THIS IS SCIENCE: December 2009

12.30.2009

oh. my. god.

this is seriously the dopest thing i have heard in since, well, forever.

you know, i don't think i've ever referred to anything as "dope" before. THIS MUST BE SERIOUS. my jaw was dropping as i listened to him spin the beat inside and out. and the dub over with the asian theater falsetto is perfect.

it's A-trak's My Lovely Outro/kick-ass chop-up of J.T's My Love. It's off his "Dirty South Dancing" album, which has been on repeat on itunes for the past three days. The above youtube video is pretty awesome, but the sound isn't quite up to par.

in short, find the song (once again, My Lovely Outro) and listen to it on full blast!

Laura Veirs: July Flame

[photo]

Laura Veirs' nature-infused, airy, acoustic musings evoke an appreciation for all things green, small, and alive. Or big, blue and salty. Or something small, winged, and dusted in pollen. I love her last studio album Saltbreakers (2007), and now she's got a new album out this coming January of 2010. Can we say "pre-order" five times fast?

What's even more awesome is that NPR has July Flame up for an exclusive first listen-- meaning you can listen to the entire album right HERE. I've got it on right now, and whoa. Is that a baritone sax I just heard?

It is. AWESOME.

- official website (very sweet and whimsical, worth a look for sure)

12.28.2009

Chromeo

First off, I love this bit off their wikipedia page:
"The two childhood friends jokingly describe themselves as 'the only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture.'"

Second, I like that P-Thugg is a freelance accountant and Dave 1 is a French professor at Columbia University. I bet Dave 1 must have a lot of fun at his faculty meetings: "DUUUDE, YOU CAN DAAANCE."

Third, they're from Montreal, which is awesome.

Fourth, Dave 1 is A-Trak's big brother. A-trak also produces for Kid Sister. I love the music community!

Shoot. If my language prof could dance like that, I'd be stoked. I've definitely just found my January Jam song. Holler!

-Spin article on Chromeo.
-Myspace page. Bonafide Lovin' is super sweeeet.

12.26.2009

More N.A.S.A.

Epic, epic, EPIC.

Sharon Van Etten

[from SVE's myspace page]

Brooklyn-bred Sharon van Etten describes her music as "sad prairie folk music." And it is. And it's haunting, in the way you'd feel if you were alone in a vast field of golden grass that came up past your knees, and all that you could hear was the wind and the sound of insects buzzing from underneath your feet.

And then you lie down, and you hear the acoustic guitar-- the stalks of grass tickling your ear.

- myspace

12.22.2009

judging people based on their favorite bands

Here are some of my favorites:

Spoon
Bros who drink shitty beer without ironic intentions.

Ratatat
Boys who think Ocarina of Time is the greatest game ever made.

M.I.A.
Girls who don’t understand politics.

Kid Cudi
Blipsters who still wear neon shoes and smoke pot.

The Flaming Lips
Self-actualized bros who grow pot.

Tegan & Sara
Lesbians and guys who firmly believe that when there are two girls on stage together, there is a 63% chance of them making out.

St. Vincent
Feminists.

Bon Iver
People with self-esteem issues and probably hate Ben Gibbard.

Joanna Newsom
People who have considered befriending a squirrel.

Devendra Banhart
People who have considered becoming a squirrel.

Animal Collective
Guys who make “Best of the Year” lists in January based predominantly on “feeling.”

The Antlers
Boys who enjoy crying more than their girlfriend.

Passion Pit
Bros vaguely interested in listening to music and very interested in having sex with their girlfriend.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Girls who bought checkered sneakers in the 8th grade. [guilty as charged]

Fleet Foxes
Hopelessly patchy beard growers. [or girls who love hopelessly patchy beard growers, also guilty]

Grizzly Bear
People who think that world hunger could be assuaged with four part harmonies. [YES]

from HERE.

Also, stay tuned in for some favorites of 2009. :)

Favorites of 2009: Part I

The Lonely Forest, "We Sing the Body Electric!"
Strong, musical piano-driven rock from the heart of Washington, these guys make me proud.
I'm particularly fond of the soft-hearted Mt. Constitution.

Discovery, "Discovery LP"
This is summer. Osaka Loop Line was the first song I ever played on air.

Neon Indian, "Psychic Chasms"
I loved playing Deadbeat Summer in the studio on full blast because of the oscillating bass over the speakers.

J. Tillman, "A Year in the Kingdom"
Tall cedar trees and cold, Pacific Northwest mists. Earthly Bodies is beautiful.

Kings of Convenience, "Declaration of Dependence"
Intricate acoustic melodies and wood-y vocals made for an album that made me think I was riding my bike on a summer's day when in fact I was sitting in the library, watching the rain pour outside: It's that good. I love Boat Behind.

Part deux coming soon.

12.21.2009

White Antelope

[from White Antelope's myspace page]

When I happened upon Fleet Foxes' lead singer Robin Pecknold's side project, White Antelope, I was ecstatic. I've got "Silver Dagger" playing in the background now, and his voice never fails to impress me. It's definitely more folksy than FF's usual stuff, but it's all got the ring of the Northwest in it-- I can smell the pine and the fresh air wafting off the Cascades when I'm listening to "Wild Mountain Thyme."

I think that's why I love the Fleet Foxes, J. Tillman, and now White Antelope so much-- to me, they embody the sound of home: the Pacific Northwest.

12.19.2009

a wonderful way to start winter break

Why hello! It's been a while since I've been here-- I've been engulfed by finals and preparing to go home...

except I'm not quite home yet. I'm sure you've heard about the big snowstorm on the East Coast. I came here Friday morning thinking "YES. I am finally going to see my cat, mom, dad, and sister and have my own room again and eat good food and just not be stressed out. AT ALL." Boy, was I wrong. I learn upon checking in my connecting flight from Denver to Baltimore has been canceled. There goes my $32 shuttle fare! Ugh. So I hitch a bus back to Tacoma and go back home to my house on campus. I'm rescheduled for a flight from here to LAX, and from LAX to D.C. the following night, so I figure I better leave it or take it.

Well, here I am at the airport again, and that LAX to D.C. flight has been canceled. Oh man. The weather is baad. There goes my $15 taxi fare... again. I basically spent an entire shift at work at the alumni calling place on fare to the airport.

Sorry. I'm frustrated, if you can't tell. But anyhow! I've happened upon some lovely music that I couldn't help but share-- you may have heard of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. Pretty rad.

This is the kind of music I'd expect Eli Cash from "The Royal Tenenbaums" to listen to while he was hopped up on mescaline.

Well... wildcat was written in a kind of obsolete vernacular... [long pause] ...
wildcat... wild... cat... [he stares into space] ... pow... wildcat... I'm going to go.

Enjoy. And check out Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's newest album, "Up From Below." Some of my favorite tracks (notice I said favorite, not good-- they're all good!): Home, Carries On, Jade, Simplest Love.

I'm off to a friend's house in Olympia for tonight, then hopefully I'll be catching an early flight (as in, I have to be here at 5:30 AM) direct to D.C. Cross your fingers for me!

12.11.2009

gooodbyyye (for now? hopefully?)

So yup. Last show played last Wednesday, and I iz sadzors.

But do not fear! Hopefully THIS IS SCIENCE will be back next semester. I've been fiddling around with radioshift all semester, so hopefully my expertise with it will be awesome enough by next semester that I can have recordings of shows posted on here! Yay!

Until then, enjoy this Grizzly Bear video...

CRAAZZZZYYY! I'll check you guys later-- once finals are done, I'll continue posting up awesomeness I find over the break. I'm headed off to NYC this coming break, too... and my goal is to find a good show to go to while I'm there. So if you have any suggestions, HOLLER.

12.09.2009

The Da Vincis

[Awwwww. The Da Vinci's, from their myspace page]

LISTEN, and you will hear the cutest song ever... about facebook.

Please accept
my friend request
it's quite simple
just hit "accept"
or if you don't
my status will be
depressed
and we don't want that

These lyrics are golden and hilarious. But it wasn't this song that first got my attention. I was playing "Oh My Gosh" on air the other day an I was struck by the jazzy quality to their sound. This trio from Jackson, Mississippi know how to rock with sophistication. I'm a little reminded of the Kings of Convenience, now that I think about it-- loungey, lyrical, but with a little extra oomph to keep you quite interested.

ADIOS + Some favorites: Playlists for 12/7 and 12/9

12.06.2009

NEVER BEEN A MRSHMLO

Meet Rocky Rivera, a.k.a. EyeASage. Repping the Bay Area, when I first saw MRSHMLO, my jaw just dropped because:
1. she's the REAL DEAL. FOR REAL REAL.
2. SHE'S the real deal. It's been really awesome seeing this upsurge in female rappers, or at least girls who've got just as much flow as the guys.
3. Love it: "good enough to eat/but i've never been a sucker." Tongue-in-cheek, clever, and BAD ASS.

"Married to the Hustle," up on her myspace page, is also awesome. It reminds me of the time in fourth grade during World Geography when we learned about Magellan... she takes that sentiment and spins it on its head. Literally, if you know what I mean.

Just listen.

oh noes!

I'm making up my last two playlists of the semester. Air check tomorrow!

*sad face*

12.05.2009

what's next, jude?

12.02.2009

Pull Myself Ashore: 12/2 Playlist