i love sharing with you what i am listening to right now; music plays such a centric role in my life that my current choices are not only reflections of my mood, but where i am creatively.  growing up there were two people who most influenced and guided my listening; my friend and now sister-in-law victoria who introduced me to mtv's headbanger's ball at 13 {i will forever be grateful} and one of my dearest friends amy, who at 14 was playing me black flag and the cocteau twins records.  to this day it is infectious metal hooks and haunting lyrics that most often work their way into the cavity of my conscious.  and the one thing i can not stop listening to right now encompass both:  the hazards of love - the new concept album by the decemberists.  it is essentially a rock opera about margaret - a river daughter, her shape-shifting lover, his evil forest queen mother and a treacherous rake who is beyond evil.  i am actually having difficulty putting down in words what this record has done to me - most likely because it effortlessly intertwines so many of my passions:  the land of faerie, british folk revival, deliciously dark word play, riffs that echo iron butterfly, shakespearean tragedy and a tale of love that transcends realms.  because of it's hold on me i have been stalking the small stakes and diana sudyka sites waiting with bated breath for their interpretations of the tale in poster form.

two more bands that are influencing my dreams are MGMT - the video for electric feel alone sends me on internal flights to the moon wishing to bath in her dust; and the black ghosts, whose lyrics are a cauldron of emotion and parallel to where i am and where i need to be.

what is moving your soul right now? 

xoox~jla

Comments

[180]

I'm so excited to learn the Decemberists have a new album out. I'm getting it right now! Thank you. :) I also love MGMT. I'll have to check out The Black Ghosts.

Lately I've been listening to Coconut Records and Animal Collective.

[Katie]

I have been listening to Electric Feel by MGMT on repeat for weeks. There's something about that song that instantly puts me in a good mood. It's just *so* catchy! And, coincidentally, I just finished a really great series of books about the land of Faery and the Tuatha Dé Danann, so now I am curious to hear this Decemberists record!

[jen altman]

katie - share the book with us - please! ;)

[Katie]

The author is Karen Marie Moning, and the books are called Darkfever, Bloodfever and Faefever. There is a fourth one coming out in August which I can't wait for :D

[Nicodemus Green]

Boards of Canada always make me feel like I'm on a summer picnic way out in the country with my Mom when I was four. Just us and no one else.

-Nic

[ryan]

Lykke Li will make you dance, dance dance!

[fernanda]

i've been listening/feeling inspired by nordic music this days..finally we are none, by múm playing on loop:)

and just took note of yours! such a pity in england we can't watch you tube music videos anymore :( but going to montevideo this week, so will check there :)

[alexandria]

I have the newest album of the Decemberists and hadn't listened to it until I read your post. It got me so excited and it truly is how you described. I do hope you'll continue to share more of your music tastes from time to time. Love the photograph you took!

[Anna]

I just love the Decemberists...I can't ever decide if it's the music more brilliant then the lyrics or vise versa...or if they are both amazing. Black Ghosts - FULL MOON is my favorite. I love love love it. :-) My rotation changes as often as my mood...so daily. Luckily, music is never in shortage. :-) Right now, I'm on a Blonde Redheads kick - especially their '23'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7FqUNlEdwA Always Max Richter (his music touches those nearly untouchable places in my heart)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7FqUNlEdwA
Paris Combo for evenings with wine and LCD Soundsystem when I work out....well...for today. :-)

[oil painting]

that is relatively static objects depicted as the main theme of the painting.

[margie]

reggae. happy hopeful reggae for a dreary drab spring day.

[Jen]

I keep thinking about what you're up to lady! Hope all is well...xo

[Bronwyn]

I absolutely love reading of what others are listening to. Tonight I intend to preview the newest from Au Revoir Simone, Silversun Pickups, The Decemberists, and Woods, which I hear resembles the music of Bon Iver so I'm quite excited. Andrew Bird is a favourite right now as well as Akron/Family.

Your description of The Decemberists' latest is beautiful.

[amy]

wow-j! i didn't realize i influenced you with the tunes! can't wait to share music on our trip and boogie down!

[Des]

I couldn't agree more. Music is so critically important. I'm enjoying the Jose Gonzalez album, "Veneer." And the John Elliott album, "American in Love."