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