MUSIC MONDAY

What I'm Listening To:

Foster the People "Pumped Up Kicks" from Torches

Plain and simple, this song makes me really happy! There is something about it that makes it nearly impossible to not tap your toes or want to dance in your seat. I thought this would be a great way to start off the work week.

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What I'm Listening To:

Sublime "Santeria" from Sublime

As you are reading this I am fulfilling a bucket list item...well sort of. I've always wanted to see Sublime, however impossible due to the all-to-soon death of frontman Bradley Nowell in 1996. With the two remaining members and a new frontman, Rome Ramirez, Sublime with Rome is now touring with the recent release of their album "Yours Truly". "Santeria" is the song that got me hooked on Sublime in the first place. There is something about the reggae-ska style that is perfect summer listening.

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MUSIC MONDAY

What I'm Listening To:

Mumford and Sons "The Cave" from Sigh No More

I get really excited whenever this songs comes on iTunes radio while I'm at work. I do however still have some slight bitterness that the chance to see them live fell short when tickets sold out within minutes of being released to the public. In a word - love :)

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MUSIC MONDAY

What I'm Listening To:

Lee Greenwood "God Bless the USA" from American Patriot

Every 4th of July this is the song that can make me be moved to the edge of tears. I don't know that I've ever been to a fireworks display it isn't played at. I remember the song from my childhood for a different reason - hearing it play while I was clinging to my Uncle in terror after witnessing a not yet extinguished firework remnant land on a lady sitting next to us (she was fine). As I've grown older and forever having the events of September 11 in my memory this song takes on a whole new meaning for me. Have a safe and wonderful 4th of July!

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MUSIC MONDAY

What I'm Listening To:

Adele "Rolling In The Deep" from 21

Such a powerful voice, this is one of those songs I don't think I can ever get tired of hearing. Raw emotion of the end of a relationship.

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I'm wanting to become a more active blogger and am trying to figure out what I would like to feature. I have started blogs with the intent of having them be a standing feature, but failed horribly at keeping the post date consistent or at all.

Some ideas I am currently considering are as follows:

Music Monday: A "what I'm listening to post" to start everyone's week off with something, possibly new, to listen throughout the week.

Team Tuesday: BESTeam (Boosting Etsy Shops Team) feature.

Workout Wednesday: Notes on my progress with the Couch-to-5K workout as well as any other workout related stories.

Thankful Thursday: A list of the top 3 things I am thankful for that week. Perhaps this will be a way to reflect and realize that no matter how stressful work or the week in general may be, there is always something to be thankful for.

Friday Finds: I'm thinking this would be a mainly picture feature of things I have found and like. This could be anything from Etsy items to newly discovered restaurant. The sky is the limit :)

I'm going to think on Saturday and Sunday. I am thinking about perhaps starting with the weekday to get into a flow first and then adding the weekend.

What are your thoughts?

The Airborne Toxic Event

"Changing"

The discovery of this amazing band was a matter of being at the right show at the right time, I guess you could say. After going to Lollapalooza for the first time in 2007 and my boyfriend becoming a big fan of The Fratellis, I bought him tickets to see them at the House of Blues. There were a few opening bands and The Airborne Toxic Event just happened to be one of them. I remember us looking at each other during their set, smiling and nodding in shared agreement that this was definately a band we would have to be checking into.

We scooped up their c.d. and had repeated conversations exclaiming, "We're going to see them again if they come around this area again!" In 2009 they were in the Lollapalooza lineup which only solidified the fact that we would be in attendance. We plotted our plan of attack for the weekend; who we'd be seeing, the locations of each stage and the time slots of each band. Our excitement was brimming when we staked our claim on a front row spot to see the band performing before them and didn't budge from that spot til after we had seen The Airborne Toxic Event.

They exceeded my expectations. I couldn't stand still. I couldn't stop smiling. I felt compelled to sing along. If I wasn't hooked before, I was without a doubt now.

When I learned a new album was in the works I anxiously awaited details. The new album in which the single "Changing" will be on is hitting stores April 26th in the U.S. and April 25th in Europe. While I'm awaiting the release of "All At Once" I urge you to check this band out and their video for the song "Changing". Enjoy!

Have you remembered to just breathe?
I went to see Life As We Know It and was excited to hear Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe" from their most recent album, The Fixer, featured during the movie. I think, and I may be wrong, that Pearl Jam is a band that has been around long enough that even if you aren't a fan or don't think you know their songs, you have probably heard a song or bit of one somewhere. "Just Breathe" isn't the rocking song you may expect, but rather a beautiful and raw song about life and cherishing those in our lives. Check out the lyrics {here} It's almost hard for me to write much more about the song as it simply speaks for itself so make sure you give this one a listen!

I skipped a few Thursdays (I'm sure everyone was extremely disappointed, lol). This Thursday I bring you a song worthy of listening to on repeat...and I have. "Kids" by MGMT has been stuck in my head, in a good way, for the past several weeks. This was a song I knew about and had filed it away. However, when I saw Weezer a few weeks ago they did a cover mash-up of "Kids" and Lady Gaga's "Poker Face". Sheer genius in my opinion.

Back to MGMT...described as a psychedlic pop band, they are an American band based in Brooklyn, New York. "Kids" was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals. The music video, in my opinion, isn't something I would rush to go check out as it is quite different. The beginning opens with a Mark Twain quote set over flames and transitions into a small child in his crib. Then things turn weird and some alien/monster-like creatures appear and seemingly frighten the young child.

A fun little thing for all artists out there, if you head over to their website you can upload your art to be used to "Design" their website. The art can be used as the background of the page!

Hope this is a song you can ad to your colllection :)

To mark the first official day of fall I'm choosing a song that has nothing to do with the end of summer, but the title makes me think of it. This week's pick is Florence + the Machine's "Dog Days Are Over". The song comes from Florence Welch's debut album "Lungs" which is about love and pain. The Machine portion of the band can be a reference to everything from a drum kit or piano, but currently describes the seven-piece band which accompanies her.

Something I found interesting and that other Etsians may appreciate is the clothes worn in live performances often come from local second-hand stores the day of the shown. Pretty neat, huh?

So check out "Dog Days Are Over" and tell me you if can possibly resist clapping along and dancing to this song!

I've decided to start something new on my blog. Every Thursday I intend to feature a different song. I love music...I love discovering new music...I love sharing music that people may not be familiar with so here is my little contribution. Who knows, maybe you'll find something you like, something will get you ready for the weekend or maybe you'll think I have the most awful taste ever ;)

This Thursday, in honor of the new release "Hurley", I am going way back in the Weezer archives to "The Blue Album". I'll never forget listening to Weezer's first album repeatedly on cassette. My Dad acquired the album from a friend practically before they were getting any sort of radio exposure. There is this shop in my hometown which sells used albums. Well the friend swiped this unheard of band's album from the shelves, discovering it had been brought there from a local radio station who received it as a demo, but it was not the genre they played.

And so my love for Weezer was born. Quite possibly my favorite song from the album is "My Name Is Jonas". I don't know if it's the opening guitar riffs or the way this song always makes me want to sway my head back and forth as if entranced by it, but I sure do love it. If you don't think you've heard the song, have you ever played a little game called Guitar Hero 3? This song is on it...ring a bell yet?