Misc #2

because I haven't had much to say on any extended topic recently, here are some misc music thoughts

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The new Hold Steady single, Sequestered in Memphis, is a lot of fun. I was listening to Chillout Tent earlier and all of Separation Sunday and they're just generally pretty awesome. I'm very excited about their new album, I think it's out this summer and hopefully it'll soundtrack some good times.

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White Lies are hilarious. I saw them on Jools Holland earlier and I guess they sort of have their Interpol/The National thing and they're not awful but they're so intense that it's just really, really funny. They should also lay off the Interpol.

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How is Xiu Xiu pronounced? I've heard it said about 3/4 different ways now and it's really confusing. Zyoo Zyoo, Shoo Shoo, Joo Joo, or some sort of weird thing that's unbeaten?

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Xiu Xiu are pretty incredible whichever, anyway. I was listening to Fabulous Muscles earlier and... wow. They're so sort of... I want to say atmospheric, but it's more like they throttle you with a soundscape and the vocals are amazing and the words and so is everything else. I haven't properly listened to their new album yet, I should.

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I actually really like 'I Don't Want To Grow Old' as covered by Scarlett Johansson. I quite like the whole album actually. Then again, I'm not familiar with Tom Waits at all, shamefully. He's one of those people with a back catalogue that scares me. I should give him a try though.

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Bearsuit and Okkervil River are now playing Latitude. Awesome. This is going to be a a major highlight of my summer, the lineup so far is properly killer. Less than two months to go now!

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My MP3 player is STILL dead and I think it will remain that way. It's TRAGIC. I also broke my headphones the other day. I'm shit.

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I'm hopefully going to get a radio show when I'm at university, probably with Richard if we end up at the same place. I have various name ideas but more importantly, oh my god, how hard will it be to choose what to play? Hard, but so much fun. A good mix of old and new, I think. Los Campesinos!, choice cuts from Tigermilk, Jonathan Richman maybe, Orange Juice, Johnny Foreigner, The Moldy Peaches...

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The book by John Darnielle based on Black Sabbath is out here next month, I think. I'm really excited, despite knowing very little about Black Sabbath. It's John Darnielle! And it's in the 33 1/2 series! My favourite book about music ever is quite possibly Carl Wilson's book about Celine Dion, and though the other book I have from the series isn't as good I'm sure this one will be. It's basically a Young Adult novella by one of the great songwriters ever, right? I don't think there is any way that this can be anything other than awesome, especially since I've only heard good things from reliable places. I'm really, really excited.

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The use of music on film soundtracks can be very effective when done right. If you make both me and my best friend cry out "NOOOOOO!!" by playing Hard-Fi's Cash Machine in your otherwise enjoyably ridiculous/rubbish werewolf romance film, then you're not doing it right. We want enjoyable rubbish, not something that makes us want to actually die. Take note, makers of Blood & Chocolate.

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I seriously don't get No Age. I mean, they're not bad, but I don't see why people seem to be obsessing about them so much? Anyone care to enlighten me? It's like Arcade Fire all over again (not musically, just my reaction).

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I still like that Leona Lewis song.

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Saturday Looks Good To Me? Amazing. I never realised this before, but they're amazing. Really amazing. They're like the band I often seem to wish existed, like various parts of my favourite bands were throw into a blender with ice cream and lightly mixed. I can see them also being a large part of the soundtrack to my summer.