i heard about forgiveness and i hope it ain't too late...

i know i've blogged several times recently, and while they are all equally as important, this one is a keeper folks. sometimes you just hear a band that clicks with you. someone who you've never heard a note from in your entire life, and then bam. sometimes i'm pretty difficult in trying out new things, especially when i've been a groove lately with my tunes (see previous posts). but let me tell you...this one is definitely a keeper.

i have found a band that makes me fall in love with music all over again. and if you know me one bit - if you have ever exchanged wonderful conversations with me - you know the value of this statement. i don't just use it willy nilly, something's gotta grab this little heart of mine and scream "this is why you do it. this is why you don't give up on the dream." ladies and gentlemen, i present to you (and i hope, just HOPE that someone already knows them - i welcome the "old news, saw them play last year at so-and-so's house", blah blah comments)...

band of annuals.

at first listen, some of you may say ryan adams immediately. i agree. i hear hints of the rocky votolato, a dash of the decemberists and some deeper voiced elliot smith. in a nutshell, if you must have a genre attached, it's most definitely alt-country. but more than that it's beautiful. the lyrics really reach out of the song and grab your attention, all the while, not diverting your focus on the flowing melodies. it's just the combination of finger plucking and harmonica. previously know as just "the annuals," they're a 6-piece beauty hailing from salt lake city, utah. good things do come from out west, you know. it's not all bout the east or west coast, let's look towards to the meat of the country. it reminds me of road trips in the astrovan growing up. i guarantee you (put my money on it) that they will show up in a background of an emotional scene in a primetime television show in the near future. it's raw. it's beautiful. it's lovely. please, don't take my word for it. take a listen. (let me recommend to you "part III") you never know who will be the next artist or band to remind you why you love what you love...

and while i'm on the subject of loving things, let's talk for a second (again) about the new craze that is burgermeister. i finally made it to one of her shows and copped me my first piece of history in the sh-sh-sh-shaaaaark attack. i love it, and i wear it proudly. ohio will get a nice taste of it this weekend.

and i'm ending on this. while i'll admit watching a shot at love with tila tequila is addicting, and somewhat convenient to pass the time while exercising, i have to say that when she attempts to cry, i want to throw something at the television. that girl is the most annoying thing on the face of this planet. if it weren't for the fact that people with a few bricks short of a load thing they're in love with her and go nuts and do stupid stuff, i wouldn't watch. oh viacom, i want my mtv (back).

nuggets for your ears:

(these five have to be pieced together in this order for full experience)
grace potter & the nocturnals - "nothing but the water I"

grace potter & the nocturnals - "nothing but the water II"
grace potter & the nocturnals - "nothing but the water (drum solo)"
grace potter & the nocturnals - "nothing but the water II (reprise)"
grace potter & the nocturnals - "nothing but the water I (reprise)"

turn it up and rock it out, folks.
good. night.

new trend

i'm going to start a "sunday flashback to carrie's musical past youtube video" thing. what a fine day to start. enjoy.

http://www.thingsididlastnight.com/

I will never love you more than the drummer of Flaming Lips.

I will never love you more than Woody Allen movies.
I will never love you more than the White Album of the Beatles.
I will never love you more than DVD nights with my girlfriends.
I will never love you more than my boyfriend when I was 14.
I will never love you more than meeting Paul McCartney.
I will never love you more than Scandinavian Tour.
I will never love you more than dancing to Phil Spektor.
I will never love you more than my Casiotone keyboard.
I will never love you more than Daniel Johnston himself.
I will never love you more than singing in the shower.
I will never love you more than my Mac computer.
I will never love you more than having a daughter.
I will never love you more than peanut butter.
- taken from SoKo's "I Will Never Love You More"

i came across this website tonight. you know how you find something and you sort of kick yourself and say WHY didn't i know this was out there before? but really, when you think about it, that's exactly WHY you found it in the first place - because you didn't know it was there. confusing yet? i'll let it explain itself. i don't like to come out and say it, i like to hide links. it's for the ones who actually care to read and click through, and want to hear about the random swirlings inside this head of mine. (however, i suggest peeping death cab, the kooks, and britt daniel) peruse at your own risk.

while i'm speaking of fun things, i think this picture made my day today:

it's the band mates of state, and it just makes me laugh.

have you ever been on the verge of something big? like "you can't sleep at night" big. it may or may not happen, but something feels right about now. about everything sort of falling into place at this very moment. we're jumping in. the only failure is not to try, folks, and i intend to prove that. or get it tattooed on my forearm. whichever comes first. (um, former, please) props to lindsay on this one...

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
- Thoreau

exciting few days in the future here. the big "mudville 9" trip on friday. well deserved and well earned. that's all i'll say. then possibly a trip to the infamous isle on saturday to soak in some of the DL creative vibes. with a sixty percent chance of cruising along the montauk highway until i run out of room to do so. monday, we have a show lined up - finally taking advantage of the resident stay of pete and j at the living room - special guest bess rogers. should be pretty cool.

lately, you make me weaker in the knees. oh, did i say that out loud?

i will leave you now with this musical treat. just so happens to be at my second home, the lovely canal room. i'm telling you, it's the hotspot. enjoy and keep outta trouble, you.

listening to:

1. jamie lidell
2. kate walsh
3. narrow stairs

looking at:

1. this is your entire life. on a wall. and i want it.
2. if anyone is in a "buying mood"
3. inspiring

there are no lies in this world we call sleep

i'm working on a big ol' recap post - talking about the best damn week ever, the 2008 Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge, folks. stay tuned.

in the meantime, let's talk the basics.

downer of the week NAY month? pollen. go away pollen. you are clogging up my insides and making me itchy and sniffly and ugh. i'm tired because you are wearing me out. i'm also not appreciative of the fact that i washed my car, and you continue to blanket yourself over that. (note: this also includes the massive amt of bird crap that i'm gathering during the week, too) but seriously, my poor eyes can't take any more itching, so please go away. however, nice weather - please stay. if i have to sacrifice the sun for the sanity - so be it. boo to you pollen.

let's talk about some other things on my mind. ants. damn ants in the house. not in my pants, but in the house. i'm spraying outside, inside, all around. putting out the little pieces of cardboard with the sweet sweet poison. spraying them with bleach and watching them drowned, etc. but those effers are not going down without a fight. i think i'm going to call an exterminator this weekend. we get them every year once the weather gets better, but like no matter what i do, they're still here. it's disheartening.

whoever designs cd packaging methods, i'm giving mad props to the person who utilizes the red strip on the outside plastic encasing the CD. in fact, i tend to have a more positive feeling about those discs possessing this lovely treat, thus leading to a more enjoyable experience. HENCE, musicians - if you want me to love you stuff, or at least be happier when listening to it, use the strip. case in point - the new death cab album. although i do not need any more selling points to love such a dcfc album, the "easy-open" strip is quite helpful. i'm able to quickly open my product and have much less trash to throw in the side pocket of my car door. yes, i'm one of those "as soon as i get to my car open the cd" people. which leads me to....the opening track on death cab's new album. what a treat. i'm still delving, but so far so good pple. mr. gibbard et al, you do not disappoint.

i also picked up duffy's album. it's chill. i like it.

so listen. if you want to watch a touching, slightly depressing, but i-can-oh-so-relate movie, i recommend to you, one true thing. it's about 10 years old, but wow. i'm surprised i haven't discovered it already. it's one of those i always heard pple talk about, or i saw the name places, but never checked out. those are the hidden gems, folks. yeah. it's tough to watch, but the characters are really great, and if nothing else, lauren graham has a cameo, and that's a-ok in my book. (see: future plans for a talk show with my twin, and lauren being our first guest)

i'm going to see a show next week at the canal room, which by the way, just happens to be the coolest venue in the city, if you ask me. not just for atmosphere, but uh duh - the staff is amazing. i had so much fun working with everyone (ps: don't worry, i'm still piecing together the big wonderful music recap post. hold tight. it will be worth the wait, trust me - because the one and only burgermeister hooked me up with some sweet tagged photos. props)

alright. laundry is finished, i need to shower and get to bed. it's already wednesday morning which means two things - i suck for not getting to bed sooner, and will pay for that in the morning. and two - that means one more day til lindsay frail's birthday. which, of course, is a national holiday. we should all celebrate the day that we were blessed with her presence. :)