@yawen » music

The Death of Death Cab

yawen — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:58:44 +0000

The attempt to preview Death Cab For Cutie’s new album, Narrow Stairs was a failure; I was so impatient, and quite frankly bored, that I turned to an older release, The Photo Album, which was undoubtedly my favorite, even more so than their “classic” albums like Something About Airplanes. Maybe I’m just nostalgic for 2001. After all, I also loved Saves The Day’s Stay What You Are and Bright Eyes’ Lifted, or The Story’s in the Soil… (though that came out in 2002). I was an insular 16 year old who’s only reality and consolation was the young “independent” music scene at a time when I could finally drive myself to shows. The prospect of meeting these musicians and sharing music was so enticing – that is, until I actually met them. Ben Gibbard with his sweaty hands and blank stares and Conor Oberst and his drunk demeanor and crooked smile. But it was a phase that I grew out of… I think. No x’s on my hands now when I go to bars for shows because I’m a grown-up. If only Death Cab could pick it up with more inspired Postal Service-esque tunes, we’ll all be a little more engaged and happy!

Radio Snippet (1)

yawen — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:53:26 +0000

I used to be a college radio DJ and even DJ’ed some events. Unfortunately, I’ve currently have less music resources – I’m no longer backed up by KDVS’s large music collection, so I’ve decided that I’m going post snippets of my playlist here from 2004-2006.

The Future – Askeleton
Don’t Let Our Youth Go To Waste – Galaxie 500
It Must Have Been Days – Pagoda
I’ve Lived On A Dirt Road All My Life – Manitoba
The Pages of Lisa, Bright & Dark – Baskerville
Everybody’s The Same – Dear Nora
Crown of the Lost – Piano Magic
Letter from Belgium – The Mountain Goats
DSCO – Sweet Trip
Whole wide world – Laptop
Holland – Tranquilizer
Distance is the Sun – Tracker
Just enough – Paul Schneider
Bigger Beauty – Jason Collette (of Broken Social Sauce)
Empty Pictures – Elf Power
I’m Just Gonna Close My Eyes For a Second – Beauty Pill
Frolic – Komeda
Knee Deep at the NPL – Camera Obscura
Rain – Blake Babies
Burning Hearts- My Favorite

Free Album

yawen — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:07:58 +0000

Look, you can download the entire Nine Inch Nails album, The Slip, for free! Not that I’m really a fan, but I just don’t see many other major artists freely offering their albums. Instead, there was a war on pirating. I remember the Metallica-Napster controversy 8 years ago. Napster had gone away, but up popped Audiogalaxy, Kazaa, Limewire, Soulseek. After numerous transformations, we are still getting our free music. It’s refreshing for a band to surpass this and officially allow downloads. (But remember guys, it’s bad to ’steal music’ – take without permission! Support bands, especially local and/or independent bands that actually need the funds!)

The Top Spins (50708)

yawen — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:05:15 +0000

Sampling of the top songs of the top artists of the year so far, according to iTunes.

I Don’t Really Love You Anymore – The Magnetic Fields
The Opposite of Hallelujah – Jens Lekman
Paper Planes – M.I.A.
The Quiz – Hello Saferide
Tire Swing – Kimya Dawson
And I Found This Boy – Maia Hirasawa
Past in Present – Feist
Developing Active People – Via Audio
The Park – Sambassadeur
Little Wounds – Herman Dune