Playlist of the Week #12

Short but sweet!
1.  Love and Happiness - Al Green
2.  Sprawl II - Arcade Fire
3.  Windy - The Association
4.  Lizzy - Ben Kweller
5.  Corrina corrina - Bob Dylan
6.  Rock Me On The Water - Jackson Browne
7.  Trouble - Cat Stevens

Playlist of the Week #11

Hey kind people,
Sorry i lagged this week on the playlist.  But holiday break is upon us which necessitates some good music.
I'm holding off on sending out the holiday music playlist, so in the meantime, here is a playlist of some 50's 60's music.  Any comments, concerns, suggestions, are always welcome.  In addition, if you would like a cd of this or any other playlist, email me or comment on my facebooking machine, and let me know what playlist you would like.
Happy Holidays,
Cody


1.  This Magic Moment - The Drifters
2.  One Fine Day - The Chiffons
3.  A Teenager in Love - Dion & The Belmonts
4.  He's a Rebel - The Crystals
5.  Dream Lover - Bobby Darin
6.  Good Lovin' - The Rascals
7.  Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter - Hermans Hermits
8.  You've Really Got a Hold On Me - The Miracles
9.  The Wanderer - Dion
10.  Earth Angel - The Penguins
11.  Green Onions - Booker T & The MG's
12.  Pretty Little Angel Eye - Curtis Lee

Imagine

31 years ago today, a genius was taken from this earth.  John Lennon was a songwriter, a political activist, and a beautiful mind.  He lives on through his words, his family, and his music.  So today, remember him not just as one of the four Beatles, but remember his ideas of peace, love, and happiness, and do your best to put them to practice.  In the words of Lennon, "A dream you dream alone is just a dream, a dream you dream together is reality."
R.I.P John Lennon

Playlist of the week #10

Wooh double digit playlist!  Keep cranking through finals week and look forward to the holidays.  Here is a short playlist i have been listening to during my studies.  Enjoy!
-Cody

1.  I shall be released - Wilco & Fleet Foxes
2.  Generator First Floor - Freelance Whales
3.  Little Black Submarines - Black Keys
4.  Throw it All Away - Zero 7
5.  Glory Box (Live at the Roseland NYC) - Portishead
6.  Revenge - Dangermouse & Sparklehorse
7.  Moonage Daydream - David Bowie
8.  Messages - Xavier Rudd
9.  If I Could - Phish
10. Old Man - Neil Young

Yah I know the song choices are all over the place, but they are all good ones so give it a listen!

MUSE Study Break

I know i needed yet another study break, so i watched this entire concert.  If you happen to get bored, its quite a good one.
-cs

Radical Face Album Review

              Radical Face is a musical act consisting of Ben Cooper, a talented singer/songwriter who keeps plenty busy in his four successful bands.  In 2007, Cooper released his first album under Radical Face, titled “Ghost”.  This album gained quick notoriety thanks especially to its inspirational hit “Welcome Home”.  After a long hiatus, Radical Face released their second full-length album, “The Family Tree: The Roots”, this past October.

            The album is similar to “Ghost” with beautiful vocal harmonies and a heavy reliance on a steady backbeat.  But “Family Tree” is not a mere copy of their first album.  The songs seem to capitalize on their strengths, yet improve on melodic complexity, something that let their other album become dry at some moments.  The standout songs on the album are “Always Gold” and “Ghost Towns “.  “Always Gold” starts off slowly working the chords up the keyboard.  One bass drum is hit repeatedly to get your foot tapping, followed immediately by Cooper’s impressive guitar work.  But where the first album might have trailed off repeating the same phrase, this song explodes with a powerful 2 bar chorus and jumps right back into a new verse.  This song does not follow a simple verse chorus structure, which keeps it consistently interesting.  But the track that stood out most to me was “Ghost Towns”.  Much darker than the other songs, piano and guitar wind their way down a minor key progression and create a feel that would be appropriate if you were strolling through a park on a cold October night.  But with a syncopated, clapping rhythm and swirling vocals, emotions run all over the place and you’re almost driven to tears.  This song was an emotional rollercoaster that will make you stop, listen, and melt.

            It is rare an album grabs my attention the first time I listen.  But I can say in all honesty that “The Family Tree” has done that.  Since I bought it, I have not been able to put it down.  The diversity of emotions the songs will bring you through is addicting.  Although Radical Face is currently touring in Europe, we can expect a U.S. tour soon that I am sure will be nothing short of phenomenal.  So if you are looking for emotionally driven music with beautiful melodies and straightforward rhythms, pick up a copy of “The Family Tree: The Roots” and enjoy.

Playlist of the Week #9

Busy busy coming into finals, so this will be a short playlist.  Hope you enjoy it!
-cs

1. Ghost Towns - Radical Face
2. Lebanese Blonde - Thievery Corporation
3. Give It Away - Zero 7
4. Without You - Junip
5. Mansfield & Cyclops - Espers
6. Your Hand in Mine- Explosions in the Sky

Playlist of the Week #8

Happy thanksgiving!  Hope all is well and you are ready for a new playlist of the week.  Thanks to the suggestion from some friends, this week's playlist is a hip hop playlist.  Enjoy!
Cody

1.  Remember Who You Are - Living Legends
2.  Tug Of War (1993) - Jedi Mind Tricks
3.  My Pathology - Common Market
4.  Smart Went Crazy - Atmosphere
5.  Slang Blade - Binary Star
6.  616 Rewind - Cunninglinguists
7.  Classic - Hieroglyphics
8.  Souls From The Street (1994) - Jedi Mind Tricks
9.  Bonita Applebum - Tribe Called Quest
10.  Bruise Brothers - Blue Scholars
11.  Brooklyn Sky - Digable Planets
12.  Rock Co.Cane Flow - MF Doom
13.  2010 - Living Legends
14.  Get It Together - Jurassic 5
15.  Obnoxious - Immortal Technique
16.  No Karma - Jaydiohead
17.  No Rest For Weary - Blue Scholars

Playlist of the week #7

Hello all,
Here is a little cd of some songs to get you through the week and closer to thanksgiving break!  If anybody wants a hard cd copy of this playlist or any of the others, please let me know!

1.  Strangers - The Kinks
2.  If I Could - Phish
3.  Circuital - My Morning Jacket
4.  Dead Wrong - Hanni El Khatib
5.  Sweet Rose - Matt Costa
6.  Crimson & Clover - Tommy James & the Shondells
7.  My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
8.  Mountains - Radical Face
9.  Infinity - The XX
10. She's Losing It - Belle & Sebastian
11. Pa Pa Power - Dead Man's Bones
12. California Stars - Billy Bragg & Wilco
13. I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
14. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
15. Dawned On Me - Wilco
16. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Bob Dylan
17. Everything In It's Right Place - Radiohead

First Leg of Radiohead Tour Announced

Here are the announced tour dates for Radiohead's 2012 U.S. tour:

Feb. 27: Miami, Fla. (American Airlines Arena)
Feb. 29: Tampa, Fla. (St. Pete Times Forum)
Mar. 1: Atlanta, Ga. (Philips Arena)
Mar. 3: Houston, Tex. (Toyota Center)
Mar. 5: Dallas, Tex. (American Airlines Center)
Mar. 7: Austin, Tex. (Frank Erwin Center)
Mar. 9: St. Louis, Mo. (Scottrade Center)
Mar. 11: Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center)
Mar. 13: Broomfield, Co. (1stBank Center)
Mar. 15: Glendale, Ariz. (Jobing.com Arena)

Playlist of the Week #6

Hello all,
School and work is busy and ever, but i hope to start posting regularly again.  Hope you enjoy the tunes in this weeks playlist.
Musically,
Cody
1.  Que Sera - Wax Tailor
2.  Massage Situation - Flying Lotus
3.  Wonderful ( The Way I Feel) - My Morning Jacket
4.  Welcome Home - Radical Face
5.  Sprawl II - Arcade Fire
6.  Se Lest - Sigur Ros
7.  Insomnia - Electric President
8.  The Only Living Boy in New York - Simon & Garfunkel
9.  Always - Junip
10.  Jesus Etc. - Wilco

Radiohead on SNL and Colbert Report

Perhaps to stir interest for next year's planned tour, Radiohead have been making the television circuit over the past few days. Saturday night saw them playing a two-song set for Saturday Night Live's season premiere, while Tuesday night saw them performing four songs on Comedy Central's faux news show The Colbert Report. But did songs from this year's album The King of Limbs make a smooth transition to television? As a Radiohead fan myself, I'm leaping at the opportunity to discuss the band's sets at length.

The answer is yes, though one performance was far superior to the other.

Saturday's appearance on SNL wasn't the groundbreaking performance I thought it would be, mostly due to awful sound mixing. Most notably, bassist Colin Greenwood could barely be heard. Other issues from the performance involved Thom Yorke's vocals, which seemed a little shaky during their first song, "Lotus Flower" (perhaps he was a little distracted by the bad mixing). Things improved drastically with "Staircase," though, and the band exited the SNL stage after a fairly satisfying performance.

When the band appeared on The Colbert Report on Tuesday, they seemed much more comfortable musically. They began the set on a highly positive note, with the already beloved B-side "The Daily Mail," a slow building rock song that, at under three minutes, was perfect for the time constraints of television.

Interestingly, they followed "The Daily Mail" with the much less accessible "Bloom." If you've heard the studio version of the song, you can guess how difficult it can be to perform live. But, as they did earlier this year with their From the Basement special, the band pulled it off flawlessly. And, thankfully, we could hearColin Greenwood actually playing the bass.

Their third song, "Little By Little," was approached differently from other live versions of the song, with focus being more on the guitar parts rather than the rhythm. That configuration didn't quite hold up when you compare it to From the Basement, though casual listeners will likely be unable to spot any main differences.

Then, suprisingly, the band ended the set with a rousing version of "The National Anthem." Unlike all five songs mentioned above, "The National Anthem" is over ten years old -- it initially appeared on the groundbreaking studio album Kid A. A rock song, probably intended to appease the younger skewing Colbert audiences, "The National Anthem" was the perfect way to end the hourlong special, though unfortunately the tail part of the song was cut off by the credits. Not to worry, though, because the song will be available onThe Colbert Report's website on Wednesday, along with a live track that was recorded but didn't make it into the final cut of the episode.

The End of The World as We Know IT....

With Michael Stipe's lyrics still ringing in our heads, "It's the end of the world as we know it.", we will remember R.E.M as one of the most influential 90's band.  The American rock band announced their split yesterday morning on their website.  Stipe is quoted as saying, "A wise man once said — ‘the skill in attending a party is knowing when it’s time to leave.’ We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we’re going to walk away from it,”  With hits like Everybody Hurts, Losing My Religion, and It's The End of The World; R.E.M revolutionized not only the rock scene, but also the international radio scene.  R.E.M has also been sited as inspiring bands such as The Black Keys, The Shins, and most notably, Radiohead.  And although this does seem to be the end of an influential band, the music will continue to inspire and we can only pray for a Stipe solo album to come in the future.  Best Wishes for the weekend,
Cody

Playlist of the Week #5

Hope you enjoy these songs for each day of your week!

1.  Monday - Wilco

2.  Tuesday's Dead - Cat Stevens

3.  Wednesday Morning, 3 a.m - Simon & Garfunkel

4.  Sweet Thursday - Matt Costa

5.  Friday - Rebecca Black....... no just kidding.  Friday I'm in Love - The Cure

6.  Drive-In Saturday - David Bowie

7.  A Sunday Smile - Beirut

Playlist of the Week #4

Hey sorry I have been lacking in posts.  But now that school is near, time to start up.
Lets get things going with a playlist of the week! If anybody wants cd versions of any of these mixes come find me on campus or email me  csargean@calpoly.edu.  Enjoy!

1.  Waiting for the Moon To Rise - Belle & Sebastian
2.  Sail to the Moon (and brush the cobwebs of the sky) - Radiohead
3.  The Killing Moon - Echo & the Bunnymen
4.  Behind the Moon - Matt Costa
5.  Moonage Daydream - David Bowie
6.  Moonshadow - Cat Stevens
7.  Moonlight Mile - Rolling Stones
8.  Shining Moon - Cowboy Junkies
9.  Mr. Moonlight - The Beatles
10.  If the Moon Fell Down Tonight - Explosions in the Sky

Summer Playlist

Sorry for the hiatus in posts.  I leave tomorrow for Peru and will not be able to keep up on the page.  I hope you all have a wonderful summer.  Here is a short playlist to check out in the meantime.  Enjoy!
1.  Never My Love - The Association
2.  The Weight - The Band
3.  A Wolf At The Door - Radiohead
4.  Where Do The Children Play - Cat Stevens
5.  Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn - The White Stripes
6.  She's Not There - The Zombies
7.  The Mall & Misery - Broken Bells
8.  Rock Me On The Water - Jackson Browne
9.  Mad Man Blues - The Rosewood Thieves
10.  North Country Blues- Bob Dylan
11.  Leave Me - Wilco
12.  Pickin' Up The Pieces - Fitz & The Tantrums
13.  Richard Cory - Simon & Garfunkel
14.  Under The Milky Way - The Church
15.  Coma Girl - Joe Strummer
16.  Where is My Mind - Pixies
17.  The Killing Moon - Echo & The Bunnymen
18.  Ballad of Miss Kate - Matt Costa
19.  Veiled in Grey - Mystery Jets
20.  Go Do - Jonsi

Better Run, Better Run Up The Charts

            I remember first hearing the song a few months ago on a mix cd.  The drums began, followed by a jolly deep bass line that already had me bobbing my head.  By the time the chorus exploded with vocals, keyboards, and the catchiest lyrical loop, i was sold.  Like many others, i knew right away that this song would be big.  It is simply too catchy, upbeat, and downright cool to not catch the attention of anyone who listens.  Now in the top 100 songs on itunes, Foster The People continue to grow in popularity with their hit song and their entertaining music fest. performances.  So get on the train, get out of your seat, and dance to their hit, Pumped Up Kicks.

Coachella!!!

Bummed that you missed this year?  The Coachella website announced this morning that they will be putting on two consecutive weekends with identical lineups and art.  This is intended to allow for more people to attend the festival without overcrowding.  Dates are online and tickets go on sale Friday.  Mark your calendars!
-cs
http://www.coachella.com/

Playlist of the Week #3

Sorry for the lack of posts.  End of quarter papers are getting to me.  Good luck on finals if you still have them, and if not, enjoy your summer!
-Cody
1.  Brandy - Looking Glass
2.  Sundown Syndrome - Tame Impala
3.  Coastin' - Zion I
4.  Popplagio - Sigur Ros
5.  Blues Run The Game - Simon & Garfunkel
6.  Rich Girls - Fitz & The Tantrums
7.  Excuses - The Morning Benders
8.  Brooklyn Sky - Digable Planets
9.  At Her Open Door - Dead Meadow
10.  Always For You - The Album Leaf

Mix of the Week #2

Hola todos,
 I hope these songs do the trick.
Have a great week,
Cody
1.  Harrowdown Hill - Thom Yorke
2.  RobertaFlack - Flying Lotus
3.  From Hank to Hendrix - Neil Young
4.  Chocolate - One Eskimo
5.  Kala - Yann Tiersen
6.  A Word Aptly Spoken - Ray Barbee
7.  New Age - Sleepy Sun
8.  Never My Love - The Association
9.  Mad Man Blues - The Rosewood Thieves
10. My Body's a Zombie For You - Dead Man's Bones

Rome Album Review

When many of us heard the unreal lineup consisting of Danger Mouse, Danielle Luppi, Jack White, and Norah Jones, we began shaking with excitement for May 17th.  With only one song released early, the hype was high for yesterday's release.    Last night, with high expectations and too much free time, i sat down to listen to the album "Rome".
               DJ Danger Mouse has produced with countless artists from the Gorillaz and Jay Z, to James Mercer and Beck.  As each song flowed by softly, i began hearing traces of each artists' influence.  Perhaps the most appropriate song title, "A Rose With a Broken Heart", ambiently captures the heavy bass and trip hop beats of the new Gorillaz album, "Plastic Beach", that Danger Mouse helped produce.  Then abruptly, the upbeat drums and synth guitar accompaniment fill in and seem to pay homage to James Mercer and their recent work together in the group, Broken Bells.  And although these few tracks are eloquent songs, with the unmistakable strings being provided by Italian composer Danielle Luppi, the sound was predictable and expected after any listen to Broken Bells or  the Dark Night of the Soul album.  The two tracks that took me by surprise, however, were, "Two Against One", and "Black".  This new sound perfectly captures a space age café vibe, serving as great coffeehouse/dinner party music, but much, much cooler than that faint praise would lead you to believe, since unlike so much likeminded ambient music, there’s soul and grit here.  All this in addition to the featured guest vocals of Jack White and Norah Jones, both of who sound incredibly cool in this context, culminate in a long awaited album which undoubtedly surpasses the high expectations.


Give your ears a treat with the hit song off the album, "Two Against One".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UibsjY5K-c

Get Excited!

Staying on pace with their album-a-year policy, Portugal. The Man has announced their new album "In a Mountain In a Cloud", to be released July 19th.  This is their first full length album being produced under Atlantic Records.  They have also released two full length songs from the album, along with multiple 30 second teasers.  These can all be found on their website, Portugaltheman.com . Here is a link to the closing song, "Sleep Forever".
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_aNKCcOOY0

Mix of the Week #1

It's Monday morning and, getting the idea from a friend, I thought I'd put together a short playlist.  My goal is to either spread the new music's popularity, or remind you of a band you forgot about.  Either way, grab your ipod, plug in, and have a great week!
1.  Two Against One- Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi (feat. Jack Black) (full album released tomorrow!)
2.  Baltimore Blues No. 1- Deer Tick
3.  El Toro- Bonobo
4.  Karma Police- The Bad Plus
5.  Say Something- Dr. Dog
6.  Skinny Love- Birdy
7.  Be Comfortable Creature- Explosions in the Sky (brand new album)
8.  Without You- Junip
9.  Eitheror- Little People
10.  Beats Ballet- Mochipet & Ray Barbee

King of Limbs

4 years since their album "In Rainbows", Radiohead unexpectedly released their 7th studio album King of Limbs.  This album offers enough diversity to keep the interest of fans and new listeners alike.  The album opens with "Bloom", "Morning Mr. Magpie", "Little by Little", and "Feral".  On first listen, you might think you picked up a Flying Lotus or Prefuse 73 cd.  Thom Yorke's new interest in techno and dub step shines through with intricate syncopations that layer over Phil Selway's trademark beats.  "Feral", which sounds more like an African tribal rave than an english rock band, fades out as the album takes a drastic turn for the second half.  The last four songs are "Lotus Flower", "Codex", "Give up the Ghost", and "Separator".  Radiohead begins to leave behind the heavy bass and intricate beats and make it's way to an optimistic end to the album.  Even if you are not a fan of Radiohead's experimental music, anyone can appreciate the beauty of "Codex" or "Give Up the Ghost".  Simple acoustic chord progressions, with a bass drum, and echoed vocals that ring out like a voice from above, begin to build up the trunk of a tree, reaching to the top of this album.  "Separator" ends with a feathery guitar riff, decorated with trills and accompanied by Yorke's soprano voice singing "and if you think it is over, then you're wrong".  And as though to complete the analogy, the album ends on the optimistic, sunlit note, not unlike the top of the tree.  By the time "Separator" fades out, one is left with a smile, encouraged by the last three songs' surprisingly uplifting tone.  This optimism is in high contrast to albums such as The Bends and Amnesiac, which leave you with a bittersweet taste of the most beautiful depression imaginable.  And although this album seems only a transitional album, not necessarily on par with masterpieces such as Kid A and Ok Computer, this band has surprised us over and over by developing and revolutionizing a new sound.  We should all be "Optimistic" in excitement for what is yet to come from this influential band.  And to put it in Yorke's own words, "if you think this is over, then you're wrong".