daytrippin' on daytrotter.

What is up, dudes and dudettes? I have something really important to tell you about: DAYTROTTER.COM.

I have been meaning to bring daytrotter.com to the blog. I don’t know why I would have ever forgotten. I think it’s probably because I fill up so much of my day with Daytrotter, that, on some mental level, I thought I had already done it. Really.

And so, that’s what we’re gonna talk today. DAYTROTTER.COM
Do it.

Anyhow, I know that you and me both are always searching for great music. And if you gots the poison, I gots the remedy. Okay, so Jason Mraz isn’t a featured artist on Daytrotter, but that’s okay. We already know him.

At any rate, let me give you a quick tutorial on DT.

So, the whole premise is that sort of thing that you toss and turn over at night in your bed because you didn’t think of it first. How cool do these people have to be that they decided to use The Horseshack in Rock Island, Illinois as a place where righteous bands come to record songs that you and me can download FO FREE [for the most part] and listen to whenever we feel like it? I’ll tell you how cool you’d have to be: you would have to be so cool that there is no word available for which to describe you. Ergo, the good people over at Team Daytrotter are just so ______.

Also, here’s what Daytrotter.com has to say about their studio. And I quote:

“About the studio: The Horseshack, Rock Island, Illinois:

Daytrotter Sessions are engineered by Mike Gentry, Patrick Stolley, Brad Kopplin, Brett Allen or Nick Krill.

The Daytrotter recordings are made with minimal mic’ing, through discrete preamps and with some limiting to the mixing console, where they are printed to 1/4” analog tape running at 15 inches per second (usually BASF 468). The analog master is later transferred to a computer and converted to MP3.

There is no set formula or pattern to the recordings, no specific mic setup, etc. They are all live, no overdubs, straight to tape. What you hear is what happened in the room that day.”

Isn’t that just the coolest thing ever? Really. Let’s be honest with each other. That’s the coolest thing ever.

Anyway, the thing is, you create a quick little account [so you can comment and what not] and then you download. It is as simple as that. A new folder is created, you drop those sweet files into your itunes library, and you can thank me later. Plus, while you’re waiting [and it’s not a long wait] for those songs to download, there is always a wonderful write-up about the tunes you’re about to bump. PLUS AGAIN those drawings of the bands are, quite possibly, the coolest things I have ever seen. Genuinely.

Also. There’s an app for that.

So, being a true fan of DT, I thought I’d tell you about my top 7 sessions that you too! can download FO FREE. Has that settled in yet? I said FO FREE. Check it.

7. Sara Watkins
Alright, kids. As good people of the musical realms, we know about that great trio we used to call Nickel Creek. And, we all remember our good friend from that trio, Miss Sara Watkins. Guess what?! She is totally doing a solo stint. And, it’s quite lovely.

6. Josh Ritter
Okay- quick: what five letters spell apocalypse? WWIII. I think that explains it.

5. Fleet Foxes
Really, all I should have to say is Fleet Foxes. That alone should be enough for you to go ahead and download it. And that’s all I’m gonna say.

4. The Temper Trap
We love some Sweet Disposition here at the blog. Ergo, it gets even better live. Especially that first song. Whoa nelly.

3. The National
OMG. I heart The National more than life itself. I don’t care how good of a mood you’re in. I don’t care if the sky is vomiting rainbows. I don’t care if you have an unlimited supply of tootsie roll pops. The National will ALWAYS bring you down to a sense of complete and total dejected lament. And it’s kind of the greatest thing ever. Ugh. I love.

2. Local Natives
OKAY. There are a few sessions available for download by the Local Natives. What I need you to make sure that you do is download “Wide Eyes” and “Airplanes.” AND, if you’re a good reader of the blog, you know that “Airplanes” is most definitely one of those sweet songs available for your click, over on the right.

1. Bon Iver
HOLY SMOKES NUMBER ONE SESSION! Okay, guys. Now, I feel that the real point of recording something live for your fans is giving them something different. It’s no different than a live show. Don’t play me your record- I’ve got that at the house. Well, Bon Iver has done it again. I am sure that every time I hear the songs of my beloved Bon Iver, that there is no way I could ever love them any more than I do in that moment. Alas, I am always surprised. This session is like money in the bank. It is so beyond any tangible realm of greatness. I am being completely serious. Also, I am now positive that I am supposed to marry Justin Vernon. Once again, our love is real.


And, I read where JV did some work on Kanye West's new album. Nice. AND I read that a new Bon Iver album is no longer just a phantom dream I constantly have. It's coming, kids. And it's going to be major.

Now, for the most part, these are all bands/peeps that we have discussed before, here at the blog. And that’s the point. Nothing is more glorious than hearing a song you already love turned into something that you want to completely blast out loud like a revival in the church of righteousness.

And, there is plenty more where that came from. Daytrotter has hosted a veritable smorgasbord [I have always wanted to use that word on the blog. Nicely done] of impressive music. Let me give you a quick little rundown of SOME of their really awesome stuff:

Death Cab for Cutie
Avett Brothers
Dr. Dog
Grizzly Bear
Yeasayer
Ra Ra Riot
Metric
Okkervil River
We Were Promised Jetpacks
Woods
Noah & The Whale
Here We Go Magic
Neon Indian
Peter Wolf Crier
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Islands
The Morning Benders
Nathaniel Rateliff
Horse Feathers
One EskimO
Amos Lee
Ingrid Michealson
Ben Taylor [yes, the son of James Taylor & Carly Simon]
Of Montreal [shout-out to mikey.p]
Brett Dennen
Au Revoir Simone
Justin Townes Earle
LIGHTS
Cold War Kids
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
J. Tillman
Bear Hands
Mat Kearney
The Get Up Kids
Beach House
Colin Hay
Dawes
Vampire Weekend

AND, speaking of Vampire Weekend, you should download their session, if nothing else, for their “Welcome to Daytrotter” bit. It is kind of hilarious.

But, really. Did you read that list? I mean, that was just a few. It’s nothing short of incredible. YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE WEBSITE NOW.

Well, kids, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it all night: Daytrotter is where it’s at. And therefore, it’s where you should be, too. Also, I ordered one of their summer tees and I got some sweet shades as well. You bet they say “Daytrotter” on the side! AND they sent me some stickers and buttons. To which I say, “right on.”

Friends of the music-sphere, I bid you good listening. Also, it would be wise of you to LIKE! And give the thumbs-up, via Facebook to Daytrotter.com. It’s the best way to get your tunage on. So do it.

Also, Team Daytrotter is working on a documentary. LIKE! it on Facebook and then, build your music karma by sending your pennies and nickels their way. These things take money.

Finally, [sort of] I just saw where, if you e-mail teamdaytrotter@gmail.com with my name in the message, citing that I gave you the resources to check out some DT, then I could get a cool package of some sort. For the record, I had been working on this post long before I knew of this. Honestly. Do you know how long it took me to insert all of those damn hyperlinks? Let me just tell you that it wasn't easy. Okay, you can e-mail if you want, but then will I have to send you a package saying, "thanks" ?? Cause guess what, good reader? I totally would. Let's bring back the Pen Pal Club.

What's more, you can use that same email address to let Team Daytrotter know that you would like to help them out, via your campus life. You should really do it. I can sense that you're a responsible person.

Okay, go download.

Yours,
katie beth

WAIT. I just wanted to tell you something that, in most ways, relates to music. You know I now have a new little ipod shuffle? Well, I do. Anyhow, I’m still getting used to it, and I really think we’re getting along quite well. At any rate, there’s this new feature where, when I hold down the button on the earbuds, there’s a lady’s voice who provides me with the song and the people/person singing it. So, I am not too proud to tell you that I have one Ke$ha song. So, here’s the point, if you can even call it that:

The voiceover lady said, “Your Love is My Drug, Key Dollar Sign Ha.” Well, I thought that was quite clever of her. In some ways, it was like voiceover lady was making fun of Ke$ha. I like that about her. By saying the literal spelling of her name, voiceover lady was like, being a little bitchy. Anyhow, that was the point. And I really do kind of like that song. Also, I like your beard. See how I did that? Sorry.

PS--
There are some sweet new songs on the blog's impressive line-up to your right. You're welcome.

DAYTROTTER 4 LIFE.

you need to hear this.

Hell’s bells, friends of the blog. I spoke too soon. Remember that girl we discussed? You know, the one that I don’t really care for, well, she didn’t drop the class. It’s alright, though. It’s nothing I can’t handle.

Anyhow, you know I like to set the scene, and right now, I am sitting in a really cold computer lab and there’s only one other person in here. I’m sitting at the computer in the back left corner of the room and he’s sitting in the back right corner of the room. Do you think that makes him a Republican? Perhaps.

Anyway, it’s April and I always feel sorry for March. We never saw it coming and we hardly notice when it’s left, but I think I made good use of the month. I hope you did, too. And if you didn’t, well, that’s alright.

Okay, I need to tell you about the song that I have now listened to, well, I haven’t been keeping count, but sweet lord, I can’t stop. Do you know the genius that is Justin Vernon? Well, just in case you don’t, he’s great. And you know how you get into those Youtube trances? Well, I do and I just start clicking and listening, especially when I have to sit in this freezing computer lab for what feels like forever.

And it’s a nice escape because there are usually lots of people in here and they all have on blue scrubs. (I’m in the Health Building) And they’re all quite tall. I was in the lobby the other day and it almost felt like I was experiencing a scene in Avatar, but I digress.

Back to the musical discussion:

Well, I knew that Peter Gabriel of “In Your Eyes” fame had covered “Flume,” by Bon Iver [a boss project by Justin Vernon where he hibernated in a cabin in winter and emerged with quite possibly the best thing you’ll ever hear] Anyhow, I had heard the “Flume” cover and I liked it a lot and then, with the wonder that are hyperlinks, I finally discovered a video of Justin Vernon’s cover of “Come Talk To Me,” by Peter Gabriel.

Isn’t that awesome? It’s like musical-cover-tag, and I’m all for it. I could go on all day about Justin Vernon, but my two hours of work with my daily Academic Work Scholarship are about up and I parked in a two-hour spot, so I best be winding it on down, but just know that J. Vernon is rapidly replacing J. Mayer in my heart where I keep my greatest musical loves. And know that’s a major thing for me.

Alright, guys, I have posted the song on here for you. Please listen-on-in and get excited. It’s ridiculous, and in the best-sort-of-way.

I promise I won’t wait super-long to put up another post. I know you get sad when you can’t come on over to the blog and read something great.

Also, I have a quick little story to share with you:

The other day, I was walking into class and there’s a bench outside. On it, there sat a girl. And she had on black pumps, really tight jeans, lots o’ make-up, and two lip rings. They were sort of like punk-rock elephant tusks. Anyway, she was just sitting there and she was holding something. I couldn’t tell you if it was a dog or a cat, but I’m pretty sure it oinked. It was bizarre. And she told it to “hush up.”

Perhaps there is grand significance in that story, perhaps not, but I felt like it needed to be shared. Okay, now, go and listen to that video and feel free to fall in love.

Yours,
katie beth

life in technicolor.

So, let's kick this off with an important question: have you ever had the pleasure of listening to the song “life in technicolor,” by those giants Coldplay? You’ve gotta check it out. It doesn’t matter how many times I listen to it, I still can’t get over it. I love music like that. So much so, that I’m going to dedicate this post to the songs that I just simply can’t get over.

[SPOILER ALERT: as a direct result of the list at the end, (no, don't scroll down yet. it's not the time and you'll be seeing it too soon) this is an awfully long post. If you’re not in it to win it, go ahead and venture somewhere else. This is for true fans of the blog, and therefore, the people that I will endlessly love]

…decided to stay? well, it's official: I really like you.

When I say that I can’t get over these songs, I mean that I can’t wrap my head around their awesomeness. You know, they're the ones that you hear and you find yourself talking in all capitals about them and if people tell you to "calm down" or "be quiet" you just move onto the next person, anyone, who's willing to listen. And you get them to sit down in front of the nearest computer and you frantically pull up a video and wait for their expression to change because you've brought them to something so incredible.

With these certain songs, I can come close to fully understanding all that they are, but then, I just never get there; and that’s the best part.

The best things (or in this case, songs) in our lives are those that we can’t completely understand. Lyrically speaking, you can hear a song and feel like you’ve understood the meaning, but you can turn around five years later, hear the same thing and have a totally different understanding. Music’s pretty incredible that way.

That’s a great feeling. You know when you hear a song and it finally hits you; you never really got it until this very moment? Well, I love that. And I sure do hope that you do, too.

I also love sitting down and thinking about how music can come full circle. One of the best things is to see what I first started listening to and then seeing what I listen to now, or rather, hear. No matter how many people I hear that I think I could love more than I love John Mayer, I still give him credit.

I give lots of credit to JM’s songs because they were my first musical loves. I know that sounds sort of ridiculous, but I really mean it. When I was about twelve or thirteen, I woke up and turned on my TV. The channel locked in was VH1 and it was once again time for some sort of countdown. Anyway, I saw the video for “No Such Thing,” and that was pretty much it.

At that point in my life I could have easily been swallowed into the succubus of giggly pop, but instead, I heard my main man JM and thought he was pretty alright.

Now, I listen to new people. And I feel like, in some sort of way, that I owe John Clayton Mayer a whole-hell-of-a-lot of credit. I wouldn’t appreciate the people that I just can’t enough of now if I hadn’t first heard him.

I posted a video of the best thing he’s ever done. Keep with it, even through the whistling. It’s not that I don’t like the sound of the whistle, I just get jealous cause I can’t do it. Anyhow, I hope it changes your life. It sure did for me. And I really like it because it was back when JM wasn’t all that well-known. He was still just keeping it real.

Anyhow, I know that got a little tough to follow, but I sure hope you got it. I’ve listed some of the songs by people that I want - nay - need you to check out and if you've already heard them, go back and bump them again because they certainly deserve it.

Also, here’s to never forgetting our first musical loves. May we be proudly belting out their lyrics years from now during their farewell tours.

Yours,
katie beth

In no particular order: these are the songs that, upon first hearing, really did something for me. I hope they continue to do something for you:

1. “No Such Thing” John Clayton Mayer

2. “I Will" Alison Krauss + Union Station

3. “It Never Entered My Mind” Miles Davis

4. “Smoothie Song” Nickel Creek

5. “Broadway" Alison Krauss + Union Station

6. “Skinny Love” Bon Iver

7. “Moth’s Wings” Passion Pit

8. “The Guy that Says Goodbye” Griffin House

9. “Closing Time” Semisonic

10. “Bittersweet Symphony" The Verve

11. “Little Secrets” Passion Pit

12. “Things an Old Man Keeps” Ghosts in the Woods

13. “Island, IS” Volcano Choir

14. “Help I’m Alive” Metric

15. “Man on the Side” John Clayton Mayer

16. “Out of the Woods” Nickel Creek

17. “Forty Mile Town” Eric Johnson

18. “Fix It” Ryan Adams

19. “Little Lion Man” Mumford & Sons

20. “Blackie’s Dead” Pete Yorn + Scarlett Johansson

21. “Lump Sum" Bon Iver

22. “She Is” The Fray

23. “The Cape” Eric Bibb

24. “First Day of My Life” Bright Eyes

25. “Vultures” John Mayer Trio

26. “Crazy Faith” Alison Krauss + Union Station

27. “Cannonball” Ghosts in the Woods

28. “Stick With Me Baby” Robert Plant + Alison Krauss

29. “Fake Empire” The National

30. “The Cave” Mumford & Sons

31.“Fast Car” Tracy Chapman

32. “Angels” Flight of the Conchords

33. “I’ve Seen All Good People” Yes

34. “Sex On Fire” Kings of Leon

35. “Still” Volcano Choir

36. “Re: Stacks” Bon Iver

37. “Over My Head” Martin Sexton

38. “Get Me Through December” Alison Krauss

39. “Let Your Love Grow Tall” Passion Pit

40. “Born” Over the Rhine

41. “Hometown Glory” Adele

42. “Happy” Brandi Carlile

43. “Drunkard’s Prayer” Over the Rhine

44. “Red Light” Jonny Lang

45. “In Your Atmosphere” John Clayton Mayer

46. “Hummingbird” John Clayton Mayer

47. “This I Know” Sam + Ruby

48. “Keep it Loose, Keep It Tight" Amos Lee

49. “Let My Love Open The Door" Pete Townshend + Raphael Rudd

50. “Life in Technicolor” Coldplay

Well, friends, sorry it got to be so long, but I just couldn’t stop myself. And I posted a few videos by some of the very-very favorites that found their way onto this ground-breaking list. I probably could have kept going, but it’s getting to be a little much. And I feel like I’m going to go the rest of the day and night just thinking of songs that should have been on this list, but I digress.

Consider it a top 50, but also consider that I have a new favorite song every day. Make yourself a date with this list and look these songs up and look hard. And really do it, people. These are epic songs that will, no doubt, change your life. yes, even the one by Flight of the Conchords.

to whoever is still reading this: “thanks for sticking around.”
to John Clayton Mayer: “thanks for being the first.”