The rules of the game.

Valentine’s Day is like a month away; don’t lose your heads! Remember to bend and snap, and follow these love advice songs:

1. You can’t hurry love. ("You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes)

2. Don’t believe in modern love. ("Modern Love" by David Bowie)

3. I’m a fool to do your dirty work. ("Dirty Work" by Steely Dan)

4. Take it as it comes. ("Take It As It Comes" by Vivian Girls)

5. No scrubs. ("No Scrubs" by TLC)

6. Say no to love. ("Say No To Love" by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart)

7. You can’t say no forever. ("You Can't Say No Forever" by The Go-Betweens)

8. C is the heavenly option. ("C Is the Heavenly Option" by Heavenly)

-Leah

Listen to this: January 2013

Only just recently did I start taking Soundcloud seriously, but now I'm really into it and use it even more than Bandcamp to hear music first. And since the only thing I'm really good at is liking pop music anyhow, I figured it'd be smart of me to start linking what I've been listening to each month over here.

FIDLAR - "Gimmie Something"
Alt bro fuzzy garage rock (and I mean this endearingly) from LA releasing their s/t LP on Mom+Pop later this month.


Ablebody - "After Hours"
Solo (?) project from Christoph Hochheim (ex-Pains of Being Pure at Heart).



Flowers - "When You Lie"
London indiepoppers. From their upcoming 7" on Cloudberry Records.


The Death of Pop - "Nowhere"
Unsigned dreamy pop boy band from London.


-Leah

Wreck the halls.

Noisey Christmastime listens.

Tracks:

1. “Do You Think It’ll Snow Tonight” by The Cat’s Miaow

2. “Soft As Snow (But Warm Inside)” by My Bloody Valentine

3. “Tinsel Politics” by Standard Fare

4. “Listen, The Snow Is Falling” by Galaxie 500

5. “Through the Snow” by The Depreciation Guild

6. “Christmas Song” by The Aislers Set

7. “Chills” by Papercuts

8. “Everyday Is Christmas When I’m With You” by Boyracer

-Leah

Bad decisions.

Mix #5 of my year-end bests:

A mix for all you soulful sad girls (and boys) who made less than stellar decisions in 2012. Woe is youth.

1. “Bathtub” // Waxahatchee

2. “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” // Tame Impala

3. “Breezeblocks” (demo) // alt-J

4. “Sariza Spring” // Violens

5. “Catamaran” // Allah-Las

6. “Make It Known” // Foxygen

7. “Baby” // The Babies

8. “Sentimental Doubt” // you’re jovian

-Leah

My year in lists (2k12) pt. 2

WELCOME TO LISTEN UP PHOMBONEUS JONES' FIRST EVER ANUAL CARING ENOUGH TO COUNT DOWN THE COOLEST MUSIC VIDEOS I WATCHED IN 2012! I AM YOUR VJ, LEAH. LET'S GET STARTED...

8. "Teenage" / Veronica Falls

Slumberland's Veronica Falls is a band sent to us from indiepop heaven. "Teenage" was their second single released this year, but the first to have a music video. The track is effortlessly sweet and heart-on-its-sleeve. It reminds us of what being a teenager feels like at its best moments. The liberation you finally earn once you've conquered the angst, gotten into Scottish music, befriended your feelings, and embraced your shortcomings. What? No? Just me? Ok, fine.
7. "Fall In" / Cloud Nothings

6. "Watch The Corners" / Dinosaur Jr.

DADS RULE 2k12! That's what I took away from Dinosaur Jr.'s video for "Watch the Corners". One of my favorite things ever is when we get to see fathers doing an awesome job of parenting in pop culture. Granted, this dad is kind of a dweeb, maybe a little overprotective, and probably into the "daddy's girl" construct (gross), but he no less proves to be a badass dad in the final scene.
5. "Wut" / Le1f

4. "Telling Lies" / Evans The Death

Another Slumberland band I swear was sent to earth by the indiepop gods. Evans the Death's self-titled LP was one of my favorite records of 2012, and hands down my favorite debut. I don't know how they ended up being so criminally underexposed this year or why Pitchfork missed reviewing their album, but I especially don't know how this music video didn't go viral. C'est la twee, I suppose.
3. "Grown-Up" / Danny Brown

A dark and intimate moment with Danny Brown on his track "Grown Up." I don't know where they found this kid, but he is amazing.
2. "Paradise" / Wild Nothing

It's so simple, yet I loved Wild Nothing's "Paradise" video the hardest this year. Not only because Michelle WIlliams is the embodiment of chic airport style (which is a thing), but because it reminded me of a time when music videos were still actually worthwhile to make, and A-list stars were totally down to be in them for indie bands they dug. Like Charlotte Gainsbourg and Johnny Depp starring in Radiohead's "Creep." I feel like Michelle Williams being in this video should be a bigger deal. I'm mad it's not a bigger deal! I want this era of hot celebs doing alt music vids to come back! It would be so fun.
1. "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" / Father John Misty

Ok, I've read criticisms about Father John Misty's video for "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" being misogynist or whatever, but I don't really read Aubrey Plaza's character as being objectified, eroticized, pathologized, etc. I just think she's playing a fed-up funeral-ruiner who wants to put a hex on all ya'll. And it rules! This was the most interesting video of 2012 for me, hands down.

So what did I miss? What were you're favorite music videos of 2012?

-Leah

Dancing on my own.

Mix #4 of my year-end bests:

The finest moments in morbid pop music 2012. For dancing with your best girls at the club…or in your bedroom…or where ever.

1. “I Love It (feat. Charli XCX)” by Icona Pop

2. “This Kiss” by Carly Rae Jepson

3. “Die Young” by Ke$ha

4. “Friend Crush” by Friends

5. “How to Be a Heartbreaker” by Marina and the Diamonds

6. “Oblivion” by Grimes

7. “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift

8. “Everything Is Embarrassing (feat. Blood Orange)” by Sky Ferreira

-Leah

Bruiseworthy

Mix #3 of my year-end bests:

Bruiseworthy tracks by bands that put out bruiseworthy albums in 2012. Songs so infectious, you’d get kicked in the face for them.

Please note: my innate popkid sensibilities prevent me from listening to anything truly hard and abrasive. Catchiness is next to holiness.

1. “Chasing My Mind” by Holograms

2. “Wasted Days” by Cloud Nothings

3. “Slack” by Ringo Deathstarr

4. “It All Means Nothing” by Screaming Females

5. “Doused” by DIIV

6. “Shrinking Violet” by Swearin’

7. “Bad Thing” by King Tuff

8. “I Don't Mind” by Cold Showers

-Leah