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December 19, 2011

Holiday Music Streams

Image via NPR
Yesterday we released our incredible Holiday Mix of 2011. While I think this might be the best collection of Christmas & Holiday music ever put together – variety never hurt anyone either. I’d like to recommend these other Holiday streams to listen to when you want in addition to my own.

NPR: Jingle Another Way: Holiday Music For The Rest Of Us
Every song on this mix is performed by monkeys. Every. Last. One.

SomaFM: Xmas in Frisko
SomaFM’s wacky and eclectic holiday mix. Not for the easily offended.

Minnesota Public Radio: Holiday Classics
Seasonal Holiday classical music from Minnesota Public Radio.

Minnesota Public Radio: Music For Holiday Living
holiday specials listed below which feature Minnesota touches, including the Minnesota Orchestra’s performance of Handel’s Messiah, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s performance of Berlioz’s Childhood of Christ, and the Chanukah special Candles Burning Brightly with Classical Minnesota Public Radio hosts Bill Morelock and Mindy Ratner.

And of course you can always come back to the Scared Panda Holiday Mix ’11.

December 15, 2011

Tom Waits – A Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis

It wouldn’t be Christmas time if I didn’t listen to Tom Waits read a Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis.

“Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis” has been described as a “laconic first-person sketch.”[1] The song’s lyrics narrate a letter written by a prostitute to a man named Charlie. She confesses to being pregnant, and describes her current living circumstances, including her stable relationship with a partner who promises to raise her arriving baby “like he would his own son.” At the song’s conclusion, the author confesses to Charlie that she has been lying to him; she does not have a husband, is currently serving time in prison, and will be eligible for parole on Valentine’s Day. – Wikipedia

November 14, 2011

Music Monday: Drive By Truckers, Justin Townes Earle and Dead Man Winter

I listen to a lot of music and I like to share it with people. So starting today, on Monday’s I’ll post a few videos or mp3s of some bands/songs that I’m listening to while packing up t-shirts. To kick it off I’d like to start with some folkish jams for you today.

Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues on Letterman

Drive By Truckers – Birthday Boy

Dead Man Winter – A Long, Cold Night in Minneapolis

June 15, 2011

Adele On NPR’s World Cafe

Adele I’ve never been a huge fan of Adele’s music but then I listened to her accoustic-ish set on this episode of NPR’s World Cafe. I wish that all her recorded stuff sounded this good to me.

Check it out and let me know what you think NPR Music.

May 26, 2011

Foster The People: The Outcast’s Song Of The Summer

We’re taking off for Colorado this weekend for a friend’s wedding. As a pre-flight ritual I’ll grab a few new albums, jam myself out and bug my seat mate with incessant foot tapping on the long plane ride. I just grabbed Foster the People’s new album and “Pumped Up Kicks” is the one of my favorite tracks. You’ve probably heard it too by now and I’ve been whistling along to it for the past couple weeks. But have you listened to the lyrics? According to this NPR story they’re not as happy as my whistling.

“The song is about an outcast youth who doesn’t wear the right clothes, doesn’t say the right things and just doesn’t fit in,” Foster says. “It’s really about the mental process of him going crazy. So it’s a dark song with a really breezy melody.”

“The fans who’ve been crowding into their shows, happily singing along, don’t seem to know what they’re singing about. They also don’t seem to care.”

Alright outcast nerds, we have a new joint! Have a good weekend, everyone!

May 15, 2011

Wax – California

MTV in the 90′s was unbeatable. Before all the normal crap that MTV puts on the air now, they were my main source of music when I was 14. A lot of my memories of my early teens have something to do with music videos. One of my all time favorite videos is California by the band Wax. Little did I know that it’s a Spike Jonze joint as well. It’s funny the kind of knowledge you gain when you’re sitting in a bar and staring at a tv.

And the same video at normal speed.

May 2, 2011

Other Music New York City

Ever since I saw the Human Giant skit about Other Music I’ve been a big fan of this record store. This weekend our friend and Scared Panda creative consultant Matty O was in town from Chicago for a weekend visit. He’s a huge music guy, so naturally I wanted to take him to my favorite record shop in NYC. While he buried himself in their collection of vinyl Kate and I wandered around the store taking pictures and sampling some new tunes. Luckily they were all out of the indie-tastic Garden State soundtrack, but they have a sweet new listening station thats awesome for finding new music.

Keeping up with the Amazon’s and iTunes, they have a online digital section too. So you can drop by, check out the store, get caught up on new releases and see the staff picks then head home to download music from them. This is nice if you’re not into buying actual physical music. It’s pretty cool that you can still support a local record shop and get your tunes online. Well done, guys.

December 20, 2010

Holiday Mix ’10!

For the second year running we put together a kicking Holiday mix for you. This time we went all over with Louis Armstrong, The Eels, Tom Waits, Denis Leary, and Run DMC to name a few. In addition to our annual mix, I can say that right? Two years in a row makes it annual, I think. The Killers released a charitable Christmas song in benefit of the (RED) foundation.

In the past The Killers have done tracks that include “A Great Big Sled,” “Happy Birthday Guadalupe,” and “Don’t Shoot Me Santa.” This one comes with a video, directed by Jared Hess. For every view the video below gets, Starbucks will donate 5¢ via the Starbucks Share program.

So, watch, listen and have a great Holiday season. Unless you hate children, puppies, smiles and baby seals.

Zat You Santa Claus? – Louis Armstrong [via]

Everything’s Going To Be Cool This Christmas – The Eels [via]

Merry F’in Christmas – Denis Leary

The Christmas Song – The Raveonettes [via]

Got Something For You – Best Coast & Wavves [via]

Christmas In Harlem – Kanye West ft. CyHi Da Prynce

I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm – Billie Holiday

Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses [via]

Christmas In Hollis – Run DMC [via]

Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis – Tom Waits [via]

Camera Obscura – The Blizzard [via]