Video of the Day: Josh Ritter on Letterman

Not that I'm bragging or anything, but i will shortly be seeing him live. Oh yes.

Lyrix of the Day: Happiness by Built to Spill

Yo, check it:

Happiness by Built to Spill

Haven't had half a hand in half of what I am
Haven't heard of half the things that happened in the past
Haven't given half a time to half the people half the things I've planned
You don't have to be so cruel cause all I do is a little less than what I can

Happiness will only happen when it can
Happiness will only happen when it can

Haven't haven't the half of mind to stay and start to take a stand
Haven't held on half as long as I had hoped, as I had hoped and planned
Haven't missed half the shit they said I had to have to have a chance
You don't have to be so cruel cause all I do is a little less than what I can

Happiness will only happen when it can
Happiness will only happen when it can
Happiness will only happen when it can
Happiness will only happen when it can

The God Project

For those of you who don't know, I've recently had a slight existential crisis that started me on the search for God. I decided pretty quickly that the best way to make lemonade out of this situation would be to ask some musicians what their thoughts on God were and compile them for a super-cool project. So far, so good.

I set up a separate blog for The God Project (as it is tentatively called), as the tone is seriously different from the tone of Pretending to be Japanese (PTBJ = ridiculous, TGP = intense, sort of). So, guys, check it out!:

The God Project

-Jocelyn

Other Best Video Ever

Also,

Best Video Ever

I have no words for this:

Shit

I ask you this, gentle readers, how is anyone supposed to live in a world without Heath Ledger?

Video of the Day: Bob Wiseman and Feist - Who am I?

Guys, meet my new friend Bob.

Lyrics of the Day: By Your Side by CocoRosie

While listening to these lyrics, it's easy to see how Devendra Banhart and either Coco or Rosie dated/are dating (they really need to have Us Weekly for indie musicians so I can be up on the details).

"By Your Side" by CocoRosie

I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
I just wanted to be your housewife

I'll iron your clothes
I'll shine your shoes
I'll make your bed
And cook your food
I'll never cheat
I'll be the best girl you'd ever meet
And for the diamond ring
I'll do these kinds of things
I'll scrub your floor
Never be a bore
I'd tuck you in
I do not snore
I'd wear your black eyes
Bake you apple pies
I won't ask why
And I try not to cry

I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out

And it's nearly midnight
And all I want with my life
Is to be a housewife
Is to be a housewife
'Cause it's nearly midnight
And all I want with my life
Is to die a housewife
Is to die a housewife

Songs That Make You Feel Better

It's hard sometimes, in the dead of winter, to find things that make you happy. This is particularly true in Vancouver, where the sun sets at 4:30 and it wasn't even really out to begin with because it's ALWAYS RAINING. Who chooses to live in a rainforest? Well, me apparently, but that's another story.

Anyway, Lately I've been coming home from work in progressively bad moods. To remedy this, I found several songs (available legally for free download. How delightful!) that lift my spirits, if only for a few minutes. Without further delay, here they are:

-Andrew Bird - "Plasticities" (Daytrotter session)
"Plasticities" (more commonly referred to as "my happy song") is just so simple and beautifully constructed. I find it hard to imagine that I'm the only one who finds it hard not to love.

-Final Fantasy - "Peach, Plum, Pear" (Joanna Newsom cover)
Perhaps I shouldn't be talking about this song, what with my looming cover songs update that will undoubtedly mention it, but it's my blog and I'll do what I want. "Peach, Plum, Pear" is possibly one of the best songs ever written. The only thing that makes it better is the fact that Joanna Newsom isn't singing it. No offense to her, of course. Having to listen to her voice is, in my opinion, a small price to pay to get to listen to her music. It is a relief, however, to get to listen to her music beautifully arranged and sung by someone else. I'm just saying.

-Antony and the Johnsons - "Hope There's Someone"
No, it's not exactly a happy song, but listening to Antony sing is in itself a pleasure. That combined with the amazing and intense way this song ends makes it no less than a treat for the ears, tacky though it may sound.

-Band of Horses - "The Great Salt Lake"
It's a strange phenomenon, I suppose, that technically unhappy songs have the ability to make a person feel better. But for me, it's not about tone or lyrics so much as the beauty of the finished product. I love Ben Bridwell's voice and I adore the melodies he sings in this song. That plus envisioning the nerdy little smile he has on his face while performing, and how can you not feel good, really?

-Rogue Wave - "Eyes"
I can't find words to describe this song because I'm listening to it right now and I'd much rather do that than write. It's just lovely, that's all.

-Built to Spill - "Happiness"
(Ok, I lied about all of them being downloadable. Some jerks are signed to Warner. There's nothing I can do about it. That's what Limewire is for, not that I advocate illegal activity or anything.)
I forgot about this song for quite a while and rediscovered it today. I wasn't even really paying close attention but it pulled me in with the line "Happiness will only happen when it can." An important thing to remember, folks! And besides, winter will be over soon enough.

-Jocelyn

Lyrics of the Day: Lover by Devendra Banhart

Instead of a real update, I thought I'd entertain you with the lyrics to "Lover" by Devendra Banhart, because they're just so funny.

Well I, I wanna be your lover
I wanna be your man
I want you to understand

And I, I wanna open your door
And love you 'til you're sore
That works for - wait a minute, wait a minute
Yeah

I wanna be your thing, your anything, your everything, oh yeah

And I, I wanna fill your cup
Fill it up, fill it up to the brim with love
That works for - wait a minute, wait a minute

You'll never have to ask
I'll fill you my sweet glass
I'm gonna mesmerize your ass
Just give me my first chance, it's gonna be the last
I'm gonna make you wanna stay

I, I wanna be your cow
Give you all the milk around town
Let me see, let me see you drink it down
I, I wanna be the pear tree
I want you to climb all over me
Try my fruit and taste my seed

Climb right on me, lay it on me
C-c-climb right on me, l-l-lay it on me

Just let me do my thing
Until you start to sing
I'm going down you all night long
I'm gonna build a bond
I'm pulling out my wand
It feels so right it can't be wrong

Yeah

Well I, I wanna be your lover
I wanna be your man
I want you to understand

And I, I wanna be your lover baby
I wanna be your girl
Blow a kiss and change the world

We're gonna make it through
You got me and I got you
Your bleeding heart's at my command
If you don't love me too
Then being friends will do
Long as you let me in your bed



Oh, Devendra.

-Jocelyn

Boo Insound

So in case you haven't noticed, the albums on the side of the blog have been REMOVED because they linked to Insound, which used to be a really great/cool company and is now officially owned by Warner.

I hate it when that happens.

-Jocelyn

Artist Spotlight: Battles

Those of you who are avid readers of my blog (nerds + my mum) probably have guessed that there is no band I love more than Animal Collective. You also probably have noticed that i lament the fact that there isn't more music like what Animal Collective creates. In fact, there isn't any. Or at least, there wasn't until I discovered my favourite band of the week, Battles.

No, they're not really like Animal Collective, but they do have a similar alien quality about them. They're sort of like what would happen if Animal Collective and Explosions In The Sky had a really funky, electronic baby. A warning though, they're not for the faint of heart. Their music is structured a bit like techno, but their sound is almost like hardcore. It's a bit hard to describe, actually, without using the term "math rock," which I am reluctant to do. It sounds a bit too much like "psych folk" and all those other fake genres that artists (rightfully) hate.

Reguardless of what you call them, however, Battles are pretty great. The guys are extremely talented musicians who create something together that is greater than the sum of its parts. It's hard while listening to their music to imagine that it was created by humans, which is why the decision to put themselves performing in their music videos was such a good one. It gives the listener/watcher a frame of reference for how this music even exists.

So, without further delay, I present their 2007 release, Mirrored, in its entirety, along with two music videos for your viewing pleasure.

Continue if you dare.

-Jocelyn

"Atlas"


"Tonto"