Polar Music Prize.


Here are things I didn't know about the Polar Music Prize:

1. It was started by Stig Anderson, manager of Abba.
2. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden presents the prize.
3. Each winner gets money-- a million kronor.
4. It's not the Polaris Music Prize, which is what I thought, which is actually awarded to the best Canadians and not presented by a King.

This year the Kronos Quartet and Patti Smith won. Awesome and congrats. Last year it was Ennio Morricone and Björk. Also awesome.

New Blind Pilot CD


Called We Are The Tide. I saw them a few years ago open up for Gomez and was completely and totally enchanted with their storytelling and sweet band camaraderie and pretty voices. Blind Pilot, like the aforementioned Ben Sollee, have done a few bike tours— travelling from show to show, with their equipment, on their bicycles. That's worth all sorts of bonus points. The CD is streaming at npr.com now.

My favorite band is Wilco.



Just with that one little factoid, you now know that I'm a) white, and b) probably over 40. Sad, isn't it? But the reality is, o my mind, no one writes small stories like Jeff Tweedy, no one plays guitar like Nils or drums like Glenn. There is a new Wilco CD coming out in about a month and there is a preview of many new tracks over at Wounded Jukebox. If you love Tweedy like I love Tweedy you will head on over.

Best Tiny Desk Concerts, Pt. 4



Is this too obvious? Maybe. But Adele singing "Someone Like You" perched on a tiny desk with just a soft tinkling behind her is kind of shocking in a real way because she has a ridiculous voice, as in for real, no trickery needed. I have this version on audio only and listen to it on the headphones and each and every time am just tickled in the best possible ways. And then there is "Chasing Pavements" which is like a lost Bacharach tune. That's why I love her, I think she would have been a Burt protege in another time and place. And I love me some Burt.

And what makes it even more remarkable is the way she laughs: it's like a painful cackle that sounds like it's coming from a wholly different animal than the singing voice.

Best Tiny Desk Concerts, Pt. 3



Not as moving as the previous two Tiny Desks I posted, but this Ben Sollee set is simply the definition of charming. He appears to be a lovely man whom I'd like to have a lovely conversation with.

I also love this video from his new CD, Inclusions.



http://bensollee.com/

Best Tiny Desk Concerts, Pt. 2




I hadn't even heard of Y La Bamba till I saw them on Tiny Desks and I was transfixed and mesmerized and all those words we use when we love. They are from Portland. You can tell by looking at the boys she is surrounded by.

Y La Bamba

Best Tiny Desk Concerts




I've been on a Tiny Desk kick lately and revisited this oldie but goody. Gogol Bordello. Last song is the best and not just because Eugene makes his way to the tops of the tiny desks. By the way, I do believe he is the sexiest person named Eugene, ever.

Gogol Bordello

Teux Deux

I found this To-Do List online program last week and LOVE it. It's pretty intuitive but I did watch the 3 minute video to make sure I full grasped it's potential. It's simple, but effective. Basically you enter your To-Dos on the days you want To Do them and then when you have accomplished them, you click to cross them off. And here is the part I love: if you don't click them off, they move to the next day. And so on and so on. Automatically.

Find it at TeuxDeux.com

Before I Fall



What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last. Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.


This book, by Lauren Oliver, was on pretty much every Top Ten pf 2010 YA list and since I've been making my way through the lists, it was inevitable that I got here. I read it in two days and thoroughly enjoyed it. To my mind it has everything a YA book should have-- a little mystery, a lot of horrid high school drama, real characters who are completely imperfect and frustrating (because every teen is frustrating, every damn one), and a touch of desire. And it should have all those things plus be readable, breezy, fast-moving and carefully written. Check, check, check and check. Highly recommended - I know this has been said about it, but it's hard not to compare: it's sort of Groundhog Day (of death!) meets Heathers, minus the biting black comedy, although there is comedy and it is pretty bleak. All in all, a great summer read. Looking forward to her Delirium, which is more supernatural than this one.

Lauren Oliver

Baboushka Bike Bags
These are on sale for $30 (yes for the pair, they are connected) and I am getting them to go on my cute vintage red bicycle. There are more on sale over at iCargoBike.com

My iPhone is Cracked.


And this gorgeous iPhone cover is sold out. And I'm sad. They also make air book covers and Apple tech covers. Those aren't sold out.

From Twelve South.