SPR on Hiatus

Hi folks.

We apologize for the lack of content during the last month or so. Both me and SPRgirl are away on exchange for school, and being in a different country/culture really eats up one's time. Furthermore, I've been without a computer for the past 2 weeks, making it hard to even get new music, let alone share it with everyone.

Therefore, we've decided to take a short break until the new year. Don't expect many videos, if any, until 2009! But we'll return bigger and better in the new year, chalk full with new music and continue our efforts to connect with new artists to share their insight and the music they dig.

Hope to see everyone in a few months!

Sincerely,

SPR staff!

#51 Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Cursed Sleep

Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Cursed Sleep
The Letting Go (2006)
Other Songs to Check Out: “Agnes Queen of Sorrow”, “Workhorse”
http://www.bonnieprincebilly.com/

By the end of the first line of this song, I was hooked on Will Oldham (aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy). Man this guy can sing. I also love the fact that according to his Wikipedia page, he’s been called an “Appalachian post-punk solipsist” because I have absolutely no clue what that means. Anyway I don't have much else to say about him - just enjoy this beautiful song.

#50 Dashboard Confessional - So Impossible

Dashboard Confessional - So Impossible
So Impossible EP (2001)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Hands Down", "Standard Lines"
http://www.dashboardconfessional.com/news/default.aspx

I'll probably lose major street-cred points for this submission, but I love Dashboard's older stuff. Lyrically, it might be a little high-schoolish, but it's catchy, fun to sing, and disgustingly cute. The first song I ever heard from him was "Hands Down" (acoustic version), but since this song (and "Standard Lines") have really grown on me. I feel that Dashboard's stuff has gone a bit downhill after his first full album, but that might just be personal preference. I actually had written up a totally different post last night for a different song, only to find out that embedding had been disabled (and since I'm lazy, that meant putting off until tonight).

#49 Psapp - Hi

Psapp – Hi
The Only Thing I Ever Wanted (2006)
Other Songs to Check Out: “Tricycle”, “On Site”
http://psapp.net/

It seems entirely possible that everyone else in the world is aware of Psapp because apparently one of their songs is the theme song for Grey’s Anatomy, but I’ve never watched that show so they’re a new discovery for me. The band is sometimes credited with creating a new musical genre called toytronica, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. The song has a cool, funky feeling that I really love, and the video matches the song perfectly.

#48 The Promise Ring - Become One Anything One Time

The Promise Ring - Become One Anything One Time
Wood Water (2002)
Other Songs to Check Out: -

I've decided to stop ignoring some of my favorite songs just because they don't have music videos on YouTube. Thus, meet The Promise Ring's "Become One Anything One Time". This would have been one of my first songs posted had I been able to find a music video of it, but I've decided this bit from Conan is still golden. Unfortunately, The Promise Ring are no more (hence no website listed... none exists that I could find), but some of the members have moved on to form the band Maritime (who I also strongly recommend). To me, this song defines what it means to make a "summertime feel-good song" (yes that's a pretty detailed genre, so sue me). Nothing says a cute-cuddly song like a chorus of "I'm just happy you stuck aaaaaarounddd". Enjoy!

#47 3OH!3 – Electroshock!

3OH!3 – Electroshock!
3OH!3 (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: “I’m Not Comin’ to Your Party, Girl”, “Don’t Dance”, “Holler Till You Pass Out”
http://www.myspace.com/3oh3

3OH!3 is one of those spectacularly odd bands that are ridiculous, but totally make me smile. Their music is a fantastic combination of rap and electronica, and all from two white kids from Colorado. Also they’ve opened for Snoop Dogg, and frankly if Snoop Dogg likes a band then they’re cool with me. Some of their other songs show their rap side more (like “Holler Till You Pass Out”, which is just so over the top and wonderful), but this one is much more electronica, so of course it’s more up my alley.

#46 P.O.S. - Bleeding Hearts Club

P.O.S. - Bleeding Hearts Club
Audition (2006)
Other Songs to Check Out: -
http://www.myspace.com/pos

First, I want to apologize for the delay between posts. GIRL! and myself were both in transit to our new schools for this coming semester, and we both just landed in Asia and Europe respectively. Second, I have had a hard time finding a lot out about this band, so you'll have to forgive the lack of songs requested. I don't consider myself a big hip-hop or rap fan, so you won't find too many posts of mine being songs of this genre. However, I am crazy about a select few rap songs, and this is my favorite of the bunch (by far). I cannot remember where I heard it, I haven't been able to hear anything else by them, but this song gives me hope that when I finally get to listen to their cd, it should blow me away. The chorus is catchy, the beats are awesome, and it's just generally a fantastic song.

#45 Daniel Johnston – True Love Will Find You in the End

Daniel Johnston – True Love Will Find You in the End
1990 (1990)
Other Songs to Check Out: “I Had Lost My Mind”, “Story of an Artist”, “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances”
http://www.hihowareyou.com/

I know that I’m kind of breaking the rules with this entry, because this blog is all about new music and this song is from 1990 (by the way that’s not a typo above – the album is actually called “1990”), but I figured if it’s new to me it must be new to someone else. Daniel Johnston is an outsider musician and fascinating character whose simple songs have been praised and covered by big names like Kurt Cobain, David Bowie, Pearl Jam, and The Flaming Lips despite the fact that he recorded many of them on cassettes at home using a Boombox. He has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, both of which have influenced his music and his often unpredictable offstage behaviour. The video is actually a trailer for a documentary made about him called “The Devil and Daniel Johnston”.

#44 The Presets - This Boy's In Love

The Presets - This Boy's In Love
Apocalypso (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "If I Know You", "Eucalyptus"
http://www.thepresets.com/deterioration_content.html

I am really loving Australian music right now. Cut Copy, Pete Murray, Gotye and now The Presets (and I'm sure more, but I'm too lazy to look) - all fantastic stuff. Apocalypso, the second album from The Presets, is solid beginning to end, but this song (and "If I Know You") really stood out for me. I don't really know what to say about this song except that I love it, from the singer's deep voice, to the beats in the background, to the awesome lyrics. The Presets toured in late 2007 with Daft Punk, and for anyone who knows how much I love Daft Punk... man, what a show that would have been!

#43 M.Ward - Chinese Translastion

M. Ward – Chinese Translation
Post-War (2006)
Other Songs to Check Out: “Requiem”, “Color of Water”
http://www.myspace.com/mward

So we’ve been doing this blog for a while, and yet it has taken me this long to acknowledge where I find a lot of my new music. When I’m working, I throw on one of the online radio stations at www.live365.com – I usually go with “Baroque Pop” or “Homework Music”. Anyway, that’s how I came across a lot of the bands that I’ve featured, including M. Ward. I don’t have much to say about him other than I love his voice and his music is really beautiful.

GUEST BLOGGER: Wally DeBacker (AKA. Gotye)

I'm really excited to share with you guys an interview with Wally (who goes by the stage name Gotye in the musical world). Gotye is my favorite new artist (new in terms of me discovering him within the past year), and I was absolutely thrilled he could do this for us. Gotye started off playing drums with some friends when he was a teenager, covering grunge and metal bands. He then taught himself piano so he could write original songs, and from this he learned to do production with computers, synth and sampling. Another reason why he decided to become a musician? "I found an ancient book collecting dust in the area under my childhood home when I was 11 years old. It prophesized that I was a chosen child who would one day travel to a dark, distant land and be challenged by an evil wizard to free the beautiful princess from his castle fortress. What a heap of horse shit! As a result I vowed to become a musician and never listen to prog rock music from the '70s that mentions unicorns."

Q: What is the most embarrassing CD in your collection?
A: My Little Unicorn- cd soundtrack. It's not prog rock. I may have relented on the unicorn thing.

Q: What is your all-time favourite band / musician?
A: Rolf Harris. That man is a national treasure, whichever country claims him. It doesn't get any better than when he covers Stairway To Heaven.

Q: What's the first CD you can remember buying?
A: CD I don't remember, but I have a vivid recollection of the first cassette tape I ever bought. It was a pirated copy of WHAM!'s "The Final", dubbed onto a C-90 cassette and sold to me by a questionable fellow with a music stand in the transit lounge at Abu Dhabi airport. I was 8 years old.

Q: What are some songs you're really into right now?
A: Some tracks I'm listening to a lot right now

New stuff:
Mirando- Ratatat
Kids- MGMT
The Kids Don't Stand a Chance- Vampire Weekend

Older stuff:
Fight Test- The Flaming Lips
Be (Jonathan Livingston Seagull soundtrack)- Niel Diamond
Outside World- Midnight Oil
What's It Take?- Robert Palmer
Who Are Parents?- The Shaggs

Finally, as per our request, Wally gave us his pick for a music video of the day! "One of my favourite videos: Curare by Bogdan Irkuk. The video is made by a Swedish production house called Pistachios. www.pistachios.se. This video
just adds such a sinister story to an already very dark sounding '80s
Moroder-esque club track"

#42 People in Planes - Pretty Buildings

People in Planes - Pretty Buildings
Beyond the Horizon (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Mayday (M'aidez)", "Know by Now", "Last Man Standing"
http://www.peopleinplanes.com/

A few months ago, my friend and I got tickets to go check out a show by People in Planes. It was an incredibly fun night, so I associate this band with fond memories. But even if I didn't have that bias, I would like them. They put on a great live show, and their music is very addictive. This song is really beautiful - I like how each part of the song sounds a little bit different and has a different tone, and I love when he sings "You know it hurts like hell". Plus they're from Wales, and, as we've already established, I have a weakness for accents.

#41 A.C. Newman - Better Than Most

A.C. Newman - Better Than Most
The Slow Wonder (2004)
Other Songs to Check Out: "On the Table", "35 in the Shade"
http://www.acnewman.net/

Most people know A.C. Newman as the frontman for The New Pornorgraphers. However, back in 2004, Newman decided to put out a solo record, and it features "Better Than Most", one of my top 5 favorite songs ever. The whole album is full of catchy pop beats, but it's something about that guitar riff in the background and the light-hearted way he sings that makes me love this song. Unfortunately, A.C. Newman has only released one record to date, so hopefully there's more from where this came from in the future. Once again, the music video is a home video, so the first and last 30 seconds can probably be ignored.

#40 The Bees - Who Cares What the Question Is?

The Bees - Who Cares What the Question Is?
Octopus (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Listening Man", "These Are The Ghosts"
http://www.thebees.info/

This song for The Bees (also known as A Band of Bees) is sort of weird, and I wasn't quite sure if I should post it or go with one of their other songs. The Bees are a British band that have a very classic psychedelic rock sound, but out of nowhere they have a couple of sort of honky-tonk songs. I almost went with "Listening Man", a great song with a fantastic video that is probably more representative of their sound, but in the end I decided to stick with "Who Cares What the Question Is?" because it's the first song that got me into them, plus it's just a lot of fun to listen to.

NEWS: Looking for a New Blogger!!

By the end of August, both GIRL! and BOY! will be overseas on international exchanges for several months. This might make it difficult to keep up our pace of a post a day. So, to ensure that SPR will consistently continue to provide new music and other features, we will be looking for an addition to our staff! If you are interested, or know someone who would be, send us an email at shuffleplayrepeat@gmail.com. Let us know what kind of music you are into, tell us a bit about yourself, give us a sample music video blog entry, and we'll go from there!

#39 Shearwater - The Snow Leopard

Shearwater - The Snow Leopard
Rook (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Leviathan, Bound", "St. Mary's Walk", "Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine"
http://www.shearwatermusic.com/

Those of you who know Okkervil River will find Shearwater eerily similar. That's because, Shearwater is made up of Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff, both from Okkervil River, and Thor Harris. Often, my favorite songs will have moments in them that I just wait for everytime I hear the song. For this song, it occurs during the second verse. The lines "I've had enough, wasting my body, my life" changed this song from "this is sounding pretty rad" to "OH MAN, new favorite song!!#!@#". Granted, I love the vocals in general (you'll find that many of my favorite bands are determined by the vocals), but that part makes it for me (although when his voice cracks at one point near the end is also awesome). As for the video itself, the best I could find was yet again a homemade video. The Planet Earth guy is not actually part of the song, nor are the sound effects like splashing of water and animal sounds. So, you'll have to bear with that as you enjoy the song!

#38 Mates of State - Get Better

Mates of State - Get Better
Re-Arrange Us (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Like U Crazy", "Fluke", "Goods (All in Your Head)"
http://www.matesofstate.com/

Mates of State are a husband and wife duo that I got the chance to see at Pemberton (which was spectacular by the way). I love the non-traditional sound that they create by combining the electric organ and the drums, and the fact that their voices don't quite fit together perfectly but it totally works. Every time she starts belting out the words, I melt a little. Their sound is very unique and I really enjoy it.

#37 The Secret Machines - Nowhere Again

The Secret Machines - Nowhere Again
Now Here is Nowhere (2004)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Lightning Blue Eyes", "Alone Jealous and Stoned", "All At Once (It's Not Important)"
http://www.thesecretmachines.com/

"Nowhere Again" is one of those songs that I don't really know why I like it, yet it has manage to stand the test of time and is still one of my favorite songs, four years after I first heard it. I do love a lot of The Secret Machines stuff, and I'm looking forward to their new album coming out sometime in the near future (no realease date has been mentioned yet). I would describe them as something of a cross between Interpol and The Stills (a great Canadian band!). Even after four years of singing along with this song when it plays on my playlist, I still cannot sing that first line without messing up: "Cellophane flowers..." gets me everytime.

GUEST BLOGGER: Jesse Hoy (Drummer, The Deadly Syndrome)

Those of you who have been paying attention will know that I am absolutely in love with a band called The Deadly Syndrome (see my previous post on them here), so I am very excited that Jesse Hoy, the band’s drummer, is today’s guest blogger. Jesse got into music in first grade when his parents put him in piano lessons, but in fourth grade switched to playing the drums because it seemed more fun. Many years later, he joined forces with Christopher Richard, Michael Hughes, and William Etling to form The Deadly Syndrome (website / MySpace), which was signed to Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records within weeks of appearing on the LA club scene. Today, they’re working on writing their next CD and are hoping to tour in the near future.

Q: What’s the first CD you can remember buying?
A: I can't remember what the first CD that I bought was, but the first CDs I got were 1) Fantasia, it was a dual disc, and it's still awesome, pretty proud of that being my first CD ever, and 2) Barcelona Gold, it was a compilation for the Olympics in 1992 in Barcelona, En Vogue had a song on there about racism.

Q: What’s the most embarrassing CD in your collection?
A: Hmmmmmmm, that's tough, there was a period where I was trying to give Amy Winehouse a chance, and that CD is still in my book in my truck, and so when it falls out or when I let my passengers pick out a CD, and they see it, well I get a little embarrassed. But I'm sure Ms. Winehouse doesn't mind that i don't get it.

Q: What’s your all-time favourite band or musician?
A: I'm going to go Harry Nilsson because he wrote some amazing songs, sang some amazing covers, never played a show, and wrote The Point. It's pretty hard to be more awesome than that. Plus The Beatles along with countless others have looked up to him, and asked him to write songs with them, so if that doesn't say a lot for him, well then the drummer of The Deadly Syndrome saying he is rad should hold some weight right? right?....is anyone out there? (just kidding)

Q: What songs are you really into right now?
A: I've been freaking out about classical lately and trusting the DJ's over at KUSC 91.5 to introduce me to some pieces (it's weird to call them that, because they're not songs per se, or tunes, but expansive units of music) that I haven't heard before, or reacquainting me with some other songs (see it's hard to say that) that I've forgotten about. So from that station it is the Flower Duet by Leo Delibes and Chopin's Scherzo No. 2 [NOTE: Check out the video below]. As far as anything contemporary, well I haven't been freaking out about anything within 2008, but I really really love Grizzly Bear, "While You Wait for the Others," which they haven't released yet but have been playing on TV shows and concerts. Go those guys for being awesome. I saw them at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, one of the best shows I've ever been to.

#36 Gillian Welch - Revelator

#36 Gillian Welch - Revelator
Time (The Revelator) (2001)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Look at Miss Ohio", "Elvis Presley Blues", "April the 14th Part I"
http://www.gillianwelch.com/

Gillian Welch is certainly not new, and she's certainly not the kind of music I'd usually post on here, but I don't care. I love her. She has the most beautiful voice, and her music is so simple and pure. I first heard of her when one of my favourite local bands, Headwater, covered a few of her songs, and then when one of our guest bloggers, Paul Bahou from Inverse, mentioned one of her songs as his current favourites, I knew I had to give her a listen. She also sang on the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack, which I maintain is one of the best movie soundtracks. Anyway, enjoy!

#35 The National - Lucky You

The National - Lucky You
Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003)
Other Songs to Check Out: "About Today", "Ada", "Patterns of Fairytales"
http://www.americanmary.com/

Today's choice was a toss up between "About Today" and "Lucky You". I went with this one because it had a video, while the other only had audio. Both are from the same album, "Sad Sangs for Dirty Lovers", and both do a great job of highlighting some of The National's awesome characteristics (such as the vocalist's deep, depressed voice). The National made some noise in the music world with their latest release, "Boxer", by getting onto the national television circuit playing their single "Fake Empire". Hell, even Pitchfork liked their album! Also, for you Sufjan lovers out there, the third song in my post today, "Ada", features Sufjan Stevens (not vocally).

#34 Los Campesinos! - My Year in Lists

#34 Los Campesinos! - My Year in Lists
Hold on Now, Youngster... (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "C is the Heavenly Option", "You Throw Parties, We Throw Knives", "Death to Los Campesinos!"
http://www.loscampesinos.com/

As you may have gathered from our user names, I'm a fan of unnecessary punctuation, and apparently Los Campesinos! are on the same page. But beyond the appeal of the name, I really enjoy their upbeat songs, many of which involve several people yelling together which I think just makes them even more fun. But who better to describe this song than the band itself, who said on their website, "My Year In Lists is 1 minute 49 seconds, and essentially mulls over the process of living out a relationship via Royal Mail, and bemoans the tedium of the New Year." Yeah, who hasn't had a relationship via Royal Mail?

#33 Electric Six - Future is in the Future

Electric Six - Future is in the Future
Señor Smoke (2005)
Other Songs to Check Out: "I'm the Bomb", "Dance Epidemic", "Night Vision"
http://www.electricsix.com/

If I was ever to DJ a dance party, Electric Six would probably make up half my play list. While most people like dancing to club tunes, trance, and typical "dance" music, I love stuff like this. Oddly enough, "Future is in the Future" is one of Electric Six's less dancier songs, but it's my favorite (although "I'm the Bomb" is a very close second). Check it out, and then if you feel the need to get your dance on, go YouTube "I'm the Bomb" or "Dance Epidemic" and you shall be set!

#32 Joan as Police Woman - To Be Loved

Joan as Police Woman - To Be Loved
To Survive (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: -
http://www.joanaspolicewoman.com/

I went with something a bit different today. Joan as Police Woman, otherwise known as Joan Wasser, is another multi-instrumentalist who I find to have a really unique voice. It might be more in the way she chooses to sing her songs than her actual voice, but I love it nonetheless. My favorite parts of this song are the times it sounds like her voice is about to totally crack, but doesn't (I also love the lyrics). I didn't give any other song recommendations from Joan as Police Woman because I haven't had enough time to listen to the album to really feel comfortable suggesting anything else. Once again, the video is a bit weird...

#31 The Republic Tigers - Buildings & Mountains

The Republic Tigers - Buildings & Mountains
Keep Color (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Made Concrete", "Golden Sand", "Fight Song"
http://www.myspace.com/therepublictigers

These guys bullied there way to the top of my music play list. I have a whole bunch of songs ready to go for all my future posts on SPR, and for a new song to even get on the list usually takes a good couple weeks of listening to qualify. This wasn't the case for these guys... I only first heard them about a week ago. Goes without saying that I was completely floored. The whole CD is awesome! The only regret I have is that the video I chose was the only video available by them. It's no where near my favorite song from the album (there are about 4-5 I'd choose before it), but it was their first single and all the live videos on YouTube were poor quality. Luckily for you guys, the song is still absolutely fantastic, and really showcases everything I love about the band. If there is one CD you need to buy this year on a total whim, it's "Keep Color" by The Republic Tigers!

#30 Ronald Jenkees - Disorganized Fun

Ronald Jenkees - Disorganized Fun
Album TBA
Other Songs to Check Out: "Super Fun"
http://www.ronaldjenkees.com/

Thanks to Scott for this submission. Something a bit different from our usual type of video! The first time I listened to this guy, I was blown away. Everything I've seen from Ronald has just been him, a camera and his keyboard. I haven't yet heard his first CD, but I definitely plan on giving it a listen, as well as his CD coming out later this summer that will be featuring this song. Ronald is somewhat a YouTube cult icon right now, and if you dig this stuff do some more YouTube searches for him and you'll find a ton of songs.

#29 Monte Negro - The Part Of Me You've Thrown Away

Monte Negro - The Part Of Me You've Thrown Away
Cicatrix EP (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Pena Colectiva", "Give Me Love (No Llores)", "Me Duele No Estar Junto A Ti"
http://www.montenegrorocks.com/

Monte Negro is yet another Pemberton band that I discovered through the festival's online radio. Unfortunately this isn't my favourite song or video of theirs, but I couldn't include the videos of some of their other songs (damn disabling embedding!! who does that, seriously). Oh well, this song still rocks, and I love the catchy chorus; I especially love the line, "I can't stand your fascist emotions." Deep.

GUEST BLOGGER: Casey Bennett (Professional Band Photographer)

Casey Bennett may not be in a band, but he is a staple of the Victoria, BC music scene, especially around hardcore shows. He’s an incredibly talented photographer, and though he’s done lots of portrait and promotional photography, he is probably most well known for his live music shots – he says, “I just love to capture the raw energy, where it almost feels like you can hear the singer scream right off of the photo.” This passion for capturing moments has worked well for him – he’s been in Fuze Magazine, Truth Explosion Magazine, and Victoria News, and he’s just launched his website (www.casey3.com).

Q: What is the most embarrassing CD in your collection?
A: I choose my CDs very carefully, so I can’t say I have a really embarrassing CD in my collection. I did throw away a load of CDs when I was younger and I do remember having a Boyz II Men CD. Not saying they’re a bad group, it’s just my library consisted of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and a lot of heavy music, and to find a Boyz II Men CD amongst them was pretty weird.

Q: What is your all-time favourite band?
A: I have so many favourites, but if I have to choose one it would be hands down: Radiohead. Ever since I first heard OK Computer when I was 16, I immediately fell in love with the music this band was creating. You could tell that they were on the verge of something different just by how that album in particular progressed and how the songs all had their own unique style. All the songs on that album give me goose bumps!

Q: What's the first CD you can remember buying?
A: I can’t pin point the first actual real CD I bought, but I do remember the first three I owned were Aerosmith: Pump, Counting Crows: August and Everything After and Sheryl Crow: Tuesday Night Music Club. I had never heard a song prior to buying the Sheryl Crow album. I just thought she was drop dead gorgeous on the album cover.

Q: What songs are you really into right now?
A: The ten songs that are making my ears bleed because I listen to them so much are:

1) The Sun Also Sets by Ryan Adams
2) Untitled by Kincaide
3) Cut and Run by Attack in Black
4) Hail, Destroyer by Cancer Bats
5) For Today I Am A Robot by Everyone Everywhere
6) Giant Swan by The Blood Brothers (RIP)
7) Parting of the Sensory by Modest Mouse [check out the video below]
8) Great Minds by The Gorgeous
9) Thrash Unreal by Against Me!
10) Leading Lady by Kurtis Hurrie

#28 Minus the Bear - Knights

Minus the Bear - Knights
Planet of Ice (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: “Throwin’ Shapes”, “Ice Monster”, “Pachuca Sunrise”
http://www.minusthebear.com

I’M GOING TO PEMBERTON TOMORROW!!! WOOO!!! So what does this mean to you? Well first of all it means that today and tomorrow I’m going to be featuring some stellar Pemberton bands, and then BOY! will be taking the reins for the weekend while I’m gone. So the Pemberton artist for today is Minus the Bear, and all I have to say about these guys is that I love a band that makes good music AND has a sense of humour. Their name was derived from the TV show “BJ and the Bear”, and they have some really funny song and album names, like “Bands Like It When You Yell ‘Yar!’ at Them”, "Hey, Wanna Throw Up? Get Me Naked”, “You’re Some Sort of Big, Fat, Smart-Bug, Aren’t You?”, and my personal favourite, “Pantsuit...Uggghhh”.

#27 Pinback - 3x0

Pinback - 3x0
Summer in Abaddon (2004)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Fortress", "Non Photo-Blue", "Soaked"
http://www.pinback.com/

I've always been surprised at how few people know about Pinback. They always seem to be the forgotten, or unknown, band in the indie circles. It's really quite a shame. Their "big" song to date is "Fortress", which I also really dig, but my favorite is "3x0". It's a really chill song, incredibly catchy and really showcases the kind of music Pinback offers. Rob Crow from Pinback also does some solo stuff which I'd highly recommend if you enjoy Pinback's sound. His latest cd, "Living Well" is fantastic.

#26 The Boy Least Likely To - Be Gentle With Me

The Boy Least Likely To - Be Gentle With Me
The Best Party Ever (2005)
Other Songs to Check Out: "I'm Glad I Hitched my Apple Wagon to Your Star", "The Boy Least Likely to is a Machine", "A Balloon on a Broken String"
http://www.theboyleastlikelyto.co.uk/

Some bands I have to listen to for a little while to get into, but this wasn't the case with The Boy Least Likely To. From the very first time I heard them, I was a fan. Their music is just so sweet and innocent; Rolling Stone said that they sound like what would happen "if all your childhood stuffed animals got together and started a band". This video is a bit sad in a Sesame Street kind of way, but it still makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, and I LOVE watching the guy awkwardly flirt with the girl.

#25 Interpol - Untitled

Interpol - Untitled
Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Leif Erikson", "Obstacle 1", "Take You on a Cruise"
http://www.interpolnyc.com/

Ever since I saw my friend's band do a cover of this song at one of his gigs way back in highschool, I've been hooked. "Untitled" makes both my "list of songs I have to see live" as well and "songs that would be on my ultimate mix tape" (in fact, it'd probably be either the first track or last track). It's part romantic, part haunting, part sad and yet, only has around 4 lines of lyrics (3 of which are the same line). I've sometimes wondered what "Untitled" would sound like had Interpol written lyrics for the whole song, but I must say it turned out pretty damn good this way. The video is a homemade video, as once again I couldn't find any official music video.

#24 Does It Offend You, Yeah? - We Are Rockstars

Does It Offend You, Yeah? - We Are Rockstars
You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Let's Make Out", "Battle Royale", "With a Heavy Heart"
http://www.doesitoffendyou.com/

This post is very similar to my previous entry about Midnight Juggernauts: rock/punk mixed with electro, altered vocals, crazy videos...but Does It Offend You, Yeah? has Midnight Juggernauts beat on one front: they have pretty much the best name EVER. Apparently I'm the only one that thinks so though; in 2007, they won a Guardian Unlimited award for Worst Band Name. But I think the name is wicked, especially because they apparently chose it completely at random by turning on the TV and picking the first thing they heard, which happened to be a line from Ricky Gervais on The Office (UK). Whatever, just forget about the name and check out the song.

#23 Pete Murray - So Beautiful

Pete Murray - So Beautiful
Feeler (2003)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Silver Cloud", "Smile"
http://www.petemurray.com/

In addition to my previously mentioned loves (for everyone who forgot, that includes incoherent babbling, catchy dance music and unusual instruments), I also love acoustic-sounding, depressing music. The lyrics don't always have to actually be depressing, as long as the song itself makes you feel like the world is over. Then, in my mind, it's a truly awesome song. I had two songs in mind for today's video, but since I could only find a a quality Youtube of one of them, "So Beautiful" by Pete Murray won the battle. I don't care much for the video, but I do dig the way he sings this song and the general mood it creates. Fantastic tune.

#22 Paper Lions - Travelling

Paper Lions – Travelling
Paper Lions (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: “The Sheriff”, “I’m on Fire”, “Bones”
http://www.paperlionsmusic.com

A couple of nights ago, I went to see illScarlett and Daniel Wesley. The show was great, and while both bands were really good, it was the opener, Paper Lions, that stole the show. I’d like to say that again so it really sinks in: Paper Lions, a band that wasn’t even on the poster, outshone the headliner that has been nominated for Juno and Much Music Awards. I think it’s safe to say that these guys are the raddest thing to come out of PEI since Anne of Green Gables. I don’t think that the studio versions of their songs really do them justice, so I’d encourage you to go see them live if they’re ever in your area. Trust me on this one. When you see the guitarist looking like he’s having a seizure while rocking out a gnarly guitar solo with his microphone stand, you’ll thank me.

Top 10 Cover Songs

This top 10 will focus on cover songs that we generally enjoy. They aren't necessarily the best cover songs, or our favorite songs that have been covered. We have also decided to overlook some of the cover songs that are extremely well known around the music world (Cash's cover of Hurt comes to mind). Finally, we've included the music video for the cover song that made it to #1. So, without further ado...

10. Joss Stone - Fell in Love With a Boy
Original: The White Stripes
GIRL!: A great example of taking a song and playing it in a completely different style that makes it your own.
Listen

9. Matt Nathanson - Laid
Original: James
BOY!: A well done cover of a great song that not enough people know about.
Listen

8. Ryan Adams - Wonderwall
Original: Oasis
BOY!: Adams didn't try to do anything too fancy with this cover, but I think it sounds a little more intimate than the original.
Listen

7. Vampire Weekend - Exit Music (For a Film)
Original: Radiohead
GIRL!: Covering a song by Radiohead is a risk, but I think Vampire Weekend gave it an upbeat twist.
Listen

6. Stars - This Charming Man
Original: The Smiths
GIRL!: The song is so soft, and then it kicks in with that classic Smiths guitar – a perfect and unexpected combination.
Listen

5. Elliott Smith - Thirteen
Original: Big Star
GIRL!: I love Elliott Smith, and there's something about the vulnerability and innocence of this song that works flawlessly.
Listen

4. Matt Pond PA - In The Aeroplane Over the Sea
Original: Neutral Milk Hotel
BOY!: Don't get me wrong, I love Neutral Milk Hotel's original. However, I've always been a fan of Matt Pond PA, and thought that their version just sounded a bit cleaner.
Listen

3. Mat Weddle - Hey Ya
Original: Outkast
GIRL!: I love how he takes this very popular song and plays it in a way people would never expect. It makes me look at the song in a whole new way, and that's what a cover is all about.
Listen

2. Spoon - Don't You Evah
Original: The Natural History
BOY!: When I first heard this song, I didn't even know it was a cover. After some digging around, I came across The Natural History and loved their version. However, I still prefer Spoon's crazy, crazy cover.
Listen

1. Gipsy Kings - Hotel California
Original: The Eagles
GIRL!: A classic cover – I think this one speaks for itself.

#21 The Wrens - Happy

The Wrens - Happy
The Meadowlands (2003)
http://www.wrens.com/
Other Songs to Check Out: "Everyone Chooses Sides", "She Sends Kisses", "Boys You Won't Remember"

Ah, The Wrens. When oh when will you release a new CD?! It's been five long years since your last release, Meadowlands - which is absolutely fantastic - but "Happy" is easily my favorite track on the album. Lyrically, it's beautiful (not to mention Charles Bissell, the lead singer, has an awesome voice). I also adore songs that slowly build-up to some point later in the song, then right before everything sounds like it's about to blow up in a smorgasbord (great word.) of sound and energy, a soft little melody kicks in and everyone is left "Happy" (yea, I went there).

#20 The Deadly Syndrome - Eucalyptus

The Deadly Syndrome - Eucalyptus
The Ortolan (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: “wolves in the garden”, “I Hope I Become a Ghost”, “Friends Who Don’t Go Out at Night”
http://www.thedeadlysyndrome.com/

I am in love. Seriously, I cannot say enough good things about The Deadly Syndrome. I only heard of these guys a week and a half ago and they’ve already earned the honour of being my favourite new band. I’ve noticed that a lot of the songs I’ve been into lately are pretty good through most of the song, and then there’s one part that just blows me away. “Eucalyptus” is not one of those songs because every part blows me away. So I checked out the rest of the album (they're signed to Dim Mak Records by the way, which is owned by one of my favourite DJs Steve Aoki), and every single song is just as good as this one. There is no “filler” on this album – it’s all gold. In fact, the list of recommended songs at the beginning of this entry is just a formality. What I really think you should do is check out the whole album – you can hear the whole thing on their MySpace (click here). Okay I know this is getting long, so I’ll wrap up here with a quote from their MySpace page: “We would also like to acknowledge the influence of the Big Bang. Not for creating us and everything and all, but for setting the bar in terms of awesomeness. We intend to raise it.”

#19 DeVotchka - Transliterator

DeVotchka - Transliterator
A Mad & Faithful Telling (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "The Oblivion", "The Clockwise Witness", "Queen of the Surface Streets"
http://devotchka.net/

There are many things that I love about DeVotchka. I love how they use a lot of really different instruments compared to conventional bands. I like the way the singer sings in an almost incoherent babble during parts of the song, making it impossible to decipher what he's actually saying. I love the sound of the music... I don't really know what genre I would put them in. It was difficult choosing a song for the video, as all the songs mentioned above could easily have been substituted with Transliterator. Oh, and I believe the video is not the official music video, but someone's home video of their wedding (which fit quite well with the lyrical content of the song... I think. I still don't know what he says during most of the chorus.)

#18 Black Kids - Hurricane Jane

Black Kids - Hurricane Jane
Partie Traumatic (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You"
http://www.blackkidsmusic.com/

We've been getting tons of suggestions for bands and songs that we should put up, and just to prove that we do actually listen, my music pick today came from a fan suggestion (thanks Demetri!). Rolling Stone called Black Kids one of the top ten artists to watch in 2008, and they definitely seem to be living up to the honour. "Hurricane Jane" is a pretty good song on the whole, but for me the chorus is where I really start to dig it; my personal favourite line is, "It's Friday night and I ain't got nobody so what's the use of making the bed?". Awesome.

#17 Jimmy Eat World - Disintegration

Jimmy Eat World - Disintegration
Stay On My Side Tonight EP (2005)
Other Songs to Check Out: "23", "Night Drive", "12.23.95"
http://www.jimmyeatworld.com/

This likely isn't the last Jimmy Eat World song I'll post, as I'm a big JEW fan. Unfortunately, the Jimmy Eat World that most people seem to know is their gum-pop version. Digging a little deeper, and one can find a bunch of awesome albums and EPs released prior to their biggest commercial hit, Bleed American. Disintegration is my favorite JEW song, but not by far. Every time I listen to it, it makes me sad...which I think is awesome. It's a bit long, but just gets better and better with each listen. Hope you like.

#16 CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above

CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above
Cansei de Ser Sexy (2006)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Music is my Hot, Hot Sex", "Alcohol", "Rat is Dead (Rage)"
http://www.myspace.com/canseidesersexy

There are a million things I love about this band and song. First of all, their name CSS stands for "Cansei de Ser Sexy", Portuguese for "I got tired of being sexy." Also I love the way they dance, and the fact that the band is made up of five gorgeous girls and one kinda awkward guy that looks totally out of place. But I think what really sealed the deal for me about this song is the part at 1:53 where they break it down and it shows the two DFA guys and the lead singer is just ROCKING out. Okay obviously I could go on and on about this song, so just check out the video and hopefully you'll feel the same way.

GUEST BLOGGER: Paul Bahou (Bass Player, Inverse)

When you find out that Paul Bahou was named after his dad’s favourite Beatle, it’s not much of a surprise that he says he was “born into” music. He now plays with Southern California rock band Inverse (www.myspace.com/inverse), a band he started back in high school and is currently finishing up a new EP titled “Leave It All”, which Paul swears will “melt your face”. After that they’re playing a tour with hip hop artist Mickey Avalon and then heading out on their own for a West Coast tour.

Q: What’s the first CD you can remember buying?
A: The first CD I actually paid for was Soundgarden's “Superunknown”. Oh Chris Cornell, what happened? I think I listened to that CD daily for about a year. The first CD I ever really got into though was Led Zeppelin's IV. I got it as a birthday gift when I was in fifth or sixth grade. Before Zeppelin, I didn't really have favorite bands or favorite songs. I just liked music in general when I heard it. After Zeppelin, I was hooked. Not just on the band, but on being a genuine fan of Rock N Roll. I think its the same thing born again Christians go through, but with more distortion.

Q: What’s the most embarrassing CD in your collection?
A: I don't have any Creed, or Disturbed or Avril or any of the really bad musical offenders, but I did listen to a lot of Ska in high school...so we'll leave it at that.

Q: What’s your all-time favourite band or musician?
A: I usually just go with the always great, all encompassing "top 5", which is, in no particular order: Tool, Led Zeppelin, James Brown, Radiohead, and Pink Floyd.

Q: What songs are you really into right now?
A: Lately I’ve been listening to lots of James Brown. Seriously, this guy’s stuff is great for any occasion. Kegger? JAMES BROWN! Wedding? JAMES BROWN! Funeral? You can bet your ass, JAMES BROWN! I saw him three times before he died, and each time he blew me away. Even when he was getting towards his end he still killed. The first time I saw him was at the House of Blues in Anaheim. Everyone in the crowd was just standing there, like they were watching a history lesson (I was busy dancing, yelling "Woooo" and spilling beer on the couple next to me), not taking in one of the best performers of the century. By the end, everyone was dancing. It’s just how it was. You can only deny James Brown for so long. [NOTE: Check out Paul's favourite James Brown video below.] As for a list, some songs that I've been listening to off the top of my head are:

1) The Raconteurs - You Don't Understand me
2) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Berlin
3) Justice – D.A.N.C.E.
4) The Mars Volta - Viscera Eyes
5) Gillian Welch - Elvis Presley Blues
6) Bob Dylan - Boots of Spanish Leather
7) Queens of the Stone Age - Make it Wit Chu
8) Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Corner Story
9) Peter Tosh - Legalize It
10) The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down
11) k-os - Flypaper
12) NIN - Ghosts I-IV

#15 Kings of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You

Kings of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You
Riot on an Empty Street (2004)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Misread", "Once Around the Block" (Badly Drawn Boy Cover), "Live Long"
http://www.kingsofconvenience.com/

Ah, my favorite Norwegian duo. This is how all dancing should be! I mean, how can anyone not like this guy's moves!? I've also watched some live performances by these guys, and he dances like this during his performances too. Unfortunately, there hasn't been an album from KoC in awhile, but word is they are doing some concerts in early 2009...at which they plan to showcase some new material. So hopefully something will come out soon after. There's bound to be more gems like this one in any future albums.

#14 Black Mountain - Druganaut

Black Mountain - Druganaut
Black Mountain (2005)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Angels", "Don't Run Our Hearts Around", "Tyrants"
http://www.blackmountainarmy.com/

Just when you start to think that the only music I listen to is acoustic duos or hipster electro, I like to throw in a curve ball, and today that curve ball is Black Mountain. When I first heard this Vancouver band on the Pemberton Music Festival online radio, I was definitely not into it. However, after a few more listens they started to grow on me, and now I can safely say that I'm a fan. A good friend of mine said about Black Mountain, "I wish I had started this band before they had," and I have to agree. These guys totally rock - and I mean that in every sense of the word.

#13 Georgie James - Need Your Needs

Georgie James - Need Your Needs
Places (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: -
http://www.myspace.com/georgiejames

Often times I will be crazy about a song for it's sheer "Dancibility" or "Catchiness". Georgie James' Need Your Needs passes both categories with flying colors. In fact, it's probably one of the catchiest songs I've ever heard, which made the disappointment even greater when I heard the rest of their cd "Places". I couldn't even think of another song to recommend, because I really didn't like any of them. I wouldn't go so far to say that they are a one-hit wonder, but more that the awesomeness of this song greatly overshadowed everything else on the cd. But, I will leave album reviews to the critics and instead, let you get your groove on to this sweet, sweet song.

#12 Midnight Juggernauts - Tombstone

Midnight Juggernauts - Tombstone
Dystopia (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Into the Galaxy", "Shadows", "Road to Recovery"
http://www.midnightjuggernauts.com

I probably could have told you that I would like Midnight Juggernauts before I ever heard a single song, based solely on the fact that they've played with some of my favourite acts (including Justice, MSTRKRFT, Bloc Party, and Death From Above 1979). But even without all that name-dropping, Midnight Juggernauts make some killer music and some even killer-er videos to go along with it. That's right, I'm making up words. If that doesn't convince you that this band is worth checking out then I don't know what will.

#11 Howie Day - Bunnies (Live Version)

Howie Day - Bunnies (Live Version)
The Madrigals [EP] (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Disco", "Katrina", "Madrigals"
http://www.myspace.com/howieday

I can't say I was very impressed when I heard Howie Day's biggest single, "Collide" played on the radio. Yet, somehow I came across his older CD, "Australia", and now consider it one of my favorite albums. But what sealed the deal was when I decided to look up a song for a friend on youtube, and found his some clips of his live stuff. It blows all his CD work out of the water. Sometimes he performs with a band, but what hooked me was when he played alone with his pedals and sampler. This is one of the rare times I'll post a live version, partly because I don't think a studio version of "Bunnies" exists, and partly because a studio version of "Bunnies" wouldn't do it justice. This is by far my favorite song by Howie Day, and probably my favorite song of the past year or two.

#10 SoKo - I'll Kill Her

SoKo - I'll Kill Her
Not Sokute (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: "I Will Never Love You More"
http://www.myspace.com/mysoko

It probably won't take you very long to realize that I love three things: 1) male/female acoustic duos, 2) intimate videos of artists singing their songs live, and 3) accents. Combine all three of these things and add in a girl singing a fairly disturbing song in a really interesting half-singing half-talking style and you have "I'll Kill Her" by French singer SoKo. Apparently she's a pretty big hit over in Europe, but I just heard of her this week and I can't get her songs out of my head.

#9 Jens Lekman - I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You

Jens Lekman - I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You
Night Falls Over Kortedala (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Maple Leaves", "Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song", "Jens Lekman's Farewell song to Rocky Dennis"
http://www.jenslekman.com

I was introduced to Jens Lekman by my roommate last year after hearing the song "Jens Lekman's Farewell song to Rocky Dennis". I don't know if anyone has a better voice in music than Mr. Lekman. Combine that with piano (I absolutely adore piano in songs), and you have a couple brilliant albums, a bunch of great EPs and one awesome compilation. This song is off his latest release, but it's made it's way to the top of my list of favorite Jens Lekman songs.

#8 Angus and Julia Stone - Just A Boy

Angus and Julia Stone - Just A Boy
A Book Like This (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Wasted", "What You Wanted", "Mango Tree"
http://www.angusandjuliastone.com/

I am seriously obsessed with Angus and Julia Stone. Ever since a friend turned me on to this Australian brother-sister duo last fall, I've probably listened to them at least once a day. So when I had to choose only one song of theirs to post on this blog, I had a really really hard time because every one of their songs is unique and appeals to me in a different way. In the end I decided to go with "Just a Boy" not only because it's my personal favourite at this moment but also because I think the whimsical and cute video is a good representation of Angus and Julia (they co-directed it along with Josh Groom). However, if you like this song - or even if you're just curious to find out what it is about this band that's kept me hooked for the last 9 months - I strongly encourage you to listen to more of their music.

#7 Patrick Wolf - Overture

Patrick Wolf - Overture
The Magic Position (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Tristan", "Wind in the Wires"
http://www.myspace.com/officialpatrickwolf

I love all of Patrick Wolf's stuff. It was hard to pick out one among my favorites, but Overture was the first song I heard by Wolf, so I went with it. I don't have much else to say on this one, besides my unwavering admiration of Mr. Wolf and his ability to play almost every instrument imaginable, and then somehow incorporate it into a fantastic song such as this one. The video isn't too exciting, but it was the best I could find without using a live version with sub par sound.

#6 Basia Bulat - Before I Knew

Basia Bulat - Before I Knew
Oh My Darling (2007)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Snakes and Ladders", "In the Night"
http://basiabulat.com

Happy Canada Day! In order to celebrate Canada's birthday I've decided to go with this short and very sweet song from Basia Bulat. She hails from London, Ontario and she is doing TWO Canada Day shows today (one in Ottawa and one in Toronto). She has a beautiful voice, and though she uses fuller bands in some of her other songs, I really like the stripped-down style of "Before I Knew". The video is just a random collection of clips thrown together by a fan, but I think it works pretty well. Enjoy!

#5 Late of the Pier - Space and the Woods

Late of the Pier - Space and the Woods
Fantasy Black Channel (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Bathroom Gurgle", "Focker"
http://www.lateofthepier.com

Like The Airborne Toxic Event, we are still awaiting the arrival of Late of the Pier's album Fantasy Black Channel (due early August). Luckily for us, a few of the singles from this album have already popped up onto youtube. Space and the Woods is my favorite so far, with a great synth beat and vocals that remind me of many bands from the 80s. This song took me a few listens to get into, but now I'm hooked and it makes my daily rotation. This one has a bit of an odd video, but that seems to be the trend these days among new UK artists (or even, new artists in general).

#4 The Airborne Toxic Event - Does This Mean You're Moving On

The Airborne Toxic Event - Does This Mean You're Moving On
The Airborne Toxic Event (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Wishing Well", "Sometime Around Midnight", "Papillon"
http://www.myspace.com/theairbornetoxicevent

In exactly four weeks, I will be in Northern BC with about 40,000 of my closest music-loving friends enjoying the final day of the Pemberton Music Festival. One of the bands that I'm most excited to see at this three-day extravaganza is The Airborne Toxic Event, who I stumbled across while listening to the festival's online radio. According to the Pemberton website, this LA band has been compared to The Clash, The Smiths, and The Cure, and their music was called "Poetry you can dance to" by the LA Times...and they've only released one three-song EP (their first full length CD is coming out August 5th). Basically what I'm getting at here is that this is a band to keep an eye on, and if you're going to Pemberton they're an absolute must-see.

#3 Cut Copy - Out There on the Ice

Cut Copy - Out There on the Ice
In Ghost Colours (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Hearts on Fire", "Lights and Music", "Strangers in the Wind"
http://cut-copy.blogspot.com/

I have a soft spot in music for two things: 1) Catchy dance beats and 2) Certain parts of songs that just blow my mind, even if the rest of the song is somewhat mediocre (which isn't the case for this song, but has been in the past for others). I saw Cut Copy play live back in May, and it was the best show I've ever been too. I didn't know this song too well when I originally went to the show, but it was my new favorite leaving the show. I love everything about the song, but every time I listen to it I find myself waiting for the 2:45 mark...where I can then close all my doors in my room and start jumping around like a maniac. Yes, it's that awesome.

#2 Sufjan Stevens – The Mistress Witch From McClure (Or, The Mind That Knows Itself)

Sufjan Stevens – The Mistress Witch From McClure (Or, The Mind That Knows Itself)
The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album (2006)
Other Songs to Check Out: "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti", "John Wayne Gacy Jr", "Casimir Pulaski Day"
http://www.sufjan.com

I’ve found that a great way to kill some time when I should probably be doing something more productive is to check out the Take Away Shows on a website called La Blogotheque (check out their website / YouTube). Basically they film musicians and bands singing their songs in odd, and often public, locations (flea markets, a roof, a stairway, etc). They have tons of amazing videos and I guarantee that more will be appearing on this blog in the future, but I decided to go with this song by Sufjan Stevens first because for me it has it all – an amazing song with fantastic imagery, a brilliant and talented young artist, and a very intimately shot video. I seriously challenge you to watch this video and not want to learn to play the banjo and/or marry Sufjan Stevens.

#1 Gotye - Hearts a Mess

Gotye - Hearts a Mess
Like Drawing Blood (2006)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Baby", "Thanks for Your Time", "Here in This Place"
http://www.gotye.com/

For the first actual track entry on our blog, I've gone to what's been my favorite song for the past few months. I can't remember how I came across Gotye, but I'm sure glad I did. Both Like Drawing Blood and his older cd, Boardface, are fantastic, but this song is one of the one's that really jumped out at me when I listened to it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Welcome to shuffle. play. repeat.

How do you find out about new music? Maybe you turn on the radio or watch music videos on TV. Maybe you spend hours scouring YouTube or other websites. If you're like us though, you turn to your friends to enjoy their latest discoveries and to share a few of your own. That’s what this blog is all about: sharing new music with people who love it just as much as you do.

shuffle. play. repeat. (SPR) was created by BOY! and GIRL!, two music lovers who thrive on finding and sharing new bands and songs. Each entry will feature one song. Like what you hear? We’ll include a link to the band's website so you can find out more. And be sure to come back every couple of days; we're constantly stumbling across new music, and in the future we'll be including special features like Top 10 lists and fave picks from guest bloggers from up-and-coming bands. For now, we encourage you to enjoy our music picks and check back often. And remember, we’re doing this because we want to discover new music too, so if you have any suggestions, concerns or questions drop us a line at shuffleplayrepeat@gmail.com. We are always looking for guest submissions as well, so feel free to send us your picks for great new tunes!