Mountain Woman Music: Lucky 2015

Clear back in 2002 I had already decided what the best two albums of the year 2015 would be: Belle and Sebastian's Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance and Modest Mouse's Strangers to Ourselves. My teenaged brain from 2002 will always think that these artists are the best... and this year the teenager me and 2015 me are dancing together, and freaking out that it can't get any better than this!

I've been hoping for new Modest Mouse since their last studio album in 2007! Lampshades on Fire is groovy, makes you wanna get down, and pure Modest Mouse magic. The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box has such a good and joyful beat and I love the lyrics. The Best Room has classic Modest Mouse break downs and beat change ups that make you feel like you are snowboarding down a mountain of music, one of the many great lines from this song is "the family living upstairs must drive a fleet of ride along mowers". Wicked Campaign is straight up rad (my friend Tom said it was like Brandon Flowers and Isaac Brock had a baby and named it awesomeness) it does sound like a good Killers song, which isn't a bad thing. Sugar Boats... amazing. And Coyotes is just sweet. All the other songs are good too, and rumor is they had more, so another album way be coming out soon with the rest!

Belle and Sebastian. I have always loved these guys, and listened to their songs over and over again... I would have guessed that throughout the years that their music and I would have grown apart. It seems like most musicians I liked back in the day, if they are still making music, are too weird and too artsy for me now. Belle and Sebastian's newest album has been such a surprise and delight to me. The Party Line makes me want to go disco roller skating, I have been listening to this song and feeling groovy nonstop since I first heard it. Allie to me is like an old Belle and Sebastian song I loved back in high school but new improved for today. I love Everlasting Muse. The Book Of You is lovely. And Ever Had a Little Faith? was written just for you. Really, the whole album makes me want to learn French, get a pet cat, and plant some tomatoes in the best way.

Both of these gems are worth paying for and getting the vinyl. But, of course, that's just one proper mountain woman's opinion.

Listen to both these albums for free HERE.

Mountain Woman Music: Valentines

The rare thrill I get deep in my soul when I find a new song that speaks to me is one of my favorite things. I used to not enjoy when others share songs with me because it was so hit and miss... and I don't like telling someone I don't dig their music. But sometimes it's a good thing, every so often someone will share a rad song that speaks to me that I have never heard before. If one of the following songs gives you one of those rare thrills deep in your soul... then my work here is complete.

Music is a personal experience. Be as well rounded as you can with it.

Here's my two lists for Valentines this week, one for those in love, and one for those who ain't.

LIST 1 - LUCKY IN LOVE THIS VALENTINES:

My Brightest Diamond by Pressure - my new favorite song... it's unexpected. For some Valentines is about getting jewelry and diamonds from someone they love. This song is about working hard for those diamonds! I hope your lover spoils you on this special day and you can march and dance around to this tune!

Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine - such a pretty soft song.

Old 45's by Chromeo - the best song to dance to, and celebrate romance.

Love Never Felt so Good by Michael Jackson - let's not forget how great this song is.

Look At You Girl by Chris Ledoux - my opinion is that good country music is the best kind of Valentine music. What makes this song special? It was written by a real cowboy for his wife. Every proper mountain woman should be familiar with Ledoux... what a man.

Holding On To You by Miranda Lambert - when I first heard this song it sort of reminded me of the Chris Ledoux song above, and thought that this could be the girl version. I think this song is the sweetest real woman love song.



LIST 2 - FEELING A LITTLE BITTER THIS VALENTINES:

Tokyo Sunrise by LP - I'm digging this happy song along with the warm sunny weather here in Utah, it's been a while since a recent song made me stop and listen like this one... "love is never gone away, it's gonna come around some day". It's the happiest most hopeful song in this bottom list.

Caring is Creepy by The Shins - I love the break down in this song.

The Killing Type by Amanda Palmer - loooove this song... the lyric "I would kill to make you feel" is so real sometimes.

Beware the Dog by The Griswolds - a happy song to feel crazy to. (*warning, the music video is a little gruesome)

Every Other Freckle by Alt J - this song has a weird familiar sad overtone to it, but at the same time it makes me feel like I am wrapped up in a thick warm blanket.

Love Lockdown by Kanye West - I actually was heartbroken when 808's & Hearbreaks was released... and as ridiculous Kanye West is, he was nailing it.

Cecilia by Simon & Garfunkel - just come home already, girl... this guy loves you.

And to add some country to this bottom list... my favorite "mournful/bitter" love song is Why Not Me by The Judds - for me this song never gets old.

What's your favorite song right now? I really would love to know.

Mountain Woman Music: Skeleton

Bloc Party... I listen to it and feel tough.

Whoever put this song and cartoon together... crazy genius.

Mountain Woman Music: Plants and Animals

I have broken out of my country music funk. I owe it all to a lot of things. I may tell you about it one day.

October Soundtracks

Probably the best words I've come across ever.

October is my favorite month, it moves me.

I always seem to rediscover how much I love good music this month, I have no clue why... the October play lists I have made throughout the years are still the best mixes I've ever made.

Maybe October just sounds good, no matter what sound track is put to it.

Or maybe I just wish all music sounded like October... cheerful and profound.

And maybe I just want to be a woman you could describe as an October afternoon... if someone told me I was full of beastliness and charm I would die happy.

Does everyone love music more in October? Or is that just me?

Today I can't stop listening to AFI... that boy can sing.

Mountain Woman Music: The Band Perry

If you are breaking up with someone, like country, and can relate to girls with big wild hair, I can't recommend the album 'Pioneer' by the Band Perry enough. Every song off this album is so good right now.

I'm a keeper


Other highlights on the album:

back to me without you

chainsaw

forever never mind


done


Now I need more people to like this band so they can afford to make some more music videos, because I hate these lyric vids. I also got to get me a guitar.

Mountain Woman Music: New Albumns

Two of my favorite's both putting out new albums. Yeeha.

Shotgun

Shotgun!

I Got To Have Those S & P Shakers!

My Bro

You can listen to max's magic music online

------------------> STEP ONE - plug in your headphones

------------------> STEP TWO - turn the music to loud

------------------> STEP THREE - PUSH THIS

 -----------------> STEP FOUR - brace yourself and push play.

The music will put a spring to your step, make you laugh, cure whatever ales you, and is guaranteed to increase your luck (or cool).

spread the word, like peanutbutter. spread the music, like jam.

Song Souvenirs

While I was in Wales I met the cooolest 22 year old kid named Huw. I think he's cool because he's only 22 and he talks like he is 80, and knows everyone in the whole city. One day I was walking around Cardiff with him and he ran into like 20 people on the street that he knew. I guess he is known as "singing Huw" because everyone talks to him to play gigs and jam. He teaches guitar lessons, base lessons and singing lessons. He taught me the verb "to busk". I had never heard the word busking before!

Anyways, Huw is from West Wales (any more west, and you'd be in Ireland - he says) and has a lot of Welsh pride. He sang these welsh songs one night at the bar on his guitar, and I looooved it. The first one is a song they sing at all their Rugby games, Tom Jones' Delilah. I imagine they sing it like the Red Sox fans sing Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline. Everyone at the whole bar was singing all the chorus parts with him, the part where he sings "she stood there laughing" the whole bar sang together a big "Ha Ha Ha"!!! So good.

I had no clue that the national sport in Wales was rugby! I was excitedly telling max that via chat one day, while I was sitting at the bar with Huw. Max replied "I heard they sing hymns during their games". So I asked Huw, and he said it's true.. but they never make it to the second verse because noone knows the words (and I'm guessing because they are all drunk). I'm not sure what is classified as a "hymn" because this is one of the songs they sing:




And this one is just awesome, I hope to always remember Huw singing it because he was loving his life so much playing it for everyone. What a great welsh man, that Huw. Cheers.

All Night Long

max has a battery powered cassette player. he's outside eating potato chips, burning text books, and jamming this song. 

Gocco Printer

for awhile now I have been wanting to by myself a gocco printer. I looked at some on ebay during the summer and found quite a few for around 80 bucks. Today I made up my mind that I really was going to get one, and they are all gone. so sad, I guess all the indi-artists bought them all up.

And now for something completely different:

there is something about the song 'half mast' by Empire of the Sun that is sounds so familiar and good to me. It makes me sad, excited, glad and yearn all at the same time. It's all I want to listen to.

I Love Lu

U2 3D

Last night Tom, dad and I went and saw U2 in 3D. It really was so wonderful... it was like being at the actual concert but with an awesome view and not getting smashed, sweaty, and tired.

Watching Bono on stage was almost comical at some points. He is a wonderful entertainer, and I don't know how he does it... because he can't dance, his moves are lame, he wears ugly clothes, and is overly dramatic. But I love it! The crowd can't get enough. It makes me realize that I could never make a living on expressing myself like artists can. I'd end up laughing a bunch on stage, I could never take myself that serious.

I do wish I was a rock star. During the movie last night there was shots of the audience, which was enormous, seriously thousands and thousands of people jumping together. The crowd looked like a giant pulsating organism! How fun to have a crowd like that eating out of your hands!

I have been watching aerosmith music videos while doing my math homework tonight... those crazy critters have way too much fun on stage. And I decided I need to purchase the album "pump" for my new beetle.

MP3s Are My Favorite

I think it is the cutest thing ever getting an MP3 through gmail.

So, McKay and I decided that we are going to start a new little music club where we send each other an MP3 each day and a reason why we are sending it. It's perfect because each day I am in the mood for something else. McKay and I listen to such different stuff, I feel like we will get a lot of variety.

Then I was thinking that we could start a bigger club, with about 6 members. And each person could have a different day of the week to send music.
me = Mondays
Tom = Tuesdays
McKay = Wednesdays
Kaylene = Thursdays
Dad = Fridays
Lily = Saturdays

(or if more people are interested, we can double up on days)

Wouldn't that be a happy little club?

Mountain Woman Music: October 2007

harvest moon - neil young
pocohantas - neil young
heart of gold - neil young
unkown legend - neil young
shine a light - wolf parade
pistol - dustin kensrue
i believe - dustin kensrue
diamonds and rust - joan baez
house by the sea - iron & wine
innocent bones - iron & wine
bodysnatchers - radiohead
jigsaw falling into place - radiohead
falling slowly - glen hansard
sulsbury hill - peter gabriel
young folks - peter bjorn and john
if she wants me - belle & sebastian
set the fire to the third bar - snow patrol
if the brakeman turns my way - bright eyes
true blue - bright eyes

Good Modest Mouse

I went to my dad's office to swap cars back and to print a letter off, and while I was in his office he gave me a bunch of Led Zeppelin CD's (because I asked about them) and their DVD set. He also gave me a hundred dollar bill to help pay for school. Then I got in the car and he had fixed the time, filled the tank and added more steering fluid. I was in a glow of happiness the rest of the afternoon. I have the best dad ever.

Then I went to FYE to buy the new MM cd, and was thrilled to find out they have such good deals on new released music. Only $9.99! Frick! I am glad I didn't go to gray whale. And I was so excited to be listening to it I was screaming and laughing in the car and I didn't have anyone to call and be excited with... the only one I know now-a-days that likes modest mouse almost as much as me is my mom. So I called my mom and drove up and hung out with her. She loves modest mouse. I have the best mom ever.

Lyrics

kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss on the lips.... or on the face.

broken hearts want broken necks

Winter and Floor Plans

It was so cold walking around tonight that my back got all tight. I hate when that happens. I came home and quickly turned on the heater and my space heater in my bedroom. It's just me, the heat, and some brownies.

Today was an interesting day, and I am so tired even though I have gotten plenty of rest lately. I even took a nap on Thursday. I never take naps. Mark made me take one. I hadn't taken a nap since the last time Mark made me take a nap. Naps are fun, especially with friends... I wish I had time for more of them.

After work I went over to Cynthia Cooks house to go over some house plans with her. She is a funny lady. I met her at a planning commision meeting with my boss about a month ago. I sat next to her and fell asleep, geez! I almost told her I didn't feel qualified to draw up these plans for her but she said something about how men make the worst floor plans and that is why she wanted a women to help her. That is when I said said I would do it, plus I could use the money.

Tonight I went to my friend Drew Danburry's show. It really was amazing. I am so glad that I went. I forget how much I like going to shows by myself. I usually go to Drew's shows because I am his friend and I like seeing him when he is in town... and not so much for his music. But tonight I fell in love with the music. It just had so much emotion to it. I loved seeing Drew. I kept thinking about Drew and how he is always on the road, doesn't really have a home, and how he just spreads himself so thin. I used to not understand why he did that. I have a hard time with musicians, they just seem so disconnected. But tonight watching Drew I finally understood. He is living his dream, and it is hard, but he is doing it. That is amazing to me. It makes me love his music more than I ever have.

He wanted me to stay and do a sing-a-long and record it for his upcoming album, but for some reason my stomach was hurting and I was sleepy so I left. Man, I love Drew. He is such a cowboy lately.