Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes

Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson, known by her stage name as Lykke Li, is Swedish singer-songwriter of mostly indie rock and electronic pop. Her first album, Youth Novels, was released in Europe in January 2008. Ever since, her songs has filled the playlists of many indie music lovers.

Lykke Li has a uniquely soft and high voice. It's one of those natural voices that is 10 times better heard live rather than from a recording studio. Her lyrics are comparable to Ingrid Michaelson's creativity. Some of Lykke's songs might also catch you off guard as she sings with firm confidence and determination of her sexual needs. It can even make the Rolling Stones blush. Her hit, Get Some, turned a few heads. Lykke once mentioned in an interview that the reason some people are surprised by her lyrics, is because she is a girl. She doesn't see the same reaction when the same topic comes from a guy's mouth. There's much truth in that.

Here's her video for "Little Bit," from her first album. Also one of my favorites.


Lykke Li was asked to be a part of the soundtrack for "Twilight Saga: New Moon" which came out in 2009. The result was a hauntingly slow and torturous love song, named "Possibility." The length is 5 minutes. Lykke can jam both ways. This will be the first and hopefully the last time that I will ever have the need to mention Twilight the series. EVER.

Her second and newest album, Wounded Rhymes, came out in February of 2011. This was also the month that her picture and name was splashed across the cover Spin magazine! Read her interview here. This album is still very much her style but much more mature. You can hear the steady ground she's on, compared to the first album.

Lykke's next performance in the Northeast will be on 11/17/2011 at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ. Get your tickets early! I learned that after waiting too long for so many times. Argh.

From her new album, "I Follow Rivers."

The Wombats

I love this name. It's much cuter and cuddlier than a certain parasite. I was introduced to the Wombats by a dear friend who is currently residing in fabulous Los Angeles. But according to her, the city ain't all that fab. Only in my head. Let's keep it that way for now.

I love the Wombats like I love cookie dough. So questionable at first glance but so warm and gooey once you've taken the leap! The Wombats came together in 2003 and consists of 3 members from Liverpool, England. Matthew Murphy, Dan Haggis and Tord Øverland-Knudsen came out with their first single, Tales of Girls, Boys and Marsupials. No word if Taz was involved with this production.

Their debut album, "A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation" came out in November of 2007. Oh, and it hit platinum status in the UK and gold in Australia! Figures why New Yorkers were just going about their day on there subway when the Wombats were performing "Backfire at the Disco." Blah, who am I kidding. I wouldn't care who showed up on the subway either. It takes long enough to get from Point A to Point B already without losing your sanity.

The song, "Kill the Director," from this album has such a morbid title. But you gotta give it a chance. It's hysterically true! Makes me do the Lisa Simpson crack laugh.
Sample lyrics: Here's another song about a gender I'll never understand / If this is a rom-com then kill the director, please

They came out with their second album, "This Modern Glitch," in April 2011. AND the Wombats will be performing at Webster Hall on October 19, 2011. Get your tickets ($16 advance/$20 at door)! Please, get your tickets and join me there. I'm still looking for some peeps to go with!

Here's "Backfire at the Disco" on the subway. Look at that guy busting some moves with his soda cup! He knows what's kicking. Wait. Is that my train line?

Summer concerts in the Hamptons

A pair of weekend festivals will be playing in the Hamptons in early August! One will be in East Hampton and the other in South Hampton. Cute.
Both festivals are featuring indie bands with no overlap. But PLEASE check out the music before you buy. There are all day and single passes still avaliable. Don't drive. Take mass transit.

Escape to New York (August 5-7)
www.escape2ny.com
South Hampton
On the Shinnecock Reservation

Music to Know (August 13 - 14)
www.musictoknow.com
East Hampton
Runway 4

I'm excited to see that Mates of State is a part of the line up for Escape to New York! Hopefully, Kori will have time to update her blog, Band on the Diaper on the Run, with this experience.

Another name that made me go "Ooooo" is Ellie Goulding. This succesful young British electropop star is just that. A star!! Ellie has been recieving awards and nominations in her native UK since 2010. Her debut album, Lights, pretty much smashed the UK charts last year. And I love it! Ellie will be performing at Music to Know on Saturday's line up. She'll also be touring the rest of the U.S. until the end of the summer. Check the schedule!

FYI: Ellie will be performing at Best Buy on Saturday, July 30, in Union Square (NYC) at 2 PM!

You know you're off to a good start when...

...your song is playing at the Jamba Juice in Times Square!

A few friends and I went to patronize the local Jamba during the heat rampage that Mother Nature has brought upon us. Sigh. Nothing a little pineapple smoothie can't fix (temporarily)!

I was bopping along with the rest of the people when Bermuda by Kisses came on. The tune went very well with my pineapple smoothie. It brought me back to the beautiful summers we've had. I hope this year's will also become one of them. I just wished I had a sun dress and my big glasses on, too.

Kisses is currently on tour in Australia. Hopefully the people Down Under will love them as much as we do ;) Lucky for Kisses, they decided to go during Australia's winter season! Back to my smoothie...

What tunes help you keep cool?

Parachute or Parachute?

Well, well, well. Last year, the Britsh pop star, Cheryl Cole, had a chart topper with "Parachute." Her tango-inspired video was glamorous, sexy and frilly. Cheryl shows how much she needs her Prince Charming to be there for her. I also can't deny how much I was staring at Derek Hough. *Girly sigh* This is the epitome of a pop video.

Recently, my friend, who is currently up in Beantown, shared a video with me...that I am SHOCKED that I have not seen before!!! One of the writers of "Parachute," my home girl, Ingrid Michaelson sang her own interpretation of the song. And I mean "home girl," literally, because we're from the same 'hood(!). Anyway, Ingrid's take on this song is just more sultry, intense, mysterious and confident. And all she's wearing is a black tank top and lip gloss! No frilly dresses or massive eyeshadow needed here. She doesn't need to wait for anyone. But she knows her Prince is waiting for her!

Here's Cheryl...



Here's Ingrid...



Which is your favorite version?? Comment below!!

Search Amazon.com MP3 Downloads for cheryl cole parachute

Mates of State - Get Better

Are you a furry animal loving kind of person? If your answer to that is a yes, then this video, "Get Better" by Mates of State, is for you! Actually, I meant a person-in-a-furry-animal-costume loving person... It could have the same effect.

I wasn't too fond of the bunny suit that I saw first. Bad memories from a certain movie that involves a disturbed teenager and a big, scary and imaginary bunny. But I was quickly calmed by the appearances of the other amanimals! This song is very cheerful and hopeful within a world of uncertainty. The catchiest line is "Forget all your politics for awhile, let the color schemes arrive." It's funny how I understood this video and how it visually shows some of the political happenings in the world today, even though this song came out in 2008!


Mates of State is a husband/wife duo from Kansas. Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel formed their band in 1997 and have been active ever since. Many of their songs have been featured on many television series ranging from "Ugly Betty" to "The Gossip Girl." They also had two daughters along the way! Their sixth and latest album, Crushes, came out during the summer of 2010.

The duo is working on new material and are expected to release their seventh album after this summer. But in the meantime, Kori keeps us updated on their family life on the road in her blog, "Band on the Diaper Run." I love the name and the blog! You get a peek into their normal lives, too. I might be going out on a limb here, but maybe it's a play on Paul McCartney's classic, "Band on the Run." Yeah, that sounds about right.

Phoebe Holiday Ryan - The Sound

I was early and I was confused. So confused. I arrived about half an hour early for a show I was going to see. Two minutes later, I wasn't quite exactly sure what was going on with the current "gig."

What is going on? There's a host? Wait, no. She's an instructor? Why are there so many performers for this set? This is a huge band. Oh, these are her students who are performing on stage here. Are those parents with a camcorder in the audience? THESE ARE STUDENTS? WOW.

This was the night when I first met Phoebe "Holiday" Ryan and a bunch of her classmates and friends. This crew hails from the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University. Each student had an instrumental or vocal performance, either solo or with other classmates. There was no doubt of the enormous amount of talent that was there with me that night. I only had the opportunity to hear 3 songs but it was enough to overwhelm and amaze my senses. They have more talent than the current Billboard Top 20. I certainly hope all of them will "make it."

Afterward, when the set packed up and the stage was being readied for the next performance, I had an opportunity to talk to Phoebe for about 30 seconds. I was absolutely delighted to be invited by this young local singer/songwriter to her showcase at Webster Hall the following week!

As expected, I had a great time and was thoroughly impressed. Again. Phoebe had such a great stage presence with her attitude, voice and music. She's an Indie and folksy singer with a tiny splash of pop. Phoebe is a natural entertainer who can continue to engage her audience's attention while tuning her instruments or getting herself ready for the next song. It's the small lapses in between songs that gives time for the performer to build a connection with the audience, which some musicians actually neglect to take advantage of.

Phoebe played some of her own songs and some from her band, Town Hall. Apparently, she's also in a band...in her spare time! Town Hall is actually quite on the folksy side. Something a little different, but also a goodie, for my fellow city dwellers.

I especially loved the support Phoebe has from her fellow classmates. I recognized a handful of them from the week before. Some were in the audience and some sang back up for a song or two for Phoebe. It was one big happy family!

Below is the only clip I can find of my favorite song, The Sound, written by Phoebe Holiday. Find the lyrics on her MySpace, here ! Stay tuned...

The next Piano Man - Jackson Tyler Hunt

Wow. Once I saw Jackson Hunt's face on his site (www.reverbnation.com/jacksonhunt) all I could think of was, "He wants to be Billy Joel?" A lover of the piano, Mr. Hunt has his own definition of what pop music is. He has the "stuff" to go the boy band route, though. But his bio states that he wants to follow in the footsteps of past piano greats like Elton John and Billy Joel, aka Piano Man. Currently, in his young career, he sounds more like Boys like Girls.

I can totally see him sing, "Throw it away, forget yesterday, we'll make the great escape!!"

This Missouri native is on the Reverbnation website, which supports indie music, musicians, venues, etc all in the name of music. It's also the only website (meaning no Youtube!) that has his songs available. Browse around it when you get a chance...after listening to Jackson's song, of course. His song, "Dance, Dance" is currently #3 on their chart! I'm excited to see what else he has in store for us.

Fortunately, for me, Jackson will be performing in NYC this week! He is scheduled to perform on April 13, at 11 PM at Banjo Jim's (700 9th Street, NY, NY). I'll have to go check it out. More reviews and pictures to come. Hope to see some of y'all there!

Kisses - Keeps Us Warm ;)

The first thing I thought of, on this cold New York City day, was why did I NOT wear an extra layer?! Brr. After hopping onto the subway, I frantically searched for my ipod. I knew exactly what I wanted to listen to. All I wanted was Kisses!! Ah. Much better.

This L.A. duo first made their appearance in my life at the CMJ Marathon during the fall of 2010. Jesse Kivel takes reign of the vocals, while his girlfriend, Zinzi Edmundson, holds down the (very heavily synth) keyboards. I was hanging out in a corner at "The Studio" waiting for the cold Friday night to whittle away when Kisses took the stage. The first few notes caught me for the rest of their gig. As I watched and listened, I was flooded with memories of kisses from the warm summer breeze that gently touches my skin as I walked along the streets...without a care in the world. Makes you happy, dance and ready to fall in love. Just what I needed for my commute this morning!

Jesse's voice can reach impressively low octaves and remain very sweet and sensual at the same time. Wow. Kisses got a good thing going for them. They're an upbeat love story between 80s band, A-Ha and 90s band, Ace-of-Base. Seriously.

Their newest single, Midnight Lover, sounds similar to their older song, Bermuda. The lyrics are pretty interesting. They have quite a way with words to get a story across. Nevertheless, I still very much like them both. It's like saying Sarah McLachlan's songs sound similar. It's just their signature style.

Off to Bermuda!

Ruth on Craig

Some time a few nights ago, I spent my late hours with one of my favorite men, Craig Ferguson, hehe. I love his bunny puppet, too. I'm easily amused. Anywho, his musical guest, Ruth Gerson, was absolutely amazing. Stopped me in my tracks! She has to be one of the best vocalists I've ever heard. She has the look of Sheryl Crow and Tori Amos. But she is vocally much stronger and more mellow with her heart tugging lyrics about life that anyone who's "living" can relate to. Her music is alternative, pop rock, indie, jazz...I think that's about it. And then I looked her up. This Princeton grad made her first CD back in 1997. She was once listed as the second best vocalists in the Italian magazine, Buscadero. Ruth has been working on music since she graduated from Princeton and has also taught there. Why is someone like this not more famous...than Justin Bieber for goodness sakes!? Oy. This should be on iTunes. Ruth is now based in California. Her latest CD, "This Can't Be My Life," came out on July 20th, 2010. Check her out here! www.RuthGerson.com

CMJ @ Bowery Ballroom, on a lovely Wed night

8:30 PM at the Bowery Ballroom. I was aching for my pillow. Way. Too. Sleepy. It was my fault for not sleeping earlier the night before. Hey, laundry day/night is very important. Don't come to me whining when you are down to your last unmentionables. Wednesday is also quite possibly the first time that I've sat at a bar and refused to get any alcohol. EVER. I was that tired. Crazy things have been happening in my life lately. So I guess I shouldn't be too shocked by this. That's what life is. A whole shocking shock of shocks!!

8:36 PM I had the darnedest idea who or what was playing. Good thing I took a picture! A few months ago, I signed up to volunteer for the annual CMJ (College Music Journal) Music Festival. The Festival is a convention for new, indie labeled, unsigned, signed bands to showcase themselves on the stages around NYC. Every night there's about 3/4 groups performing at all the venues listed for the CMJ festival. So you'll get a load of exposure for the $15-$20 you'll have to pay at the door. Or a whopping $250+ for the CMJ pass for the whole week! Yeah. I've been going to one/two shows the last few years. I've always had a great experience. But this year I volunteered instead XD


So, I was lucky to get assigned to Bowery Ballroom because I knew that you can hear the music at the entrance/bar area where I'd be working, anyways. But goodness. Lack of sleep, heavy music and a bar DO NOT MIX WELL. Remember that, kiddos.

Bad Books was the "show" of the night. Everyone who came in was making sure they were there for them. I even saw one of the band member's whole family come. Now that's sweet. Why Bad Books? I can't really explain the name. But it's memorable enough. I was excited to hear them, in part because the band before them were...interesting. Right Away, Great Captain! O.o I was anxious for them to be over. It was just a mess of music. Then I realized it's because their music is very tender and slow. Like Jack Johnson. And it was putting me to sleep. It seems more meant for a coffee bar/lounge place rather than the Ballroom. No hate. Just wasn't the right atmosphere. But I really like their song, "Love Come Save Me." I wish they'd do something with that name. "Oh, what's your band's name?" "Well, it's 'Right Away, Gre-'" "ZZzzzZZ."



RAGH is headed by the lead singer of Manchester Orchestra, Andy Hull. Their first album, "The Bitter End" was released in 2007. Latest, "The Big Bad Devil and Great Good God," was released this year.

Andy Hull is ALSO one of the lead singers of "Bad Books"! Two gigs, one night. Nice. The band is also lead by Kevin Devine, who is also a member of the Manchester Orchestra. I see them as an indie version of Snow Patrol(song - Chasing Cars). And definitely more mellow. I didn't think that it was possible to be more mellow than Snow Patrol. Bad Books only formed at the beginning of this year, and are getting a lot of buzz already. The band released their first and self-titled album on October 19, 2010. You can get their singles for free from their Facebook page. I ended the night with some pretzels and a cab ride home. Woo!

Imogen, hey old friend.

The last time I've heard Imogen's music was a sampling of one of her songs in Jason Derulo's "Whatcha Say." Yes, I really like his song as well. It took a long time to tell people that the catchy hook was from Miss Heap! That was a tad annoying. But as long as people enjoyed the music, I guess. And frankly, I think the mass public does not have the patience to listen to the actual song, "Hide and Seek." I'm drinking my salted hot caramel chocolate(!) at Starbucks as I listen to this song. It's slow, like she's talking to you and expects you to listen to every one of her words. The song is just beautiful.

I was at a photography event last night that was celebrating the winners and runner ups of an annual photography book contest. Do they know how to throw a party or what. Open bar and endless shrimp! Anyways, one of the books I picked up showcased artists (musicians, actors, artists, etc.) in their own comfort. On these pages, i saw Janelle Monae, some of the cast of "Heroes" (I loved it before the series whacked out), and Imogen Heap. It's like being reminded of an old friend. Her words and songs were my comfort through some rough times and also now, while I'm in good times.

"Say Goodnight and Go".

"The ArchAndroid" - Janelle Monae (is back)

Here's the arrival of Janelle Monae's second album! The ArchAndroid. This Kansas City native has not backed down from her sci-fi influenced style. All her videos portrays such interesting stories but all of them pertains to the androids oppression by humans. Kind of like Battlestar Galactica or Matrix? I'm a sci-fi junkie as well and I continue to look forward to see what Janelle has in store for us. Below is her new video with Big Boi. I can't get enough of how good she looks in those shoes!
She's definitely one of a kind. Though, in my previous post about Janelle, I said that I hope she does not get too commercialized. Unfortunately, that happens with too many talents. But it's also another way to have mass appeal(and the big bucks!). I recently read an interview of Janelle by the Chicago Tribune. Janelle reassured us this won't happen. She ended the interview with, "You have a choice: You can be yourself, or you can follow the pack. It's very important to represent the many sides of us that are out there. I want to redefine how a woman can dress, how she can wear her hair. It's sad when you feel you have to change who you are to get your voice out there. We can have a better, happier society when people are accepted for who they are." Love it.

The Like, The Offsprings

The Like - June Gloom


Around 1:30 a.m.-ish, on a random night, I was eating meatballs and sipping on a glass of sauvignon blanc. Yeah. I don't get the meatballs, either. I was waiting for CSI: Miami to come back from commercial. So I did the flip and landed on some channel that was interviewing a British band, "The Like." Well, I heard Brit accents and I assumed they were. But they originated in Los Angeles. Then I flipped back to Lt. Horatio. And finished my meatballs.

The lead vocal of the band, Elizabeth Berg, is American and daughter of big music honcho, Tony Berg. Tony has been a staple guitarist for many bands like, Air Supply. Elizabeth started the band back in 2001. Avaerage age is around 25. Now, with a new addition to her band (from 3 to 4 members), they've been hitting more circuits in the U.K. What's up with the U.K. connection? That accent I heard was from Tennessee Thomas, the drummer of The Like. She's also Pete Thomas' kid. FYI, Pete Thomas is the former drummer for Elvis Costello and one of the best and most wanted drummers in the field. If you've got the connections, why not use it? Especially when you're the offsprings! And I guess it helps to write your songs since its in your blood already, haha.

Their new album was released in June 2010, entitled Release Me. It's quite a catchy song. I like this latest album better than their first one, Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking? (circa 2005). They're a bit more grown-up now. And then I find out they actually toured with Muse. ?? MUSE!! Oh, connections or talent related? Heck, if you both, use them!! Awesome. And just a note, I heard of Muse and listened to their songs waaaaaay before that tweeny cheesy Twilight explosion.

I am surprised by how much I like their songs, though. Indie catagory, again. I'm not even a hipster!

Janelle Monae and her Many Moons

I can't for goodness sakes remember how I first heard about Miss Monae. But anywho, somehow I ended up at one of the CMJ Music and Film Festival concerts last year headlined by her. Woo! She is absolutely great live. This girl can sing, rap and dance until her poof un-poofs! Her energy goes on and on and on.... I loved cheering for her after her performance. One of the best live music performances I have ever seen.

Her first CD, Metropolis, is popular for the hit "Many Moons." I also love the song, "Sincerely, Jane." She's going through this phase where her songs are about her being an android from outer space. Ya. Besides that, her music is very indie hip-hop and her style is a throwback to the glamour of 1940's. I love it!! Especially, how she gets her fashion style AND the concept of her as an android tied together so naturally. I must add that her poof is pre-Snooki. But I'm not sure if she or V.V. Brown had it first. Great people think alike. She's so raw and talented.

Her songs start out so pumped up and let's have party, run, fly, etc. But they almost always end so emotionally sad. Like at the beginning of “Many Moons,” the singer acknowledges that there is so much going on that she realizes to herself that she is “free but in your mind. Your freedom is in a bind.” As much as you strive and strive, there will be an end. And the only hope is to “go home” to Shangri-la. Or maybe I'm just checking the lyrics too much.

Before you even walk in the door, you know that Bad Boy Records has got her COVERED. Her posters (I mean the fancy huge kinds), were everywhere. Including a huge cut-out of her that was tacked onto the train station closest to the venue. An entourage was on the look out so no one took and ran with it either. As much as I like Janelle, I think she's dancing on thin ice of becoming too commercialized. Might be taking this android thing a tad too far. She has 3 more CDs to produce with this concept. She doesn’t need to be a product of anyone else’s but her own. Janelle Monae is doing great by herself.

MGMT ... What's in a name?

The group formally known as "The Management," was forced to change their name when it was discovered some other band had it first. So they became MGMT. Which I say is a way cooler name, anyways. MGMT has been making waves in the indie world for a few years now. Their song "The Kids" hit up the Euro scene much faster then their home here in the States. MGMT is Brooklyn (I'm guessing Williamsburg-ish) based with Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. Well...they're actually from Connecticut. Still tri-state... My favorite song of theirs is "Electric Feel." The band sang with high pitched voices with the intention of getting the girl. The concept is like Maxwell's. But that's where the similarity starts and ends. I also seriously think whoever made the video for this song was high throughout most of the 70's and had nothing but psychedelic neon food and imaginary fuzzy creatures as friends. This is not a judgment, it's only an observation. They are very electronica pop with a huge dose of hipster. But some of their songs are way too hipster for me (such as "It's Working"), haha. There was hot pink ice cream involved.

V.V. Brown was in Town

I'm a huge fan of Ugly Betty. How can I not be? Its got glamour, shadiness, love, back-stabbing, out-of-control floral prints, and more than what your fanny-pack can handle! So when it came time for the last season, I made sure I didn't miss a thing. During the episode when everyone (and I mean everyone) hooked up in the Bahamas, I was amused and loved the song that came on for that moment which was "Shark in the Water," by V.V. Brown. It was so fitting. And catchy. Basically it means, "Please come be my hero/heroine, something is trying to get me." Proceed to flutter eyes.

This was my first introduction to V.V. Brown. She's a singer/songwriter and a London native who flares of indie punk/pop/jazz. Not one overcomes the other. Think sundress, pearl earrings and Converses. Her album, Traveling Like the Light, was released in February 2010. Once I heard she was going to perform at the Bowery Ballroom(sometime this past April) I rushed to get my ticket! Online. JUST in case it sold out. And the place got pretty packed. Her and her band were great. I was lucky enough to run into her when she was walking into the Ballroom! She was so nice and took the time to take pictures! Anywho, back to the music. Her other songs, "Crying Blood," and "Game Over," are so original and definitely indie. These would sound great acoustic style as well. One of the best parts of the show was when she sang Drake's "Best I Ever Had." LOVE her version! It was so freaking smooth. Check her out!