Record Store Day Round-Up

Record Store Day was AWESOME!! (of course) With the exception of the lack of sleep, I had a great time. I woke up early, made the trip up to BG with my brother, waited out in the cold for a few min, got "Tebowie" and Florence + the Machine, saw Laura, spent money and then spent some more. What did I get? All this:

These were all the freebie! Highlights included Florence 7", M. Ward notebook and poster, sample CDs, Shins EP and some fans that I think I might take to the festival this weekend. Also a few sweet reusable bags! I also bought a few CDs:

I took home the new M. Ward, Florence + the Machine Unplugged, (deluxe version with the DVD that I did not know existed until I got home and opened it! Thanks Finders for the hook up!) Of Monsters and Men, Grouplove, Aretha Franklin The Queen in Waiting (basically), Ryan Monteblu Band, Asteroid Galaxy Tour, Delta Spirit, La Sera (those last two were recommended to me so I went for it) and then the Record Store Day Exclusives Civil Wars live CD and KIMBRA EP!!! (It was great to finally have a few Kimbra songs in my car.)

This is the first Kimbra purchase (besides concert tickets) I have made. Looking at the track listing it looks like one of my favorite songs "Call Me" got cut from the U.S. release but will be available on iTunes deluxe version. If you cannot just buy that song then there is 2 more Kimbra purchases, plus vinyl if available, something from the concert, and her Christmas CD!! (Putting it out there like the secret. I never read that book, but I think that is how it works. You say something as if it is true then the internet and rumor mill takes over until it is true, right?)

After checking out the first time and only having a few records I decided I needed to get into the Record Store Day Spirit and splurged on a few more. I mean it was Record Store Day I need to get more that one thing on vinyl!!

I picked out the new Shins and then the only other Shins album I did not have. As for Record Store Day Exclusives I was able to get Graceland, Paul McCartney (2 songs from Ram being re-released this summer- take that mom), Foster the People, Florence + the Machine, Of Monsters and Men and feeding my Fallon obsession- Tebowie!!

I hope everyone else had a successful day! Until next year- Happy Record Store Day 2012!!

Earworms

I first heard the term "earworm" on Best Week Ever years ago referring to The Darkness's "I Believe in a Thing Called Love." (Side note- you should hear my mom sing this one...hilarious. She does not know the title, artist, lyrics or even the tune but it surprisingly comes up a lot and she tries to sing it every time. Sample lyrics "I think I like you...and I think I like you too!") The definition from Wiki is: "a piece of music that sticks in one's mind so that one seems to hear it, even when it is not being played." Basically it is one of those songs that is so catchy it gets stuck in your head. Earworms can be from any genre, although the most diabolical and persistent ones are on the spectrum of pop. For me it seems the songs that are really catchy and get stuck in my head also lie on a scale with one side being catchy songs I like and the other catchy songs I hate, with the middle usually being defined as guilty pleasures. For example one end would have Kimbra's "Cameo Lover" the other end would include any Ke$ha song and this middle could be for most adults Beiber.

Below are the current earworms that keep showing up in my head this past month...some fun, some annoying. First we have in the guilty pleasure..."Call Me Maybe"

Next we have a song I first heard on SNL and now it is all over the radio: "Brokenhearted" by Karmin. I like the song, kinda, the "Cherrio" part annoys the heck out of me...you decide.

And finally on that I am a huge fan of- "Warrior" by Mark Foster, A-Trak and KIMBRA!! You should love getting this one stuck in your head:

What has been stuck in your head lately?

The Voice, fantasy league update!

"This is the Voice!!" I am loving the voice! Here are some of my thoughts on this season of the only singing competition I watch (except for the occasional Singing Bee episode)

Cee Lo, or Mandy Moore?
It looks like Cee Lo, talks like Cee Lo, even pets a cat like Cee Lo. However, this "Cee Lo" puts together hit or miss (but mostly mediocre) performances all to the Time Life collection of 80's hits....hmm. Sound like someone you know from the best competition show ever- So You Think You Can Dance?? Yep, Mandy Moore. I do not know what these two were up to from 1980-1989 but it sure made a huge impact on their professional lives giving them neon 80's tunnel vision. The other problem with Cee Lo's coaching is he set up half of his team to fail in the battle rounds-including my guy Jamie Lono- I do not support that at all. (FYI SYTYCD starts May 23rd!! Day after Kimbra release! Going to be a great week!)

Erin Martin, annoying.
When she sang her first song I thought- eh. She sounded like a bad Bjork impersonator and Ellie Goulding impersonator (more on her later) smashed together. I was not a fan...neither were the judges for the most part. When it came time for the battle rounds, Cee Lo set the Sheild brothers up to fail but they were actually impressive- however Green went with his other brain to pick the winner. She should be thankful she made it to the live rounds at all, but NO she is complaining that her coach ruined her chances. Hello, he gave you your chances! She wanted to sing Billie Holiday- thank you for stopping that atrocity Cee Lo. She prided herself in the press after her elimination on her two "unique" song choices...oh wait...was that not a cover of "Your Song" in the exact styling on Ellie Goulding?? Yes- except that she pretty much sucked at it. You can ask my brother how upset I got after the second note she sang. You decide:

My heart hurts...
This show has a great talent for getting me so attached to people by the battle rounds that I am sad almost every time someone goes home. I don't know who to root for! Sometimes I even end up supporting someone who is up against someone on my team because of these story vignettes. Especially my two favorite boys: Jamie Lono and Anthony Evans. It still makes me sad to think about.Don't get me started, don't even get me started. I hope they continue to sing and eventually put out a record because I will buy them both!

Fantasy Voice League Beta is a winner!
There are still a few things to iron out but all in all the fantasy voice league is pretty awesome! We started out with teams of 12, after battle rounds were down to 6, and after 1 week of live shows we were down to four (so right along with the actual teams). We have turned our back on some and embraced others. We both started this week with 3 people we really liked (both had 2 on the same team) and one that we knew would not survive the next round. Surprise- Jesse went home! WHAT? I did not see that coming. But I have my two girls left to hopefully take me to the top! Fantasy Voice League is the best!!

RECORD STORE DAY THIS SATURDAY!!!

That is right- Record Store Day is this Saturday! I am so excited to go back to Finders, shop and spend a good chunk of change on music for the first time this year. If you do not know what Record Store Day is check out their website where you can get a list of exclusives that are coming out, news and see a list of stores participating. (Although I of course highly recommend Finders, but I guess if it is too far you to travel you can check out one in your area.)

As excited as I am, I am also nervous because I really want the Jimmy Fallon "Tebowie" 7" and I know it will be limited. I love Jimmy Fallon so I must have it! BTW- watched Downton Abby all weekend with my cousin because she had never heard of it-GASP!! She now is hooked. All weekend we were not only trying to live the Downton Abby lifestyle with multiple changes and an accent, but also constantly quoting the always spot on Late Night parody.

Anyway, it has been a busy few weeks with going back to school in the fall stuff, Easter, and crazy families- but I will defiantly post an update on school once that is all figured out and one on my what looks to be amazing haul from Finders this weekend. I will leave you with a sample from an EP being released this weekend physically for the first time...you guessed it...KIMBRA!!

Good Friday

So today is Good Friday which signals the end of Lent. Lent has been rough, but fun, and interesting. How did I do on my Lenten fasts and goals? Eh...so so. The spending fast went well with only 1 and 1/2 slip ups. How did the discipline go? Ugh discipline is hard. After being sick for a week, job busyness and watching one of my teens why her parents were out of the country my progress that I made has totally be undone. But even though Lent is ending, and I already have a list of things I will be buying like a haircut and a dress for the Kimbra concert, I am going to still try to train myself in discipline. I will be reminding myself of this constantly: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11) It is true- it is painful and it sucks but I want the good things it brings so I am going to continue to try.

A twitter depiction of the story of Jesus I found:

HAPPY EASTER!!

Music Monday: Alabama Shakes

I have been hearing hype about Alabama Shakes for at least 6 months now- but after the hype over Lana Del Rey, I was weary. As I kept hearing the last 5 seconds of their first song "Hold On" the negative attitude continued as I did not see what the big deal was. I heard it a few times, then a couple more, then today I listened to the whole CD on NPR. (Once again with an awesome line up of First Listen albums) I have to say- I am loving it. People kept saying they sound like a fresh take on old soul music- more Stax than Motown.Why didn't any of this win me over immediately before even hearing a note?? I blame Lana. (Ugh, video games...) Well I just want to announce I have come to my senses and when the album Boys and Girls comes out on April 10th (same day as the delicious M. Ward) it will most likely find its way into my Record Store Day shopping spree. I leave you with a few bits from this new soul band: