ROULETTE 13

Geez, I have neglected you guys, huh? Here's some stuff I've been enjoying lately...


1. Conjure One - Tears From the Moon (with Sinead O'Connor on vocals)
2. Conjure One - Centre of the Sun (with Poe on vocals)
3. Conjure One - Make a Wish (with Poe on vocals)

Recently grabbed these off of Amie St., as they gave me a free $2.00 this past week. Love both these vocalists, and I have been craving more Poe since finding out about her Conjure One guest spots. These are the standouts of the ones I grabbed. The last is one I've had for a while, the one that prompted the Amie St. purchases.

4. Drawing Down the Sun - Porcelain Girl
5. Drawing Down the Sun - Unravel

There's something mysterious and intriguing about this band, another Amie purchase formerly unfamiliar to me. It's hard to explain, really, but it's very pretty, and seems to be a bit trip-hop/electronic gothic rock with a wonderful female vocalist. Will be looking into them further, because I can see a future for them.

6. Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

This beautiful, folky, harmonic song is addictive. From that gorgeous building opening all through the track, it does feel winteresque, like a troupe singing as they walk through a wintery forest. There's a fantastic beat under the soaring harmonics, keeping it clip along at a nice pace. The lyrics are very curious, including the phrase, 'turning the white snow red as strawberries in summertime'.

7. Sia - Playground

The next of Sia's album Some People Have Real Problems to click with me, this is a playful little piece recalling childhood and the wish for that simplicity. Ironically, though it's meant to deal with childish themes, it's one of Sia's sexier-sounding songs (probably intentional, there). It's just so damn charming.

8. Islands - Pieces of You

The bizarre stylings of Islands have been drawing me in as of late, and this is a great sample of that, from their new album, Arm's Way. There's an amazing energy to their music, with the music and the vocals working together to pull you toward the sky. Also, I can never listen to this song without bopping along to the beat.

Search for more at The Hype Machine. Purchase albums or mp3's at Amazon, Amazon Canada, Amie St., cdbaby, or Insound.

ROULETTE 10

Haven't felt up to blogging much as of late, despite that lovely concert review I wanted to do. It's getting further and further back, but I do still have my notes and my memories... Anyhow, a roulette of some recent songs I've been listening to...

The Pale Young Gentlemen - Clap Your Hands

I've been getting these indie/rock playlists, and this song was one of them. A reeling, old-sounding song about dancing and the escape from one's problems it brings. Very enjoyable.

Forest City Lovers - Monsters

A lovely, soft song with pretty vocals. I'm new to the Forest City Lovers, but I'm becoming a fan.

Meg & Dia - Monster

There's something about these harmonising pairs that just hit me in the right way. Electric guitars with simple female vocals, giving a great sense of paranoia to the lyrics - especially when the guitars fall away, leaving the scared, worried vocals on their own.

Islands - Creeper

I will admit, I first got hooked on this song because the slang term 'creeper' (for, obviously, a creepy person) has been making the rounds in my group of friends and it amused me. However, I've begun to really enjoy the song, as it has a great sound. It's a genuinely creepy song about being ambushed upon coming home by a 'creeper' with a knife, and despite that creepiness has a really cool beat to it.

Damien Rice - Rat Within the Grain

Though I was a bit hard on Damien Rice once he and Lisa Hannigan split, I'm coming back around on him. Actually, while I once declared O to be the far superior album, I find myself becoming more and more bored by the long, artsy songs on it and instead enjoy the angrier, tighter work on 9, despite a lack of Lisa. After finding an excellent set of live recordings of him, I took a look around and found this wonderful "9 Crimes" b-side. It's short, bitter and self-deprecating; that is, Damien at his best.

Laura Marling - New Romantic

I didn't get the appeal of this song when my cousin Marelly declared it amazing, but recently I've come around to it. Really, it's the kind of honest confessional style I love, and despite the protagonist's dilemma of whether to leave her guy (whom she convinced to break up with his girlfriend to be with her), you feel how confused and pissed off at herself she is here. She attempts to swear off love altogether, but finds herself wavering in the face of this 'new romantic way'.

Also, while you're here, check out the two excellent demos Lily Allen has thrown up on her MySpace. "I Don't Know" in particular has major potential to be a new favourite.