The first thing I did when I got home was download the new Dead Heart Bloom album, Strange Waves.

The 9 track record takes you on a dreamy guitar driven ambient-folk carpet ride that I never want to end.  I could sit and read the lyrics like poetry. A definite progression in their music and I am loving every moment.

A must for 2010 – Buy it here and support the artist directly.

mp3:  Someday Will Not Come Again

Strange Waves 2010

Had to post this song, I absolutely fell in love with it, pulled me right in.

I was driving home this evening while the sun was setting and Beach House shuffled on with all of their glorious dream-pop and I was at peace. This album came out back at the beginning of the year… It is a one of their best albums to date.

mp3:  Take Care

Teen Dream 2010 (Sub Pop)

Available on Amazon and eMusic

Just the music tonight, I do believe that is all we need.

mp3:  The Orchard

Ra Ra Riot

The Orchard 2010 (Barsuk)

Available at Amazon and eMusic

It has been unbearably hot this week, my “unbearably hot” is anything over 80 degrees. How can I complain about that you may ask? Well, we have been spoiled rotten, the weather in Southern California has been beautifully mild for the summer and I dig that. I do not dig the heat however, and I turn into the Wicked Witch of the West bitch mode all the way. Last night was the worse of it, so hot that I couldn’t even sleep with a fan blowing directly on me. The cherry was the mosquito sucking my blood in 3 different spots one of them being my cheek! Well I was not having it, I jumped out of bed and flipped on the lights and hunted that mosquito like the vampire it is. Needless to say there is a tiny little stain on my wall… The mosquito and the flea are the two insects I have no problem killing, probably because they make me so uncomfortable. I have terrible reactions to bites, my flea bites are the size of a normal mosquito bite and my mosquito bites are just down right swollen and painful. Not a pretty sight.

Thank goodness tonight it is a lot cooler. There is a beautiful breeze flowing through the windows, quite pleasing. I have been listening to Skybox lately, a Chicago based band, who make groovy rock melodies mixed with just the right amount of fun pop. They are currently touring all over this nation.

mp3: Light

Morning After Cuts – Explicit Lyrics 2010 (Self Released)

Available at Amazon and eMusic

This is a yummy treat. Some live songs played for The Current radio station in Minnesota. The National share a beautiful unreleased piano ballad that makes me melt onto the floor, You Were A Kindness… Also includes some other songs from the new album, High Violet.

That is all I have right now, just wanted to share this awesome treat I came across today. More tomorrow! Enjoy!

For my Dad.

mp3:  Us and Them

The Dark Side Of The Moon 1973 (Capitol)

Available at Amazon

Verona De Tessant: Burt, are we fuck-ups?
Burt Farlander: No! What do you mean?
Verona De Tessant: I mean, we’re 34…
Burt Farlander: I’m 33.
Verona De Tessant: …and we don’t even have this basic stuff figured out.
Burt Farlander: Basic, like how?
Verona De Tessant: Basic, like how to live.
Burt Farlander: We’re not fuck-ups.
Verona De Tessant: We have a cardboard window.
Burt Farlander: [Looks at window] We’re not fuck-ups.
Verona De Tessant: [Whispers] I think we might be fuck-ups.
Burt Farlander: [Whispers back] We’re not fuck-ups.

I have spoken about this movie before on my blog… But I have yet to induct it in as an All Time Favorite, which it is. If you have not seen it you MUST run right out and rent it. Honestly, I get teary eyes just thinking about it, not because it is sad but because of the beauty and truth that you will relate to on so many levels.

And then there is the soundtrack… The fucking amazing soundtrack is mostly made up of songs by the AMAZING Alexi Murdoch,  a few taken from his Limited Edition album that has yet to have an official release (still waiting). After all of the years his music that I have heard 5,000 times still bring tears to my eyes,still makes me feel like I am sitting at the Hollywood Bowl and we are the only people there and he is singing directly to me. His songs calm my soul and remind me of the good things in life.

This movie and the songs that accompany it seem as if they were made for one another, it is a beautiful work of art that I will cherish forever.

mp3:  Towards The Sun

Away We Go Soundtrack 2009 (Nettwerk Music)

Available at Amazon

A little depressed… Feeling quite defeated.

This is why I have been very distant from my blog, just dealing with a bunch of shit basically.

I can always find refuge in the music…

The new Arcade Fire came out today, I have been listening to it non-stop but not from a leaked copy. :-)

Their music grows on me… But on this album I pretty much loved it instantly, the topics the songs touch upon really resonate with how I am feeling at this time in my life. I feel like I have failed at certain dreams I once had, wondering where I actually want to take this life of mine and still figuring out who I am. These are common emotions and doubts and I think Arcade Fire did a wonderful job of conveying them in their music. Highly recommended.

mp3:  The Suburbs

The Suburbs 2010 (Merge Records)

Amazon

]]> http://www.untitledrecords.com/2010/08/were-still-screaming/feed/ 3 http://www.untitledrecords.com/2010/08/here-we-are-again/ http://www.untitledrecords.com/2010/08/here-we-are-again/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:43:58 +0000 Rachel http://www.untitledrecords.com/?p=1493

Once again… Days later. I have so much to share and I am so very behind. But I will get to it all :-)

Thank goodness for music.

mp3: Rain (Setting Out In Leaf Boat)

The Innocence Mission

My Room in the Trees 2010 (Badman Recording Co.)

Amazon and eMusic

Something to kick off the work week! I am ready to make this week my bitch.

Hope it is a great one. xx

mp3:  Favourite Food

Champ 2010 (Mom & Pop Music)

Amazon and eMusic

I have fallen in love with Strand Of Oaks…

The biography on the man behind the name, Timothy Showalter makes your heart ache. He pours that all into beautifully chilling songs that are real and honest.

Take notice.

Also, check out his 2009 album Leave Ruin.

mp3:  Kill Dragon

Pope Killdragon 2010 (eMusic Selects)

Went to see a little world music singer-songwriter concert at the Hollywood Bowl put on by the wonderful public radio station KCRW on my birthday this past Sunday and it really exceeded my expectations… Which is saying a lot because I was pretty excited.

The Breakdown:

The Bird and The Bee were the first act to hit the stage. A folk duo infused with electro synth pop consisting of Inara George (The Bird) and Greg Kurstin (The Bee) along with some other awesome band members who really bring the whole sound together. I have heard their music many a time before especially when their self titled debut album was released in 2007… However, for some reason I just couldn’t get into them. Guess I needed to see them live, I fell head over heals in love with them. They lit up the stage and I didn’t want them to stop. If you live in the LA area I highly recommend checking them out as soon as possible.

mp3:  Make Love

Ray Guns are not Just the Future 2009 (Blue Note Records)

She & Him were up next. The popular indie folk Amricana duo composed of the actress Zooey Deschanel and the singer-songwriter/guitarist M.Ward. Really not the biggest fan of M.Ward’s solo work, never have been… But man, he can roar on the guitar, any guitar. He basically makes the guitar his bitch. The two of them together are really quite awesome and although I have not posted too much of them here at Untitled Records I do love the pair… Their new album She & Him – Volume 2 was released this year. They also put on a really great show that you are bound to stand up and dance to.

mp3:  Thieves

She & Him – Volume 2 2010 (Merge Records)

The Swell Season was the headlining band and the star of the show, boy did they shine bright. Their first ever live performance at such a large venue aside from the Oscars and they were amazing. The passion and emotion that Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová put into their music is breath taking, awe inspiring and beautiful. Their music gives me chills and it is just that much better when you see and hear them live. Their album Strict Joy was released last year and I highly recommend it especially the deluxe live version.

mp3: Drown Out (Live)

Strict Joy 2009 (Anti)

In short it was one of the best shows I have been to in a long time and it really made my birthday magical. No Music = No Life.

It was a rather rough day today… Mondays always seem to suck.

Puma thought it was play time at 4:30am in the morning and then just as  I was falling back to sleep she woke me up again. She is so lucky she is cute.

Then I had an early morning doctor appointment, never a good time.

And of course a full day of work, ewww. This is going to be a very long week I think…

So tonight something a little ethereal to take us away to somewhere other than sleepless nights and yucky doctor offices. Cheers! xx

mp3: True Love Will Find You in the End

Headless Heroes

The Silence of Love 2009 (self-released)

Amazon and eMusic

I like this album, beautiful folk.

mp3:  Only A Song

Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore

Dear Companion 2010 (Sub Pop)

Amazon and eMusic

I wouldn’t make a sound if I wasn’t so angry.
I wouldn’t be around if it wasn’t so far to go.
I wouldn’t keep on if there wasn’t something worth keepin’.
I want to believe that this mountain can be moved.
But this is only a song, it can’t change the world.

I get a little scared when I’m driving through the ghetto.
There’s a part of me that wants to hide, there’s a part of me that wants to move in.
Cuz even though I, I grew up in the suburbs
I didn’t really grow until I learned how so many others lived.
But this is only a song, it can’t change the world.

I’m digging, digging deep in myself
But who needs a shovel when you have a little boy like mine.
This ain’t the world that I want to give him
People racing around in cars and cities you cant even walk across.
But this is only a song, it can’t change the world.

I been thinkin’ about providence and craving a root beer float.
I didn’t make these rules but it’s come time for us to row this boat.
And on the horizon, I see windmills sprouting up in rows.
There’s young folks farming and a few that’re gonna vote.
But this is only a song, it can’t change the world.

So I try, why even sing at all?
I picture the Harlem Globetrotters dancing like mosquitos with a basketball.
Cuz there is beauty in freedom.
And folks like me, came over on boats, flew in on planes, crawled under fences, and fought wars, just to find a place to be free.
But this is only a song, it can’t change the world.
This is only a song, it can’t change the world.
This is only a song, it can’t change the world.

Must shake this day off.

It sucked. I have stronger words but lets just leave it at that…

I have been trying to go to my zen place all day but it has not been working. I don’t know if it is just the going back to work after a long weekend thing or that I am just flat out of sorts. Tonight I need something familiar and comforting. Amy Millan can always soothe my soul. Her 2009 full length solo album is beautiful from beginning to end and just what I needed to help me find a bit peace of tonight. No Music, No Life.

Goodnight xx

Tomorrow is a new day.

mp3:  Low Sail

Masters Of Burial 2009 (Arts & Crafts)

Amazon and eMusic

I really had a rough time figuring out what the heck I was going to share tonight… Nothing was striking my fancy until I remembered Damien Jurado’s new album, Saint Bartlett. The music is richer than his previous work and you just want to sit back and take it all in.

Good night. xx

p.s. it is the first day of July, which means my birthday is in exactly 17 days.

mp3:  Rachel & Cali

Saint Bartlett 2010 (Secretly Canadian)

Amazon and eMusic

]]> http://www.untitledrecords.com/2010/07/living-for-you/feed/ 2 http://www.untitledrecords.com/2010/06/gives-me-a-reason/ http://www.untitledrecords.com/2010/06/gives-me-a-reason/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:05:35 +0000 Rachel http://www.untitledrecords.com/?p=1439

So I kind of took a impromptu vacay from the little bloggy blog. Life kind of just caught up with me for a moment. I have been thinking about posting for days, just couldn’t get within typing distance. But I am here now! Yay!

Came across Sarah Jaffe, her full length debut was released back in April… She certainly caught my ear with her emotional singer-songwriter folk, one listen and you will be hooked just as I was. Enjoy! xx

mp3:  Summer Begs

Suburban Nature 2010 (Kirtland Records)

Amazon and eMusic