There's been a lot of good music coming out recently.  And a lot of great returning artists.  I have been relatively unimpressed by many of the returners: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Presets, Foals, Mumford & Sons, Passion Pit, Phoenix, & Daft Punk (as of yesterday's release).  But some have really stood out: The xx, Depeche Mode, Blink-182, Frightened Rabbit, Snowden (so good I want to write a whole post on them), I haven't listened to The National's new one enough to rate.  That leaves Vampire Weekend.  I listened to it once but got carried away by Snowden that I couldn't pay proper attention to VW's newest album, Modern Vampires of the City.

After's Monday's horrific tornado in OK, and my panic that one of my friends lived in the city, I needed something that seemed more happy and light.  I never really looked at VW's music as "deep".  Even when it could be, there was always a sense of mockery in it.  Well, this album is actually great.  It has some "happy" songs, but other go deeper.  I like Unbelievers, Step, Finger Back, Worship You, and Ya Hey.  I really like Ya Hey.  The more I listened, the more interesting it became with its obvious religious messaging. 

I read this review on songmeaning about it by zoemoe555:

"This song is in reference to Yahweh, or our God. However the name of the song is a play on words due to the fact that in order to prevent themselves (the Jews) from ever using the Lords personal name in vain they decided not to say it all together (hence the name Ya Hey).
The "through the fire and through the flames" portion is in reference to Exodus 3:2 where God calls to Moses from within a bush on fire. The main point of Exodus 3 is that God has seen the suffering of his children in Egypt and has come to rescue them; through sending Moses to bring them out of Egypt and into the promise land.
In Exodus 3:13,14 (NIV) Moses said to God "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I am has sent me to you.". Therefore I think that Ezra is saying to God, how can you love them (Israelites/Jerusalem/Zion) and rescue them when they do not love you Lord? He is showing sympathy for God by saying how can you love so much and not get any credit? This song is showing Ezra's adoration for God's unfailing and unconditional love for his children."     

Oh, sweet thing,
Zion doesn't love you,
Babylon don't love you,
But you love everything.
Oh, you saint,
America don't love you,
So I could never love you,
In spite of everything.
In the dark of this place, there's the glow of your face,
There's the dust on the screen, of this broken machine,
And I can't help but feel, that I made some mistake, but I let it go
Ya hey
Ya hey
Ya hey
Through the fire and through the flames
ya hey, ya hey, ut deo, ya hey, ut deo, ya hey
You won't even say your name
ya hey, ya hey, ut deo, ya hey, ut deo, ya hey
Through the fire and through the flames, you won't even say your name,
Only I am that I am.
But who could ever live that way?
ya hey, ya hey, ut deo, ya hey, ut deo, ya hey
Oh,
The motherland don't love you,
The fatherland don't love you,
So why love anything?
Oh, good God,
The faithless they don't love you,
The zealous hearts don't love you,
And that's not gonna change.
All the cameras and files, all the paranoid style,
All the tension and fear, of the secret career
And I think in your heart, that you see the mistake, but you let it go
//CHORUS//
Outside the tents, on the festival grounds,
As the air began to cool, and the sun went down,
My soul swooned, as I faintly heard the sound,
Of you spinning Israelites, into 19th Nervous Breakdown
Through the fire and through the flames
ya hey, ya hey, ut deo, ya hey, ut deo, ya hey
You won't even say your name
ya hey, ya hey, ut deo, ya hey, ut deo, ya hey
[ x 2 ]:: Through the fire and through the flames, you won't even say your name,
Only I am that I am.
But who could ever live that way?
{*ya hey-ing*}::

I know this is an old song, and I liked it when it came out, but it's been earworming me lately.  I re-liked it again after its usage on GIRLS, and how it was used as the "theme song" of the show everytime the show won something at the Golden Globes this year. While before I just listened to it as a great pop dance song, but yesterday I just listened to what it really said.  I never realized how sad it is, and how the music is also sad.  Such feeling, and heartache.  I totally feel different when I hear it now. 
 

Dancing On My Own

I don't normally post things like my dreams on here, but Twitlonger wasn't working and I needed to share the madness of my brain.

Dream occurred on 4/30/2013:

It started with me trying to order breakfast at some diner in LA. I had issues paying with my card and some how forgot to actually take my breakfast home. Home...well this is where it gets weird. Home was living in KStew's house. We shared a room but RPattz was coming to visit and she asked me to go to the spare room. I never saw KStew, but I knew we had this conversation and we were friends.

When I got to the house, Rob was there doing some work out on a car in the garage. I told him I had breakfast if he was hungry and showed him the bag. Rob was wearing a strange, frilly pink ladies PJ set with a kitten on the front. He said it was designer. I shrugged it off as no big deal.

I continued in the house with my breakfast bag only to realize it was two boxes of See's Candy. No breakfast. I report we don't have any food and I'll have to go back to find it. Then I go to my room and it's later. Breakfast has been forgotten by this point. Another friend stops by. At first she's my old friend from work when I worked in Cali. Later she becomes my old friend from high school.

"Ex-coworker" is wearing a thong red leotard and is trying to get some electronic device to work by my bed (I'm laying on my side on the bed). Her butt is up in the air near my head and Rob comes in offering to help her. He leans over her and wraps his arms behind her helping her. Then I see him kiss her bare ass and start to lick her skin. I am freaking out because I thought he and Kristen were together, but also because I have a straight view into this quite initmate act between these people. I tried to pretend like I wasn't there.

Rob leaves and "ex-coworker" has now become "high school friend". I start questioning her, "What the hell was THAT??!"  She finally admits she and Rob are dating and have decided to officially give it a go. Kristen and him are over. Kristen knows and is fine with it. I guess I was the last to know. But I tell her then why did Kristen make me switch rooms so Rob could stay with her? No answer. (Side note: this house is HUGE so I have no idea why I had to bunk with KStew, or why the spare bedroom I'm in in really small and ugly)

Later I'm with Rob and we just hang out and talk at some outdoor cafe. I confront him as well and honestly tell him I guess no one told me because they knew how I felt about him before. He knowingly looks at me and then half smiles almost guiltily. He likes the attention but feels uncomfortable. We are so open and casual with each other. There is no starstruck pretense. Just two normal people having a conversation. As if we actually were friends.

I want to post pics on Instagram of this whole thing but I don't. I know I need to protect their privacy.

Later I'm with "high school friend" and we're walking to a photo shoot super early in the morning. She climbs a giant tree for a good view as we see our ballet dancer subjects getting ready in a field below. Turns out she's the photographer for Ballet Zaida (an Instragram account that photographs ballet dancers). I never knew before this moment.

Then chaos breaks out as we realize there's a police riot nearby and a protest gone awry on private property. We're trespassing on private property.  "High school friend" deftly descends the tree and takes off running (even though she recently had surgery in real life). I find myself running like my feet are in mud and can only slowly make my getaway afraid of being caught while everyone else is screaming & racing past me. I'm terrified I will be caught but can't make my legs go any faster.

I then wake up.

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Crazy, right? It all felt real.  I had emotions and when I woke up it felt as if it had all happened. Dreams are insane that way.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs released their fourth album, Mosquito, a few weeks ago.  I was excited because I have been a fan of the band since their first album, A Fever To Tell.  I loved their first album, was meh about their second except for a few songs, LOVED their third album, LOVED her Where the Wild Things Are album under Karen O and the Kids, and I recently loved her collab song with Santigold called "Go".  So I didn't know what to expect from Mosquito because I really hadn't been paying attention.  I had only heard "Sacrilege" a few weeks before the album release and didn't love, but didn't hate.  It wasn't like my love at first listen obsession with It's Blitz's Zero single. 

I have had some time to try and get through Mosquito, but every time I have tried, I'd get bored/distracted and move on to other albums.  In between I became enamored with the new Cold War Kids' album.  I really have tried to make an effort to get through it.  I found myself thinking the music was really cool or complex and beautiful.  However, nothing GRABBED me and made me have that defining moment on an album where I think, I love this song.  That is until I finally reached the end today.  I was actually liking the last three songs more than others on the album, but when I heard "Wedding Song", I knew it was THE ONE,  The song that made me take notice and FEEL something.  I even got misty eyed. 

*Side note: My wedding party processional was to Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Maps played on an acoustic guitar.  You know this song would have been played if it had been released.

I just wish the album cover wasn't the graphic you have to look

at when hearing how beautiful this song is.

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND LISTEN  

WEDDING SONG

HI!  I know, it's been a LONG minute since I've posted anything.  I really shouldn't be gone so long.  BUT, something caught my ear yesterday and I am excited enough about it to post.  I was driving home listening to either SiriusXMU or AltNation when Jenny Eliscu (I like her last name) said Cold War Kids had new music out and the first single was Miracle Mile.  I WAS HOOKED!  New album, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, is a nice ride through breakups, loneliness, regret, sadness while intertwined with some pop hooks or lamenting instrumentals.  Miracle Mile falls on the popier side of CWK, but I like this new evolution. 

The album feels different than Robbers and Cowards.  It's not as "soulful" or "emotional", but that's okay for me.  That album came out seven years ago, so obviously the band is in a different place.  The song, Tuexedos, is probably the most remiscent of songs like Hang Me Up to Dry in terms of emotive qualities. 
 

Miracle Mile

I was supposed to do great things
I know the road was long
But I wasn't raised to shoot for fame
I had the safety on

I cut my ties, I sold my rings
I wanted none of this
If you start from scratch you have to sing
Just for the fun of it

I'd be alright, if I could just see you
Come up for air, come up for air
A miracle mile, where does it lead to
Come up for air, come up for air

I feel the air upon my face
Forget the mess I'm in
Hold me again, don't count mistakes
I lost track of them

I'd be alright, if I could just see you
Come up for air, come up for air
A miracle mile, where does it lead to
Come up for air, come up for air

I was in the mud, I was in the dirt
Went underground and I found what I was worth
All alone and I know I cant stay
But we're walking up and down the streets to stay awake

Come up for air, come up for air, come up
Come up for air, come up for air, come up
Come up for air, come up for air, come up
Come up for air, come up for air, come up

Get outside, get all over the world
You learn to love what you get in return
It may be a problem and it may be peace of mind
Put your head down down and breathe one breath at a time

Come up for air, come up for air, come up
Come up for air, come up for air, come up
Come up for air, come up for air, come up
Come up for air, come up for air, come up

I'd be alright, if I could just see you
Come up for air, come up for air
A miracle mile, where does it lead to
Come up for air, come up for air

I'd be alright, if I could just see you
A miracle mile, where does it lead to

How appropriate that I would be at Fav Lyrics #44 exactly when our 44th President was re-elected.  Because I cannot chock this up to coincidence, I am changing the song I was going to post in favor of the song playing when President Obama walked out to cheering crowds in Chicago to give his acceptance speech.  The song was Stevie Wonder's Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours.  And that he is.  

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours

This has nothing to do with hurricanes/tropical storms, but as my little sister faces her first major storm in the next few days (Sandy), I figured she'd need all those fingers for crossing too to keep safe.  I love you Devo!

Paul Banks, or "Sexy Voice" as called by my sister, released his second solo album this week.  His first solo endeavor was under his alter-ego, Julian Plenti, released in 2009.  It was OK. I actually liked some of the rare solo tracks I found on iTunes more than what was on the album, such as Cellophane.  Then in 2010, the 4th Interpol album was released and while good, I found out Carlos D left, so I was almost too sad to appreciate its greatness.  Now, Paul has released his second solo album, and he's released it under his own name this time. 

It's WAY better than his Julian Plenti album.  I wasn't crazy about the first single, Summertime is Coming, or the Julian Plenti EP released over the summer, but I was hopeful after hearing The Base.  It's my current favorite on the album, but I haven't listened to the album enough to find other favorites. 

It's easy to try and compare this album with Interpol work, especially because Paul's voice is so recognizable and him.  It's one of those things that makes Interpol Interpol. Kinda like Billy Corgan or J. Mascis can't escape their voices either.  It's what you either love or hate.  This is not an Interpol album. not should it be.  If you know how Interpol writes/records, whomever is the lead on an instrument/vocal is the democratic lead for creating their parts.  So of course, Banks, will not have the Carlos' bass or Daniel's guitar.  But this does show Paul's affinity to electronic mixing and his own guitar skills.   

I actually really like this album.  I'm happy to know there will be life and music after Interpol one day. 

Here's a video and lyrics for The Base:

It's almost Halloween so let's celebrate with some Doctor Who inspired pumpkins and pics

Not really too Halloweeny, but I love Chibi versions of anything so yay 10th & 11th

 ----------------------------------------

 If you know my fear of all things Zombies, you'd understand why

this freaks me out as much as it is freaking 11th out.

LET'S MOVE ON TO CUTE PUMPKINS INSTEAD!!

Starting with 10th, my favorite. Talk about impressive.

 And this next one of 11 and Amy is just ridiculous. How is that a pumpkin?

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DO YOU LIKE BAD GUYS & SOME NOT SO BAD GUYS?

Exterminate! (Sorry Dalek, but not that scary)

Still not scary. heehee

Alright, alright...don't you start pointing your eye at me getting your plunger and whisk all in a bunch.

Fine...you're so scary. I'm shaking under your scariness.

So much so I can't even upload another picture of you.

Moving on to the Ood!  Not bad guys at all...just enslaved and manipulated bad guys, for one episode.

Or this cool one of another Ood

But my favorite "villian" is the Adipose because it's just so darn cute.

See...fat can be cute. ;)

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I'll end this post with a TARDIS pumpkin

If this person had made the inside actually like a TARDIS, they'd be my hero. 

 I wish it was truly bigger on the inside.

 We are going to carve a TARDIS pumpkin this year.  My friend suggested a Funkin (fake carvable pumpkin),  We found a nice tall one, on sale, and that way we can keep the pumpkin forever.  I just couldn't do all this work just to have the pumpkin shrivel up and die from the heat.  It's just too hard to have disposable art. Wish us luck. Hope we don't screw it up.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN (early) EVERYONE!!