Starting today, each Saturday I’ll share my thoughts on the music of the week. Please keep in mind I am not a music critic, just a girl with a musical obsession that needs to be tempered.
Yoga+Music365 is my effort to expand my musical horizons by listening to a new album every day in 2010.
I’m always looking for new music, so please send me the titles of albums that you absolutely can not live without, albums you wish were on everyone’s iPods and albums you play over and over despite no one else “getting it”.
The albums don’t have to be new releases, just new to me.
NOTE: I’m linking to MySpace when it’s available because of the ease of listening to songs, not because of a love of MySpace.
MUSIC ROUNDUP!
Day One:
Title: 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack
Highlights:
There is a Light that Never Goes Off – The Smiths
Mushaboom – Feist
Us – Regina Spektor (link included video of this and the next song and movie preview – BONUS!)
Vagabond Wolfmother
You Make My Dreams – Hall and Oates – If you haven’t seen this movie, this scene is worth the price of admission. Seriously, watch it NOW!
Will I listen again?
Without a doubt!
Day Two:
Title: Furr by Blitzen Trapper
Highlights:
1. Sleepy Time in the Western World (every album should start so strong)
2. Furr – very Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel-esque. LOVE IT!
3. God+Suicide (the title alone wins)
4. Black River Killer (Why oh why, do I so enjoy the songs about killing people?)
Will I listen again?
Absolutely!
Day Three:
Title: In Our Nature by Jose Gonzalez
Highlights:
1. How Low
Will I listen again?
Jose Gonzalez was recommended to be by a friend because of how much I love Elliot Smith‘s breathy/folky “only meant for lover’s ears” kinds of songs. JG didn’t do much for me. Not to say he isn’t a talented musician because he is, he just isn’t my cup of tea.
Plus he has an 8 (!) minute song on a 33 minute record. I guess he didn’t get my very personal memo about the brilliance of the 3 minute song.
Will I listen again? Maybe. We’ll see what other gems are uncovered this year.
Day Four:
Title: My Maudlin Career by Camera Obscura
Highlights:
1. French Navy (Just trying listening without tapping your foot or shaking your butt.)
2. Away with Murder
3. Forests and Sand
4. Honey in the Sun
Will I listen again?
I already am!
Tracyanne Campbell sounds like an angel, plus it’s catchy & you can dance to it!
Day Five:
Title: Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie (full disclosure: I’ve heard it before, just not in 2010. For some reason I LOVE this band name. Why? I really don’t know).
Highlights:
Radio hits galore!
1. I Will Possess Your Heart
2. Cath…
Will I listen again?
Um, yeah. And so will you if you listen to “alternative” commercial radio. This isn’t a bad thing, it’s nice for good music to come on the radio sometimes.
Day Six:
Title: Flower of Avalon by Tracy Grammer
Highlights:
1. Laughlin Boy
2. Preston Miller
Will I listen again?
She has a beautiful voice – very much like Margo Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies. So I’ll probably stick with Margo and play “Lay It Down” when I want to hear the Cowboy Junkies.
Day Seven:
Title: Here We Come by The Fratellis
Highlights:
1. Shameless (very Big Star. Yes, Big Star that did that 70’s show song)
2. Look Out Sunshine!
3. Babydoll
4. Acid Jazz Singer
Will I listen again?
YES!
Please leave a comment about what you think I should be listening to this year.
Or send me a CD – Yoga+Music365 c/o Tami Hackbarth PO BOX 188616 Sacramento, CA 95818.
Today’s yoga brought to you by: The Kitchen! in Sacramento. All kidding aside, it’s a home practice day.
Today’s music is The Reminder by Feist.
Teacher Goes Back to School 
btw, sorry to overload you with comments, but I have to confess that after listening to Garden State soundtrack this morning, I realized there are a few, shall we say, lowlights. But there are some good ones on there, too.
jf: there is no such thing as too many comments =) keep them coming!
i’m still going to listen to the garden state soundtrack. if the good outweighs the bad, then it’s been worth it.
Tami, I’m definitely checking out some of your suggestions. I’ll bring in some suggestions for you to borrow just because, but I won’t be offended if they aren’t for you. :-) I remember lending my favorite book to a friend only to have her say, “I read it, and it was OK.” OK?! Well, to each her own, right?
jf: yay! for new music for you and for me! maybe we’ll make a love connection with all the sharing. thanks!
I love the music idea. All too often we (well, not you) listen to the same stuff over and over. Ugh. New music is so refreshing. I’m going to check out some of your recommendations.
The Garden State soundtrack is another good alternative-ish soundtrack. Oh, another soundtrack I liked is Into the Wild, but that might not be your cup of tea.
How about some world & yoga music suggestions? Brazilian music is generally very very rich and interesting. I love Ghazal. And do you enjoy “yoga music”? Jai Uttal and Ben Leinbach.
jf: i’m so glad you are getting some music ideas from here. i’ll keep posting. definitely let me know if you have any other favorites. i’ll check out the soundtracks.
thanks for the “yoga music” ideas. i’ll check them out too.
Here’s a little trivia fun: Death Cab for Cutie’s name is taken from a song of the same name that appeared in the Beatles Movie “Magical Mystery Tour”. It’s not a Beatles song, though. It is by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. How about that for a band name?
pr: thanks for the dcfc trivia. who knew?
i also will check out the ra ra riot. i’ll let you know what i think. thanks for the idea!
First, let me just say that I love reading your blogs! :D
I too have been listening to the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack. Love Regina’s “Hero” and “She’s Got You High”. I knew I needed to buy the soundtrack about 5 min. into the movie.
You need to listen to the New Moon soundtrack, that’s another good one. It’s very mellow but it’s got some awesome bands (Death Cab, Muse, Killers) plus a few new ones I’m really getting into (Anya Marina, Bon Iver & St. Vincent). Check it out!
amanda: thank you! i’m so happy that you are enjoying it. it’s a fun project.
i agree about the 500 Days soundtrack and the movie. i LOVE when the music makes the movie better and it *totally* did. other soundtracks i love: the graduate (of course) and good will hunting (love me some elliott).
new moon soundtrack: YES! i LOVED the movie! funny because i didn’t love the book. in any case, thanks for the tip.
i’ve got bon iver and st.vincent in the queue. so excited by all this new music!