice-to-have).

The podcast is also available here.

powered by ODEO

The Hit List

Amy — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:24:35 +0000

I’ve been trying to make room on my IPod (I have a measely 2GB Nano) and/or listening on loop for the following tracks:

Justice - Reject Fabric.live mix, aka the X-mas mix (it’s Justice, how could they do wrong?)
Cut Copy – So Cosmic (mix) (a few good dance songs strung together)
Cut Copy – Hearts on Fire (a damn good song)
Yelle – Ce Jeu Download audio file (yelle.mp3)
(good beat)
Timbaland (yes Timbaland) – Scream (scream!)
Alicia Keys – No One (just the right amount co-dependent whininess)
The Dodos – Fools (I just like it)
Cut Off Your Hands – Still Fond (catchy, sweet lyrics)

Early Weekend Soundtrack

Amy — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:15:44 +0000

So, I’m taking a four-day weekend because I think I’m due for some relaxing and I’ve been getting random bouts of dizziness at work. Today I’m staying in to take care of some errands (and play some Persona 3 and/or Phoenix Wright). Tomorrow I have an orthopedist appointment (and maybe go shopping for some Fall clothes), and on Saturday I might catch a few of the free concerts that are happening because of the CMJ Music Marathon.

Hologram World by Tiny Masters of Today
Download audio file (tinymasters.mp3)

It’s the Beat by Simian Mobile Disco
Download audio file (simianmobile.mp3)

I’m Sorry But I’m Beginning to Hate Your Face by Eagle*Seagull
Download audio file (eagleseagull.mp3)

I’ve been playing these songs over and over. I really like this one line in Hologram World, that I’ve made it my bio for all Interweb profiles. It’s the Beat is just catchy and I’m Sorry … just reminds me of an ex.
I think these bands are going to be performing in the city during CMJ.