MOG - ny isn't just a city's Posts

go australia, go!

ny isn't just a city — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:11:34 GMT

hey, so i haven't posted in a while and most of it has to do with me being in the land down under! woo hoo!! so of course while i'm here i've been scoping out some of the local music and this group caught my attention. i may even attend their cd release party this friday in melbourne!

make sure to give 'em a listen, folks!!

just lovely.

ny isn't just a city — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:46:08 GMT

tonight i went to see mewithoutYou play at a local venue in rochester with high hopes...high hopes of witnessing a great set by an underappreciated band that was FINALLY headlining a show of their own. needless to say, mwY performed great and i was ecstatic to see them play for more than a mere 20 minutes or so. aaron weiss was absolutely adorable; thanking us roughly a thousand times for coming and saying how happy he was to be there.

but this post isn't really about them. it's about one of their openers.

typically i'm not usually blown away by many openers, but this show was different. while the first band, "gasoline hearts," didn't really keep my attention, "maps and atlases" really made my head turn. their musicianship alone left me stunned. if you're into math-rock, a hyped up version of minus the bear, or a mix between architecture in helsinki and band of horses, then give these guys a listen.

http://www.myspace.com/mapsandatlases

thank you MOGlings

ny isn't just a city — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:21:32 GMT

confession time. although i've been on MOG for about a year and a half now, i haven't really been drawn to any one band because of MOGhype or reviews i've read. yeah, i've found alot of stuff where i'll think, "oh yeah, that sounds pretty good," but it's never really made me search out more of that artist's stuff. in fact, i think i began to view MOG as just a place for me to put out music that i like and comiserate with others about those same musicians. i don't know if it was me not looking hard enough or just the desire to find music independently on my own that drove me to this.

that is....

until i began reading reviews of Fionn Regan a few months back and started downloading his stuff. i'm happy to say that it was MOG who turned me on to Mr. Regan's stuff and now i find myself constantly putting him on repeat.

so although this is a little late in saying it, thank you MOGlings out there who recommended this wonderful artist!

election time is comin. know who i'm voting for?

ny isn't just a city — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:31:12 GMT

so if you know me at all, you know that i hate country music with a passion. i'm in the midst of finding that thin line between folk and country (i am a fan of folk...) and although this next song could probably be put on that revolting side, i absolutely love its lyrics and find it very appropriate this time of year.

"If a song could be president We’d hum on Election Day The gospel choir would start to sway And we’d all have a part to play

The first lady would free her hips Pull a microphone to her lips Break our hearts with Rhythm and Blues Steve Earle would anchor the news

We’d vote for a melody Pass it around on an MP3 All our best foreign policy Would be built on harmony

If a song could be president We’d fly a jukebox to the moon All our founding fathers’ 45’s Lightnin’ Hopkins and Patsy Cline If a song could be president

If a song could be president We could all add another verse Life would teach us to rehearse Till we found a key change

Break out of this minor key Half-truths and hypocrisy We wouldn’t need an underachiever-in-chief If a song could be president

We’d make Neil Young a Senator Even though he came from Canada Emmylou would be Ambassador World leaders would listen to her

They would show us where our country went wrong Strum their guitars on the White House lawn John Prine would run the FBI All the criminals would laugh and cry If a song could be president."

if only, right?

when i get up

ny isn't just a city — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:11:37 GMT

i've been a long-time fan of the twin sister duo, Tegan and Sara. i own most of their music but a few weeks ago came across an unreleased song of theirs that stunned me (and few things actually have that effect).

their song called, "When I Get Up," while not their most lyrically creative piece, showcases their unique duet skills and beautiful harmonies.

i'm just sad that the song is only about 2:30 minutes long and the only version i could find is a live performance.

let me know what you think! :)

story of my life

ny isn't just a city — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:53:27 GMT

so true.

"Cigarettes and chocolate milk These are just a couple of my cravings Everything it seems I like's a little bit stronger, A little bit thicker, a little bit harmful for me.

If I should buy jellybeans Have to eat them all in just one sitting Everything it seems I like's a little bit sweeter, A little bit fatter, a little bit harmful for me."

the orig

ny isn't just a city — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:42:04 GMT

so i abbrev things alot. this isn't something new i've picked up on but i thought an explanation for the title was needed.

the original...eh hem orig...version of this song is much better than the gym class heroes take on it.

there's my two cents for the day. the end.

new discoveries of old

ny isn't just a city — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:07:13 GMT

don't you love it when you're shuffling through your music on itunes and stumble across stuff that has been on there for ages and you get a feeling of rediscovery? i've had a number of Alexi Murdoch's songs in my library for some time but haven't listened to any of it for a while now. today i felt like playing every single track back.

i'm so happy i did. :)

not another review of "Narrow Stairs"

ny isn't just a city — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:25:24 GMT

lately i've been quite fond of just writing a few sentences about new and/or upcoming stuff. i don't think i really need to give a full page review of music that i really like - instead i'll just let the music speak for itself for a while.

anyways, here's my favorite song on the new dcfc album. i like it, i love it, and i want some more of it.

love or something like it?

ny isn't just a city — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:07:15 GMT

lately i have been absolutely enamored with Beirut. they just make you feel like dancing...or learning to play a new instrument. either way, zach condon's voice never ceases to blow me away. instead of trying to come up with deeply profound lyrics, he uses his voice as just another instrument for making beautiful sounds. reminiscent of sigur ros perhaps. you can't help feeling immense joy after listening to it.

i think i may be in love.

ingrid michaelson and conan o'brien

ny isn't just a city — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:55:09 GMT

she's gonna be on conan tomorrow night! watch it peoples :)

covers continued.

ny isn't just a city — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:29:24 GMT

i posted this a few months ago but was going back through it and realized that here is one cover that i don't mind so much...

"so, you know how it is. end of the semester is wrapping up and all i feel like listening to is some nice, calm, and soothing music. well, this cover by M. Ward seems to be a great choice. love it."

well then.

ny isn't just a city — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:31:57 GMT

When my friend Hannah first sent me this song to listen to, I instantly became intrigued with IWACS. I don't know if it was their clean and naive, yet charming keyboard melody, the carefully crafted guitar lines, almost dub like bass that forces your head down so you can't help but stare at your shoes, or the youthful bumpkin vocals that caught me, but something did. Bottom line: you can't get much more of an eclectic mix when listening to this song.

This 17 year old duo also seems to have a commendable lack of regard for genre. Rightly so if this is the kind of thing that results from a blatant disregard for labeling and order in the world of music in general. Sounding cute, miserable, and enthusiastic all at once is a tall order but IWACS seems to do it with ease.

Unfortunately, when I searched for more of their music I was disappointed to find only 4 other songs and none of which I liked as much as Pink Squares.

Overall however, I would definitely recommend giving this up-and-coming UK band a listen to. It's worth the 4 minutes out of your life.

Random Grievance

ny isn't just a city — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:14:42 GMT

why isn't this track on Plans? I absolutely love it and wish they hadn't given it the axe. it's been on repeat for.....forever now. it also has one of the most ingenious music videos (in my opinion) than any other on Directions. I'm sad.

meh, that's all.

Help!

ny isn't just a city — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:08:33 GMT

hey guys, I was wondering if you could help me out.

in my adolescent psychology class, I'm doing a group project having to do with adolescence and music. obviously this is a pretty broad subject and I was wondering if anyone had some specific suggestions for it. an example of this would be "The effects of rap music on an adolescent’s development".

if anyone has some good ideas to throw out there, I'd appreciate it. thanks!

ny isn't just a city — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 04:01:26 GMT

I just picked this album up the other day for 4 bucks and I have to say...it's pretty darn good. for those of you that don't know, atq was yet ANOTHER one of Ben Gibbard's side projects. while it's obviously not dcfc quality, I still find his voice soothing and quite the enjoyable listen-to. I recommend it to any Gibbard fan who can't get enough of his vocal abilities.....or just anyone in general for that matter. :)

ny isn't just a city — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 21:54:55 GMT

yesterday the music video came out for Lovedrug's new song "Ghost By Your Side" on singingfool.com/ you better believe I'd be all over that.

GHOST BY YOUR SIDE: PREMIERE

(I'd embed the video but it won't stop playing automatically...but please, check this video out, it's great)

ny isn't just a city — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:25:44 GMT

As many of you may know, The Shins are coming out with a new album with Sub Pop on January 23rd. I have been very fortunate to receive an advance copy because one of my friends works at an alternative radio station in the area.

I read a few reviews before I received a copy of this and I'm a little disappointed; not with the band or the album, but with the buzz that's been circling it. For every one positive response I read, there were about three others that tore down the new release mercilessly. Instead of being happy that the shins have actually made a record after three years, all I find is criticism about how its not like Oh, Inverted World.

Guess what...that can be a good thing, people. Many musicians can't stay fixated in one particular rhythm for too long without letting down their fans by coming out with a shitty, unoriginal record. The progression of this new album shows that The Shins have matured a bit and though they dont have their sixties pop vibe so much anymore, I think they've produced a wonderful piece of work that still contains those warm and fuzzy minor progressions that make their music great. Instead of taking an easy way out by reproducing their prior albums, they've come up with something that though it's progressed a bit, still has their name and style all over it.

If you get a chance, I recommend picking up this album asap and playing my favorite song on it (so far), Turn On Me.

P.S. The reviews that I read did NOT come from Mog. Most of them were in music magazines and other random threads.

christmas is snazzy.

ny isn't just a city — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:43:41 GMT

so this year was one of the best Christmas' I've had in a long time. I celebrated 3 of them so it couldn't be too bad, right?

I was just wondering what was the best gift y'all received this year? for me, it was two tickets to see the rochester amerks vs. the binghamton senators on Christmas Eve :)

(thats hockey btw for those of you who aren't fans out there)

ny isn't just a city — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 04:52:12 GMT

this has to be my absolute favorite album the decemberists have yet to release. I know...I say that to myself each time another one comes out by them, but it's really true this time, I swear. :)

i love Meloy's taletelling throughout all of their albums but on this one it seems like they more-so emphasized equality on their music as well as the lyrics while actively telling the story as well. my favorite song so far is summersong because they seem to demonstrate this point the best by having the "windborne" melody supplemented by breezy sounding guitar strums and piano chords. each song sounds so different from the previous one and it all ends up being a wonderfully beautiful piece of work. all I really have to say is bravo.

sorry I really don't offer much to an album review. I know what I like, and I have my own reasons I guess.

what studying does to you.

ny isn't just a city — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 20:40:56 GMT

I know I said I wouldn't post again till break buuuut....I needed SOMETHING to distract me from work so...I took this video of my friend while we were studying.

It's really sad what being cooped up in a room with nothing but books and fermented cider will do to you...

no me gusta FINALS.

ny isn't just a city — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 02:33:10 GMT

pretty much explains itself...I have 6 finals this week, the hardest being my spanish final on wednesday (remind me why I choose a liberal arts education again?). gross. therefore, mog is gonna have to be put in the backseat for a while till break :(

for the love of oldies.

ny isn't just a city — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:56:33 GMT

I want to dedicate this post to my father. Ever since I was a little girl it was my dad's influence that spurred on my love for music. I remember him constantly flipping through his old records and putting on the hollies, the who, grand funk railroad, etc. In the car it was the same way. We'd listen to oldies stations and he'd tell me who was playing and whether or not he liked them or not. I was 5 years old...so you can imagine that the first picture that pops into my head of the beatles is that of a bunch of guys dressed as big bugs, singing on stage. My dad's best moment came when he gave me a copy of Dark Side of the Moon for my 16th birthday. What a dad :) haha.

Anyways, thanks to my dad I now listen to a very diverse selection of music and it usually includes some bands from back in the 60's and 70's. Although we don't always agree on certain bands (he's more of an Aerosmith fan while I enjoy Boston), we can still listen to old stuff together and I can introduce him to artists from today.

winter is here.

ny isn't just a city — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 23:06:49 GMT

so today marks the first official day of winter in my part of upstate. I was happy to look out my window this morning to see fluffy snow rather than dreary torrents of rain which have been a common sight this past week. I think it snowed earlier in november but it melted that same day....

I like the snow (I better if I live in upstate ny). It puts me in a happy festive mood where I just feel like reading and decorating. therefore, that's pretty much what I've been up to all day....catching up on some books, stringing lights around my dorm and listening to Bing Crosby and others singing christmas hits....oh and my classes fit in there somewhere too I guess :)

hello.

ny isn't just a city — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 06:59:11 GMT

hey all,

welcome to my mog page and very first post. I'm not sure how often I'll post here...I have a hard time as it is posting on a xanga but eh, we'll see how it goes.

this band here, Copeland, is pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised with their newest album that came out. I have to admit that the first time I listened to them I was already a fan but I always felt deep down that they'd be one of those bands that didn't grow any better over time...that they would probably decline in goodness in fact. I was however, as stated before, pleasantly surprised when Eat, Sleep, Repeat came out. So far my favorite song on it is the last track. I highly recommend it and hope you like it as much as I do :)