Let's go find an ocean, cause I think we need a swim

On Tuesday June 7th, two albums I have been waiting on pins and needles for will be showing there must anticipated faces! Cults self titled full length, and my most highly anticipated album of 2011 Arabia Mountain from the Black Lips.

Arabia Mountain, the latest and greatest from the socially rebellious, garage rocking, vomiting on stage ensemble Black Lips, finds the band remastering their craft with assistance from an unlikely choice in producer Mark Ronson. Ronson best known for his work with Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen, clearly helped the Black Lips restore there roots, and get back to the basics of what the group is about.  Even though you have to wait til June 7th to get your hands on the album, you can listen to it on Grooveshark, now! Hopefully, after a good solid listen you will agree, the BLACK LIPS ARE BACK, and this ain't know two hundred million thousand, or whatever that garbage was called.

Arabia Mountain, real "Modern Art".

STUNNIN LIKE MY...

If you know me on a personal level at all, you know that I possess a small obsession with a certain rapper that goes by the name of, Lil Wayne. When I hear his voice blaring through speakers, I can't even begin to describe the phenomenon that takes place...(unless you have witnessed it yourself). Basically, I can feel Weezy coursing through my veins. It's like he's physically present, and most times I can hardly contain myself.

Now that I have let you in on my little secret, you can imagine how I felt as I was midway through doing a winged liner on a customer, and I heard "Stunnin like my daddy" repeat three times over through the speakers at work. It's like the ground below me jolted, the room spun for a moment, and than everything paused. I snapped out of my trance, as I heard the sweet voice of Ellie Goulding..."Hit, Hit, Hit, Hit me with lightening...".  I had to know more. Who was this, what was this? Was I dreaming, for months it seemed we had been plagued with unidentifiable "indie" music, and now this?! I tried to act cool, quickly finished the winged liner and ran over to the cupboard that hosted our playnetwork system.

"Basic Physics-Starry Eyed" scrolled across the screen...

Nightlife in the Northwoods, is the must hear mixtape from Basic Physics. Basic Physics is the creation of Madison, WI DJ/ Producer Alex Syse, and Minneapolis, Minnesota's DJ, Eric Mitchell. Founded in 2010, they have brought a fresh new face to the DJ/Mashup game.


Alex provided some insight into the mixtape. "Nightlife in the Northwoods is a compilation of 15 Basic Physics mashups. When we went to the drawing board to create this mixtape, the first thing we laid down was that this was going to be about quality. We are not a mashup group that releases tracks just for the name behind it. We wanted to produce a mixtape that kept the listener into it 100% of the way, that flows from start to finish. Eric and myself have so many influences, including the production quality of Xaphoon Jones, the addicting sound of Wolfgang Gartner or Afrojack, the brilliance of Daft Punk, and the creativity of artists like Pretty Lights, Ellie Goulding, and Lupe Fiasco. Having the ability to make a mashup is one thing, but making it memorable and something worth listening to is our main goal. What started as a passion for music has become something that we are pursuing. We are going to continue to produce mashups, but we also plan on diving into other projects including an original EP and producing for various artists. This mixtape is something that we hope will elevate our ability to achieve the things we want to do and the music we want to produce."


Starry Eyed E.T. (Katy Perry // Ellie Goulding // Lil Wayne) by Basic Physics


Visit BASIC PHYSICS FACEBOOK TO DOWNLOAD "NIGHTLIFE IN THE NORTHWOODS"

MUST HAVE: TURBAN SCARF

One of my #1 "MUST HAVES" for summer is a turban style tied scarf. It's been seen on Mary Kate Olsen, and highly recommended in Rachel Zoe's own fashion blog. You can use any random old scarf you have laying around to create this simple look. (I even used a sash of an old bridesmaid dress of mine) It can be a simple head band as seen on Mary Kate below, or a full head wrap. EITHER WAY, don't be caught this summer without knowing how to do this fashion MUST. I found the video below very helpful as well.

Do Whatever You Want, ALL THE TIME

Ponytails most recent endeavor, says everything in the title of the record..."Do Whatever You Want All the Time." With full bodied passion behind every unrecognizable muffled lyric, to the methodic rhythm that plays behind them, this album is nothing short of fantastic. I first listened to a track off the album on Pitchfork, and have to say I wasn't all too impressed. I had heard there music in years before, and for me the track just wasn't clicking. On a whim, I decided to listen to the album from the top, and as "Easy-Peasy" muffled through the speakers, I realized I had been sorely mistaken. It's the perfect entry point into the album. She slowly whispers in your ear, and makes her way straight to the epicenter of your brain, allowing you to take a step into her world. The record continues on like this, starting off slow and methodic, and than rushing you to the finish line. It is necessary to listen to the album from start to finish, to really begin to see the beauty behind. In the spirit of the album, do whatever you want all the time, but make sure to start a beautiful summer day with this album.

 Ponytail 'Easy Peasy' by GOLDSTARPR
Purchase Album here:

TY REX

What could be better than one of my favorite singers, Ty Segall covering T-REX exclusively for Record Store Day yesterday? I am gonna lean towards nothing!! Ty releases "Ty Rex" exclusively for Record Store Day April 16th, and will be available for full distribution on the Monday April 25th. Ty covers 6 songs, including SLIDER...can't wait for this release, hope some of you catched it yesterday!
Ty Segall: "Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart" (T. Rex Cover) by alteredzones

visit www.goner-records.com on April 25th to get your copy!

FIGURE 8's and a Needle in the Hay

Smith performing in Los Angeles, February 2003.

I can still vividly remember the strums of the guitar as Richie exited the scene into the bathroom, staring at himself in the mirror as he shaved off his beard, head, and as he whispered "I'm gonna kill myself tomorrow"....I was sixteen the first time I saw the Royal Tenenbaums, and the first time I heard the depressing vocals of Elliott Smith. I felt this instant connection with each stroke of the guitar, each whisper of the lyrics. I felt this gravitation toward Smith, and this melodic expression of my own depression. Depression and thoughts of suicide were no news to me, as I had been transported to the depressing skies of Portland only a few short months before I heard the enchanting tones of Smiths music. For me, it is where it all began. Smith's lyrics, cascaded through every corner of my mind, and spoke to the very depths of my tortured teenage soul.

Elliott Smith, and Portland is where music really began for me. I had always had an interest in the popular, but didn't really understand what "great" music was. It was moving to Portland, and finding this depressive identity that began to open up the doors musically for me.

As ten years have passed, I still find myself having such a deep connection with Smith's songs. He has seen me through years of darkness, tragic breakups, nights in bars, between the bars. Each song relates to the songs of my heart, the very essence of my soul.

Even though the rain, and the dark skies of Portland, soundtracked my the depressive tones of Smith's voice made me a recluse in my early twenties, I am thankful for the journey of discovery it bestowed upon me. It opened up the doors to a vast universe, I never knew existed.

A Modern Day Brenda Lee

Madeline Follin at first sounds child like and demure, but gets some real passion behind her lyrics at the chorus of the song. The band has all the qualities of a 60's pop group, with a much heavier weight on there shoulders. Maybe the impending doom of SAID armageddon in 2012? YA RIGHT. Either way pop was a lot easier and happy go lucky in the 60's, and CULTS somehow finds that in these darker days.

Cults - You Know What I Mean by cultscultscults
[from Cults' debut full-length; out in May on In the Name Of/Columbia]