the best compilation. ever.

I am very pleased to write about a new two disc compilation coming out on February 17th. It's entitled Dark Was the Night. Here is the official info:

Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National produced the album, and John Carlin, the founder of the Red Hot Organization was the executive producer. A total of 32 exclusive tracks have been recorded for the compilation. It will be available as a double cd/triple vinyl/download and will benefit the Red Hot Organization - an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Red Hot was founded on the premise that even without a cure, AIDS remains a preventable disease – and music is a great vehicle to raise money and awareness for it. This is the 20th year of Red Hot, and this is the 20th release!

Tracklisting--

THIS DISC (DISC ONE):

1. "Knotty Pine" - Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
2. "Cello Song" - The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
3. "Train Song" - Feist and Ben Gibbard
4. "Brackett, WI" - Bon Iver
5. "Deep Blue Sea" - Grizzly Bear
6. "So Far Around The Bend" - The National
7. "Tightrope" - Yeasayer
8. "Feeling Good" - My Brightest Diamond
9. "Dark Was The Night" - Kronos Quartet
10. "I Was Young When I Left Home" - Antony with Bryce Dessner
11. "Big Red Machine" - Justin Vernon + Aaron Dessner
12. "Sleepless" - The Decemberists
13. "Stolen Houses (Die)" - Iron & Wine
14. "Service Bell" - Grizzly Bear + Feist
15. "You Are The Blood" - Sufjan Stevens

THAT DISC (DISC TWO):

1. "Well-Alright" - Spoon
2. "Lenin" - Arcade Fire
3. "Mimizan" - Beirut
4. "El Caporal" - My Morning Jacket
5. "Inspiration Information" - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
6. "With A Girl Like You" - Dave Sitek
7. "Blood Pt. 2" - Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)
8. "Hey, Snow White" - The New Pornographers
9. "Gentle Hour" - Yo La Tengo
10. "Amazing Grace" - Cat Power
11. "Happiness" - Riceboy Sleeps
12. "Another Saturday" - Stuart Murdoch
13. "The Giant Of Illinois" - Andrew Bird
14. "Lua" - Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch
15. "When The Road Runs Out" - Blonde Redhead & Devastations
16. "Love Vs. Porn" - Kevin Drew

Look above and two of the songs above are linked to MP3s for your previewing enjoyment. The compilation's MySpace will be streaming a new track from the double disc set every day:

http://www.myspace.com/DarkWasTheNight

I encourage everyone to buy this compilation. It's going to a great cause and has so many phenomenal tracks!

'cause I'm looking for my friend

shroud

I just want to write...

New Animal Collective.
New Animal Collective.
New Animal Collective.
New Animal Collective.

And an inauguration. And an inauguration party. What a splendid month.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Strawberry Jam. Granted some of the songs (at least one of them) could be my favorite AC song of all. For some reason I just didn't feel on it. There is still time. But Merriweather Post Pavilion seems so grand so far. It is time for a really good record to enter my life. Something needs to fill up these great wide gaps and spaces.



Snow blows about here in Ohio. And this is my favorite song off of the new release. It is the very first song.

Animal Collective - In the Flowers

I have been trying to listen to a lot of new things recently. A new favorite is this little tune by The Essex Green. I'm from Ohio and I went to school in Pennsylvania. I have visited Pittsburgh several times... So it is fun to hear Ohio mentioned in this song. Rust belt.

The Essex Green - Sin City

Enjoy. Happy 2009!

tell him I said come on

I'm getting tired of your shit
You don't ever buy me nothing
See every time you come around
You gotta bring Jim, James, Paul and Tyrone

See, why can't we be by ourselves sometime?
See, I've been having this on my mind for a long time
I just want it to be you and me like it used to be, baby
But you don't know how to act

So matter a fact, I think you better call Tyrone
And tell him come on help you get your shit
You need to call Tyrone
And tell him I said come on.

I'm thinking that perhaps My Morning Jacket covers Erykah Badu's 'Tyrone' because she says Jim James in the song. But whatever the reason, it is an excellent cover. And it is pretty funny.

My Morning Jacket - Tyrone (Erykah Badu cover)

Ms. Badu even makes a surprise appearance with MMJ at a Dallas concert to sing her song--Tyrone.

the cold swedish winter

I saw Loney, Dear opening for of Montreal in March of 2007. Actually, before the show I saw Emil Svanängen walking the cold streets of Cleveland with the most stern look I had ever seen on a man. Perhaps Swedes always look that way facing a cold wind.

When the show began I couldn't have predicted the tenderness that Emil possessed in his person. I was entranced by the expressions on his face and his beautiful voice that went so high.

I think everyone should have a little Swedish music in their lives. A lot, actually, because some of the best music recently has come from there. Loney, Dear is worth a listen. Make some hot chocolate and enjoy.

Loney, Dear - The Meter Marks OK
Loney, Dear - Hard Days

right click and choose 'Save Link as..." to download.

Morrissey bike gang

ErghTHAT"s WHAT TRADITION MEANS!

I want to be in this Morrissey army.

Happy Thanksgiving.

prenez soin de vous

...is one of my favorite combinations of the French language. It means 'take care of yourself' and is the title of a book/exhibition by Sophie Calle, a French artist.

"In this remarkable artist's book, French conceptual artist/provocateur Sophie Calle presents 107 outside interpretations of a "breakup" e-mail she received from her lover the day he ended their affair. It is a deeply poignant investigation of love and loss, published to coincide with the 2007 Venice Biennale--where Calle served as that fair's French representative.

All of the interpreters of Calle's breakup letter were women, and each was asked to analyze the document according to her profession--so that a writer comments on its style, a justice issues judgment, and a lawyer defends Calle's ex-lover. Other interpretations are offered by a psychoanalyst studying the ex's psychology, a mediator tries to find a path towards reconciliation, and a proofreader provides a literal edit of the text, etc.

In addition, Calle asked a variety of performers, including Nathalie Dessay, Laurie Anderson and Carla Bruni, among others, to act the letter out. She filmed the singers and actresses and photographed the other contributors, so that each printed interpretation stands alongside at least one riveting image of its author.

The result is a fascinating study and a deeply moving experience--as well as an artwork in its own right. Already a collector's item, this is a universal document of how it feels to grieve for love." -- Amazon.com



I'm enamored with Charlotte Gainsbourg's voice and mostly her songs in French. I feel that this beautiful song fits the mood of this artwork and its ambitions to expose and provoke. And Nina, oh, Nina. This song is a must! Prenez soin de vous. Take care of yourself.

Charlotte Gainsbourg - L'un Part L'autre Reste
Nina Simone - Ne me Quitte Pas