Discover Monday: San Antonio

I've lived in San Antonio for a year already and haven't even checked out the local scene. Work and such. Bleh. Anyway, I decided it was high time to see what was out there in my adopted hometown. The Verdict? Not much. At least that, not much that I could find with a cursory search of Google and - let's face it - if you're not on the first page of Google, you don't exist on the Internet.

I did find The Delviews, and - I'll tell ya - I don't hate it. Punk music with some ska influence. First song of their EP, which you can find for free here, was called "Hello Bones" and although I couldn't quite understand all the lyrics, I think it was about anorexia nervosa. I can dig it -- I've fought my own battle with Ana & Mia -- but that's a list for another day. A darker one. Maybe a Wildcard Wednesday some time in the near future. The song I think I enjoyed the most was "Looks Like You Just Broke Out of Lesbian Prison." I have no idea if the title has anything to do with what it was about but it was dark and soulful and hey, Orange Is The New Black just released a second season so why not? Overall, not bad for an EP - the mixing wasn't terrible, the vocals could be cleaner, but it's short, free, and the songs might grow on you. Give it a listen and if you like it and live in the San Antonio metropolitan area, get out and see 'em.

I also found Elora Valdez and if you enjoy yourself some Taylor Swift (I do!) and Selena Gomez (...er...when I'm drunk....). What's this kid about? You guessed it! Clean, sweet pop sugar with a slight country twang. The girl is 14-years-old and she sings about boys and being young and a whole bunch of stuff those of us on the edge of death don't quite remember. But the songs are catchy and she has a cute face and more importantly, she's obviously working her ass off. She's doing quite a few shows over the summer -- about one a week, some of which are on the same day -- and that's why she can afford professional quality tracks on her ReverbNation page and 38,000 fans. That's pretty impressive for any local artist. Shit, the kid even has decent quality merch....

I save the best for last ..... local trio The Rich Hands are more my speed. Think The Black Keys mixed with a hefty dose of 50s Rockabilly goodness. Their sound reminds of an early 60s beach filled with hipster teenagers -- all laidback and cool with a mysterious twang i.e. a solid bass line. I would be down to just hang out with these guys and listen to them jam, because that's what's best about blues-y bands -- they know their instruments and can just make it up on the fly and it'll sound good. You can get lost in the music and that's all I'm really looking to do most of the time. The recordings aren't quite as crisp as maybe you'd get from a big studio but it definitely gives the songs an old school vibe. I'm cool with that -- I've been listening to a lot of vinyl lately, anyway -- but I know some people *cough*The Boyfriend*cough* can't stand even a hint of static when listening to mp3s. For what it's worth, I'm really enjoying it. You can download the album at their bandcamp -- no price listed but paying supporters also get unlimited streaming on the Bandcamp app.

Discover More, Music Sluts!

ICYMI-Song Du Jour: Go To Go by ADAM

I've be listening to "Go To Go" by dutch girl band ADAM basically on repeat. The repeat of the mind! This song has a serious power to get into your head and stay there, waiting, until an inappropriate moment springs up -- usually while I'm at work, on the phone with a customer -- to slither its way through your brain and out your mouth. I've spent a number of boring Fridays humming it to myself just out of audible range.

If you are a denizen of the Interwebs and have ventured anywhere near a "cool" news source within the last month, you probably are familiar with their work on the Sybian...if not, feel free to *ahem* enjoy the video below.

And orgasms are great and all, but I really think it's worth a listen without all the moaning and voice cracking. The lyrics aren't much, but the tune is catchy as hell and even if the Sybian was just a publicity stunt, clearly it's working. ADAM is enjoying the boost in notoriety, ooh-ing and ahh-ing all the way to the bank, I'd imagine. Video of the actual song below.

Happy Friday, fellow Music Sluts!

Neon Desert Music Fest

It seems like all the awesome music festivals happen after I move away from someplace. Regardless, if you're in the El Paso/Las Cruces area during Memorial Day Weekend, it definitely sounds like it's worth checking out.

Rock on, Music Sluts.

Free Music Dowload: The Best Indie Music of 2013

New Year, New Rules

Ahoy Music Sluts!

Yet again, I've returned from a long hiatus, renewed for the long haul. Another New Year brings another resolution to be more consistent with posting and this time, I intend to keep it, in spite of the promotion at work (Mo' Money, Mo' Problems....no, seriously, my workload stresses me out big time), the long distance relationship (7 years strong, my friends) that will probably end in a big move in a few months, and a family that gets crazier the longer I know them -- or perhaps because of all these things, I'll become so immersed in my music and writing about it.  That's Plan A.  Plan B is writing through the demotivation caused by the mundanity of my life has devolved into, which has been working pretty well for the past 4 months. Anywho, my arsenal of secret weapons:

• I got a legit record player for Christmas.  It's got that Ye Olde Tyme look to it, too and it also has an aux adapter (for the ipod), CD player (for the few CDs I haven't digitized yet), a cassette player (borderline useless), and a radio (probably won't use that very often, either.) Super excited!  I've already created a wishlist of all the albums I'm going to buy and I've already bought my first one.  If you don't know which one it is, you don't know me at all. (I would also like to add that it is an absolute bitch to edit/add pictures to these posts - or even write them, quite frankly-on a tablet.  So....you're welcome.)
• $25 dollar itunes card (and more money in general to purchase music, provided Congress stops being a bunch of dicks...oh...wait...)
• New websites and other music news sources to educate, innovate, and excitate your ears (I was going for something but I'm pretty sure I failed.) I've been Twitter-stalking some really great new bands for y'all to try on for size and 2013 has quite a few long-awaited albums that are slated for release, so I'll keep you up to date on those.
• Tentative plans for craziness up in Tempe, AZ that involve booze, buddies, and maybe some Flogging Molly for St. Paddy's Day.  And hopefully a little less sleeping in cars with boys.....it's super uncomfortable and I don't recommend it. 

It's going to be a hella good year and I hope y'all will join me.  Happy Listening!

Song du Jour: Story of My Life

Same Mistakes

by The Echo Friendly

The Cast of "Girls"

Today's song I heard during the credits of HBO's "Girls" and it quite accurately simplifies how I'm feeling about pretty much my whole life.  For the record, I really didn't like Lena Dunham's character Hannah at first because she's just a tad (and I'm being generous) delusional and self-involved.  And then, as is my custom, I realized that I am Hannah, albeit 40lbs lighter and employed.  I'm having this sort of existentialist crisis right now and either no one noticed or no one cares.  Either way, I'm seriously freaking out.  I'm turning 25 this Friday and I am just now formulating a life plan but the thing is....I'm pretty sure it's way too late and I've completely blown my chance at becoming a functional, worthwhile adult.  About a week ago, I realized I made a huge mistake.  A colossal one, in fact and I realize that now but I'm still not sure why I'm paying so much for that.  I was young....I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up so I majored in Psychology.  I assumed alot of things that might've been true before the recession started.  That was naive -- I totally get that now.  And I really want to go forward with my life but I don't understand why so much backtracking has to be involved. 

 

 

And then, I start thinking back on past mistakes and people and I am amazed how many things I f*cked up and how many times I keep doing the same things, expecting different results.  Not just different results.  Better results.  According to Albert Einstein, that's insanity, which is a rather accurate description of the chaos that is going on inside my head.  But, I've decided that I have to make my own magic, even if it's uber scary, and thus, I'm giving myself a birthday present that I've put off way too long.  I'll explain in detail at a later time, mais bien sur, but while you're waiting, listen to this song. The style is what they call "dream pop," whatever the f*ck that means, but it's in the lyrics where I found relevance. It's off the "Love Panic" LP that The Echo Friendly will be releasing sometime in the near future. The video (which is after the jump) isn't anything particulary spectacular or visionary or whatever, but -- as I said -- it's about the song.

Bonfire Night!

Today happens to be May 1st and, as I'll have you know, it happens to be my favorite of all the pagan festivals.  It celebrates the return of the Sun and the rejuvenation of life all over the planet. Bealtaine (pronounced byol-tinnuh -- it's Gaelic and, weirdly enough, I can actually sort of see where they get that pronunciation) is an ancient fertility ritual that falls every year on May 1st or when the sun is at 15 degrees Taurus.  That last part only matters if you have any fucking clue how to read astrological tables--which I don't.  Oh, and this only applies in the Northern Hemisphere--if you live in Australia, you'd be trick-or-treating.  Traditionally--or, at least, according to the Internet--this Sabbat is celebrated by dancing naked around a fire and then running off and having sex.  Unfortunately, the  latter option is an impossibility for me (what with The Boyfriend being 310 miles away and all) and dancing naked around a bonfire by yourself is just plain sad.  That doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good heathen dancing circle every once in a while -- just call me your friendly neighborhood heathen sun-worshipper!  Anyway, as a special treat, I've composed a short list of songs that make me want to dance like a wild woman, preferrably around a blazing fire, clothing optional mais bien sur.  In the meantime, I'll be a good girl and celebrate in rather tame fashion by planting an herb garden and some flowers and applying tons of sunblock because no one is happier than me that the good running weather is back!

5.  "Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Asi)" by Shakira -- I love Middle-Eastern influence in music and during the bridge of this song -- in both Spanish and English versions -- Shakira busts out in Arabic chants.  And Arabic chants are fuckin' great for Crazy-Girl-Dancing-Alone-In-Her-Room time.  I'm posting the English version but the Spanish version is easily searchable on Youtube.

4. "Shake It Out" by Florence + the Machine -- Aside from this being my cure for a crappy day, this song just wants to make you move and feel happy.  I challenge you to listen to this song and not find yourself flailing about wildly -- dare I say, in the throes of ecstasy --to the drumbeats and tambourine jingling.  And if you succeed, it is fairly possible that you don't have a soul.