Just can't help (stop) believing

Hey Johnny Boy. What's it been, two years? How's yer ma? Is your da still working? I'm just phoning to say that I listened to your anthem at 4 am last night, and it sounded just as good as it did the first time I heard it. I think if you had added hand-claps, you might have made it big. I know I say that to everyone, and I know the whole point was that you didn't want to make it big, but it would have pleased me.

Anyway, tell all your friends I said 'yeah yeah!' and take good care. It's really a shame that 'you are the generation that bought more shoes and you get what you deserve' was a bit too long to fit on some stunning buttons.

Mp3: You are the generation.... - Johnny Boy (3.09)

[You're likely to have to buy merch. directly from them here]

I'm nostalgic for 2005.

What are you nostalgic for?

[Besides proper music blogs so you don't have to come here]

You passed me by, nearly said hi...

Well, it's been a couple years since my last band split up amidst rumors we were lifting material from Smashing Orange (and sorry about your head, really, ouch, but you should never insult Bauhaus in my presence).

But, I've decided to pack it all in once again to be a popstar. So, if anyone out there reading this owns a record label, please pay attention to me, because I am going to be BIG someday. Here's a bit of my background.

Stage Name: Liz Roar.

Plays: Handclaps, off-key girly vocals, marimba (possibly).

Previous bands:
The Spare Blushes (one EP, 'But I like custard...so fuck you!')
Honora Bright (nearly as popular as the Wire tribute band)
Venkman (just me & my ex-boyfriend singing to the car radio)
Liz & Julie (all girl Journey karaoke)

Influences: Not Smashing Orange, so you can just stop that right now.

Mission Statement: To play in a band so I don't have to work in a university anymore. To increase my cardigan collection, and bring a love of twee pop to the masses. To create and destroy (nevermind, that's Sarah Records). Ummm...to be loved.

Here's my demo. You're going to accuse me of stealing this song from Hello Saferide, but I assure you it's me. Those are my signature hand-claps. Okay, so it's not me. But this song's about me. Okay, it's not. I would never stalk someone on the Yahoo or the Alta Vista.

Mp3: High School Stalker - Hello Saferide (2.49)
[Visit the wee twee Swedes here please]

I'd never let you feel that way

In haste, since I just finished writing my paid 'u should read this book, zmog! it is totally the bestest survey of vernacular architecture eva' review...

...here's my free 'u should buy this album, zmog! it is totally the bestest Canadian album eva' review.

Really. I said something about this band in a posty-posty that blogger ate about two weeks ago. So, if you read that, fantastic. If not, I think I used the words 'sad, black hole, Roy Orbison, morphine, shot into fucking space'. In the most complimentary way, of course. This is brilliant, brilliant stuff and deserve a repost since their album The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse is out Tuesday on Jagjaguwar Records. Can I get a witness?

Mp3: For Agent 13 - The Besnard Lakes (5.12)

[Free downloads and their rise to fame here!]

PS, I personally am not running to change my knickers over the Bonnaroo line-up, but it's June 14-17. Like, in the next town over from me. You guys can come stay at mine and rock out to The f-ing Police if you want to.

There's something in a Sunday that makes a body feel alone

Let me spell sometime out to you...

It's Sunday. I live in Tennessee. I'm quite surprised this has never happened before, actually.

Mp3: Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down - Kris Kristofferson (2.51)

[Buy it on 'Live at the Philharmonic', 1992]

So why not Johnny Cash...well, a) this is Kris Kristofferson's song and b) it's simply the best version I've heard. It was recorded in 1972 when Kristofferson was sort of at the peak of his abilities. The track has been shortened to a much more bearable three minutes and shuffle guitar of the country version is replaced with a shimmery, bright sound.

And it's just a song that belongs to the South. It's a place that struggles and cracks with good intentions, but can never mourn with a straight face. We have issues. But, we write good music.

I hope you're not feeling alone this Sunday.

Why does everybody have a crush on my girlfriend?

This really isn't a case of me trying to out-do your twee shirts, I promise. Although I have. Fnarr fnarr...hicc!

Anyway, loads of thank to the lovely Sean from Tullycraft for my fantastic shirt, which arrived today. I feel a bit bad for depriving their website of the elusive #1 twee porn destination , but you know how that old song goes...Lord lift us up where we belong. Livin' it, you know?

Fuck!

You know what else I'm livin'? This song.

Mp3: Doomed, Lo-Fi and In Love - The Smittens (2.48)

[From Gentlefication Now! Visit them here and here for purchasing info]

Gentlefication Now! Oh my, u know this is a twee record. But, they could have done more with hand-clapping in this song. My only critique.

But back to love, one day (possibly, who knows) I'll have a lovely boyfriend who won't mind when I have a bit too much to drink and tell him things like, "You make my heart wish it was my hands so it could clap for you." Until then, there's this song.

Mp3: Rock Upon A Porch With You - Boy Least Likely To (2.57)

[Itssa B-Side. Here's tha record. Here. Here. Here.]

PS, Has anyone seen Harry Potter's, erm, magic wand yet? His play premiered last night. I confess, I am a wee bit interested. So rarely are the tables turned for us nerd girls.

I'm so obsessed that I'm becoming a bore...

I'm still hobbled from dancing, and this song is partially responsible for the dull ache in the back of my legs. It's really hard to do the 360-degree hoppy dance in high heels. And Tim Booth should know. He messes 'round with gender roles.

Mp3: Laid - James (2.38)

[Buy it on Laid, 1993]

And can I just say that I remember the exact moment I saw the wonderful video for 'Laid' on MTV's 120 Minutes when I was [eek!] 13 years old. Bless, if my mother didn't buy me the [eek!] cassette tape the next day, which I still have. Personally, simple pop songs don't get much better than 'Laid', and if you disagree, I'll slam your fingers in the till.

And really, this has to be one of the most charming covers of 'Laid' I've ever heard, and it might just make your day if you're a fan of the original. Matt encourages his crowd to sing along with him as if they're all about to go down with the Titanic, and fuck me if they don't. Laaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiddddddddd. Go ahead and join them.

Mp3: Laid - Matt Nathanson (3.14)

[Do visit Matt here and buy his lovely records]

housefuckmei'mtweeeee!

Goodbye, Goth Wednesdays. Hello, Twee Thursdays.

[and I do apologize for all the drunky pictures. sorry.]

I did try to justify the goth scene [wink wink], but essentially, I am a girl who wears velour shoes, owns 50+ cardigans and has a teddy bear on her wallet. My hair is very fringe-y, and my faculty parking tag is obscured by the wee kitten charm hanging from my rearview mirror.

I drink a lot of tea. I have horn-rimmed glasses.

I've actually danced to Judy and the Dream of Horses.

I think I might want to be married in a truck train tractor.

Mp3: Truck Train Tractor - Pastels (4.04)

[Buy it cheaply on the singles collection from 1993]

And on top of my wedding cake, there'll be 14 Iced Bears.

Mp3: Inside [7" version] - 14 Iced Bears (1.46)

[And you can get the album version hereeeee]

It's trueeeeeeeeeeee. Yeah it's trrrrueeeeee. It's tweeeee. It's meeeeee.

PS, I've just been giving the word that twee girl has to go to [gulp] fucking MEXICO in April to give a paper at a conference. A bit odd, but as you do...

Why I did like Valentine's Day '07

Hi guys.

I'm pretty loaded.

The Joy Division covers came down today. If you missed them, just send me a note and I'll pass on to you which ever version you'd like.

Here's the first performance of 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by New Order. It's wicked old.

Mp3: Love Will Tear Us Apart - New Order (3.40)
[I'll give you the story when I'm not so drunk]

Okay, it's now nearly 24 hours gone...so, this version was recorded in 1983 at the Tower Ballroom in Birmingham on the anniversary of Ian Curtis's death, and it's awful quality, but lovely because you can hear the audience singing. And it came via the always super-duper wonderful New Order net audio library.

Please enjoy either the song or the photo dump. Or neither. And a further edit about the pictures...I'm exceedingly proud of the first shot, as you can actually see my top lip. That's not a boy I'm kissing, aaaand, that's an Audi, not a Saab. Doh.








Christ. And it SNOWED!

My valentine for you...

Honestwee...

Please take this song, I had to work up considerable nerve to give it away. It's the deleted version of Spiritualized's 'Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space', and it's stunning. Beyond words. Five out of five sad boys and girls agree, it's better than the original. It will make you feel a bit more holy than this day ever could.

Mp3: Ladies and Gentlemen... - Spiritualized (3:54)

And happy valentine's day.