I’m so crazy about these guys, though I don’t have the same lust for Justin Vernon as my good friend Jill does. She’s a major fan.
Still, he’s the only guy out there using auto-tune and not abusing it (rappers everywhere, I’m looking at you). In contrast, he has a beautiful falsetto matched only by his ability to really belt it out sometimes. The guy knows what he’s doing.
I love him in Bon Iver, but I like Volcano Choir too because I think they’re doing something a little more experimental here. How many people did I just lose with the word “experimental?” Come back!
Seriously, give them a shot. Below are a couple of my favorites right now. It should be noted that the last two videos have some pretty compelling light shows.
Last year around this time, seemingly to battle the nonexistent cold, Adam and I started a little trend of ordering a side of Jack with our beers when we were out. It lasted for about a month and always was a surprise to our friends given that we aren’t traditionally shot orderers. About five minutes into the opening act of the Youth Lagoon concert last night, Adam resuscitated this old party trick in the hopes that the music would go down a little easier if we had something warm and slightly sensory inhibiting with which to fill our bellies.
This type of music, which my country-loving brother-in-law once referred to as angsty-sad-feelings-music, or something of the like, is certainly not to everyone’s delight. Though, after a few more minutes, Absolutely Free really did start to sound great and my taste in music that’s concerned not so much with feelings but rather with substance was reaffirmed. But, what truly blew me away was Youth Lagoon himself (YL is his stage name). I wasn’t fully prepared for the punch he and his cohorts would pack, or the Bob Ross coif he rocked just as hard and convincingly as the man himself (rest in peace).
The Swiss are awkward and never more so than at a concert. When I hear live music I usually just want to dance, and last night I could have jammed all night. The sounds were so full and genuine and I felt a familiar disappointment that my fellow attendees (Adam excluded) were not reaching their full experience potential. The concert made me excited about the band with renewed fervor and I cannot recommend the album The Year of Hibernation highly enough.
Speaking of Switzerland, the country found its way into the news a couple times this recently. I happened to pass the Parliament building when the demonstration for a base salary was under way and it seemed to make quite an impact. In the coming months Switzerland will open up the vote on whether every citizen should receive a base salary simply for being alive. It’s a compelling dialogue that opens up questions of not only fairness and equality but trust and responsibility.
If I wasn’t feeling so velvet-mouthed from last night’s “aperitif,” I would try to make my own pizza dough for tonight’s dinner. I have it on good authority that we are heading in the store-bought direction, however.
What does a week’s worth of groceries look like at your house? If it’s the first image, we need a come-to-Jesus moment.
“The ‘long hang time’ of flavors like garlic creates a smell that stimulates memories,” causing you to dive back into the bag. Flavor bursts and criminal breath: why are Doritos so alluring?
It’s no secret that I’m a big admirer of David Sedaris, and I was saddened to hear of his sister’s suicide. Sedaris’ take on the tragedy is moving and poignant.
One soldier’s take on putting veterans on a pedestal. An intriguing and diverse perspective.
What are you up to this weekend? Adam is picking up his birthday bike tomorrow and Sunday we are having a wedding war plan day. Whatever you get up to I hope it’s marvelous.
There are so many songs I’d love to share with you but it seems they all come attached to bizarre or violently unrelated music videos. I’m sure it has something to do with the genre I’m after but I’m a little curious as to why the videos are so seemingly incongruent. I’d love for you to take a listen to these two tunes, but maybe don’t think so much about the music videos.
Matt, I think you’ll like the first one better. Let me know what you think. The second one is right there with HAIM, capitalizing on all those groovy eighties sounds.
Cannot stop. Will not stop. Listening to this song. I’m convinced I’m singing for my life in my #1 music video, which constantly plays on MTV because this is the late 80s, or maybe early 90s.
It’s unfortunate that I cannot write and listen to music because I would love to be jamming to my latest purchase– HAIM, Days Are Gone. It’s always been this way though, which obviously made grad school a barrel of fun: hours upon hours of my sitting in my room in silence, guzzling tea while reading back my paragraphs out loud and curling up on the floor as I became increasingly overwhelmed. Dark times.
In other news, this is what I unpacked on Wednesday:
Following a pretty handy tutorial it then looked like this:
And as of this morning it looks like this:
As you can see we still have Ikea bags circling around here like tumbleweeds, but at least we have a much-needed kitchen cart (obviously missing the top that is currently absorbing a couple layers of wood oil). I couldn’t be more ready to put it together and bring it inside. I need to give it one more coat because the glossy paint shows every brush stroke and two coats just isn’t enough. I really like the bright and poppy fire red, which I also think looks like salsa red, or earlier in the project, what-the-hell-were-you-thinking red, and think it will add a unique splash of color in our otherwise mostly neutral apartment. I have to say, though, listening to Tina Fey and David Sedaris throughout made the project a true pleasure.
Other recent additions to the apartment include an immersion blender, an appliance about which I have been talking for almost two full years. Why I never just got the dang thing is so far beyond me, but now that I have it I can’t stop thinking of ways to use it. Last night I made squash soup (so seriously good on a chilly, drizzly night) and this weekend I hope to make tomato soup. I think we should try these fancy grilled cheese sammies on the side.
Foggy days have settled in semi-permanently around these hills and lower temperatures are bound to follow. I need a new puffy coat and think any one from Zara will do. I recently learned there is a store here in Bern, which conveniently allays my fear that I would have to go to Zurich every time I needed a fix. One more point for “Slow Bern.”
Chillier temperatures mean that the holidays are soon to come. The other night I accidentally tuned Pandora to the Christmas station and listened to a few songs before realizing it was still September and no time for “Silent Night.” I’ve already started thinking of Christmas ideas for family, however, and think that a few pieces (like this and this) from Noonday Collection will be perfect. My sweet friend Claire’s sister-in-law works with the company, whose profits support women working in countries such as Uganda, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.
For now, though, we are surrounded by pumpkins and gourds at the supermarket and on the local seasonal menus. This McSweeney’s article (which I originally saw on Hither and Thither) made me laugh out loud. Bear in mind, it’s not for those who disagree with colorful language.
I really love this beach print of Kiawah Island, South Carolina by Olivia Rae James. She is a stellar photographer and I dare you to go through her work and not wish for at least a few of her images.
Along with HAIM’s sparkling tracks I can’t stop listening to this song:
What are you up to this weekend? We have taken day trips the last three Sundays and are looking forward to just hanging out around here and hopefully doing some reading on the sofa.
I love getting new music and feel like I am forever on the search for catchy tunes, artists with staying power, or at least a jam I can run to. Andrew Bird is certainly nothing new to me, and even this song is nothing new, but I finally got the album for myself (thank you, Dropbox!) and can’t stop listening to it. The first version showcases his insane solo talent. When we saw him in Charleston I was continually awed by his ability to literally carry a tune, working the loop pedal like a madman, for two hours. A musical wizard I tell you! The second version is the album cut, which is more spirited and tremendous fun to listen to while working around the apartment.
My eyes are crossed: looking at an unhealthy amount of IKEA directions–intensely scanning the shelves for more things we need–devouring images on Pinterest for “inspiration” and design elements that don’t look so obviously Scandinavian–reading about the emotional and physical benefits of owning a pet for an article I’m writing. No joke, my eyes have been bloodshot every morning for the last five days and it’s starting to make me look suspicious.
There’s one song, though, that’s been relieving my sore and tired eyes. That’s not totally fair, because it’s on this beyond fantastic playlist that was sent over by Jack. Really, the whole playlist is to thank for the much-needed break my eyes have been earning. You see, when this song comes on (it was so deftly made the playlist’s opener) I just have to stop and jam for a minute. The break that happens at 1:34 is going to change your life for the better and finally help you understand why dancing was invented. You cannot help but move.
As I write Adam is putting together my desk, which is the last official piece of furniture that needs to be assembled. I think there is a rogue stool hiding around here somewhere, but really I think that only has decorative purposes. We’re talking function here. There is an unholy amount of cardboard and paper and plastic and stuff sitting around and it’s giving me some teen angst, but I’m a survivor so I’ll get through it. In truth, it feels a-mah-zing (RIP Happy Endings) to be in a place that is ours. Feels just as good as I thought it would. Pictures to come soon, I promise. First, do this:
I cannot stop listening to this song. It’s not necessarily a Friday kind of song, more appropriate for going on a walk or your commute perhaps, but I’m going to share it today nonetheless. It comes courtesy of Jack, inspirer of all things music. He’s been graciously passing down his Ultimate Playlists for the last couple years and the latest might be my favorite? Not sure, because I don’t want to pass judgment, but let’s just say this playlist is killing it right now. The neighbors are probably annoyed.
Ironically, the last thing Adam and I will be doing this weekend is staying incredibly still. We are going to a Wes Anderson film fest tonight because it turns out that the Swiss are just as obsessed with him as we are. The feature film for tonight is The Royal Tenenbaums, which is, in my opinion, one of his best. Can’t I get an Amen for the tracksuits?!
Tomorrow we head to IKEA for a major planning sesh. Some friends here recommended a trial run out there so we don’t feel overwhelmed trying to buy everything in one day. Smart people, they are. The temporary place we are in right now looks exactly like the IKEA showroom floor, and while that’s not really the mood I’m after in our future apartment, I know we will be buying a lot there. I’d like to go prepared, armed with a list of supplies.
Sunday is for bike riding! Well, bike buying actually. There’s a second-hand bike sale going on at a park near our place so we hope to hurry over there early in the morning and get our paws on a couple bikes. Bern is pretty hilly so biking around may pose a challenge (cut to our quads basically Hulk-ing out of our jeans), but we think bikes are a must around here. Hopefully we get some sweet rides!
The Staves are a UK-based band I heard briefly about via For Me, For You the other day. They couldn’t be more perfect for chill afternoons at home and singing along. Enjoy.
