MIXTAPE WEDNESDAY: When a Siren Weeps

 

When a Siren Weeps
Breathe Me - Sia
Time Flies - Lykke Li
Not Going Anywhere - Keren Ann
Almost Lover - A Fine Frenzy
Because I Can - Katy Rose
Do What You Have To Do - Sarah McLachlan
Foolish Games (Radio Version) - Jewel
Better Days - Club 8
That I Would Be Good - Alanis Morissette
Satellite Heart - Anya Maria
The Writer - Ellie Goulding
I Only Want to Be With You - Vonda Shepard
Left of the Middle - Natalie Imbruglia
Come Here Boy - Imogen Heap
Spanish Doll - Poe
Out Of The Woods - Sinéad Lohan
The Greatest - Cat Power
The Special Two - Missy Higgins
Calendar Girl - Stars
Call It Off - Tegan and Sara
Half-Gifts (Acoustic Version) - Cocteau Twins
Let It Die - Feist
Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
Elephant - A Camp
Your Song - Kate Walsh
Blue Lips - Regina Spektor
You'll Go Far - Jenn Grant
Wild Horses - The Sundays
Here with Me - Dido
Kissing You - Desiree
Teeth - Lisa Hannigan

image from here

MUST LISTEN: Boyfriend by Best Coast [mp3]

If you want to extend summer without even breaking a sweat, you'll enjoy this new track from Best Coast. Boyfriend is part of their full-length debut album Crazy For You to be released on July 27 under Mexican Summer. HOT!!

Bethany Cosentino pines and wines, wishing a nameless guy to be her boyfriend. Oh well, sounds familiar. You can download the track legally here.

MUST WATCH: Lights by Interpol

Check out this absurd yet stylish new music video from Interpol from their upcoming self-titled album. Lights was directed by Charlie White.

MUST LISTEN: Let's Make Babies by The Bernadettes

Oh, I know DOH and DepEd will not like the title of this track. Apart from its suggestive title, this song from The Bernadettes made these indie drunk poppers from the South a sort of a household name in the underground scene. It's fun and catchy. And after the second chorus, you will find yourself singing "Let's Make Baby!!!" on top of your lungs.

The Bernadettes used to be part of indie label Lily Records. But as of May 4th, their contract with the label expired along with Turbo Goth and no reports yet of renewal. Well, I am sure these guys will find another recording company with all the good materials they have. For now, we can just enjoy this awesome track and shout to the world "Let's Make Babies!!!!" (If you're already married, ok kids?)

MUST WATCH: Celestica by Crystal Castles

Crystal Castles continues to "gothify" their image with their newest music video for Celestica. This is my favorite from all of the leaked tracks that will be included in their sophomore self-titled album. It still has that dark elctro sound induced with melodies and catchy beats.

This music video is pretty much dark and has that goth imagery going on. It's just refreshing to see Alice Glass in a very contained state. I like her better on stage, though. That girl knows how to get crazy and i love it.

Watch the video here

Photo of the Day: Daydreaming in Spring Time

photo by Mark Buenaobra

MUST LISTEN: Playground Love (Air Cover) by Phoenix

Phoenix recently performed six songs in MTV Unplugged. Nothing so special about their acoustic rendition of their hits but this cover of Air's Playground Love from the movie The Virgin Suicides is totally a must listen.

RAG HAG: Juice Magazine Singapore

For the pilot post of my newest segment called Rag Hag here in my blog, I would like to share with you my latest magazine find courtesy of our publisher. (thanks Ms J)

So this is Juice Magazine (Singapore), a free monthly publication that covers music, fashion and clubbing culture. Yes, it's for free. Judging by its cover, you would clearly know that this magazine is all about cool and hip stuff. It's very Nylon and BlackBook. The layout, the graphic design, the typography, the photography, very much Nylon and I dont think that's a bad thing. I love its clean cover and neat layout for a hipster kind of publication. It's pretty much the same as our local magazine Status but cleaner. Juice doesn't use too many fancy fonts and it's consistent through out the pages so that means it's not painful to read. I love Status Magazine but I hope they would get some pointers from Juice specially with their layout department.

On this June 2010 issue, djs Beni G and Pluse One aka Jack Beats are on the cover. This issue also features some young designers in Singapore like Mae Pang and Larry Lim of the local fashion label Sundays.

Watch the video and see how cool this magazine from the La land is. (you might wanna open your speakers or wear your headphones to hear the accompanying music)

BAND CRUSH: Minks

Like a real stalker, I was searching for some orgasmic info about this new band Minks and neither Pitchfor nor Stereogam helped me out. I've been addicted to their songs Kusmi and Funeral Song which are the only available reference about Minks out there. Their sound is a mixture of everything shoegaze, dark wave, eerie synth and all but they aren't afraid to put a little bit of spring time in their gloominess.

I particularly love Funeral Song. I cannot decipher what are they singing about and So long summer time/not coming back is the only line that I can clearly understand. But nevertheless, It's a perfect soundtrack to end this scotching hot summer days and welcome the rainy season with some shoegaze action.

Watch their video for Funeral Song and you can download their songs here and here

MUST WATCH/LISTEN: Say No To Love by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

It's raining right at this very moment while i am writing this post and the new single from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart makes me suddenly missed sunny days. Pains' brand of indie-pop reminds me of the earlier Sarah Records bands particularly Field Mice but more cleaner. It has that C86 sound and the charm of twee without losing that modern pop sensibilities. I totally love this song! Intro palang, pasok na!

I also love the accompanying video for Say No To Love featuring the band's keyboardist Peggy Wang enjoying the hot summer days while the rest of the gang plays somewhere else. Check it out

MUST WATCH: Bang Bang Bang by Mark Ronson feat MNDR & Q-Tip

This new music video of Mark Ronson reminds of the Masked Rider Black transformation...


Besides that reference, I would like to commend Mr. Ronson for creating such trippy discotheque dance number. Ive always been a huge fan of his style sensibilities and it's only until now that I appreciate him as a serious musician.

Sofia Coppola + Phoenix + The Strokes = Somewhere

I just saw the trailer for the new Sofia Coppola flick, Somewhere and loving it so much. Apart from it being another touching film by the director of The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation, this one will have another kick ass soundtrack courtesy of the hip French band Phoenix.

The barely recognizable Love Like a Sunset by Phoenix opens the movie trailer. And when Ellie Fanning enters the scene,  I'll Try Anything Once by The Strokes sings beautifully on the background and I nearly cried. Check out the full track below as well as the film trailer.

MUST WATCH: It's Working by MGMT

Though their sophomore album Congratulations is a hard listen and not as accessible as Oracular Spectacular, MGMT knows how to compensate it with their music videos. Flash Delirium was bizarre and cinematically stunning, It's Working is pretty much the same. Look out for the scene where Andrew dressed as a girl and she or he looks super cute! benta! It's directed by French art house So.Me., the same guys who made Justice's D.A.N.C.E. video. 

BAND CRUSH: Jamaica

If you are a big fan of Phoenix and Two Door Cinema Club, you would probably love Jamaica. Kitsune Maison compilation introduced me to the band with their song Short and Entertaining. And from the title suggests, Jamaica delivers what they promised. It's infectious and catchy and you would just want to put it on loop until your ears bleed. From the time the guitar intro teased me with its stop and go hook, I was immediately strung out. I also include the video for their current single I Think I Like U2 which is equally catchy as Short and Entertaining.
 
Their upcoming album is co-produced by Justice’s Xavier de Rosnay so we'll be expecting a smashing debut from this Parisian duo.

Short and Entertaining

MUST LISTEN: Crossfire by Brandon Flowers

Here it is!!! Brandon Flowers' first single from his debut solo album Flamingo! I'm sure a lot of The Killers fans were a bit disappointed when the news broke out few months back but this single will leave them happy and satisfied. Crossfire doesnt have that boom boom pow instrumention of The Killers but Flowers' vocals and writing prowess were not as highlighted as it is here. Take a listen.

Chuginess si Chuvaness??!!!

Check her new site here. Chuvaness is up and running now.
Image from pinkflyingelephants

Some Shelf Gratification by Monday Magazine

You may like leather, body hair or odd feet but surely Shelf Fetish will tickle all your fancies. This editorial is one of my favorites from the pilot issue of Monday Magazine which is still available, btw in your favorite bookstores and magazine stands.



Photography by Arthur Abraham
Styled by RCXY
Special thanks to Gian Romano 

My Past Lomo Love Affair

I got my first lomo camera 5 years ago and it was the Colorsplash Lolo Camera. I instantly fell in love with that thing. I wonder if it still working. Here are some of my test shots:

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Marie by Solveig Sandnes

I remember seeing this music video for the first time on MTV and i didnt know that i would love her genre up until now.  I thought this video was hilarious and her sound was kind of funny back when I was in grade school. Ahh..brings back memories.

I want to be a one-hit-wonder someday like Solveig.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Your Woman by White Town

I've been searching for the title and the band name of this particular track for ages and all i had to do was type 'black & white music video from the 90s' in google and voila! yahoo answered. What do you know? someone, some where from the far side of the earth, was asking the same question as mine. Internet, sometimes, amazes me.

This track was released in 1996 by the band White Town. I dunno if they had another song but most definitely this one was their  best. I love the infectious intro and the Truffaut-esque music video. The lyrics are just ambiguous. Hmm...

no glimmer of yourself at all...

Sometimes, all you need to make you feel better is a song that speaks directly to you.


image from here

MUST WATCH: Fixed by Stars

I thought I was watching a music video from the 90s. The director George Vale used some overlays, double-exposure effect, the projector screen, fast-forward lasers, aged/distorted photographs, montages and a band rehearsal- it's like 1997 all over again and i liked it!


Stars' Five Ghosts is due out on June 22 via Soft Revolution/Vagrant.

image from here

MUST LISTEN: Memorial Day by The Golden Filter

Take a listen/watch at this previously unreleased track from The Golden Filter which is too calm for their present sound. It's not a bad thing, though. I just never thought they would create such chillgazer feel music which sounds like a Cocteau Twins track. But nonetheless, i like it. enjoy the vid as well.

image from last.fm

MUST LISTEN: Wall of Arms by Friends Electric

There's nothing new about this track from Friends Electric. You might have heard a million songs similar to its sound. But regardless of freshness, Wall of Arms is a solid dance track that can make you go whoa! and yeah! while doing your regular choreography.

That's it

BAND CRUSH: Doldrums

Contrary to what their name defines, Doldrums' sound is definitely not calm and stagnant. This band from Toronto is getting a lot of hype in the underground scene and they have become one of the most intrigued unsigned band there is.

I just love it whenever I hear fresh sound/music from an unknown band. It's like having a new pair of you and you just want to wear them over and over again. Doldrums just did that to me. Though they have very few materials out yet, these tracks prove that Doldrums will go beyond the borders of Canada and it doesn't matter if they don't have visas.

Their sound is a fusion of electro, art-rock, drum n' bass and everything. It's hard to pin down which genre they fall in to but whatever that is, they own the category.

The video below is my fave from their releases:


And this one is just plain awesome!


The first official release will be a limited edition VHS mixtape recorded at Everlasting Joy (Toronto's largest DIY showspace and Doldrums' home studio.) You can also check their MySpace and blog for more info of the band.