I feel a bit like this tattered and old tabletop today. It's been a hard week, a harder weekend and unfortunately I see plenty of stormclouds in the future.

Buy some: The Shortwave Set, She & Him, Louis Jordan

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I have no real reason for the Canadian artists du jour. Maybe it's a Canadian holiday today? Maybe I just like Canadians.

Buy some: Plants And Animals, Hello, Blue Roses, The Cansecos

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Looking to kill a small time gap during the first night of SxSW I spied the name "Slaraffenland" followed by the always magical word "Denmark" on the schedule. After trying to figure out where exactly "The Gibson Room" at Maggie May's was... I found myself totally enraptured by five Danish boys I'd never even heard of before.
My intention was to just check out a few minutes of their set, hop on over to see Ed Harcourt and then Peter Moren. The second they started though I was overwhelmed with the mashup of horns, 5 part harmonies, synths and all around Scandinavian love that was freely flowing through the room. I could not be torn away from that set, no matter how many text messages or calls of "Where Are You?" came through. I picked up their record Private Cinema from Waterloo while I was still in Austin but honestly, it can't match the intensity of this band live.
I don't normally make flat out music recommendations like the average music blogger (why do i always want to type blooger instead of blogger?) so here goes... Slaraffenland is starting a rather extensive US tour in a few weeks and I definitely advise popping in on their live show if you can.

[End of Public Service Announcement]

Buy some: Slaraffenland

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"I told you if you got angry enough you'd like this album."
- Brian on OK Computer

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Some days... I am completely lacking direction. (That's a lie.)
Most days... I am completely lacking direction. (Much closer to the truth I think.)

After lounging in a bubble bath for a while and reading Dean Wareham's Book... this meandering doesn't seem as horrible as previously thought. Going along for the ride doesn't always end up in a bad journey.

Buy some: Luna

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As I go through my life there are moments where I pause and think, I should reflect and write on this. Inevitably I am too busy to stop at that second and too easily distracted to remember later. So now that I sit here on a Saturday morning with the luxury of a bit of time at my disposal, sunshine on my toes and a cup of coffee at the ready... I have nothing. To that point though, maybe a few minutes of empty thoughts is a good thing compared to the constant Go Go Go I live in lately.

Things I could tell you, the reader:

1. After years of blissfully ignoring the existence of one Mr. Kelley Stoltz, a Mr. Bart Davenport made a comment way back in March that finally convinced me to listen. I shall take this moment to state... what an idiot I've been. "Your Reverie" is now on repeat.
   
2. Speaking of March, I have actually neglected to give any thoughts on the SxSW experience this year. Ups and Downs (as always) but the constant up uP UP UP was one Mr. Liam Finn. I assure you Crowded-House-loving-naysayers... Liam stands on his own two feet musically and will not always live in his father's shadow. I shall now dub him a live phenom of loop petals and near orgasmic energy. He very quickly became one of those artists whose record took on a new life after the live show.
   
3. I've begun to think Harvey... um Bill has somehow tapped into my musical energy lately. He's called nearly every new sound I'm into to a T (tea? tee?). Kelley Stoltz... hell yes, the Shortwave Set's new record is phenomenal, and the Mystery Jets have surprised me with their sudden pop sensibility. Now if only I'd have convinced him to see Liam Finn w me so he could be equally thrilled with the Kiwis.
   
4. As for Kiwis... For the past 3 months or so the Phoenix Foundation has been in near constant rotation. When I can't decide on a sound or a mood (which strangely keeps happening oh so often lately)... The Phoenix Foundation is always there for me. "Bright Grey" seems to pop into my head all of it's own accord.

Buy some: Kelley Stoltz, Liam Finn, The Shortwave Set, Mystery Jets, The Phoenix Foundation

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I never seem to catch up anymore. There's a race going on between me and my to do list and unfortunately, it's always winning. Every time I think I've checked off enough¹, the list grows again. I can see the list way out ahead of me... but it's so far away on the horizon catching it seems impossible. Even armed with my best check marks I just don't know that I am making enough progress to come close to the list.

¹ Unless it's a digital list... then I prefer the strike out to the typical check mark.

Buy some: The Marlboro Chorus, The Brother Kite

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