Remaining cover songs from last time!

OK, folks, here's what was missing off of Erin's list:

Coldplay - "Lips Like Sugar" by Echo and the Bunnymen
Unknown - "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper
Beachwood Sparks - "By Your Side" by Sade
Squarepusher - "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division
Yes - "America" by Paul Simon
Cat Power - "I Can't Get No (Satisfaction)" by the Rolling Stones
The Flaming Lips - "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
Death Cab for Cutie - "All is Full of Love" by Bjork
Luna - "Bonnie & Clyde" by ?
Cibo Matto - "Aguas de Marco" by Astrid Gilberto
Orchestra Baobab - "El Sol Te Llama" by ?

P.S. I have a GOOD one I'm bringing this time.

Cover Your Ass!

I had someone request a list of the cover songs that we brought last time we did this theme. I went to pull the playlist off my laptop and discovered that all my RC playlists were missing! This is horrible. I'm not sure why or how they got deleted, but there you have it. So, I'm going to need the help of my fellow RC members. I've included the songs that I can remember, but can someone post the set list in the comments field or create a new post? Thanks!

Here's what I remember:
Faith No More - "Easy" by Lionel Richie
Ted Leo - "Since You've Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson/"Maps" by the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - "Mandy" by Barry Manilow
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel
Scissor Sisters - "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd
Le Tigre - "I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters
Stereo Total - "Push It" by Salt N Peppa
Cowboy Junkies - "Sweet Jane" by Lou Reed
Iron & Wine - "Such Great Heights" by Postal Service
Jack Black - "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
Travis - "Hit Me Baby One More Time" by Brittney Spears
Yo La Tengo - "Little Honda" by the Beach Boys
Ryan Adams - "Wonderwall" by Oasis

Treasure Trove

My friend Joe gave me a heads up about the Treasure Island Music Festival coming up in mid-September, specifically the 20th & 21st. The two-day festival takes place on, ready for it?...Treasure Island! The line-up includes Vampire Weekend, Tegan & Sarah, Goldfrapp, Justice, Hot Chip, CSS and more! Tickets go on sale May 30th, and cost $65 for a single day or $115 for both days. Click here to find out more.

Coldplay brings the heat this July!

Last time Coldplay came to Arco Arena, I was sitting about 10 rows from the stage...and I didn't pay a dime! I swear Chris Martin looked right into my eyes. Sigh. Alas, the days of press passes are gone -- unless I write a freelance piece for SN&R. I'm not sure that I'm willing to fork over money to see them play this July (7/21), but I might be persuaded. Anyone planning on going? Vero?

From the Los Camp!

My love of indie pop and boy/girl vocal harmonies will no doubt lead me to see Los Campesinos! when they come to town. The show is Wednesday, June 4th at Harlows. Tickets are $12.50 in advance. Anyone interested in joining me? Can't remember what they sound like? Visit them at their MySpace page.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

If you weren't lucky enough to catch Anton Corbijn's biopic Control or Grant Gee's documentary Joy Division, both films will be released on DVD in June. Apparently, Control picked up nine festival awards, including three at Cannes.

Don't Judge A Song By It's Cover!

May's RC meeting will be at my house on Thursday, May 29th - 7-7:30pm. Can people make it on that day? Holler back and let me know. As for the theme, looks like we're doing a "Covers" mix. We've done this in the past -- so, let's try not to have any repeats. (I can post the cover songs we included last time, if need be). Please bring a little info to share about your (2) choices! Oh, and bring a food or beverage to share! I'll probably make a big vat of Sangria - yum!

*Note: One of our visitors, xtcdukes, requests that we don't include NIN's "raping" of Joy Division's Dead Souls -- see the comment from Vern's post for more!

NIN are Radiohead wannabes

OK, snobbishness aside, I think it's great that NIN are following in the footsteps of Radiohead and releasing their album for free online. And I will admit - I once crushed pretty heavily on Trent Reznor; I once cried to "Hurt" and I once screamed "Head like a Hole" in my car on the way to school. Please don't tell.

I am pretty curious, though, that they're back, and that their album is entirely instrumental. Maybe I will download the album...

www.nin.com

BoH Bassist Plays Tonight!

Who wants to head to Davis to see Band of Horses bassist Tyler Ramsey perform? We can carpool! We can get there early and have dinner at Sophia's Thai Kitchen. Who's in?

Like sand through an hourglass, these are the soundtracks of our lives.

Words can't express what a wonderful time I had at RC this month. You guys really took the theme and ran with it -- and it was awesome! We should have the mix posted sometime over the weekend, so keep checking back -- It'll be a two-disc mix for sure! There are too many songs to list, but here are some of the artists that made an appearance on the Soundtrack of Your Lives:

Radiohead, Ryan Adams, Aimee Mann, Pulp, Erasure, Led Zepplin, Fleetwood Mac, Tori Amos, Elliott Smith, Bikini Kill, Kate Bush, Madonna, Tupac, Maxine Nightingale, Good Riddance, Bjork and more!

Saddle up, RC members

On May 3rd (at 10:30pm) Band of Horses bassist Tyler Ramsey will perform at Sophia's Thai Kitchen in Davis. What? Sophia's Thai Kitchen! Bizarre, I know, but I'm going! Ramsey is on tour supporting his debut solo effort A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea. It's the kind of acoustic Americana that makes you want to sit on the your porch drinking PBR until the sun turns the sky into a brilliant sea of orange and red.

Go forth and listen, you won't be disappointed.

www.myspace.com/tylerramseymusic

The Soundtrack of My Life :: April RC

Alright, kids! The polls are officially closed and the results are in! This month's RC meeting will be at my house on...drum roll, please...Wednesday, April 23rd!!! The theme will be "On the Soundtrack of My Life." Since this is your life's soundtrack, you'd better be prepared to explain why these songs are making the cut. Can you describe the movie scenes during which the songs would be playing? Good. We want to hear about it. Visual aids (CD sleeves, song lyrics, band photos) are always appreciated.

Give a holla and let me know if you can make it (or not). Can't wait to see you all!

Record Club Members go get your FREE records!

This Saturday (April 19), independent record stores across our fair country will celebrate Record Store Day. Merge Records has announced that it will participate in the one-day event by handing out limited edition split seven-inch records with previously unreleased tracks by Destroyer and Wye Oak.

The only way to get your paws on one of these coveted babies is to stop by a participating record store - hopefully they'll still have one for you!

According to the Merge site, local businesses like Dimple Records, Hot Dog Music and R5 Records should have the seven-inch record.

Visit www.recordstoreday.com for more details!

Spring Mix…not just for salad anymore.

To me, the best part about spring is driving around with all the windows rolled down blasting some sweet jams for the world to be inspired by. This mix was made with precisely that activity in mind, and all of these songs are definitely best enjoyed in good weather at excessive volumes, with excessive speeding optional, but recommended.

Cover sleeve can be had here.

RC March '08 :: Spring Is In The Air Mix!

Spring Fling

Thanks to the lovely ladies who attended tonight's RC meeting. The mix (and cover) should be available shortly!

In the mean time, here's the track list for this month's mix:

1. "Another Sunny Day"
by Belle & Sebastian (from the Life Pursuit)
Member: Erin

2. "What Have I Done to Deserve This"
by the Pet Shop Boys (from Very)
Member: Jennifer

3. "Sunrise"
by Yeasayer (from All Hour Cymbals)
Member: Darcey

4. "The 59th Street Bridge Song"
by Simon & Garfunkel (from Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits"
Member: Veronica

5. "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"
by Morrissey (from World of Morrisey)
Member: Jennifer

6. "Nice Day"
by the Salteens (from Short-Term Memories)
Member: Erin

7. "Easier"
by Grizzly Bear (from Yellow House)
Member: Darcey

8. "Anyone Else But You"
by the Moldy Peaches (from Juno OST)
Member: Veronica

9. "Start Anew"
by Acid House Kings (from Mondays Are Like Tuesdays)
Member: Erin

10. "Ce Jeu"
by Yelle (from Pop-Up)
Member: Darcey

Vanilla Swingers

While their name rings oxymoronic (I imagine swingers to be more of a Rocky Road or Chocolate Fudge Ripple variety) there's nothing contradictory about Vanilla Swingers' music. Moody, electronic tracks are the backdrop for hushed boy/girl vocals telling the story of two lovers who run away to London then travel back in time. "I'll Stay Next to You" epitomizes Vanilla Swingers' cinematic themes and sound, while "Danger" sounds as if the Pet Shop Boys slowed things down to about 90 bpm and were fronted by a gorgeous, brunette chanteuse. Oh yes, despite their name Vanilla Swingers sound very brunette, the color of my desire.
I'll Stay Next to You [MP3, 12.2MB, 252kbps]

 Danger [MP3, 5.6MB, 180kbps]

www.vanillaswingers.com

www.myspace.com/vanillaswingers

Our Friend Brandy Johnson

So ya wanna be a 'Hipster'?

Electronic Shoegazin'

Danny Provencher began making music as a child secretly singing over records (something I still do, not so secretly, as a full-grown woman, often over records I only hear in my head). At some point he committed his music to record, leaving out, ironically, his vocals. The earliest recording as Under Electric Light features four synth-pop instrumentals that sound like a mix between early Depeche Mode beats awash in New Order melodies. From my not-so-scientific investigation, Provencher didn't come out of the proverbial vocal closet until about three years later. The result is a clean, dreamy, earnest style free from any bells and whistles, content on remaining inconspicuously, well, great—and entirely timeless within the window of the last four decades. "Wintertime" is nothing less than a small epic worthy of ushering out this current season, while leaving the listener wanting more: oh, play that chorus again, please! "This Moment" fills that gap by repeating its gorgeous, soaring chorus once. Oh well, I'll just have to listen to them for the fifteenth time. Pull my leg.

from After the Blue (2007)

 Wintertime [MP3, 5.9MB, 192kbps]

 This Moment [MP3, 6.3MB, 192kbps]

from UEL Concert Sampler (2004)


 International Agreement [MP3, 5.8MB, 160kbps]

from Under Electric Light single (2002)

 Drop [MP3, 3.5MB, 160kbps]

 Time [MP3, 3.4MB, 160kbps]

Spring is in the Air :: March RC meeting

Selected by popular vote, the theme for this month's RC meeting will be "Spring is in the Air."

Also, it appears that Wednesday nights seem to work for most RC members, so this month's will be held on Wednesday, March 26th at my house.

Please bring two songs, some literature/art and a food/bevy to share.

Let me know whether you'll be able to make it or not. Cheers!

Songs To Play At Your Funeral

Here it is kids, the mix you all have been waiting for. Songs to cut yourself by, oh, I mean funeral songs. Just kidding, you can download here.

Cover Art and sleeve can be downloaded here.

Oh, to be young again.

Bricolage plays the smart, snappy, pop music I enjoyed listening to as a youngster —back in my high school days and early college years. This is the sort of song I'd listen to while getting ready for a date, gelling and blow-drying my hair and dressing according to the glossy templates found in fashion magazines (not unlike the Bricolage boys themselves). The upbeat, breezy sounds signified the budding hope and possibilities every new girl, every new date, held. Currently living the myriad of possibilities one such date produced I still follow my youthful listening habits matching the music to my mood. And these days Bricolage-type moods grossly outweigh the stormy, dark, and depressing adolescent funks that often followed less successful outings with the young ladies of my youth.

Footsteps [MP3, 4.3MB, 192kbps]

www.memphis-industries.com

www.myspace.com/bricolagetheband

Women's names immortalized in songs

Early last year I was contacted by someone who was doing a piece on women's names immortalized in songs. I remembered the interview after thinking about our funeral songs since one of mine is the song I was named after.

If you haven't heard the podcast, here it is!

Bauhaus is back, weird.

For some people, the word Bauhaus will conjure German modernist art and design. For others, it will bring back memories of the early '80s and gothic rock. Twenty-five years after their last record, Bauhaus the band is releasing a new album, Go Away White.

I heard it on NPR yesterday morning. Read the complete article here.

Two New Polls :: Themes & Days

Please take a moment to vote for next month's theme. Also, if you have a suggestion for a theme, let me know and I'll add it to the poll!

Also, I've added an additional poll to find out what night of the week works best for everyone. The night with the most votes will win - at least for this month!