Kate Nash writes some of the worst lyrics I have EVER heard. I really enjoy her in general, her voice is great and her songs Foundations, Pumpkin Soup, and Merry Happy are really enjoyable, but some of her other songs are absolute garbage. I thought she had some doozies on her first album "Made of Bricks" but then I listened to her latest album "My Best Friend is You" and was so shocked at the first line of Don't You Want to Share the Guilt that I burst out laughing. Here are a small selection of her gems:
"BBQ food is good
You invite me out to eat it, I should
Go, but I'm feeling kind of nervous
And not quite myself"
from Don't You Want to Share the Guilt?
"I hate seagulls
And I hate being sick
I hate burning my finger on the toaster
And I hate knits"
from I Hate Seagulls
"And I use mouthwash
Sometimes I floss
I got a family
And I drink lots of tea"
from Mouthwash
"right birds can fly so high
or they can shit on your head
they can almost fly into your eye and make you feel so scared, but when you look at them and you see that there beautiful that's how i feel about you."
from Birds
-Melissa
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Modern Sixties
I was not sure what to expect when I first listened to Frankie Rose and the Outs. I expected a girly pop or rock band. What I did not expect was to hear sixties pop come from a band that looks like this:
Though very modern in many ways, my first thought when I heard Frankie Rose and the Outs was how much it sounded like an all female sixties pop group. Their self titled album has a few slow pretty songs, but most of them are fun retro rock. Some songs sound like sixties songs with a slight modern touch, while some sound like very modern songs with a sixties touch. My favorite songs on the album are Candy, That's What People Told Me, Must Be Nice, and Don't Tred.
I would love to dress all the girls in the band in modern versions of 60s dresses. Each girl would wear something that shows her individual personality, but would look good with the other girls. An example would be if they all wore black and red but had different shaped dresses and different levels of red to black. Here are some inspiration pictures:
-Melissa
Though very modern in many ways, my first thought when I heard Frankie Rose and the Outs was how much it sounded like an all female sixties pop group. Their self titled album has a few slow pretty songs, but most of them are fun retro rock. Some songs sound like sixties songs with a slight modern touch, while some sound like very modern songs with a sixties touch. My favorite songs on the album are Candy, That's What People Told Me, Must Be Nice, and Don't Tred.
I would love to dress all the girls in the band in modern versions of 60s dresses. Each girl would wear something that shows her individual personality, but would look good with the other girls. An example would be if they all wore black and red but had different shaped dresses and different levels of red to black. Here are some inspiration pictures:
Different Shapes of Retro Black Dresses
Fun Shapes and Patterns
Oh So Sixties
Check this fun band out below!
-Melissa
KaiserCartel
The first time I heard KaiserCartel was at the UMS back in 2009. I thought the name was related to some strange joke about gangs and bread, but was a little disappointed to find out it was just a combination of the two singer's last names. I was not disappointed when I heard their music however. Their sound is simple and fun and never feels overworked. And to add to how good they are, they are even better live, which always impresses me. My favorite songs of theirs are Oh No, Season Song, Okay, Favorite Song, and Good Ones. Some of the songs are just so damn catchy that I catch myself bobbing my head along, such as Favorite Song and Season Song (which makes me wish I knew how to whistle).
Courtney Kaiser is super adorable in a retro sort of way. I would love to see her in simple vintage print dresses and old timey country inspired pieces. On the cover of their cd "March Forth" she is wearing an adorable print skirt with a cinch belt which is very close to what I would dress her in.
-Melissa
Courtney Kaiser is super adorable in a retro sort of way. I would love to see her in simple vintage print dresses and old timey country inspired pieces. On the cover of their cd "March Forth" she is wearing an adorable print skirt with a cinch belt which is very close to what I would dress her in.
Courtney
Here are some inspiration pictures
All designs by the amazing Luella Bartley. I like the shapes and the fun use of pattern.
Check out some videos by this great band!
-Melissa
My Brightest Diamond
The first time I heard Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond was in The Decemberist's album "The Hazards of Love." I must have listened to this album on repeat for about a month and while I found Won't Want For Love and The Rake's Song really addicting, the song that really got to me was The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing which is the song that features Shara as the Queen. I remember wondering who that voice belonged to and where could I hear more of her? She is only featured in a few of the songs on "The Hazards of Love" and I needed to hear more! With the attitude and soul she gives on her songs it feels like she IS the queen of the forest.
My first thoughts of hearing My Brightest Diamond was that it was slightly like gothic opera set in a gypsy forest. In Hazards of Love her voice was soulful and almost sexy, but in her band she is almost dark and gypsy-like. Her voice trembles and warbles, she sings both high and low. I'm not sure whether to consider her modern or old fashioned. My favorite songs are Something of an End, Lucky, Freak Out, Disappear, Inside a Boy, and The Brightest Diamond.
Besides the great albums and collaboration with The Decemberists, My Brightest Diamond also performed one of my favorite songs EVER, which is actually a cover. Their version of Lucky by Radiohead is so dark and wonderful and I can't get enough of it. I will literally listen to it over and over and over. It's a great song to begin with, but her voice adds an interesting dimension to it. I would love to use this song in a more theatrical fashion show. I actually have one in mind that is inspired by religious cults and some dark features I saw against the white snow, but I won't be creating that collection for Denver, so for now I just have to keep the song in mind.
Shara is not classically beautiful, but she has a very interesting look. I'd love to see her in vintage pieces with a slight gypsy/boho feel. Chiffon, bold florals, faux fur, and modern volume would be perfect.
-Melissa
My first thoughts of hearing My Brightest Diamond was that it was slightly like gothic opera set in a gypsy forest. In Hazards of Love her voice was soulful and almost sexy, but in her band she is almost dark and gypsy-like. Her voice trembles and warbles, she sings both high and low. I'm not sure whether to consider her modern or old fashioned. My favorite songs are Something of an End, Lucky, Freak Out, Disappear, Inside a Boy, and The Brightest Diamond.
Besides the great albums and collaboration with The Decemberists, My Brightest Diamond also performed one of my favorite songs EVER, which is actually a cover. Their version of Lucky by Radiohead is so dark and wonderful and I can't get enough of it. I will literally listen to it over and over and over. It's a great song to begin with, but her voice adds an interesting dimension to it. I would love to use this song in a more theatrical fashion show. I actually have one in mind that is inspired by religious cults and some dark features I saw against the white snow, but I won't be creating that collection for Denver, so for now I just have to keep the song in mind.
Shara is not classically beautiful, but she has a very interesting look. I'd love to see her in vintage pieces with a slight gypsy/boho feel. Chiffon, bold florals, faux fur, and modern volume would be perfect.
Shara
Gypsy Groupings from Polyvore.com
Classic Black with Gypsy Touches
Florals and Modern Volume
Check out My Brightest Diamond below, including her version of Lucky and her collaboration with The Decemberists.
-Melissa
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Dirty Dirty Music
Louis XIV is one of the dirtiest bands I have ever heard- and I love it. Paper Doll, Pledge of Allegiance, and Finding Out True Love is Blind provide some of the most amazingly dirty lines I have ever heard and that is truly saying something with modern music. "Bang me like the girls in Hong Kong" "Let me buy you a lollipop you want to lick" and "We don't have to go to the pool if you want me to make you wet" are such examples.
Besides being amusingly dirty, it's really catchy as well. While this band is definitely considered rock, it's a much more like dance-y rock. My favorite songs are Finding Out True Love is Blind, Illegal Tender, Pledge of Allegiance, Hey Teacher, and Guilt by Association. If you like dance music, rock, dirty lines, or strange men in eyeliner, I highly recommend this band.
Blogspot will not allow me to post links to the top two videos (probably because they are "dirty"), but definitely copy the link and watch the videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC5W1ePDWl8&ob=av2el
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3PalaqPAEU
-Melissa
Besides being amusingly dirty, it's really catchy as well. While this band is definitely considered rock, it's a much more like dance-y rock. My favorite songs are Finding Out True Love is Blind, Illegal Tender, Pledge of Allegiance, Hey Teacher, and Guilt by Association. If you like dance music, rock, dirty lines, or strange men in eyeliner, I highly recommend this band.
Blogspot will not allow me to post links to the top two videos (probably because they are "dirty"), but definitely copy the link and watch the videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC5W1ePDWl8&ob=av2el
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3PalaqPAEU
-Melissa
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Oldies but Goodies- Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird is BARELY old enough to be put in the Oldies but Goodies category, but he is certainly no newbie, and I hope that there is no one reading this that has not already heard him. If there is, you don't know what you have been missing! I first heard him through Pandora, a little later in his career than I would like to admit to, but there was an automatic attraction.
My favorite songs are Imitosis, A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left, Oh No, Fiery Crash, Heretics, and Anonanimal, though it is quite difficult to choose because I find all of his albums very enjoyable. If you like Andrew Bird, check out his earlier project Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire. This group sounds slightly like his solo work but in a more old timey way. Besides a few modern touches, it sounds far more like something from the 30s than the late 90s. I included a link below to this group as well.
I like Andrew Bird because his songs rarely touch into the meaningful but slightly dull place where some similar artists go into quite often. He can be meaningful, but he is also interesting. He seems to like to explore human drama, as evidence in Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left and Imotosis. If you haven't already heard Andrew Bird, be sure to check him out!
My favorite songs are Imitosis, A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left, Oh No, Fiery Crash, Heretics, and Anonanimal, though it is quite difficult to choose because I find all of his albums very enjoyable. If you like Andrew Bird, check out his earlier project Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire. This group sounds slightly like his solo work but in a more old timey way. Besides a few modern touches, it sounds far more like something from the 30s than the late 90s. I included a link below to this group as well.
I like Andrew Bird because his songs rarely touch into the meaningful but slightly dull place where some similar artists go into quite often. He can be meaningful, but he is also interesting. He seems to like to explore human drama, as evidence in Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left and Imotosis. If you haven't already heard Andrew Bird, be sure to check him out!
Oldies but Goodies- Peaches
The second I heard Fuck the Pain Away I was addicted to Peaches. And when I say addicted it's not some cute little term I use lightly. I was actually addicted. I listened to her cds nearly every day while walking to school or work and couldn't wait to put my headphones back on when I got there. I always cracked up when I walked past the school and church in my neighborhood while blasting dirty music. The time between albums was torture and when I finally got a new album it was all I could do not to lock myself in my room and listen to it all...day...long. Peaches is the only artist I have ever preordered from because I needed it RIGHT AWAY. For the two seconds when I wanted to do roller derby (before I found out how damn popular it was) I was even going to adopt her name in the form of Peaches 'N' Scream. Addicted is a nice way of putting that I was a little pathetic for Peaches.
When asked to explain Peaches I say she is delightfully dirty. She is now a little over 40 (and to be honest, looks every year) and still as dirty as ever. Want to embarrass the crap out of your really uptight friend? Just close your eyes and pick a song. Nearly all of them will work. My friend Forrest and I used to have Forrest and Melissa's Inappropriate Dance Parties and easily a third of the music was Peaches.
That is not to say that Peaches uses her dirtiness as a schtick. Peaches is really really good music. If you like dance-y music with a great beat Peaches is an excellent choice. She is great in concert as well. She narrowly beat out Leslie Hall for my favorite concert ever, which is a hard to win category. She must have had 20 different costume changes, with as many as 6 being on top of each other.
With many singers I have a relatively easy time choosing favorite songs, but I really can't choose with her. I can not choose a favorite from each album. I can not choose my top ten. There are just too many good ones. I could more easily choose my least favorites, but no one wants to hear about those. If I had to choose a few to recommend I would go with Fuck the Pain Away, Boys Wanna Be Her, AA XXX, Lovertits, You Love It, Mommy Complex, Talk to Me, Slippery Dick, Sex (I'm A), and I U She.
Music like Peaches is practically made for runway because the beat is easy to walk to. I have actually used her for two different shows of mine. The first time was You Love It for a small fashion show I put on while still in college where my models looked like they had been in a fight (but won), the second time was Rock 'N' Roll for my senior thesis of punk rock prom wear. Boys Wanna Be Her would be great for a rock 'n' roll line for sure! As you check out Peaches videos, be sure to check out her awesome costumes. What you see in the videos is pretty close to what she wears onstage. I remember one piece being almost like a backwards thong that lit up. Who does that?
Remember, before there was Lady Gaga, there was Peaches. Check out some of her videos below:
-Melissa
P.S. Miss Piggy you dirty girl!
When asked to explain Peaches I say she is delightfully dirty. She is now a little over 40 (and to be honest, looks every year) and still as dirty as ever. Want to embarrass the crap out of your really uptight friend? Just close your eyes and pick a song. Nearly all of them will work. My friend Forrest and I used to have Forrest and Melissa's Inappropriate Dance Parties and easily a third of the music was Peaches.
That is not to say that Peaches uses her dirtiness as a schtick. Peaches is really really good music. If you like dance-y music with a great beat Peaches is an excellent choice. She is great in concert as well. She narrowly beat out Leslie Hall for my favorite concert ever, which is a hard to win category. She must have had 20 different costume changes, with as many as 6 being on top of each other.
With many singers I have a relatively easy time choosing favorite songs, but I really can't choose with her. I can not choose a favorite from each album. I can not choose my top ten. There are just too many good ones. I could more easily choose my least favorites, but no one wants to hear about those. If I had to choose a few to recommend I would go with Fuck the Pain Away, Boys Wanna Be Her, AA XXX, Lovertits, You Love It, Mommy Complex, Talk to Me, Slippery Dick, Sex (I'm A), and I U She.
Music like Peaches is practically made for runway because the beat is easy to walk to. I have actually used her for two different shows of mine. The first time was You Love It for a small fashion show I put on while still in college where my models looked like they had been in a fight (but won), the second time was Rock 'N' Roll for my senior thesis of punk rock prom wear. Boys Wanna Be Her would be great for a rock 'n' roll line for sure! As you check out Peaches videos, be sure to check out her awesome costumes. What you see in the videos is pretty close to what she wears onstage. I remember one piece being almost like a backwards thong that lit up. Who does that?
Remember, before there was Lady Gaga, there was Peaches. Check out some of her videos below:
-Melissa
P.S. Miss Piggy you dirty girl!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)