Song of the Day

**8/31/09

Lydia - A Fine Evening For a Rogue

---------Quite the rainy, chilly day. When you're living amongst the clouds that drag themselves lazily across mountaintops, a snuggly hoodie and some great music (and coffee from BeansTalk) is sublime. Today, we'll take a listen to Lydia, the indie rock darlings of Phoenix, Arizona who have touched the hearts of those who seek the instrumentally precise, the clean and beautifully somber vocals of Leighton Antelman, and the introspective. "A Fine Evening For a Rogue" exemplifies all of these fragile yet certain characteristics of the sextet. Get "A Fine Evening For a Rogue" from Lydia's album, Illuminate, illustrated by Becky Filip with some of the most captivating artwork I've seen in quite some time.

http://www.lydiamusic.com/bio.aspx

Song of the Day

**8/30/09
DJ AM - AM Live at Banana Split
-------------Just as Adam Goldstein was preparing to embark on a two-month tour of the hottest venues in Hollywood, New York, Vegas, and Boston, the 36-year old was found dead in his New York City apartment last night. A DJ to the stars, Goldstein spun with Madonna, Will Smith, Papa Roach, and Travis Barker of Blink-182. Goldstein was also a member of the band Crazytown, which produced the hip hop hit "Butterfly." Fans who remember the September crash that nearly took the lives of Barker and Goldstein were thrilled to see the two collaborate for a New Year's Eve performance in full health.
To celebrate the DJ's work, "AM Live at Banana Split" is a mere two-minute sample of the talent we were so fortunate to hear from Adam Goldstein.

http://www.myspace.com/djamone

Song of the Day

**8/29/09

Bon Iver - Blood Bank

--------------On his myspace page he tells you to be patient, and in his music, there's no need to say anything - the haunting melody of a first encounter that halts time. Folk-songwriter Justin Vernon's latest project, Bon Iver, is a corruption of the French term, "bon hiver" meaning "good winter." Vernon's resonant, eerie, and even melancholic sound was so well recieved in the United Kingdom, that the release of Blood Bank EP reached Number One on the U.K. Indie Chart. Get "Blood Bank" from Bon Iver EP, Blood Bank.

http://www.myspace.com/boniver

Song of the Day

**8/27/09

Evan Rachel Wood - Blackbird

------------------Looking forward to my seminar class, Rock Lyrics: Society and Culture, tomorrow morning. It's one of those classes that I'm willing to get up in the morning for, regardless of the death march across campus to make it by 8 a.m. Since a portion of our journey will set sail on the British Invasion, I dug around my library for a nice blend of old and new. Hence, "Blackbird," a Beatles song we've all heard before, but probably didn't hear the meaning behind the lyrics.

"Blackbird," penned by Paul McCartney on The White Album, was a reaction to the racial tensions growing in the U.S. during the riots and civil movements of the late sixties. The British slang term for "woman" is "bird." Taken flight through Evan Rachel Wood in the magical mystery movie, Across the Universe, "Blackbird" is softened with mandolins and a slower tempo, yet the message remains the same. Get today's song from Across the Universe: Original Movie Soundtrack, or the Beatles' 1968 album, The White Album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zai0R-Tvd4

Song of the Day

**8/26/09

The Arctic Monkeys - Only Ones Who Know

--------------Let's face it: if every single encounter we had with the opposite sex was meant to be, then even the most instrumentally beautiful ballads that cope with a tough loss or a broken heart would simply fall out of place. Luckily (shall we say), there is never a shortage of a somber connection, and "Only Ones Who Know" offers a tale of commiseration that even the most stoic of hearts can beat to. Take a look at the lyrics to this Arctic Monkeys song from the album, Favourite Worst Nightmare.

"Only Ones Who Know"

In a foreign place, the saving grace was the feeling,

That it was a heart that he was stealing,

Oh he was ready to impress and the fierce excitement,

The eyes are bright he couldnt wait to get away,

I bet the juliet was just the icing on the cake,

Make no mistake no,

And even if somehow we could have shown you the place you wanted,

Well I'm sure you could have made it that bit better on your own,

And I bet she told a million people that she'd stay in touch,

Well all the little promises they dont mean much,

When theres memories to be made,

And I hope you're holding hands by new years eve,

They made it far too easy to believe,

That true romance cant be acheived these days,

And even if somebody could have shown you the place you wanted,

Well I sure you could have made it that bit better on your own,

You are the only ones who know

Song of the Day

**8/25/09

Deas Vail - Shoreline

--------------What's more dank than meeting great people? Great people with equally great tastes in music. I aprehended Deas Vail (a Latin/French combo translating to "Humble Servant of God") in the throes of a music swap, and I became transfixed by the Arkansas quintet's patient instrumentals and hushed vocals. However, if your ears aren't yearning for a smoothie, give it a little stronger punch with songs such as "Surface" and "Rewind" - still mellow, but attention given to more intricate breakdowns. "Shoreline" can be found on the band's third full-length album, All the Houses Look the Same.

http://www.myspace.com/deasvail

Song of the Day

**8/24/09

Owl City - Fireflies

------------"Fireflies" is the soundtrack to NASA space shuttles rocketing out of earth's atmosphere into the next galaxy. If you like to think that our world turns slowly and time is a ghostly afterthought, "Fireflies" is your stargazing techno-tangle. Adam Young's arrangements navigate towards a visual symphony of "keyboard smoothies," and posess a thoughtful, wandering ambiance. Get "Fireflies" from Owl City's album, Ocean Eyes.

http://www.myspace.com/owlcity

Song of the Day

**8/23/09

Hall and Oates - You Make My Dreams

---------------It's the cloud-nine doo-wop beat that turns frowns upside-down, cloudy days to sunshine, and Central Park into a broadway stage (at least in movies, that is). "You Make My Dreams" celebrates the flames that new love sparks and rock and roll soul of the act's 1980 hit. The Billboard charts brought this dandy number in at number five in 1981, and while it's been over 25 years since the song was released, a new generation can enjoy the song in perfect context in the movie, 500 Days of Summer. Get "You Make My Dreams" from either (oh, choices!) the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack or the Hall and Oates album, Voices.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_I4wtNPv5w

Song of the Day

**8/20/09
Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA
------------------Even though Miley's got a couple of girl-rocker butterflies in her stomach upon touchdown in LAX, she's hops on a taxi towards Dreams Come True Boulevard. She'll have you nodding your head "like yeah" and screaming out the sunroof of your limo to Junior Homecoming or while shopping for her new clothing collaboration with Max Azria in Wal-Mart. Cyrus feels a little homesick until the radio plays Jay Z and Britney Spears - two artists that (apparently) make her feel right at home. Street cred from Cyrus/ Hannah Montana? - zomg! Get "Party in the USA" from Miley Cyrus' album, The Time of Our Lives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihKPKiwK3jA

Song of the Day

**8/18/09
Dang We're On Fire - Keep Your Head Up
---------------From the pop punk success of New Found Glory to the ska-stylings of Less Than Jake, it's apparent that the Florida music scene has become a breeding ground for the guitar laden vocal-dubbed anthemic leaders of tomorrow. Dang We're On Fire may just be following the footsteps of their Florida forefathers, with dance-inducing beats and perky melodies heard in songs like the pat-on-the-shoulder "Keep Your Head Up." Dang We're On Fire are playing shows all over Orlando, but many of their 71,075 fans are hoping the band will rock out on a tour in the future. Get "Keep Your Head Up" from their upcoming album, Heart Stopped Beating.

http://www.myspace.com/dangwereonfire