This morning I have fallen in love. There's no use trying to talk me out of it...Architecture in Helsinki has swept me off my feet. People have been trying to set me up with them for a little while, but I never bit until now. What took me so long?! They are a little Postal Service, a little Stars, a touch of Arcade Fire, a bit of Belle & Sebastian and some Go! Team but it comes out sounding original. By now you should know about my deep and abiding love of handclaps...AIH's Fingers Crossed has taken me to Shangri-La levels of handclapping bliss. And there are over 40 instruments including sitars and power tools listed in the album credits. At this point, you probably think I'm full of hyperbole, but you know how new infatuation is. At least listen to these songs, or I don't think we can be friends anymore.

Do the Whirlwind Sitars! Who doesn't love a good sitar song? And that part at the end is reminiscent of Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" with all the "ahhh's."
Souvenirs I think this may be my favorite. Lovely.
It 5 Wait, no this one!
Scissor Paper Rock Okay, I love them all.
Like a Call

(edited because Helkinki and Helsinki are not the same thing...Freudian slip?)

Saw a great performance by Sam Beam last night. It was worth standing in line for an hour (we moved 3 sidewalk squares every 5 minutes...we just imagined we were playing a very slow board game and we were the pieces) just to get in and then being packed like sardines into a tiny venue. But why is everyone so tall? And why do tall people like to stand in front of me? I need to find a way to remove the flashing "Stand in front of me please!" sign on my forehead. I kept looking for Leah and her curly blonde hair, but had no luck. However, there was a Leah imposter that almost fooled me every time I saw the back of her head.

Some Iron & Wine...

Woman King
Naked as We Came

A Cautionary Tale

Well, several of the mp3s I posted last week were for a limited time only and now they are gone. I hope that you got while the getting was good.

I heard this beautiful song today by The Prayers & Tears Of Arthur Digby Sellers called "Lisa." I have been searching high and low for it, but to no avail. It is on a compilation CD that Esopus Magazine releases with each issue so I need to hunt down the next issue. The theme of the CD is "Imaginary Friends." I had an imaginary friend once. His name was Shananalanadally (or Shanana for short). We would pour Elmer's glue on each other's hands and let it dry so we could peel it off. Is there a more satisfying feeling than peeling glue off one's fingers? Other than popping bubble wrap, I think the answer is no. But Shanana's obsession with glue brought about his downfall when Elmer's glue just wasn't enough for him anymore and he moved on to stronger adhesives like Super Glue (who knows where he got it...sometimes he would leave me for a few days and wouldn't discuss where he had been. I always assumed it was to visit his imaginary parents, but now I suspect a darker motive). One day in Mrs. Matthews' first grade class, he poured the Super Glue all over his hands and arms and leaned against his imaginary desk. You can guess what happened next. I moved on to the second grade and Shananalanadally got left behind, forever leaning on his desk that is nailed to the floor with strong imaginary nails. He has served as a fine friend to little girls in Mrs. Matthews' class ever since.

Some Prayers & Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers songs:
Concerning Lessons Learned from the Aliens
Cannot Eat Better Not Sleep
On the Occasion of a Departure

It feels like an up-tempo kind of day.

A Friday Mix for My Lovely Readers Who Probably Don't Download Any of the Mp3's I Put Up Here, Yet I Will Continue Putting Up Links to Songs in the Hopes That One Day Someone Somewhere Will Download One and Like It and Think That I Have Great Taste in Music, Not That I Care What Other People Think About Me Because I'm Totally Above All That Anyways
or
Have a Fabulous Friday Mix

Ivy - Thinking About You
Out Hud - How Long
John Doe - Hwy 5
The Cloud Room - Hey Now Now
Of Montreal - So Begins Our Alabee
Okkervil River - Black
The Sights - Circus
The Legends - Call It Ours
Rockethouse - Lock and Load
Junior Senior - Itch U Can't Skratch

I hope my two or three readers haven't abandoned me during my brief hiatus from posting my terribly insightful comments on modern music. I know it must be hard getting through the day without knowing exactly what I am listening to each day. I will try not to submit you to that cruelty again. Please put down the pointy sharp things...I have mp3s.

When the rain decided to give us a brief respite, I enjoyed driving with the windows down while playing Sambassadeur, a band from Sweden.

This song is in the vein of Azure Ray and Camera Obscura. And it has hand claps...that always makes a song better.
Between the Lines.mp3

Whatever Season.mp3

I've also been listening to Louis XIV. Check out "Hey Teacher" on their streaming player. I can't get it out of my head, with its falsetto chorus and yes, once again, hand claps.

If you are reading this, you are incredibly good looking and witty and you should leave a comment.