rainy day mixtape tiiiiime.

image courtesy of the posh peddler.

songs that i'm listening to on repeat when it's galoshes and umbrella time:

+we are not a football team, minus the bear: because it's good for walking on the sidewalk and splashing through puddles on accident.

+dreams old men dream, cold war kids: because it's a perfect blend of discordant and comforting.

+fidelity, regina spektor: because you need something chipper if it's real, real nasty out. that, and i recently re-discovered spektor's 2006 release and have subsequently re-ignited that torch i'm carrying for the piano playing empress of the east village.

+skinny love, bon iver: because yeah, this may be the quintessential break up song, but this heartbreaker is the definition of melancholy. also, it sounds best when you're inside and there's one of those awful cinematic moments brewing where you look out a window that's being beaten by raindrops. [well helloooo, emo. haha.]

+silver lining, rilo kiley: because clouds have to dissipate SOMEtime.  also, rilo kiley is the best for combatting nasty

+lost coastlines, okkervil river: because this song would be PERFECT to listen to if it stops raining when it's still light out and you can see the sun reappear.  PERFECT, i say.  don't believe me?  try it the next time you're walking down mass. ave. in the rain, or, preferably, over one of the bridges, and tell me it doesn't make you love your life.

+beast of burden, the rolling stones: because it's gentle, sad and ever-wanting. (also because it is my favorite rolling stones song, ever. ever ever ever.)

+dance dance dance (live), lykke li feat. bon iver: because a) live recordings are so much better than the studio track, in my book, anyway and b) this song is great and pairs two of 2008/2009's heavy hitters in a bubbly, big energy number.  this may inspire puddle jumping a la age 5.  many thanks to dan over at amfmpm for sharing the goods; head over to his blog for an exclusive listen.  (also, amfmpm is just great in general and you should check it out anyway.)

+santa maria da feira, devendra banhart: because this is another uplifting ditty whose chipper attitude transcends language barriers. (the lyrics are en español. amor.) i know i've swooned over banhart before, but gimme a break and give it a listen.

+thick as thieves, weak end with no end: because this is another gritty but pretty track which reminds all of us that it's gotta get a little murky before the light.  i like cambridge, i like these guys from cambridge, and i can't wait to see them and hear this song live. preferably in cambridge. they ARE playing upstairs at the middle east in april, so we'll see.

what're you guys listening to when the weather outside is frightful and you've got no fireplace to make you feel delightful so you turn up the volume?  share.

Ode to Devendra!

apparently my ode to spring toootally worked in the positive thinking department: it's 60 degrees out in Somerville, the sun is shining, and the sunset roses mirror the weather's pleasant disposition.  see?

on days like today you need a decent soundtrack for skippin' down the sidewalk, and nothing hits the ear nicer than devendra banhart when it's brisk and beautiful out.  i know i'm tardy when it comes to joining devendra's fan club, but better late than never, right?  i've got banhart's two most recent albums, smokey rolls down thunder canyon and cripple crow, playing on repeat for the afternoon.  banhart was raised in venezuela and thus a hefty chunk of his discography includes some lovely spanish melodies, and coincidentally his spanish tracks happen to be my absolute favorites on both albums.  

songs i currently can't stop dancing to/listening to/lusting after courtesy of mr. db:

quedate luna.  the haunting minor chords of this mellow track off banhart's 2005 release is my favorite on the album and tugs at my heartstrings a little just because it reminds me of flamenco and impromptu jam sessions in the albaicín, granada's old arab neighborhood and my favorite barrio in a city that i miss being able to call home.  i learned how to play this on guitar last night and the callouses on my fingers are kind of beastly from practicing it too much.  love it.  major sexy time music, too, but then again half of cripple crow makes for excellent sexy time music as well. 

carmensita.  if you're not dancing to this song within 30 seconds of pressing play, you're either a) broken in the legs, b) deaf, or c) too cool for school.   this song can usually be heard blasting in my kitchen while i'm making food for people or when i'm getting psyched before leaving my house for a big night out.  this shit'll put you in fabulous mood, guaranteed.  it's auricular candy. 

bad girl.  ok so this one's in english but i love it anyway, mostly because i find it slightly touches on the melancholic nature of the dissolution of my last relationship.  ("i'm not waiting but i keep holding on" hit a little too close to home for me, i guess. erm, yeah. moving on!)  the consistent reverb and pulsing syncopations practically put you to sleep, and in a good way: this raw, lamenting lullaby of banhart's is comforting and heartbreaking at the same time with its crescendoes and perfect balance of resignation and refusal.  [for the record: i'm listening to it today NOT because of allllll the romantic bullshit that doesn't need to be drudged up yet again; i'm listening to it because it's a beautiful song, despite/because of its emotional undertones, and it sounds divine on a day like today when the heat of the afternoon starts to cool off and the wind starts reminding me that spring isn't quite upon us yet.]

also: thank you, devendra, for your quirky lil' cameo in "nick and norah's infinite playlist".  you are great.  and thank you for this photo, as well:

image courtesy of paste magazine.