It Ain't Me Babe

Today is the illustrious Bob Dylan's 70th birthday, so of course I'm doing a wee blog post on some Dylan covers. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that my exam is mere days away, and I have revisioned myself out. [You guys know what I'm talking about, right? When you know you should be working hard but you have absolutely no ability whatsoever to concentrate on it. It's a lovely state of apathy.]

Most uni students have by now finished, but for us poor souls still with noses to the grindstone, it's just one last push then done! .......and then resits in June. Such fun.

Nanci Griffith - Boots of Spanish Leather

Metric - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright

Jason Mraz - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

The Los Angeles Gospel Choir - I Shall Be Released

The Tallest Man On Earth - I Want You

The Editors - It Ain't Me Babe

Antony and The Johnsons - Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Hello you.

I was rescued from my self-made revision prison by my bijou amie and taken for a wonderful day of brunch, vintage shopping and cupcakes.

And then I came back. Because I've got my practical exam tomorrow, and I must must must prepare for it. Proper preparation prevents piss poor performance, as my mother used to say. 

Buuuuuut my roommate just got a kitten! The cutest kitten ever! And so I cannot stop playing with him. And taking photos of him. And feeding him.

And then, because of my love affair with procrastination, I made bunting. Durrrrrrrrrrr. 

Alexander - Bad Bad Love
Lanu - Beautiful Trash
Metronomy - Corinne
The Middle East - Land of The Bloody Unknown
Rue Royale - Halfway Blind

Qu'est-ce que c'est? C'est ma vie. Popcorn and peptic ulcer disease. Isn't it romantic?

And here you thought my life was dull. But listen to this, dear readers - a never-ending carousel of revision and exams, revision and exams, occasionally punctuated by a brief interlude of prodding and poking patients - does that sound dull to you? Does it? Oh, it does. 

To rid myself of the monotony, I have been tirelessly [tiredly] scouring El Interweb for good music. Not an entirely selfless act, seeing as I revise much better with a soundtrack [or so I tell myself] but what ever is?

So here you go, a lovely bag of strawberry laces-sized morsel of music.

Peter Bjorn and John - Second Chance
The New Pornographers - Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
Alex Turner - Stuck On The Puzzle

I have a guilty pleasure. It's a bit shameful.

My guilty pleasure is....television shows about stupid people. By this I don't mean people with low IQs [although they often do feature], I mean normal people who persist in saying and doing stupid things - things that make me shout at the TV/laptop screen in an [altogether cliched] way. Mums who think that smoking is helping their babies get fitter? Idiots! Teenagers having ridiculous amounts of unprotected sex? Idiots!

And my newest guilty pleasure - Made In Chelsea. Essentially a kind of Laguna Beach based in London, I'm already very emotionally invested. When your boyfriend pulls a pouty-bitch face at you because you borrowed his eyelash curlers? That's a relationship problem right there that no amount of romantic skiing trips or private Michelin star meals will fix.

And now on to a not-so-guilty pleasure.

If you, like me, have been very excited by the news of Bon Iver's new album, and have frantically clicked on the links to hear his new song, Calgary, then you're possibly as much of an aficionado as I am. And to help you, dear readers, in the long wait until the album comes out, I've compiled my favourite less-known tracks from Justin Vernon, including his solo stuff, his previous band, and some brilliant covers and live versions.

I know, I know, I'm far too good to you.

DeYarmond Edison - First Impression

DeYarmond Edison - Dead Anchor

Justin Vernon - Ring Out

Bon Iver - Creature Fear (Daytrotter version)

Justin Vernon - Nothing Better Than A Journey To You

Bon Iver - The Park (Feist cover)

DeYarmond Edison - Silent Signs

DeYarmond Edison - Heroin(e)

Justin Vernon - Hazeltons

DeYarmond Edison - Dusty Road (So Kind)

Bon Iver - Lovin's For Fools

DeYarmond Edison - Redemption (An Army Man And His Self-Discovery)

Justin Vernon - A Song For A Lover of Long Ago

DeYarmond Edison - Bones

DeYarmond - My Whole Life Long

Justin Vernon - Pier 39

Phewww. That's actually quite a lot. Oh well, more bang for your buck I suppose.
 

Eagle Vs Shark soundtrack

"That was some pretty good sex last night, huh?"

I watched Eagle Vs. Shark for the first time the other week, and although I'm not too sure if it's completely my kind of humour [awkwardness makes me feel SO AWKWARD] the soundtrack is undoubtedly ace. It's all [mostly, I think] Kiwi bands, all quite indie, and all amazing.

"I almost came as a shark actually, but then I realised an eagle's slightly better." 
 

The Phoenix Foundation - Apples and Tangerines
The Phoenix Foundation - Wholly Molly
M. Ward - Let's Dance
The Reduction Agents - The Pool
The Phoenix Foundation - I Love You, Awesome

I'm back, comrades. 

Back with a brand new(ish) bag of music. I've been neglecting you in favour of my new food blog, like a terrible parent who ignores their elder child when a shiny new baby comes along. Now the shine has worn off my new baby [and I'm significantly poorer from all that cooking] I have returned triumphantly. Triumphantly!

What's new in your lives? I'm sad to say that nothing much has happened in mine, and I'm living vicariously through other people as I stay chained to my oven/textbooks. Actually I have been involved in something hilarious [as in hilariously bad] recently, but I'm not sure whether I want to put it out there, on the interweb, yo. But I'll just put this out there - I have recently been propositioned by a man with a foot fetish. Intrigued? I know I am.

Absolutely brilliant, haunting stuff. Eerie, beautiful, you know the drill. Melancholic and yet not. 

Dark Dark Dark - Bright Bright Bright

Dark Dark Dark - Robert

You know how I love me a cover. Cover + Fleet Foxes = what more could you want?

Fleet Foxes - It Ain't Me Babe (Bob Dylan cover)
Fleet Foxes - Clogged Castle (BOAT cover)

The wonderful Blake Mills. By all accounts a very accomplished guitarist, touring with Cass McCombs, Band of Horses and Julian Casablancas [among others], he's now turned his hand to solo work. I'm in love.
Blake Mills - Like It's Something
Blake Mills - Women Know

"What's this? Emily's actually posting some upbeat, non-acoustic music?" I just want to keep you on your toes, people. SO UNPREDICTABLE.

Leann Grimes - Cats and Dogs in Idaho

Jhameel - How Many Lovers