Side One Track One

In case the overwhelming lack of lounging around time hasn’t tipped you off, festival season is upon us, in a big way. And last week, our former festival-that-could known as Austin City Limits revealed it’s now two-week spanning lineup, full of up-and-comers and big-namers to boot. (Did I meet my dash quota in that sentence – I’m not sure). This year’s lineup, while polarizing to many, boasts some of my favorites, from some Columbia grads who made it big (Vampire Weekend), to a fiery-haired musical heroine (Neko Case), to the band that shaped my college years (Wilco), to a band that shaped my high school years (The Cure). Plus, some lovely Frenchmen (Phoenix), the hipster bands of the moment (Tame Impala, Local Natives), a British rocker so young it seems criminal (Jake Bugg) and many more. Here are my picks for some of the top tracks from bands that will surely be making my ACL Lineup.

:Jake Bugg – Lightning Bolt:
:Vampire Weekend – Unbelievers:
:Okkervil River – Our Life Is Not A Movie (Or Maybe):
:Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better:
:The National – Mistaken For Strangers:
:Local Natives – Airplanes:
:Lissie – Little Lovin’:
:Thao And The Get Down Stay Down – Know Better, Learn Faster:
:Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards:
:The Cure – In Between Days:
:Pinback – Tripoli:
:Wilco – Poor Places:
:Neko Case – In California (Live):

Spring has sprung, and I for one am ecstatic. I’m ready to shed my coat in favor of tank tops, and don strappy sandals instead of boots. But for some, spring’s arrival isn’t as welcome. It signals our slow-but-steady entry into 100+ degree temperatureland, and even the promise of sno-cones and watering holes can’t subside that fear. Alas, there are some songs that just put me in a happy mood, giving me that extra spring in my step, in more ways than one. (Forgive me, they can’t all be winners). I’ve got an upbeat playlist that’s sure to help you shake off those winter doldrums, featuring a Talking Heads power duo, an indie favorite or two, some 90′s love rock, and even some Tropicalia. Enjoy, folks. If you need me, I’ll be soaking up some Vitamin D while I can still stand to be outside.

:Teenage Fanclub – The Concept:
:Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Gold Lion:
:The Decemberists – The Infanta:
:Delta Spirit – California:
:Smith Westerns – Weekend:
:David Byrne And Brian Eno – Life Is Long:
:Os Mutantes – A Minha Menina:
:The Raconteurs – Yellow Sun:
:Miike Snow – Silvia:
:Girls – Lust For Life:

Ah, February. The short month full of Hallmark cards, increased chocolate intake, and enough flowers and candy to make every single person gag. Yep, we definitely get doused in consumerism as February 14th approaches, but that doesn’t mean that cupid’s favorite month needs to be nothing but sap.

We’ve all been to enough weddings to know that there are songs that make you warm and fuzzy, and songs that give you the cold sweats. And I’m here to offer up my takes on some of the best tracks that leave you jonesing for a make-out session. And believe me, when it comes to thinking about love, dating, and the like, I’ve done more than my fair share (follow along with my chronicles of the chronically awkward dating world over at CultureMap’s Sex and the Capital City column).

So, enjoy my picks to inspire the passion this month. Don’t forget to put a sock on the door if things work out.

:The Rosebuds – Make Out Song:
:The Jesus and Mary Chain – Just Like Honey:
:Air – Playground Love:
:Carla Bruni – You Belong To Me:
:The Decemberists – Red Right Ankle:
:M. Ward – Fool Says:
:Van Morrison -  Into The Mystic:
:The Troggs – With A Girl Like You:
:Otis Redding – These Arms Of Mine:
:Sam Cooke – You Send Me:
:Whiskeytown -  Everything I Do:
:The Zombies -  This Will Be Our Year:

The whole is equal to the sum of its parts. There are plenty of bands that prove this old adage – The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, heck even The Spice Girls, just to name a few. But there’s something impressive about artists being able to branch off from the group and prove themself as a solo star. With yesterday’s news of a Destiny’s Child reunion in the works, it seemed only fitting to tip the hat to Sasha Fierce and her fellow solo acts that struck my fancy.

There’s a Mikela mixtape staple (Aimee Man, duh), a White Stripe, my favorite Beatle, Art Garfunkel’s better half, and a former boy-bander on deck here, so I hope you enjoy. And I’m just kidding about Art Garfunkel. That luscious mane will get me every time.

:Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks – Tigers:
:Neko Case ­– Margaret vs. Pauline:
:Aimee Mann – Real Bad News:
:George Harrison – My Sweet Lord:
:Albert Hammond, Jr. – GfC:
:Thom Yorke – The Eraser:
:Coconut Records – West Coast:
:Paul Simon – Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard:
:Jonsi – Boy Lilikoi (Live at KEXP):
:Jack White – Love Interruption:
:Justin Timberlake – Lovestoned/I Think She Knows Interlude:
:Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It):

I have a confession to make. I love Christmas music. It’s as cliché as my annual viewings of Love, Actually. But Christmas music gets a bad rap, and I hope to change that. We’re inundated before we’ve even finished our turkey dinner; bombarded by the sounds of Josh Groban as we shop for paper towels and get our teeth cleaned.

However, amongst the incessant kitsch of All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth, there are some songs that genuinely ignite the Christmas spirit from within. So I’ve compiled my girly music Christmas Party playlist. We’ve got some throwback soul, a pop star staple, and even a few girl groups, courtesy of Phil Spector. You know, before he got all murdery. Merry Chrismas, y’all. If you need me, I’ll be fast-forwarding through all the Laura Linney scenes. Girlfriend caught a tough break.

:Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You:
:The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride:
:The Waitresses – Christmas Wrapping:
:Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home):
:Zooey Deschanel And Leon Redbone – Baby, It’s Cold Outside:
:Coldplay – 2000 Miles (The Pretenders Cover):
:Otis Redding – White Christmas:
:Jack Johnson – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer:
:Vince Guaraldi Trio – Christmas Time Is Here:
:Ella Fitzgerald – What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve:
:Rilo Kiley – X-Mas Cake:
:Neko Case – Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis:
:Joni Mitchell – River:

Picking 10 albums from an entire year’s worth of music is no easy feat. Picking 5? Nearly impossible. So in order to offer up my handful of favorites from the Mayan calendar’s final year, I thought long and hard about what impressed me in 2012. And while I could easily have put 25 albums on this list, here are 5 that consistently made their way into my catalog almost instantly. So sit back and listen, and maybe you’ll find some music to help you tune out your family this holiday season.

1. alt-J – An Awesome Wave

I joke about avoiding buzz bands because I’m afraid to be disappointed, and alt-J fell victim to my prejudice. But since discovering this album a few months ago, it’s been a permanent fixture in my repertoire. Sleek, sexy, and Radiohead-esque, this is an album best enjoyed through headphones.

:alt-J – Breezeblocks:

2. Japandroids – Celebration Rock 

It’s hard to argue an album that was more fun than Japandroids’ most recent release. This scream-every-lyric, can’t-help-but-dance-around collection of songs is an instant anti-depressant, turning every gray cloud into a gritty and loud ray of sunshine.

:Japandroids – The Night Of Wine And Roses:

3. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – The Heist

First off, I’m not a hip hop girl. But with the sweet and soulful gay marriage anthem Same Love, this Seattle rap/producer duo reeled me in. It was their infectious hooks and slew of guest collaborators that kept me around for more.

:Macklemore And Ryan Lewis – Same Love (Featuring Mary Lambert):

4. Sharon Van Etten – Tramp

I gotta hand it to my girl Sharon Van Etten. She does angst in a heartbreaking way. And while her freshman release was near-perfect, her sophomore release expanded her ability and broke my heart all at the same time.

:Sharon Van Etten – Give Out:

5. Father John Misty – Fear Fun

It has to be said that of all the shows I saw in 2012, Father John Misty was one of the most surprising. A former Fleet Foxes member, Josh Tillman struck me as the kind of guy who would put on a bit of a snoozy show. Yet when he took the stage dancing and prancing, I was sold. His first solo effort is solid, from folky tunes to the foot-stomping Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings.

:Father John Misty – Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings:

—

Honorable Mentions:

Patrick Watson – Adventures in Your Own Backyard

A hauntingly beautiful effort from this Canadian singer-songwriter.

:Patrick Watson – Words In The Fire:

Tame Impala – Lonerism

An album that feels like it should have come out years ago. 1/2 Beatles, 1/4 Miike Snow, and 1/4 Dr. Dog, I loved it.

:Tame Impala – Elephant:

I’ll admit it – I’ve been a bit down lately. Everyone has their off days, but I’ve been in a funk, and not even music can shake it. But I’m sure as shit going to try.

Music has the ability to shape our moods. A depressing song during a breakup can cue tears; a poignant song during a time of mourning can do the same. So it makes complete sense that if we’re feeling blue, some of our favorite ditties will scoop us right out of those doldrums. I’ve got some old standby’s (Talking Heads, Old 97’s, The Strokes), some surprising jams (Born Ruffians, Mark Ronson), and far too many songs that are likely to depress the general population (The Replacements, The Smiths), all of which I turn to when I want to turn things around. Heck, I’ve even got two songs of the same name!

So on the off chance that you’re feeling out of sorts, here’s my musical prescription to shuffle you out from under that dark cloud. So put in those headphones and perk up, buttercup, because Eeyore’s pretty much got the sad sack angle covered.

:The Dave Brubeck Quartet – Take Five:
:The Head And The Heart – Down In The Valley:
:The Replacements – Can’t Hardly Wait:
:Wilco – Hummingbird:
:Elton John – Bennie And The Jets:
:Born Ruffians – Hummingbird:
:Mark Ronson – Valerie (Featuring Amy Winehouse):
:Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better:
:The Smiths – This Charming Man:
:The Strokes – Hard To Explain:
:Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero:
:Old 97’s – Timebomb:

Cover songs. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re a surefire way to get people talking. They pay homage to the classics, and often put a new spin on something tired.

Many are even more famous than the original. Sure, Dolly Parton may have penned I Will Always Love You, but it’s Whitney Houston’s take that put the song on the map. In fact, many women have offered their own takes on songs that aren’t their own, and I’m here to give them some love.

So here, I present you with some of my favorite Cover Girls. Ladies that have lent their sound to something pre-existing (often written by a man), and made it just as great or better. So much for the fairer sex, right? These gals are no shrinking violets, that’s for sure.

:Aimee Mann – One (Three Dog Night):
:Cat Power – I Found A Reason (The Velvet Underground):
:Ellie Goulding – Your Song (Elton John):
:Cowboy Junkies – Sweet Jane (The Velvet Underground):
:She And Him – You Really Got A Hold On Me (Smokey Robinson And The Miracles):
:Fiona Apple – Across The Universe (The Beatles):
:Jenny Lewis And The Watson Twins – Handle With Care (The Traveling Wilburys):
:Blondie – Hanging On The Telephone (The Nerves):
:Sharon Jones And The Dap Kings – This Land Is Your Land (Pete Seeger):
:Lissie – Pursuit Of Happiness (Kid Cudi):
:Yael Naim – Toxic (Britney Spears):
:Patti Smith – Gloria (In Exelsis Deo) (Van Morrison):

Alison. Michelle. Gloria. Sara. In addition to being names we’ve all seen plastered across the class rosters over the years, these names are all immortalized in song by the men who loved (or hated) them. The legendary ladies that liner notes are made of.

Heck, even men have gotten a few great homages over the years (I’m looking at you, Dave Coulier). But that’s a playlist for a different time. Among the ditties dedicated to women over the years, there are several that stand out as absolute winners in my book. Some shout out the smiles (Hall and Oates), some the can’t-fight-this-feeling-anymore laments (The Smiths), some the sex (James), and one even details an emergency room trip (Jens Lekman).

In this month’s lady dude playlist, I’m hand-picking some of my favorite emotionally-charged guy on girl action. So crack open some wine coolers and get some tissues ready, because by the end of this mix, you may just be convinced that you’re going to die alone. Don’t blame me. Blame popular music.

:James – Laid:
:Jens Lekman – Your Arms Around Me:
:Hall and Oates – Sara Smile:
:The Smiths – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out:
:Devendra Banhart – Lover:
:Neutral Milk Hotel – Naomi:
:Ryan Adams – Nobody Girl:
:Teenage Fanclub – The Concept:
:The Airborne Toxic Event – The Book Of Love (Live):
:Ben Folds – Emaline:
:Big Star – Thirteen:
:The Beatles – Michelle:
:Elvis Costello – Alison:
:Randy Newman – Love Story (You And Me):
:Donnie and Joe Emerson – Baby:
:Alexi Murdoch – Song For You:
:Elliot Smith – Say Yes:
:Bright Eyes – First Day Of My Life:

We make less money, we have to wear high heels, and we’re all too familiar with the concepts of “with applicator,” and “without.” So why shouldn’t women get to celebrate some great music created by some of our own? I can almost hear the eyes rolling from here, but bear with me. Of the iconic albums that many laud as the “best of the best,” a scant few feature ladies. Sure, we’ve got Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks, Blondie, Janis, et al. And Joni Mitchell’s Blue is inarguably unforgettable. But let’s be real here – lady music sometimes gets overlooked, and I’m pissed.

So I’ll show up to bring you a monthly “lady dude” playlist – my attempt to highlight the fairer sex, and even the men who love them. This month, I’m bringing you the It Girls – the ladies that I listen to when I want to reinvigorate my feminine spirit. Or something that doesn’t sound like it came from a Tampax commercial.

There are a handful of indie gal standbys (Neko Case, Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, Cat Power – all of whom have albums that appear in my top 20); A slew of new staples (Dum Dum Girls, St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, La Sera); and even a few of music’s most angst-laden ladies (Sleater-Kinney, Liz Phair, PJ Harvey).

So pour yourself a glass of Chardonnay, start channeling Lena Dunham, and put on your most comfortable yoga pants, because it’s about to get girly, y’all.

:Cat Power – He War:
:Jacqueline Taieb – 7 Heures Du Matin:
:Sleater Kinney – Hot Rock:
:Liz Phair – Fuck And Run:
:PJ Harvey – The Last Living Rose:
:La Sera – It’s Over Now:
:Fiona Apple – On The Bound:
:Santigold – I’m A Lady (Featuring Andrew Trouble):
:Dum Dum Girls – Coming Down:
:St Vincent – Cheerleader:
:Sharon Van Etten – Serpents:
:Aimee Mann – Red Vines:
:Neko Case – I Wish I Was The Moon: