NEW Music Video by Great Lake Swimmers ("Palmistry")

Here's a brand new video from Great Lake Swimmers. The short-but-sweet track "Palmistry" is off their latest record Lost Channels.

Great Lake Swimmers - "Palmistry"

~Ellie

Los Colorados - Hot and Cold (video)

Yes, this is a cover of a Katy Perry song.

But just trust me on this:

Los Colorados - "Hot and Cold"

~Ellie

Whitney Duncan

Recently I’ve realized the shortage of quality female country artists out there. As a country fan and a girl, this is aggravating to say the least. I refuse to admit that men have mastered country better than women (it’s based on feelings, for Pete’s sake). However, I do find myself listening to men’s country more often. Why?. Because they’re music is less sappy, to be honest. To me, quality country either has to be sweet, fun, or wild. And I believe I’ve finally found another girl artist to add to my, however short, list of fave country women.

I had to google Whitney Duncan, though I already knew her music, and according to Wikipedia, she was a runner up in the US A Network TV show Nashville Star, which no one seems to have ever watched (please tell me if I’m wrong). She hasn’t come out with many CDs yet, just some singles and some 5-6 song length CDs (two, I believe). Regardless, she’s good. She isn’t big yet in Nashville, or anywhere, but my bet is she will be.

My personal favorite song of hers goes under the sweet, fun category. It’s called “Skinny dippin” (and it has a video, boys). It’s a laid-back, relaxing, summer song that makes you wish it was hot again . . . and/or you had some hot Southern boy to go swimming with, um, regardless of temperature. “Saw the water through the trees/and the way he looked at me/with that sly Southern grin/and he said ‘I hope you know how to swim,” she sings.

Second favorite song is called “So Sorry Mama”. It’s a wild song. No two ways about that one. And any girl who’s got a wild streak in her can relate to it. It’s all about that one bad boy that gets to her, no matter how hard she tries to resist. “I know you raised me better than this/But how can I resist? . . . I’m sorry, Mama/So sorry, Mama!” she goes. We feel your pain, girl.

Song number three on my list is called “Southern Girl.” It’s a mix of sweet and sour. She defines herself a won’t-take-no-crap Southern girl; “I was born in the blazing sun/And I ain’t afraid of anyone”, she asserts, daring the boys to come and try things with her, “a stubborn girl with attitude.”

OK. My fourth favorite is borderline sappy. I’m sorry; it’s an exception. It’s called “Who Needs the Night”, and it’s an “I’m in love with you” song, but if you can stomach that, check this one out. But I’ll put it under the sweet category. “If you can make a day feel this right,/who needs the night?” she sings. I won’t elaborate, to spare you, however much I like the song. Enjoy it for a few seconds, appreciate it, try not to throw up, then go listen to her other music.

And one last song, which apparently made the charts, is called “When I Said I Would”. It’s a decent song too; I’ll second the opinions of those who put it on the top 100. She appeals to everyone whose heart has ever been broken, singing “when I said I would/Tell me what was I thinking/I gave my heart without even blinking”.

Anyways, enjoy.

~Libby

Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet (video)

Here's our present to you all for the weekend! Hope that everyone conquered their midterms without serious permanent damage to their health. For those unlucky souls who still have more midterms looming over their heads, look for The Perfect Midterm Study Playlist (Part II) next week!

Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet

Have a good weekend,

Ellie

Midterms Study Playlist

Midterms are just a pain. I feel they’re even harder than finals. Not only do you have to prepare for tests, papers and projects, but you have to keep up with menial daily homework too! So here’s a calming study playlist for all of you facing this week of hell-Midterms Week.

1.) Strawberry Swing-Coldplay

Love this song! It’s a great way to start out studying. The chords and harmonies have a muted quality to them and the continuous beating rhythms keep you moving forward from assignment to assignment.

2.) Industry- Jon McLaughlin

Starts out soft and slow to ease you into working, but eventually picks up and keeps you moving forward, much like Coldplay.

3.) Go Away-Eisley

Frustrated with your chem? Put this song on and punch your pillow a couple of times, then hit the books again. No, literally hit the books! It’ll make you feel better as long as you don’t do it too hard. Some of those textbooks are pretty thick!

4.) Details in the Fabric- Jason Mraz featuring James Morrison

First thing you hear is “Calm down/ deep breathes/ get yourself dressed instead/ of running around and pulling on your threads and/ breaking yourself up”. The hypnotic duet between these two will calm you down as the lyrics reassure you that “everything will be fine”. Plus if you listen REALLY closely to the voice message at the end, you might get a laugh.

5.) Space to Write - Priscilla Ahn

Like most of the songs on this playlist, the harmonies and vocals are every soothing, but there is a constant current that keeps pushing you forward. Or it’s a very nice song to fall asleep to if you need a quick 20 minute rejuvenating nap.

6.) Glass of Water- Coldplay The quicker tempo of this song reenergizes you and keeps you motivated. Chris Martin sings that we shouldn’t ask “neither how full or empty/ is your glass” because it doesn’t matter. Why doesn’t it matter? Because you’ve got midterms to study for, silly! Get back to work!

7.) Don’t Know Why- Nora Jones

Nice, chill background music. Good for frantically flipping through novel after novel, looking for quotes for your 8-page, 12 pt., double-spaced paper due by 3:00 pm tomorrow.

8.) The Call- Regina Spektor

Not only does it meet the requirements of being soft and relaxed with a forward moving undercurrent, but it’s one of my favorite songs. And it’s nice to hear a favorite song in a random playlist. It’s like home-familiar and comfy. A welcome change from the stress of midterms.

9.) Just Give it Time- Jon McLaughlin

Hit another rough spot in your history paper? “Just give it time/ it’s gonna get better.” Take a few breathes and out this song on while you go back and work it out. It’ll get you back on track, while reassuring you at the same time. Just like Mom used to do.

10.) Georgia On My Mind- Michael Bublé

This cover of the classic Ray Charles song is good for singing along to as you’re working on that tough math problem on the study guide your prof gave you.

11.) Love Story Meets Love Story- Jon Schmidt

And what study playlist would be complete with out a little Jim Brick... Jon Schmidt! Okay, so he may not be Jim Brickman, but this guy is equally talented. This arrangement of Taylor Swift’s hit can be enjoyed by all, even if you’re not a huge fan of the country crooner. This piece is based off of the hugely popular mash up called Love Story Meets Viva La Vida of Swift’s song and Coldplay’s Viva La Vida. Schmidt says that as he was arranging Love story for his 7-year-old daughter, it seemed to flow straight into Viva La Vida. Schmidt’s website says that “Thinking clearances were properly handled with Love Story meets Viva la Vida, we were later dismayed to discover when you create a mash-up you need personal permissions from songwriters before it can be sold. Let's just say, getting in touch with rock stars has been harder than it sounds.” Which really sucks for all of us, because the song is amazing! Some rearranging took place and voila! Love Story Meets Love Story! An equally amazing song. Make sure you all write to your Coldplay representatives and encourage them to let Jon Schmidt sell this song!


Much luck to everybody on whatever tests, papers, or whatever you have coming up this week, or next! Go kick some Midterm butt!

Death Cab for Cutie: 'Meet Me on the Equinox' Video Premiere on MTV

"The video for Death Cab for Cutie's 'Meet Me on the Equinox' from The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack will be premiering Wednesday, October 7th at 8PM on MTV. The video was directed by Walter Robot and includes footage from the upcoming New Moon film. A preview of the video debuting tomorrow can be seen at the New Moon soundtrack website."

You heard right: Death Cab for Cutie recorded a song for the next Twilight movie. Now, some fans of DCFC are quite upset at what they see as lead-singer Ben Gibbard "selling out". I, personally, am not a huge fan of the Twilight movies, however, I really enjoyed (and purchased) the first soundtrack, which included excellent songs such as "Eyes on Fire" by Blue Foundation, "Supermassive Black Hole" by Muse, and "Full Moon" by The Black Ghosts. Whether I like the movies or not, I have to admit that for some of these artists, the publicity of having their work featured on such an insanely popular album is well worth the imagined stigma surrounding "going mainstream". Fans may have to put up with a few more pre-teen Twilight enthusiasts at DCFC concerts, but isn't the whole point of music that people listen to it? I fail to see how more people listening to DCFC could possibly be a bad thing.

I'm super-excited to see the music video premiere tonight, because "Meet Me on the Equinox" is my current favorite Death Cab for Cutie song. Well, that and "The Sound of Settling".

Who else is going to be on the New Moon soundtrack? Here's the official list:

1. Death Cab For Cutie – Meet Me On The Equinox
2. Band Of Skulls – Friends
3. Thom Yorke – Hearing Damage
4. Lykke Li – Possibility
5. The Killers – A White Demon Love Song
6. Anya Marina – Satellite Heart
7. Muse – I Belong To You (New Moon Remix)
8. Bon Iver & St. Vincent – Rosyln
9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Done All Wrong
10. Hurricane Bells – Monsters
11. Sea Wolf – The Violet Hour
12. OK Go – Shooting The Moon
13. Grizzly Bear (with Victoria Legrand) – Slow Life
14. Editors – No Sound But The Wind
15. Alexandre Desplat – New Moon (The Meadow)

UPDATE: Official Music Video "Meet Me On the Equinox" - Death Cab for Cutie

~Ellie

Sufjan Stevens: The Mistress Witch From McClure

Yet another Monday has come, and if you're feeling tired and gloomy then this video of Sufjan Stevens is guaranteed to brighten your day and make you fall in love with him all over again.

Sufjan Stevens - "The Mistress Witch from McClure"


~Ellie

P.s. Our Senior Assistant Editor, Evan, promises that he'll get around to writing his article for Sufjan Stevens Week as soon as he has the time. Better late than never . . . ?