Happy Friday!

This song - Whole Wide World by Wreckless Eric - came on my ipod today while I was driving and it put a big ol' smile on my face. It always reminds me of this scene from Stranger Than Fiction, which is a favorite movie of mine. Hope it makes you smile, too...

Monday music

Let's Get Lost by Elliott Smith

wikipedia

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. 

-Victor Hugo
The author of Les Miserables

mybluecanoe

Love Lost video

I think it's cute to see these young boys' earnest faces singing this sweet love song. Plus I'm a sucker for synchronized choreography and cheeky British humor. 

Loving Lana

This is "Video Games" by Lana Del Rey.
I've been listening to her a lot lately. I love her buttery, jazzy voice. Her self titled EP is pretty great. Not sure if this is her official video or not.
Enjoy.

It's getting pretty merry up in here.

My humble Christmas decorations. 

Those are my parent's old records I acquired last year. 

Listening to Bing Crosby on the record player while decorating made me so happy!

Wrapping presents with my cat around was a challenge to say the least. Maybe I should have done this.

My boyfriend's bamboo tree all lit up with my presents underneath. 

Pretty cute if you ask me. I was inspired and surprised by his Christmas cheer this year!

This is the outside of my parent's house. So festive!

I took these last two photos at a shop down the street from me called Juniper Tree Vintage. They go ALL OUT for Christmas every year. There are multiple trees decorated to the max and everything is sparkly and kitschy and awesome. Oh, and they always have really cute vintage dresses, shoes, jewelry, etc. Go to this store or check out their blog. You won't be disappointed!

Christmas All Over Again

How haven't I heard this Christmas song by Tom Petty until this year?!! It's laughable, just laughable!

Whole Lotta Love

skull swap

I've been a lazy blogger lately and I apologize. Let me elaborate on this delicious photo I posted: I have been reading Hammer of the Gods by Stephen Davis and am intoxicated with the greatness and excess and voodoo of Led Zeppelin. I've been infatuated with them since high school and a few years ago learned more about Jimmy Page through the writing of Pamela Des Barres in her book I'm With the Band. Little side note: the character Penny Lane from the film Almost Famous was based on Pamela. She had a fiery love affair with Mr. Page. Juicy Stuff. Eh ehm, I digress, I am halfway through Hammer of the Gods and am SO glad that it was written. It gives us youngins something tangible to hold onto and fantasize about from a time that came way before us. Led Zeppelin may have have been in their prime a long time ago but their influence lives on in music and rock history forever.

Also, Robert Plant and his Band of Joy played at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival this year but unfortunately I missed it due to San Francisco traffic and absolutely no parking. Oh well...I'm just glad he is still here and reminding the world that music can still be meaningful and beautiful. 

Music Monday y'all

Cheerleader by Grizzly Bear

An ode to Summer's end

Bye Bye Summer Playlist

Capitola Beach 2011

All too true

Never Saw the Point by Cults

Bat For Lashes - What's a Girl To Do

I've loved this video for some time now. The song is beautiful and the video is haunting.
It's ALL good in my book. 

Music Monday

The Cloud Prayer by A.C. Newman

Because the world is round it turns me on...

Came across this image the other day.

I could look at photos of John and Yoko for hours. 

To me, this picture is one of the many that is representative of their unapologetic and passionate love.

It made me feel something when I saw it. 

Which is more than I can say for most things that I see on a day to day basis.

And this is one is for the hell of it.

I just love Yoko's wedding outfit. 

John and her were always so effortlessly stylish.

And finally, here are some quotes from John talking about his love, Yoko.

"As usual, there is a great woman behind every idiot.”

“It wasn’t that she inspired the songs. She inspired me.”

"She forced me to become avant-garde and take my clothes off, when all I wanted was to become Tom Jones."

"We've broken down a few barriers between us, which we had to do because we had two big egos. Two individual artists - and with love we overcame that."


"John and Yoko are like the wind. You can't see it, but when it passes the trees bend. You know, and that's what we do."

"I've had the boyhood thing of being Elvis. Now I want to be with my best friend, and my best friend's my wife. Who could ask for anything more?"

"I'd like to live to a ripe old age, with Yoko only, you know. And I'm not afraid of dying. I don't know how it'd feel at the moment. But I'm prepared for death because I don't believe in it. I think it's just getting out of one car and getting into another."

And Yoko on John:

“You can’t plan in life – you just have to do the best with what life gives you. John taught me to laugh a lot at life, and I do. It would have been better if he hadn’t died but you can’t sit and cry. These are things life throws at you and you have to learn to overcome them. You have to try to make good from bad."

enjoy this. i do.

Such cute little babes.

Lately, I've been grooving to the tambourine shakin', slow singin', echoe lovin' ways of the Smith Westerns.
Specifically their album Dye It Blonde.

Here they are in all their glory (in a tree?):
 Cameron, Cullen and Max

photo from oregonmusic.com

They are quite handsome but I can't help but think that they are a little young for me. (I mean, come on, who can resist the long, careless hair in their eyes?!..Or the Jew fro, depending on your taste.) BUT they weren't old enough to buy a beer when they released their first album in 2009. I suppose their baby faces and youthful lyrics are what draws me to them. They're like my little brother's cute friends that I make fun of but secretly think they are much cooler than me. And I would most definitely buy them a beer.

Ok, ok another picture.

But really, their music is good too! Dance party!
photo from Chicagomag.com

If men and wine don't kill me...

Troubles up and down the road
And trials all the way around
Never knew what trouble was
Till my honey threw me down
With nothing but old ragged clothes
My heart strings broken to shreds
Blues creeping over my body
Queer notions flying in my head
The easiest thing I ever done
Was loving and drinking wine
The hardest thing I ever done
Was paying off a judge's fine
I've never worked for pleasure
Peace on earth I cannot find
The only thing I surely own
Is a worried and troubled mind
If men and wine don't kill me
The one more plan to find
Soak up all the old rub-alcohol
Ease all trouble off my mind


Rub Alcohol Blues by The Fiery Furnaces
LISTEN HERE

Just Kids

I am a little...ok, I am a lot in love with Patti Smith. She recently won the National Book Award for her memoir, Just Kids. It is a wonderful book about her relationship with photographer/artist Robert Mapplethorpe when they were both young, broke, and determined artists trying to make it in New York in the late 60's and early 70's. I cherish this book and hope that you might read it too. It is poetic and honest and empowering for someone like myself. 

So that said, Patti was recently on The Colbert Report in honor of her winning the National Book Award. This interview is insightful, cheeky, and lovely; not unlike Ms. Patti Smith, herself.
Enjoy.

The Colbert Report: Patti Smith

Here are some photos (from very far away) at the Hardly Strictly Blue Grass Festival in San Francisco when I was able to watch and listen to her play FOR FREE. Loved every minute of it.

 The Godmother speaking her mind.

 "Because the Night"

Oh, I had to get one with me and Patti
(as well as approx: 2,000 other people.)

Shake It Up

A (personalized) present from my sweet boyfriend. Soon he'll bring over his guitar and we will pretend to be Johnny and June.

My kitty, Peanut, likes it too. :)