"Be silent, be still"

Name that movie where I got the headline.

Okay, so it's been a while. I'm still on hiatus. But when I come back, I'll have some great new bands for you to check out, not to mention my songs of summer.

See you soon, lovers.

Only the lonely

It seems I have been slacking on my music blog, but I have (or at least think I have) good reason. The remnants of heartbreak are nothing to new to those viewing this page, so I don't have to say that waking up in the morning is a big enough chore at the moment, let alone trying to function everywhere else.

So, I thought I would turn my tumultuous life into a beautiful blog by giving you my top 10 breakup songs, and shed some light on why I listen to these tunes when I'm curled up in the fetal position wondering when the aching will stop.

Without further ado:

1. "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The lyrics in this piece are simple: "They don't love you like I love you." Karen O repeats this particular line, which resonates in someone who is losing someone else. You might think that other person will find love in the arms of another, but the other will never be loved like he or she was loved with you (confusing, eh?). It brings me comfort when Karen O sings this song, like she's shedding light on a secret that needs to be revealed before a lover is lost for good.

2. "Our Swords" by Band of Horses. My reason for listening to this song while I'm heartbroken is a little whacky, I'll admit. But, if you ever watched the movie "Watching the Detectives" starring Cillian Murphy and Lucy Liu, you'll know that *SPOILER ALERT* Liu pulls a fast one on Murphy and subsequently breaks his heart in the process. During his days and nights of constant crying, this song plays miserably in the background. So, if the song's good for Murphy's character during heartache, then it's good for me. Plus, how can you not identify with the line, "Count on us all stepping on our own swords tonight" at a time when everything feels like it's going wrong?

3. "Pictures of You" by the Cure. Yes, this song is technically a romantic song, but that's why it's on my list. At some point, I just want to drown, almost like a phoenix needs to burst into flames before being born again. Then when I resurface from this black time, I can move on with my life and be a better person. My dad always said it has to get worse before it can get better, so I like to speed the process along by cutting what's left of my heart out. This is where the song comes in. It's beautiful, it's lovely, and Robert Smith is perfectly poetic. He's singing of things I no longer have, and it makes me hug my knees tighter and cry a little harder. I swear, the pain is almost over.

4. "Wake Up" by Hanson. One of their secret gems, this song is featured on the "Princess Diaries" soundtrack. It's a song that I wish Hanson would have also released on another album because the lyrics are honest and raw, and I think Taylor Hanson's voice is running with emotion. The lyrics go like this, "You've got everything you need, but you don't have me." That just about sums it up. If you get the chance, look up the lyrics in full. And don't sit there and say you don't like Hanson because of "Mmmbop." Because really, there's so much more to these men than just that song, that if you count them out because if it, you're a moron. Besides, that song was an international sensation.

5. "Troubled By the Way We Came Together" by Natalie Imbruglia. What I've noticed about Imbruglia's best songs is that they all deal with being torn down or left behind. And this song is no different. Featured on the "Go" soundtrack, this song is about a relationship that was doomed from the start. Imbruglia's perfect voice croons, "You wanted today, but I wanted forever/ Troubled by the way we came together." But the best part of this song, is that she holds on to a sliver of hope for a better time.

6. "Two Dozen Roses" by Shenandoah. I don't listen to much country. Naturally, I have a few favorite artists and a handful of favorite country songs. I first heard this song while in college, and I thought it fit perfectly into the heartbroken song rotation. Now, the only problem with this song is that the guy singing is admitting fault for the turn of his relationship. But you can look past that part when you get to the lines, "If I could cry a little harder/ and get a little less sleep at night/ If I had two dozen roses would you change your mind?" That's a universal offering, if you ask me. And come on, everyone wonders if they would do something just a little differently if they could somehow get back what they've already lost.

7. "Cautioners" by Jimmy Eat World. There has been too many times where I've hit the loop button on my stereo and just cried and cried while this song played out. Even one of my friends has this song on her heartbreak playlist. I love everything about Jimmy Eat World, and this is one of my all-time favorite heartbreak songs. "You'll take your steps away with hesitance/ You'll take your steps away from me." Yikes, that hits hard, doesn't it? Well then look at this: "I'm making my peace/ And making it with distance/ Maybe that's a big mistake/ You know I'm thinking of you/ I miss you." Who hasn't been there? Sometimes it's all we can do, give the other party space even if you don't want to.

8. "Nothing Compares to You" by Sinead O'Conner. Does this song even need an explanation? If you have watched the video of her truthfully shedding tears and felt nothing, then you are a callous bastard, my friend.

9. "Sleep" by Azure Ray. Aw, the sweet melodic sound of Azure Ray. It's so sweet, in fact, that it's hard to listen to them sing about not being able to speak to the one they love, or even sleep. It's so tragic, but it's covered up by their sugary vocals. Dig deep and really feel with this one.

10. "Someday We'll Know" by the New Radicals. I like to end my playlist on a philosophical note: "Someday we'll know why I wasn't meant for you." It's the old adage, only time will tell. That's what this song's about. The lead singer asks a bunch of questions that no one has the answer to, then says that, sometimes switching it out with "Someday you'll know that I was the one for you." I like that. He keeps you on your toes.

I feel like a new person already. See how that works? I came into this a crushed, love-kicked woman. And I'm walking out (not crawling; BIG improvement) with my head slightly high and a new outlook on where this life is headed.

Sweet sound of Coconut Records

Before I begin my musical rant, I would like to apologize for my sparce postings. I was out of town, and before that, life was catching up to me. Now onto more important things...



Jason Schwartzman can do no wrong. Let me just lay out a few examples for you: "Rushmore," "I Heart Huckabees," "Darjeeling Limited" and being the former drummer in Phantom Planet (yes, he was right in the thick of it with "California," the theme song for O.C.).



It's no surprise that big things come from Schwartzman, considering his family background. The son of Talia Shire, he was born with Coppola blood (yes, as in Francis Ford, Sofia and Nicholas Cage). His brother is the ever so talented Robert Carmine (who I think is now going the last name given to him at birth ... it's hard to keep up), the lead singer and guitarist of Rooney.



Setting his sights high -- because why wouldn't the sky be the limit for you when you come from a substantial pedigree -- Schwartzman branched out after Phantom Planet to start his own band, Coconut Records. Nighttiming was released in 2007 and I'm quite partial to it, if only for the simple fact that "West Coast" appears on the album.

Song from the past...

Every now and then, I'll hear a song playing softly in the background of a movie or a television show, and I'll think to myself, "Wow, haven't heard that in a while. I need to find it again." Then I'll proceed to dig through my collection of albums to retrieve whatever was once heavily rotated in my CD player.

With the genius invention of iTunes, it's a little easier to rifle through past music. But, even with that, not all of my music is uploaded to my computer (or my roommate's computer, for that matter. We share the same iTunes library). In this case, my digging resulted in the old school method, which I find comforting and seeping with nostalgia.

Recently, I was watching "Watching the Detectives" (for like the 10th time. Cillian Murphy is one hot Irish man), and my ears perked up in the break-up scene. The song playing in the background was Band of Horses' "Our Swords," a track off their 2006 album entitled, Everything All the Time. I kept telling myself that I should go through my collection and look for that CD, but a few days went by (hey, everyone gets busy) and the song started to collect dust again in the back of my mind.

Then, I watched "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" and heard it again. This time I said to myself, "That's it. I'm looking for it right after the movie is over." So, that's what I did; I scoured the collection and found it.

I love, love Band of Horses. A product of Seattle (such good bands come out of Washington), their sound is so unique and smart. Yes, they have a twinge of southern rock bleeding through, but it's just so indie. Of course, they are probably more well-known for tracks off their album Cease to Begin, such as "No One's Gonna Love You" and "Is there a Ghost," but Everything All the Time has a great sound, too. I hope that people who became fans from the second album took the time to scope out the first one.

Once my quest to find Band of Horses in my collection was reached, I put that bad boy in the stereo and let the music take over. Before, I used to think of nothing in general while I listened to it, just good music and lazy days. But now, I can't help but think of romance, breaking up and making up, thanks to the movies I have now associated it with. That happens sometimes (best example: "Drowned" by Smashing Pumpkins will always remind of me of Matt Dillon in "Singles"), but I think it takes the listening experience up a level.

Get out your old CDs/records/cassette tapes and go through them, dear friends. I bet you'll find some hidden gems. Recover faded memories and make them vivid again. Don't forget to smile (which means stay away from the ones that remind you of exes).

Happy listening and rediscovering.

Good times, new/old music at Hotel Utah

Life got in the way of my music gushing, but I'm finally taking some time on a Friday night to bring you the latest adventure of mine. On Wednesday night, my roommate and I drove out to San Francisco (our usual destination for shows) to catch our favorite Aussies, An Horse. The venue, Hotel Utah, was a new location for us, and we were lucky enough to score front row parking (it helped that we got to the bar two hours before the show started because the traffic we were counting on hitting never appeared).

The venue itself was a bit cramped for my liking. It would be a great place to have a beer with friends and pick at finger food, but not the first place I would think of to house a band. The bar is long, and the stage is at the very end, hooking into a very tight corner. If you don't get there early enough to take one of the handful seats near the stage (like we were), then you gamble with not seeing the band at all, only hearing them.

But enough about the venue. This is all about the music. The first band to hit the stage was Truth and Salvage Co., a six-piece band hailing from Los Angeles. The bearded, trucker-capped looked very southern rock, so I had a feeling their sound would match their image. I wasn't surprised; it was very in that category. When I got home, I did a little digging on the band and found that they are originally from North Carolina, which explains the origin of their sound.

I have a fond appreciation for twangin' guitars and rock harmonies, so the band was enjoyable. They definitely have a stage presence and give all they have during their performance. I took an immediate liking to the song, "She Really Does it For Me," which they tried out during soundcheck. After looking at the band's MySpace page (www.myspace.com/truthandsalvageco), I noticed that they only have 95 friends thus far. They were definitely hitting the bar floor after the show, marketing their music. If you're interested in what they sound like, check it out. I would compare them to Band of Horses meets the Sam Roberts Band.

Most of the people I met in the bar were there to see the next act: Wintersleep. I had heard of the Canadian boys before, but never listened to their music. When asked what I should expect, a guy sitting next to me said, "Pearl Jam came out in the 90s, but if Pearl Jam were to come out today, they would sound like this." Sounds promising.

As far as that guy's comparison, I didn't feel it. But then again, can anyone really compare to Pearl Jam? Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed Wintersleep. I kept thinking to myself, "If The Shins hit it harder, they would sound like this." They have a very funky sound, and the lead singer has a very distinct voice. And yes, those boys gave it all they had, too. I'm definitely intrigued enough by the band to scope out more of their music online. Apparently, they have released three albums, and I'm pretty sure they played a bit from each. "Weighty Ghost" sticks out in my mind, so I might have to listen to that one again.

Finally, what we had been waiting for: The ever so awesome An Horse (note: My roommate talked to Kate Cooper and Damon Cox before the show, and had them sign her album. She was glowing all night). They played all of their songs off of their newly released album, Rearrange Beds. I was holding my breath for such songs as "Little Lungs," "Camp Out" and "Company." But really, all of their songs are magnetic. The crowd was so drawn to them; I love looking over a sea of people and see heads bobbing, mouths moving and hips shaking. Cooper sounds amazing live (this is the second time I've had the fortune of seeing An Horse) and Cox is one helluva drummer. Although it was pretty late for a Wednesday night, they kept the crowd alive.

After the show, we stuck around to snap a few pics with Cooper and Cox. They were absolutely lovely, even when we started gushing over them. All in all, it was a beautiful night. Two good bands discovered in my world, and one familiar band to love even more than before. It doesn't get much better than that.

The Airborne Toxic Event: Soul stripped down

Every so often, a song will play on the radio or bellow from the speakers of a bar, and in my mind, I'll immediately think, "Wow, these lyrics are blowing my mind." And then I'll obsess about finding out who sings it and where I can get my hands on it.

This is exactly the attitude I had when I first heard Los Angeles-based band The Airborne Toxic Event's "Sometime Around Midnight." These lyrics speak to me on a whole new level, and I haven't felt this stripped down by a song in such a long time (probably not since Jimmy Eat World's "Cautioners"). It's almost as if this song was written about my experiences with love lost and ex encounters. And, I'm sure everyone that listens to this song and looks up the lyrics will think the same thing. In fact, I e-mailed one of my close buddies and told her to listen to the song with the lyrics on hand, and then tell me she didn't feel the same way at some point. She responded with nothing but praise for the song, and agreed that it speaks to her, too.

The sorrow, longing and basic madness churn heavy in this tune. It's a sad story, as well as beautiful and poignant. The slow tempo of the guitars and violin to Mikel Jollett's voice when he loses control and belts out, "Your friends ask, 'What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost.'" From there, the control is a distant memory to the yearning and raw aching in his voice. It hurts every time I hear it, because it's like I'm reliving a part of my life I don't want to, and yet can't let go of.

When Jollett croons, "You can smell her perfume, you can see her lying naked in your arms," it should spark a memory in you, the listener. This part of the song is so truthful that hardly anyone talks about; when you first see an ex after some time apart -- maybe you've moved on, maybe they moved on -- but a scent, a smile, or even a song, can bring it all speeding back toward you, hurling you into paralysis.

I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for the violin in rock bands. Maybe I'm partial because I played the instrument when I was younger, but even so, I love the melancholy sound it brings to any song. I think with the violin, this already emotional song goes that much deeper, striking a chord with the audience. Anna Bulbrook plays the violin quite well (my only gripe is I wish I could see her more clearly in the music video. She deserves at least one face shot not drowned out by the light).

If you have ever felt like you're doing quite well after a break-up, then completely lost yourself after running into them in a bar/restaurant/store/class/etc., then this song is for you. Remember how idiotic you felt the morning after, when you realized that chasing that ex down to see them one last time after he or she made an exit probably wasn't the best idea for your emotional well-being? Well, don't worry friends. This song just goes to show that we've all been there.

After you listen to this song, drop me a comment and let me know if you agree or not. I would love to know.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs are heroes with 'Zero'

I'm always down for the sound of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I heard "Maps" on the radio during a time when the words, "they don't love you like I love you" resonated through every bone in my body. I've cried with this song many times (and I would find out later in their music video for this song that Karen O cried too). I rushed to my favorite music store, Rasputins, and purchased the album Fever to Tell, hoping there were other gems to uncover. I wasn't disappointed. Their sound is infectious and groovy in that indie rock, dance-your-face-off sort of way. Sadly, I had the chance to see them live and didn't take the opportunity. I won tickets from a local radio station (the first of two times that's ever happened to me) and I couldn't find anyone to go with me, and that was during a time when I was afraid to go places by myself. I got over that after kicking myself for missing the show.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same way about Show Your Bones. Don't get me wrong, I loved "Gold Lion," but nothing else really grabbed my attention. But, I didn't worry. I knew that one day the Yeah Yeah Yeahs would be back one day to capture that sound that ultimately won me over.

And, here we are with one of their new singles, "Zero." It's amazing! It's got that energy that I expect from the trio and lyrics that are easy to sing along to with all of your friends over many drinks in a loud bar near the dance floor. The sound of this song is a prelude to the different approach to the new album, It's Blitz!, and I've heard a few critics say they should have stuck to the same ol' same ol'. I say to hell with that. If you're going to mature as artists, then you need to take risks and experiment with your sound. And, come on, would you really expect the unique and lovely Karen O to do something run of the mill? Didn't think so.

So, the fearless YYY took a gamble and came out heroes. And, with that, I have a new album to go hunt down.