It's really, really good.

Coldplay released the first single off of Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, "Violet Hill", to the public today. It's available as a free download on their official website for a week, or just about every single music blog on the Internet for the next month, including this one.

So. So. Good.

It's a lot darker than all that "Yellow" stuff everyone seems to hate. You know when a band starts going in a new direction, but they still have that flava flav that keeps them true to form? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. The lyrics are excellent, some of my favorite already, and there's still that weird spacey ambient stuff from X&Y, but add some riffy, distorted power guitar and piano pounding to the mix and you have "Violet Hill". It's mature, angry, bluesy, but it's Coldplay.

Anyway, I'll stop rambling. I'll refrain from dissecting it, but I really love the song, and I can't wait to hear what you guys think. I am SO looking forward to this album. 49 days and counting. I LOVE COLDPLAAAAAAAAY.

Violet Hill - Coldplay

Love, Lindsay

"I know it seems that I dont care, but something in me does, I swear."

Narcolepsy - Ben Folds Five

Since I've gotten back from Italy, I've been going to sleep around eight o'clock (sometimes earlier) every night, without fail. I don't do it on purpose. I just pass out, often while I'm watching a movie or doing homework. I can't tell you how many times I've fallen asleep with my laptop on my chest in the past three weeks.

I've always loved sleeping. Lately, though, it has become something I hate. It's the feeling I get when I wake up ten minutes before I have to leave for school. I realize that I didn't finish my five English assignments I had to make up from when I was out of the country and I didn't call my girlfriend like I promised I would. I get sick about it.

I promised Marissa and Tia I would hang out with them one night. I fell asleep watching SNL on Tivo. They thought I got in a car accident.

I saw a play at my school last night that a lot of my friends were in. I fell asleep on and off in the last twenty minutes, particularly during two pivotal monologues given by two very close friends of mine. I really loved the play, but I have apparently turned into a narcoleptic.

I'm an asshole. I'm sorry.

(Usually I would end a post like this with a witty, ironic comment like "I'm gonna take a nap now." However, that is the LAST thing I want to do at the moment...and I'm not tired now anyway. How's that for fucking irony?)

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the tiny hiatus. Phil was in Chicago and I was bizzy bizzy bizzy.

I will fully admit that I haven't been listening to much new music lately. I have been on a humongous Bruce Springsteen kick. And by kick I mean obsession. HOWEVER, there are a couple FANTASTIC new songs I've come across lately that I'd love to share with you. Not only are they awesome songs, but they've got some awesome music videos as well.

Alphabeat - Fascination

I don't even know where to start with this song. First of all, who on EARTH isn't a fan of Scandinavian pop? Pelle Carlberg, The Cardigans, The Raveonettes, Jens Lekman, Junior Senior, Peter Bjorn and John... the list is endless. Well, it ends if you try and include ABBA, but that is entirely besides the point. Sweden's Alphabeat is no exception to the rule. Their MySpace proclaims, "Imagine the love child of the B52’s and Wham produced by Nile Rodgers and voila you have Alphabeat!", and while I can't quite wrap my mind around that much awesome, I will say this. This album is great, but "Fascination" is by far the standout track. I love it because I can tell the band is having fun, which in turn makes me have fun. That's pretty much what music is about, if you ask me. The video is colorful, danceful, Swedishful. They're also probably the two most adorable people on the face of the Earth.

Duffy - Mercy

It doesn't take a genius to see the flood of talented, pretty chicks coming out of the United Kingdom as of late. Duh. I love them all, and while I personally see that as the only similarity between all of them, I can see where people are coming from. I can also see why people would compare Welsh soul singer to our beloved Amy Winehouse. Instead of talking about how much that annoys me, I'll tell you about how I caught this music video at about three o'clock in the morning on MTV, and through all of my delirium, fell in love. I love everything about this girl, her music, and her video. It's the sexiest video I've seen in a long time that doesn't have Justin Timberlake in it, she's sexy, the song is sexy. I love it all. She also isn't a celebrity representative of the world's crack dens, which is nice.

I sincerely hope you dig these songs as much as I do. And if not, let us know what you've discovered recently!

Love, Lindsay

You take Italy.

I'll take France.

Before anyone gets their panties in a twist and deems me an Anti-American, stfu. Yes, I've lived in America my whole life. Yes, it's a pretty cool country. While I don't always agree with the way it's run, I'm not miserable here by any means. Vegas sucks, but America on the whole isn't so bad.

That said, my heart lies thousands of miles away.

Granted, I haven't been there. I haven't fallen in love with the City of Love firsthand. As cheesy as it sounds, isn't it true that you can love your soulmate, the other half of your heart, before even having met them? That's what I like to believe, at least. That's how I feel about France. It's in my blood, pumping through my veins. The language is in my mouth. The art and the movies are in my eyes. The music is in my ears.

Sometimes, I feel like I could just run away and start over. Not at this particular juncture in my life, maybe. But someday. I think about what it could be like. Being proposed to on the Eiffel Tower, walking speechless through museums, buying bread and cheese and fruits in the native language. Being surrounded by something so old and full of history and life.

I don't know. I think it would be just the perfect amount of lovely I need. Maybe I'll just study abroad.

Here's just a few of my favorite songs about France, or in French, or by French people, or just getting the fuck out of Vegas. I hope you like. =]

Un éléphant me regarde - Antoine
Paris 2004 - Peter Bjorn and John
Milord - Édith Piaf
Where Do You Go to (My Lovely) - Peter Sarstedt
Parisian Skies - Maxïmo Park
Work - Jimmy Eat World

Love, Lindsay

SCARLETT.

Anywhere I Lay My Head (Tom Waits cover) - Scarlett Johannson

Scarlett's debut album of Tom Waits covers - produced by the TV on the Radio guy and featuring backup vocals by David FUCKING Bowie - will be released on May 20. Here's Tom's near-perfect original, and a bonus track I think you'll dig.

Anywhere I Lay My Head - Tom Waits

Starlett Johannson - The Teenagers

I was just gonna make this post a quickie about my excitement over the release of my #1 celebrity crush's musical opus...and I really should be catching up on homework...but...I figure it's as good a time as any to give a short update about my life for you dozen or so readers out there. =]

I saw Shine a Light in IMAX with my sister and Marissa over the weekend. That's the new Rolling Stones concert movie directed by Marty Scorsese. My mind = blown. They showed a clip from an interview a couple of years ago where Keith Richards was asked, "What do you think about while you are performing?" Keith, also known as God round these here parts, answered, "I don't think when I'm on stage - I feel."

I wanna be Keith Richards when I grow up.

Tumbling Dice - The Rolling Stones

Speaking of my sister and Marissa...the three of us are going with my dad to Chicago this weekend. It will be my last college trip - I'm seeing DePaul University and Roosevelt University - and then I have to make my decision. It will be really tough having to do that, and I'm not really looking forward to it. I'm just anxious to get out of Las Vegas again - I hate it here so much. This song pretty accurately describes how I feel at the moment, right down to the fucking title:

Chicago (Multiple Personality Disorder Version) - Sufjan Stevens

Speaking of Marissa...I'm not asking her to prom. Cough.

Come Dance With Me - Eddie Quinteros

Rant time...(I really need to do my homework, but I don't give a fuck)...I'm sick of the sight of this place. Going to school sickens me, especially my school. It's just become a cesspool of egotistical bastards. Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit because I'm so anxious to get out of here, but I think it's true for the most part. It disgusts me. Las Vegas in general disgusts me. I hope that while I'm away at college my family will move to New York City or San Diego or fucking Italy so I never have to visit this shithole ever again.

While I was away, Lindsay made a great mix full of songs to listen to when you're down on your luck and you need some cheering up. Well, here are a couple of songs to listen to when you're pissed off at the state of things in your world and you just want to get away for a while. I'll definitely be listening to them tonight, and right up until the day I get the fuck out of this town for good.

Be Safe - The Cribs (feat. Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth)

Bad Day - R.E.M.

Pavement Tune - The Frames

Motorcycle - The Rumble Strips

I'll be cool. Thanks for reading.

-Phil

Cool beans.

Hey guys! On my Hype Machine adventures today, I found this survey, and I thought it was purdy neat.

A song that makes you dance: Going On - Gnarls Barkley

A song that helps you wind down: Animals Were Gone - Damien Rice

A song that makes you smile when you hear it: Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien - Édith Piaf

A song that can bring you to tears: The Luckiest - Ben Folds

A good driving song: I Believe She's Lying - Jon Brion

A song that makes you think of mom: Oregon Girl - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

A song that makes you think of dad: Misery Business - Paramore

A song that makes you think of that special someone: Just What I Needed - The Cars

A song that puts you "in the mood": It's a tie! Hard to Handle - Otis Redding / Trouble (Live Lindsey Buckingham cover) - Of Montreal

A song that you're embarrassed to say you like: Folkin' Around - Panic! At the Disco

A song that makes you laugh: Won't U Please B Nice - Nellie McKay

A song that you would karaoke: One Week - Barenaked Ladies

A song that reminds you of your childhood: Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard

A song that reminds you of high school: Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen

A song you could listen to no matter what: Thirteen - Big Star

That's me in a nutshell, I guess. I would love to see what kind of answers you guys have!

Coming up soon is a review of the new Islands album, Arm's Way. I have to wait awhile though, given the fact that I've obtained it over a month before its release. Whoopsie daisy. Have a great day, everyone!

Love, Lindsay

"Hey", says a friend

My name's Isaac, and I love movies and music almost as much as Linds and Phil.  We used to see movies together every Friday night (including THE DEPARTED for the first time) but now I live in Evansville, Indiana...anyways.  Here's a guest article that I wanted to share with all you readers.

I rediscovered my love for Pixies, a grunge band of the late 80s, early 90s this year.  They're known for a semi-surf influence and being all-around badasses.  Known for such hits as "Here Comes Your Man," "Wave of Mutilation," and "Where Is My Mind?," Pixies have a unique sound that is said to have inspired Kurt Cobain, among many others.

I was listening to them while finishing a drafting project the other night, and the song "Hey" came on by them.  So, without further ado:

Hey

Been trying to meet you

Ooh

Hey

Must be a devil between us

Or whores in my head

Whores at the door

Whore in my bed

But hey

Where

have you

been?

If you go, I will surely die

We're chained.

Uuh

Said the man to the lady

Ooh

Uuh

Said the lady to the man she adores

and the whores like a choir

Uuh uuh

All night

And Mary aint you tired

of this

uuh

is

the

sound

that your mother makes

when the baby breaks

We're chained.

-----

That my friends, is songwriting.  In my humble opinion, this song captures and conveys the honest convictions of relationships, and to an extent, human nature.  What I truly love about this song is how it transcends the lyrics, as poetic as they are, and captures the pain you feel in a relationship, even when you love someone as much as you can.  The echoing effects of the guitar and subtle creeping bassline, tied with one of the best vocalizations in recording history.  I'm not going to say that "Hey" is the best song ever written.  But it's up on my list, and I wanted to share it

And on a side note...Rachel Bilson is a fox who should probably get some acting lessons.  But she's still a fox.  With that, I'm out.

I've been writing and rewriting this post for an hour.

Everything I write just doesn't do my trip to Italy justice. The gist: the food was great, the weather was perfect, and I made friendships that I'm positive will last for a very, very long time. 

This post is split into two parts. The first one is a mix of songs that tell "the story" of my trip. Sometimes it's spelled out for you right in the title of the song, and sometimes you have to dig a little deeper and listen to the lyrics. A few of these are just songs that I found myself listening to over and over again as we travelled. I tried to keep everything chronological...it's like a puzzle. Listen closely, folks. =]

1. Theme from "Sanford and Sons" - Quincy Jones

2. Supernatural Superserious - R.E.M.

3. Your English is Good - Tokyo Police Club

4. The Pizza Song - Bouncing Souls

5. Long Distance Call - Phoenix

6. Happiness/The Gondola Man (acoustic) - Elliott Smith

7. Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

8. Moving Pictures - The Cribs

9. Rebel Rebel - David Bowie

10. Paper Planes - M.I.A.

11. Friday Night (Is Killing Me) - Bash and Pop

12. Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard - Paul Simon

13. Minor Star of Rome - The National

14. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - Annuals

15. In My Arms - Kylie Minogue

16. (Now and Then) There's a Fool Such as I - Elvis Presley

17. Up All Night - The Young Knives

18. Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse - Minus the Bear

19. The Coast is Always Changing - Maximo Park

********

Time for Round 2...SONG DEDICATIONS!

To Leonardo:

Yesterday (Beatles cover) - Marvin Gaye

(This one has a lot of soul, man) =]

To Neri, David, George, Lorenzo, and Filippo:

Chop Suey! (System of a Down cover) - Tenacious D

To Matt, Siti, Marly, and Connie:

Heartbeats - The Knife

Gigantic - The Pixies

(She's playing bass, Constance!)

To Ben, Glen, Luke, Taylor, Matt, Matt...and Ramsey. Bastard:

Hounds of Love - Ra Ra Riot

Panic - The Cribs & Johnny Marr

Fuck Forever (Radio 1 Version) - Babyshambles

Everybody's Happy Nowadays - Ash (feat. Chris Martin)

To all the Brits:

Foundations/A New England - Kate Nash & Billy Bragg

To all the Italians:

Thank You, Friends - Big Star

Cheers, world. You're wonderful.

-Philip Cerza

Whip out your fucking party hats, kids.

Today, Pitchfork informed me that not only does Coldplay have a new Brian Eno-helmed album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, entering my life on June 17, but that they've just announced the tracklisting.

Where the fuck was I when this was announced in the first place?

It's been three years since the band released X&Y. As Pitchfork so lovingly and asshole-ingly dubs them, the "soft-rock Goliath" have largely been dismissed as a pansy ass, easy listening band. While I admit that X&Y is probably my least favorite of their three LPs, it's not pansy. Not by a long shot.

Chris Martin is a genius, you know? Say what you will about the soaring falsetto or naming his daughter Apple. What the fuck ever. Lyrically and instrumentally, dude is ferocious. I've never seen someone so energetic in a concert setting, despite the fact that a certain ex-boyfriend of mine fell asleep during one of the more mellow tunes. He's also a mean key tinkler, if you catch my drift. All and all, I have never once been let down by this band. Not even by X&Y, or by hearing "Speed of Sound" on Sunny 106.5. Am I right, Vegas kids?

It's been hard out here for a Coldplay fan, what with the "You know how I know you're gay?" jokes and the "poor man's Oasis" comparisons. They get a bad rap. While I won't dissect each album individually as a work of modern art, plead my case by chucking rare EPs and b-sides at you, or discuss the intellectual importance of the use of strobe lights, lasers, and running in every. single. music video they've ever made, I will say this. Coldplay was the first like, COOL concert I ever went to. A Rush of Blood to the Head got me through my first REAL breakup. "Warning Sign" was playing the night I saw The Last Kiss, the worst movie I've ever seen, but the biggest epiphany I've ever had. "Shiver" was playing the night I knew that I would never love anyone on Earth the way I love Philip John Cerza IV. "Clocks" taught me, after years of embarrassment, how to harmonize. Music is as big of a part of my life as air, but as you can see, Coldplay is sort of the cherry on top.

Anyway, enough of my ever-so-emotional editorial. Here is a link to the Bitchfork article with the tracklisting, and a couple of mp3s that should NOT be lumped in the same category as Aaron Neville and Kenny G. I'm really excited for this, guys. June 17!

Coldplay Reveal Viva la Vida Tracklist (Pitchfork)

How You See the World (2) - (Help: A Day in the Life)
Lips Like Sugar - (Live, Echo and the Bunnymen cover)
See You Soon - (The Blue Room EP)

Love, Lindsay

Hey guys.

The love of my life is home.
=]

To Go Home - M. Ward

Reunited - Peaches & Herb
Sweet Pea - Amos Lee
Bring It On Home To Me - Otis Redding & Carla Thomas

Love, Lindsay

I'm home.

I'm in love.

I'm on a high.

I'm wasted.

I'm heartbroken.

I'm in awe.

I'm alive.

I'm back in Vegas... and I'm severely jet-lagged.

There She Goes, My Beautiful World - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

I will write an enormous post about the greatest experience of my life this weekend, complete with pictures, love letters, lists, and really, really good music. Right now, though, I must nap. Love.

Sexy time.

Megan and I went to a "slumber" party tonight. For those of you who don't know what that is, I feel sorry for you. For those of you who do, we have two words for you. Nympho. Niagra.

In any case, we left the party feeling, needless to say, severely in debt and excited. Very excited.

Today, Megan's the guest blogger, as she made the bulk of the mix. Let's give her a round of applause and some ass.

This is for those intimate moments. Or the rough moments. Whateva. We're not going to muddy this up with a bunch of talk, so download, enjoy, pass them on to your lover, or save them for later.

Come to Mama - Etta James
Electric Feel - MGMT
Loving You - Paolo Nutini
Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge
Feeling Good - Michael Bublé
It's Now or Never - Elvis Presley
Sour Times - Portishead
If You're Feeling Sinister - Belle & Sebastian
Vibrate - Ghostland Observatory
Criminal - Fiona Apple
When the Lights Go Out - The Black Keys
Down Here in Hell (With You) - Van Hunt
When Doves Cry - Damien Rice
Comfortably Numb (Live) - Roger Waters, Van Morrison, & The Band

Love, Lindsay (and Megan!)

P.S.
Dear Caleb,
This is my favorite Wilco song of all time. I hope you like it and that you'll stop being a bitch.
I'm the Man Who Loves You - Wilco
Smooches, Lindsay

This post is for everyone!

Today, oddly enough, is a beautiful, sunny day here in Colorado. The grass is somewhat green, I think I saw a flower somewhere, I was kind of sweating in my jacket, and budding romances are... gross. Spring has sprung, ladies and gents. Today, as a sort of counterpart to yesterday's rainy day mix, I bring you a mix of sunny sunshine and blah blah blah to brighten your day. I hope everyone's doing well, and if not, go stand outside for a bit. It's lovely. Enjoy!

Spring 2008 - Architecture in Helsinki
Who Loves the Sun - Velvet Underground
Brighter Than Sunshine - Aqualung
I Hope Tomorrow is Like Today - Guster
Mr. Blue Sky - ELO
A Day in the Sun - The Phoenix Foundation
Walk in the Park - Oh No! Oh My!
You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
Island in the Sun - Weezer

Love, Lindsay

This post is for Megan Krusleski.

Hey, folks. It's raining today in Greeley, Colorado. This is a much needed rain, if you ask me. It doesn't rain much in Vegas, not by a long shot. But when it does, boy howdy, it does. In Houston, it rains a lot from what I'm told. Not shitty rain, but beautiful enough for Megan to miss it. So, to honor that, because I know we both need a little rain, proverbially and literally, this one goes out to my girl. A rain mega-mix. I've got a little something for everyone today, I hope you enjoy!

It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls
City Rain, City Streets - Ryan Adams
Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen
Storm - Blyss
Some Loud Thunder - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Raindrops - Regina Spektor
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - Bob Dylan
Storm Coming - Gnarls Barkley
Umbrella - Scott Simons (Rihanna cover)
Dry the Rain - The Beta Band
Supa Dupa Fly (The Rain) - Missy Elliot
She's a Rainbow - The Rolling Stones

Love, Lindsay

PS: A big hello from our old friend Phil in Italy. Remember him?!

Islands is coming on the 21st, for 11 dollars, and no one will go with me.

Philip would, though.

I miss him. =[

Coldplay - Shiver (Jo Whiley Lunchtime Social)
Ryan Adams - Come Pick Me Up
Barenaked Ladies - Call and Answer

Love, Lindsay

Sometimes, I really suck.

Like now, when I promised a post a day, and didn't deliver yesterday. OH WELL.

In all seriousness, I feel like sometimes I should just quit. Like... life. I moved eight hundred miles from my home, where I was born and where I grew up. Where I made a life for myself. Away from my family, and from Phil. My friends are all scattered around the country. Sometimes I'm pretty sure what I'm spending thousands upon thousands of dollars to study is exactly what I don't want to do with my life. I never have money, I don't have a car, I don't get enough sleep, and Greeley, CO sucks BALLS. I'm pretty sure this is all pretty standard for the life of a college freshman.

On the flipside, I have A LOT to turn my frown upside down. I have great friends up here, I am working my ASS off, I can still call my mom thirty-one times a day with question after question, I'm going to be on my own next year, and the greatest thing that has ever happened in my life is still putting up with me after a year and a half. He loves ME. As shitty as things can get, I'm still sort of in awe of the things that go right.

This particular blog is probably pretty preachy or whatever, but I think it needs to be said.

Everything is going to be just fine. When I forget that, I know I can call my mom and Phil in tears, or I can run up to Megan's room at two in the morning, or I can go spend three weeks at Stephanie's apartment. Being the music lover that I am, there are a few songs that, without fail, get my head out of my ass and put just how good I have it in perspective. Some of them are cheesy (Journey?), some of them helped me survive the summer (Ryan Adams. Surprise surprise), all of them are great. It's like a musical pep rally just for me, if you will. Anthems.

I always say that the beauty of music is that there is a song for every thought, feeling, or emotion a human being is capable of knowing. There's a line from this play I love, The History Boys by Alan Bennett. "The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - that you'd thought special, particular to you. And here it is, set down by someone else, a person you've never met, maybe even someone long dead." There is no possible way there isn't someone in the world who isn't feeling, or at some point felt, exactly what you are. No one is THAT alone.

If you're already in college and having a hard time, are having a hard time picking a college, dealing with kids who are having a hard time in college (Hi Mom and Dad. I know you read this. Cute.), or whatever your deal is, just take a listen to these songs. Or call me up. I GET it.

Yael Naim - New Soul
Motion City Soundtrack - Everything is Alright
The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby
Coldplay - Everything's Not Lost
Jimmy Eat World - The Middle
Ryan Adams - Goodnight, Rose (Easy Tiger Christmas Lights Session)
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'

Love, Lindsay

Day one.

Hey folks. Phil is currently on a ten-hour plane ride to Germany. Let us all pause for a moment to laugh heartily.



You definitely know Zooey Deschanel. Whether it's from Almost Famous, Elf, that weird as hell re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz on the Sci-Fi channel, or Jason Schwartzman's ex-arm candy, you know that lovely face. You might also know M. Ward, perhaps the less-recognizable, equally talented singer-songwriter. But do you know them as She & Him, a collaboration written in the stars? If not, we need to have a little chat.

There is something more than familiar about the songs on Volume One, the duo's first release. Deschanel, who wrote all but three of the album's thirteen tracks (a cover of The Beatles' "I Should Have Known Better", perennial favorite "You Really Got A Hold On Me", and album-closer "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"), is like a little bit of each well-loved female singer wrapped up in one. Helen Reddy, Ronnie Spector, Karen Carpenter... Deschanel fills a void that's been missing in, at the risk of sounding as cliched as their lyrics, the Danity Kane world we live in.

Volume One is a scrapbook, though not necessarily chronological or about the same guy, of what it's like to be in love. "Sentimental Heart" shows us a jilted Zooey, "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" shows us a flirty Zooey, "Change Is Hard" shows us an "I done him wrong" Zooey, and so on and so forth, covering the spectrum of lurve. And who hasn't been there, in some instance?

The album is a little bit country, a little bit girl group, a little bit sad, a little bit sunshiny. Zooey on piano and banjo, Matt on guitar, some strings, and a sad, sad steel guitar. No synths, no over-production. For an emotion so powerful, this is an album about love that doesn't leave you weeping in solitude or vomiting pink bunnies and rainbows. Deschanel had these songs written for years, and they're just surfacing now? It's like her proverbial diary, and mine, set to music. There's something all too real about that, and about this album. It's finding camaraderie in the human emotion.

I don't mean to gush or wax poetic. The album is by no means perfect. Surprisingly, I agree with Pitchfork for once when I say Deschanel's lyrics can be charmingly clunky and childlike. Clocking in at just over thirty-six minutes, I find myself, album over, wanting more. Although the album is a tribute to the greatest musical classics of all time, I wonder what the two could do if they branched out, exploring different genres, different instruments, different artistic influences. Volume One is absolutely Deschanel's baby. As a fan of M. Ward, I'd like to see him a little more in the forefront. A little more She & Him Rocking Out Collectively, a little less She, & Him in the Background.

That said, it IS just Volume One. In an article on the duo in this month's NYLON magazine, Deschanel says, "The nice thing about Volume One is that we had no preconceived notions of how things were going to go, and I want it to happen that way again." Ward chimes in, "Zooey has a lot of songs. And there are about a million more that we want to cover. So I think it's safe to say that Volume Two is right around the corner." Let's hope.

Since we've already given you "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?", here's my other favorite track on the album, for your listening pleeeeeeasure.

She & Him - Change Is Hard

Buy the album HERE!

Love, Lindsay

Source: NYLON Magazine, "The Story So Far..." by April Long, April 2008, nylonmag.com.

Goodbye, my lover... goodbye, my friend.

Philip's off to Italy. Forever. And by forever, I mean eleven days.

='[

Anyway, in his absence, I plan to write a post a day. You heard it right. We Have A Technical... is actually coming out of dormancy. You better believe it. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to write about. This and that, record reviews, lambasting of Pitchfork for incorrectly reviewing the new Ghostland Observatory album, themed mixes, and tasteful naked pictures of Phil.

That said, I'll miss ya, buddy. I hope you have a wonderful time and take lovely pictures and buy me lots of presents. Don't embarrass me in the pubs, and don't make out with ANYONE. Including, but not limited to, your host guy.

These Arms of Mine - Otis Redding
Daniel - Ryan Adams and Elton John
Dude, I Totally Miss You - The D

Love, Lindsay

Arrivederci, bitches.

I'm off to Italy, children. I leave early in the morning. 15 HOUR AIRPLANE RIDE.

I'll take a ton of pictures. Take care of Lindsay while I'm gone!

Leaving On a Jet Plane - J Mascis

Love, Phil

New Raconteurs song, video, AND album!!!

This came out of nowhere, but it's true. Best of all, it rocks...oh, so, so much.

This is the new video. Rumor has it the director used 2,500 photographs of Jack White and Co. to make it.

WE LOVE THIS SONG. Here's an mp3 for you to feast upon, sirs:

Salute Your Solution - The Raconteurs

The album is available for about $11 at the link on the widget (!) above, and it's also on iTunes and in your favorite CD store. If you know either of us personally and you ask nicely, maybe we'll be able to hook a brotha up with some tunes as well. =]

Love,

Phil and Lindsay

P.S. Sorry we didn't deliver as many posts as we promised last week. We promised one a day, and instead you got a St. Patty's Day mix and some whining about college shit. Apologies. To make up for it, here's a special bonus track that you can download today. Thanks for reading! 

Stand By Me - U2

Happy St. Patrick's Day, you mick bastards!

Kidding.

Anyway, here's a mix of songs to get you in the mood. We've even helped you out by categorizing each song to suit the cavalcade of emotions you will experience on this awesome day. There's the drinking, the crying, the fighting, and, well, the Irish. Enjoy!

Drunk Songs:
Kiss Me, I'm Shitfaced - Dropkick Murphys
Drunken Lullabies - Flogging Molly
Too Drunk to Dream - The Magnetic Fields
Whiskey in the Jar - Thin Lizzy

Fight Songs:
I Fought the Law - Colin Farrell
Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis
Seven Nation Army (White Stripes Cover) - Damien Rice
Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy

Sad Songs:
Falling Slowly - The Frames
Not For All the Love in the World - The Thrills
If I Ever Leave This World Alive - Flogging Molly
Freedom Song - Thin Lizzy

Irish Songs:
Danny Boy - Johnny Cash
Into the Mystic (Van Morrison Cover)- Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling - Bing Crosby
The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy

*BONUS TRACK: Jailbreak (Thin Lizzy Cover) - Dropkick Murphys

Happy St. Patrick's Day! =]

Love,

Phil and Lindsay

P.S. WTF?!?!?!??????

Okay, so...VH1 Classic broadcasted the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony last night. I usually only watch if one of my favorite bands (i.e. REM, The Clash, Elvis Costello, etc.) is being inducted. I dig John Mellencamp and Madonna, and Leonard Cohen has written some of the greatest songs of all time, but I frankly didn't care enough to watch this year. 

This video was posted today on Pitchfork. Fucking IGGY POP and the fucking STOOGES did a tribute to Madonna, covering "Ray of Light" and a bit of "Like A Virgin." The probability of disaster was potentially high, but I really think it worked out well. It's weird as shit, very messy, ugly, loud, and a little awkward - but, hey, that's fucking rock and roll, man.

Watch it now. Dig the Justin Timberlake cameo, and the uncomfortable look on Madonna's face the entire time. I LOVE IT.

We couldn't find an mp3 of the performance, so as a substitute, here's my favorite Stooges song, Guitar Hero style:

Search and Destroy - The Stooges

And you wanna know the sad irony of the whole thing? Madonna's in the Hall of Fame, and the Stooges aren't. Maybe this performance put them in the running for next year. If not, oh well. I'm sure Iggy could give a fuck. =]

See you next week!

-Phil

Quick little update...

Hey guys. Sorry we haven't posted lately - we're sad that our blog is starting to become a "one-or-two-post-a-month" kind of deal. We've been super busy these last couple of weeks (Lindsay is in shows at school, and Philip is dealing with the whole "get-my-ass-out-of-Vegas-and-into-college" thing). Next week is Spring Break, though - we will be reunited once again, and we promise that we'll be posting all week!

In the meantime, here's our new favorite song by our new favorite band. She and Him is made up of Zooey Deschanel (Elf, Almost Famous, etc.) and M. Ward. It's "very romantic" (Lindsay), "very kickass" (Philip), and "very fucking good" (all parties involved). It should tide you over for the rest of this week!

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? - She and Him

Thanks for hanging in there. We'll see you soon!

Love, Phil and Lindsay

"She was more like a beauty queen, from a movie scene..."

Today, a special "25th anniversary" edition of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was released. Even though it is the bestselling album of all time (by a substantial margin), you can bet that people will still flock in droves to the stores to buy the newly remastered, Kanye/Akon/Fergie-remixed version. That's fine - "Billie Jean" is one of the greatest songs ever, no question, and the majority of the music on my iPod that has come out since "Thriller" was released would not exist if it hadn't been.

However, an even greater majority of the music on my iPod would not exist without an album by Neutral Milk Hotel called "In the Aeroplane Over The Sea." It's one of my favorite records of all time, and today is the 10th anniversary of its release.

I won't spend time gushing over it, because that's time and space I don't have at the moment. Maybe Lindsay and I will dedicate a week to them in the future. For now, you can click here for a cool Pitchfork article and interviews with Of Montreal, Cursive, and more on the album's influence and general awesomeness.

Here's my favorite song, even though it was very hard to pick just one. We would share the whole album, but we think that experiencing music as good as this for the first time should be a very personal thing. If you've never heard them, give this song a shot and buy the album for yourself. Let the music have it's way with you. It will change your life. I promise!

Holland 1945 - Neutral Milk Hotel

In closing, if I may quote Sir Michael...the kid is not my son. Word.

 -Phil

Gratuitous "Here's What I'm Listening to Lately, So Maybe You Should, Too" Post!

Hey, kids! As promised, here is your Lindsay fix. Things have been absolutely CRAZY this semester, and it's only a month in! I've been working my ass off trying to stay on top of my schoolwork, campaigning for Obama, and attempting to get a semi-decent night's sleep every now and then.

That said, I always set aside enough time to discover new music. Whether it's a song I just keep coming back to, a new band, a new song by an old band, an old song by an old band I'm JUST now discovering, a song by a favorite artist I never knew I'd love so much, or a great song by a great band NO ONE has heard of, tunes are constantly finding their way onto my iTunes and into my ears.

I thought I'd share with you the songs I've been playing most recently. As always, mp3s are for the taking, and if you like what you hear, buy the albums!

Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
Phil wasn't kidding when he said this is my NEW FAVORITE BAND EVER. Maybe not EVER, but I CANNOT stop listening to their album as of late. We got our first taste of Vampire Weekend when we heard their bitchin' cover of Radiohead's "Exit Music (For a Film)" on Stereogum's tribute to OK Computer. Their debut album, "Vampire Weekend" (how fitting) is delicious, witty, Afro-infused pop. What more could you need? This is one of my favorite songs on the album, but "Oxford Comma" is not to be missed.

Ben Harper - Walk Away
This is just one instance of me jumping on the bandwagon thirty thousand years too late. I got my first taste of Ben Harper this winter ("Steal My Kisses" doesn't count. I'm not kidding.) when I heard "Happy Everafter in Your Eyes". It was love at first listen, so I purloined all of the dude's music I could. I came across this track, from 1994's "Welcome to the Cruel World". It's just beautiful.

Of Montreal - Suffer For Fashion
Hi. Of Montreal totally fucking rocks. This is not news. Check every "Best of 2007" list and you'll see "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?" gracing it with its presence. I love this song, it makes me dance and feel sexy. YES, PLEASE.

The Coral Sea - Heartbeats
The only thing I love more than The Knife's "Heartbeats" is covers of The Knife's "Heartbeats". I love my boy José González's rendition, but The Coral Sea's cover is sprawling and romantic, just as it should be. The band has a GREAT album of originals ("Volcano and Heart") and a RIDONKULOUS cover of Pixies' "Where is My Mind?", but I just can't get enough of this song.

Laura Marling - My Manic and I
Have you heard of Laura Marling? Do you have her album and her demos and her EP? No? You're sick and insane. But have no fear. I, too, was deprived of the SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD British singer-songwriter. I LOOOOOOVE HER. She knows too much about life, and it makes for gorgeous, intelligent songs. So go. Carpe diem.

Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy Jr.
Everyone loves Sufjan's "Illinois". It's a fantastic album. But who wants to listen to a song about John Wayne Gacy Jr., AKA "The Killer Clown", murderer of 33 boys and young men? Not me. Or at least I thought so until I actually LISTENED to the song. It's the story of the unspeakable horrors this man committed, but Sufjan sings "look beneath the floorboards/for the secrets I have hid" and wonders if he and John Wayne Gacy are all that different. It's deep. If you've opted to skip straight to Jacksonville this whole time, I recommend you reevaluate.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - I Am Warm + Powerful
I have a bad habit. If a band has a weird ass name, I HAVE to check them out. Like a moth to the flame, I can proudly name Volcano, I'm Still Excited! and Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass as two of my favorite bands. Now, to be fair, I discovered Some Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin by stalking a friend of a friend's last.fm page, but I probably wouldn't have made the effort if it weren't for the whacky name. As it turns out, "Broom" is one of my favorite albums to listen to. It's like a really great Weezer tribute band decided to write and record better shit in the lead singer's bedroom. Catchy, lo-fi, HANDCLAPS, good.

Maxïmo Park - Like I Love You (Justin Timberlake Cover)
I don't even know what to say. It's one of my favorite bands catering to my inner twelve year old. That's about it.

Bob Dylan - It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
This man is my number one, above all others. Phil's a super sweetheart and bought Don't Look Back for me, and after watching it several times, I got on a big Bobby kick. "Bringing It All Back Home" is a great album, "It's Alright, Ma" is a great song, and Bob Dylan is a great poet. It makes me feel better to live in this world when I can listen to a man who has a better grasp on it than I do.

Islands - Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby , The Arm
I don't even know how to articulate how much I love this band. I just found "Return to the Sea" a couple of weeks ago, fell in love, kept the album on repeat for days. When I heard "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby" on "How I Met Your Mother", I knew we were destined to be soulmates. When I read on Pitchfork about a new album, "Arm's Way", in the works, I felt the gods smiling down upon me. When I heard the new single, "The Arm", I peed my pants. I thought I outgrew the one song on repeat for hours phase of my life when I got over listening and weeping to Candy Butcher's "Sparkle!" for two thousand hours on end, but I was wrong. I've listened to The Arm at LEAST seventy six times in the last three days. I just can't get enough. I've seen descriptions of the song comparing it to ELO and Broadway. I've seen it described as heavy and sweeping. I've heard praise for the string section. Agreed, old friends. Agreed.

So there you have it. That's what I'm listening to as of late, and I really hope you dig it all as much as I do. And if not, share what you've been listening to lately. Share what you've been listening to lately anyway! Goodnight, m'dears.

<3 Lindsay

The Giants drink your milkshake.

SLUUUUURP.

F'n A....what a brilliant game. The last two minutes were the best ever. This one's for Joe:

New York, New York - Frank Sinatra

In other news...

With the exception of (yawn) Atonement, every movie I saw in January kicked my ass (in a good way). Plus, the Oscar nominations were near perfect. We're rooting for Once for Best Song - hopefully the strike will be over soon so that we can see Glen and Marketa rock out on TV!

P.S. There Will Be Blood = PERFECTION. If you haven't seen it, make an effort to set aside three hours and get to it. In the meantime, download this song from Jonny Greenwood's groundbreaking score, turn your volume all the way up, and watch in horror as all of the hair on your body falls off and runs away. So. Scary.

There Will Be Blood - Jonny Greenwood

Vampire Weekend will be a very, very famous band. They're already Lindsay's favorite band ever (she'll elaborate on that soon!). Here's my favorite song off their debut, as well as a bitchin' performance of "A-Punk" from Letterman the other day. God bless YouTube. 

Walcott - Vampire Weekend

I'm in "Cats" at my school. It opens this week. Yeah. Shut up.

Put Your Cat Clothes On - Carl Perkins

I have a weird feeling lately that I can't really explain. I have college interviews and auditions over the next month, and I'm nervous, anxious, excited, scared, insecure...I don't know. Music has been helping me get through it, though - especially those songs that I can just get lost in. That means lots of Dylan, lots of Bruce, lots of Radiohead...and Say Hi To Your Mom.

Let's Talk About Spaceships - Say Hi To Your Mom

That's all. Enjoy the music, friends. I'll try to post again next week, but keep an eye out for a new post by Lindsay in the next couple of days. Cheers! GO GIANTS!

The Underdog - Spoon