Given the fact that I had no idea what my next post was going to be, but feeling the pressures of posting regardless, I set up to just coming up with a little playlist of some random tracks to see if any of them sparked something in my noggin. Unfortunately, doing this probably left me more confused and clueless then I was before. So with that being said, I am going to present to you what did come to mind, a sort of badass, revenge-ish, now that I'm drunk I can kick your ass kind of mix. I just sort of put together some of those songs that tend to sum up the hatred that we feel for another human being at any given point in our lives, whether it be the douchebag living across the hall, that unsympathetic bitch of a girlfriend, or the few folks who make all of the decisions for the rest of us. No matter how you look at it, the songs included are all of top notch caliber, so enjoy.

1. Spoon - Revenge! - can't get much more obvious than this quality track.
2. Muse - Time is Running Out - nothing like a song that gives the government a swift kick in the ass to spark a conversation about politics and the declining faith in said institutions.
3. The Libertines - What a Waster - the agressive, almost sloppy style of play employed by Doherty and co. allow their songs to have a very dirty, unpolished sound to them, and this song about a friend who's "pissed it all up the wall", is a perfect example.
4. Blur - Crazy Beat - Donald Duck on ecstasy.
5. Joy Division - Digital - this song takes you by surprise right from the opening chords and it doesn't let up throughout the entire song. it reminds me of just being sloppy drunk, with an overwhelming feeling of self-imposed superiority over everyone in my general vicinity.
6. Smashing Pumpkins - Fuck You (An Ode to No One) - pretty self-explanatory, don't you think?
7. Nirvana - Rape Me - this song is about as self-loathing as it gets, and television and movie industries have taught me that there is nothing scarier than the man who has nothing to lose.
8. Rage Against the Machine - Killing In the Name Of - you had to have known that Rage was going to show up somewhere.
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss - this track is just oozing with energy (as most of the Chili Peppers older work is), the bassline is killer, and the lyrics are energetic and lots of fun.
10. Jimi Hendrix - The Killing Floor
11. She Wants Revenge - Tear You Apart - simply put, a great track from a band that I can't get enough of, infectious, to say the least.
12. The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black - it's the perfect song to cap off the mix, unnerving, chilling and it just plain kicks ass.

Bonus:
Rage Against the Machine - Down Rodeo

I drove through ghosts to get here...

So now that my finals are over and I don't have to worry about school for another four weeks or so, I can finally post more often (that is as long as I'm not hung over). Today's post is going to be a calm one. After the hectic week of finals and whatnot, I figured that a nice, soothing night driving mix was in order. I came to the conclusion of making the mix because as I was sitting in traffic on my way home from work this evening, I was overwhelmed by how the music pumping through my factory direct standard stereo system in my car was keeping me from scooping my own eyeballs out with a spoon. So I figured it would be a good idea to do a nice soothing mix, with the occasional up-tempo song to keep things interesting, and since it doesn't necessary include songs specifically related to driving, I suppose you could call it a "chill" mix, or a "post-hangover" one, or even a "sleepy time lullaby" mix. Whatever you call it, I hope you enjoy (along with all of these really rad night driving pics).

1. DeVotchKa - How It Ends
2. The Album Leaf - Over the Pond
3. Thom Yorke - Atoms for Peace
4. Greg Weeks - Made - somewhat creepy, especially after you watch this commercial.
5. Notwist - Consequence - the album is amazing. Pick it up, I command you!
6. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now
7. Mogwai - Helicon 1
8. Sigur Ros - Olsen Olsen
9. Sparrow House - When I Am Gone
10. Belle & Sebastian - Sleep Around the Clock
11. The Album Leaf - Into the Sea
12. Spoon - Everything Disco
13. Radiohead - Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box
14. 65 Days of Static - Drive Through Ghosts to Get Here
15. Explosions in the Sky - Welcome, Ghosts

The name is Seamus O'Toole and I'm here to get drunk

Thank god this semester is over and done with. After a string of long and arduous assignments, grueling papers, mind-numbing lectures and just being a plain old pain in my ass, I am done. I don't even care what my grades are at this point, I'm just happy that I can kick up my feet and relax for a good five weeks. And I cannot wait to throw every caution to the wind and indulge in every whim. Drinking heavily will play a major part during my Christmas break. I am a little worried however, that my nights bar hopping will be populated with extras from Growing Up Gotti, waving their Nextels high above their heads while chanting along to some redundant raggaeton (wtf is that?) club hit. "Gasolina" is already throbbing in my head and making my eyes hurt. Anyway, here are some of my personal favorite jams to get into the partying mood, so while not officially a mix (the tracks are listed in no discernable order, make your own damn mixtape if you want!), it is filled to the brim with some classic, catchy, upbeat tunes. Enjoy, and, if you ever see me out, remind me to remind you that you should buy me a drink.

Shiny Toy Guns - Le Disko / We Are Scientists - Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt / Dead Disco - The Treatment / Bloc Party - Banquet / MSTRKRFT - The Looks / Fujiya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries / The Strokes - Someday / The Clash - London Calling / Kasabian - Club Foot / Prodigy - Firestarter / Le Tigre - Deceptacon / Mystery Jets - You Can't Fool Me Dennis / Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion / The Von Bondies - C'mon C'mon / The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now / Arctic Monkeys - I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor / Muse - Stockholme Syndrome / Prototypes - Je Ne Te Connais Pas / The Killers - Bling (Confessions of a King) / Interpol - Slow Hands / Joy Division - Ceremony / New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle / The Spinto Band - Oh Mandy / The Cloud Room - Hey Now Now / The Strokes - New York City Cops / The Libertines - Up the Bracket / Babyshambles - Janie Jones / Cansei de ser Sexy - Lets Make Love and Listen Death From Above

The Holiday Mixtape Project, Vol. 4

I was going to post a funny picture to go along with this mix, but something about that little big-headed mongloid struck a chord with me. Anyway, I'm going to have to say that this will be the final installment of this years Christmas mix, mainly because I am currently inundated with exams and final papers and I just cant put forth the time and effort trying to dig up Holiday themed songs. Anyway, there are some really good tunes on this mix, so I hope you enjoy and i hope you all have a wonderful Holiday season.

1. Steve Martin - Five Wishes for Christmas
2. Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Lets Boogie to the Elf Dance!
3. Pas/Cal - Last Christmas ( I stole this from Shane so go show some love at The Torture Garden)
4. Pearl Jam - Let Me Sleep
5. The Knife - Christmas Reindeer
6. Maps - Sparks In The Snow (just go visit Derek at GWFAS)
7. The Killers - A Great Big Sled
8. Pearl Jam - Someday at Christmas
9. The Format - Holly Jolly Christmas
10. David Gray - (Christmas) Babylon

That's all for today. Merry Christmas or whatever. Thanks to Fuel Friends.

The Holiday Mixtape Project, Vol. 3

Hello again. I like Christmas, or rather the holiday season in general, particularly when the retarded bag boy at JCPenny's doesn't casually smash the box that is clearly marked FRAGILE while carelessly tossing it into my bag. I especially like it when I'm not subjected to watching a movie with Kirsten Dunst in it because she's a hideous mutant who, upon the very sight of her, causes temporary blindness. And I also enjoy it because I get to post some Holiday music that isn't the same Bing Crosby/David Bowie duet we've all heard a million times. Oh and I get to post weird pictures like the one above. Oh O.J., I wish you all the luck with your money grubbing exploitative ventures. Anyway, moving right along, I've got a ton of Sufjan for you on this disc, which I'm sure Kozma will appreciate. Aside from all the Sufjany Holiday goodness, I've collected quite a few songs that I think you'll enjoy, as I consider this my "you've drank too much so just sit on the couch and relax" chillout Holiday disc. So, I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do.

1. Seasick Crocodiles - Snowflake
2. The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra - Baby It's Cold Outside
3. Sufjan Stevens - What Child Is This Anyway?
4. Traditional - Greensleeves
5. The Walkmen - The Christmas Party
6. Sufjan Stevens - That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
7. Snowden - Christmas Time Is Here
8. The Eels - Christmas is Going to the Dogs
9. eric Metronome - Hannuka Girl
10. Explosions in the Sky - Day 7 (technically not a Holiday song, but I think it has a very festive sound)

The Holiday Mixtape Project, Vol. 2

Okay, so here it is, the second installment of the Holiday Mixtape. I decided to call it the "Holiday" mixtape rather than just a "Christmas" mixtape because "Christmas" just sounded too exclusive, and the track by Princeton on this volume has a more, well, lets just say broader appeal. I think you guys will appreciate this mix, as it has some really solid tunes. Some of you may recognize a few of the tracks from last years mix, but as I said before they're are the cream of the crop, no filler this Christmas...well, at least I'm trying to weed out all of the filler. And you Sufjan fans will be pleased to know that he makes an appearance on this mix as well, which caused Kozma to quietly roll his eyes in disgust. Whether you're a Sufjan fan or not, there's a little something for everyone on this mix, in fact, it may be the strongest Holiday mix yet, as every song is of top-notch quality, it even has possibly my favorite Christmas jam of all time, The Christmas Song by the Raveonettes, so, if anything, grab that.

1. Sufjan Stevens - Put the Lights on the Tree
2. Princeton - Where's My Christmas Morning?
3. Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas
4. Jack Johnson - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. Kevin Devine - Splitting Up Christmas
6. Snow Patrol - When I Get Home for Christmas
7. Low - Just Like Christmas
8. Rilo Kiley - Christmas Cake
9. Okkervil River - Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas
10. The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song
11. Sufjan Stevens - Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!

Special thanks to The Duke of Straw at The Late Greats!

The Christmas Mixtape Project, Vol. 1

Okay, so I was sitting in class today debating on whether or not I should make my next post be the beginning of the 2006 Insert Brand Name Here Christmas Mixtape, since I didn't have all that much to post about (besides the new Spoon tune that is featured in the new Will Ferrell movie, Stanger than Fiction), I figured I'd go with the Holiday tunes. I was told last year that some of my song choices were "depressing". I defended my choices by stating that Christmas (or whatever holiday you happen to celebrate) is not always happy, and the songs should reflect differentiating moods. Hopefully you'll feel the same because there are some real gems that I'm planning to include this year. those of you familiar with last years mix will probably recognize some of the songs, as I just couldn't resist including them in this years mix as well because, well, they're just so damn good. I'm hoping to make a good four disc set for this Holiday season, but we'll see how these lofty ambitions play out. So here it is, the first installment of the Christmas/Holiday Mixtape '06.

1. Coldplay - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
2. The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra - All I Want for Christmas is You
3. Grandaddy - Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland
4. Jimmy Eat World - Last Christmas
5. Aimee Mann - I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up for Christmas
6. The Long Blondes - Christmas is Cancelled
7. Bright Eyes - Blue Christmas
8. Neko Case - Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis
9. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Cold White Christmas
10. Snowden - White Christmas
11. Feist - Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming
12. Sufjan Stevens - Sister Winter

That's all I have for you today, hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I am right now. Check back in the following weeks to acquire the rest of the Christmas/Holiday Mixtape Project. Until then, I look forward to reading some of your COMMENTS!

Babyshambles

Babyshambles, for those of you who don't know, is the band fronted by ex-Libertine Pete Doherty. They're debut album, Down in Albion, was impressive, and now that Pete's clean and about to marry Kate Moss, they've been hitting the studio and have recorded some brand new tracks for the upcoming Blinding EP. Most recently, they've teamed up with twenty-one other musicians including We Are Scientists, fellow ex-Libertine Carl Barat, The Kooks, and the Guillemots (seems a bit excessive doesn't it?) to record a benefit single of The Clash classic Janie Jones for Strummerville (The Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music). How Pete managed to find time in between staying sober, beating the shit out of papparazzi, and wandering around a hospital is beyond me. You can pre-order the benefit single here. Moving along, here are some mp3s for you to enjoy.

Babyshambles - Janie Jones

From Down In Albion:
Babyshambles - Fuck Forever

From The Blinding EP:
Babyshambles - The Blinding
Babyshambles - Sedative (Live on C4 Transmission)

B-Sides:
Babyshambles - The Man Who Came to Stay
Babyshambles - Do You Know Me

The Under the Covers Mixtape...and Sean Lennon

So I was watching the season premiere of The O.C. (I stopped watching after season one, but what with Marissa's death last season and Ryan taking a turn as a crazy revenge fueled Fight Club-esque cage fighter, I couldn't help myself but watch at how this show had jumped the shark long ago. I was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be, mostly because of the inclusion of Placebo's stunning cover of Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill. All of this prompted me to review my immense collection of music in search for other covers that either hold up to the original or surpass it (or at least ones that you're not so familiar with), so here it is, the cover song mixtape.

1. Gypsy Kings - Hotel California - I absolutely hate the original version of this song, and I hate Spanish (it's currently killing my GPA), but this cover is undeniably awesome, and it was used rather effectively in one of my favorite movies, The Big Lebowski. (Original Artist - The Eagles)
2. The Kooks - Crazy - I know that we're all sick and tired of this song. It's been overplayed now for the better part of a year, but The Kooks are able to turn this blend their quirky sense of musical playfulness into this song and make it fun in a whole new acoustic way. (Original Artist - Gnarls Barkley)
3. Jose Gonzalez - Love Will Tear Us Apart - he is the Swedish super cover song champion, and this is one of my personal favorite songs of all time. (Original Artist - Joy Division)
4. Damien Rice - Seven Nation Army - this song is so simple, even I can play it. In all seriousness, Lisa Hannigan's voice is captivating as always, and the string arrangement adds a nice touch. (Original Artist - The White Stripes)
5. The Sex Pistols - I Did It My Way - this ode to death is just so completely ridiculous and over the top, I couldn't help myself. Whether you think they're butchering a classic or creating something entirely their own, it's a good one. (Original Artist - Frank Sinatra)
6. Johnny Cash - Personal Jesus - taking the slick, dark, goth synths of the original and replacing them with a twangy guitar and Cash's weathered voice works surprisingly well in this cover. (Original Artist - Depeche Mode)
7. Placebo - Running Up That Hill - utterly haunting. I cannot descibe to you the sheer brilliance that this song displays. In my opinion, much, much better than the original, totally jaw dropping. (Original Artist - Kate Bush)
8. Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night? - Kurt Cobain's voice is the highlight of this track, it cracks with the ache of the realization that we would all dread, and it resonates for a long time after hearing it. (Original Artist - Leadbelly)
Honorable Mentions:
Snow Patrol - Crazy In Love (Original Artist - Beyonce)
David Gray - Smile Like You Mean It (Original Artist - The Killers)
Damien Rice - Creep (Original Artist - Radiohead)

...and finally, to top it off, Sean Lennon.

So Sean Lennon finally released a new album, Friendly Fire, and it's pretty good. I have to give Sean some credit. Since he inherited his fathers fortune he doesn't really have to do much of anything, and because of that he isn't worried about success, so it allows him to craft pretty catchy pop songs. And the songs are good, even though Sean doesn't have the vocal range of his father, the songs are fun and the lyrics are heartfelt and memorable. And included with the album is a DVD that features interconnecting short films that correspond to all the songs that feature a bunch of Hollywood types from Lindsey Lohan and Bijou Phillips, and they're pretty cool. Anyway, heres some mp3s and some YouTube links for the films.

Sean Lennon - Dead Meat (highly recommended)
Sean Lennon - Wait For Me
Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire
Sean Lennon - Spectacle

Friendly Fire Trailer
Short Film #1: Dead Meat

Chilly Fall Mixtape '06

Now, I fully realize that it is already well into the Fall season, due to the fact that we're now in November, but I think you'll forgive me when your ears are molested by the sweet tunes I've comprised on this mixtape. While there really was no criteria that had to be met in order to be included on the mix, I tried to narrow it down to songs that exhibited a soothing, or calming feel, something to usher in the colder months ahead gradually, as we offically say goodbye to sunny skies and warm weather. With that being said, let's move right along to the mp3's.

1. Peter, Bjorn & John - Young Folks - this song is pure pop bliss, and with Victoria Bergsman sharing vocal duties, it's simply incredible. I am compelled to tell you that you must download, or die.
2. The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love - this is one of those songs, that upon hearing it, you wonder where you've heard it before. unfortunately I don't have the answer, but it's a pretty kick ass song.
3. Benoit Pioulard - Palimend - this electro-folk song is a autumnal smash complete with an ominous strumming guitar, low vocal moaning, and an ever present ghostly marching snare. Oh yea, his real name is Thomas Meluch, a 21 year old from Michigan who happened to adopt a faux-French nickname. Or whatever.
4. Damien Rice - 9 Crimes - yes, I included the new single from Damien Rice, and yes, it is more of the same old Damien Rice. But its simplistic elegance is unparalleled.
5. Albert Hammond, Jr. - In Transit - surprise! Albert Hammond, Jr.'s (guitarist from The Strokes) solo debut is actually pretty good. And this track is perfect to pull you out of that depressing coma Damien Rice just put you in. So have fun!
6. Frida Hyvonen - I Drive My Friend - this Swedish singer/songwriter is generating a lot of buzz right now and she's currently on tour with Jose Gonzalez. This song is just incredible in its simplicity, and the heartbreaking ode to loss and ultimate sorrow.
7. Bloc Party - Helicopter (Santa Monica Mix) - this is probably one of the cooler Bloc Party remixes floating around (we all know how pointless most of the remixes on Silent Alarm Remixed were), and if anything, it's an interesting listen.
8. Mew - The Zookeeper's Boy - the winners of album and band of the year in 2003, at the ingneiously named Danish Music Critics Award Show, Mew has "indie hipster" written all over them. Which is a good thing, I think.
9. The Scissor Sisters - The Other Side - while I'm not the biggest fan of the Scissor Sisters, I find this song to be really, really good.
10. Fujiya & Miyagi - Collarbone - while I'm on this funktastic kick, here's a really cool song that amazingly is able to incorprate that childhood song where you name a bunch of bones in your body with the segue being "connected to..." into the final chorus of the song. It just oozes coolness.
11. Christopher Willits - Colors Shifting - here's an appropriately titled song (due to the colors of the leaves changing, dumbass), that is brimming with warm fuzzy electronic bleeps and bloops.
12. Sigur Ros - Hoppipolla - just an amazing, jaw dropping song. You are foolish to let this one sneak by you, so please, I am begging you to do yourself a favor, and download this track.
13. Jose Gonzalez - Stay In The Shade - ask me to name a song by Jose Gonzalez that isn't utterly beautiful and I wouldn't be surprised at the possibility of my head exploding in failure.
14. Beirut - Postcards From Italy - I can't explain why i love this song so much. All i can really say about it is that it is captivating, it wisks you away to some remote place, and it pleads with you to reflect (now I'm really talking out of my ass, but trust me it's a good tune).
15. Mute Math - Stare At The Sun - to conclude this mix I chose this song, due to the fact that it's got a nice "end credits" feel to it. Take it for what you will, I'm done.

Bonus fun: We Are Scientists - Hoppipolla (Sigur Ros cover) - not only does We Are Scientists stay true to the original, they actually learned the Icelandic lyrics. If that's not fan dedication I don't know what is.

The IBNH Halloween Mixtape, Vol. 4...The Final Chapter

So here it is. The final installment of the Halloween mixtape. I have to say that I had a good time putting these songs together. Hopefully they've offered a somewhat different Halloween listening experience, I don't know about you but "Monster Mash" and all that other hokey stuff that tends to get played on Halloween was wearing a little thin. Anyway, I don't want to ramble, so on to the tracks.

1. Muse - New Born - I felt that this song needed to lead this collection off because, well, it just grabs you immediately and violently shakes your entire body throughout its entire length. The vocals emit this sense of urgency, and the pounding bass and edgy synths will have the hair on the back of your neck standing up. Oh, and you might want to prepare for an anxiety attack.
2. Mogwai - Auto Rock - the gradual build-up to this multi-faceted song is the hook here, the soft piano melody slowly shifts into this full out, in your face electronic rock opera, with this ever looming around the corner drum beats, giving the song a nice ambient, yet ominous, feel to it.
3. Efterklang - Monopolist - a very ethereal track, one that melds a beautiful string arrangement with the little beeps and boops one might here in a Radiohead track or something. What works here is the sense that there is no hope, the lyrics convey a deep sense of loathing, "save me from myself, leave my body broken", I can picture this song playing over the ending credits of some deeply disturbing film.
4. U.N.K.L.E. - Rabbit In Your Headlights - I'm a bit biased when it comes to this song due to the fact that it features Thom Yorke on vocal duty. The song itself is purely chilling, with Thom's voice accompanied by the creepy piano and various electronic ambiance.

To conclude the Halloween mixtape I decided to throw some songs together that are a little more well known. Some of them are kind of corny and silly, but we all know them, others are just fun Halloween tunes. So as you enjoy the Halloween Mixtape, grab these more or less "hokey" songs as well. Enjoy and Happy Halloween.

Michael Jackson - Thriller
REM - I Walked With a Zombie
Boris "Bobby" Pickett - Monster Mash
The Cramps - I Was a Teenage Werewolf
Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters
Car Stereo (Wars) - Hip Hop Halloween Monster Mash-up - this is actually pretty cool, it's based upon john Carpenter's The Fog, and includes songs like "Dare" and "Push It". Check it out, it doesn't disappoint.

Sweet Christmas! An exploding head! The IBNH Halloween Mix, Vol. 3

See, I wasn't lying when I told you that I had another insallment of the Halloween Mix coming very soon. I hope you like the above little animation. For those of you who don't recognize it, it's from a little film called Scanners, directed by the one and only David Cronenberg. Anyway, I'm going to have to keep this short because, well, let's just say that my oral surgeon didn't give me the greatest drugs on the planet to soothe my perpetual pain.

1. Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You - I chose this song partially because it ties into the whole exploding head thing (you'll have to rent the movie if you want to make the connection), but also because the late great Nina Simone possesses one of the most soulful, haunting voices ever recorded.
2. Portishead - Sour Times - moving right along I've chosen this song because, well it's boasting some of the most self-loathing/self-pitying lyrics of recent memory and it's got this real creepy crawly vibe to it, it's almost as if Portishead sampled it straight from something like Silent Hill or something (everyone who has played that game will know what I'm talking about).
3. Lou Reed - This Magic Moment - okay, so you may be thinking to yourself, why in the world is this song on here? And I would counter by saying that Lou Reed's bizarrely hypnotic voice tends to strip away any of the innocence involved with the original version of the song. My sick mind can totally picture this song being played during a rape scene or something.
4. The Velvet Underground - The Black Angels Death Song - well, let's just say that if I were a homicidal circus clown, this would be my theme song. The off-kilter string arrangement, the echoing vocals, the ever present ominous strumming, oh yeah, and there's a bottle of whipped cream being discharged periodically throughout the song. Tell me that's not creepy.
5. Gary Jules - Mad World - this staggering cover of a Tears for Fears classic is included in this collection for two reasons. One happens to be because Leah told me to. The other is because it's a truly ethereal song, and Jules is able to carry it with his haunting and melodic voice. Oh, and it was in Donnie Darko, like my favorite movie of all time.

Well folks, thats all for the day. I hope you enjoyed this installment of the Halloween Mix. As always, feel free to leave your comments. Until next time, I suppose.

Artist Spotlight: Silversun Pickups

I know, I know. I said that I'd be delivering strictly Halloween mixtapes all throguhout the month of October but with the never ending amount of school work, i just haven't really had the chance to come up with another installment. Don't worry though, I'm working on a new one and I think you'll be pleased when I finally post it. As for now, I wanted to talk about Silversun Pickups, a band out of Los Angeles that I've been listening to a lot of lately. They're kind of like a 1990s heavy rock revival band, reminiscint of the Smashing Pumpkins. I wouldn't go as far as to say that they sound like grunge, due to the anthem-like rock sound with the edgy swirling ambiance that sort of sounds like tactics that Sparklehorse would employ. Regardless of how shitty I compare their sound, just trust me when I say that they're good, so check out the following mp3s. Have I ever lead you astray before?

Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye (if you only download one song from this batch, let this one be it)
Silversun Pickups - Well Thought Out Twinkles
Silversun Pickups - Kissing Families
Silversun Pickups - Little Lovers
Silversun Pickups - Dream at Tempo 119

That's all for today, I'm getting my wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow so hopefully they'll give me some good painkillers. Anyway, make sure you check back often and remeber to leave comments telling me how great I am or how much you want to rip my testicles off and shove them down my throat. Either or. it's just nice to know you're appreciated.

Here Comes...the IBNH Halloween Mix, Vol. 2

So, I promised that I would be delivering the subsequent installments of the IBNH Halloween Mega-Mix in a timely manner, and well, as you can probably tell, I have made good on my promise. Today's installment features some really spooky and unsettling songs that are sure to make your Halloween that much more enjoyable. One thing about this installment that differs a bit from the first is the fact that this selection of songs is bit more ecelectic than the first. I think all of you will enjoy this next collection of songs, as they all exhibit a truly "Halloween" vibe.

1. Kronos Quartet - Summer Overture - anyone who has seen Requiem for a Dream will instantly recognize this this genuinely haunting song. The slick production and the mezmerizing strings that are weaved throughout this song cast off a truly ominous feeling.
2. Deftones - Change (In the House of Flies) - I never really enjoyed Deftones brand of nu-metal rock hop, but with their album White Pony they exhibit a more alt-rock sound, opting for more ambient distortion, which works effectively well on this track, a song that leaves a sour taste in your mouth.
3. Aphex Twin - Come to Daddy - this guy is really bizarre, there is an urban myth floating around about how Richard David James (aka Aphex Twin) locked himself in his vault/recording studio for a week or something with only water and copious tabs of acid. Whatever the case may be, this track is just utterly surreal, something about eating a soul and coming to daddy. I'll let you judge for yourself.
4. Joy Division - She's Lost Control - aside from being one of my favorite bands, Joy Division can be considered one of those bands who "pioneered" a certain sound. With their deep affection for dark, gloomy lyrics layered atop multitudes of synthesizers, they crafted deeply memorable songs that were, simply put, pretty damn spooky. Although lead singer Ian Curtis ultimately killed himself, their influence is more than apparent in today's music.
5. Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) - Manson's cover of the Euthryhmics hit is an unhol y union made in the deepest, darkest trench of Hell, which means it's a pretty cool cover. And Marilyn Manson scares me. Sometimes.
6. Cat Power - Werewolf - Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) has one of the most seductive voices on the planet. She is a singer/songwriter in every sense of the words and this haunting ode is no exception. The sheer emotion in her voice is spine tingling.

That's all for today, the second installment in the IBNH Halloween Mega-Mix is now complete, as always I hope you enjoyed these quality tracks and if you didn't, well then I'm not entirely sure why you're here in the first place. Either way, make sure you check back again soon, there is more of the Halloween Mega-Mix to come.

Mixtape of the Dead: the IBNH Halloween Mix, Vol. 1

So Kozma and I were toying with different ideas for a mixtape when I told him that I wanted to do a Halloween themed one, for well, Halloween. I told him that I wanted to stray away from corny or well known Halloween staples (Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London comes to mind) and concentrate on including some really creepy tunes that would genuinely make your skin crawl. Needless to say, Kozma was immediately intrigued and we set about coming up with some really creep-tastic songs. I got so excited about the prospect of posting some of these songs that I told Kozma I didn't care if we had the songlist completed or not, I had to start posting them. So, here is the first installment of the Insert Brand Name Here Halloween Mega-Mix.

1. M83 - Car Chase Terror - the inclusion of this song on this mix is a no-brainer, if you've never heard this song before do yourself a favor and download it, then shut off all the lights, and listen to it at an obnoxiously high volume. I guarantee you'll be running for the light switch in no time.
2. The Knife - Silent Shout - The Knife is just bizarrely creepy no matter what, and this title track from their newest album is no exception. The distorted vocals and ominous rythmic beats and jarring electronic pulses make this tune not only scary, but instantly enjoyable as well. Here's the very strange video as well.
3. Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy, Jr. - I was debating as to whether or not I should include this song on the mix, partly because I don't know if it strays too far from the theme, partly because Kozma thinks he's a no talent hack. Needless to say, I decided to include it because this song is about John Wayne Gacy, the guy who entertained kids as a clown by day and chopped them up by night. This is one of those songs where your mom hears it in passing and says "Oh, I like that song", having no idea as to how utterly disturbing it is.
4. Talkdemonic - Manhattan 81 - this song has a instantly catchy hook, but beyond the playfullness of the song, there is an inherently unsettling quality to it that just begged to be put on this mix.
5. Q. Lazzarus - Goodbye Horses - anyone who has seen Silence of the Lambs will recognize this little ditty as the one that Buffalo Bill does his little penis-tucking I-wish-I-was-a-woman demento gay dance to. As if that wasn't enough to creep you out, the song is actually pretty chilling all by itself.
6. Radiohead - Kid A - this song features a very strange music box type thing leading the intro, as well as some seriously distorted vocals, and the unforgettable line "We've go heads on sticks", all of which culminates into one incredibly creepy song.
7. Tool - Schism - I can remember the first time I heard this song, I can remember being a little put off by it, generally because of the video that accompanied it. And those little claymation things that are buried deep inside the pale flesh of those other equally disturbing looking creatures sure are freaky.

That's all for this installment of the first annual Insert Brand Name Here Halloween Mega-Mix, make sure you check back in the coming weeks to snag all of the other creepy songs we'll be posting. As a bonus for today, I wanted to post two songs that easily could've been included on the mix, however I felt that they were either too obvious or sort of hokey in the sense that it didn't really fit in with the theme of the mix. Anyway, enjoy these parting tracks.

Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper (pretty much your standard Halloween song, but I still feel that more cowbell would've been plus)
The Jim Carroll Band - People Who Died (for a song that's as morbid as this one, it's still catchy and a lot of fun)

VH1's You Oughta Know Artist is...just kidding

So I was watching VH1 the other day, possibly Flavor of Love or something equally trashy, and as the credits are rolling, this little side bar pop-up thingy appears under the headline, VH1's You Oughta Know: Artists on the Rise, and they're profiling Snow Patrol. Snow Patrol. Like they're some new hip band you better watch out for. As I'm watching I can't help but ask myself, "Hasn't Snow Patrol been around, oh gee, I don't know, like eight years!" Now don't get me wrong, I love Snow Patrol, but I couldn't help but think that the programming director/music advisor or whoever the fuck works there has to be moderately retarded. Now I have to worry about whether or not Zach Braff is going to include them on the soundtrack to his next installment of his Emo McHipster saga where he plays a charming, but afflicted, 20-something that is trying to "figure out what it all means" while falling for some girl who is a "slightly out-of-the-box" type because she does wacky things like sing in the rain or some equally annoying bullshit. Anyway, all of this culminated in me writing this post with the sole purpose of introducing you all to a band that actually is (well in my opinion anyway) an artist on the rise that hasn't been around for almost a decade and who we all haven't heard of yet. Introducing Surface.

The year was 2005. The place was Montreal, the birthplace of Surface (okay, I'm going to stop trying to type this up all melodramatic like). Taken directly from the bands website, "Surface was conceived as an outlet for musical experimentation." And it goes on and on. All you really need to know is that these guys create some heartfelt melodies, packed together with some very creative and ambitious sounds in order to create some very catchy tunes. If you lack imagination I suppose you can say that they're a cross bewteen Coldplay and Mogwai/Sigur Ros. Presently they've only released two EP's, however with the amount of critical acclaim that these guys are currently basking in, a major record deal and a full length album can't be far off.

Surface - Going Under

Surface - A Long Way Down the Landslide

Surface - Hide (highly recommended)

Since I'm feeling a little bad because even though Snow Patrol is a great band that has been around for years, I realize that some people may still be unfortunate enough to have never heard them. Although you should be ashamed, I offer a peace offering with these tracks from Snow Patrol. Enjoy.

Snow Patrol - Run / Snow Patrol - Hands Open / Snow Patrol - Same

And I have to end this post by posting yet another mp3, however this one differs from the rest due to the fact that it has nothing to do with any of the aforementioned bands. Or Zach Braff (thank God). This is a b-side to one of the singles off of Oasis' newest release Don't Believe the Truth, and it is really, really cool, so i would download it now, you wanna be indie hipster.

Oasis - I Can See It Now

Regina Spektor

So many of you are probably already familiar with Regina Spektor, but for those of you who are not so well acquainted, here's a brief run down. Born in 1980, she is originally from Moscow, however she moved to New York with her family in '89. When she moved she was bombarded with the likes of the Beatles, Queen, Joni Mitchell and the Moody Blues. Luckily for us, from there she branched off into her own musical explorations and became what we refer to as today as a "singer-songwriter". Her first major break came in 2003 when she opened for The Strokes, and recorded the song, Post Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men. Since then she has recorded two full length albums that have received much critical acclaim. in short, she's a less whiny Fiona Apple, which means she's really fucking cool. Oh by the way, Koz and I are going to be seeing her tonight at Toad's Place, check back tomorrow (or possibly the day after, it all depends on how much school work I get buried under) for pictures from the show. Until then, download these tracks by Regina Spektor.

Regina Spektor - Fidelity
Regina Spektor - Ghost of Corporate Future
Regina Spektor - On the Radio

If you're as cheap as me...

I heard of this website a long time ago, but, as it always does, apathy and laziness got the better of me. Fortunately I made the effort to go online and create an account with www.allofmp3.com. I'm going to go ahead and make the assumption that anyone visiting this website has no internal morality issues with downloading free music on the internet. With that being said, I can also conclude that you are cheap. The beauty of this website is that you can legally download music off this Russian based website and pay by the file size. The average full length CD in 192 Kbps costs roughly $1.50. And if your stateside, its an easy and cheap way to get your hands on discs that have yet to be released.

In other news, you can now hear the original version of The Marshalls Are Dead by Bloc Party that was cut off of their debut, Silent Alarm. It is by and far much better then the version that had been floating around the internet for quite some time, but thats just my opinion, check it out here.

Artist Spotlight: The Kooks

The Kooks are a four piece band from Brighton, England (furthering my belief that 90% of all good music originates from either England or New York). The band takes their name from a song off of David Bowie's Hunky Dory. Their garage rock sound is reminiscent of The Strokes and The Libertines, however The Kooks' overall sound is a bit more playful. They craft some really catchy tunes that will definitely have you tapping your foot along with the beat in no time. Their sound has a certain honesty to it which makes it all the more appealing. The songs themselves are almost like little mini-anthems. They all exhibit a kind of sing-a-long quality to them, which is a good thing, since they never outstay their welcome. I was quickly won over by these four guys from Brighton and I'm sure you will be to, however these few mp3's are going to have to hold you over until their debut album is released stateside in (hopefully) October. Until then, salivate over these musical gems.

The Kooks - Naive (super-highly recommended)
The Kooks - She Moves In Her Own Way (highly recommended)
The Kooks - Sofa Song
The Kooks - Eddie's Gun
The Kooks - Jackie Big Tits
The Kooks - Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover)

Artist Spotlight: Tonight I'm watching TV on the Radio Return From Cookie Mountain

TV on the Radio is a band that hails from New York City. Unfortunately I can't really elaborate on what exactly they sound like, which is a truly refeshing thing to say. TV on the Radio is unlike anything I've heard before. they manage to capture the essence of so many genres of music, interpret those distinctions in their own way, toss it all into a blender, and pick out bits to craft their songs. Their diverse sound has earned them the label of an indie/experimental band, which in some circles translates into premature death, however one listen and you'll instant know that TV on the Radio is not a gimmick, and it certainly isn't some pimple-faced High School freshman sitting at home on a Saturday night screwing around with his Casio keyboard that he doesn't even know how to play. TV on the Radio is the real deal. There are five core members in the band, however they constaly record and play live witha vast circle of friends including Katrina Ford of Celebration and Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. David Bowie has cited TV on the Radio as one of his favorite bands and even recorded back-up vocals for "Province" a track off of their newest release Return to Cookie Mountain. TV on the Radio's slowly-evolving tunes coupled with the instrumentation dynamics that they employ, along with solid lyrics make TV on the Radio certainly one to watch. Now some MP3's so you can see(hear) exactly just what I'm talking about.

TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me - this track is my own personal favorite track off of the new album. I highly suggest you check it out.
TV on the Radio - Dry Drunk Emperor - this song was recorded after Hurricane Katrina and is a jab at President Bush. It was made available free online at their website.
TV on the Radio - Modern Romance (Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover)
TV on the Radio - Staring at the Sun
TV on the Radio - Dreams
TV on the Radio feat. David Bowie - Province
TV on the Radio - I Was a Lover
TV on the Radio - Blues From Down Here
TV on the Radio - Dirtywhirl

Today is 9/11 as I'm sure you all know. What transpired in New York five years ago was truly a horrendous act that affected the world. So, while enjoying the songs of New York band TV on the Radio, keep in mind those who lost their lives five years ago today. And if you're feeling generous, something to help you find the legit charities out there.

Thats Hot! ...?

If your a Paris Hilton fan, you've somehow managed to direct yourself to the wrong website. On that note, if your not a Banksy fan, you may just become one very soon. His latest "guerilla art" attack was on Paris's new CD. You can check out a video of the disaster unleashed here.

Now that you've been educated on Banksy, its time for you to discover both Little Miss Sunshine and DeVotchKa, a four piece band from Denver. Should I post a slew of music from the band, yea, probably, but I'm not going to, You can preview them for free by sneaking into the theatre and Catching Little Miss Sunshine, because they provided the majority of the soundtrack. Youll recognize this song, How It Ends Real quick.

The artists licensing their music for financial gain mixtape!

We've all been in this situation before, you're sitting watching your favorite television show, maybe it's House, maybe it's Lost. Whatever it may be, if you're watching without that magical pixie we call Tivo, then you're sitting through obnoxious 4 1/2 minute plus commercial breaks. Every so often during these commercials, the advertisers employ a catchy tune in order to help sell their product. At this point your ears may perk up and at the close of the thirty second spot you're left wondering who it was you just heard. Well, today is your lucky day. I have compiled a mixtape in which I have included some of my favorite songs that have been featured in commercial spots. Most are relatively new, while some you might recognize from ad campaigns from a few years ago. Either way, it's all gravy, baby.

1. The Bravery - Unconditional - this song is off The Bravery's debut disc (and only disc thusfar) and it's catchy as all hell, which is probably while Saturn (the car maker) used it in its ads a few months ago.
2. The Caesars - Jerk It Out - if you've never heard this song, you've either been living under a rock for the past two years or so, or you're just a fucking retard. Anyway, this song was used for one of those Ipod shuffle commercials.
3. Razorlight - Golden Touch - Razorlight has been one of my favorites as of late. I really like their style and I can't really help it because their songs are just so damn fun. This song was featured on a Pontiac G6 commercial a little while ago.
4. Spoon - I Turn My Camera On - Spoon is one of my favorite bands, and this song was used for a Jaguar commercial relatively recently (it seems as if a lot of car companies are secretly run by obnoxious pseudo-hipsters in disguise).
5. Ben Lee - Catch My Disease - this laid back little ditty by Ben Lee (who bears a striking resemblance to E.T.) is featured in a currently running ad for Dell.
6. The 5, 6, 7, 8's - Woo Hoo - I assume that most people are familiar with this song, if not, then refer to my write up on #2 on the mixtape. This song is featured in those clever Vonage commercials as well as Kill Bill Vol. 1.
7. The Kinks - Picturebook - I know this one is old, like three years or so, but it's such a great song and it was used in such an ingenious ad campaign for Hewlett Packard's line of digital cameras and accessories that it just has to be included on this mix.
8. The Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You - not only is this one of my favorite songs of all time, but it was also featured extensively in a bunch of General Motors commercials over the years (what exactly is this song doing in a General Motors commercial is beyond me). Apparently General Motors works at a local coffee shop (Common Grounds for the readers that are in my general vicinity), eats tofu burgers, drives a run down '78 Chevy Nova, and is currently "working on his music".
9. Grandaddy - The Nature Anthem - I'm sorry but unfortunately I lack the ability to post an mp3 of this song that was used for a Honda commercial, however, I dot have the very entertaining video for you!
10. The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize? - this song was in every commercial from 2002 - 2003. Literally. I don't remember which ad campaign used it the most ( although I want to say that it was a phone company, like AT&T).
11. Von Bondies - C'mon C'mon - this song is featured on most of FX's Rescue Me promos, which stars one of the coolest motherfuckers on the planet, Denis Leary. Oh, and it's a really good song.
12. Bloc Party - So Here We Are - I've said it before, Bloc Party is hands down, the best band to come out in the last few years. This song is featured in another Saturn commercial, but don't let the lameness of Saturn ruin this awesome tune.
13. Oasis - All Around the World - I don't know how much AT&T paid for this song, but the fact that all they use it for is the "all around the world" lyric at the very end of their commercials, leads me to believe that they're squandering a truly awesome song.

There you have it folks! Any complaints, praises, whatever, be sure to leave a comment. Until next time.

The Anti-Anti Artist Spotlight: Snowden

Those of you who were lucky enough to obtain a copy of my two-disc Christmas mixtape last year may recognize today's featured band, Snowden from Atlanta. They've been getting some press lately, due to the fact that they've finally released their debut album Anti-Anti. Having been familiar with this band for almost a year now I can easily rattle off a bunch of bands that they kind of sound like, Joy Division, Interpol, Editors, to name a few. However Snowden differs from these bands in the sense that they create an almost ethereal ambience to their expertly crafted songs. Everything here is swirling in heavy reverb that comes across as omnious at points. The somewhat off-key vocals at first seem gimmicky and disposable, however after a few listens it quickly takes on an irresistable charm. The complex rhythms and catchy bass hooks all lend to Snowden's immediate appeal. Snowden sounds like some sort of whacked out, LSD-inspired lullaby, and they lend themselves to becoming one of the greatest night-driving bands of all time. Snowden is definitely one to watch. And now, since you've patiently waded through my incessant ramblings, some MP3s to download, because I know that's what you're really here for.

Snowden - Black Eyes
Snowden - Victim Card
Snowden - Anti-Anti
Snowden - Stop the Bleeding

Bonus! The Snowden track that appeared on my Christmas mixtape Vol. 2: White Christmas & one more that didn't make the cut: Christmas Time is Here

R.I.P. Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin

Today is a sad, sad day. Steve Irwin, the man who fearlessly confronted many dangerous animals while shouting "Crikey!" for our viewing enjoyment, has passed away. A stingray stabbed him in the heart while he was filming a television special off the coast of Austrailia. I think that this incident has solidified my belief that all stingrays are vicious, evil hellspawn that must be exterminated from this Earth with the same kind of stone cold vigilanty justice that resides in their black hearts. Today, in tribute to one of the most celebrated psuedo-celebrities, Kozma and I deliver to you, The Steve Irwin Tribute Mixtape complete with songs that reflect the love of nature and it's creatures that Steve possessed. We'll miss you Steve.

1. Radiohead - Packt like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box
2. Goldfrapp - Deer Stop
3. The Beatles - Blackbird
4. The Rolling Stones - Wild Horses
5. Alice In Chains - Rooster
6. Mogwai - Glasgow Megasnake
7. Grandaddy - Stray Dog & the Chocolate Shake
8. Rogue Wave - Bird on a Wire
9. Belle & Sebastian - Funny Little Frog
10. The Beatles - Rocky Raccoon
11. Dave Matthews Band - Ants Marching

This is for you Jefferson...I just wanna dance Vol. 2

Our good friend Jefferson, over at I Am A Real American (or maybe now it's Coming Soon to a Blog Near You, not too sure which one he's using nowadays), considered the fact that the first installment of the "I just wanna dance mixtape" lacked any Kylie Minogue (see above) was downright blasphemous, so in order to compensate I figured that instead of just posting some Kylie Minogue hotness, I'd come up with an entirely new mixtape. So all you faithful readers can thank him for this, and be sure to check out his little corner of the blog-o-sphere. Enjoy.

Kylie Minogue - In Your Eyes - this is the song that our old war buddy Jefferson originally requested however he incorrectly reffered to it as "Spinning Around". Surely Jeff, you jest, by requesting a song you don't even know the title to.
Bonus Kylie hotness: Can't Get You Outta My Head / Love At First Sight / Come Into My World / I Believe In You
Annie - Heartbeat - this song is incredibly catchy, it really is dance-pop bliss. I honestly can't get this song out of my head. Annie is a Norwegian pop princess for lack of a better phrase, and this song was included on her debut album Anniemal. Oh and it was one of the songs featured on my Singles Awareness (Valentines) Day mixtape, so you know it's a favorite of mine, which means that in the two seconds it will take you to download this song, it will become a favorite of yours as well.
Bonus Annie: Chewing Gum
Goldfrapp - Ohh La La - apparently Goldfrapp translates into "Our songs can sell anything" due to the fact that their catchy dance tunes are being used in every commercial from Coca-Cola to Verizon. Either way, there's no denying that these songs are fun and extremely danceable.
Bonus Goldfrapp: Lovely 2 C U / Number 1
Ratatat - Seventeen Years - anything put out by Ratatat is awesome, so I don't feel the need to rant on and on about why I believe they should be included in the mix. You should just know by now. Ratatat is awesome.
Bonus Ratatat: Lex / Cherry
Cascada - Everytime We Touch - for some reason I just felt the need to include this song. I don't think that it has an ounce of redeemability in all of it's mid-90s-esque techno "dance" beats that sound like they originated off of one of those programs like Fruityloops or something, so I can't really give you a good reason as to why it's here.
Scissor Sisters - Comfortably Numb - again, no idea why this is here. Totally unneccessary cover of a classic Pink Floyd tune, but I thought it was mildly amusing due to the fact that it kind of sounds like a cross between the BeeGees and ABBA.
Dirty Vegas - Days Go By - this song, in my opinion, isn't the greatest, but it has it's moments. Plus the video is so fucking cool.
Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice - this is another song that I chose mostly because of the video. If you don't already know it features Christopher Walken. So you know it's totally sweet. I won't ruin the video for you if you haven't already seen it, but you won't be disappointed.
Bonus Fatboy Slim: The Rockafella Skank / Praise You (& it's equally entertaining video)

Well, that's all for today because frankly I'm lazy and I don't really feel like sitting at my computer for much longer, so until next time (insert your own life-affirming prolific message here).

City traffic puzzle...all points lead to The Hush Sound

I first head about Chicago band The Hush Sound through my good friend and fellow blog contributor, Kozma, and I have to say that I must remember to thank him for introducing me to this exceptional band. Their style is hard to pinpoint, as it ranges from alt rock to pop to folksy bluesy stuff but take it from me, it's all very, very good. Their songs are full of catchy guitar riffs, bliss inducing piano melodies and beautifully layered male/female vocals. The Hush Sound is truly a breath of fresh air in todays over-saturated music scene full of your run-of-the-mill Fall Out Boys and talentless Jessica Simpsons, but don't just take my word for it, take a listen and find out for yourself.

The Hush Sound - Crawling Towards the Sun - If you don't find this song incredibly catchy and enjoyable, you must be dead inside and, in turn, are now dead to me.

The Hush Sound - Momentum - Stop being difficult and just download it, one of my favorite tracks off of their 2005 debut album, So Sudden.

The Hush Sound Official Site & Their MySpace for more well-crafted pop-rock.

Animusiac

While checking out some street art online today I managed to stumble upon a great music video by Malajube, you havent heard of them because there from France. Their half live action half animation concept works surprisingly well, and inspired me to feed you with some other gems out there, and so we begin...

Malajube - Montreal -40C The video is fun, its in French, and makes you want to find a source to steal the bands album.
Kenna - Hellbent Ive loved this video since it first reached my hands a few years ago, my apathy disallowed my searching and listening to more of their music. Im sure theres a life message in this video, try and find it.
Genesis - Land of Confusion Ok, arguably, theres no animation in this video, but theres puppets, and they're really fuckin creepy. If you're five years old, your going to have nightmares.
Beck - Girl This is sort of a continuation of the Genesis theme, Not really animation, but its got some great effects, supposedly inspired by the Mad Magazine fold in.
Tool - Sober This video gets wierd somewhere around 00:07, buts its not until about 04:45 that your treated to your bizarre animated creatures.
Radiohead - Paranoid Android Its fun, its wierd, its radiohead, and American media felt it necessary to be censored. Enjoy.

BONUS FUN!! Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006!! This is absolutely amazing, and if you dont like it, I hate you. If the planets align soon enough, it will be turned into a video game or movie of some sort.

I just wanna dance...

As the title may already imply, this post is going to consist solely of songs that I consider to be so infectious that even your fat cousin Bertha and your 89 year old Grandmother Ethel would get off of their inactive asses and proceed to shake it like they've never shook it before. Now anyone who knows may will probably find this post odd, because, well, I don't dance. Ever. But if I did, these would be the tracks that would get me on my feet.

Ok Go - Here It Goes Again - ok, I'm sure most of you will recognize this song by the amazing choreography displyed in the ingeniously crafted video. Apart from the obvious pull that the aforementioned video has in the selection process, the song is catchy as hell and can stand alone on its own merit.
Head Automatica - Beating Heart Baby - Head Automatica is a power pop (which the perfect way to descirbe their blend of block rockin' beats) band founded by the lead singer of heavy metal musics Glassjaw. Go figure.
M83 - Don't Save Us From The Flames - M83 was originally an electronic pop duo from France consisting of Nicolas Fromageau & Anthony Gonzalez. After Gonzalez went Splittsville, Fromageau went on to record Before the Dawn Heals Us, which, in my opinion, is superior to previous two albums. This song is about a car crash, but the swirling synthesizers and the crashing guitars make for one pretty epic, catchy tune.
Daft Punk - Robot Rock - there are just so many Daft Punk songs that I wanted to include on this little mix. I'm going to cheat a little and let you grab these Electro-pop classics like Digital Love, Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, and finally, Technologic.
Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces - Gnarls Barkley, was originally written off as a one hit wonder with their smash hit Crazy, but in my opinion, the real rump shaker on the album is Smiley Faces. It's catchy as all hell and the video features Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell.
Bloc Party - Banquet - Bloc Party is one of my favorite bands, so their inclusion on this mix is a biased. However, Bloc Party's blend of indie rock coupled with incredibly infectious beats makes this one completely worthy.
Cansei de ser Sexy - Let's Make Love & Listen to Death From Above - Given the fact that so many of you love my previous post of CSS's Music is My Hot, Hot Sex, I just had to include this little boogie down gem.
MSTRKRFT - Work On You - MSTRKRFT (or MasterKraft, for those of you who aren't hip) is an electronic music group started by Jesse F. Keeler, formerly of Death From Above 1979. The song inself sounds like it features vocals by one of the Transformers or the supercomputer HAL from Kubrick's 2001 (well, not really, but I wanted to throw at least one obscure reference out there before I end this post).

Beneath the broken branches of twigless trees lies a spacious hole for you to crawl in and die...

I would assume that at this point, anyone who visits this site with any sort of regularity must know that I like to comprise collections of songs based upon some kind of theme that ties them all together. Today is no different. Some of you may be confused with the title of today's post, yes it seems dark and twisted, but it perfectly conveys the mood of today's collection of excellent music. I love music that has meaning. Something that I can listen to that will evoke a certain emotion in me is one of the most incredible connections any fan could have with their favorite artist(s). Some of the most powerful songs, in my opinion, are the ones that can make you feel the pain that the artist felt at the time of writing whatever song you're listening to. So without further rambling, I'll just move on to some of the most depressing songs I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. (P.S. - the title to this post is from a poem I wrote and subsequently ended up just cannibalizing the good parts for use in other things, such as this post)
Radiohead - How To Disappear Completely - this song is probably one of the most haunting songs I have ever heard in my entire life. On a cold night, plug those awful ipod earbuds dangerously close to your ear drum, go outside and stare out at a lone streetlight or something, press play when the clickwheel rolls to this tune and don't be afraid to cry.
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - this song chronicles the story of a man who is trying desperately to hang onto the woman that he loves. he imagines them growing old together and dying in only a way that Jeff Magnum can. His lyrics quickly become very cryptic, however the emotion that is layered beautifully throughout the song remains intact.
Cat Power - The Greatest - this title track off Chan Marshal's brilliant latest release is crafted with such an intense sense of remorse and regret that Chan Marshal's incredible voice is really just icing on the cake.
Radiohead - Exit Music (For a Film) - Thom and company wrote this song after seeing the last half hour of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. Thom stated that the end of the film made him cry, and the end result is an incredibly sad song. (On a side note, as you can probably already tell, Radiohead will be featured prominently in this post)
Sigur Ros - Untitled #4 - in all seriousness, I could include virtually any song by Sigur Ros, but this track off of their album ( ) (or two sausages kissing, as I like to refer to it as) is an epic, sweeping experience, from the low, moaning guitars and Jonsi's almost extraterrestrial vocals. I wouldn't be surprised if I heard this album being played in a funeral home.
Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You - yeah, I know. Sufjan Stevens is overhyped, yada yada yada. Believe me, I heard great protest from Kozma about the inclusion of this song, but I stand by my choice. And yes I know that this song is about God, but just pretend it's about some unrequited love and it instantly transforms into a very sad, depressing song.
Sia - Breathe Me - Sia has one of the most beautiful voices I've had the pleasure of hearing in a long time, and this song features her amazing vocals reciting some of the most heart wrenching lyrics in recent memory.
The Album Leaf - Over the Pond - this song captures a truly ethereal feeling, it embodies a unique "dream" quality, if that makes any sense to you. Jonsi from Sigur Ros is featured on vocals so it;s got that going for it. It almost sounds like he's saying "as soon as I look at you, I sigh" but I know that that's probably not entirely accurate considering he's singing in Icelandic.
Johnny Cash - Hurt - this cover of a Nine Inch Nails classic is absolutely devastating. The song is unbelievably powerful from the opening line, "I hurt myself today/to see if I still feel". I'm not going to lie, the first time I saw the video to this song, I cried. Literally jaw dropping.

That's all for today, I'm almost positive that Vol. 2 of this little collection will be hitting this site soon, so be sure to check back. As a bonus, I'm throwing in what could be one of the best hip-hop tracks I've heard in the past year...hopefully it will have the infectious beats necessary to lift you out of the "I hate myself and want to die" mood I've put you all in after the string of songs I've just posted, so hear it is, your uplifting track, Epic Man - More Is Enough (feat. Plan B)