Dirty Ghosts - Ropes That Way

(spoken) How about we do a decapitation tonight? Starring you.
Put you in the back, 
Keep your head up, see!
Letters on maps you keep pestering
Kicking at the door, attempts to extricate
Wrong way what for? 
Still taking it all away 

Hearing The Growlers new song yesterday (awesome find by Kerri by the way) got me in the mood for some more gritty, dirty, catchy pop. Enter Dirty Ghosts and "Ropes That Way" of 2012's Metal Moon, a terrific album that combines 80's pop sensibilities with catchy and creative garage rock attitude ala Japandroids or Surfer Blood. Give it a listen. The whole album is terrific. In fact, all of their albums are terrific.

Fun fact, lead singer Allyson Baker used to be married to Aesop Rock!

BONUS TRACK!

Upcoming Shows

Band of Skulls - Black Magic

I am a living machine
I like my competition clean
Whoa, whoa, whoa
And if you put up a fight
I ain't got nothing tonight
No, no, no

Last night Kerri and I went and saw Band of Skulls at one of our favorite Seattle venues, The Showbox. Was a killer show, they're great live. It'd been a few years since I'd seen them, a few times at smaller venues around Austin during SXSW. Even though it was a larger venue, they filled it with energy and the feel was pretty much the same. If you get a chance, go see 'em!

Upcoming Shows

INXS- Mystify

In all that exists
None have your beauty
I see your face
And I will survive

Eternally wild with the power
To make every moment come alive
All those stars that shine upon you
Will kiss you every night

All veils and misty
Streets of blue
Almond looks
That chill divine
Some silken moment
Goes on forever
And we're leaving broken hearts behind

Have you heard?? A full album of NEW Michael Hutchence songs will be released early next year. And a documentary. The material was recorded in the months right before he died, and is only now being remastered and fully produced. It will have been 20 years since Hutchence passed. So. I picked this gem from 1987 for today's most important song partially to highlight the announcement, because I'm super excited - INXS was one of my very favorite bands back then. And partially because listening to INXS reminds me of being a girl, passionately listening to music, as well as swimming, playing video games, and quarreling with my younger brother. Who is getting married today!! This song seemed perfectly personal for me to dedicate to him and his bride. Here's to them, to mystifying love, and broken hearts gone forever.

Royal Canoe - Exodus Of The Year

Most of my friends got the fuck out
In the exodus of the year
Now it's just me and you in dim winterlight
Straining ourselves to hear
Those three stupid words, I haven't said
While calling you out at night

Canadian indie pop outfit Royal Canoe were one of the more interesting acts we saw at this year's SXSW. They brought an eclectic, at times jarring, but mostly fun sound to their set. Listening to their albums, like 2013's Today We're Believers, you get the sense that there is some cohesion alongside all the diverse layers and quirky songwriting. "Exodus Of The Year" for example stands out and reminds me quite a bit of the work put out by bands like Of Montreal, Cloud Cult and Anathallo.

Upcoming Shows

The Paperboys - I've Just Seen A Face

I have never known
The like of this, I've been alone
And I have missed things
And kept out of sight
But other girls were never quite
Like this, da-da-n'da-da'n'da

Falling, yes I am falling
And she keeps calling
Me back again
Falling, yes I am falling
And she keeps calling
Me back again

We're heading up to Seattle, where both Kerri and I are from, for the weekend. As it usually does, it brings up nostalgic feelings. Ahh, the Pacific Northwest, how I miss you. Sometimes. Anyway, instead of going the obvious route, posting a Foo Fighters song or something, I figured I'd go with one of my favorite PacNW bands, The Paperboys, out of Vancouver BC. Here they're doing a jangly, Celtic version of my absolute favorite Beatles song, "I've Just Seen A Face". Fun times. See you soon Seattle! Go Seahawks!

Upcoming Shows