Checked Out
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About Me: My name is Molly, and I am a librarian in Chicago. Being an advocate for libraries makes me happy.
Email me: checkedoutbyme(at)gmail(dot)com
Posts tagged CD
CD: LADY GAGA: THE FAME MONSTER (2009)
I’ll admit it took me awhile to pay any attention to Lady Gaga, but now that I have, I can’t get enough of her dance grooves and wicked lyrics. Ever since I saw that soldier re-make of her song Telephone, I have been listening to this cd non-stop. While I’m not sure what to say about the quality of it all with its poppiness, the truth is it’s super catchy and fun!
I’m not sure how long it will take me to get sick of this album, but I will say I find myself wanting to dance more, and that’s always a good thing in my book.
ON HOLD.
I’ve been waiting for some of these for what seems like forever, but it also makes it a little exciting whenever I have something new to pick up.
1. BOOK - The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Don’t know anything about this book except that my mom read it for book club and suggested it to me. And I see a lot of people reading it.
2. BOOK - The Order of Odd-Fish by James Kennedy. Saw this one on the Gapers Block Book Club list.
3. CD - Soldier of Love by Sade. I’m a sucker for Sade. Love her relaxing music.
4. CD - Ultraviolet by Kid Sister. Heard her on Sound Opinions and thought her music would be great for working out!
5. DVD - The Cove. I put this on hold when the Oscar Nominees went public. Obviously, so did many others. Can’t wait for this one.
6. DVD - Born Rich. I heard about this movie years ago and came across it again just recently. I’m intrigued.
So, that’s my current list.
What about you?
CHECKED OUT.
As of today, this is my list of stuff I need to read, watch and hear:
1. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audry Niffenegger, checked out for May’s book club.
2. Fearless by Taylor Swift. I just had to know what all the fuss was about in a very delayed fashion.
3. Pane e tulipani (Bread and Tulips). I’ve heard of this movie before, but never knew anything about it.
4. The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga. Yes. It took me this long to hear this album, and I must stay I’m digging it so far.
5. Living Oprah by Robyn Okrant. One woman’s experiment of living her life according to Oprah.
ON HOLD.
I cannot wait to pick up these items:
- Pope Joan. I started reading it for book club and was hooked. Unfortunately I didn’t start reading it fast enough, so it had to be returned. Happy I can get it again.
- Ani DiFranco: Red Letter Year. Just heard her interview on Sound Opinions and want to hear more!
- State of Play - Have heard great things about this movie!
- The Smiths because everyone needs a little Morrissey.
CD: YEAH YEAH YEAHS: It’s Blitz! (2009)
Even though this album came out in the beginning of 2009, I didn’t get my hands on it until now. Sure, I knew some of the singles, but I always enjoy listening to an album from front to back when given the opportunity.
And for the past few days, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing with this one. If someone were to compare this album to their first, Fever to Tell, they might think this one is a bit subdued. A bit clear. Maybe not as heavy. But what I really enjoy about musicians is seeing how they evolve through their albums.
While I can’t say the mood varies too greatly from their second album, Show Your Bones, I definitely can hear a difference. I like how there are some 80’s influences in the beats, and what I’ve always enjoyed about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is how they play with sounds.
Like I’ve said in the past, I’m no music expert at all, but I adore and love and crave music at all times. Considering that I’ve listened to the entire album over and over in the past few days, I’d say it was successful in pulling me into its world.
CD: THE EELS: HOMBRE LOBO: 12 Songs of Desire (2009)
In college, my roommate introduced me to the Eels. I have one of their CDs, but they have not always been on my radar. This of course all changed when I heard E, the lead singer, interviewed on NPR.
The beauty of this new album struck me hard when I heard it for the first time. The music alternates between soft and hard, but the lyrics stay consistent along this theme of desire, hence the subtitle of the album.
What strikes me on this album is a distinct voice singing about the universal thoughts of love and pain, yet it seems so fresh. One of my favorite parts of hearing new music is when I hear one song and must hear the rest of the album and am then pleased with its entirety. With Hombre Lobo, you have just that. Every other track goes back and forth between beautiful melodies and heavy guitars, and for anyone who’s ever felt desire, there is no better way to illustrate it.
(Image: Amazon.com)
CD: TORTOISE: MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE (1996)
Instrumental music can be great while working. I’m of the sort that always enjoys having music on at all hours, but if I need to concentrate I turn to something like Tortoise’s millions now living will never die. Not to say I don’t enjoy classical music, but I always love discovering the variety of instrumental music out there.
Tortoise is a popular band for those of us who love music from the 90s, yet one I had always heard of but never heard. Millions now living will never die’s experimental flavor is great for background music because one song flows into the next and before you know it you’ve listened to the whole album. Of course the complexity of it leaves room to listen to it multiple times because every time you listen you find something new to appreciate, or at least I did.
I may be late to the game of Tortoise, but I’m happy to have the chance to add them to my musical knowledge.
(Image: moby.com)
CD: MOBY: WAIT FOR ME (2009)
When I first started listening to this CD through Exclusive First Listen, I was immediately drawn in. Who knows if it coincided with my mood, but the opening track is very calming and peaceful. I find that there’s a line between dark and light that is constantly being played with throughout the album.
Now I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not one who can thoroughly describe aspects of music and what makes them great or not so great. For me, it usually comes down to feeling, and honestly wait for me has a calming effect on me. So for that reason, I find myself enjoying it. It’s not something I would listen to every day because it does evoke a certain pensive mood, but I definitely will come back to it again and again.
