Random Musings

Valentine’s Day Playlist: Cycles of Love : Sprung!

Posted on by MarissaMortati

DAMN! You are looking fine today! To be sprung is a more than a crush and slightly less than ripping each other’s clothes off. It’s when you see that devilish grin from across the bar and your jaw suddenly feels a little loose and your pants a little tight.

Sprung
Local Music: Josephine – The Nervous Wreckords

We’ve all waited by the phone, just hoping it would ring and it would be “that person”, but what if that person was a bill collector?  I think I’d go default and all my credit cards then, call me Josephine.

Top 40: Baby Got Back- Sir Mix-A-Lot

This song haunted me in high school. I would hang out with the AV nerds and as soon as I walked up, they would put on this song. I can’t help it if I’ve got back but it’s nice to know someone out there that gets sprung by it.



Alternative Radio: Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet

From the first shake of the tambourine, your heels start tapping and your hips start shaking.  Jet may be sprung over a girl with long brown hair, but we’re are definitely sprung for Jet.

Soundtrack: Summer Nights – Grease

You know what they say about summer nights, right?



Misc.: Storm Warning- Hunter Hayes

Yes I know this is another country song. No I don’t care. This is a fun song about needing a heads up because this rad girl is rolling in and you just don’t know what to do. I also have to give props here because this song is completely written by Hunter Hayes from the guitar to the drums to the piano. Just watch the video and you’ll see what I mean.

We know you’re hard up for that sexy person. But have you maybe crossed the line? Stay tuned!

Valentine’s Day Playlist: The Cycles of Love: Puppy Love

Posted on by MarissaMortati

Puppy love always evokes that naive sense of new young love that’s really no deeper than be heavily infatuated with someone.  The second thing it evokes a sort of do wop, pop, smiley dreams and rainbows while we hold hands and skip down the street.
Puppy Love

Local Music: Starstruck- Parade of Lights

I realize this song has been posted on LMN before but it’s a favorite of mine and frankly, being ‘starstruck’ by someone makes me think of puppy love. It’s the beginning of something new, it’s cute, and all your friends hate hearing you talk about it.

Top 40: Wouldn’t it Be Nice – The Beach Boys

Everything about The Beach Boys seems to be a little viewed through rose tinted  glasses, this song, even though it’s one of their more well known tracks actually has a bit of depth to it.  There is actually obstacles that prevent our heroes from living out this perfect love, it may be even a little realistic in a sense, but all the while remains so optimistic.

Alternative Radio: Follow You Down- Gin Blossoms

I miss the 90’s. I miss the computer games, the carefree life, the less complicated times, and the music. I don’t miss the fashion though. Anyways, Follow You Down from the Gin Blossoms was one of those happy songs from happy times. What says puppy love more than, “anywhere you go, I’ll follow you down.”

Soundtrack: Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals

Like most people I first encountered this song while watching Goodfellas and fell in love with it.  It depicts that somewhat nervous feeling you get when you first go out with someone new.  The lyrics tell a boy meets girl, is nice to girl, boy and girl get married, oh and there is some kissing.  Just pure cotton candy goodness.

Misc.: We Owned The Night- Lady Antebellum 

This song evokes images of the beginnings of a new romance with someone you are so enamoured with. Everything this person does is enchanting and amazing and you’re happy just to be a part of their world. You both own the night after all.

Having a hard time keeping it in your pants? We know you got sprung!

Valentine’s Day Playlist: The Cycles of Love : Sexy Times!

Posted on by MarissaMortati

She’s driven you crazy with all the teasing and flirting and you’re ready to burst both literally and figuratively.  So seal the deal! Put some groovy tunes on to seduce the hell out of her!  As the Silver Jews once said, “How Can I Love You, If You Won’t Lie Down?”
Sexy Times
Local Music –  Love Me, Chase Me – Carney

Not only is Reeve Carney’s voice sexy (singer for Carney) but this video is sexy too. With a title like Love Me, Chase Me the only image I can’t help but conjure up is the beginning of sexy times where the boy chases the girl (or vice versa depending on how you like to roll) and he catches her at which point they fall into the leaves and begin making out.

Top 40 – Kiss – Prince

Prince is the King of sexy. He could seduce the pants off pretty much any girl and the song “Kiss” works alright with me.  If you can sing as high as Prince, then you deserve whatever tail you can rustle up, but leave the sexy times to that purple high heel wearing, tiny little man that is Prince. (Sorry About the Glee Video, Prince Doesn’t Authorize His Music On Youtube)

Alternative Radio – Closer – Nine Inch Nails

So the first song that came into my head for the sexy category was “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails.  I mean the song says, “I want to fuck you like an animal”, NIN isn’t pulling any punches.   I forewarn you that the video is equally raunchy and disgusting.

Soundtrack – Need You Tonight – INXS

I don’t know anything sexier than a song about needing someone tonight. As in right now. I remember this playing in the background of Coyote Ugly when Violet is trying to sell off Kevin to the highest bidder to make the money she owed Lil. Nothng says sexy like ‘I’m selling you off to pay for my debt.’

Misc – You Shook Me All Night Long – ACDC

A classic ACDC riff and a classic line about thighs, no wonder strippers like it.  So strut in, strip off your jean cut offs and let them know you mean business.

 

Now that business is all done, are those stars in your eyes or is it Puppy Love?

Valentine’s Day Playlist: The Cycles of Love- Feeling Frisky

Posted on by Amanda

Alright, we’re now done feeling sorry for ourselves and feel like it’s time to stick our toes back in the dating/romance pool. The problem is, well, we just don’t feel up for it. You’re girlfriends (or boyfriends) have been trying to get you out and on the prowl, right? I know, it’s annoying. Maybe we feel sexy (or maybe not), but the main goal of the night is to have fun and use the powers of seduction on helpless pawns for an ego boost. No worries. We got you covered (and we don’t judge either)!

Feeling Frisky
Local Music: So So Fresh – Nico Vega

The one thing I can say about Nico Vega (other than the fact that they are amazing) is they know how to get into the core of your being and make you feel it. If you want some extra sass in your step, might I suggest this song?

Top 40: Does Your Mother Know – ABBA

ABBA were the biggest pop stars of the 70’s. I mean they had white satin jump suits and Swedish accents, what’s not to love? This song is kind of a rarity with the boys taking the lead on vocals.  The obvious reference to young girls is kind of risqué, but ultra frisky.

Alternative Radio: No You Girls – Franz Ferdinand

Girls, Girls, Girls…they are such teases. They make us crazy, shaking their asses and fluttering their eyelashes! Franz Ferdinand is pissed about this, stop messing with their heads, because no you girls never know how you make a boy feel…



Soundtrack: Sugar Daddy – Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Hedwig, our hero, wait heroine, writes a song about her American Soldier Sugar Daddy who brought her, or at this time him, Gummi Bears the first time they met.  Hansel became Hedwig to be this sugar daddy’s lady and we can only imagine what kind of flirting got him, no her, across the Berlin Wall.

Misc: Drive Me Insane- Billy Boy On Poison

I first heard this lovely little ditty as part of a promo for my favorite TV show Castle. This song was used to vocalize the um…. tension between the two leads (and it did the job quite well). As the song suggests, the poor guy gets driven insane by the minx we don’t know. It’s enough to make any woman want to be her.

Need some more sexyness? Don’t worry, it’s up next.

Valentine’s Day Playlist- The Cycles of Love: Loneliness

Posted on by Amanda

I honor of the upcoming holiday I have tried to boycott and have never seemed to enjoy, I thought it fitting to create a playlist for Valentines Day. There is a catch however. In true Amanda style, I’ve decided to arrange the playlist according to the cycles of love that every person experiences and will be realeasing a new one up to V-Day. On top of that, is a song for each category of listener; local music, top 40, alternative radio, soundtrack, and miscellaneous. I’m throughly happy to be doing this V-Day playlist with newbie LMN author Marissa Mortati. If it wasn’t for her help and contributions, this list would not be possible.

Now, if you’re anything like me (which you probably aren’t) or any other human, the cycle of love tends to start with loneliness. If we are never alone we can never truly appreciate the love we will have in our life. But with loneliness comes the bitter taste of self-loathing, depression, and an all around not feeling good about one’s self. Bummer dude. Hopefully these songs will help you to feel not alone in your loneliness! Cheers mate.

 

Woe Is Me

Local Music: Boston- Augustana 

It’s not often that a local band you are familiar with has their lyrics sung by the lead in a tv show like The Big Bang Theory as a demonstration of raw emotional emoness. However, that lucky commendation goes to the song Boston by Augustana. I love Augustana. I love the piano coupled with his melancholy vocals.  I love them more when I’m feeling upset, unloved, misunderstood, and beyond repair. Cheery, right?

Top 40: Broadway – Goo Goo Dolls 
Funnily enough, I saw Augustana open for Goo Goo Dolls back in the day so this is a lovely double whammy of memories for me. Anyways, the thing about this song is while it talks about being down, it also discusses a wasted life of a young man. The song may deceive you, making you think you’re about to partake in a happy pop rock song, but Broadway is about a young man without a place in world.  He feels like he’s got no one on his side and self destructs because of it.

 

Alternative Radio: Creep -Radiohead 

If you’ve ever felt like a sniveling little, well, creep you’ve probably blasted this song on your car stereo many times.   The Radiohead anthem is one of those anti hero songs that you can’t help relate to because hey, we all want perfect bodies. It’s dark and brooding and makes us all feel a little more badass.

 

Soundtrack: Part of Your World – The Little Mermaid

You think you’re an outsider? Imagine how a Mermaid feels? That’s right, that’s pretty rough.  Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid expresses just how much one can feel like an outsider looking in this song.  Come on guys! She just wants to fit in!

 

Misc: Somebody to Love – Queen

Freddie Mercury speaks to the romantic in all of us.  Somebody to Love is the perfect depiction of a desire to love someone.  With amazing harmonies and that rock opera style that defines Queen you find yourself singing along happily with a song that is actually quite sad.

 

 

Feeling Frisky? Stay tuned.

Watch This!: Snow Patrol, Hotel Carolina, Graffiti6

Posted on by Kristen

Snow Patrol – “Called Out In the Dark”

This is quite possibly one of the greatest music videos of all time (at least in my book). I’ve been a fan of Snow Patrol for some time now and I enjoy the song, but what puts it over the edge is the inclusion of Steve (umm…I mean Jack Davenport). To understand my love of Jack, you have to understand that my favorite comedy of all time is the British version of Coupling. I’m not a huge video person, but this one definitely deserves a viewing or two. I’m also really looking forward to the upcoming Snow Patrol tour…

 

Hotel Carolina artists- “Tiny Dancer”

I was so sad to miss Hotel Carolina in Philadelphia a weekend or two ago. Some of my favorite artists at one of my favorite venues…sigh…but I can watch the videos and pretend I was there. Here’s the amazing Matt Duke leading the Hotel Carolina crew in the finale of “Tiny Dancer”.

 

Graffiti6– “Stare Into The Sun”

Currently listening to a livestream performance of Graffiti6. I’ve really been enjoying this band since I saw them a couple week’s ago at The El Rey. Their CD Colours sounds better each time I listen. According to the band, their song “Free” is still available for free download on ITunes. Definitely check that out! Since I’m listening to them play acoustically (love it!), here’s an acoustic version of their song “Stare Into the Sun”

Kh7CMDh9720

 

~ Kristen

 

The Delaware Mind Grape Conspiracy Theory

Posted on by MarissaMortati

Obviously this blog is called Local Music Nation, so my first thought when the lovely Miss Amanda Bard asked me to guest as a writer was to write about local music. With the global takeover of the World Wide Web, the universe has shrunk to fit into an icon on our desktop. You can touch a few keys and have information from pretty much anywhere come flying through the digital expanse of space and time to your phone, laptop, mac or preferred electronic device. Do we even understand how crazy awesome this is? This is straight up magical. We could impress Gandalf and Dumbledore with this kind of wizardry. In order to listen to new music from deepest darkest Delaware or Denmark, all we have to do is log on to a search engine and start looking. We have signals that travel up to space, ping some satellite floating around up there and bounce the signal back down to us so that we don’t have to wait even a few seconds to hear a brand new song by a brand new band. This is a miracle in the holiest sense of science and technology and it happens millions of times a day. However, this is the opposite of local music because, while sit immersed in our overwhelming vast online catalog of endless possibilities, down the street there is a great local band busting its balls on stage trying to stir up some kind of following. Although I wouldn’t discourage following some band from Delaware, as a culture we should open up our ears to what is being home grown, like going to the farmer’s market for your tomatoes.

Local music allows you to connect to your community. I would have never met Amanda or Kristen if it weren’t for a mutual love of a local band. In fact, most of my good friends are friends because of our interaction at a local show. Just like buying that tomato from your local farmer, buying tickets and drinks from your local music venue stimulates your local economy. Instead of paying three hundred dollars for Coachella, (where you will become a sunburned, sweaty, dirty, smelly mess) spend that money on tickets for thirty different local shows and make new friends and become a local legend. It’s always exciting when an out of town band rolls through town and you get to catch a live show that you may only get to see every once in a blue moon. Local bands play more at home. This means more shows, more happiness, more dancing, more fun, and overall a longer life expectancy. Okay, I may be lying about the life expectancy thing, but it means better quality of life for sure. This past January I was able to see one of my favorite bands live five times. This is amazing.

It’s really okay to leave your house. I promise, the world is scary, but it’s exciting and in full resolution all the time. Your DVR will record The Walking Dead and if it doesn’t then you can watch it online or on demand or streaming or pirated or something new that they invented in the last thirty seconds. When time passes in real life, it doesn’t repeat itself. Go out and experience it. You will never be lovelier than you are now. Listen to music as it’s being played, be connected to a song in a way that doesn’t exist outside of live performance. Shout, “I AM ALRIGHT!” over and over again with two hundred other people and be part of something real and tangible. Then eat a California burrito at 4 a.m., cause that’s being alive. Take a chance, venture out your front door and you may find something worth your while. Plus the internet is stealing our mind grapes.