Sharing Different Heartbeats...

Into everyone's Friday, a little "Heartbeats" must fall. Oh, and if you haven't heard Jose Gonzalez's acoustic version...you must go here now!

Count Along!

This video always makes me smile. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

Star Power

I'd forgotten how much I loved this song until it came up on my Pandora playlist...and, well, it just fits perfectly with this breezy fall-like day we're having. Romance rekindled.

I Turn My Camera On

I'm having a Camera Obscura morning...and that, my friends, is a beautiful thing. So, I thought I'd share:

Fire It Up

I just bought my ticket to see Arcade Fire play at the Greek in Berkeley come October - yay! At any rate, purchasing my ticket triggered a reminder of this awesome video of the Montreal-based rockers playing an acoustic set inside a freight elevator in Paris. Most of you have probably already seen this, but I'm sure you'll enjoy watching it one more time! In this version, the music starts about 2 minutes, 30 seconds in...so skip ahead if you're not interested in the lead up.

The New New Pornographers

The New Pornographers are, hands down, one of my favorite bands. So, imagine my joy when the power-pop super group announced its upcoming North American tour, which includes a stop at the beautiful Fox Theater in Oakland. Yay!!! The tour is in support of the group's fifth album, Together, which is slated for release May 4. Can I get another 'yay'"?

A Fine Thing

I'm not really that familiar with A Fine Frenzy, but this stop-motion video for "Lost Things" is pretty magical.

Just Beat It

My best friend's dad used to take his drumsticks everywhere, and I mean everywhere! In the car he would bang away on the steering column, at the dinner table he would drum on the plates, and in the bathroom, well, who knows? It was wild! He would totally have benefited from these pencil drumsticks by Suck UK - sold in a pair, they're perfect for kids taking drum lessons or "adults who haven't grown out of the rock star dream."

On A French Kick

I found this charming video by French chanteuse Claire Denamur via one of my favorite blogs, Little Brown Pen. I have no idea what Denamur is singing about, as don't speak a drop of French, but the language barrier has no impact on how adorable Denamur and the video are. Enjoy.

Bewitching French Pop

I can't find much from the Reims, France-based band The Bewitched Hands on the Top of Our Heads, but I am seriously digging their single "Work," which was released back in May 2009. The track is available for listen at April77Records. It's catchy and upbeat, two things that get me every time. 

Let It Snow

It seems like 2009 was a pretty shitty year for most people I know. Still, there were a couple of brilliant things to come out of an otherwise downer of a year. For example, the release of Swedish band Miike Snow's eponymous debut album. The band, which is comprised of singer/songwriter Andrew Wyatt and producing duo Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, starts touring later this month. They'll start out in the UK, but will make their way across the pond to the Independent in SF come April. I love, love, love them - and plan to be at that show.

In the Mix

Constructing the perfect dance-party mix can be a taxing process. The correct ingredients can lead to an unparalleled dance-party experience, however, a couple bad selections can leave guests feeling uninspired - and there's nothing worse than a dance party with no booty shaking. So, imagine the stress I am under as the person responsible for making a NYE mix for the party I'm attending. Ugh. That's why I need your help - what would you play to get the crowd moving? Justin Timberlake? Passion Pit? Scissor Sisters? MJ? Suggestions please!!

You Spin Me Round, Right Round

My friend sent me a link to this lust-worthy Barky Turntable available at Anthropologie. Fashioned from ashwood and glass with a Premotech motor and Rega tonearm - it'll set you back a pretty penny - $1,298, gulp. There aren't any product reviews on the Anthro site - curious how it sounds. Anyone?

Art Happens :: Aesthetic Apparatus

There was a time when the walls of my bedroom were covered in gig posters - Sonic Youth, The Cure, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pavement, Elliott Smith - they were all there. At some point I decided to take them all down and replace them with framed works of art. Then I stumbled upon Aesthetic Apparatus, the brainchild of Dan Ibarra and Michael Byzewski. Ibarra and Byzewski combined their passions for music and screen-printing, creating limited runs of concert posters. When I saw the poster for the New Pornographers (one of my favorite bands), I had to own it. It's now hanging on my wall - framed, of course.

Rave On!

{photo by C Davey Wilson}

Last month I flew down to L.A. to see my friend Joe (and Tegan & Sara at the Orpheum). While he was showing me the sights, his car stereo was playing the Raveonettes' fourth release, In and Out of Control. Since then, I've been listening to the Danish-duo's latest album nonstop. If you haven't heard it yet, I highly suggest you check out "Last Dance" and "Breaking Into Cars" - both brilliant tracks.

And Thao for Something Completely Different

{photo by Tarina Westlund}

Despite the fact that they've been around since 2005, I only recently discovered Thao with The Get Down Stay Down. The trio, fronted by Thao Nguyen, released its third album, Know Better Learn Faster, on Kill Rock Stars last month. While I've been really enjoying the latest album, it's tracks like "Bag of Hammers" and "Swimming Pools" (off 2008's We Brave Bee Stings and All) and "Chivalry" (off 2005's Like the Linen) that I find myself singing out loud while washing the dishes.

Thao's lyrics are clever and catchy, the music chearful and upbeat - it's good stuff! Check them out. In fact, they play at the Independent in San Francisco this Saturday. Tickets are $17. Anyone want to go with me?

The Truly Talented :: Willow

I'm not sure how it happened, but I have some amazingly talented friends. Take my good friend Willow, this Brooklyn-based lady performs as part of the soulful, folk duo Bow Ribbons and she can also sew up some one-of-a-kind linen threads (see photos). I'm saving up my hard-earned cash so I can order something for myself.