Listening To: Daydreaming Part 2

Way back in April I posted a Daydreaming playlist which received a really wonderful response from listeners. The original Daydreaming was just a small compilation from a much larger (142 tracks) playlist I have on my iTunes. Because you all loved the first installment so much I decided to work on a second, which is meant to pick up where the last playlist left off. Unfortunately three of the integral tracks aren't on Grooveshark and cannot be uploaded so it's not exactly how I wanted it. Regardless, it continues the in the same dreamy and mellow vein as the last playlist did. I started with some quiet pieces that highlighted guitar accompaniment, and then transitioned into songs backed by piano. While Daydreaming 1 was dominated by male vocalists I decided to use Daydreaming 2 to explore some of my favourite songstresses. Fear not: you'll still find some excellent Bon Iver, The National, and Beach House, but you'll also get a taste of Bat for Lashes, Florence and the Machine, Cat Power, Dido, and Neko Case.

I don't always get to give my playlists the individual attention they deserve, but for Daydreaming I go the extra mile. I challenge you not to fall in love.

Listening To:

I know, I know.  I promised you playlists and have yet to follow through.  With my departure for Germany looming (flights are booked, July 17 I am OUT OF HERE!) things are exceptionally busy and distracting, and I'm afraid making playlists isn't too high on the priority list.  Be comforted though, soon I'll be updating with all the latest street style and great music news from the good old Fatherland.  Was that politically incorrect?  I don't even know anymore.  Anyway, here we go:

Bon Iver - Bon Iver.  I have been waiting semi-patiently for the latest album from Bon Iver to drop, and he did not disappoint.  Many of you will already have heard Calgary, which was released some weeks back and was totally awesome.  The album retains Bon Iver's signature sound: folksy, mellow, melodic, etcetera.  While I would venture to say he has tweaked his sound just a little, I can't go as far as to say how because I'm not an intensely-trained musician.  So, decide for yourself, but I challenge you not to love it regardless.

Kaputting It Up (Raekwon vs Destroyer) - The Hood Internet.  While I love Bon Iver as much as the next person, I've also been craving some good dance tunes for the summer.  So, while trolling around on HypeM I stumbled across this, which is Hood Internet gooooold.  They've thrown together some vaguely Euro-pop music that could've come straight out of the early '90s with some generic rapping on top: you can never go wrong with that combo.  Anyway, the product is a track you can't help but blast.
http://hypem.com/search/kaputting%20it%20up/1/


Blowin' Money At The Deli (Drake x Birdman x Delorean) - The Hood Internet.  I'll be the first to say it: Drake's Money To Blow has been remixed so many times it makes my head spin, and it's allllmost to the point where I'm sick of the track.  However, in this track it's been laid over some upbeat tunes that do an impressive job of re-vamping the whole sound.  Overall, you don't so much notice the familiarity of the lyrics, but BONUS, it's easier to rap to (yeah I do that).
http://hypem.com/search/blowin%27%20money%20at%20the%20deli/1/

Listening To: Daydreaming Playlist

Hey everyone! So the very cool blogger Grayshades recently caught me up on how to post playlists. On that note, you really absolutely must check out his latest Mixtape Monday, which is totally prime. Anyway, seeing as I do a fair bit of music posting anyway, I figured this was probably a good idea. My Daydreaming playlist is probably what I listen to most often. The one on my iTunes is actually significantly longer than this (lots more Bon Iver and Beach House), but I figured I'd keep it short...ish. Plus, it took an unbelievably long time to organize the music so that it had good flow - something I've never bothered to do before. With that in mind I'll just add that it's way better if you listen to it start to finish, but as there are 50+ songs I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't. Anyway, hope you love this stuff as much as I do!

Listening To:

So I've already blogged about my love of Bon Iver, but I thought I'd dedicate a special post to Re: Stacks, because I've been listening to it incessantly for the last few days.  It's so perfectly chill.  What with all the rain we've had in my corner of the world it's the perfect song to put on while curled up with a book and a blanket.  If you're not in a good mood, it will put you in one.  Oh, and happy Friday!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePatJIwB-sI

Listening To:

The Suburbs - Arcade Fire.  When This album first came out I heard good things about it and got the whole thing.  However, my eclectic musical taste kept me entertained with other genres for quite some time before I was able to really dedicate myself to hearing out The Arcade Fire.  When I finally did, The Suburbs slowly grew on me, to the point where today it's pretty much been on repeat.  Definitely worth a listen, and interesting lyrics too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Euj9f3gdyM

Good bye Lenin Soundtrack.  During my recent stint at summer school I was fortunate enough to take a History in Film class, where we screened Wolfgang Becker's Good bye Lenin (2003).  The movie itself was definitely worth seeing, but I was also drawn in by Yann Tiersen's score.  It's mostly piano, and it's pretty chill.  If you're into soundtracks at all definitely give it a shot.  If you're not into soundtracks then it's a nice way to ease into the genre.  Below I've linked one of my personal favourites.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKn9qW0IABw

Beach House.  I'm not going to list any particular song, because I love pretty much everything these two come up with.  If you really want the best of the best, go for Lover of Mine, Turtle Island, Zebra, Norway, Gila, and Master of None.  But I'm not kidding when I say it's all phenomenal.  Very chill, quite Indie.  You're welcome.
Lover of Mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw5hkqTiAPI
Turtle Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqd5KJVzNA
Zebra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-wfb25WmV4
Norway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHbtR8uO81M
Gila: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFxdDE0k1_Q
Master of None: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2YiUTh9dj4

Bon Iver.  Much like Beach House, Bon Iver isn't a one-song wonder.  I particularly like the sound of his For Emma, Forever Ago album.  Blood Bank, Roslyn (yeah that one's from a Twilight movie), Brackett WI, Wisconsin, and Blindsided are all winners.  If you like what you hear, give Woods a listen - the unaccompanied version that is - because definitely has charm.  If you love everything, I would also recommend Volcano Choir.  I haven't quiet discovered Volcano Choir's relationship to Bon Iver, but I think there's some membership crossover or something.  You get the idea.
Blindsided: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy3lJIxyZ60
Blood Bank: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=774mOmdKtZM
Roslyn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXp4gB-bgjs
Brackett WI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAZAkHT2P2Q
Wisconsin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg1E66px0zU&playnext=1&list=PL0ACF7522DE30B420
Woods: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX9bn2QohFk&playnext=1&list=PL0ACF7522DE30B420