What I’m Listening to…
These posts are few and far between nowadays… never fear though… I am still listening to music. Promise. And no worries, there will be no Taylor Swift on this post…
Obviously, The Arcade Fire ‘Suburbs’…
My favorite track is definitely ‘Suburban War’
Future of Forestry Travel II & Travel III EPs:
I had a chance to see them live in July… and I would do it again.
John Mark McMillan ‘The Medicine’
On the recommendation of many friends and the fact that it was $5 on Amazon.com (plus I had a $5 credit there…) I made this purchase (and I’m definitely a fan of the song ‘How He Loves’) and I am quite pleased with it… it has a raw feel and sound like a lot of people said, and I’m really appreciating it. ‘Carbon Ribs’ is the song is sticking out to me on a few listens…
…and just to diversify a little, the soundtrack to ‘Amelie’ by Yann Tiersen…(you probably wouldn’t put it on the same mix with most the above mentioned songs… unless… you were slightly ambitious and a touch crazy like myself… because I might just do that.)
Yann Tiersen is amazing. This one is completely quirky… but if you like gorgeous piano music I would recommend the score to ‘Good Bye Lenin’ or a Yann Tiersen Pandora station….
Future of Forestry
Last Wednesday I went with some friends to see Future of Forestry in Columbus while they were on their Travel tour…. (I highly recommend Travel I, II & III) I was able to pick up Travel III while at the show…and that’s pretty much what I was listening to all last week in the car.
Here are a few blurry shots from my point-and-shoot, if you want to see some better ones- head over to my friends flickr & check them out. (they are way better than mine) I’m not really one for toting around my camera/gear at a show… I know- what’s wrong with me?
The drummer/computer techie/ bassist/ guy who played every instrument played a toy piano at one point (and a trombone) and I took some video of it, however, I filmed it….sideways. Because I’m awesome like that….so, I’ll have to figure out how to rotate it so I can post it.
The Night Sky
My last twitter/tweet/whatever:
“the moon is GORGEOUS tonight & I’m on a mission to sit on a blanket in the field across the street and capture it.“
And the results…
My soundtrack? The Civil Wars. (perfect.)
More on the Flickr
p.s.- flickr pixelated them when it uploaded them… bleh… but they’re basically SOOC except for some white balance adjusting.
Guilty Pleasures…(music related)
I thought I’d do a ‘bare-my-soul-guilty-pleasures’ post…. Its a long time coming, especially because I’m usually a self proclaimed music snob (oh, the pretentiousness- I’m so sorry). Read on and mock mercilessly. I’m prepared.
1. Taylor Swift
Initially it was just a fascination with her hair… I was trying to figure out how to curl mine like it… and that lead to watching youtube videos of her to see her hair… and then ‘Love Story’ was stuck in my head for three days straight… I’ll admit it. She’s in my itunes library now.
2. Kanye West
Just this album. I can’t make it through any of his other stuff. But ‘Heartless’ and ‘Love Lockdown’… um. Sickeningly catchy. Besides, William Fitzsimmons’ cover of ‘Heartless’? Ah-mazing.
Who else… hmmm…. I know there’s more…
I’ve admitted that ‘Owl City’ makes me feel like a giddy pre-adolescent girl (which, I’m not sure I ever truly was) so, that’s a bit of a guilty pleasure, right?
I used to have a thing for Ashlee Simpson… (in the MUSIC sense ya’ll) so she’s in my library. (nostalgic) Strangely enough it was the hair style that started that one as well. That was when I was in the layered, BLACK BLACK hair faze of my life… But ‘Autobiography’ is the album I have. And am most ashamed of. But hey, at least if you ever scroll thru my ipod, I’ve confessed!
Jewel. Specifically ‘This Way’ (I never really listened to any of her others)
I listened to this album during… junior year? Senior year? I don’t know. But its majorly nostalgic for me. I love it.
Enya.
I like Enya.
Yup. So corny. But she’s like a crazy soundtrack… to a non-movie.
scanning for more…
Oh, okay. One Republic. Am I permitted to say that I like the song ‘Apologize’? Sorry. (oops, its too late to….well, you know…) I do. I admit, a lot of these are songs/artists that are SO over played on the radio and television… but, see, the thing is… I don’t listen to the radio. (ever) and I rarely watch TV. So… that really doesn’t effect me.
Michelle Branch.
I’ve always liked Michelle Branch. And I still do…
I do have Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’- I bought it for a mix I made for a friend and it sort of just stayed in my library.
Oh…. and… here’s probably my biggest confession. See, I bought it for the same friend I bought ‘Single Ladies’ for… (cough, Kate, cough) and then we listened to it a LOT… and now its got goofy memories… and its catchy… gosh darn it… I have a Miley Cyrus song on my ipod. ‘Party in the USA’. I’m so ashamed.
Other than that, you’ll find a Black Eyed Peas album, (Boom Boom Pow- catchy and awful at the same time), one Fergie song and a Rhianna song because I like them if I work out… I DO have one of the Twilight audio books in my itunes library… (sorry.) plus I have the soundtracks from both the Twilight movies. But those are actually GOOD. Bands like Muse, Death Cab, Bon Iver ect… (I don’t have any of the Linkin Park songs, OR even Paramore… I never got into Paramore.)
So maybe I’ve lost all my cool points. Maybe my blogsphere readers will drop off (not that I’d know… I have no idea how to tell who reads this and who doesn’t.) and maybe I’ve lost all cool points and you’ll never take a music recommendation from me again… (that would be sad) but at least I won’t have to blush and explain myself if you’re ever scrolling thru my ipod (my sister likes to do this and say “a Rhianna song, really?” and then I point out that SHE has Katy Perry on hers… plus, I update HER ipod on MY computer, so she’d better not complain.
Music to Fit the Mood
So if I had to describe my mood tonight with music… these two songs by Tegan & Sara come to mind…
Call it Off & Where Does the Good Go . Both these songs have been played over and over again on itunes, on mix CDs, in the car, on the ipod…
Sunday Night
I took a three hour nap today starting just before 5pm… I slept for three solid hours. I don’t do that very often, so when it happens, I figure I need the sleep- probably catching up from Wednesday night when my roommate and I stayed up till 3:30 a.m. talking- I loved it, but I just can’t stay up like that anymore.
Tonight I decided to put together a playlist of songs that represent me… an ‘Introduction to Me’ as it were… I ended up with 61 songs, clocking in at 4.3 hours worth of music. Closer to a boxed set than a mix cd. Its not even all the songs I currently love… more like the classics I always go back to… songs that I consistently love, and have loved, for a long time.
So, then I took an editing eye and cut it down to 1.2 hours worth of music, which is the amount that fits on a blank cd… here’s what I came up with:
Mostly mellow, and yes, even sort of sad and depressing at times… its not that I don’t listen to up-beat and happy music, but these are the songs that make me feel something deeper than just bouncy and sun-shiney… these are songs I have a connection with. (In fact, I think I’ve heard almost half of them performed live I just realized- how cool is that?!)
So… enjoy this is a small part of me.
Inspiration Friday Vol. VI
This week…. its music. Because I am finally catching up. Whew. So happy. I cannot describe how much I love finding new music or hearing a new album by an artist I love… almost as much as hipsters love skinny jeans and v-neck t-shirts. Seriously.
First up…
Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot
I honestly haven’t listened to a Switchfoot album since “The Beautiful Letdown” (which I LOVED by the way) “Nothing is Sound” and “Oh Gravity” just didn’t appeal to me when they came out… but I was hearing how amazing this album was, and after really digging Jon Foreman’s solo projects I decided to give it a listen. So good. First song that grabbed me was “Always”. Figures. Piano. A bit softer… but my goodness. It kind of sounds magical when you first hear it… at least to me. “Love is a Song”, “The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues)” are also good ones… but I think I like the whole album.
Strict Joy by The Swell Season
Still listening to this one… I’m not sure it’s as catchy as the “Once” soundtrack, but that had the movie to back it up and add emotional connections so I can’t really compare. I like it, but not sure its too incredibly special. “Low Rising” is definitely catchy, and it reminds me of Ray Lamontagne, who I like, so, its not bad. “I Have Loved You Wrong” is good too… piano + Markéta Irglová’s vocals… again, can’t be bad.
NEXT….
Church Music by David Crowder Band
- I just got this, so I haven’t really formed a solid opinion… but nothing really has grabbed me other than their version of “How He Loves”
(M)orning EP by Mae
… so after “Singularity” I was sort of bummed with Mae… “Singularity” was all crunchy guitars and catchy hooks and not the piano driven rock that I had come to love. (so much so that I think I have seen them play live at least 5 or 6 times, a record for me) I had listened to a couple of the songs on this ep when they had them up on their website during the past year, but I was just sort of “eh” about the whole thing. After discussing this EP with a friend I decided to check it out… first listen it was a bit strange. Especially the instrumental pieces. (flute solo anyone?) but after a few listens I’m warming up to it… “Night/Day” is definitely one of my favorites on it, and even though some of the lyrics on “Boomerang” sort of weird me out (”…You’re my boomerang…”?) I really like it musically towards the end of the song.
“Ocean Eyes” and “Maybe I’m Dreaming” by Owl City
OMG! Sorry… Owl City makes me feel like I should exclaim everything while giggling and bopping my head… but in a good way. I seriously got early highschool flashbacks when I listened to “Ocean Eyes” … of what, I’m not sure specifically, but they were there. Giddy was the original word I used… its ridiculous, poppy music, a hint of Postal Service, a dash of PlayRadioPlay! and a pinch of Matt Thiessen’s vocals. (did I spell his name right? Relient K’s vocalist?) This guy knows how to rhyme his words, that’s all I have to say… love the song “Fireflies” (gosh, this is music I should probably be embarrassed to love, but I don’t!!) “Hello Seattle” is fun as well… but then again, it’s all fun.
Inspiration Friday Vol. 1
I’ve decided to start posting things that inspire me on Fridays (since my work-week is generally Mon-Thurs, I have some time to catch up on Fridays) I’ll use Fridays as a chance to post photos, eye candy, blogs I follow, music, what-have-you… anything that I have found inspiring during the week….
Let me start out by saying that I found WeHeartIt and am in love with this site. I’m able to clip inspiring images and photos from the site, or anywhere else on the web, and it keeps track of them for me (much more time and space effecient then putting them on a folder on my computer….) There’s all types of gorgeous eye candy on the site. (Granted, its probably more female oriented… but score. I’m a girl)
Here’s just a few images that are inspiring me, and making my fingers itch to pick up my camera….
(check out my WeHeartIt site to see credits: emilyo)
This week I have been listening to Death Cab for Cutie’s “Plans” album (its perfect for early fall) a mix CD my roomate made me, and the new David Gray album, “Draw the Line”. All beautiful fall music. (Thanks Phil, you were right about the David Gray)
Music and Life
I love music. I love live music. I generally drive at least an hour to see live music. This is how it is. Mute Math… what can I say. I’m always sort of on the fence when I hear their albums… but then I see them live, and it’s like, wow. Amazing. Highlights were “Clipping” (Love that song) and, the encore (which I called) “Spotlight” (even if it automatically brings to mind scenes from Twilight.) Amazing show. Once again though, I am a failure with the camera thing. No professional cameras were allowed, but I had my trusty point and shoot… which, had a dead battery. Again. Maybe third times a charm? I got about 3 so so photos with the camera, then had to use the phone. But whatever. I don’t want to live life through a viewfinder.
In other news, I got my hair colored last week….a little red/copper put in instead of the blonde.
…and this is how I spent last Saturday…mmmm…my apartment complex has an inground pool, and it isn’t closed yet….
Words that Move Me
Have you ever listened to “The Thief” by Brooke Fraser? I recommend it. Its beautiful. The lyrics are absolutely gorgeous. When I sat down and read them the other day, I about cried. They express so perfectly thoughts that I have in my head and heart. I’m not one for planning a “future” wedding in my head, but I think this song would be beautiful in a wedding ceremony. (I AM a wedding photographer. Give me a romantic, girly, break, please.)
“You, sing me to sleep
Talk down my walls
Look through my windows as I wait
You could be the thief
I give the key to
You’re ruining me
With secrets and gestures and looks
With sonnets from second-hand books
Playing the chords in me nobody knew how to play”
I wish I could write like that…
and I also wish I could figure out how to play this song on the guitar… I can only find tabs for it, and I can’t read tabs… I guess I’ll have to break out my keys and figure it out on my own.
Beach
Vacation was amazing.
….and I just ordered the new Imogen Heap album (delux with an instrumental cd!), the new Ingrid Michaelson and the new Fine Frenzy albums. (okay, so pre-order on some of them.)
I bought the new Mute Math the other day. It’s good. Planning on catching them in September in Cinci.
That Teenage Feeling [Music]
It’s interesting to revisit music from the past…especially if you’re like me and are a music junkie….(but I started late, so don’t kill me if I don’t know who someone is! I was only allowed to listen to “Christian” music growing up, which of course lead to sneaking the bad music into my room and my car)
If you were to peek into a playlist from Emily’s past (which, thank goodness we can’t really do, because evidence of THAT died with my 1st [crappy] laptop.)….one would probably hear….
Incubus. My goodness. Morning View was a great album. “Wish You Were Here” was a favorite song.
Goo Goo Dolls. Dizzy Up the Girl. “Iris” and “Black Balloon” were amazing…but I loved that whole album.
Plumb. Candycoatedwaterdrops. “Stranded”, “Late Great Planet Earth” and “Here with Me”
The song “Wonderwall” as done by Ryan Adams. If it had been on a cassette tape, I would have worn it out…
Parachutes and Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay. Clocks was the first song by a band I liked that I picked out on the piano.
Sarah Mchlachlan’s album Afterglow. When I had my heart broken by a boy the song “Stupid” was on replay.
Dashboard Confessional’s The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most….“Screaming Infidelities” (my brother found this album on one of our computers and ratted me out to my parents for listening to bad music….really?! Dashboard? What was he going to influence me to do? Bang on a guitar and whine?)
Jimmy Eat World Bleed American/Self Titled. I listened to that album constantly….good album.
Then there were the more embarrassing ones…. Relient K (my favorite band for quite a few years…I saw them live at least 5 times.), Skillet (again, I saw them live at least 5 times) La Rue….
And then later, when I started listening to some more stylized music, Mae’s album Destination B-sides, Lovedrug’s Pretend You’re Alive, The Killers Hot Fuss, even Underoath’s They’re Only Chasing Safety and Kids in the Way Safe from the Losing Fight…
Have yourself, a merry little Christmas.
Aaron Marsh has “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” up on his myspace…and you can download it if you’re logged in. I recommend it.
Also, the Apex praise band has been playing original Christmas songs this month….so far they have been AMAZING. (I use that word a lot, but they are)
I don’t even know which one has been my favorite….okay, I do, but I won’t play favorites on my blog. I am excited about playing Phil Wing’s song this weekend at the gatherings “He has Come to Us” (its on his myspace.) Its pretty much been in my head ever since practice Thursday night. You should probably listen to it.
Now I get to go play games at my brother and Kari’s house. This is about as close to a Christmas party as I’m going to get. You KNOW I’m wearing some sort of sequins.
Random Wednesday
randomness…..
I crack my toes at night when I can’t get to sleep. Over and over again. (just the right foot)…weird.
my dad doesn’t want me to move out because he’s afraid I’ll be a hermit. I’d be such a happy hermit though….with lots more space.
I want to learn to play another instrument. The hammer dulcimer would be so cool…or an upright base…I’ve always wanted to learn a stringed instrument….but the violin is too squeaky….I’d drive myself nuts learning it. In the same vein, I wish I understood how the whole guitar thing worked. I can do basic chords…but for anything else…it makes no sense to me.
I wish I was more business minded. Getting prices/packages together for my photography is hard. But I’m sure its good discipline.
I’m almost 23, and I’ve never been on a date with a boy. Ever. Is that weird? The idea of going on a date scares me almost as much as the idea of never EVER going on one.
I could spend all day looking at other people’s photography. Its so addicting. Check out some of my flickr favorites to see what I’m loving.
I can’t believe its almost Christmas.
The Brightness Of….
A shot from the children’s Triathlon I shot last Saturday.
After hearing a recommendation for Phil Wickham I remembered I had ordered his CD for my work, and decided to give it a try.
Everyone was right. He’s like, Muse, Leeland, Rufus Wainwright….
So…check him out. the Clark Co. Library has a copy of the CD thanks to yours truly…
Summer Playlists
Anyone who knows me, knows I have a trillion different playlists.
When I create a playlist, I create a scene in ,my head. Its like a movie/tv show soundtrack. I have a playlist for certain moods, days, times…
And I’ve created a brand new one for a warm, summer night.
I’m thinking, me, laying on a blanket, outside, by myself…just thinking.
And this is what I’ll listen to. (in no particular order, I’m a fan of shuffle, even though my ipod & itunes suck at it.)
The Dress-Blonde Readhead
A Letter from St. Jude- The Wyos
The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!-Sufjan Stevens
Falling Star- JET
Pretend You’re Alive- Lovedrug(acoustic sessions)
My Number- Tegan and Sara
Bird of Paradise- The Appleseed Cast
So Long, Lonesome- Explosions in the Sky
The Last Time He Saw Dorie- Copeland
Inevitable- Anberlin
***and I read this today, it was kind of disturbing. Who does this!?****
“06.18.2007 | PLEASE HELP LOVEDRUG
Lovedrug’s van and trailer were stolen this weekend from the hotel where they were staying in Detroit. The van was found this morning burnt to a crisp.
The band lost everything they owned: instruments, computers, clothes, ipods, and anything else you could imagine. This is a really hard time for them right now but they are still continuing to play the shows on this tour and have a positive attitude.
Please help them out any way you can. Donations to the band can be sent through PayPal via info@lovedrugmusic.com ” Militia Group
Listening To
Current playlist, and new music I’m listening to:
23
By Blonde Redhead
Its atmospheric, smooth, layered…kind of relaxing, kind of edge of your seat…its really good for a cloudy, rainy day. It came out a week from this past Tuesday, and I dig it.
Reccomended track: 23 (title track)
The Ugly Organ
By Cursive
I’ve had these guys in my “to listen” pile for several years. Never managed to get around to it. I finally ripped the CD to my itunes…and its a nice change from all the “indie” stuff I generally listen to. (Strange, in the quest to find ‘different’ sorts of music, all of it starts to sound the same….)
Vocals sound like Brand New, as does some of the music. But I can also hear some Explosions in the Sky in some of the riffs. A few of the songs are a bit too, “pop-punk-rock” sounding, but some of them, I’ll admit, are pretty catchy. Plus they have some real strings in there….(not the Yellowcard kind either.)
Reccomended track: Staying Alive
12 Stops then Home
by The Feeling
Please excuse the horrible cover art. I had to. I read an interview that compared them to Athlete and Aqualung (read: British and piano) and, as Coldplay proved, Brits and piano are a pretty lovely combination. I haven’t listened to it extensively, but so far, its fun, a bit more pop than contemplative…I like.
reccomended track: Sewn