Posts Tagged ‘stars’

Kata Rokkar’s Favorite Songs Of The Decade

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

You may notice a few differences between this list and the album list. I don’t feel I need to justify that due to the distinct difference between a song and a full album. These are the songs that I still listen to on repeat; they made me laugh, tear up, dance, think, and morph my own tastes into what they are today. So here in no particular order is my Favorite Songs of the Decade. Picking a favorite song is like picking a favorite child, it changes depending on your mood…

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[mp3] Max Richter – The Trees from The Blue Notebooks (2004)

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[mp3] Interpol – Obstacle 1 from Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)

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Bon Iver – For Emma from For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)

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[mp3] Jeremy Enigk – Been Here Before [Remaster] from The Missing Link (2007)

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Phoenix – Fences from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)

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[mp3] Stars – Your Ex-Lover Is Dead from Set Yourself On Fire (2005)

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[mp3] Shearwater – Rooks from Rook (2008)

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[mp3] Minus the Bear – Pachuca Sunrise from Menos el Oso (2005)

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[mp3] Radiohead – Reckoner from In Rainbows (2007)

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[mp3] The One AM Radio – A Ghost On The East Coast from A Cloud’s Fear Of Kites (2006)

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[mp3] Jonah Matranga – Learning from All Of Always New (2000-2001)

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Justice – Genesis from † (2007)

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Daft Punk – Robot Rock from Human After All (2005)

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[mp3] Explosions in the Sky – Your Hand in Mine from The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003)

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MGMT – Of Moons, Birds & Monsters from Oracular Spectacular (2008)

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The Decemberists – The Crane Wife 1 and 2 from The Crane Wife (2007)

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[mp3] Sufjan Stevens – Holland from Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lakes State (2003)

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[mp3] Russian Circles – Death Rides a Horse from Enter (2006)

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[mp3] Cut Chemist – The Garden from The Audience’s Listening (2006)

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[mp3] The Notwist – Consequence from Neon Golden (2003)

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dredg – The Canyon Behind Her from El Cielo (2002)

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The Arcade Fire – Wake Up from Funeral (2004)

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[mp3] Aphex Twin – Windowlicker from Windowlicker [Single] (2000)

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Björk – Desired Constellation from Medúlla (2004)

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[mp3] Iron & Wine – Fever Dream from Our Endless Numbered Days (2004)

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[mp3] Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountains from Fleet Foxes (2008)

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M.I.A. – Paper Planes from Kala (2007)

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The Swell Season – When Your Mind’s Made Up from Once (Original Soundtrack) (2007)

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[mp3] Wintersleep – Jaws of Life from Wintersleep (2005)

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Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Date With the Night from Fever to Tell (2003)

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The White Stripes – Hotel Yorba from White Blood Cells (2001)

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[mp3] Spoon – All The Pretty Girls Go To The City from Kill The Moonlight (2002)

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[mp3] Stars of the Lid – Humectez La Mouture from And Their Refinement of the Decline [CD2] (2007)

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[mp3] Sigur Rós – Untitled IV from ( ) (2002)

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[mp3] Battles – Atlas from Mirrored (2007)

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Outside Lands Festival: Day Three

Monday, August 25th, 2008

Day Three of the Outside Lands Festival involved no running around at all. I just stayed at the Twin Peaks Stage all day long to watch act after act perform wonderfully. I arrived early like I have for the rest of the days, however there seemed to be little more people than I expected this morning.

The first act of the day was ALO, or Animal Liberation Orchestra. A surfer rock band that has your typical happy-go-lucky lyrics about being true to yourself and all that sappy shit. I didn’t dig’em, but the meathead “bros” loved them to death. Surfer Rock is catnip for meatheads. They love it! Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Dispatch, G. Love, etc etc. They have a monster hard-on for surfer rock. One of the “bros” even had a t-shirt that said, “Do You Like My Pecs?” Lots of “Woos!” and “Yeahs!” coming from them. If you know what I mean.

Stars is that special kind of band. They play like a band that have been together for decades. There seems to be some sort of camaraderie when they play together. Plus Amy Millan is cute as all hell. This Canadian indie-pop band played songs from Heart, Set Yourself on Fire, and last year’s In Our Bedroom After the War. They were also chucking flowers into the crowd in between songs. It was quite a fun show.

Now, I love Andrew Bird. I love his records and his brand of jazzy neo-folk. But I had never seen him live before this day. Freakin’ Wow! This guy is talented far beyond the conventional singer-songwriter. Not only does he play nearly every instrument on stage but he can also whistle like nobodies buisness. While he plays the violin, guitar, and xylophone. If he swings by your town, don’t miss him. His records don’t do him any justice, you need to see this guy live.

Broken Social Scene was always that type of band I liked but never bothered to check out their live shows. So I figured now was my opportunity to see them in all their glory. They did not disappoint. Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning and their band of misfits look like they are having way too much fun up there. There were times where you’d have up to 15 people on stage playing trumpets, trombones, five guitars, and all sorts of percussion instruments. There aren’t that many bands like this out there.

After talking with what seemed like the biggest Wilco and Jeff Tweedy fan on the planet, I had high expectations for Wilco’s performance. Well it was nothing short of brilliant. The whole band is such a genuine and likable group of guys who are extremely talented. Mr. Tweedy’s songwriting and Nels Cline’s master guitar work made this live performance a massive highlight at this festival for me and probably everyone else lucky enough to catch the magic of Wilco.

Jack Johnson, or like my friend calls him, Jack-Off Johnson; was okay. I guess. I honestly wasn’t paying much attention except when I was on line for an Angus burger. I took the opportunity to wander around the festival grounds one last time and see the shops and artwork that people had displayed. I bought myself a neat little Obama T-shirt that say “Forward” on it. Seems appropriate. Particularly with his recent Joe Biden pick. Anyway, I listened to a few of Jack’s songs that I recognized. Then I left to hang out with my friends who lived nearby.

Well that’s it. It was definitely the best festival I’ve ever been to. However I’ve only been to a handful. I did have to miss Kaki King, Sean Hayes, Little Brother, Beck, Cool Kids, and M. Ward. But all these acts will be around here soon enough. I mean come on, I live in the Bay Area for Christ’s sake! One of the best music scenes on the planet. And this festival proved that fact.

Wilco – Jesus, Etc

Andrew Bird – First Song (Live)

Stars – The First Five Times

ALO -Lady Loop

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