zooey, even though you have a boy's name, you sure can dance...

Oh Caitlin! Thanks so much so sharing!

this particular wednesday

I love Wednesdays. I have no class or work. I find my Tuesday night filled with anticipation for the next day with expectations for sleeping in, relaxation, productivity, and fun. This morning in particular has been defined by three things:  

1) Frozen blueberries. I read a nytimes piece about healthy things one should be consuming. Frozen blueberries were on the list. While many good foods are depleted when frozen, blueberries are less effected by freezing and contain a plethora of antioxidants and vitamins. So this morning I enjoyed a delicious bowl with vanilla yogurt. 

2) Slaughterhouse-Five, or the Children's Crusade: A Duty Dance with Death. I read half of this 1969 Kurt Vonnegut book yesterday during my break from class, and finished it this morning in bed. It is the perfect novel. I would describe it simultaneously as funny, sad, beautiful, ugly, hopeful, and defeating. I've always shirked away from reading it expecting it to be some guys' book that would be too concerned with itself by being obviously satirical and glorifying men and war. Now don't get me wrong, this book is surely misogynist, but that doesn't take away from the genius of form and compelling technique making a completely unlikeable and weak Billy Pilgrim become the answer to the problem of man killing man the inevitability of death. 

3) M. Ward's Hold Time. This album, by 'Him' of She and Him, is new to me, so I don't really feel I have a concise opinion yet. But I have sure been enjoying it this morning. You can listen to an exclusive first listen here. Here is what NPR says: 

NPR.org, January 12, 2009 - The songs of singer-guitarist M. Ward seem to drift in on the crackling radio waves of a distant time. Warm and intimate, his largely acoustic and usually spare arrangements are a tribute to what Ward sees as the greatest era for American music: the 1950s and early '60s, when singers like Buddy Holly andRoy Orbison infused country-rooted pop with honesty and romance. Ward's latest album, Hold Time, continues this tradition, with a gorgeously produced mix of finger-picked guitars, upright bass and shuffling rhythms, all tied together by his achy voice.

Hold Time won't be released until Feb. 17, but listeners can hear the entire album here on NPR Music as an exclusive preview.

The new disc was mixed by producer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Mogis, with guest appearances by Lucinda Williams,Zooey Deschanel (She & Him), Rachel Blumberg (The Decemberists) and others. Though it mostly features all-new songs, Hold Time includes a handful of cover tunes, including Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" and "Rave On," made popular by Buddy Holly.

"I think the songwriting style of (Buddy Holly's) period was superior," Ward says in an interview with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. "There was a certain amount of joy in it, no matter how sad the song is. You get joy in listening to these Buddy Holly or Roy Orbison sad lyrics. I'm attracted to songs that have balance between the darks and the lights and giving them all equal opportunity."

And now I get to head down to Caribou to get school work done. Nice day.

She & Him

I have been loving She and Him. This two person band has Zooey Deschanel (you may remember her from Elf or Almost Famous) as its lead singer and M. Ward as its guitarist and backup vocals. The songs have such a vintage feel and so does she. I love the who thing. Her crooning voice is sometimes off but it gets me every time. 

Here is a performance of 'Change is Hard' from the Ferguson show, but there are also great performance segments on YouTube from MTV Canada

From their website: "Ward’s unique arrangements and virtuostic guitar playing paired with Deschanel’s affinity for vocal harmony give Volume One its characteristic sound . Ward and Deschanel share a mutual affection for the songs they grew up hearing on Los Angeles radio stations - and keep in their hearts the records that most DJ's aren't playing anymore: Les Paul and Mary Ford, The Ronettes, Nina Simone, Chet Atkins, Linda Ronstadt, the Carter Family and about a hundred others. Aiming to achieve the warmth and charm of pop and country records from the early and mid part of the twentieth century, Ward, who also produced the record, and Deschanel, who wrote most of the music, called upon the help of a number of extraordinary musicians including: Rachel Blumberg, Adam Selzer, Mike Coykendall, Tom Hagerman, Peter Broderick, Mike Mogis, and Paul Brainerd. Without whom this record would just be two people with no drums, bass, strings or pedal steel."