don't let your heart get heavy

theme of the week: pretty male artists with voices to match

1. Nine in the Afternoon by Panic! at the Disco

nine in the afternoon is the first song off of Panic!'s sophomore album. most of these turn out in a "sophomore slump", but i don't think that theirs will. they have a pretty good track record for amazing songs. and their lead singer is a punk rock brand of unmistakeably beautiful. this song has a catchy melody, which is the first thing noticed about it. after a while of staring at the title, i realized that nine in the afternoon is an impossible concept. which, of course, makes the song exactly what it is: a completely worthwhile three ring circus of the upbeat and impossible. Panic! at the Disco: Nine In The Afternoon

2. Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend

so, this is the third time that VW has been featured in this column. but their music is wonderful, and Ezra Koenig is so very beautiful. it's true that oxford comma drops the f-bomb twice but this song is worth taking a large gulp and ignoring it. vampire weekend was formed from students at Colombia University: from which i received a letter asking me to attend today. either way, oxford comma is a very catchy song whose lyrics will be appreciated by intellectuals, and whose mellow beat will appreciated by those less bright.

Vampire Weekend: Oxford Comma

3. Love Today by MIKA

oh, MIKA. hailed by some as the "gay brit who's overtaken american music", he is still extremely attractive and with very catchy music. this morroccan/french/british singer/songwriter is hated by many males, and adored by many females. there isn't a bad song on his CD; he's clean in every possible sense of the word and makes one want to cuddle with him. whether he's gay or not, his music is wonderful...as is his hair.

MIKA: Love Today

if we were fading,

theme of the week: lesser known songs of religiously followed indie artists

1. Breakable by Ingrid Michaelson

ingrid michaelson's best known song is "the way i am" of Old Navy commercial fame. this song, like all of those on her CD, is very soft and deep. the lyrics at first seem strangely uncoherant, but are (of course) pulled together by the second half of the first verse. Ingrid Michaelson: Breakable

2. On the Radio by Regina Spektor
regina spektor's "fidelity" is the most easily identifiable of her songs. this song, on the radio, could fit in several week-themes, one of them being 'love-hate relationship songs'. besides an obvious drug reference in the chorus, this song is bubbly in regina spektor's mellow way. it pushes the limits of sobriety and reverence, but cannot help being a good song.
Regina Spektor: On the radio

3. Living Room by Tegan and Sara
tegan and sara, the fantastic canadian indie band, is best known for "back in your head". this song is an almost unheard of song, and barely made their cd 'the con' as a bonus track. nevertheless, it is certainly worthy of the attention of the worldwide public.
Tegan and Sara: living room

i'll take the broken one, said he

theme of the week: best commercial songs

1. 1234 by Feist

feist was the quintessentially fantastic indie singer/songwriter until her fame hit a high with the opening of the apple commercial featuring this song. her voice is so very mellow, and her songs are absolutely enchanting: i'm glad the world has now been introduced to the mysterious marvel that is leslie feist. Feist: 1234

2. The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson
this is the mellow girl in the earth-toned sweater and glasses whose song gained fame through one of the best ever Old Navy commercials. her work is very simple both lyrically and musically, but in the most exciting and ethereal way. this is one of those songs that you hear and think, "this is my new favorite. why didn't i come up with this?"
Ingrid Michaelson: The Way I Am

3. Flathead by The Fratellis
i have absolutely no idea what a "flathead" is or what it has to do with the three scantily clad women in keyhole dresses with burgeoning bosoms on the front of this album, but the song is very upbeat and catchy. it was apparently on an apple commercial- i have no trouble beleiving this, as they always seem to scout out the best songs for their commercials. random fact: "fratelli" is the italian word for brothers, making "fratellis" a common anglicised misspelling of a common foreign word. even so, it's a very catchy song.
The Fratellis: Flathead

i hate you, but i love you

theme of the day: love-hate relationship songs

song of the day:

1. The Book of Right On by Joanna Newsom
this is absolutely the strangest song that has ever caught my attention and rocketed me into a pleasant state of mellow bliss. the first time i heard this song, i detested it. in all truth, her voice is truly smacking of a drowning redwood squirrel, and occasionally the lyrics move past the boundary of sobriety. but the smooth way that the harp blends the sometimes extraterrestrial pieces of this song together is magical, and that overrides all negativity. some people will adore this girl and her light and quirky music, some will abhor it. i love it.
Joanna Newsom: The Book of Right-On


2. Bonjour Jeune Fille by The Blow
the blow is the best thing since slice bread, and i don't say that lightly. "bonjour jeune fille" (french for 'hello young girl') is springy and very dance-club. this song should be in the library of all high-school french students, as it is fairly easy to pick apart the lyrics with their easily understandable canadian accents. some tend to hate the blow as too simplistic and under-produced. i tend to whole heartedly and vigorously disagree.
The Blow: Bonjour Jeune Fille

3. Summer's the Worst by Michael Leviton
this boy's music is somewhere between a dream and a lullaby. it's achingly mellow and beachy. his voice is like thin-grained sandpaper: refined, with a touch of rawness. the accordian music is insane. heavy metal fans will think he is a pansy, but i love it. check out the music video, too.
Michael Leviton: Summer’s The Worst

my heart is sleepy, out of practice

theme of the day: naturalised foreign songs
song of the day:

1. Après Moi by Regina Spektor
regina spektor is one of my overall favorite artists of all time. the songs she writes are feeling songs, even if occasionally they are slightly unintelligible. she's russian AND jewish, so two thumbs up for her. her accent is almost untraceable, but if you listen very closely, it's etched into several of the songs like an indentation of her sparkling musical ability. her piano music is beautiful. for most people, she's a love-hate artist, but for me it's definately love.
Regina Spektor: Apres Moi

2. Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright
yes, the Shrek song. the lyrics are beautiful, as well as the strangely simple melody. his voice is so smooth, i want to melt into him. this song is wonderfully melancholy.
Rufus Wainwright: Hallelujah

3. I'm Gonna Be by the Proclaimers
this song is steady, soothing, sweet and best of all... scottish! the brothers' accents cover over a multitude of sins. this is one of those songs that as soon as it starts playing people either say "i LOVE this song!" or "how do i know this? where have i heard this?" for me, it's love.
The Proclaimers: I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

i chose the happy bug

song of the day:

1. You Are What You Love by Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins

i don't see how anything could get better than combing jenny lewis with a set of harmonizing identical twins. the lyrics to this song are very deep and quintessential jenny lewis, and the drumbeat is actually very interesting. the melodies spun by this trio are warm and inviting, no matter the theme of the song.

Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins: You Are What You Love

2. Gotta Have You by the Weepies

where do i start on this song? it's so "chill". deb talan has such a raw, unchiseled voice that it's almost rugged, but it's also remarkably warm. this song is everything related to bark-paper fires and cuddling.

The Weepies: Gotta Have You

3. Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap

the most accurate description i can give of this song is "ethereal". it sounds like fairy music, but in reality it was written about an alien invasion. the harmonies are beautiful. rarely do you find such tight harmonies in "popular" music. at first, this song scared the living daylights out of me; but it steadily grows on you.

Imogen Heap: Hide and Seek

do you know, you're absolutely infectious

song of the day:

1. Back In Your Head by Tegan&Sara
tegan and sara's songs are quintessential indie, while still being different and interesting. is that possible? they're intense and mellow at the same time, and it makes you want to learn the words and sing with them. their raw voices are similar, but easy to tell apart. they're canadian, AND their twins. can it get better? if i were gay, i'd so be into them.
Tegan & Sara: Back In Your Head


2. Come on Petunia by The Blow
this is possibly the strangest combination of the Police and so-sweet-they're-creepy lyrics that has ever been one of my favorite songs. it is, however. khaela maricich took the chorus of the Police song "every little thing she does is magic" and turned it into a euphoric and mellow indie song that sounds nothing like the original. it's bizzare and magical all at the same time.
The Blow: Come On Petunia

3. Such Great Heights by the Postal Service
i know, i know, this song (and band) have been hit by the mainstream like a bum on a bologna sandwich. but, the song is still very good, and very calming. it's a long-time favorite.
The Postal Service: Such Great Heights

apples to peaches

song of the day:

1. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

vw has been featured on here before, but they certainly deserve it again. i have no idea what they say in this song, except that i caught the words "new mexico" and "bottom of the sea", and he says something smacking of "rain coats" or "rain goats". we're going with rain coats. my sister and i are incurably obsessed with this band. they're definately worth your time.

Vampire Weekend: A-Punk

2. Portions for Foxes by Rilo Kiley

i'm well aware that rilo kiley is a fairly mainstream indie band, but i never get tired of jenny lewis. best i'm-over-you line: "i know i'm alone if i'm with or without you".

Rilo Kiley: portions for foxes

3. Samson by Regina Spektor

i'm a big regina spektor fan. while i'm especially partial to a lot of her earlier work ("Love Affair" and "2.99 Cent Blues") her latest album is my favorite. the lyrics to this song are profound without being too sticky-sweet, and almost makes one want to cry.

Regina Spektor: Samson

it's raining in my head today.

today's music is diverse, to say the least.

song of the day:

1.New Soul by Yael Naïm
this isn't the usual "you haven't heard of this" song. it actually isn't that new, but it has recently become popular due to its appearance on an Apple commercial (which always have good music!). yael naïm is a french/israeli with an adorable accent who sings in french, hebrew and english. this happens to be one of the english songs.

Yael Naim: New Soul

2. Merry Happy by Kate Nash

this is a wonderful "i'm over you" song. simply smashing. the piano is very simple but really very effective. also, if there are any flaws, her british accent makes it all better.

Kate Nash: Merry Happy

3. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by Vampire Weekend

vampire weekend is officially my new favorite band. no matter how grotesque the name sounds, they are actually quite mellow and pleasant sounding. the ivy-league band mixes all the sounds of their experiences in africa and india with the influence of their favorite music to create songs that are unique and different. plus, the lead singers' name is ezra. ezra! how awesome is that?

Vampire Weekend: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa