Above pic via Zara

This turned out to be one of my favorite mixtapes that we’ve done so far, there’s some pretty great choices in this bunch. As the title of the post says this month’s mixtape is all about (in Karim’s words) “chilling, relaxing, and chillaxing.” I’d throw another word in here but Nghia would likely roll his eyes and say “oh brother.”

[MP3]: Sigur Ros  ”Staralfur” [James]
Ágætis byrjun, Fat Cat; 1999
I always pictures those birds flying around from their shows.

[MP3]: Cass McCombs  ”That’s That” [Nghia]
Dropping the Writ, Domino; 2007
It reminds me of alot of things right now.

[MP3]: Groove Armada  ”My Friend” [Karim]
Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub), Zomba; 2001
I picked this song because it soothes my mind thinking about the lyrics. It also reminds me of an amazing trip I took with some of the Crackers to Puerto Rico in July 2003 which was all about chilling, relaxing, and chillaxing.

[MP3]: Radiohead  ”How To Disappear Completely” [Pablo]
Kid A, Capitol; 2000
Makes me feel like I shouldn’t worry about a damn thing… Nothing should make you worry too much and everything’ll be fine… cause that there, that’s not me…

[MP3]: Quantic  ”Time Is The Enemy” [Christian]
The 5th Exotic, Tru Thoughts; 2001
Where did all the great trip-hop go?

[MP3]: Pseudosix  ”Under The Waves” [Ray]
Pseudosix, Sonic Boom; 2007
Whenever I get anxiety from the over-stimuli of living in Manhattan, I have dreams of moving to Portland, OR. This catchy tune from Portland band, Pseudosix, has the perfect scratch-strum riff and harmonic vocals to put a smile back on my face.

[MP3]: Hot Chip  ”So Glad To See You” [Theo]
The Warning, EMI; 2006
I love chill out electronic music, and here’s one of my favorites from the past couple of years. Loving the electro voice ending…wait for it!

[MP3]: Mazzy Star  ”Bells Ring” [Justin]
So Tonight That I May See, Captiol; 1993
Hope Sandoval’s voice is one of the most soothing and comforting things to me.

The entire set of yesterday’s Radiohead performance at London’s 93 Feet East song by song above. Radiohead started the performance with “15 Step” and you can hear a little bit of The Specials “Concrete Jungle” prior to the band taking the stage. Props to eeiciap for pulling this together. Stream the entire performance over at radiohead.tv. Setlist via Pitchfork below.

“15 Step” / “Bodysnatchers” / “Nude” / “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” / “All I Need” / “Faust Arp” / “Reckoner” / “House Of Cards” / “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” / “Videotape” / “Up On The Ladder” / “You And Whose Army?” / “The National Anthem” / “My Iron Lung” / “The Bends”

Above pic via erm, Big Frank

I finally got around to listening to the Bonus Disc of Radiohead’s In Rainbows last night amidst the season’s first real snowstorm and was absolutely floored by what I heard. Floored, because I never expected the bonus disc to be so solid, one of the (many reasons) I put it off until yesterday.

After convincing myself to stay in for the night, I put on “Disc 2″ and went about my usual business, which isn’t too exciting btw. I remember digging the record and then the serene piano of “Last Flowers” kicked in, permeating from my speakers and I stopped what I was doing and just started to stare off, first at nothing, but then out the window at the falling snow which was illuminated by the streetlights and backed by the billowing smokestacks of the surrounding buildings. I was stunned, you could even say I was in a trance-like state. Not to sound like a total cheeseball (might be too late for that), but it was surreal. The piano arrangement was perfect listening for watching the snow come down along with the serene/undisturbed landscape laid out before me. It’s actually difficult to put into words how moving the song (and scenery) really was/is (and I’m not sure if this site is the place for it). “Bangers & Mash” eventually snapped me out of my gazing, but my full attention was still focused on the album. Nghia’s probably rolling his eyes at this.

Lyrics and song below.

[MP3]: Radiohead  ”Last Flowers”
In Rainbows Bonus Disc, Self-Released; 2007

I’m sure a lot of you saw this on Friday. I actually didn’t see it until over the weekend — I guess that I was too busy being stoked about the My Bloody Valentine news. Pretty rad when one of your favorite bands cover your favorite Joy Division/New Order song. Doesn’t happen everyday.

Originally written by Ian Curtis, the song was released as New Order’s first single in 1981 after Curtis’ death, but first appeared on Joy Division’s Still album. Download the mp3 below.

[MP3]: Radiohead  ”Ceremony (Joy Division/New Order cover)”
Cover, Unreleased; 2007

Other things I’m pretty stoked about: Al Gore and the IPCC win the Nobel Peace Prize (now if he would just fucking run for President!), Digitalism is at Making Time tonight, and my dear crackers are en route to Philadelphia as I type this (well, at least a couple of them).

[MP3]: Digitalism  ”Idealistic (Dirty Disco Youth’s Hapiness Is A Drug)”

One last thing, since moving down here, I’ve been helping with the POPPED! Music Festival. It’s next summer at Drexel University from June 20-22. It’s going to be massive! Anyway, we’re doing events throughout the year to help promote the sustainably run festival and the very first is our CMJ Showcase, appropriately titled CMJAWN. Check it out!

CLICK THROUGH TO PHILEBRITY.COM/CMJAWN FOR MUSIC, INFO AND MORE…

Above pic via kapowlollypops

Nothing like waking up on an oddly warm October morning to the sound of construction outside your window. Why is it necessary to jackhammer and cut things at seven in the fucking morning anyway? With a slight headache from the previous night’s wine and already annoyed by the piercing noise outside, I made my way over to my laptop. Logged into the good ol’ Gmail and there sat an unread email from W.A.S.T.E. I thought “FUCK! I FORGOT, IT’S RADIOHEAD DAY…YESSS!!!” and could have cared less if the fuckers outside hit a water main and flooded the street.

Anyway, spent the entire morning chatting about and listening to In Rainbows (you know, that new Radiohead record) and it’s time to get some actual work done. “Nude” jumped out as the early favorite on the album…it’s gorgeous.

[MP3]: Radiohead  ”Nude”