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.

ziggy and his pocket full o' stardust.

Good, good, good friend of the blog. How long has it been since we last spoke? I don’t know either, but gees, it feels like it’s been forever and a day. And I’ve missed you. I hope the same is true for you missing the blog. I really love having you around.

Anyhow, let’s settle right on into it, just like we’ve never left. And I thought, what better way to kick off the first o-fficial post of the summer then by me telling you about some of my current obsessions. Some of them are new and some of them are resurfacing from obsessions past. I think you’ll enjoy hearing about them. If not, well, I guess that’s just too bad.

OKAY. Here goes.

1. Zippy (not to be confused with Ziggy)
Zippy is the name I have given to my new ipod shuffle. That’s right. My old shuffle was never found and I’m actually really surprised that I never did find it. It’s quite the bummer. HOWEVER. My new shuffle is pretty stellar. Its name is Zippy because it looks like a mini Zippo. Which makes perfect sense.

2. Best Buy
Have you ever shopped for compact discs (disks?) at Best Buy? Well, you should. A few months, (weeks?) ago, I bought some incredible tunage. Which brings us to number three…

3. BROKEN BELLS.
Well, I heard them a good little while ago, and they have been featured on the blog’s line-up of important music for quite some time now, but I finally got my hands on the actual cd. And holy moly. It’s quite spectacular. Broken Bells is the fusion-groovy-hybrid of James Mercer of the Shins fame, and Danger Mouse of just flat-out awesome fame. Anyhow, it’s great. Go check it.

4. High Violet
I know I’ve talked a lot about The National’s new album, but I’m probably not going to be able to quit. If you haven’t done so already, I really want you to hear it. I am in total love.

5. Fleet Foxes
I also picked up the album by this awesome band at Best Buy. Now, Fleet Foxes aren’t really new news. I had heard “Blue Ridge Mountains” a while back, but now that I have their album, I’m gonna tell you that it’s important for you to own it as well. Especially a little ditty called “White Winter Hymnal.” HELL’S BELLS. That’s all I got to say about that one.

6. PANDORA (not be confused with anything Avatar-related)
Now, I have discussed this incredible application before, but we’re gonna do it again. Because it just deserves it. I entered “Bon Iver” into mine and so now, I have “Bon Iver Radio.” It’s true what they say. Dreams really do come true. And it bumps constant Bon Iver, Iron & Wine, Tim Fite, Andrew Bird, Joe Purdy, Alexi Murdoch…whoa, it goes on and on. And it just gets better.

7. BPM-CURRENT DANCE HITS
XM/Sirius has done it again. Holy smokes. This station features some boss little remixes. For instance, there was a nice little David Lei Brandt remix of Jay Sean’s hot groove “Down.” That’s good music, kids. This station comes to you from the blog with a high recommendation, cause that song gots down like the economy. And then they played a Kaskade remix of Telephone. That was super-cool. PLUS! Kylie Minogue is back, bitches.

Alright, here comes the big finish:

8. ZIGGY STARDUST
Okay, speaking of satellite radio, you know how much I love The Coffee House. And, it had been a while since I had the extreme pleasure of hearing this song by the wonder that is David Bowie. So, therefore, this song is now on that groovy little listing of videos on the right of this ground-breaking blog. And, let’s talk about it for a little bit:

Lyrically, it’s one of the saddest songs I think I’ve ever heard. So, when you listen-in, listen-in for the words. They’re boss. I think Ziggy Stardust is going to be my new alias. Probably shouldn’t have told you that.

Seriously, though. David Bowie can kind of do no wrong. I mean, in Under Pressure, right there at the end, that lyric that starts off with “love’s such an old-fashioned word…” Holy Toledo. You can’t deny that kind of greatness. He is awesome. And Ziggy Stardust really is his best. That’s what I think, anyhow.

DAVID+BOWIE=FLAT-OUT, FULL-ON COOL.

PLUS! There are a few more new songs available for your auditory bliss. So, I don’t really know what you’re waiting for. Grab those handy-dandy earbuds and groove around for a cool little minute. That line-up of impressive videos is patiently waiting. And just know that all of those songs are obsessions that swim around in my brain 24/7. Groovin’ is what we do.

Alright, those were my eight current obsessions. And eight’s a good number. We could even call this post “Kate Plus 8.” Too soon? Perhaps.

At any rate, you know how much I love you. Do I need to say it again? Well, just to reiterate, and never to belabor, I do love you. In fact, you’re my number nine on that list of current obsessions.

Yours in extreme obsession,
katie beth

WAIT. There’s more.
I can’t leave without telling you how obsessed I was with the second installment of SJP and the ladies of Sex & The City. I mean, really. I felt like I had already seen the movie before I ever even went. But then, in true SATC fashion, I hadn’t seen anything yet. It really was the best sex yet. AND I have one word, four letters: LIZA.

In fact, I liked that movie so much, I might even put a ring on it. Again: too soon? This time: definitely.

Also, the soundtrack to the movie is quite impressive. I can really get down to the Bali-Wood-esque vibe. Plus, that Empire State of Mind can do no wrong. And as much as I love Jay-Z, this song just gets better with only Alicia Keys. It’s like an effing revival at the church of cool. Be sure to check it out.

Anyway, go out and see the movie. We’ll talk more about it later. I don’t want to ruin it for those who haven’t seen it yet.

Okay, this time this post really is over. At least until we meet again.

Now go get obsessed. And, as always, feel free to fall in love. And do it with a sweet disposition. See how I did that?

REPRESENT.