Hello Fall.

Source: My Backyard '09

Summer has transformed into Fall: favorite season #2. (Spring will always be the love o' my life.) The best thing about Fall besides the pumpkins, gorgeous transformation of trees, warm apple cider and breezy disposition is... Fall Fashion.

Hello boots, leather jackets, fun tights and slouchy hats, I've missed you dearly.

500 Songs of Summer.

Something about the start of summer makes me feel youthful, romantic and spontaneous. The only thing missing from lazy days on the beach, walks in the park and frolics on sunflower fields (I wish) is a grade A, feel good, chillin-out-relaxin' summer soundtrack.

Here are just some of the tracks that are in mine:

PYT (Pretty Young Thing)- Michael Jackson
50 Ways to Leave your Lover- Paul Simon
Pretty Girl From San Diego- The Avett Brothers
Ticket to Ride- The Beatles
Why Don't You Love Me?- Beyonce
Whenever I See Your Smiling Face- James Taylor
Going Back to Cali- Notorious B.I.G.
Kiss A Girl- Keith Urban
Lovers tonight, Friends tomorrow- Dave Matthews Band
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To- Weezer
Superstition- Stevie Wonder
A Little Less Conversation- Elvis Presley
Somebody's Baby- Phantom Planet cover
Sweet Child Of Mine- Sheryl Crow cover

Oldies.

There's this tiny place in my heart that is a sucker for oldies. I'm talking Frank Sinatra oldies. Dean Martin. Ella Fitzgerald. Classic oldies with a jazz twist. Wikipedia defines it as Traditional Pop. Blame it on the hopeless romantic in me. Who knows? But sometimes, I find myself swaying my head back and forth to Ray Charles' You Don't Know Me or Harry Connick Jr.'s It Had to Be You.

Therefore, this post goes out to Michael Buble. You have to give the guy credit for letting the good times roll and keeping the Frank Sinatra in all of us alive. I first heard a Buble song when I was in Italy, surprisingly enough. (They go CRAZY for the man in that country. ) Anyway, I heard Home and his voice soothed me in that reminiscent way that only the oldies can do.

Listen to Haven't Met You Yet here:

Be sure to wear flowers in your hair..

Last week, I got back from one of the most relaxing vacations ever. Me and two friends decided to venture to Las Vegas for two days and then head to San Diego for the next five days. There is something about that west coast air. Living my whole life in Jersey, I have always considered myself a city girl. There is no place in the world like New York City and it will always be my first love.

But in reality, I'm a laid back girl. I'd rather lay by the beach all day. I'd rather be surrounded by beautiful sights. I'd rather be surrounded by cute boys playing guitars and playing impromptu soccer games on the sand. That's my Cali side. It's probably the only other place, besides Florence, Italy, that I would move to in a heartbeat (at least for a year).




And while I was there, I decided to make a 'California playlist'. I realized that there are 5.2 million songs about this place. Here are some of my favorites:

west coast-coconut records
san francisco-scott mckenzie
hotel california-eagles
beverly hills-weezer
california love-tupac
california waiting-kings of leon
california girls- beach boys
california dreamin'-mamas and the papas
california-phantom planet
holiday from real-jack's mannequin
ventura highway-america
into the great wide open-tom petty and the heartbreakers

Earth Day.

I love Earth Day. I remember planting trees every year in elementary school and sitting through assemblies and hearing speakers tell us the things we could do on April 22nd to save the earth. I always wondered, why only treat our earth well one day a year? Shouldn't everyday be Earth Day?

Too overwhelmed by saving the earth through planting a forest? Start with little things like turning off the water while you're brushing your teeth or riding your bike instead of wasting gas and energy with your car. Here is a list of more things you can do!

Also, sidenote: If you don't recycle, please kill yourself. I mean that in the nicest way possible.

If we keep neglecting the earth, pretty soon beautiful places and things like this wouldn't exist. Wouldn't that be terrible?

A little taste of my trip to Sicily last summer. :)

Ben Folds and Nick Hornby.

Can this be true? Yes, yes it is!

Ben Folds as in Brick, Kate singer, songwriter Ben Folds is collaborating with Nick Hornby as in High Fidelity, About a Boy novelist Nick Hornby. The album, tentatively entitled Picture Window is set to release in September. Hornby will be supplying the lyrics as Folds' puts them to music and adds his vocals. Three songs from the album "Picture Window", "Levi Johnston's Blues" and "Claire's 9th" have already leaked and are getting me all excited.

Listen to "Picture Window" here:



Being a fan of Ben Folds for years and an avid reader of everything Nick Hornby has ever written, I have to say, this makes perfect sense. They have a lot in common:

• both use simple language and ideas to communicate serious issues.
• both are self-deprecating.
• both are extremely witty and emo at the same time.
  
• both have been married more than once and obviously heartbroken more than 16 million times.
  
• But most importantly, both are beyond talented.

"It seems to me now that the plain state of being human is dramatic enough for anyone; you don't need to be a heroin addict or a performance poet to experience extremity. You just have to love someone."
-Nick Hornby (How to Be Good)

"Next door, there's an old man who lived to his nineties and one day passed away in his sleep. And his wife, she stayed for a couple of days and passed away. I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong."
-Ben Folds

Hello April.

Every month, I construct a new playlist encompassing all my moods and emotions.

Here's a teeny tiny glimpse of my Hello April Playlist:

The Avett Brother's Kick Drum Heart


Cory Branan's Tall Green Grass


Frightened Rabbit's Keep Yourself Warm


Straylight Run's Existentialism on Prom Night


And for the wildcard...

Kid Cudi featuring Common and Kanye West- Make Her Say

ROMPER.

I interrupt normal scheduling to bring you my new obsession: Rompers!

Designers are totally just giving it a cool name like 'romper' to avoid the real deal: these are JUMPERS for adults. I loved jumpers then and I love them now. I bought one from Urban Outfitters (see below) and it's so comfortable and airy, I want to wear it everyday. I just might.


They are beyond adorable in different patterns and styles. Check it:

1, 2, 3... Crows

Ok, so I know I spent my formative years in the early 2000s which translates to intense boy band action and blonde girls singing about genies.

(What's with the footwear, fellas?)

And while I hold a special place in my heart for 'Nsync and 'Oops I did it again', I find that I deeply connect with 90s alt rock bands a tad more.

Maybe it's because they have something more substantial to say.

OR maybe it's because thought processes occur before they begin to write.

Either way, I'm dedicating this post to the Counting Crows. The boys led by the infamous dreaded Adam Duritz have been around since 91 and are still going strong. Personally, I think they are more lyrically superior to a lot of bands out there. While a decent portion of their songs make me look out the window as I contemplate life with tears in my eyes, most songs make me want to dance in circles barefoot. Check out one of my favorites:

Remember me.

With all the extreme action, 3-d and devastation floating around in movies these days, I find it refreshing to see a trailer that looks quiet and simple. I'm all about grandiose movies and being blown out of my seat in the theaters but there is something especially wonderful about a movie that speaks to you softly. Loud movies help with escapism but calmer movies pull your life into the story and leave you wondering about your story in the end.

Remember Me seems like one of those. Plus, former blood sucker Robert Pattinson (I wonder if Kristen 'I always look and sound like I'm on drugs' Stewart is jealous?) is attracting me to the film. Of course, I could be completely wrong based on the fact that I'm making this conclusion from a two and a half minute trailer.

Here: check it out for yourself.



P.S. In one of the commercials, I heard the song "The Dress Looks Nice On You" by Sufjan Stevens. It's an incredibly beautiful song. Listen to it now.

Back to the Roots.

Recently, I was feeling like there was this big gaping hole in my life where something used to be. And that something was concerts.

The Starting Line at Warped Tour.


I honestly had these shoes and wore them, ALOT.

High school was a time when going to concerts was what me and my friends did. (That and driving around and going to Dunkin Donuts, of course.) The only thing that mattered in this world was being engulfed in a sweaty crowd filled with peers who were just as passionate as we were about our bands. And we would sing these oh-so-incredibly emo lyrics out and attempt to catch eye contact with the lead singer we were convinced if he knew us, would love us. We stood outside in lines in mid-December with no coats as we froze into an ice sculpture of kids huddling together with t-shirts and converses on.

Me in Rome
Rutgers Football Game

Throughout college, I still went to concerts but it was never the same. Maybe because there was now more of an outlet to do all these things I never had. (Like study abroad in Italy or meet all these intelligent exciting people that didn't live in my hometown and drink incessantly every weekend with them.) And besides, you could always just listen to the kid on your floor or your best friends down the street play music. There was less of an urgency to get that invigorating life changing feeling of being at a concert because in college, you get that feeling almost everyday.


Ok, enough with nostalgia. The whole point is once I moved back home last June and was unemployed for a while, that stuck feeling happened again. That need for an outlet returned. So, as a solution, we went nuts on concert tickets once we got some income in. Thus, these past two months have been a concert OVERLOAD. And now, five years detached from high school, I can confidently say: there is nothing like live music to jolt some life back into you.

Here's a quick peak of the concerts I went to in the past months and the ones that I am going to in March :)

No Doubt Reunion Tour
Gwen Stefani can still run around the stage frantically and sound awesome at the same time.

Jack's Mannequin

Andrew McMahon of Something Corporate will always be my lyrical hero.

Blink 182 Reunion Tour Need I say more? This reunion was an experience of a lifetime. Highlight: Travis playing drums upside down while spinning on the ceiling of MSG!

Saves the Day

"If I could only see you now for about an hour maybe just a minute just to ask
What has he got that I don't have?"

New Found Glory

This was their 10 year anniversary of their self-titled and they played EVERY song, not to mention a bunch of other amazing ones. The energy they brought to the stage was unmatchable.

The Waffle Stompers

Hey, these boys are my best buds! But they are ALSO an awesome ska band taking over New Jersey. Check them out.


John Mayer

I have to say John Mayer killed it and stands out as one of the best concerts I've ever been to. He may be a douche, but the beautiful man has talent.

River City Extension

Toms River boys River City Extension is an indie folky "chamber punk" band that has incredible stage presence.

Happy Ending

Teacher and student combo Happy Ending lyrics are not so happy at all. But no one ever said depressing wasn't talented.

Coming up this month:

Ingrid Michaelson


Dashboard Confessional

Wakey! Wakey!

Two years ago, my amazing friend Lea came to my house at good old 47 Morrell Street in New Brunswick, New Jersey with a huge smile on her face as she exclaimed, “You have to listen to this band!” The cd she had in her hand was a live album entitled Silent As a Movie by Wakey! Wakey!, this soulful piano inspired indie rock band from Brooklyn.

It was love at first listen. Frontman Michael Grubbs was instantly that singer/songwriter who I was convinced knows and understands me in a way that only musical geniuses can. His lyrics accompanied by intense piano chords changed my life. I know, I know. It sounds cliché. But, that live album Silent As a Movie is filled to the max with unbelievable talent and heartbreak. Check out this live performance (sorry for the low quality video) of "Messy Girl" a couple years ago that I found on YouTube:

This month, Wakey’s first full album came out, Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said the Last Time I Saw You. Here is a full free stream of it!

I was honored to score an interview with Grubbs himself for Kiwibox.com so check it out right here!

P.S. You can also find Grubbs on One Tree Hill playing a bartender/musician. (I used to be a fan of OTH but then all the sudden, dogs were running through hospitals stealing hearts and Chad Michael Murray's 'Im trying to look genuine but I actually look like an asshole' face got irritating and it was time to switch the channel.) HOWEVER, Kudos to them for discovering Wakey! Wakey! and giving Grubbs the outlet to perform and act. On another note, you have to love CW (or formerly known as the WB) for having the BEST soundtracks. One Tree Hill's music is fabulous, check out all the artists and songs ever here. AND how could anyone forget about the OC? Best music on a show ever. I'll forgive the below average acting skills for that.

Cold War Kids

Hailing from sunny California, the Cold War Kids are no strangers to releasing EPs. Since 2004, the indie rock band, consisting of Nathan Willett (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Jonnie Russell (guitar, vocals), Matt Maust (bass) and Matt Aveiro (drums), have released nine EPs as well as two full length albums, Robbers and Cowards and Loyalty to Loyalty. Their newest EP Behave Yourself is currently available on iTunes and will be released on CD/Vinyl on January 19^th.

The five track EP’s artwork tells a tale of the songs, reading, “These songs were recorded some time between “Loyalty" and now. They didn’t belong there but kept hanging around, started trouble, made friends, and insisted they be heard." The tracks may not have belonged in Loyalty to Loyalty but appear to have nicely found their place on Behave Yourself.

The EP kick starts with “Audience," one of the more blues inspired tracks and then is followed by “Coffee Spoon," a tune with melancholy undertones that almost sounds like early Kings of Leon. The third track “Santa Ana Winds" is pleasurable to the ears just for the undeniable catchy nature of the beat and the overall progression of percussion and vocals. “Sermons" is soulfully inspired and Dylan-esque while “Baby Boy" (only available on the CD, not iTunes) is a unique blend of beats and blues.

Overall, the Cold War Kids have seemed to make something out of nothing by combining these five diverse songs and turning them into a cohesive EP. The boys will be promoting Behave Yourself for four days at the end of January so check out the following tour dates:

1/22- LA- The Wiltern
1/23- San Francisco- The Fillmore
1/29- NY- Terminal 5
1/30- Chicago- The Vic Theatre

Check it out at Kiwibox.com here.

Motion City Soundtrack

Check out my Kiwibox.com interview with Motion City Soundtrack here! (One of my favorite bands, ever)

Goodies!

Check out these songs that are currently helping me get through the work day :)

Fun - "All the Pretty Girls"
After The Format broke up, front man Nate Ruess joined this literally "fun" band.



Cold War Kids- "Audience"
Read my full review of their new EP here.



Wakey! Wakey!- "Brooklyn"
Michael Grubbs is genius.



Free Energy- "Free Energy"
Here's a 70's inspired indie band from Philadelphia.

Oh, those Hipsters.

"Hipsters are the friends who sneer when you cop to liking Coldplay. They're the people who wear t-shirts silk-screened with quotes from movies you've never heard of and the only ones in America who still think Pabst Blue Ribbon is a good beer. They sport cowboy hats and berets and think Kanye West stole their sunglasses. Everything about them is exactingly constructed to give off the vibe that they just don't care."
— Time Magazine, July 2009

The term "hipster" came up frequently this weekend as I walked the streets of New York City and spent some time in New Brunswick, NJ--both hipster centrals. (Thank god I didn't go anywhere near Brooklyn). As two friends and I tried to explain to another friend what the word even meant, I got to thinking about the history of the term and the people. It made me wonder, why would anyone want to label themselves as a "hipster" or anything really?

According to Wikipedia, the term first originated in the 1940s during the jazz age. The original hipsters were white young people who were trying to be like the black jazz musicians that they admired. However, after World War 2, literary geniuses Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg expanded the movement by coining themselves hipsters as well as founders of the Beat Generation. The movement actually gained a definition, though, when writer Norman Mailer referred to hipsters as one who chooses to "divorce oneself from society, to exist without roots, to set out on that uncharted journey into the rebellious imperatives of the self." The history of "hipster" seems really awesome and it probably was, considering the times and the social limitations.

Ginsberg in the 1950s-ish

But today, in 2009, "hipster" has become something else entirely. Hipsters only listen to underground indie or alternative rock and only watch indie films. They are usually vegetarians or vegans and have to eat organic, locally grown foods. They drink cheap beer and wear skinny jeans. They read more books than anyone (or so they think) and have a liberal arts major or liberal arts career.

WELL, if that is the criteria, one may argue that I (and a lot of people I know) am similar to a hipster. I love underground music and indie films. I don't really eat red meat too often and organic foods swarm my kitchen. I love Coors Light and I wear skinny jeans. I read a shitload of books and graduated as a Journalism and English major.

BUT what sets people like me apart from hipsters? We like other things too! We love all types of music as well as indie because its genuinely good. We like popular films and we drink cheap beer because we like it, not because we're "starving" artists. We read shitty books sometimes and we wear whatever we like, not what we're supposed to like.

And the funny thing is, hipsters do all that too, they're just scared to admit it because then, god forbid, they might not be "cool". It just seems as if they're trying too hard to be a subculture that is different but they are all just the same. They might end up being in the same lame category as guidos soon.

Something that originated from rebellion has turned pretentious. Anyone disagree? I love hearing new theories!

Am I ga-ga for Lady Gaga?

According to SPIN.com 2009 Readers’ Poll, Lady Gaga was voted Best New Artist, won Video of the Year for “Bad Romance” and was runner up for Artist of the Year behind Pearl Jam. This comes as no surprise, however, because it is impossible to turn on the radio, the tv or glance at a computer screen without hearing or seeing (barely) Lady Gaga. Her outlandish fashion sense, disturbing music videos and random lyrics (ga-ga-ooh-la-la?) have left me in a state of confusion. Do I despise her or do I love her?

Why I may love her…

In general, a lot of the music that is popular at one time tends to all sound the same. Of course, there are the musical greats that save the airwaves, but forget about those few for a minute. In the late 90s, there were about 7.5 million boy bands out singing about broken hearts while the rest of the singers were blonde and naked. (P.S. I love ‘Nsync and Britney but that’s beside the point). Now, boy bands have turned into Disney movie sensations and synth-pop boys crying about fireflies (I like that song too but that’s also beside the point). If one thing is liked just a little, then all the sudden, we are bombarded by 5 thousand versions of that one thing. Shitty vampire craze, anyone? I miss Buffy.



Anyway, the whole point is in this society filled with trends and fads, we thrive on innovation and Lady Gaga is undoubtedly innovative. She brings something different to the table; she adds some flavor and excitement. She doesn’t have the greatest voice or the most intelligent lyrics but neither did Madonna and look at her. Madonna was awesome because of her uniqueness and her ability to be talented beyond lyrics and voice but through creativity.



Plus, I always really make fun of Lady Gaga’s weird songs at first and then suddenly, I’m drunk dancing at a bar and her song comes on and I have this epiphany as the beat infiltrates my body: “Wait…I think I love this song!”.




Why I’m not sure…

She is so fucking weird. I hate to say that because everyone is weird in their own way but she is SO fucking weird. Why are you wearing Kermit the frog dolls all over your body as a dress? Why is blood coming from your eyeballs during your VMA performance? AND What the hell does your face look like? What are you trying to hide? I can’t help but think that she may be trying too hard to be different, to stand out and that's not innovative, that's just phony. UNLESS she is actually fucking weird. In that case, I’ll forgive her.



What do you guys think? Are YOU going gaga over GAGA?

Happy New Year!!

First off, here is my disclaimer: I may have lied about this blog being strictly “indie”. I have tried (for the sake of consistency) but I simply cannot limit my tastes. I am a woman of versatility, in all aspects of my life, so don’t be surprised to find an entry about the great Jay-Z or The Counting Crows (one of my favorite bands of all time) or maybe even Taylor Swift (random, I know.)

As we begin to embark upon 2010, I want to look back on the past ten years and point out the artists, songs and albums that truly made an impact on my life and maybe yours. Amidst all the shit that may have deafened you on the radio or on TV, there was greatness. Here is a list of just SOME of the most fabulous artists of the past decade:

Coldplay- Yellow 2001


Jay Z- The Blueprint 2001

John Mayer- Room for Squares- 2001


Red Hot Chili Peppers- By the Way (LP) 2002


Death Cab for Cutie- Transatlanticism 2003


and

Plans 2005


Bloc Party –Silent Alarm 2005


Justin Timberlake-(Thank you for bringing) Sexy Back-2006


Tegan and Sara- The Con 2007


Feist-The Reminder 2007

…and the one album I couldn’t live without from this decade:

Garden State Soundtrack 2004