It has certainly been a... while. Not exactly the two years plus my last update on this page implied, since I did get a nice host for a little while, but otherwise I haven't been doing much in the way of webhosting, opting instead to share music over LJ(!) and other such nonsense. It seems to be the popular way to do things nowadays. But I found after a while that I was missing having my own site, so... you know. Buttons. We're going to try this out again.
how this works
I'll update every week, I guess. It'll probably fluctuate due to my schedule--which isn't terribly busy, but I am a college student, and I do have homework and a boyfriend and general debauchery to attend to. So. Updates will come when they come. But I'm generally pretty good about sticking to a schedule (unless I get bored).
what to expect
Generally groups or artists that produce music in English or Japanese, since those are the languages that I speak and am studying. Maybe, occasionally, something in Korean or German or some other random language. I don't consider myself a music snob (because... you know... that's no fun), but I'll do my best to post what I consider quality music. "Quality" to be taken here in any possible context. Single songs, about ten or so at a time. I'll make comments in which I attempt to say something helpful about a song or pretend that I know something about music. Standard stuff.
Files are hosted on Sendspace and Megaupload. I don't really want to pay for web service, so... you know... I'm not going to. If neither of these work for you and you really want a song, let me know and we'll work something out. I'm flexible, but... you know... college student. No money.
music!
Love Love Love / OLIVIA (Sailing free CDS) [mirror]
HOORAYYY NEW OLIVIA SONGS. Goddamn has this single got a gorgeous cover. None of the songs have completely blown me away or anything--I feel like she just made an effort to produce more of the same, which is what's holding me back from completely fangirling over this single--but OLIVIA's ballads are always pretty solid, so this song is certainly worth a listen.
Slow Graffiti / Belle and Sebastian (Push Barman To Open Old Wounds) [mirror]
This is on most accounts a totally ordinary indie rock song, but there's something about the instrumentation that's really gorgeous, especially towards the end.
Niwashi King / Hirasawa Susumu (Kyuusai no Gihou ~ Technique of Relief) [mirror]
Hirasawa Susumu is a badass. No one makes music that sounds like his. And I guess I could be toting something from the new album he just released a little while ago, but honestly, I'd rather throw one of my favorites at you from an album that came out more than ten years ago. I feel like this album is the one on which he found his modern sound, and this is basically one of my favorite songs right now--the first ten seconds are like the best thing ever.
Totally adorable, unbridled indie rock at its best. And it also manages to be super-upbeat and super-depressing at the same time, which I always love in a song. This is a good one.
Mmm, The Go! Team. Not only do they have a totally excellent band name, but they embody a whole lot of things indie music usually scoffs at. Like fun. It's like summer feel-good music for hipsters. Not that I myself don't want to run around the trendy areas of Chicago and dance around in the rain of a broken fire hydrant this summer to this music, and I would only consider myself half a hipster (if that much). But seriously. Good stuff. I dare you to listen to it without smiling.
Titular track off of RURUTIA's new album--which is, as far as I can tell, an actual album, not a glorified single with a couple of new tracks supplemented with "music box" versions of older songs. I would be happy even with the song itself, though--being that it combines both heavy synth and a driving, powerful chorus. I'm a fan already.
SO PLACEBO'S NEW ALBUM COMES OUT IN JUNE. :D And this is the first single and leaked track that they're offering for free on their website. I like to feel legit every once in a while. Opinions on this song, as far as I can see from the Last.fm page, are pretty varied, but I like it--it's simplistic and repetitive, but in a good way. And strings!
OH LOOK IT IS BUDDY HOLLY HURRAY. I have such a soft spot for this man. Perhaps aggravated by the fact that he was only a couple years older than me when he died. I can't even imagine what he would have done for music had he lived. ... But at least he got the song "American Pie" written about him.
Shakes / Great Northern (Remind Me Where The Light Is) [mirror]
This is like a brand brand new album. I got it from a leaking blog, so I don't even think it's been released yet. But it's pretty quality indie/slow rock. If you like their sound, be sure to check them out in more detail; I think they're a new band, so... you know... interest is crucial. I think they're all right myself.
pv of the week!
These are going to be in iPod format. Since that format is smaller than your average high-quality video file, and it's pretty convenient for those of us who have iPods. I convert them myself, so if you have a huge problem with the format I can probably at least point you to where to get a .avi or a .mpg format or whatever. Seriously, though, kids, just download Quicktime and watch them that way. Or look them up on the YouTubes. It's not that hard.
Kamigami LOOKS YOU / Base Ball Bear [mirror]
AHAHAHAHA I LOVE BASE BALL BEAR. The sample images may look really boring, but that is because I don't want to ruin the surprise. :D Suffice it to say that it's fantastic and, I'm almost certain, a nod to one of my favorite movies ever. Just be sure to watch what's going on in the background carefully during the first minute or so.
If you see anything on here you happen to want, yell at me and I'll post it for you. No big deal.
linkage
Standard stuff--I accept link exchanges, will add you back if you add me and drop me a line here (ninja_cookie_dough[at]hotmail.com) to let me know.
All songs featured on this little page are copyright their rightful owners. All of my thoughts are... you know... my own. Please, if you really like something, do make an effort to purchase it. It's not like I don't download stuff myself, but I do have artists that I support wholeheartedly whenever they release something new, so if anything I put up here strikes you in that special way, please give thought to giving them some love (and money). That is all.
