What Were You Listening To This Summer?

So it's starting to feel less and less like summer everyday now. Believe it or not there's a few weeks left. All we've been talking about here are summer records; I listed my favorite record releases of the (spring and) summer and LLV basically gave a run down of what she's been into this summer with a wide range of selections from Eminem to Fleetwood Mac.

I had this idea to ask a few people what their favorite records were to listen to in the summer. For me it's Weezer's Blue Album, hands down. It's as if I forget that record exists until it gets warm outside. The opening chords of the acoustic on "My Name Is Jonas", the lyrics in "Surf Wax America" (and the title!) and the visual I get from "In The Garage" seem to just scream "It's summer, get out, enjoy the weather, have fun!!!". Hell, I don't even own a car this is the feeling I get from popping some ear buds in my ear so I can only imagine what fun I'd be inspired to have if I hopped into a car and cranked the volume up to 'obnoxious'. This summer however I've gotten a bit dark. Along with my beloved Weezer summer pick-me-up I've been putting Kittie's discography on repeat. Ironically, one of my favorite songs by the band is called "Summer Dies"

SO, I asked Raimy Rosenduft, Sarah Bastin, Jamie Holm (Sick of Sarah), Brad Hale (Now, Now Every Children) and Lindsey Byrnes to fill us in on what they've been blasting this summer. I'm nosy, I ask a lot of people a lot of things and you're no different. I'd love to see what you guys have been listening to this summer in the comments!

And yeah The Byrnes' answer is kind of short. But if you're a fan of The Byrnes then you know how busy she is, seriously, I don't think the woman sleeps! Glad I could get a hold of her to get this! Enjoy

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Nada Surf's 'Let Go' it just happened that way, I got back to Los Angeles after being gone for almost a year and it's just what has been on my ipod. That and Next Stop Soweto and Miriam Makeba's Greatest Hits and a bunch of other afrobeat... and the new LCD and Washed Out all on shuffle. It reminds me of walking around Park Slope and Ft. Greene... home.

-Raimy
http://raimyrosenduft.com
http://twitter.com/muthafunka

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my record of the summer 2010 is ra ra riot - boy
because before them i hated the cello and the violin. because their new record makes me sad, happy, joyful, melancolic and summer is all about that. it's the moment of the year to reach a new level in work and life, you start a new year in the summer. ra ra riot is a great band for roadtrips !

-Sarah
http://sarahbastin.net
http://twitter.com/sarahbastin
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The album I've been listening to the most is my boyfriends band, Vaudeville, I'm a nerd. Haha. Other than that I would have to say Mermaid Avenue, Wilco & Billy Bragg. I'm addicted.

-Jamie
http://sickofsarah.com
http://twitter.com/jamiestrange

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I'm not big on summer, so whenever summer happens to come around I need to listen to music that distracts me from the heat. Every summer for the past handful of years I have found myself retreating to the Sufjan Stevens "Songs for Christmas" albums. Maybe it's a bad habit, but it totally gives me this nostalgic feeling that I can never find anywhere during summer.

-Brad
http://nownowband.tumblr.com
http://twitter.com/poopybrad

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Steel Train/Steel Train
Pixies/ Doolittle
Tegan and Sara/Sainthood

These are the CDs that are currently on rotation in my car.

-Lindsey
http://lindseybyrnes.com
http://twitter.com/lindseybyrnes

Illustrations by Jodi Sandler

http://jodisandler.com

http://twitter.com/jodisandler

Everything You Need to Know: Now, Now Every Children

by Maya Powell

I first heard Now, Now Every Children on a Monday. And a depressing one too. It was the beginning of October, which by Minnesota standards is the dead of winter. I wish I could remember who recommended them to me, but i’m stuck thinking it was some generous higher power. The first track I played was ‘We Know Martha Webber’, the third track off of their 2008 album Cars. Instantly entranced by lead singer Cacie Dalager’s soft yet potent voice and drummer Bradley’s delicate yet complex beats, I left my October-blues behind and executed an odd assortment of air-drumming, head banging, and jumping on my bedroom floor. I was, what many NNEC fans may admit to being, an instant super fan.

Almost as fast as the 2 minute 48 second song starts as a calm indie tune and escalades into a thunderous rush of synths, guitars, and cymbals, I entered the online world of NNEC. After tweeting, friending, and watching all the youtube videos I could get my paws on, I came to two very satisfying conclusions:

1. They are funny.

2. They are from Minnesota.

Funny is a very important part in liking a band for me. It’s a connection that a band creates that makes me want to buy the concert ticket just as much as the music does. I like watching 30-second videos of my favorite bands doing karaoke to 80’s hits in the van on their way to their next gig. And I appreciate the tweets that simply say “Shitballs.” NNEC, fully immersed in the interwebs via twitter, youtube, tumblr, stickam, and more, thoroughly filled my comedy quota. Complimentary to the humor is the fact that they are local. By default, I like bands a gazillion times more if they are local because I like to support the amazing music scene that has come through in Minneapolis. So to recap, crazy good music plus good humor with the fans plus local equals NNEC.

Now, Now Every Children - Friends With My Sister from Brandon Chesbro on Vimeo.

NNEC definitely has a ‘sound’, although I’m not sure that my mediocre vocabulary could find the words to do it just. Here’s my attempt: NNEC constructs synth based songs that start soft and escalade into full out guitar jams, then wind down into gentle outros that force you to click the repeat button. Cacie sings vocals that sound so frank and sincere you almost feel like you’re sitting in a room adjacent to her, listening to her write the song. Her slightly distorted guitar riffs make even the most casual listener wonder ‘why DON’T I play the guitar?’ Bradley creates intense, syncopated rhythms, clashing with the melody and chords to make a sound that is so powerful and different from rock music today. Touring band Britty, Christine, and Jess make their songs sound full and forceful live, compelling even the most apprehensive concertgoer to awkwardly sway with the person next to them. My favorite song, ‘Headlights’, off of Cars, is the kind of song that I listen to everywhere. I sit on my bed lip-synching to it. I get strange looks from people at lunch when I can’t help but shuffle my feet to it’s radiating beat. I get disapproving comments from my chiropractor when trying to explain that I strained my neck head banging to the half-time climax of the song.

The accumulation of all of these elements makes Now, Now Every Children my favorite band- The inspiring melodies, witty charm, and blatant hipster appearance are the grounds of my, and many other fans', tremendous love for Now, Now Every Children.

Playlist

1.Cars
2. We Know Martha Webber
3. Everyone You Know
4. Headlights
5. Have You Tried
6. Holiday, Birthday Funeral
7. Friends With My Sister
8. In My Chest
9. In The City
10. Little Brother

~ Maya Powell (http://twitter.com/Turtleturd6736)

Band: http://myspace.com/nownoweverychildren