Cleo's Pick o' the week... Redemption Song, Bob Marley

I've been a little under the weather this week so I'm feeling kinda mellow (I ask that you please enjoy it while you can)... If I had a great sense of humor (which I have been accused of having, I'll have you know) I'd post Enjoy the Silence, but Chopsie doesn't love DM anymore and I just don't wanna listen to him complain.


I love this dude. That's just all I can say about it. He's a freaking genius. Maybe excessive pot smoking does that to you. Not sure, but if you need me to do a little reasearch, well then I guess I could oblidge. I'm a loyal friend like that. If you could handle the greatness, that is.

I was at a dance to raise money for breast cancer research the other night and I was bouncing around like an idiot a younger version of moi, and it occurred to me (ok fine... someone mentioned how crazy I am) and I realized that the scary thing is, I haven't had a drink, or anything else for that matter, in like 14 years.

Anywhooo.... I love this song, and I'm chillin', so I thought I'd share. The video is almost 30 (WHAT THE HELL???!!!!SHUT UP!!!!!) years old, so bear with the imperfections.



This song of freedom is all I ever had....

This is how I'm feeling today...

We all have moments that we want to remember forever and even though we try to keep them close they fade. Then out of nowhere, you'll hear a song that will transport you right back to when they took place and bring them back as strong as if they weren't memories at all.

Some are great. Like being so overcome with happiness that you can't stop smiling. And when asked what you're smiling about the only thing you can say is, "nothing" because there aren't words to describe how you feel. Or the warmth of arms around you and breath on your neck; that makes you feel so safe you can't help but fall asleep no matter how hard you try to stay awake.

Others are painful. Having to smile while you say goodbye to someone then crumpling into a pathetic heap and sobbing for an hour because you don't know when you'll see them again. Or being so in love with someone, but knowing in your heart that they will never love you back.

Mostly, they are simple things. The smell of cologne, that even though you know it's not possible brings your head up anyway...just to be sure. The feel of the person you loves skin beneath your lips or a touch so gentle it gives you chills. A voice in your ear.

I love this song. It has nothing to do with my school girl like crush on Gary Lightbody, I assure you. It has everything to do with how someone can make you feel. Oftentimes without even knowing they are doing it. Sometimes without you even knowing they're doing it.



I'm not really sure what it is about us that makes us want to remember. Especially the painful things, but we do nonetheless. Sometimes I think it would be easier to forget,to be able to close down and walk away. But then I remember tickling and cheesy jokes and I can't help but smile. We're meant to remember. And feel. And love. And don't worry if those memories start to fade because then you'll hear a song...

Manly Music or Manly Music.. Monday

So Cleo broke her computer (for like the 3rd time) and came over last night for me to save her music collection and put it on her new IPod. Which is why this is late, so blame her. Also, the argument we got into is why you get extra music today so I guess it's a toss up as to whether you get mad at her or not. I don't care either way. (did ya see that? Indifference, very manly.) Anywho, I was gonna do a post on Essex Green, one of my new favorites. They have been around since '99 but didn't really start to get any play till '06 after they released their third album, Cannibal Sea. They have kinda a throw back sound that's reminiscent of some of the folk stuff from the '60s and '70s. And I dig it.

(Editors note: the original video that I posted was removed by Youtube, this is a replacement.)

Unfortunately, that is the only song I could find that would allow embedding. But some dude named "Nemesiskx" has taken the time to put almost everything Essex Green has on done on YouTube. So go check it out.

And that was all I had planned for today. But then as Cleo was looking at all the great new music she had on her IPod last night (she got all of my music plus hers) she gets all whiny and was all "Andrew WK? What the hell is Andrew WK ?" Never mind the fact that I had just hooked her up with gobs of tunes where she previously had none, she had NEVER HEARD OF ANDREW WK! I mean, sure he's old news, and kinda comes off as sorta a douchebag in his videos, but his music R O C K S. Andrew is a classically trained pianist who was in more than 12 bands from 1993 to 2000. In 2001 he released "I Get Wet" which proceeded to blow. the. hell. up. Songs from it were featured on several movies, countless commercials, numerous video games. And yet somehow little Mrs Cleo remained ignorant of his existence. So I filled her in and played a couple tracks for her. And guess what, she liked it. AND she thought it was manly. If I recall correctly, she said "More manly than anything you've ever posted.".....

So I leave it to you to decide. Which is more manly, stomping around in a dirty old shirt with greasy hair or.. me?

Cleo's Pick o' the week- M83 "We Own the Sky"

It's a well known fact that I love these guys. And it really has nothing to do with the fact that Brandon Flowers said he's totally jealous of their synths, or that they opened for The Killers on the first leg of thier North American tour earlier this year. OK, I guess it has a little to do with it, because that's how I saw them live. Not that any of my friends here will believe that - according to Gingie and Chops everything I like must hearken back to The Killers. I say they're just jealous cuz I have exquisite taste.

So there.

I'm a self confessed anglofile, but I also gotta tell ya that I love french stuff too- my aunt taught me french when I was a little girl... not that I remember any of it, but whatever. I remember listening to Celine Dion in french when she was like 13.
So nothing makes me happier (ok, very little makes me happier) than when Anthony Gonzalez says

"We own ze sky"


That's just plain sexy right there... I don't care WHO ya are.

Enjoy my pick of the week... I know I will.

Thursday's Throwback- Bring on the Dancing Horses- Echo & The Bunnymen

I thought it was time to resurrect this little tradition of ours. And I gotta tell ya... I FREAKING LOVE THIS SONG!

Every once in a while, a little ditty comes along that simply transcends time. To me, this is a perfect example to illustrate my point. This wonderful band has more than one great song... in fact, I pretty much like most of them.

Also- I love the name Ian. Lots of great guys are named Ian.

Trust me.

I know a lot of stuff.

Wussy Music Monday

It's official ladies. I give up. I'm done done. I give in. I succumb.

I like wussy bands. I like floofy music. The bubblier the better.

There, I said it. Happy? I thought that by calling my posts "Manly Music Monday" I could get the world to see that "Manly" could mean lots of things but apparently I was wrong. So from here on out I unleash my inner wuss on the world with no apologies.

And with that I present to you "Donora"

I had a tough time finding much about them on the web. Most of the links on their Myspace site are dead and everything else just seems to be direct quotes of the little blurb from their "bio" section. What little I found was from local papers doing stories on them. From what I could find it seems that Donora is Jake and Casey Hanner on vocals and drums with Jake Churton on bass. Jake and Casey grew up in Pennsylvania surrounded by music as their dad, Dave Hanner was a country/western musician for most of their lives. Casey said of her musical upbringing, ""My best friend growing up, her dad was also a musician," says Casey, "so I'd just be back and forth between these houses, and the dads would be home all day working in their studios, recording music." Donora has only been around for a few years but they sound well polished and have obviously benefited from their childhood exposure. But despite their polish Casey seems to retain a nice innocence. She almost seems like a 10 year old that just picked up her dads guitar and is just happy to be making music. She seems genuinely excited about singing and being in a band. The songs all sound well produced and very well performed. The only thing I didn't care for was the whispery part in "Shh", but I'll even forgive that for the catchy, poppy guitar and lovely melody. So anywho.. check em out. Tell me what you think.

Unless your just gonna tell me what a tender soul I am.

Plus Casey's got a pretty mouth.

This is how I'm feeling today....

One dude from Charleston, South Carolina and five dudes from.....Sweden? Whatev...works for me. Carolina Liar...Show Me What I'm Looking For.