Fleet Foxes, 'Fleet Foxes'

Self titled album brings eclectic vibrance into your inner 70's anti-war rock protestor that vies for love, peace and harmony among our brotherhood. Except, much cooler, much more mellow and is the perfect way to zone out after a long day of let'n 'the man' bring you down. My personal favorite track is 'White Winter Hymnal'. Check out the video posted in my sidebar. Now why 5 diamonds? Because this is first album that lets me finally move my inner stubborn-ness of the day. I wouldn't label it my perfect album, but it is as close as it gets.

"I was following the pack

all swallowed in their coats

with scarves of red tied ’round their throats

to keep their little heads

from fallin’ in the snow

And I turned ’round and there you go

And, Michael, you would fall

and turn the white snow red as strawberries

in the summertime.. "

'Mykonos' is another good one. I believe it is about what? Brotherly love...

"When I walking brother don't you forget/It ain't often you'll ever find a friend/Brother you don't need to turn me away/I was waiting down at the ancient gate" What a simple concept we all forget? The bond between great friends is often what helps us get through our tough time. Just lovely. I highly recommend zone'n out to the album and let your self-reflection begin.

My Morning Jacket, 'Evil Urges'

This is a very non-cohesive album. You can not lose yourself and fade away. The rhythm changes with every track, slow, hard, slow, funky, slow, trancy etc...Tracks like 'Highly Suspicious' brings a funky remnance of Prince to life, very one hit wonder of the 80's. Almost too funky to fit in with the rest of the album, but trust me, great track either way. My all time favorite track that I almost wore out was 'Touch me I'm going to scream part 2'. Fleetwood Mac, plus sick beat, plus CRUSHING chorus, plus country whining, plus church-harmony-ish, plus a bunch of crazy stuff = this song.

'Librarian' about a man who is in love with the librarian.

"simple little bookworm

burried underneath

sexiest librarian

take off those glasses and

let down your hair

for me..."

This speaks to every nerd that is buried inside us girls. Who hasnt daydreamed of charming who follows us while we study at the library. We all pose while we read if there is a hunky man who walks by, don't lie.

'I'm Amazed' is probably the most pop-country this album gets. I can't help but think of that terrible band in the late 90's Lonestar that had their single 'Amazed'. Yucky.

I love this album, I played it in an empty apartment while I was painting. The echoes gave this album a creepy somber tone, that I LOVED. Although, you don't have to listen to it all alone in an empty apartment. On your iPod on the train will suffice.

Sigur Ros, 'með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust'

Rating 4 out of 5 Diamonds

Sigur Rós (pronouced si-ur rose) is actually the name of Jónsi's (lead singer) little sister, except it's spelled sigurrós. she was born at the same time as the band formed. Sigur Ros meaning "victory rose". (http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/band/trivia.php)



Newest Album released 2008 "með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust" meaning "with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly" is an amzing album to study/homework/veg out to. The amount of instruments in each song gives your oratory senses overload, while still letting your brain relax. It becomes almost expected after 'gobbledigook', the 1st track on the album. The entire album is in Icelandic. It almost resembles english if you happen to drift off in your own world. But doesn't distract you. String quartet and 5 piece brass section would sound intense if they were playing, say, I don't know, at MoMA in NY for an intimate event?


http://current.com/items/89173668_sigur_r_s_moma (check it out, it's amazing) Also posted in my sidebar.



Track 2 "inní mér syngur vitleysingur" ("within me a lunatic sings") is my happy-ass song. You can almost imagine yourself running carelessly through the snow covered streets of dense city. Just enough xylophone, makes me wish I understood Icelandic.


"Festival" track 5, is something I can imagine myself walking down the aisle to. Hauntingly cathedric, but spiritually uplifting. Tre magnific! It was recorded in a church in Reykjavík. I love all the songs on this album, but I don't want to bore you with details. So go listen to it!

If you don't own any other Sigur Rós albums, this is a great one to start off and work your way back.



-"takk!"

Santogold, 'Santogold'

Rating 4 out of 5 Diamonds




SOUNDS LIKE: M.I.A. & Gwen Stefani


Delish. Love this album. Yes, it sounds like M.I.A. but she tours with her! It is nothing I haven't heard before, but it is tasty. Songs like 'You'll Find A Way', 'Creator' & 'Starstruck' will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Actually, Bud Light Lime actually uses 'Creator' and 'Lights Out' in their commercials. I was caught off guard since I just read the raves about her new album, then I buy it, and as I am listening to it, I hear it on TV. I can't wait to hear the remixes at the club, I'm sure they are on their way. I have absolutely played this out on my iPod. I feel 'cool' listening to it. I've pawned this cd off to friends of mine, and they all say the same thing 'She sounds like Gwen Stefani'. I could see it. But the 90's Gwen, not the crappy Japanese Gwen 2000. Her voice is introduced soft with mixed versions of her own vocals in the background. 'I'm A Lady' makes me feel pretty in pajamas. Militant verses makes her lyrics STICK in yo brain.

Highly recommended for any decent summer house party, hipsters are welcomed.

Scarlett Johansson, 'Anywhere I Lay My Head'

Rating Scale: 2 out of 5 Diamonds



Her new album title 'Anywhere I Lay My Head'

Her covers of Tom Waits held her back for pure vocal appreciation. I assume, like her acting, has a much broader range. A touch of Eurythmics influence with synthesizing beats 'I Don't Want to Grow Up' track. 'Town with No Cheer' It feels very 1980's, small town Nebraska, deserted country road. At night, catching fire flies and running barefoot, bottles of Glen Levitt, through the eyes of a mystical beast preying on small town simple pleasures. 'Falling Down' again comparable to Annie Lennox on depressants, if you could get lower. Although I have seen this pop up on VH1. I do appreciate the instrumental variety, organs, cellos, horns, percussion, love it.

I gotta give this 2 diamonds, based on her perpetual knack for reinventing herself, I believe ScarJo could do MUCH better if she lay off the cry-baby almost monotonous vocal range and do her own songs. I love her regardless.