The last time I made a playlist for a book was when I finished Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy and was so moved by it. Again, I've read Hardy was immensely impressed with Jude The Obscure, a book I recommend everyone to read. I even wrote about it on my personal blog.


01 Andrew Bird - Yawny At The Apocalypse

The definition of 'apocalypse' according to the Oxford American Dictionary is the "the complete final destruction of the world." People live in their own worlds, and when bad things keep piling up, sometimes, it is unfortunate that some turn to other possibilities. There is something so heartwrenching about this Andrew Bird song; it's very touching, like Jude Fawley's story.

02 Cat Power - Good Woman

I want to be a good woman / And I want for you to be a good man / And this is why I will be leaving / And this is why I can't see you no more

03 Broken Social Scene - Her Disappearing Theme

People come and go all the time, and we have to deal with it. Whether it be friends, lovers, strangers. Even family, in this case.

04 Radiohead - No Surprises

A heart that's full up like a landfill / A job that slowly kills you / Bruises that won't heal / You look so tired-unhappy / ... / I'll take a quiet life

05 Bloc Party - Blue Light

What could I ever run to / Just tell me it's tearing you apart / Just tell me you cannot sleep

06 The Smiths - Asleep

Don't feel bad for me / I want you to know / Deep in the cell of my heart / I really want to go

Broken Social Scene – Backyards

Emily Haines has one of the finest voices of this decade. This is surely evident on “Backyards,” one of Broken Social Scene’s best songs. The song connects surrealism, infinity, and everything beautiful. Even though the track drags on for an extra two minutes, this is perfection.

The Dodos – Undeclared

The Dodos delicately combine folk and pop on “Undeclared.” I don’t know what to say about this song. It’s short, simple, and sweet. You can’t get tired of hearing it over and over again because it’s just so good.

Radiohead – Sit Down, Stand Up

This may be one of my favorite Radiohead songs. It’s kind of mystic and dark on this entirely new level; perfectly haunting. When Thom Yorke begins to sing “Oh the rain drops,” I just start thinking about the fastest car ride you’ve ever been in and how crazy things are just spinning in your head and the moment is just happening.

The Wave Pictures – I Love You Like A Madman

I should’ve discovered and written about this band earlier. “I Love You Like A Madman” is such a quirky, cute song. Singing the lyrics out loud would make me giggle (I’d buy you bras / Instead of pickled eggs / Chocolate instead of chutney). I’m pretty sure this is one of my favorite songs of the year so far.

Ugly Casanova – Barnacles

I have to say right here that I largely admire Isaac Brock’s skill and songwriting. Modest Mouse is great, but Ugly Casanova is brilliant. The first track of Sharpen Your Teeth, “Barnacles,” instantly draws you closer and as the record progresses, you stay put exactly where you are. I’d love to meet Mr. Brock.

The Smiths – Unloveable

Speaking about great lyricists, this is my favorite: Morrissey. Yeah, Johnny Marr was The Smiths, but he’s in Modest Mouse now, and Morrissey has gone solo, but “Unloveable” presents what the Smiths was: brutally honest, yet amusing at some point. Behind their songs, there’s emotion that’s very real, whether a listener takes it as sarcasm or something else.

Although one may not think a certain album is perfect, you can surely respect a record for its musicianship and effort. Here are some of the albums that I think are admirable because of its sophistication and grace.

The Postal Service – Give Up

This is such a great, techno-easy listening album. Ben Gibbard delivers particularly interesting vocal performances, whether he’s in a Death Cab For Cutie song, or making an effort away from his main band. Jenny Lewis and Jen Wood should have cage match to see whose voice fits better with Gibbard’s.  

Say Hi – The Wishes and the Glitch

Fans of Say Hi To Your Mom weren’t dazzled by the shortened name change. I’ve never heard any of Eric Elbogen’s music when he was still Say Hi To Your Mom, but The Wishes and the Glitch is nearly perfect in its own way. I think Elbogen has such an awkward, attractive voice. I’m completely infatuated with the song, “Bluetime.” Distortion is somewhat abundant, but that’s what makes this record.

The Most Serene Republic – Phages

This isn’t an LP, but it is certainly one of the strongest releases this past decade. Never can one be so amazed at the growth that is shown through this EP, when you look at The Most Serene Republic’s debut, Underwater Cinematographer and then, even at random, select a song from Phages. You cannot dare to touch this EP or even manage to remix a song while keeping its originality and complex layers of distortion and cacophony of delicate vocals from Adrian Jewett and Emma Ditchburn.

Blink 182 – Blink 182

Speaking of growth, this is it. Although Blink 182 can be categorized as completely different from most of the artists being different, this is unexpected maturity at its amazing depths. I mean, there’s even an instrumental tune on this album –something you wouldn’t normally expect from a pop-punk band. When this came out, fans were either open to the band’s change in direction, or disappointed because of the development, and critics were faced with a record with unexpected sounds. It is obvious this album is the standout in Blink 182’s showcase. Finally, the immature little boys grew up to present this darker, mature record, only to have their career together [as a group] cut short due to their breakup.

Modest Mouse – The Moon & Antarctica

“3rd Planet.” That is the first thing I can say about The Moon & Antarctica. What a great way to start your album. That song is completely epic. Isaac Brock is such a talented lyricist that his songs can never fail to charm you. The band goes past surrealism and gives you something completely moving.

The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs

I would love to be able to write songs like Morrissey. He never fails to tell the true tale of a heart, and he’s always bitter-sweetly honest. “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” is the song that you listen to when you’re at a party with nothing left to do, no one to talk to and just wish you could be someplace better. The Smiths manage to be meaningful, yet straight to the point at all times.

I’m From Barcelona – Let Me Introduce My Friends

This is one of the best discoveries I’ve made. I don’t know why the fan base of this band isn’t as big as Broken Social Scene, seeing that I’m From Barcelona have 29 members, and better quality songs (I have to say, however, “Anthems For a Seventeen Year-Old Girl is precious and one of my favorite songs ever). Let Me Introduce My Friends has the cheeriest, happiest record you could ever listen to. This album truly captures the essence of a care-free childhood, where all you had to do was wake up, have fun, smile, laugh, and go back to sleep, and again like that’s how the rest of your life will remain. You are a plain freak if you don’t enjoy a single one of these joyful tunes. Sure, the lyrics aren’t poetry, but this is all coming from a laid-back band that is charmingly silly.
 
The Strokes – Is This It

This is the band that was going to save rock n’ roll. But the Strokes aren’t doing much of their heroism in the state they’re in. Still on hiatus, the Strokes keep fans of their’s waiting while they can still go back and listen to their debut album, Is This It. I believe the Strokes released a classic –an album with guitar riffs, Lou Reed-esque vocals from Julian Casablancas, and all the good stuff. But really, forgetting the comparisons, The Strokes have come up with their own sound that make them the saviors of rock that modernity needs.

Andrew Bird – Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs

It’s amazing how easily Andrew Bird managed to pull off something like this. The Mysterious Production of Eggs, even if less a charm than Armchair Apocrypha, is mesmerizing and magnificent. This is what I call a witty concept album. Primarily revolving around apocalyptic ideas and life and death, Andrew Birds shows everyone that he is capable of complex dynamics. How can you not fall in love with this genius?

Radiohead – Kid A

Speaking of concept albums, here is one that is apparently a revolution in music. I can understand how people might not fall immensely in love with Radiohead when they first listen to their material, because Radiohead isn’t exactly easy listening. Kid A is sublime and brilliant. Most music today is derived from this one fantastic, electronically ambient album that is an instant classic.  

Jason Collett, who's joining Feist on her US tour, is releasing his upcoming album soon in North America, on February 5, 2008. It'll be called Here's To Begin Here, and two tracks from the album are already uploaded on Arts & Crafts called "Out of Time" and "Charlyn, Angel of Kensington." This new album has guest appearances like Andrew Whiteman from Apostle of Hustle and fellow Broken Social Scene member, and others, like Tony Scherr and Liam O'Neil.

Broken Social Scene's core member Kevin Drew has his solo album Spirit If... coming out for release sometime in September. It's already been leaked and is now available for download. Through his first album, Kevin Drew shows skill, and the ability to make quality music.

A lot of songs on the album are really good. For instance, "F-Ked Up Kid" is an easy song to listen to anytime, anywhere, and it's also one of the best of the album. "Safety Bricks," which was performed live with Feist on KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic gives nice melodies and rhythms. This song is one of the positive parts of the almost perfect record. The negative part of this album is "Back Out On The...;" a lot of the album is pretty good. Almost every song was good. However, this is the song that prevents the album from being perfect. But that's not a bad thing; most albums have at least one song that you could do without.

Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew is releasing his solo album Spirit If... sometime in September. One of the tracks on the record, "Tbtf" is available for download on his Arts & Crafts website. The song sounds pretty cool, and I'm guessing so will the anticipated album. 

Sometimes, there are things that often make you do other things. For instance, a track from a movie's soundtrack can cause you to want to listen to that artist or download that song. And then, maybe some sort of reference from a book can make you want to listen to a song. It's just all connected to each other.

Arts & Crafts, the record deal that mainly consists of Broken Social Scene and other family members, has now another signed contract with a septet coming from the United Kingdom, Los Campesinos! Sticking Fingers Into Sockets will be a six-piece EP, and you can hear it all on the band's Myspace. Their own website offer some downloads, which can give an interested and curious person a chance to listen to their stuff. Los Campesinos! is also under the same label indie rockers Bloc Party are under, Wichita. The EP that'll be released July 3, according to the Arts & Crafts website, features the single, We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives.

Feist's recent album, The Reminder is to be released May 1, 2007. However, the album has already been released and fans have surely already downloaded the set of tunes. The Reminder has tracks that sort of sound like other songs Feist has produced, but that doesn't change the quality of the album.

So Sorry, the starting track of the album, is alright. I won't say it's the best song on the album because frankly, it isn't. It seems longer than it should be and the song is only about three and a half minutes long. But just because one song isn't good, the rest of her music isn't bad. I Feel It All is decent sounding. It reminds me of Inside and Out, from Feist's 2004 album, Let It Die. When it was done playing, I was actually surprised at how quick it seemed to go by.

In My Moon My Man, Feist's vocals seems to shine out a bit more than the previous tracks from the record. If you'll like My Moon My Man, then I highly suggest that you listen to Look Up by Stars. The way that the lyrics are sung by being stretched out in both songs, one could note the similarities. However, this song seems a little more energetic but not too much.

Arts & Crafts, the indie record label that promotes music for artists who have found a well amount of success like Broken Social Scene, The Dears, and Feist. Arts&Crafts definitely has an eye for talent. When you look at the artist's page on the label's website, you can be entranced by anything. Almost every band signed on to the  record is somehow related to Broken Social Scene except for The Most Serene Republic. What's trying to be explained here is that this record label really does know how to find talent.

Most of the bands signed on with Arts&Crafts actually are well off with success. Stars definitely have accomplished well; Torquil Campbell went off to do a side project, Memphis, and Amy Millan even released a solo album which is also under Arts&Crafts. What I'm trying to say is that if you're into the indie scene, then you'll love anything that's promoted by Arts&Crafts, because the artists under this label are just great.

Some good songs to listen to if you're lying on your bed alone, or if you're sitting in the backseat of your parents' car. In fact, you can just listen to these anywhere.