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December 30, 2004
Winter Single #2
I don't know much about The Presets. I got this from another MP3 blog, I forget which. They've been compared to Stereolab and I can see why. This is an instrumental piece and it has bells and that's why I think winter when I listen to it. This is an alright song but I'm more excited about tomorrow's.
More on The Presets here.
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December 28, 2004
Winter Single #1
I have three winter singles to put up before the new year. This first one is from Ha Ha Sound by Broadcast. The song that precedes it on the CD is actually called "Winter Now" which might be more appropriate but this one sounds more chilly and end-of-the-year-ish (best of times, worst of times, blah-bitty blah). The dischordant ambience is dreamy and makes me want to drink something hot in a cabin where the wood on the fire came from a tree that I chopped down earlier that day.
I was sorely disappointed when I bought Ha Ha Sound. After a few listens (one), the disc got summarily filed away and forgotten. Then it was on a friend's best of 2003 list so I gave it another spin and behold, I discovered the key to the universe. This is an excellent record.
I'm at my folks' place and I'm avoiding the internet because I haven't the patience to deal with anything that has the number 14.4 attached to it.
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December 22, 2004
Say Yes to Sufjan!
Sufjan Stevens - All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!
I have some winter stuff coming up. For now I have some Sufjan stuff. Sufjan is a good man. Thanks to Keif for giving this to me.
Posted by jimweed at 01:55 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
December 17, 2004
Let's Go, Let's Go
Chin Up Chin Up - Collide the Tide
In the "We Are The World" section on Pitchfork they review 3 or 4 songs a day. They usually pick rarities that you will never hear and tell you how awesome the song is (that you will never hear). Occasionally they make the song available for download. Anyway, I hate that. I think Pitchfork feels threatened by the proliferation of MP3 blogs. Their download section looks a lot like my download section: stuff you got off the blog circuit two months ago.
So last week they reviewed this Chin Up Chin Up song which, at best, is pretty good. I just found out they were in town last Saturday which, oh well. There's something catchy about the jangly guitars but one of the singer's voices is a bit mopey. There's a little counterpoint action going on where both singers are singing different yet complimentary melodies and that's not a bad thing. I used to listen to this more often a couple of years ago back when my life was the same as it still is today.
You can get more songs at the Chin Up Chin Up netsite.
Also, the guy who runs Tofuhut (a source for a few of my entires) somehow found this place and put a hyperlink to it which I thought was pretty cool. He has prolly the most exhaustive section of links to the circuit of MP3 blogs. I will put a link section up if I ever figure out how to do that.
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December 14, 2004
Can You Swing From A Good Good Rope?
Pixies - Mr. Grieves (AAC)
TV On The Radio - Mr. Grieves (AAC)
TV On The Radio has furnished us with an a capella version of "Mr. Grieves" which comes from an album that belongs on every deserted island. These folk are from Brooklyn, NY and toured with the Pixies when all of this reunion hullabaloo was going on earlier this year.
Posted by jimweed at 06:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 12, 2004
Oh Yeah?
LCD Soundsystem - Yeah (Crass Version)
This is pretty much what I've been listening to lately. It's from the DFA compilation that came out recently. I got it from Jed and it cuts off early (I think). The crescendo that begins about 2:55 has to be pretty excellent. It's indie dance crap whatever. There was a bit on the DFA Records guy in Pitchfork this week (where I got this image) that referred to him as a "megalomaniacal genius." I don't think the part about megalomaniac is accurate. As if I would know.
Right now is the last week of finals so I don't think I'll be making any posts. If I do, that means I'm probably being avoidant. So there's an outside chance I'll be posting some time this week.
Posted by jimweed at 09:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 07, 2004
Hey, It's Michael Gambon!
The Ladybug Transistor - Oceans In The Hall
This song seems like it should be in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou which I look forward to seeing. Kind of a melancholy chamber pop sound. Breezy. Good for sailing. Not to get all J. Crew and shit, but I bet it would be cool to have a yacht. I love the sea.
The Ladybug Transistor was part of Elephant 6 and come from Brooklyn.
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December 04, 2004
Dependent Personality Disorder
Xploding Plastix - Treat Me Mean, I Need The Reputation
Xploding Plastix, in addition to qualifying for one of the worst band names ever, also come from Norway. It's Acid-Jazzy Downtempo Stuff. I included it here because of the title. Needy people like it when others are mean to them.
DSM Diagnostic Criteria
A pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
(1) has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others
(2) needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his or her life
(3) has difficulty expressing disagreement with others because of fear of loss of support or approval. Note: Do not include realistic fears of retribution.
(4) has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on his or her own (because of a lack of self-confidence in judgment or abilities rather than a lack of motivation or energy)
(5) goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others, to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant
(6) feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care for himself or herself
(7) urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends
(8) is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself
Posted by jimweed at 04:08 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
December 03, 2004
Borderline Personality Disorder
Her Space Holiday - Japanese Gum
Personality Disorders are a lot of fun (not really). The girl in this song sounds pretty BPD and the guy sounds like the nurturing/dependent type that often finds himself in relationships with such women. It gets ugly. (see also: Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind played by Kate Winslett).
DSM Diagnostic Criteria
A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
(1) frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
(2) a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
(3) identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
(4) impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating
behavior covered in Criterion 5.
(5) recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.
(6) affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
(7) chronic feelings of emptiness.
(8) inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).
(9) transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.
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December 02, 2004
Major Depressive Episode
Le Tigre - Much Finer (The Flaxdatass Mix)
A few symptoms of a major depressive episode:
(1) depressed mood every day, nearly every day, as indicated by subjective report or the observation made by others (e.g. appears tearful).
(2) markedly diminished pleasure or interest in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others).
(4) insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
(6) fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
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