I can't dance a single step!

Today we are going to be talking about dancing. I'm a horrible horrible dancer. I've always wanted to go to a club and just dance the night away but I can't dance. I remember going to see Q and Not U. Just dancing my ass off while my two stiff friends play a game of pool. During Q and Not U!!!! They are dance and hand clap goodness. Maybe my friends thought I was having some kind of attack. But I'm not going to talk about your standard dancing at your standard club. Or in my case a gay club.

I'm talking chair dancing!!! Oh don't pretend you kids at home don't know what I'm talking about! It is the kind of dancing you do when your itunes plays that song makes you dance. So you do that little dance in your chair. I love doing that little chair dance.

My favorite bands to chair dance to:

The Parson Redheads
The Faint
Los Campesinos!
M.I.A.
Hot Chip
MGMT
Foals
Spoon

I'm sure there are many many more but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. And I will be posting my top albums of 2008. Maybe tonight. I'm still deciding.

What's plugged in the headphones? The Faint-"Violent" From the album "Danse Macabre" (2001)

Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind

I wanted to switch things up tonight. Next time I will have my best of 2008 album list. I'm still listening to some albums before I can make my list. So I took the time tonight to discuss my love for music.

This has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. I always thought I would want my memory eased to purge things out of my mind from my past. But then I would have to get rid of my whole music collection. I know there are people who scrapbook, and maybe this is the most cheesy thing I can say but buying music, talking the wrapper off the disc, and putting the cd in the player is my scrapbook.

Music is the photography to my ears. I can close my eyes and remember things. One of my favorite memories is one summer. Brandon and I just went traveling to different record stores in search of music. Well, that day he played Wilco "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" I just remember the cool summer breeze and the vocal of Jeff Tweedy sing to me, that he was trying to break my heart.

Then another memory I can look back on is when my friend Jen and I decided to go uptown whittier just to hang out. I managed to convince that she needed some Belle And Sebastian in her life. So she bought herself, "The Boy With The Arab Strap" and we listened to in her car. It was the day where I fell in love with Belle and Sebastian all over again.

Then I remember the day of my mom's wedding. I was in my best friend's car driving back home. We were singing Coconut Records' -"West Coast" at the top of our lungs.

Then there are the many heartbreaks where I cried along to The Good Life, Cursive, or Azure Ray. I wouldn't take away any of those times. I have a room full of scrapbooks. As I start a new life there will be more songs, sing-alongs, and chair dancing. (You know what I mean.)

What's plugged in the headphones? Death Cab for Cutie -"Your New Twin Sized Bed" from the album "Narrow Stairs" (2008)

Top songs and Christmas music?!?!

Welcome! This is my other blog that is for all things music. So I think tonight's blog we will kick it off simple. My favorite songs of the 2008. Some are guilty pleasures and some just got me through the day.



Danity Kane-"Damaged"

This song to me was just pure delicious bubble-gum pop. This song wasn't out to change the world. It was meant for you to dance and sing, "Do do you, have a first aid kit handy"

Mates of State-"Get Better"

When I heard this song I loved the built up of this song. The chorus of "Everything's gonna get lighter, even if it never gets better." Is so beautifully pulled off that does it's job as being the first track of the album "Re-Arrange Us".

She & Him- "Thought I Saw Your Face Today"

Zooey Deschanel's vocals are so beautiful. M. Ward's string arrangements are equally beautiful. This song is an instant classic.

Hot Chip-"Shake A Fist"

The beats on this song are sick. When it gets to the "sounds of the studio" part, you are in for a real treat. Trust me.

MGMT-"Kids"

One of the best synth hooks I've heard all year. It just grabbed me and didn't let go. This is one of those songs that will get stuck in your head. I can't help but smile when I hear this song.

Estelle Featuring Kanye West-"American Boy"

R & B at it's finest. Estelle is smooth. Plus Kayne West's rhymes' in this song are just so smooth and very natural with a nice a little punch to them.

The Gaslight Anthem-"The 59' Sound"

This is a late minute edit to this list. I couldn't help it. The story-telling is brilliant. The drums are simple but have a little dance in them. The vocals have a passion in them. This all around great song writing.

Los Campesinos!-"We Are All Accelerated Readers"

Los Campesinos! are armed with quick wit in a pop song that's less than three minutes long. This song had one of my favorite lines of all time, "I'm not Bonnie Tyler, and I'm not Toni Braxton and this song is not gonna save your relationship. Oh..no shit!"

Those are some of my favorite songs of 2008. I only put eight because I'm way more an album person but I wanted to put out some stand out tracks that caught my ear.

Also before I finish for the night, I want to say something that is on my mind. Christmas music! I hate most Christmas music. To be it is boring, unoriginal, and most of all down right cheesy meets tacky. So usually, I'm not going to line-up to recommend Christmas music albums. But their are two albums that I feel are just amazing Christmas music. This coming from a hater of Christmas music.

Sufjan Stevens-"Song For Christmas"

This is a five disc set of Christmas covers and originals. His originals are simple yet well thought out. His covers have his beautiful touch and arrangements. If you already a fan of Mr. Stevens' music then I highly recommend this.

Vince Guaraldi-"A Charlie Brown Christmas" (Extra tracks, Original Recording Remastered)

At Christmas time I must admit I'm huge fan of the Charlie Brown Christmas special and always loved the music. Mr. Guaraldi's arrangements and playing on this album is so timeless. It is beautiful Christmas album for those cold nights and drives around town looking at Christmas lights.

Well, that is it for tonight. Coming soon is my list favorite albums of 2008.