Stop what you are doing right now and listen to Michael Tolcher

So I was doing my morning run earlier today and Michael Tolcher's "Bad Habits" came up on the iPod. I hadn't heard his music in quite some time and had forgotten why I loved him so much. His acoustic/jam rock style usually gets me going but today was something completely different.

I was listening to this song and something about got to me. Maybe it was the lyrics, maybe the music itself, or maybe it was how heartfelt Tolcher made it sound. Regardless, I found myself stopping dead in my tracks and taking in everything about this song.

A few other songs by him, all from his debut album I Am (buy)
Mission Responsible
No One Above

Bring On The Rain

There's nothing I love more than a nice rainy day. Listening to the pitter patter of raindrops falling on the roof while curled in a blanket is a nice way to spend the day. Plus, you don't feel bad about not going out since there's nothing you can do outside. Of course, I went running early this morning when it was still a light drizzle and realized that it was not such a good idea. Slippery sidewalks and the numbing cold rain are not conducive to a successful run.

Anyway, make sure to stay dry today. Get something warm to drink and enjoy being lazy. If you need me, I'll be on the couch.

The Real Tuesday Weld - I Love The Rain from Where Psyche Meets Cupid (thanks to Strictly Social for this song)
Moby - Evening Rain from the Daredevil Soundtrack

Perchance to Dream

OK so I have to tell you about this very weird dream I had the other night. It was quite bizarre. I'm not sure what it means. Actually I'm not quite sure I want to know.
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My landlord shows up and she had with her a black pot bellied pig. On a leash. She tells me it was now my responsibility to take care of this pig. Feed it, walk it, show it love and affection. I tell her there's no way in hell I was taking care of a pig since I was too busy having to save the world all the time.

She pulls out my lease and pointed to a clause stating that I was in fact responsible for this pig. I had unwittingly signed this, probably thinking "it's ok, when would she ever bring me a pig that I would have to take care of?"

So I get ready to go to work and it starts snowing outside. I then realize I have to park my car somewhere in the city where it won't get towed. So I drive around looking for free, legal parking while a random British guy in the passenger seat tells me where I can't park. I finally park on the street and take the "subway," which was actually a mine cart. Yes, a mine cart.

All of a sudden, I'm in Japan. I wasn't sure how I go there. All I knew was that I took a 15-minute walk over the bridge that went from London to Paris. But somehow I ended up in the middle of Tokyo surrounded by locals. And I didn't know any of the language either. But someone handed me a library card and somehow that made everything ok.

Then some robots came and started wrecking the city. Not Tokyo, mind you. I have a feeling it was Cleveland. While this was going on, end credits were running.
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I think the first thing I said when I woke up was "ummm.... what?" Nevertheless, I felt very confused all morning.

Codeseven - All The Best Dreams from Dancing Echoes/Dead Sounds
Evanescence - I Must Be Dreaming (unreleased track)
The Decemberists - Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect from Castaways and Cutouts

Something's Different About This Song

Acoustic. Live. Remix. Demo. Instrumental. There are many ways make an alternate version of a song. Leave it to the Contrast Podcast to do just that.

This week's theme of "Alternate Versions of Songs" provides many different versions of songs I thought I knew, including a beautiful acoustic version of the Guillemots' "Trains to Brazil" provided by Marcy from Lost In Your Inbox. Listen to it here. And click here to listen to the original version.

My choice this week was actually a last-minute submission. I randomly came across "This Time Is The Last Time" by Mae and realized there was a remix of it and quickly turned it in.

The original:
This Time Is The Last Time from Destination: Beautiful
The alternate version:
This Time Is The Last Time [Wave Remix] from Destination: B-Sides

Next week is the Contrast Podcast song chain. I have no clue what to expect but I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Chillaxin'

Today is just a chill sort of day. Not much to report. Here's some stuff I've been listening to today.

Rise Against - Roadside from The Sufferer & The Witness (buy)
Aviatic - Poor You from Arrival (buy)
Evermore - Slipping Away from Oil & Water EP (buy)
Sebastian Rogers - Read It And Weep from Repeat (buy)

Oh, thanks for letting us know...

So in what seems to be the most quiet and under the radar introduction, Fuel has "announced" their new lead singer to replace former frontman Brett Scallions. Therockradio.com reports (in an article from September nonetheless) that the new lead singer is Toryn Green from the band Something to Burn.

Here's the blurb from the article:

Fuel has finally announced the name of its new frontman, who replaced Brett Scallions earlier this year. The new singer is Toryn Green, formerly of Something To Burn. The group is recording its fourth album in Los Angeles with A Perfect Circle drummer Josh Freese behind the kit, making it unclear whether drummer Tommy Stewart is still with the group. (Tunelab Music).

I love how this news has been out for months and nobody from Fuel has even mentioned this announcement. The band's website has plenty of new studio pictures but not one mention of "Oh, by the way, we have a new singer."

Meanwhile, Brett Scallions is rocking out on vocals and bass with The X's. Go and check out some of their stuff.

Blame (RealPlayer)
First to Fall (RealPlayer)
Chemical Girl (mp3)

Obligatory Valentine's Day Post

So the day of loving couples is upon us. Much like the plague. Everywhere you turn there are people acting all lovey to make up for treating each other lousy the rest of the year. Nothing says "I love you" like a $1.50 Hallmark card and stupid Teddy bears with hearts on them.

Usually, Valentine's Day makes me sad because at the present moment, I don't have that special someone in my life. But then I think about the amount of money I'm saving by not buying crappy gifts and not having the pressure of making one single day of a relationship perfect.

So Happy Valentine's Day to all. Enjoy it, whatever you do.

Nada Surf - Inside of Love from Let Go (buy)

Gus Black - Dry Kisses from Uncivilized Love (buy)

Travis - Love Will Come Through from 12 Memories (buy)

Empire Records, Open 'til Midnight

I watched one of my favorite movies Empire Records the other day. It had been so long since I had watched it, I had forgotten why I loved it so much. The storylines, the funny one-liners and the cast of characters are all great, but the music in it is what does it for me. Some sort of music is is just about every single scene, adding to the overall experience.

However, upon looking at the soundtrack, I was not happy. Gone are the well-known songs from the movie and instead are random songs reminiscient of 90s alternative rock. Some big songs from the movie are there, but overall it does not remind me any of the movie.

So I decided to get my own Empire Records soundtrack going.

The Cruel Sea - The Honeymoon Is Over from The Honeymoon Is Over (buy)
Played during the opening credits


Queen Sarah Saturday - Seems from Weave (buy)
The gang opens the store
The Flying Lizards - Money (That's What I Want) from The Flying Lizards (buy)
"Lucas wants money. Lots of money. Joe's money."
Dire Straits - Romeo & Juliet from Making Movies (buy)


The Meices - Ready, Steady, Go
SHOPLIFTER!!!!!
This song does appear on the soundtrack, but I just had to include it.


AC/DC - If You Want Blood (You Got It) from Highway to Hell (buy)
Joe in his office "working"
Throwing Muses - Snakeface from University (buy)
Cory tries to seduce Rex


The Cranberries - How from Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (buy)
Cory and A.J. on the roof at 1:37pm

Sponge - Plowed from Rotting Piñata (buy)
Setting up for the party

Coyote Shivers & Renée Zellweger - Sugar High (movie version)
A Gina-less and more raunchy version appears on the soundtrack

The The - This Is The Day from Soul Mining (buy)
Dancing on the roof


And how could I forget..... "Oh Rexy! You're so sexy!"
Rex Manning (Maxwell Caulfield) - Say No More, Mon Amour

There's something about you, Lily Allen

I want to like Lily Allen, I really do. Everything about her says I should like her. She has that "take no shit" kind of attitude. She's all about the indie-music goodness with her own original style. She's British and has that wonderful accent I'm oh so fond of. So why can't I get into her? I sit down to listen to her song "Smile" and want to turn it off just as quickly.

Maybe it's her ever-increasing MTV presence (Good for her, but that immediately turns me off from wanting to check her out). Maybe it's just the way she sings or the way her music come across. I don't know and probably never will. Shame.

But here's one song that I am absolutely in love with.
Everything's Just Wonderful from Alright, Still (buy)

I'm movin' out!!

Just to let all you lovely readers know, I will be moving to a new apartment this coming week and that means there will be a serious lack of posts/music since I will have to get my whole life packed up, moved and reassembled. Try not to miss me too much. :)

The Format - Movin' Out (Billy Joel cover)