1000 Minutes: Dave #23

If you notice, Andy and I seem to have used a fair amount of songs from the same artists, oftentimes from the same album. We just seem to have different favorites off those albums. Today I will try to avoid that pattern, not that it’s a bad thing, with some different stuff. Here is the latest of my 1000 Minutes.

45. The Postal Service – Such Great Heights (mp3) from Give Up (4:26) [Time Remaining: 808:26]

I recall getting in an argument a few years back about whether or not this song was penned by Mr. Ben Gibbard or by Iron & Wine, who do an excellent cover. To be fair, the cover got quite a bit of play, being in a commercial and on a huge film soundtrack. I was adamant that this version was the original and Iron & Wine covered the song. Furious, I went home and checked the liner notes to see who wrote the song.

I bought the album a long time ago and listened to it over and over with my girlfriend at the time. She is now my wife, and we have both loved this song for a long time. As such I have many personal reasons for liking this song.

46. Pixies – Where Is My Mind? (mp3) from Surfer Rosa (3:53) [Time Remaining: 804:33]

I don’t have any great emotional attachments to this song, I just like it a lot. Though I do rather enjoy its use at the apex of the film Fight Club. It certainly adds something to the scene.

New Television

As a warning, this morning’s post is going to be filled with disparate music, but that’s because the focus isn’t really on the songs.  With the return of Entourage and Weeds, there are always a couple of new shows to accompany both – and this year it’s HBO’s Hung and Showtime’s Nurse Jackie.

My girlfriend and I have watched what we can of both shows.  And while there are far more episodes of Nurse Jackie available at this point to base an opinion on, so far it’s the clear winner.  The characters are far more endearing.  That’s not to say that Hung isn’t good; it’s more that it hasn’t developed past the initial twist on the hooker and pimp relationship.

Hung, to its credit, has used far better music – but that’s because Nurse Jackie doesn’t seem to use much at all.  For it’s opening credits, Hung uses a Tympanogram favorite with The Black Keys’ “I’ll Be Your Man.”  Nurse Jackie has only used one song prominently – the heartbreaking “When It Don’t Come Easy” by Patty Griffin.  Here are both those songs, as well as a completely hilarious track from Mickey Avalon that was used at the end of a Hung episode.  Fitting, to be sure.

The Black Keys – I’ll Be Your Man (mp3) from The Big Come Up

Patty Griffin – When It Don’t Come Easy (mp3) from Impossible Dream

Mickey Avalon – My Dick (mp3) from Mickey Avalon

mp3 Smörgåsbord #25

Put your disposable lobster bib on for today’s Smörgåsbord.  Personally, I had enough lobster this past week or so, and I don’t even like it.  Honestly, on the whole it seems like far too much work for what is ultimately very little reward.  But, for you crustacean lovers, we have a brand new, fresh from the musical ocean remix of So Many Dynamos, as well as an understated remix of The Radio Dept. from The Rice Twins, and then some Fanfarlo.  We ran out of those little forks, so good luck getting the meat out.

The Radio Dept. – David (The Rice Twins Remix) (mp3) from David [Single]

So Many Dynamos – Friendarmy (Safegoat Mix) (mp3)

Fanfarlo – I’m A Pilot (mp3) from Reservoir

1000 Minutes: Andy #24

Vacation – at least the portion that consists of me being away from my computer – is over.  I’m also off of work today in order to catch up on a few things I haven’t had a chance to get done – reregistering my car, for example – but I’ll be back to the workplace tomorrow.

This morning finds me rehashing my trip, taking tags off of the stuff we bought (since it will obviously be unable to be returned), uploading photos, unpacking and doing laundry.

Here are a couple of tracks that came up over the course of the trip that forced me – because of their special place – to play them again.

(On a complete side note, does anyone else who watches Entourage think that E’s new love interest is far below what he should pull?  After Sloan, this Ashley character leaves much to be desired.)

49. Iron & Wine – Naked As We Came (mp3) from Our Endless Numbered Days (2:33) [Time Remaining: 745:58]

Scene: A Saturday morning in the middle of spring.  Light shines in through the window curtains.  A couple in bed, lying on their sides, facing each other.

There’s not much to say for me about this one.  Despite the quasi-morbid vision of having your lover die inside your arms, “Naked As We Came” is just an absolutely fantastic song.

50. The Format – Sore Thumb (mp3) from Interventions & Lullabies (3:19) [Time Remaining: 742:39]

Band break-ups have little to no affect on me.  Creativity isn’t a static endeavor, to be certain, and I don’t have any personal connection to any bands that would make a particular dissolution upsetting.  With that said, The Format’s end was a surprise.  They seemed to be musicians that were talented, and they were upbeat enough to give the impression that they had fun playing.  It was, as we all know, not to be.

From their first album – 2003’s Interventions & Lullabies – “Sore Thumb” was a personal standout.  The subject matter was much more dark, and in 2003/2004, when my relationships were much less stable than they currently are, it felt applicable.  Even now, I like to joke with my girlfriend that the line “please just leave, well you don’t mean that much to me” is about her.  Luckily, she doesn’t take me seriously.

New Releases: July 28

I apologize for today, because I don’t have a fully prepared new releases post available. This is due to unique time constraints as I start a new job today. As usual, check out Amazon for this week’s releases and enjoy a new-ish track below. And don’t fret if you come here regularly to find out what to purchase this week because I, or more likely Andy, will have you taken care of properly next time.

Atlas Sound (Feat Noah Lennox) – Walkabout (mp3)

Escuchar

Music on a lazy Sunday is always good. As for me, I start a new job tomorrow and am a little nervous about it. Music helps me forget about my worries. Hopefully these songs will do that for anyone else needing an escape. No frills, just music.

Dan Black – Symphonies (Passion Pit Remix) (mp3)

Elizabeth & The Catapult – Taller Children (mp3) from Taller Children

1000 Minutes: Dave #22

I got my computer back yesterday morning fairly early, so I’m back up and running. For those of you considering a Macintosh computer I strongly recommend getting an AppleCare plan. If I hadn’t done so, the arbitrary breaking of my hard drive would have cost me an arm and a leg. As it is I didn’t pay anything, got a slight upgrade in hard drives and a new cover plate for my laptop. So it is with my new and improved laptop I present you my latest 1000 Minutes installment.

43. Kings Of Leon – California Waiting (mp3) from Holy Roller Novocaine (3:28) [Time Remaining: 816:29]

I thought long about which KoL song I would be including in my 1K. I went back and forth between two of them, but this won over. I prefer this version to that on Youth and Young Manhood, because I heard it first, but also because it is better.

44. Death Cab For Cutie – 405 (mp3) from We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes (3:37) [Time Remaining: 812:52]

This was my biggest struggle yet. I fought myself with which of two favorites from Death Cab to include. I am also surprised it took me this long to include either one of the two considered tracks. I fought so hard with myself I will likely include the other track in my next edition. I had to go with this song in the end because every single time I hear it, I get goosebumps. That’s what pushed it over for me. And I’ll tell you, the other is no slouch.

Recycled

Well, I don’t have my computer back yet so I have to recycle some music that is already stored here at the site. This song never got its proper due so here it is again. Hopefully I’ll be back up tomorrow, if not I’ll figure something else out again.

Ra Ra Riot – Run My Mouth (RAC Mix) (mp3) from the Can You Tell Single

Weddings

So, I drafted this post up a few days ago, thankfully. That’s the only reason you are getting it today, and for the rest of the time until Andy gets back I’m not quite sure how many posts I’ll get up. This is because my hard drive died yesterday. I was listening to Still Light, Still Night
and working on the interwebs when I heard a clunking sound of sorts and my computer froze. I turned it off and when attempting to power it back on, only a folder with a flashing question mark showed up. I took the laptop to the Apple store to see what was up. Thankfully I am still covered by my protection plan so I should be getting my laptop back with a new hard drive shortly. I will try to get some things up daily but alas I do not have any music to upload, so I may be recycling some tunes. Anyways, here you are.

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This being wedding season and all, I’ve been to two of them this month.  I believe the purpose of Andy’s trip to Maine is also in part because of a wedding as well. (By the way, it’s not like I was completely missing last week.  I early drafted the Florence + Machine post and put up the Grizzly Bear one.) I wrote a post about wedding songs in the early days of this blog, you can read it and admire the awesome song my wife and I danced to if so inclined.  For wedding song I enjoy unique and different songs, not the usual flowery, sappy adult contemporary nonsense.   The recent weddings I’ve attended have had some unique choices for the individual couple’s ’songs.’  Naturally, no one will ever top the song we used, but nevertheless these songs weren’t the shitty rehashed type many, including those besides myself, have become accustomed to hearing at weddings. Any thoughts?

Arctic Monkeys – Baby I’m Yours (mp3) from Leave Before The Lights Come On

Red Hot Chili Peppers – I Could Die For You (mp3) from By The Way

mp3 Smörgåsbord #24

We call it the Smörgåsbord, but normally it plays out like remix and/or b-side junction. Today will be no different. Chomp down hard on a sublime Interpol remix before challenging your taste buds on another remix, this time of an Au Revoir Simone ditty. Finally wash it all down with a delicious meal in itself, an RAC Bloc Party mix. Eat up clowns.

Interpol – Untitled (Velapene Screen remix) (mp3)

Au Revoir Simone – Sad Song (Pacific remix) (mp3) from Reverse Migration

Bloc Party – Hunting For Witches (RAC mix) (mp3)