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midnight colours

10 Feb

The greatest lyricist of our time may not be Adele or Justin Vernon, but rather  a crazy and sometimes slightly angry and confused horse living on a farm in rural America. I have been obsessively following @weirdhorse on Twitter for the past couple of months, and his work is just getting better and better with time. Highlights include:

‘We found mud in a horse’s face, we found mud in a horse’s face’

‘I see you trotting round town with the pig I love and I’m like, forget hooves’

‘Nothing compares, nothing compares 2 hooves’

‘Want you to make me feel like I’m the only horse on the farm, like I’m the only one to eat from your palm’

…and Weird Horse’s most moving to date, ‘I’ve got the hooves like Jagger.’ Happy (weird) Friday.

Today’s Indie: All the Colours / Angus & Julia Stone

‘and I can’t see clearly right now / I’m wasted / I’m so wasted on you’

It is the weekend before Valentines Day, so grab someone close and curl up to the sweet Australian crooning of Angus Stone. It is hard to believe/scary to think siblings could produce such a sexy song, but I am willing to let it slide and get lost in All the Colours’ steady guitar rifts, dizziness induing lyrics, and sway inducing sound… the whole thing warms you right up like a second glass of wine.

Love stoned, love wasted, I want it all. #indie

Today’s Untz: Midnight City / The Knocks ft. Mandy Lee (M83 cover)

‘the city is my church / it wraps me in the sparkling twilight’

Hopping on the bandwagon for this cover, because it leaves me totally floored after every listen. I couldn’t get sick of the original version of Midnight City if I tried, but it is great to hear it tossed around by The Knocks and with some fresh female vocals. Further evidence that everything that The Knocks touch turns to gold, and the perfect kind of sound to ride your way into the weekend. Music is my church. #untz

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somebody’s wildcat!

8 Feb

Knee deep in the work week… pretty picture from last weekend to tide over to this weekend.

Today’s Indie: Mr. Quiche / Wildcat! Wildcat!

I was a Northwestern Wildcat during my college life, and anyone who knows me well knows I have a serious love for (fictitious) cats, AND I enjoy a mean quiche, so this track grabbed my attention on all counts yesterday morning. Moments later my ears joined in on the parade.

This is the first I have heard of LA trio W!W!, but I have instantly fallen for this song and its brooding, sexy sound cut with hints of Bon Iver-esque falsetto. I am almost equally smitten kitten over Wildcat! Wildcat!’s other track on soundcloud, End of the World Everyday, so if you like what you hear here, prowl there next. #indie

Today’s Untz: Somebody That I Used to Know / Gotye Ft. Kimbra (Myndset remix)

‘but you didn’t have to cut me off / make out like it never happened and now we were nothing’

One of the biggest songs of last year has one of the longest lists of remixes rolling into the new year, but Myndset’s go is my favorite. You are pulled in during the first few seconds and it really doesn’t let up, firmly tracing the original song while somehow showing it all from a totally different angle at the same time. You can almost hear Gotye’s anger/frustration/bitterness in the heart(beats), and the result is an urge to dance it out, hard. Perfectly done. #untz

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love where I’m going

6 Feb

Tahoe, Super Bowl… too much excitement. Musical rest.

Today’s Indie: I Love You But I Don’t Know What to Say / Ryan Adams

‘we belong here / we belong here / ain’t nobody that can tell us we’re wrong’

Starbucks has reminded me there is another holiday season upon us with their pink and red heart covered cups, so I will indulge my  gooey side and share something soft and fuzzy. Ryan Adams has had a pretty gritty past with some pretty gritty songs to back it up, so a track like ILYBIDKWTS coming from him gives it all the more sway. My favorite Ryan song to date involves him telling his girl to come pick him up, take him out, fuck him up, steal all his records, and sleep with all his friends. Serenading that he promises to love someone for the rest of his days is a serious departure, put lightly. I guess marrying a former pop princess can have that affect on people.

It is a wonderful problem to have–loving someone so much you can’t put it into words. This track is off Ryan’s album from last fall, Ashes & Fire. Sappy, beautiful. #indie

Today’s Untz: Where I’m Going / Cut Copy

‘take my hand if you know what I’m going through’

We were driving 4+ hours to and from from Tahoe this weekend, and this Cut Copy song came on among dozens of songs, and it was remarkable. Thanks Messer for putting it on the album you made for Dave and Caro. Thanks Dave and Caro for hosting us in your magical ski lease. EOM. #untz

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a new blog name…

3 Feb

Big change today. After a year of blogging as the untz and the emo, I have decided to lovingly retire the “emo” from the name and change it to indie. While the untz and emo sounds a lot cuter and looks a lot smoother, I often worry people get the wrong idea of being categorized as “emo” and miss the tongue-in-cheek to it all. Since I would never want the xx or The National (who I am sure are regular readers of my blog) to think I am bucketing them with Dashboard Confessional and The Get Up Kids, I feel like this is the right move. And I figure if  Michael Jordan can change his number, I can get away with a word swap.

So there you have it, my first oficial sign off from TUATI (RIP TUATE).

tanlined youth

3 Feb

Spring and summer in the Bay and beyond: Cold War Kids, Bombay Bicycle Club, Neon Indian, The Head and the Heart, Foster the People, and a little festival called Coachella. Ticket purchasing seems to come in bursts, and this week has been a doozy. But as my bank account empties, my heart fills.

Today’s Emo: Youth / Foxes

‘don’t tell me our youth is running out / it’s only just begun’

It has been a while since I have posted a strong female fueled track, and even longer since I have been totally floored by a strong female fueled track, so I was happy to discover Foxes’ Youth this week. This song led to a temporary can’t pull myself away from my headphones except for nourishment poptastic listening marathon on Wednesday afternoon at work.

With pulling lyrics, a chorus that has you singing along the second time through and a slow but steady build that surprisingly flourishes (hop to 2’42) into unexpected trampling animal beats and whistles, consider this fox trap sprung.*  Speaking of woodland creatures, our siren, 22 year old Louisa Rose Allen, has me thinking of A Fine Frenzy’s sound in Rangers, another gem of the forrest. #emo

Today’s Untz: Z / Tanlines

A little chill for a Friday, but the Brooklyn based (surprise!) indie-pop duo Tanlines has taken me straight back to the beaches of Panama with this track and its soft waves of female vocals and no worries beats. Like Pavlov’s dog my mouth is instantly watering for something frozen with a salted rim met with a soft sea breeze. And in remembrance to my own quickly fading tanlines, another epic sunset from Santa Catalina. #untz

* It took considerable self control and restraint to not scatter in more fox/animal references and puns into this post. Some have been removed for your sanity.

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love mind

1 Feb

Both today’s untz and emo come via guest post from my coworker and friend. Court manages to send me dozens of songs I have already heard on a regular basis, but whenever he shares something I haven’t caught yet it typically ends up on repeat. Two such tracks below… I am especially digging the female vocals on the untz. His post comes with perfect timing as I am still too tired from traveling and my return to reality to muster up anything of significance on my own today.

Thanks C! Also… oh hai February, where did you come from?

Today’s Emo: Love Interruption / Jack White

‘I won’t let love disrupt, corrupt, or interrupt me / anymore’

I’m glad there’s a first time for everything because ladies and gentlemen, the first Jack White solo project has finally arrived.  Whether or not Blunderbuss, White’s forthcoming album due out in April, was an accidental mistake or not, the fact is that it’s finally here.  “Love Interruption” is the first single off of the album and if this track is indicative of the rest of Blunderbuss’ recordings, it’s safe to say that 2012 will be quite the auspicious year for Jack.

They say there’s a thin line between love and hate.  Jack White has walked that line a lot lately and, while he’s stated that nothing on this upcoming album reflects any individual person, it’s hard to believe that his recent divorce from Karen Elson didn’t give him a little lyrical ammunition.  Whatever the inspiration, keep it coming brotha. #emo

Today’s Untz: In My Mind / Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl ft. Georgi Kay (Axwell Remix)

‘the dreams we have / the love we share / this is what we’re waiting for’

A friend of mine from Perth first introduced me to fellow Australian singer, Georgi Kay, about a year ago.  The moment she opened her mouth, it was love at first listen.  Almost a year later and her voice still makes my knees buckle.  Add in some samples from Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend” and Coldplay’s “Clocks,” along with the genius production of Ivan Gough (the better half of the TV Rock duo) and you’ve got a tune that will put me into an untz coma.  Now that Axwell has put his sweet Swedish hands on it, I can’t keep my feet on the ground. #untz – Court

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hungry geographer

30 Jan

I got home from a magical week in Panama last night, where I left some of my heart out on the sand. It is a warm and beautiful (see photo) country, and I can only hope to make my way back there someday. Unfortunately, I’ve found myself starting my first day back at the grind wide eyed this morning at 5 am. On the bright side, plenty of time for a post!

Note: if you travel around Central America with your dad who is a young looking 60, and you are a 26 year old lady, everyone will suspect you are dating and/or his misstress, and give you concerned scowls. Thus my awkward incorporation of “PADRE!!” early into most conversations with locals and fellow tourists.

Today’s Emo: Original Sin / Geographer

‘eyes moving like flashlights under sheets / up until the morning hours we / are set free’

This song came on my boyfriend’s ipod during our ride into the city after a happy reunion at SFO, and as soon as I heard that arcing, eery ‘this is an original sin’ roll through the chorus, I had a drop everything who is this band moment. The answer: Geographer, a group I have been hearing a lot about but haven’t taken the time to explore. No more! I have had this song, and many others by the SF trio on repeat during this sleepy but awake morning on my couch, waiting for the sun to come up.

I foolishly missed Geographer at Treasure Island last fall, but hope to catch my neighbors as soon as possible. The band calls their sound ‘soulful music from outer space.’ Yep. #emo

Today’s Untz: Hungry Hearts / DWNTWN

The perfect welcome back track to Californ-i-a, this track is drenched with West Coast revelry and dreamy sun soaked beats from the first few pings of sound to its rolling, echoed end.  The LA electro pop duo DWTWN also offers up a hipster saturated music video of pigeon chasing, retro glasses, distant gazes, smudges of tribal face paint, side braids, and skinny jeans on both our male and female protagonists. I want to back on the beach. #untz

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love den

20 Jan

I am leaving rainy San Francisco to fly off to Panama tomorrow morning, where I will be off the grid for the next eight days amidst surf and sand and sea and little to no contact with the outside world. TUATE will be back in a week or so, in the meantime two great songs to tide you over.

Today’s Emo: Brains / Lower Dens

‘don’t be afraid / everything will change while you’re asleep’

Brains begins with a sprawling intro, like you are going to be taken on some journey with the song a la Arcade Fire. And then you are, driving forward with every layer upon layer of sound. The track is the first release off of Baltimore foursome Lower Dens’ sophomore album, Nootropics, and its discovery left me wondering how the hell I managed to miss these guys (and girl) the first time around. I suppose all’s well that ends well– I am spending the morning getting lost in their debut, and now have something to look forward to come May. Download the track for free on the band’s site. #emo

Today’s Untz: Somebody to Love / Rusko

‘everybody’s looking for that somebody to love’

It is rare that I can take spoonfuls of dubstep with my coffee and manage to keep it down, but this song has created the perfect morning (or anytime) blend. Palatable with the right mix of classy vocals and epic drops, Somebody to Love has me back on the Rusko bandwagon. Also, the music video of an elderly couple rocking out in a club is pretty sweet in its own right. Maybe I should blast this when I wake up at 4:30 am to to head off to SFO tomorrow. #untz

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roman holiday

18 Jan

And the beat goes on and on and on and on.

Today’s Emo: Rome / Phoenix (Neighbours remix w/ Devendra Banhart)

‘I thought I couldn’t do this without you / single in this bed somewhere / ashes til it fall fall falls’

Last week I posted a song from a new band that sounds just like Phoenix, this week it is a sweet remix of my favorite Phoenix song. Phoenix, are you out there? Please?

In the meantime, digging this drawn out, slowed down version of Rome featured on the How to Make it in America soundtrack and featuring slivers of Devendra Banhart. Like most good remixes, it has me hitting repeat and then eagerly revisiting the original for another go. To position the fall of a relationship against the fall of an Empire is a pretty lofty comparison, which makes the song all the more gripping. Rome Rome Rome. #emo

Today’s Untz: Holidays / Miami Horror (Lenno & Jesse Oliver remix)

‘I don’t know just where you came from but I need you now’

Crank up the speakers and let’s make it through Wednesday with this playful little remix of one of Miami Horror’s biggest tracks, brought to us by Finnish sixteen year old Lenno and his pal Jesse. It is almost too tasty for a midweek post because it has me prematurely pining for Friday. Hold tight, listen loud, coffee. #untz

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reaching close

16 Jan

Today The Untz and the Emo turns one! Get out the champagne! Keeping the blog up for the last year has been a challenge, but a labor of love, and TUATE has come a long way since my very first post. Here’s to another year of dancing your face off, and chilling.

Today’s Emo: Feel So Close / Jenna Garcia (Calvin Harris remix)

‘and there’s no stopping us right now / I feel so close to you right now’

Sleepy Monday morning stripped down slow jam… Jenna Garcia takes Calvin Harris’ don’t stop moving Feel So Close and turns it into something to curl up into. I came across Jenna and this track via earmilk, where I was surprised to learn she is a seventeen year old who has never stepped into a recording studio but is doing the whole YouTube thing. Even though this song is extremely simple, I see a lot of promise here just like in another young cover songstress, Birdy. #emo

Today’s Untz: Reaching Out / Nero (Fred Falke remix)

‘reaching out / for something to hold’

The boyfriend has ditched tumblr and carried out a relaunch of his own blog, thetrashjuice.com. It is in a word celestial. Check it out, I am totally not biased. Today’s untz is pulled right from its opening week:

‘Fred Falke is a falkeing genius… sorry had to. He takes Nero’s mashup up of an old Kano tune + a Hall and Oats tune and turns a dubstep song into a french house masterpiece.  This is such an uplifting tune. Nero’s version isn’t bad, but I guarantee if you dropped both on the d floor, Fred Falke’s would send the crowd into a sweaty frenzy. Epic sunsets all around.’ #untz

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