I absolutely love JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound‘s version of Wilco’s “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart.” The lyrics say “this is not a joke / so please stop smiling,” but all I can do is smile when I hear this. It is far too catchy!
Professor Eduardo Alvarado is the most fascinating performer I’ve ever had the pleasure to see in New York City subway stations. The sight of him playing his keyboard with dolls dancing in front of him never fails to brighten my commute and my entire day. This man is a legend! Read more about the Professor in this article from the Village Voice.
I agree with BlinkCast – OK Go‘s video “This Too Shall Pass – Rube Goldberg Machine Version” is pretty fantastic. OK Go’s videos always blow me away, but this one is absolutely mind-boggling. The machine in the video is based on the work of inventor Rube Goldberg. This brings up memories of playing The Incredible Machine on my family’s desktop computer in the mid-nineties!
Cordelia’s Dad is a fascinating band whose music is usually folk but sometimes punk rock, and always worth a listen. Lately I cannot get enough of their nine minute and thirty second banjo track “Sugar Baby,” which you can listen to here.
Moleskine has a new collection of notebooks, The Passion Collection, designed to help you keep track of the things you love. Maybe I blog too much – when I saw this collection, I thought, “Oh, so it’s like blog post categories! But where’s the journal for Stop-Motion?” One wonders why the Passions collection only includes Music, Wine, Wellness, Books, Film, and Recipes. What about Art and Travel? Technology? Regardless, the Passion Collection notebooks are sharp, well-crafted, and sure to appeal to people who like to keep their thoughts organized.
One of my favorite percussion instruments is the tabla, so I was pleased to find that Rishi Verma created a wonderful virtual tabla. You can play these virtual drums by clicking on their different parts or pressing specific keys on your keyboard, and there is also a nifty feature that allows you to play along with pre-programmed beats. Very cool, though I wish I was playing the real thing!
All week, my iPod listening habits have leaned towards three-man bands with beautiful harmonies. Here are a few songs and bands at the top of my “Recently Played” list:
Maybe I’ll start a weekly thing where I post five songs I’ve been listening to lately. Here’s the first set, along with YouTube videos so you can listen to them more easily.
I’ve already posted about Arcade Fire, but their music is so positively infectious, I feel I must post about them again. Along with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Arcade Fire is some of the best music I’ve found for my long walks around New York. How could you not enjoy walking in time with this song? “Keep the Car Running” by Arcade Fire:
Ring in the new year by listening to this spectacular version of “Auld Lang Syne” by Salsa Celtica. I love the second half – never has “Auld Lang Syne” made me want to dance so much. A very vibrant song, and an amazing way to celebrate the end of this decade and the beginning of the next.
I am not ashamed to admit that I just bought Christmas Eve on Sesame Street on DVD. It was one of my favorite Christmas movies when I was little, and unlike so many other things that seem amazing only when you’re seven or under, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is still as charming, entertaining, and heartwarming as ever. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go wander the snow-covered streets of New York City and sing this song:
I am so happy about the recent rise in popularity of dancing flash mobs. Here’s a rather well choreographed performance in Jerusalem. Happy Hanukkah!
Improv Everywhere never fails to make me smile.
(Also, this “Where’s Rob?” video is great.)
Have you seen Singin’ in the Rain recently? I just rewatched it this past weekend, and now I wish I could watch it every day. What a terrific, feel-good movie! They don’t make ’em like they used to.
I’m surprised it took me this long to discover the video for Coldplay’s “Strawberry Swing,” which was released several months ago. The video features Chris Martin (whose colorful superhero outfit is like something out of Wee Sing in Sillyville) in the midst of an imaginative adventure through a vibrant chalk world. And it’s stop motion!
The full video is posted on the Coldplay website. Here is the trailer:
Now that it’s December, I have an excuse to listen to Christmas music every day. Scattered amongst several versions of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Silver Bells,” and “Winter Wonderland” on my Christmas playlist are a few less common tunes. One of my favorites is “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!” by the incredible Sufjan Stevens, from his album Songs for Christmas:
If you haven’t heard the music of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, you’re missing out! I’ve seen Ted Leo perform live a few times, and every time I am blown away.
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is incredibly talented and hilarious. Just listen to their version of the well-known theme song to “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” The video takes a while to get started, but once you hit the first minute or so, it’s golden.
I first heard the music of jazz musician and composer Sidney Bechet in a high school English class when a fellow student did a presentation on Philip Larkin’s poem, “For Sidney Bechet.” Ever since that day, Bechet has been one of my favorite musicians. His music entrances the listener, transports you to a completely different time. Here is Bechet’s “Blue Horizon.” Be prepared to drop whatever you’re doing and just listen.
Animal Collective’s “My Girls” got stuck in my head about a week ago, which is when I discovered this charming version (called “My Boys”) by Taken By Trees:
Yesterday Was Not Dull 