Stay With Me - NO

The National called. They want their voice back. I found this track off of the November 2011 Birp Playlist and it’s really been sticking to me. There are some things about this song musically that I think could have been rearranged to make a stronger track (the chorus is a bit of a drag and a quicker drum progression would have been dope) but lyrically it’s a poignant song about loss and there are some cool images floating around (tracing constellations, wrinkles on a human face). All in all there’s nothing especially innovative going on here, musically, lyrically, or vocally, but I find this song somehow comforting. And I like being told that it’s alright!

—Aud

Doing It Wrong (featuring Stevie Wonder) - Drake, Take Care (2011)

We live in a generation of not being in love and not being together, but we sure make it feel like we’re together because we’re scared to see each other with somebody else.

After a slight delay, Drake’s sophomore effort Take Care is dropping in like 2 hours. After a glossing over the album a few times, I can safely say that Take Care is infinitely better than Thank Me Later. Thus far “Doing It Wrong” has been a stand out track to me due to its multidimensional expression of thought vs feeling, empathy vs selfishness, out of love vs in love. Also Stevie Wonder. Duh. Drake has in some ways returned to his So Far Gone roots—opting for a more R&B influenced sound and lyrical introspection that extends beyond the realm of achieving monetary success (see “Look What You’ve Done” and “Over My Dead Body”). But yes, there are still some problematic things going on for me as a woman while listening to this album. Look out for more detailed thoughts on Take Care in the next week or so. 

—Aud

Lithium - Nirvana, Nevermind (1991)

Sunday morning is every day for all I care.

yeaaah yeah yeah yeah. I always start going with the Girl Talk part that samples this chorus. 

—Aud

Canadian Girl - The Walkmen, You & I (2008)

A very beautiful (but heartbreaking) song to listen to with all this snow.

—Audball

Soon It Will Be Cold Enough To Build Fires - Emancipator, Soon It Will Be Cold Enough (2008)

Indeed it will be. The wind today is outrageous! Today at the pre-school (I know it’s terrible to have favorites) my favorite two students and I took shelter in the sandbox. Their reaction to the wind was way too cute and they kept tossing leaves into the air to watch them fly. Okay I’ll stop, I’m too obsessed with my job. Anyway this is a pretty song and fits nicely with the weather today.

—Audrey

Beercan - Beck, Mellow Gold (1994)

Sure, I was about two years old when this album was released but since the song includes Carebear’s samples (and yes I could be considered a former Carebear fan, why I am not entirely sure) I’d say this song comes full circle like a cheerio. Beck is one of those artists that I always seem to go back to (hence the aforementioned cheerio statement) and this song especially kicks @$$. Additionally, as if my mother could possibly get any cooler, I was recently informed that my mother is in fact a Beck fan. While I was home last week she passed down to me her copy of 2008’s Mutilations. I’m not sure how she owned that so recently without my knowledge but apparently she did. Needless to say we bonded, similar to the bonding that occurred between us at my discovery of her possession of Radiohead’s Pablo Honey (and shared mockery of that album… although I do like the song “Thinking About You” f*** the haters), and when me and my father expressed our shared love for Sugar Ray and George Strait’s “I Hate Everything” (Don’t knock it til you try it—probably more likened to those readers who share my Southern roots). The point is, I’m addicted to gambling. And I apologize for the poorly integrated Strangers With Candy references.

—Audball

starslinger:

Star Slinger - Dumbin’ (Click buy for Free Download) | Star Slinger

My new sounds

YEEEAH

Hard 2 Keep - R E A L M A G I C  (2011)

This song is dope.

—aud.ball

(via danceyrselfclean)

Mathematics (Prod. by DJ Premier) - Mos Def, Black On Both Sides (1999)

Mos Def Mornings.

—Aud