Rice Boy Sleeps

If you have seen my cd wall you know I love Sigur Ros. If you know me, you know that when I love something (or, let's be honest, on occasion, someone) I can get a bit obsess-y. In the case of people it can get weird, and I try to not indulge it. In the case of music it means I can explore and be moved, and share that with other people, who hopefully also will be moved and share it forward.

There's been a note next to July 20th in my day planner (yes, I still use a book style planner. And a pen.) since February or March. It says, quite simply, Rice Boy Sleeps. To someone not sort of obsessed with all the musical magic coming out of Iceland that might sound like crazy talk, or spy code. It is neither. It is the release date of the an album by Jón Þór Birgisson and Alex Somers - aka Jonsi from Sigur Ros and his partner Alex.

To me that little entry means that an album drops that I am absolutely certain I will love.

And I am right.

I love it.

I love the the lushness of it. I love that it is so full and warm and sweeping and yet feels somehow quiet.

I love that, though I am just giving it it's first listen, it feels familiar, though not because it sounds like Sigur Ros. Because it is different. More intimate somehow. Like sharing someone's daydream.

I love that it sounds the way their art looks - which by the way I adore, and which makes me ache to be able to express myself with ink and paper.

I love that they've allowed an embed option for the music player, so I can share it with you here. Though, of course, I encourage you to visit the website and look at what they have to offer (including a little surprise for all you odd little raw foodists out there!), and of course to buy the album. It is available on Amazon, though I'll be chatting up the boys at Ditch, and hope you'll take your Benjamin's to you local record shop too.

The videos for All the Big Trees and Daniell in the Sea have been out for some time, so I've heard a few of the tracks before. They are so simple and lovely.

Jónsi & Alex - All the big trees from Jónsi & Alex on Vimeo.

Jónsi & Alex - Daníell in the sea from Jónsi & Alex on Vimeo.

It is way past the time that a more reasonable me would have packed it in and gone to bed, and I am still pretty exhausted from the excesses of sun and mountain air and, well, beer this past weekend. I am very much looking forward to crawling into my bed and letting Rice Boy Sleeps lull me into dreamy repose.

~ m

I Think the Universe is Trying to Tell Me Something

Read this morning while pouring almond milk in my coffee at shop up the street.

LIBRA

You don't lack for ideas. Your head is bursting with them. But do you have what it takes to turn those ideas into realities, and make money from them in the process? The Sun in Cancer says you do, so get your act together over the next few days.

Thanks, Universe, note taken. You'll be happy to know that I've been connecting with some pretty amazing, positive, doer type people that are really inspiring me to get my shit together and start producing some awesome.

This is What I Want my Life to Look Like

I really, really need to wrangle some secure bike storage so I can spend the rest of the summer cruising around on a classic beater in little belted dresses.

Must also work on cultivating a more indie band/French girl /Meg White look. Clearly I need to throw off the office shackles.

Anywhooo... watching this video make me think 'yep, that's how I want my life to look'.

xo ~ m

You Said You Only Wanted Friends For Long Enough to Get Rid of Them

You know how sometimes a song that's been on your playlist for ages can suddenly seem new? Like something in your life tweaks how you hear it and it suddenly seems fresh and relevant? I'm having that big time right now with one of my favorite songs by one of my absolute favorite songwriters.

Jason Molina and I go way back. Well, for me we do. For him .... most certainly not. But whatever. His lyrics are often little portals into relationship failings, wishes and regrets. They aren't flashy, but are brutally honest, and I think that's what makes them so relatable.

And holy mothergod, if he isn't just damned fantastic live. Which is why I have a Seattle weekend planned around his summer tour. But I digress.

Anywhoo, Dark Don’t Hide It from Magnolia Electric Co's. What Comes After the Blues is that song right now. I've been listening to it for years and that album is pretty big for me (it ushered in the sea change of a friendship and was bought at a show that was my first hangout ever with a guy I've been crushing on since ... and it came out in 2005). So, I've been listening to this song for years, but, despite frequent singalongs I don't think I've ever really heard the lyrics. And then this weekend, while lying in bed up on Cortes making a playlist for the bus ride home I caught this little gem ...

You said you only wanted friends

For long enough to get rid of them

You found the kind you knew would only kill you

So you surrounded yourself with them

... and it was like being punched in the gut with a truth bomb.

Now, don't be getting all concerned, it's not a chronic or all-friend encompassing thing (A-duh! I have the most amazing, beautiful, supportive friends!). It just sort of tidily summed up a a little looking to make some mistakes phase I'm going through. And, specifically, someone I've wasted a little too much time breaking that phase in with.

But whatever, this isn't really about me, that's not the point. The point is that the man drives it home. Every. Single. Time.

Need a little more?

Now the world was empty on the day when they made it

But heaven needed someplace to throw all the shit

Human hearts and pain should never be separate

They wouldn’t tear themselves apart both trying to fit

or

Now death is gonna hold us up in the mirror

And say we’re so much alike we must be brothers

See I had a job to do but people like you

Been doing it for me to one another

I mean, honestly. Hey mankind, you just got schooled by Death.

Chills.

Anywhoo, you can discover all the Molina you want at http://www.magnoliaelectricco.com (which covers Songs:Ohia, Magnolia Electric Co. and solo projects), and on myspace. Dark Don't Hide It is on there, though I also suggest you check out the following video for a beautifully spare solo version. The sound and video aren't synced, so I'd listen not look.

And keeping with the stripped down solo thing, this version of Just Be

Simple, pretty much my favorite Jason Molina song ever,gives me little

chill. Not as much of a chill as the album version but still, a chill.

With slice to the bone honesty like this ...

Eveything you ever hated me for .... honey there was so much more,

I just didn't get busted.

...how could it not?

x0 ~ m

Gone Fishin'

I'm off to Cortes to spend some quality parent / friend time with my Dad, so you won't be getting any interneting from me for a few days. I'll be busy eating wild deer, slaughtering trout, frolicking with my little brother (my Dad's preferred child because he doesn't bitch about the food and never asks for money) ....

... and basically chilling all the heck kinds of out.

Hope your weekend is equally relaxing. Listen to Angus and Julia Stone, eat coleslaw, read in a cemetery, tell someone you love them, and hopefully mean it.

xo ~ m