If you don't like my fire, then don't come around ...

Today has been an eclectic music day for me. I keep switching between Phantom of the Opera and Ben Harper. Today feels like a Ben Harper type of day ;-)

I See London, I See Sam's Town

I've been listening a lot to The Killers' Sawdust CD. Typically The Killers would be too mainstream for my snobby musical tastes but I just can't ignore good music.

Abbey Road version of Sam's Town


Tranquilize


And to appease the indie rock gods, I've also been listening to San Diego's Pinback


As well as St Vincent (who sounds 10x better not live. Her voice is amazing when recorded properly)

That's what I'm waiting for

I'm really not gonna shut up about Modest Mouse.

Someone posted a clip from last night's show. This was actually one of their more sedate songs that they played and while it was good I didn't love, LOVE it but it still shows their awesome rock starness.


Even better, they recently released a video for their kick ass song Little Motel. Watch this video from start to end and be prepared to cry.

It rained and its over a shooting star
Landed directly on our broke down little car
We fold and we had made a wish
That we would be missed
If one another just did not exist

Right wing, left wing, chicken wing

You know that feeling you get after you've just had a fantastically fun time? A bit of the ho-hum blues when you realize that the moment you just had will.never.happen.again. *sigh* Last night Dave and I went to the Modest Mouse concert. Easily it was the 2nd best concert that I have ever attended (1st is the Dave & Friends concert at Oakland Coliseum which was a once in a lifetime opportunity where I was just the right amount of inebriated and had 8th row seats).

I was hesitant about going to the concert as it was held at an open seating concert hall and Modest Mouse is notorious for being too drunk to perform which is why I've never seen MM in the past even though I have loved their music since 2003. Dave and I got there 30 minutes before the opening act because I wanted a good spot and Matt Costa was the opener (Me + Matt Costa = Forever). As soon as I found out that Matt Costa was the opener I should have realized that the stars were aligned and this concert was made especially for me. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Matt Costa is more like Jack Johnson (he makes me want to surf, smoke some up, then eat a breakfast burrito) while MM is just so spastic (they make me want to take a long drive while singing at the top of my lungs). Two great styles (in my book) but not exactly two types of bands that you expect to support each other.

Matt Costa was fantastic. His voice was pure loveliness and the crowd was very polite even though Matt is still relatively unknown and I think I was the only one in the crowd who could actually sing along to his songs. MM began to perform after an obscenely long set change during which 2 drum kits and a stand up bass were brought out. For once Isaac Brock (the lead singer) wasn't doped out of his mind and could actually sing the songs well and with understandable lyrics. The two drummers (who were beating their little hearts out) combined with the guitar god Johnny Marr and a on-top-of-his game Brock made for a spectacular concert. The set list was just the right combo of classics from their early days combined with songs off their new album. They jammed out and funked up some of their songs but didn't spend half the concert going off on some musical tangent *cough* DMB *cough*. It was just the perfect type of concert where the music infuses your soul and makes you dance and sing without consciously realizing what you are doing. *sigh* All in all it was a perfect evening and I am so sad that no recording was made of the concert because I would love listen to it and over and over while reliving the concert.

If you haven't done so already: fall in love with Modest Mouse.

Man Candy Music

I'm busier then a worker bee. Going 100mph without time to stop and breath but I love it. Doing a lotta driving and listening to Snow Patrol. Still love them. You should too.

On an unrelated note, fires are still burning here but are 100% contained (contained just means that there is a fire line around the perimeter of the fire, not that the fire is out). Anyways, lots of firefighters running around town and sleeping in local hotels. Seems like everyday I run into one and they all seem to have the same basic qualities: smoldering good looks, hard body, exudes sexiness. Not sure what is about them but I'm starting to think it's a requirement for firefighters to be hott. Luckily, I worked for the Forest Service while in college and personally came to realize that most firefighters are cocky asses. Cute but pricks. Oh well, I still love the eye candy.

Guide to Loving Isaac Brock

I plan on going to the Modest Mouse concert in December and as a result I've re-found my love for Isaac Brock. Isaac Brock is the lead singer (and sex god, mmmmm tattoos) for the band Modest Mouse as well as his side project Ugly Casanova. Because I think that Brock's musical genius is often overlooked, I've made a little guide of Isacc Brock's best songs (in my opinion). Good music is yummy.

Note: Due to my laziness, I've abbreviated the band names and the CD titles. MM = Modest Mouse & UC = Ugly Casanova.

Float On - MM, Good News
Ocean Breathes Salty - MM, Good News
Little Motel - MM, We Were Dead (One of my very favs!!!)
Paper Thin Walls - MM, Baron Von Bullsh&t
The World At Large - MM, Good News
Hotcha Girls - UC, Sharpen Your Teeth
We've Got Everything - MM, We Were Dead
Bukowski - MM, Good News
Polar Opposites - MM, Lonesome Crowded West
Gravity Rides Everything - Moon & Antarctica
Dramamine - MM, Long Drive
Good Times Are Killing Me - MM, Baron Von Bullsh*t

Holy cow. I'll stop there even though I haven't included half the songs I would like to off of the Lonesome Crowded West, Moon & Antarctica, or from the Ugly Casanova CD. Hopefully you fall in love with them just as much as I have.

Good Music = Happy Soul

We all like music. I'm partial to the indie type and as we all know the indie nerds couldn't be happy just categorizing all indie music together. Nope they had to break it up in a million sub categories. I like to call my preferred category "whiny boys with guitars".

Good stuff I've been listening to lately (not all is indie)

Ugly Casanova - I love me some Modest Mouse and some Isaac Brock. As can be seen by the fact that my blog url comes from the song Heart Cooks Brain and my title quote comes from the song The View. (My last title came from a hauntingly beautiful Death Cab for Cutie song).

Brandston - Such an awesome band still touring in a beat up van.

Matt Costa - Can I marry him? He can be my 2nd husband. I love surfer boys.

John Mayer - Seriously the Continuum album rocked me like only a whiny boy with a guitar can rock me.

Enamored

New Modest Mouse album + Me = Euphoria

I've been listening to the new Modest Mouse album "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank" non stop all day. By far it is the best Modest Mouse album ever released. I can't get over how awesome some of the songs are. My favs are Fire It Up, Little Motel, Steam Eugenius, and Spitting Venom. I highly encourage everyone to check out Modest Mouse (especially if you've never heard of them before).

PS - I'm also falling a bit in love with the band Beirut. They have a very funky and original sound. Kinda like a melodic carnival for your ears. Check out their myspace page to hear some samples. I'm a sucker for indie bands.