Stages Of Grief

Been listening to GEMS for months - and now obsessed with this extended edit of their best track, "Medusa."  

AM & Shawn Lee - a duo that came through the Fox Theater in Oakland with likewise outstanding duo Thievery Corporation a couple weeks ago - released their first LP together earlier this month. Celestial Electric (of which you can scoop up from their Bandcamp page) is a blissed-out trip through your Dad's old AM radio. It siphons the best bits of soul and psychedelica, painting a lush soundscape comparable to what the Black Keys did for roots rock. 

"Somebody Like You" is the hit. Mark my words.

This Saturday in Oakland. 

Why I'm here.

Music. It follows me everywhere. It's sustenance. Synonymous with all that's true and great and beautiful. It's been with me in the dark and in the haze and under the covers. It makes my blood flow and the gears turn, reminding me of everything, and all that is. 

What does it do for you?

Take responsibility for your choices, for your whims. Own your greatest strength and your most humbling mistakes. Cultivate the purpose you seek. Recognize your unbridled freedom. Everything else is meaningless.

currently. bedroom dancing. 

I finally caught The Horrors live at Bimbo's 365 Club in SF last week when they co-headlined two shows with The Black Angels. It was a loud, and achingly gorgeous-sounding set in a beautiful venue.

Back in England, where these decidingly throwback shoegazers are from, they're Album of the Year winners(well, NME says) and doing duets of their single "Still Life" with mega fan Florence Welch. It's about as good as you'd hope, which is close to perfection.

Layering the sweet, and infectious vocals of Whitney Houston's early smash "How Will I Know?" onto Robyn's likewise sweet and stellar floor filler, "Dancing On My Own," some guy who calls himself Zooash made an entirely appropriate tribute and ended up creating the best mash-up in ages. 

"Dancing In Houston" bridges generations of truly great pop music together in such a simple and beautiful way, it's disarming. You may just tear up out on that dance floor.  

Top 3 Female Vocalists I've heard live:

1. Florence Welch

2. Zola Jesus

3. Terra Lopez, of Sister Crayon.