Pilgriming State Of Mind

Just a little extra treat....this is my new obsession.

Pilgriming Vine

Dazed and Confused

I got into my car this morning and decided I would listen to the radio since I'm either listening to my Ipod or one of six cd's my car stereo plays. Before you ask "why would you listen to the radio?" let me explain. My car is also equipped with Sirius Satellite and I will occasionally listen to the Indie Rock station Left Of Center, but just like commercial radio those jackasses are obligated to play what the studios pay them to play. It's usually the same 14 radio friendly, newly released, Indie songs on heavy rotation i.e. The Ting Tings, Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses or some bad 80's throw back electronic band etc, etc.
So this morning I quickly scrolled down the set stations on my radio in search of a righteous song...1st Wave (Old School Alternative), Alt Nation (New "Something" Alternative), Coffeehouse (30's Something Alternative) and then CLASSIC VINYL (Real Classic Rock).
I was just about to turn off the radio and then Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" had come on. Sigh of relief. As I listened to this song for the duration of my ride to work I realized just how fucking dazed and confused popular radio has become. Where's the revolutionary, groundbreaking, history setting music of the Zeppelin days? How did we end up with Katy Perry's "I kissed a Girl" as the most requested song on popular radio? (And now the #1 song on the Billboards top 100) Yahoo News
This really set me off today and I'm sure I'm not alone. Do the record executives really believe this is what we want to hear? Who is signing this shit and why? Where are the protesters to overrule these judgments?
In case you have forgotten, here is something to remind you of what popular music today is not nor will ever be.

Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused

Fuck Mondays

Yesterday I spent way too much time listening to music. Although, I did manage to fit in 2 for 1 bloody maria's and some Cajun garlic chicken wings...God I love Sundays. Mondays, that's a whole other story. Here's a little something to beat the blues.

My friend Ryan wanted me to listen to some new material from "Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band." Conor's side project he's been touring with for the last year. I really do love Conor but it seems he's jumped onto the same wagon as Chan Marshall these days and by wagon, I mean rehab. Don't get me wrong, I support a sober lifestyle but if it fucks with the ability to write amazing songs, then I move to support the habit. To be fair, the two songs up on his site, off the upcoming studio album, are well written and easy to digest. I'll most likely acquire a copy of the CD after it's released in August and I'll be front and center when they make their way through Rochester, on the promotional tour. He still happens to be one of my favorite artists to see live.
Listen for yourself here:
Conor Oberst


Next on my agenda is the lovely and ethereal song bird Basia Bulat. Anyone who rocks an Autoharp immediately gets my respect. She apparently hails from the same scene as label mates, Arcade Fire. With the song "Little Waltz", she definitely stirs some of the same scarring emotions as some Arcade Fire songs do. It leaves a little feeling of regret after listening to it.
My favorite song is a live cover of "Someday" by the Strokes. If you can get through the chit chat during the song, then it may just break your heart.
This I promise is worth a listen:
Basia Bulat



Post Note:
Sigur Ros has a new album out tomorrow. I had the opportunity to listen to the whole album on their website. It's brilliant, of course.
I wanted to talk about the last song, which weirdly enough has an English title "All Alright." I don't know if you're anything like me, in that when I hear certain songs, I imagine myself somewhere else. In this case, the song All Alright makes me feel as if I'm in a long, slow funeral procession, on my way to say goodbye to my only true love. Dramatic, I know. Don't get to close to any ledges after hearing this song:
Sigur Ros

Working Man's Twang

My brother John, who is a few years older than me, has been bugging me to become familiar with the Grateful Dead, specifically the "Workingman's Dead" album.
Anyone who knows me, knows that this could be one of the most excruciating tasks that lie at hand. I've always been very clear and open with my disdain for the dead, so much so that it might be something to consider discussing with my therapist someday. I'm not really sure what the reason is for my blatant hatred. Maybe it's the cult like fan base or the twangy guitar riffs that seem to last a lifetime. Maybe it's the message in their music to be carefree and oblivious to the rigamorle of life. I'm so jaded that I'm personally offended by the mere suggestion. However, in spite of the protest I have always trusted my brother to steer me in the right direction of worthy music. So I purchased the album and took a listen.

Grateful Dead - Workingman's Dead

The first song "Uncle John's Band" was the familiar jam band sound the dead is notorious for so I was a little apprehensive. Then "YES" some real rock & roll shit worthy of the distinction with the song "High Time." Albeit there are still some twangy riffs like in the song "Dire Wolf" but it's balanced with lyrics reminiscent of a George Harrison anthem.
The album moves quickly but kept my attention from beginning to end with a few finger tapping blues jams smack dab in the center, "New Speedway Boogie" & "Cumberland Blues."
"Black Peter" winds the album down with real heart felt misery; a slow bruising blues I can hang with. My favorite song on the album is "Easy Wind", it's undeniable.
The album ends with their basic twangy tale of a rambler, that seems to make his way into a lot of their songs.
John, you are right, there is some Grateful Dead worth $7.92 and 30 mins.

Greenpoint Ladies

Ok Rachel let's see if this works....

http://subpop.com/assets/video/4421.mpg

Motion City Or Bust

After a short trip to NYC that was anything but resting, I was humbly quieted by the weather which stranded me at JFK for 7 hours.
My weekend began with a rather long and arduous car ride that left me feeling defeated and open to attack all while in the name of support. I took the trip to champion my friends from Rochester who's band The Pax Cecilia was playing a show in Brooklyn the following night.
Excited to be back home in my old neighborhood I was also pretty anxious to hear the band perform live considering that the venue was a Polish dance club on the off nights - equipped with velvet couches and beaded curtains.
The show went on without a hitch and they pulled off a masterful performance as usual. A sweet victory for them. After we celebrated with some Brooklyn pizza - along with some mass hysteria hanging out on N7th and Bedford Ave. in Williamsburg. It is literally the busiest corner in the world. I've never seen so many people in one place not standing still, if that at all makes sense.
After pizza I parted way with my friends. They headed back to Rochester while I stayed the rest of the weekend.
Fast forward 3 days and an excruciating 90 minutes later (the time it took to try to comprehend the new M. Night Shyamalan catastrophe...I totally think it's the mood ring and not the plants), I arrived at the Jet Blue terminal. I managed to make it there an hour before my flight only to find out after printing my boarding pass, the flight had been delayed 2 hours. Then it quickly became 3 hours and then 4 and so on and so on. This is where the tequila, a drunk girl from Sweden and my first blog subject comes into play. My subject being Matt, a member of the band Motion City Soundtrack, who had just ended a tour with Panic at the Disco. He was stranded as well. His connecting flight from California to Virginia had been canceled until the next morning. He was a sound for sore ears and not too bad on the eyes either. He's also taken so there was no extended flirting from me. We spent some time talking about music and life and the Lakers win over the Celtics in an NBA playoff game that we watched in the bar that night. So after some conversation, Matt made me realize that I should get my music blog that I created a year before up and running. So here's to you Matt - thanks.

Motion City Soundtrack
- Melodic pop at it's best. A kind of real life soundtrack to the adolescent lover's summer tryst. They manage to give sad subjects a brighter side with quick catchy beats that never stall. If all the pop/rock bands were more lyrical and full-grown as Motion City I might just have to cross over. I can't wait to catch them live.

-Stacy