Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Heart Day

My mom was my valentine on account of my boyfriend being in Canada on this lovely day of love.
She was so kind to send me a card with an iTunes card inside.
SCORE!
Naturally, after scarfing sweet potato, vegan chili, and steamed kale (I had a long dance class tonight), I spent the whole thing.
Some of my purchases:
and this, too

and a bit of this


People always want to know what to get me for Christmas, birthday, etc...well, ma, you nailed it. So much happiness wrapped up in a tiny, plastic card.

Almost forgot!


Saturday, January 29, 2011

Iron and Wine

I practically forgot the release of the new Iron and Wine album this Wednesday...until I remembered.
After eagerly pulling up Kiss Each Other Clean on iTunes, I promptly clicked on the first song and listened with dismay. The slightly overproduced, possibly Christian music radio station sounds of "Walking from Home" were surely a fluke in an otherwise stellar album. Right?
I listened on.
Funk drumming?
Is that a saxophone?
How DARE you?!
I don't know what you were thinking, Sam Beam, but this beat doesn't sound like yours. The use of keyboard and snare drum are nice in their own right, but I can't help but think I have heard this before. Is it Ben Folds? Oh my God, is it Phil Collins?!
I suppose I should have seen it coming. After the release of Shepherd's Dog, I could feel the tides were changing and that whispery, unfiltered sound I had come to know and love over the years was evolving into something...else. I understand that artists change, but I guess I just wasn't ready.
Kudos, Mr. Beam, for refusing to stagnate, I guess. In the meantime, I will give Kiss Each Other Clean a few more goes, but will probably cling for dear life to albums past.