lislis

B is for Ben Lee

B

is for

Ben Lee

It was tricky to figure out which Ben to feature as my B, since obviously it had to be a Ben, but for me I decided to show my love to Ben Lee whose new album "Ripe" just dropped last month (and yes I own a copy.. paid for it with cold hard plastic and everything -- and who doesn't love a song called "What would Jay-Z do?"). I of course love each Ben for their own reasons, Kweller is the Quirky one, Folds is the hilarious one, and Lee is the adorable one. I mean come on listen to that aussie accent!

Musically, each of the Bens are different as well. I think Ben Lee tends to be the one who embraces pop the most, he likes the bubble gum beats, and I in turn enjoy clappin' my hands along ("catch my disease " will always make me smile). Anyways, "Awake is the New Sleep", his past album, was great to listen to on repeat. I actually identify it with the music I listened to and sent to a friend of mine who was goin' through a pretty bad time. For me, that music was that light in a suck-tastic time.

So, that is why Happy-go-Lucky Ben Lee is my B. Plus! He was the last Ben I got to see live, so the suspense might have something to do with it.

C is for Cat Empire

C

is for

The Cat Empire

Ok, do I really need to reintroduce the Cat Empire and my love for them again? I've put them on my summer mix, my life soundtrack , and written about their live performances. As I've said before, I found them about two years ago thanks to aurgasm and have been a fan ever since. I was incredibly psyched when they re-released their album Two Shoes recently here in the US and can honestly say my biggest regret this year was missing them on their US tour because of taking this job out in Chicago (they were in chicago 2 days before I got here, and in MD the day I started work). Anyways, I don't know how anyone could not be into the Cat Empire, so stop it! Listen to sly off my summer mix or more tracks on Hype Machine or watch the video for the Car Song below.

listen: cat empire on Hype Machine
 

D is for De La Soul

is for

De La Soul

"3 Feet High and Rising" was one of those albums that I grew up with, listening to obsessively (mostly because I only had a few of my dad's cds & cassettes to rock out to, the others were a Madonna Cassette & later Barenaked Ladies' Gordon).

Anyways, what I loved about it as a kid were all the skits in between songs, as well as who doesn't love a new version of "3 is the magic number"? Somewhere in my life I ended up no longer having the album (probably taken back by my dad or at least filed with all the rest of his cds) and I forgot about it for a bit.

Recently, I've gotten back into their music (as well as other 90s groups) thanks in part to my quest for music videos (and subsequent power hour creations). Finding their music after possibly  a decade without them is quite an experience. It's that discovery of what you missed due to your age (hello, there's a track called "De La Orgy"), and the surprise of what you do remember. Regardless, they do have  a great flow, message, and an overall  greatness  - especially associated with "3 feet High and Rising."

E is for Etta James

E

is for

Etta James

So everyone knows Etta James as for "At Last" and some of her passionate ballads ("Sunday Kind of Love"), but you should also rock out to some of her other tracks like "Good Rockin Daddy" and "I Just Wanna Make Love to You" (originally a Muddy Waters Song) and her more fun tracks. For me, Sunday Kind of Love will always be my favorite, but man can she sing. She's had the rough life early on, drugs, bad boyfriends, etc, but she seems to have made it out alive.In case you haven't seen her recently, after undergoing surgery, she's out with a new record called "All the Way".

Watch:

Etta James and Chuck Berry - Rock and Roll Music

Etta & Dr. John - "I'd Rather Be a Blind Girl"

Etta - Vintage 1950s Live

Listen:

On Hype Machine

On Elbo.ws

"A Sunday Kind of Love" at Music Shelter

"Good Rockin Daddy" on Lis Lis Podcast or at Dalston Oxfam Shop

Visit: http://www.etta-james.com/

F is for the Format

F

is for

The Format

The picture above is actually one that I took when I first saw the Format opening up for Something Corporate and Yellowcard, Freshmen Year (the College Years). This was at my favorite scenic-wise venue the Scene Pavilion (now its the Plain Dealer pav. maybe?). Anyways, they were pretty good live all those years back, and their fans at that show were crazy! Since most of the audience was there for Yellowcard (and v. obviously under the age of 18) the crazy college fans were tall, drunk, and wild. Whatev's ..

Anyways, they're music is fun and stands out. The vocals remind me a bit of Motion City Soundtrack, but only in the unique, stands out, kind of way. I didn't really get into them until about a year or 2 ago when I got Interventions + lullabies from Steve-o (oh the # of albums I've discovered through him). After that Dog Problems started getting mentioned on most of the music blogs I frequented, and since then I have often been found dancing around to their music, it's good music to get energized to while going to class.

Watch:

Dog Problems

The Compromise

Tie the Rope (in one of my MV PH's)

Listen:
Holly Jolly Christmas via The Late Greats
Inches and Failing via I Guess i'm Floating
Simple Twist of Fate(Bob Dylan Cover) via Indieblog heaven

via I am Fuel you are Friends

more through Hype Machine or Elbo.ws

On Myspace: The Format

G is for Girl Talk

G

is for

GirlTalk

I do believe Girl Talk is the 1st alumni that I've posted about here (Girl Talk's the only legitimate music act to come from Case while I've been there that I know of). Jay and I talked about how he had heard him spin freshmen year at one of the Ford apartment parties. Point is, my enjoyment of mash-ups and other assorted mixes made me love Girl Talk and enjoy rocking out to it. Anyways, Girl Talk will be making a visit back to C-land on Groundhog's day  at the Grog Shop. I'm sure it will be lots of fun! Much love and much support to Girl Talk.

Read his Interview at Pitchfork

Listen to "Hold Up" and "Bounce That"

Download more tracks from his myspace

H is for Hellogoodbye

H

is for

Hellogoodbye

I found Hellogoodbye thanks to Amy when she shared with me their EP. I enjoyed rocking out to "Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn" off of it and jumping, dancing, and spinning in our glaser suite. Anyways, they finally came out with a full-fledged new album "Zombies!..." which was propped thanks to Threadless!. Anyways, their music is a bit crazier and a bit more experimental than most pop music, but it is pop - with a sense of humor. Their video for "Here (in Your Arms)" represents all the forgottenness of Pogs, everyone's favorite Recess game! Point is their zany, and I can't listen to them w/o thinking of Amy! So rock out to them for Amy-o!

Video for "Here (In Your Arms)"

Live for "Oh, it is Love":

Listen: Here (In your Arms) via Bows & Arrows

Saw it on your Keyboard via All Things Go

Buy: Hellogoodbye Merch

I is for Imogen Heap

I

is for

Imogen Heap

I had shared some Imogen when I had my player working (alas no more..), but I've been into her for a while. Probably, like most kids,  was via Frou Frou, which she's a part of, and thus via the Garden State Soundtrack (our first date yay!). Anyways, she's kooky but enjoyable! While I adore her solo works and her music w/ Frou Frou, not everyone agrees. Her solo stuff is more stripped down and less electronic, but all very very fun! Good music to feel curious to!

Check out her Hallelujah Cover, because who can't cover this song?

Live at the Recher Theatre:

Video for "Headlock"

Previously:

Imogen Heap Music Love

"Hide and Seek"

J is for Jamie Lidell

J

is for

Jamie Lidell

Jamie Lidell has been my little british one-man band crush. He's amazing, creative, and super fun! I'm a little sad that I missed his live show @ the grog last week due to work, but c'est la vie! Anyways, picking someone for J was quite tough since musically I have way too many crushes, but I feel like I haven't posted enough about Jamie, so he wins! A close second was Josh Rouse, but I posted a pretty extensive post on him earlier this summer, so go check that out if you want more. I'm excited to see what Jamie Lidell will be bringing next!

Live Doing what he does:

Video for "New Me"

Live with a Full Band for "Multiply":

Music:

Check out Jamie Lidell on the World Cafe via The Late Greats

Multiply via Go Deaf Young

Multiply (Gonzales Remix) via Underrated Magazine Blog

previously:

Jamie Lidell: http://arjay.typepad.com/lislis/2005/07/the_little_book.html

K is for Kings of Convenience

K

is for

Kings of Convenience

I learned of Kings of Convenience 2nd Year while catching their video for "I'd Rather Dance with You" on MTVU in the boys' common room (since we refused to have a real working tv).

I also remember downloading the single (pop mix a la the music video version) with a free itunes song via pepsi. They're music is very chill and excellent for studying, sleeping, and walking to class (all very important to a college student's life).

To get a sense of their style, here's their live version of :I'd Rather Dance":

Anyways, they remind me of some of the music my parents occasionally rocked out to (by which I mean chilled out to) at home. In fact, I know they've toured and played in Brazil on an off. Also, more than a few of their tracks feature Feist, who both Stentz and my Dad enjoy (but aren't they almost creepily the same person?).

Listen:

I'd Rather Dance with you than Talk to You via Indiependentmusic (who always has great tracks)

The Build Up(feat. Feist) via The Late Greats (who I don't pimp out nearly enough)

Alex C -"The Weight of My Wrong" (Four Tet vs. KoC vs. Everything but the Girl) via Puritan Blister

more via Elbo.ws

www.kingsofconvenience.com