Notes From Target: Good, Bad, Ugly

I used to be addicted to Target.  I would say that I went at least once every 10 days and spent a good $100-150.  You would think that there was a fire sale going on there every week.  New low price?  I'm in.  And, I need 10.  But, with my recent situation and budget consciousness, I have been trying to curtail my Target expenditures exponentially.  I've done pretty good, with about one trip to Target a month.  I still spend the same amount when I go, but it's not with the same reckless abandon that it used to be.  Baby steps.

THE GOOD:

Did you know that Lean Cuisine makes a Spinach Artichoke Dip?  And a Garden Vegetable Dip?  This is probably the most exciting news I've heard all week (says something about my week, huh?).  My life was forever changed when they introduced the Fajita Style Chicken Spring Rolls (which I secretly pray every day that there isn't a Pirate's Booty style scandal over the amount of calories/fat in them).  So, I'm really excited to give the dips a whirl.  They might be my new 2am snack item.  MMM...MMM...GOOD!

THE BAD:
They quit carrying my favorite Flintstones vitamin.  This is just horrific news for my internal health.  They also discontinued my favorite sports bra, but I was lucky enough to get the last one they had on clearance.  Silver lining, people. 

THE UGLY:
I can't be the only who has noticed that the price of toilet paper has increased ridiculously.  Oooooooooooooo-weeeeeeeeeeeeee-what's up with that?! What's up with that?!  I swear I paid $7.99 for a 12 pack of Cottonelle probably a year or so ago, and paid $13.99 for a 12 pack of Charmin today.  Really?!  The Cottonelle was the same price.  Is this what inflation means?  If so, I don't like it.  At all.

New Single: The Rapture

DFA White Out Sessions - How Deep Is Your Love? by The Rapture from DFA Records on Vimeo.


I'm not much of a club-goer anymore, but the first time I heard The Rapture's "House of Jealous Lovers" it made me want to knock all the hipsters kids out of the way and shake my groove thing like nobody's biz.  I didn't actually do that, but I did come home drunk a few times and dance around my apartment like I was Deney Terrio on speed. I'm so happy that The Rapture are back with a new track that may be my song of the summer, as well as a new record, In the Grace of Your Love, out September 6.  This record will see the return of the band to DFA Records, which released the band's first two records and is the label of James Murphy from LCD Soundsystem.  Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

New Single: Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks

Pavement are one of my ALL TIME favorite bands ever ever and ever.  I have had a longstanding love affair with Stephen Malkmus and his lazy style of playing wicked riffs on the gee-tar, as well as his poetic and metaphor-ridden indie rock anthems.  Pavement's break-up was like going through your parents divorce.  There were those shows where you could tell that none of them were speaking anymore and would literally fight on stage.  It was uncomfortable for everyone in the audience, like just get your shit together and play.  The domestic bullshit was not working and they sadly called it a day.  That was when Steve went solo and eventually founded Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks; the Jicks being a ragtag group of musicians he met in Portland - one of which was his new girlfriend who my friend Melissa referred to as Yoko and thankfully is no longer in the band.  Like all bad divorces, you kind of pick sides.  I chose Pavement.  Despite my love for all things Malkmus and that I liked his first record, the rest of the solo stuff never really inspired me the way Slanted & Enchanted or Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain did.  It was sad, but I had to let go.  But, then something cramazing happened.  Pavement reunited for a tour last year.  LOVE.  And, voila, my love of all things Pavement was renewed.  I even told a friend that I couldn't wait for Steve's solo stuff, thinking that his time with the old stuff would inspire him to produce some Pavement-esque ditties.

So, here we are, post-reunion, with the first single from Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, "Senator."  Despite the timing being a little queer, what with Weiner-gate and all (the hook is "what the senator wants is a blow job"), the song is pretty good.  In fact, after a few whirls, I'd even dare say that it reminds me A LOT of Pavement; thus whetting my palate for Mirror Traffic, produced by Beck and out August 23rd on Matador.  I think Pavement fans will be quite pleased.  I know I can't wait!  Download "Senator" at Matablog.

Mirror Traffic tracklisting:

01. Tigers

02. No One (Is As I Are Be)

03. Senator

04. Brain Gallop

05. Jumblegloss

06. Asking Price

07. Stick Figures In Love

08. Spazz

09. Long Hard Book

10. Share The Red

11. Tune Grief

12. Forever 28

13. All Over Gently

14. Fall Away

15. Gorgeous George

New Favorite Song Alert: Two Door Cinema Club

  Two Door Cinema Club- What You Know by Glassnotemusic

I feel like I may be a little late to the game with "What You Know" by Two Door Cinema Club.  Better late than never?  As of right now, it's my new favorite song today.  It's the jam!  The Soundcloud link has been on repeat all day.  I split my time between that and the video, which is pretty cool too.  Oh, and the album is $5 on Amazon.  Done and done!

Way Back Wednesday: Terry Jacks

Ok, so today I am going waaaaay back to 1974.  I was inspired to delve deep into the Yacht Rock collection for a sweet jam for today.  There is actually a pretty nifty story behind "Seasons in the Sun." It was originally recorded in French and translated into a hit by Terry Jacks in 1974.  Terry's version left out that the wife was cheating with the French guy's friend.  That's probably why his version sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.  Other people have also covered the song, including Bad Religion, Nirvana, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and the Beach Boys.  While the song sounds upbeat, it's actually pretty dark:

Good-bye, my wife, I loved you well

Good-bye, my wife, I loved you well, you know,

But I'm taking the train for the Good Lord,

I'm taking the train before yours

But you take whatever train you can;

Goodbye, my wife, I'm going to die,

It's hard to die in springtime, you know,

But I'm leaving for the flowers with my eyes closed, my wife,

Because I closed them so often,

I know you will take care of my soul.

I'd recommend the Nirvana version as well. 

New Music: Cults

I went to see The Vaccines at Amoeba yesterday with my friend, Murph from Hey Cool Kid (check out his blog for all the best new music!), and seeing how jazzed I was on The Vaccines, he recommended that I check out Cults.  He thought I’d like them since I’m super into the retro lo-fi/Wall of Sound stuff.  Well, he was wrong.  I don’t like them; I LOVE them!  How did I not know about this band before?!

Apparently, Cults are the hot new thing after receiving some pretty high marks from Pitchfork.  Their first single, “Go Outside,” was listed in Pitchfork’s Best New Music and they were tagged as one of their Rising Artists before they had even played one live show.  I know why…it’s a really great song!  Not too bad for a couple of 21 year olds New York City transplants from San Diego.  So, here they are, signed to Lily Allen’s label on Columbia, In The Name Of and celebrating the release of their first full-length LP. 

Their music is straight up indie melodic pop music that is heavily influenced by the girl groups from the 60’s.  Madeline Follin’s voice is sugary sweet and haunting at the same time.  And, the music, while still influenced by the 60’s bands, is way heartier and deeper with a lot of texture and layers.  “Never Heal Myself” is a really bittersweet song about not changing for anyone.  “I could try to heal myself and turn around to someone else but I could never be myself so fuck you.”  Uh yeah, not exactly something you would hear The Shirelles sing.  I also really loved “Oh My God,” “Most Wanted” and “Never Saw The Point.”  But, honestly, the entire record is tops for me.

I highly recommend streaming the whole record at their website.  

New Single: Stone Darling "All I Wanna Do"

Kind of obsessed with this song this morning.  I love the simplicity combined with the lo-fi doo wop vibe, and the overall sweetness of the song.  Stone Darling are a local LA band and are busy working on their debut EP now.  If "All I Wanna Do" is where they are going with this, count me in!