The better thing to come out of Alaska: Kate Earl. Earl makes pop music, but it’s not all completely manufactured and auto-tuned. Personally, I think “Nobody” by Kate Earl was one of the catchiest, sexiest (“Nobody hikes up my skirt like you”) songs of the year and yet she has been unable to garner the amount of popularity that marketing machine Katy Perry has been able to gain. “Nobody” is subtle, a bit dark with a pinch yearning… and an utterly alluring beat.  Hopefully, Earl finds more of the commercial success she deserves in 2010!

mp3: Nobody [Kate Earl]

I’m sure the highly blogged-about group The XX will be making a lot of “best of ‘09″ lists this year and rightfully so. Despite losing a member this year, I hope they will continue to make more amazing music in the coming year.

mp3: Islands [The xx]

How did I miss this little gem the first time around? Perhaps because I was too busy obsessively listening to “Lights and Music” while fist-pumping, before fist-pumping was tainted by MTV’s “Jersey Shore.” Now I am loathe to do anything that may associate me with anything/anyone on that crummy show. And yet, I can’t turn away…

mp3: Nobody Lost, Nobody Found [Cut Copy] (via Redthreat.wordpress.com)

at 0:54 seconds

“Nobody” by the Wonder Girls has been blowing through Asia like an insuppressible force of (solid gold pop music) nature. Catchy as hell, but lyrics tug at your threadlike heart strings.

mp3: Nobody (Rainstone Instrumental Remix) [Wonder Girls]

Here’s the uncontrollably catchy original:

* Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart (Mase Remix) [Alicia Keys]
Alicia Key’s newest album “The Element Of Freedom” is dropping like cryptococcus neoformans infected pigeon poop (sorry, medical school verbal diarrhea) on December 15, but thanks to the magical machine that is piracy on the internet, the first single “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart” is already floating around the cyberspace for eager ears. It’s nothing especially innovative or different from songs on her last album “As I Am,” but it’s still pop gold from Ms. Keys. I guess if it ain’t broke, don’t give it vancomycin (ok, ok, I’ll stop with the medical terms =P).

*Make You Mine (Fred Falke remix) [Miami Horror]
Miami Horror is an electropop act hailing not from the hot sexy caliente ciudad Don Johnson made famous, but from the land of kangaroos, shrimp on the barbie, and Nicole Kidman’s real face before it discovered botulism toxin. I have no idea who Fred Falke is but he always makes really good remixes… this is one is relaxing.

*Who Says [John Mayer]
Thanks to Joe Yu for introducing/sending me this song! It’s nice and easy. It’s off of Mayer’s newest album “Battle Studies” (great title by the way). While the paps might play him off as the d-bag who bedded Jennifer Aniston, one can’t deny his ability to produce good music. He had me at “No Such Thing.”

It’s officially November. Now where’s that snuggie?
I’ve decide to minimize the formatting of Music for Moodies, not out of want but due to my lack of time to link pictures and what not. I know it’s not as aesthetically pleasing as past entries but I can promise that I will continue to deliver quality songs for your aural pleasure.

mp3: Two Tongues [The Swell Season]
“Two Tongues” embodies the harmonious sound of bittersweet disappointment from The Swell Season (Academy Award winners Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová from the movie “Once”). In a New York Times article about their new album “Strict Joy,” the duo was asked how it was working on a new album together after their fresh break-up. Markéta answered the question with her usual simple maturity by defining the organic purpose of all arts. “Like Glen always puts it, you live your life, and the residue of that life you lead becomes the music,” she said.

mp3: Boa Sorte/Good Luck [Vanessa da Mata and Ben Harper]
I was watching House the other day and a really beautiful song by Ben Harper came on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZLp5oLHgvM) which I could not pirate yet due to its relative newness. However, I did come across this lovely bilingual acoustic duet by Ben Harper and Grammy Award winning Brazilian songstress (and former pre-med student) Vanessa da Mata.

mp3: Ms. Harmony [Robin Thicke]
Despite the seemingly emasculating (Sarah’s thoughts, not mine) high pitched tone Robin Thicke takes on for this low key guitar ballad, I still think he’s the man. It also doesn’t hurt that the song contains copious amounts of bongo playing.

ADELE

There is something about Adele’s voice that makes me feel like she understands how I feel when I’m sad.

mp3: Make u feel my love (Remot REmix) [Adele]

THE DREAM

I love this ultra-dramatic, ultra-electronic song. I haven’t seen the MV for it, but I hope there’s a scene with The Dream standing at the edge of a cliff with his arms open wide because that’s how I’m envisioning the chorus playing out in video (I’m hoping that it’s not yet another MV of a booze saturated club scene with hoochies).

mp3: She needs my love [The Dream]

LYKKE LI

Youth Novels, by Young Adult Lykke Li

In the music world, where years are counted in something like dog years, Lykke Li’s 2008 debut seems ages ago. And yet, it still lingers in one of my top most played albums because she’s weird… yet so listenably weird. It’s weird and catchy. The aura of her music, to me, is like a less annoying Joanna Newsom (as much as I love “Peach Plum Pear,” I’ve really hit my limit with listening to her irritating screech).There is something in particular about this track on Lykke Li’s 2008 debut “Youth Novels.” My first listen of “Youth Novels” was that it was just an amalgam of fidgety noises and bangs, often creatively done on regular instruments like pianos and guitars. But this track, “My Love,” is a welcome break from Li’s Ritalin fueled repertoire. While the background melody stays repetitive throughout the song (as is common in her album), it still holds a song all by itself. In the end, though,”Youth Novels” overall is a vocalist’s album; it is always Lykke’s vocal addition that holds each song together.

mp3: My love [Lykke Li]

THE DARJEELING LIMITED

If you have not yet checked out this lovely movie by auteristic cinema genius Wes Anderson, you should. And if you don’t love Adrien Brody yet, you will.

mp3: Where do u go to (my lovely) [Peter Sarstedt]

JOURNEY

You know it’s the 80s by the pornstached man.

‘Send her my love’ by Journey

MILKE

Milke, a duo comprised of Andrew Friendly (music) and Ra (vocal, lyrics), is inspired by the third French wave of Kitsune artists, electro pop, Stuart Price and the DFA, mixed with the pop sensibilities of Eurythmics, The Cure, Talking Heads, Stevie Wonder and Prince. With a KLF approach to creativity (minus the sheep slaying), Milke sings about displacement, mental illness, love and love-lost, obsession and sex.

This catchy tune is definitely going on my ipod for running!

mp3: Love Get Out of My Way [Milke]

mp3: Love Get Out of My Way (Designer Drugs Remix) [Milke]

myspace

holy crap. it’s been a long time hasn’t it? Well as I have been meteoring/crying (or, as my friend B would say “cryafing” – it’s a complicated, body fluid wracked combination of tears and barf – whaaat…some people that sort of thing is hawt) through medical school, it seems the music industry has continued to pump out tons and tons of music. Some of it good, some of it bad of course. I haven’t had as much time to blog but oh blog, I have missed you so. Here are some sciencey tunes for your enjoyment for those you who (thank you) have wondered upon my little digital journal of music. Enjoy!

Iglu & Hartly

“Tom Petty meets The Pointer Sisters in a neon karaoke bar in Tokyo singing Tina Turner. The music is a sonic milkshake, a genre blending, culture-defying laser show. Synths, raps, explosive hooks, colorful bridges, sailboats, inspiration.”

mp3: Day Glo [Iglu & Hartly] - FUN SONG. The beginning makes me real thirsty though.

“We want people to listen to our record, be inspired, look inside themselves and work out how they can dominate the world in their own unique way,” says Jarvis. “We’re about smashing down barriers.”

The group met at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. Jarvis Anderson, Sam Martin (vocals, keys), Simon Katz (guitar). These three began making music that, ultimately, made them. Unable to contain their energy, and unwilling to wait for their diplomas, the boys quit school and moved to the eclectic neighborhood of Echo Park, California (just east of Hollywood) where they began knocking on club doors and asking to play shows.

While enduring a circuit in the glitter and grime of seedy Hollywood night clubs, the band was simultaneously embraced in the South Bay of Los Angeles, a beach community with a strong punk rock heritage, home to legendary bands such as Black Flag, The Descendents, Circle Jerks and Pennywise. Leave your Malibu “sunshine daydream” at the door…

Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Luis Rosiles flew from Jarvis’ hometown of Chicago to join the band as their drummer, and LA local Michael Bucher joined as bassist.

Iglu & Hartly recently teamed with Universal Republic Records to bring its debut release, “And Then Boom” to the US masses, where it belongs. The May 5th release date marks the culmination of a band-centered, worldwide marketing effort, including touring and promo activities in every major market in the world. Eleven songs, recorded in the living room of the Echo Park house they have lived in since moving to Los Angeles. No filler.

Welcome to the world of Iglu & Hartly. A world of hope driven by heavy synth. A world soaked in beer and sweat, borne from heart and soul. Welcome to the movement of kids worldwide who have heard the word, who believe, who live like us. Uncompromising, undeniable, uncontrollable, unstoppable.

“When it comes to what we believe to be true in every way, it’s you.”

And then Boom.

U.S. Tour Dates:
Apr 11 2009 7:00P The Midland Kansas City, Missouri
Apr 18 2009 8:00P Blank Club San Jose, California
Apr 19 2009 8:00P Velvet Jones Santa Barbara, California
May 1 2009 8:00P Martini Ranch Scottsdale, Arizona
May 2 2009 8:00P University Of Arizona Tucson
May 5 2009 8:00P Roxy Los Angeles, California
May 9 2009 8:00P Detroit Bar Costa Mesa, California
May 23 2009 8:00P TBD Tampa, Florida
Sep 5 2009 12:00P Bumbershoot Seattle, Washington
Sep 6 2009 12:00P Bumbershoot Seattle, Washington
Sep 7 2009 12:00P Bumbershoot Seattle, Washington

Iglu & Hartly And then Boom
available online now, in stores May 5, 2009
Universal Repbublic Records

http://www.igluandhartly.com/
http://www.myspace.com/igluandhartly

[Text by Cornerstone Promotion] – Sorry, I am lazy heh

Art Brut

Remember the 1980s movie “Weird Science”? I used to love that movie. HOW the heck is there a science lab inside the closet? It’s like a nerdy-Narnia fantasy land.

mp3: Weird Science

http://www.artbrut.org.uk/

Band of Skulls

“HO-tel, Taco Bell” hahaha love that line.

Band of Skulls is:
Matthew Hayward – drums
Russell Marsden – guitar & vocals
Emma Richardson -bass guitar & vocals

mp3: Blood

http://www.myspace.com/bandofskulls

Little Boots

I really love this song. The first time I heard it, I thought LB was singing, “don’t metal with her heart” which also kind of makes sense. Don’t turn her heart into metal, you know? Which meddling can do. Of course, I’m overanalyzing the song.

Little Boots is like the less-Long-Island-Guido version of Lady Gaga. Not sure whose music I like better. Lady Gaga also has a lot of fun, catchy dance tunes.

From Rollingstone: “Victoria Hesketh, a budding 24-year-old pop star from the U.K. who played in a variety of prog, punk and synth-rock bands before embracing her inner Kylie Minogue. A friend had nicknamed her Little Boots, and though it’s a dark reference to the film Caligula, “It’s not that I’m a sex-crazed mad Roman despot or anything like that,” Hesketh says. “I’m small and have small feet.”

mp3: Meddle (or…metal?) – DL worthy fo sho

http://www.myspace.com/littlebootsmusic