schroeder's pulse

Kaizer Orchestra - “Min Kvite Russer” Try NOT to...

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:09:47 -0600

Kaizer Orchestra - “Min Kvite Russer”

Try NOT to watch the video with this song. The slideshow just doesn’t mesh with this song. I just heard it for the first time, and it’s beautiful—love a good waltz with horns, organs, & bells.

Devendra Banhart - “Now That I Know” It’s a...

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0600

Devendra Banhart - “Now That I Know”

It’s a perfect, quiet morning for this one.

damn, i just noticed how low those pants are. well, when you’re looking for a photo of devendra, are you really trying to find a normal photo?

Bowerbirds - “Bur Oak” And all across the desert...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:20:37 -0600

Bowerbirds - “Bur Oak”
And all across the desert
And all up in the mountains
A wind so loud that we might never mention

This song seems so desperate during the verses, but then it turns around into pure happiness for the choruses. The tambourine starts tapping, and the lyrics happily turn to one personal memory. I’m not sure what it means, but it seems to be a relief at least for him to be focusing on one personal event rather than all the impersonal and frightening on-goings of the world. That is enough.

I’m lovin’ these guys. They harness a lot of the same attitude and sound as Elvis Perkins. I think that’s why I’m vibing with everything they do.

Meursault - “A Few Kind Words” There was a voice...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:46:00 -0600

Meursault - “A Few Kind Words”

There was a voice that I heard one time,
so faceless, full of noise,
and don’t you know, it shook me from my sleep;
it threatened hellfire then it spooned with me.
It whispered in my ear
you have only yourself to fear.

This is a Scottish group.
“Simultaneously romantic, intensely bleak and wryly funny.”

Horse Feathers - “In Our Blood” Named after the 1932...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:11:51 -0600

Horse Feathers - “In Our Blood”

Named after the 1932 Marx Brothers, Horse Feathers is hardly light-hearted enough to live up to their namesake. As a modern folk duo, they’re surely no strangers to irony. It’s their pastoral sound that makes “Horse Feathers” sound right for these guys.

I love the violin, which distinguishes this from any Iron & Wine track.

There are things you tend to say when you’re alone.
There are tones you tend to take when you’re at home.
Let me be that thorn, thistle, or key.
Let me prove you’ll unlock just for me.

Groucho & Chico are both a bit creepy here.

Yeasayer - “Ambling Alp” A new Yeasayer track off...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:36:15 -0600

Yeasayer - “Ambling Alp”

A new Yeasayer track off of their upcoming release Odd Blood due out 2/9.

dude.

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:28:50 -0600

dude.

Jellyfish by Jon Rawlinson (via joelaz.com)

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:22:37 -0600

Jellyfish by Jon Rawlinson

(via joelaz.com)

Ryan Adams - “Funeral Marching” (off the Halloween...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:16:43 -0600

Ryan Adams - “Funeral Marching” (off the Halloween EP)

I had no idea about this EP. I’ve clearly been slipping on my R. Adams listening… but I thought he had retired or something…?

I love that he uses the phrase “thick as thieves.” I tried to write that into a song a couple years ago, but it never made it to the light of day.

thanks for another good one, notarobotbutaghost.

Household Actions Can Provide a Behavioral Wedge to Rapidly Reduce U.S. Carbon Emissions

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:08:00 -0600

Household Actions Can Provide a Behavioral Wedge to Rapidly Reduce U.S. Carbon Emissions:

I know I have the other tumblr page for this sort of stuff now, but this article stands out. You can quickly read the abstract on this link and download the pdf for the full text on that page. It’s only 4 pages long, but is much more productive than any magazine article you can find about “Being Green Around the House.”

The key table is at the top of page 2.

Photo

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:43:30 -0600

The Avett Brothers - “Murder in the City” Last...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:01:06 -0600

The Avett Brothers - “Murder in the City”

Last night, The Avett Brothers had their 2nd or 4th annual Halloween show at the Ryman, which I had to miss because I and my fellow mariachis for the night already had our plans together. During the show, my friend with the extra ticket texted me to say that the Avett Brothers were also dressed as mariachis for the Halloween show. One of my fellow mariachis also confided in me with a touching story about this song, which I posted last year. Here is a live version of it—in honor of regular emotionalistic coincidences.

Of course, I think the extra vocal harmony in this version is absolutely awesome.

…some foreshadowing to the mariachi costumes.

Modest Mouse - “Blame it on the Tetons” get back up...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:00:22 -0600

Modest Mouse - “Blame it on the Tetons”

get back up however you need to

Sufjan Stevens on NPR

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:57:56 -0600

Sufjan Stevens on NPR:

An awesome little interview and a crazy, schizophrenic little video.

The Nightmare Before Christmas Here’s the musical intro to...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:38:00 -0500

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Here’s the musical intro to my favorite Halloween movie. At this time of year, this movie can bring on as much nostalgia as It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas.

Otis Redding -” Trick Or Treat” Guess I should lighten it up a...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:42:00 -0500

Otis Redding -” Trick Or Treat”

Guess I should lighten it up a bit. ‘Shouldn’t too macabre just because it’s Halloween.
By the way, I checked the dictionary before using “macabre” right now, and one of its definitions is pretty relevant for talking about music and the morbid… and it’s awesome:

macabre: adj. of or suggestive of the allegorical dance of death.

Eh, forget it. Listen to Otis.

notarobotbutaghost:

Halloween Jam. Gotta love Otis.

That Bowerbirds Song: Should be new Raffy hit

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:40:24 -0500

I’m liking that song, and it continues to sound more and more like it should be added to the canon of children’s tunes, along with “The Wheels on the Bus.”

It even tags a little lesson to all the fun:

And the warblers sing: deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet!
And the sparrows sing: deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet!
Through the wheels, through the wheels on the interstate,
And hear no refrain.

And the beetles creep (deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet!)
On the crippled trees, (deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet!)
And they look down to where the soil must have been, wondering.

And no, youre not alone. No, my cousins, youre not alone.
Youre in our talons now, and were never letting go.

And the branches bend (deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet!)
To the growing sea. (deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet-deet!)
And they ask, and they ask it to spread their seeds,
For they know they’re drowning.

…Youre in our headlights, frozen, and no, were not stopping.
You may not believe, but even we were scared at first.
It takes a lot of nerve to destroy this wondrous earth.
Were only human; this at least weve learned.

It sounds like they’ve been listening to Andrew Bird.

Ra Ra Riot - “Ghost Under Rocks” This one’s...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:29:00 -0500

Ra Ra Riot - “Ghost Under Rocks”

This one’s slightly Halloweeny and has all the trademarks of music I love automatically: a driving rhythm, strings, vocal harmony. It’s like a formula; I’m such a sucker.

indierawk:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN #45.

Here you are you are
Breathing life into ghosts under rocks,
Like notes found in pocket coats of your fathers,
Lost and forgotten.

I feel “Ghost Under Rocks” would potentially make an awesome drink.

I hope everyone notices Viggo right behind Conan as well.

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:28:31 -0500

I hope everyone notices Viggo right behind Conan as well.

Bowerbirds - “In Our Talons” Both of these two...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:44:30 -0500

Bowerbirds - “In Our Talons”

Both of these two Bowerbirds songs just came to me from different places over the last couple days, and I love them both. There’s definitely a different feeling to this. Instead of the stricter acoustic atmosphere of the last one, this one comes off as a bit of a gypsy romp, except for the choral breakdown.

Wow, I’ve been writing too much these days. I embrac the nerdiness, but sometimes I sound like such an over-academic dick.

Were only human; this at least weve learned.