Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Song of the Day: "All Day and All Night" by Moon Taxi

"All Day and All Night" by the Nashville-based indie-progressive rock band Moon Taxi is really cute, which is sometimes just what you need in this crazy, f-d up world!

<< Previous song   
                                                                     >>next song



Song of the Day: "Lost Boys" by The Courtneys















<< last song  
 >>next song

It took me a couple years to discover them, but I am liking every song I hear from The Courtneys.

Their own description of their sound, as seen on Bandcamp, is better than any I could muster: "Sun-drenched flying nun-influenced pop with sweet licks that'll stick with you for days." Also, this groovy indie girl group is from Kitimat, British Columbia, so how cool is that?

Here's their "Lost Boys."

—Sarah Torribio



Etsy Shopping Find of the Day. . .

I absolutely love this Forest Bookends Set from  MokuShop on Etsy.com. The wooden trees rest on a board lined with cork.

If you're an animé fan, and I have no reason to suspect you aren't, a small Totoro wooden can be included with the set to be placed amid the trees. The bookends cost $59 and make a scenic gift for the book-lover in your life. Or for you. Don't ever forget to sometimes buy something just for you.














Monday, November 28, 2016

That cool quote by Billie Holiday












<<previous cool quote

>>next cool quote


That cool quote by Andy Warhol















<<next cool quote

C'est la Vie. . .

The beauty business used to be so much more personal. 


Epigram of the Day: "Clouds"














<< Previous epigram

>> next epigram

Song of the Day: "Message in a Bottle" by The Police

I'm listening to the wonderful "Message in a Bottle" by rock-masters The Police.

                                                                        > > next song



Song of the Day: "California" by The Lagoons

"California" by The Lagoons is a way soothing indie pop song that benefits from some seriously symphonic saxophone. I hear they're from Texas.

 < < Previous song   
                                                                         > > Next song



Song of the Day: "Internal World" by Cloud Nothings

I'm really liking "Internal World" by Cloud Nothings.

In the guitar, I'm hearing everything from Jimmy Eat World to Sonic Youth to Smashing Pumpkins. And in the vocals, I'm hearing everything from, again, Jimmy Eat World to the Stone Roses.

I hear they're from Ohio, too, and that's always a plus!

 < < Previous song  
                                                                                  > > Next song

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Epigram of the Day : "Guarded"














<< previous epigram
>> next epigram

Etsy Shopping Find of the Day. . .

They say what a shop or company needs to do in order to hook your business is to sell you a lifestyle.

Well, as it turns out, I want the kind of life that includes a jam pot. It seems such a European thing—something to trot out during teatime or the Scandinavian version of tea time or during a good American breakfast.

This Green Vintage Wyncraft Lord Nelson Ceramic Jam Pot (it's said you can use it as a sugar bowl as well) has a wooden holder, hails from the Swinging '60s and is $15.36 at the PlanetUtopia shop on etsy.com.














< < Previous etsy find

Epigram of the Day: "Self-portrait"













<< Previous epigram

>> next epigram

Epigram of the Day: "Bird"



















<< last epigram
>> next epigram

Epigram of the Day: "Jellyfish"



















<< last epigram
>> next epigram

Friday, November 25, 2016

Etsy Shopping Find of the Day. . .

I'm on a roll, working on the shopping component of this blog. I've been browsing under the search word yellow on etsy.com, focusing on handmade products as opposed to vintage ones.

I needed a yellow color meditation to push through any winter doldrums, and so prepare for the symphony of yellow to continue.

My Etsy Shopping Find of the Day is Lucky Elephant Camera Strap. It's $35 and comes courtesy of the InTePro shop on Etsy.com.

The strap is yellow with a print of green and blue embroidered elephants on a yellow background. In other words, it's indescribably chic

This is the perfect accessory for you or your favorite photographer, a way to make your DSLR/SLR camera look even cooler than it is.

"Life's a safari. Accessorize accordingly." That's my cheesy slogan. I may need to patent it and sell it to the highest bidder.

< < Previous etsy find

Etsy shopping find of the day. . .

I know. I have a tendency toward hyperbole.

But there was never anything cuter than this A-line dress made from fabric depicting a playful Pippi Longstocking and her friends Tommy and Annika.

It's made from used vintage fabric from the '70s and is size 5-6.

It's hand-sewn on the Ondermoedersparapluu shop (man, that's a mouthful) on Etsy.com

You've gotta get this, unless I beat you to it. It costs $38.04.

< < Previous etsy find




Etsy shopping find of the day. . .

If you're looking for a bright and funky piece of decor to liven up your kitchen, it doesn't get much better than this Mod Yellow Enamel Coffee Pot.

It's made by the Cinsa  company in Saltillo, Mexico, which is exotic, hails from the '70s and features a brightly-painted bird and flowers. It's $24.

It's from the KanriKouture shop on Etsy.com.










< < Previous Etsy find

Etsy shopping find of the Day. . .



This Cuddly Cloud Pillow, in a golden yellow, is so fun. It's a cozy as f--k gift for any child or for any adult who's in touch with—and possibly controlled by—their inner cloud.

The dimensions are 45 X 26 cm. I didn't know what that meant either, but I looked it up and--if I'm as okay at math as I think I am—its a little over 17 inches wide and a little over 10 inches high.

It's made out of yellow cotton with silkscreened raindrops and sold at the normadot shop on etsy.com. It's $37 and you need this in your life almost as much as I do.

 < < Previous etsy shopping find 


Etsy shopping find of the day. . .


You know what I like about this Cat Magnets Set? Its versatility.

You can give the entire set to that crazy cat lady in your life. And if there is not at least one crazy cat lady among your friends, YOU'RE the crazy cat lady.

You can also break up the set, throwing one of these gems in everyone's stocking.

These vintage cats, dressed as they should be in bowlers and fascinators, $10.50 the the set, or tuppence the bag. They're sold at the Personalizedsite shop on Etsy.com.

< < Previous Etsy shopping find

Etsy Shopping Find of the Day. . .


This Wooden Hair Barrette, carved to look like a leaf with an acorn spear, is very elegant. It would make a nice Christmas gift, bringing a bit of Lothlórien (that's a Lord of the Rings reference, if you didn't know), to anyone who wears it.

It's $23.33 from the woodartukraine shop on Etsy.com.










< < Previous etsy find

Epigram of the Day: "Analyze That"

<< last epigram                                                                                                 



Bite-sized Autobiography: "Some pig!"



















<<last bite
>>next bite


My first memory is of being very small, with strange people towering over me whom, it was indicated, were my relatives. I was then taken outdoors on an adventure—to see a monster.


Looking back, I must have been in Redding, meeting my grandmother and grandfather and aunts and uncles for the first time in my memory. My grandparents lived on a ranch and the monster was an oversized pig.


True story.



—Sarah Torribio












Epigram of the Day: "You—yeah, you"















<< last epigram
>> next epigram

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Bite-sized Autobiography: One upon a Halloween


















<<last bite

 >>next bite




When I was in fifth or sixth grade, I dressed as a Gypsy for Halloween and my best friend dressed as a dead hooker. No joke. Short black dress, fishnets and hair teased and sprayed green.

(shrugs) It was the '80s. Many of us had the opposite of supervision.

—Sarah Torribio





Forever 42. . .

I'm ready for someone to start a clothing store called "Forever 42." I could probably rock their duds for a couple decades. And let's get some rill sizes up in there!

Song of the Day,:"And Dream of Sheep" by Kate Bush













<< last song                                                                                 >> next song

Kate Bush remains a goddess. Here is a new video with her performing "And Dream of Sheep."

—Sarah Torribio

Song of the Day: "Wondering" by Xiu Xiu

Xiu Xiu, an "experimental noise pop group"—got that from Wikipedia—started by singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart.

There's a touch of '70s glam, a la Bowie, in this song as well as some tortured dark-wave atmosphere a la Joy Division. And then there's some electro ambience reminiscent of Passion Pit. 

In other words, it's kind of amazing. Here is Xiu Xiu's "Wondering."

 < < Previous song  
                                                                         >>Next song



Song of the Day: "Silver Velvet" by The Courtneys

Adorable. The Courtneys, here with their song "Silver Velvet," adds to the rich musical landscape of indie-rock power pop girl groups currently flourishing.


< < Previous song  
                                                                         > > Next song



Saturday, November 19, 2016

Epigram of the Day: "In no uncertain terms"
















<< last epigram
>> next epigram

Song of the Day: "Sheila Take A Bow" by The Smitsh

Current mood? Best explained by The Smiths with their triumphant song of female empowerment, "Sheila Take a Bow."

"Boot the grime of this world in the crotch, dear. And don't go home tonight. Come out and meet the one that you love, and who loves you." Yass!

 < < Previous song  
                                                                        < < Next song

Epigram of the Day: "In my defense"














<< last epigram
>> next epigram

Epigram of the Day: "Political machinations"



















<< last epigram
>> next epigram

Epigram of the Day: "Careful"
















< < last epigram
>> next epigram

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Song of the Day: "Happy" by Ned's Atomic Dustbin

Who had a Ned's Atomic Dustbin album in the early '90s? The guitar on "Happy" is absolutely delicious.


 < < Previous song  
                                                                         > > Next song



Thursday, November 10, 2016

Song of the Day: "Fevers" by Mr. Little Jeans

Female musicians are killing it nowadays. Here's "Fevers" by Mr. Little Jeans, some quality dark-edged indie power pop.

 < <previous song  
                                                                          > >next song

Song of the Day: "Sandman" by Trudy and the Romance

This song "Sandman" by Trudy and the Romance is hella fun.

 < < Previous song  
                                                                                 > > Next song

Song of the Day: "On Hold" by the XX

 

                                                                         

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Song of the Day: "Ocean Terrace" by NIck Murphy, aka Chet Faker

Here's a song by Chet Faker, real name Nick Murphy, featuring Banks. It's all part of this cool indie synth-pop rock thing going on nowadays, music I have trouble categorizing, and the song "Ocean Terrace" is way chill and funky.


 < < previous song  
                                                                                     > >next song






Song of the Day: "Fall Forever" by Honeyblood

Just one more tune by my new favorite girl group Honeyblood. Indie pop/dream pop/riot grrl rock with a retro 1990s feel. This is called "Fall Forever" and the guitar is off the hook.

                                                                            >>next song

Song of the Day: "Sea Hearts" by Honeyblood

 

<< last song  
                                                                     

•OLDER POST
•NEWER POST


An indie-pop girl group showing grrls still know how to riot. It's Honeyblood with "Sea Hearts." It's just plain fun.


Monday, November 7, 2016

Song of the Day: "Magazine" by The Chromatics

This is an epic and melancholy wash of sound. It's "Magazine" by the Chromatics, featuring Johnny Jewel—multi-instrumentalist and owner of the record label Italians Do It Better.


 < < previous song 
                                                                          > > next song




Song of the Day: "Stop Me (Stop You)" by Nick Murphy

A brand-new discovery: Nick Murphy. He used to go by Chet Faker, by the bye, but has jettisoned the name.

Here is his song "Stop Me (Stop You)".

Oh yeah, and he's kind of easy on the eyes, if you're a lumber-sexual—not that such things matter to a partnered-up old cougar like myself.


Song of the Day: "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles

My song of the day just has to be "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles. My family were late cable adopters, but I'm told this was the very first video that came on the moment MTV was launched.


                                                                         > > Next song

Friday, November 4, 2016

Song of the Day: "Soundtrack 2 My Life" by Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi is so very talented. I'm kind of late to get into his music, but songs like "Soundtrack 2 My Life" are straight amazing! Cool and moving.

Note: Don't hit play if you are bothered by bad words, the N-word and sexually explicit lyrics. 

                                                                           > > Next song






Song of the Day: "Through" by Jimmy Eat World

Jimmy Eat World is such a layered and skillful band. They have brought it again with their new album Integrity Blues. This song is called "Through.


                                                                        >>Next song

Epigram of the Day: "Conspiracy theory"



















<< last epigram
>>next epigram

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Song of the Day: "Starwood Chocker" by Bing & Ruth

Here is a drop-dead gorgeous sound bath called "Starwood Choker" by a minimalist ambient music ensemble called Bing & Ruth.



 < < Previous song  
                                                                        > > Next song

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Song of the Day: "Chocolate" from the 1975















 < < last song 
 > > next song

This song, "Chocolate," from The 1975 is some kind of wonderful. How can I keep up with all the splendid music?

—Sarah Torribio



Song of the Day: "Nurse Ratched" by Cherry Glazerr

Trigger warning. If you're like me and don't like violent scenes, I'd say listen to this song and don't watch the vid for "Nurse Ratched." It's probably the middle-age in me—I'm 42 now—but it's too similar to things that have happened in real life for my taste.

Another fabulous song, with a video that's not for everyone, is "Lindisfarne" by James Blake. If spitting, blood and weirdness bugs you, pull up something on the screen where the video is playing, perhaps Pinterest, and prepare for a quietly transformative musical experience.



All that being said, this song is rad.

I'm happy to learn about the band Cherry Glazerr and to know know that the post-millennial riot grrrl movement is alive and well. Rocker chicks make my world. Did I tell you I learned to play guitar by covering songs off Hole's "Live Through This" and that I play a mean bass?

 < < previous song  
                                                                          > >next song






Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Song of the Day: "Shake It" by Metro Station

"Shake It" by Metro Station is a fun and hot power pop song by a Los Angeles-based alternative rock band. The chorus features a delightful faux English accent reminiscent of Bloc Party's Kele Okereke.

  < < previous song 
                                                                                > >  next song