Combination Block

Thursday, August 17, 2006

When You Kissed Me, Why Were You So Scared?

O.K., because a big theme of this blog is nostalgia, I'm going to write about a musician whose songs make me feel particularly nostalgic. His name is Jacob Borshard, and he writes love songs that really bring back the headswirling agony of unrequited love. He wears his total vulnerability like a badge on his sleeve, and for that I can't stop loving him.

Also, he gives both of his albums away for free download on his webpage...

here are a few of my favorite songs:

Jacob Borshard - Ernest Hemingway
Jacob Borshard - 6,000,000 Dead Punks Can't Be Wrong
Jacob Borshard - If You Loved Anyone (Mary 2004)
Jacob Borshard - Grass Stains


He also makes sweet bronze sculptures of brontosaurus and dogs...

Saturday, August 12, 2006

The Musical Equivalent of a Bubble Bath


O.K., so it's Saturday afternoon and I've decided to share some songs that've been dominating my playlist for the last week or so...

First up is Jens Lekman, who has been endlessly blogged about and glorified... And rightfully so... This song is a cover of Arthur Russell's 'A Little Lost', which I've posted like 3 times before (I can't help it, it's a damn good song). I got it from a collection of rare songs by Jens, though according to his webpage it's from an Arthur Russell tribute EP, if anyone has this, let me know...

Jens Lekman - A Little Lost



Next up is Lavender Diamond, sometimes called Becky Stark and the Lavender Diamond. They released an EP in January called 'The Cavalry of Light' which has been getting rave reviews... This weekend they are playing a festival in Big Sur organized by Brightblack Morning Light, which is pretty cool if you ask me. This song is from some kind of demo (they're currently working on a full-length), and is a little more upbeat than the songs on 'Cavalry". I love it, and it's fun to sing along to, plus a band that releases a 4 song EP in January and already makes my year end top 10 list is special (though not necessarily "special").

Lavender Diamond - I Told Him So

This brings us to Metallic Falcons, the side project of CocoRosie's Sierra Casady, and her friend Matteah Baim... Their music could (and perhaps should) be described as creepy and awesome... They have a record out called Desert Doughnuts, featuring contributions from Devendra Banhart, Jana Hunter, Antony, and Greg Rogrove (of Tarantula A.D.) I higly recommend picking up a copy. I chose this song as a sort of tribute to Snakes on A Plane, and while it appears on the aforementioned Desert Doughnuts, this versoin is from a self-released CDr.

Metallic Falcons - Snakes & Tea

You can also go here for ringtones.


Lastly we have Woelv, the recording name of Genevieve Castree, who is apparently the girlfriend/partner of Phil Elevrum-- you know, the Microphones guy. Anyway, Woelv sings beautiful songs in French and apparently releases her records simultaneously with books of artistic interpretations of the songs... Conceptual, yet still badass... This song is off of the 2004 book/record Pamplemoussi, and is something else.

Woelv - Chanson Pour La Nuit


Anyway, I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I have, and as always if you like waht you hear, click one of the links on the right and buy these people's records. Every sale buys them some kind of delicious breakfast burrito.



Oh, and in the future we're going to try and update this blog more often, y'know like every day or something... but only if people are reading it, so tell your friends...