Shut Up And Listen - # 2

Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes of His Shirt

New Feature - Shut up and listen

I'm trying something new here. Very exciting.

Once a week I'll post a song and i won't write about it.

I'll let you all make your own thoughts. So here we go. Enjoy.

Salem - It's Only You (Part II)

A Song Dominating My Life - These Days

I'm sure this has happened to you before. You have never heard of a song, totally unaware of its existence, and then the day you first hear it you begin to hear it EVERYWHERE.


For me, it all began last night. I was lucky enough to get to see St. Vincent play last night at the Metro, and at one point in her set, she gave a long introduction about the next song she was going to play, how it is one of her favorites of all-time--she then clarified that it was written by somebody else and she is not that ego maniacal. The song was "These Days" by Nico (originally by Jackson Browne, however) and it was the saddest, sweetest thing I have heard in I can't remember how long. The song tells the story of someone defeated by troubled times, completely unsure of what to do next, and St. Vincent brought the house down with it.



So tonight I am sitting and watching "The Royal Tenenbaums" for the first time in a while, and in this beautiful slow-motion scene where Margot (Gwenneth Paltrow's character) is getting off a bus, guess what song I hear? "These Days" is playing, and I just thought OF COURSE IT IS. The song perfectly fits so much of what that movie is about, especially in the final lines of the song.

"Don't confront me with my failures/I haven't forgotten them."

And the excitement only continues. The line "don't confront me with my failures." is also included in one my favorite songs from last year, "Two Doves" by the Dirty Projectors. The Dirty Projectors clearly pay homage to Nico with their song, which sounds similar in its finger-picking style as well.

Nico - These Days
Dirty Projectors - Two Doves

So I'm going to bed tonight feeling far more culturally knowledgeable. Always Nice

Land of Talk - Fun and Laughter

This EP from Land of Talk came out in late 2009, but I only just got it. I LOVED their last release, Some are Lakes, but their new stuff sounds promising. It's hard for me to exactly explain what it is that I love so much about this band, but it is something about frontwoman Elizabeth Powell's demeanor that just melts me. She can rock on a guitar fantastically well, but her singing voice is this fragile thing that shows more depth than most things you hear nowadays. Having seen them play live before hearing the album, it was definitely the personality that drew me in, and the music that has kept me hooked.

News: Lizzie Powell has joined the Broken Social Scene collective. Makes sense, since Land of Talk just finished a tour with Broken Social Scene. She is going to be collaborating with them on their upcoming May release. Can't Wait.

Land of Talk - May You Never

I played this song on the radio show I apprentice for this afternoon. That's right, I have a radio show. Please Listen!!!

WNUR Chicago 89.3 FM
Friday's @ 2-4PM.
The Weekly BJ with Breanne and Josh
featuring Patrick and Ryan)

STREAM ONLINE AT WNUR.ORG

Feminist Bookstore

Just found this comedy show by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein (former guitarist from Sleater-Kinney). They call themselves "THUNDERANT." Pretty hilarious. And they featured St. Vincent on their latest episode, playing her excellent track "Laughing With a Mouth Full of Blood." Check it.


St. Vincent - "Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood"

st. vincent | MySpace Music Videos

St. Vincent Plays in Chicago Feb. 18th. I cannot wait

And here is an older Feminist Bookstore sketch that I found particularly great.

Feminist Bookstore - Flyers