THEMACGIRL*

Happy 4th of July! To celebrate I wanted to pass along a few of my favorite songs that I’ve been playing a lot this summer. A few new songs as well as an oldie. I hope you enjoy!

01. Alexi Murdoch – Blue Mind
“So watch your time turn to sand, let it spill quietly from your hands. Oh, and the time is at hand when all things under the sky. Go free of time, no time is passing you by. Got no time and I am drifting.”
After seeing “Away We Go” only a couple weeks ago Irediscovered my love for Alexi Murdoch. “Blue Mind” is one of my favorite songs off of his debut full-length album Time Without Consequence.

02. Phoenix – Lisztomania
“So sentimental not sentimental no. Romantic not discussing it, darling I’m down and lonely. When we’re the fortunate only? I’ve been looking for something else. Too late too late too late she’ll be late too late too late. So go slowly discourage distant from other interests. On your favorite weekend ending this love for gentlemen only. That’s where the fortunate only. No I gotta be someone else. These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes. A Lisztomania. Think less but see it grow, like a ride like a ride oh! Not easily offended, know how to let it go. From the mess to the masses.”
I remember reading about this band a couple of months ago on a music blog based out of Louisville called Backseat Sandbar. I didn’t check out their music immediately but saw it at a record store here in Seattle, and as it turned out I really liked it. If you like infectious songs this one is for you. Thanks for the recommendation Backseat Sandbar, and sorry I didn’t listen sooner!

03. Bat for Lashes – Daniel
“But in a goodbye bed with my arms around your neck. Into our mouths our tears crept just kids in the eye of the storm. And as the house spun round my dreams pulled me from the ground forever to search for the faith for home again for home again.”
I really want to love Bat for Lashes but this song is about the only one I can tolerate. Plus the video is pretty cool.

04. Regina Spektor – Dance Anthem of the 80′s
“I’m walking through the city like a drunk, but not. With my slip showing a little like a drunk, but not. And I am one of your people but the cars don’t stop. And I am one of your people but the cars don’t stop. And it’s been a long time since before I’ve been touched. Now I’m getting touched all the time. And it’s only a matter of whom, and it’s only a matter of when.”
I’ll be honest I haven’t listened to Regina’s latest album Far a great deal but this is one song that has stuck out. “Dance Anthem of the 80′s” is catchy and fun to listen to while you’re driving, the windows are down, and your music is blaring.

05. Ryan Adams – Memory Lane
“Sometimes when my memory fails I look into my book of spells. Cards we wrote and pictures taken by someone else. I feel the pain, memory lane. I sleep by the window sill sounding out and dream for real of simple times of hands in tangle, fingers engaged. Memory lane.”
This is one of my latest finds and it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite songs of his. Personally I don’t think Ryan Adams can do no wrong when it comes to songwriting so I guess I am biased. I find this to be a truly sad but beautiful song. Hopefully he returns to music soon to share his beautiful music with us again!

“I know it’s not a game but it feels like losing when someone you love gets up and walks away. I’d fix it, I’d fix it, I’d fix it if I could.” – Fix It

I’ve been a fan of Ryan Adam’s for a few years now, and I was extremely excited when I found out he was releasing a new album this year. Sometime last year there was talk of a boxed set of bootlegs and unreleased songs, most of which can be found online. Even though that would be cool, I’m glad to have new music. I’d still buy the boxed set if it was ever made available.

I’ve been more of a fan of Ryan’s solo music rather than when he teams up with the Cardinals…at least until now. It took listening to “Cardinology” a couple times before it really clicked with me. In terms of albums this is probably my favorite that he’s released. Sure, there are other songs I love much more than the ones on Cardinology but they vary by the album, this is the first album of his that I really like every song. Does that make sense? Probably not. If you’re not sure you’re going to like this album try out these songs: Crossed Out Name, Fix It, and Cobwebs.

I can always recommend more music from other albums that are worth listening to – just email me. What’s funny is I have almost 1.5GB worth of his music and I’m missing quite a bit still. That’s one (of many) things I like about him: he’s always making music. My Ryan Adams collection is the biggest music collection I have in iTunes. I’m really surprised Hanson didn’t beat him considering the amount of imports that I’ve accumulated over the years. Heh-heh.

External Ryan Links:
+ The official web-site & blog

+ See what they’re doing on twitter

+ My concert photos from last years show @ the Brown.