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jump in the poison

8 Jun

Tired. Busy. Happy.

Today’s Emo: Poison & Wine / The Civil Wars

‘oh your mouth is poison, your mouth is wine / oh you think your dreams are the same as mine’

Back in the day, my second grade class at Hoover Elementary watched Ken Burn’s classic mini-series, The Civil War. While fascinating, most of the information presented during the epic five hour series has long left my little head, but the musical theme, Ashokan Farewell, left me memorized, and the song’s sweet violin and sigh inducing melody has been unshakable after all these years. My coworker, Court, recently recommended The Civil Wars in response to my sharing of The Head and the Heart (a formidable trade) and I instantly thought back to the documentary and its score. While lacking a violin, The Civil Wars also deliver minimalist folk at its finest: gentle guitar strumming, soft keys, silvery vocals, and aching harmonies… chills.

Joy Williams and John Paul White joined forces in Nashville in 2008, and have been gaining momentum since this track was played on Grey’s Anatomy a couple years back. I first heard The Civil Wars on Tuesday, and have already grabbed tickets to see them play the Great American Music Hall on the 19th. #emo

Today’s Untz: Jump in the Pool / Friendly Fires (Thin White Duke remix)

‘I looked at you I knew you wanted to / jump in the pool’

Things that are good: the return of sunshine, a dear friend in town for the week, and the Friendly Fire’s new album, Pala. I failed to get tickets to see the indie Britt rockers play at the Independent this June, but am taking it as a godsend because my concert budget for spring/summer is already becoming astronomical (see above). So instead, I am happily drowning myself in this flashed up version of Jump in the Pool, of their self titled album. Hop in. #untz

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back on a train

6 Jun

‘the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.’ – not Mark Twain

Summer is starting to arrive in San Francisco, with rolling afternoon fog slipping into rainy nights and puddle filled mornings on repeat. And with this the yearly grumblings and mentioning of above frequently mis-attributed quotation. I love listening to the rain in bed, and the Oregonian in me can handle the gloom, but it is hard having the rest of the nation begin to celebrate sun kissed skin, champagne picnics at the park, and warm summer nights, while we are bracing ourselves for three months of  hoodies, wellies and space heaters.

So it goes. Drive one hour outside of the city in any direction – Napa, South Bay, East Bay, and you can get weekend windows of sunshine, and come November when snowstorms start rattling the Midwest and Northeast, I will go out running in a tank and shorts and smile. Like most of life, perspective.

Today’s Emo: Back to Back / Wolf Gang

‘the whole world is sleeping / I still lie awake up in my bed / as I came around to thinking / that I don’t want nobody else’

London’s Wolf Gang reminds me of MGMT meets XX meets a Yeasayer type vibe… a slightly sleepy, trippy sound with high pitched vocals and little trickles of electronics, bundled up into a simple and refreshing sound. The song lyrics have me thinking cuddle logistics… as a restless sleeper, back to back is kind of my MO, but I think the song is referring to being back to back with a friend that you want something more with, and wanting to turn things around.  #emo

Today’s Untz: On a Train / Yusek (the Magician remix)

I love the Magician’s take on Lykke Li’s Rivers, and am almost equally impressed with this rendition of Yusek’s On a Train. The song itself is pretty depressing, more or less about having nothing to lose in life (in a bad way) and wanting to leave (on a train). The sound wakes me up and makes me happy though, and I like the contrast. Haven’t heard much from French DJ/producer Yusek, but adding him to my watch list. #untz

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make pressure

3 Jun

I saw The Head and the Heart for a record breaking 4th time Wednesday night at the Warfield when they opened for Iron and Wine, and they just keep getting better. It was interesting seeing the same band perform mostly the same songs for so many shows within a six month period of time. You start to anticipate little movements on the stage before they happen – well timed foot stomps, band members moving together for mic sharing during harmonies, Charity drinking from a mug before her part in Winter Song. The group was hydrating more than usual and without brews, so I wonder if they were recovering from a big night… or just thirsty.

Even with all the foresight, everything still sounded fresh and cool and delicious instead of repetitive, felt comfortable instead of routine. That is the magic in seeing a favorite band time after time… they become an old friend. And I had the best company.

Today’s Emo: I Can’t Make You Love Me / Bon Iver

‘turn down the lights / turn down the bed / turn down these voices inside my head’

OK. One more Bon Iver track and then I promise to litter more variety back into the emo part of TUATE. It is just that I can’t help but buckle when Vernon sings Bonnie Raitt’s ballad, taking on an untouchable classic and making it his own. Stunning. What a falsetto, what a performance (youtube it) on Jimmy Kimmel Live of all places. Seeing Bon Iver live has become a priority, and I am rendered terribly impatient that he is not visiting California on his tour. Hello – most populated state?!

Anyway, beyond delighted with the album and this cover he has graced us with in the past few weeks. More smitten than ever. I will be here waiting. #emo

Today’s Untz: Pressure / Alex Kenji, Starkillers, Nadia Ali (Alesso remix)

‘turn around /  feel the sound / oh you make my heart pound’
This is just the kind of untz I was drinking up at the pool parties last weekend in Vegas… sassy female vocals, nice and steady build, magical trickles of beats that make my heart pound… it has that trashy but who cares I like it feel, just like Sin City. First I have heard of DJ Alesso, and I am digging slipping into this and into le weekend. #untz

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mean cartographer

1 Jun

Vegas, oh Vegas. I had a magical untz filled weekend with three of my favorite ladies and came home late Monday night in surprisingly decent shape, save for tomato tinged skin due to a lazy last day at the pool and several vodka infused tomato juices that led to poor estimation of SPF. I returned to work from the long weekend with tired legs and a strong craving for emo… always feel the pull to maintain that inner balance.

…Also, it is June?!

Today’s Emo: Cults / You Know What I Mean

’cause I am afraid of the light / yeah you know what I mean’

It has taken me a while to get back on the Cults train after falling in love with Go Outside, but You Know What I Mean has recently grown on me. Madeline Follin’s voice is so sweet, and the intro makes me think of a high school prom from an earlier era and teenagers slow dancing at arms length surrounded by slowly circling disco ball light… despite being tinged with sadness, there is something strangely romantic about it all.

After over a year of buzz, Madeline and her boo, Brian Oblivion, finally drop their self titled full length album this month. Definitely sippin’ on the Cult Kool-Aid. #emo

Today’s Untz: Stellar Cartographer I / Radioseven

Today’s untz is a gentle one because my ears are still ringing from XS Sunday night, and these synth drenched beats offer the perfect soothing sounds, reminding me of Explosions in the Sky and Germany and Germany’s instrumental work. I could not come up with a better name for the way this song sounds and feels… dreamy, celestial beats sprawled out across a canvas, one following another into the unknown and disappearing too soon. Radioseven is decidedly mysterious himself…. he (or she? they?) is from Vancouver, but that is all that is out there on the anonymous dream weaver. I like the intrigue. #untz

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save my body

27 May

Great indie band name ideas: Cuddle Wars. Airplane Breakfast. Sleeper Car.  Slow Feather. Kitten Brigade. Lazy Panda.

You heard it here first. I am off to Vegas, signing out til Wednesday. Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Today’s Emo: My Body / Young the Giant (Two Door Cinema Club remix)

‘my body tells me no / but I wont quit ’cause I want more / ’cause I want more‘

My Body offers an apropos selection of lyrics before I head off to dance my face off in the desert to both Tiesto and Deadmau5. What a weekend ahead of me… I am not as young as I used to be. Funky fun Two Door beats plus smoking Young the Giant vocals makes for the perfect Friday-before-a-three-day-weekend-of-revelry indie jam. Rinse and repeat, cause I want more. #emo

Today’s Untz: Til Silvia Saves the World / Kap Slap (Swedish House Mafia vs. Miike Snow vs. Britney Spears)

‘watch me move when I lose / when I lose it hard’

Toss Swedish House Mafia, Miike Snow, and the ex-queen of pop in a blender and the result is this play inducing mash up dripping in sugar, best served in a red Solo cup. Til Silvia Saves the World  sounds like it came straight from the strobe lit floors of Bootie SF. A delightful mix of lots of oooh oooh and uh uh uh noises and clever plays of layering vocals (‘who’s going to save the world tonight’ / ‘we’ll keep dancing til the world ends‘)…. I am guiltily drinking it up. #untz

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feeling fire

25 May

Today marks TUATE’s 51st post! Very nice. When I started this back in January, I didn’t know if I would have the focus or time to keep it up, and while at times it has felt like a self-inflicted and silly burden, for the most part I have really enjoyed this project and the opportunity to share one of the things that makes me the happiest.

WordPress collects the search engine terms that lead to referrals to your blog, and since I launched there have been some real gems. Beyond lots of creative iterations of the words untz and emo and lots of sappy song lyrics, there have been some additional awesome searches like “untzbury” “neil young license plates” “untz.ca dating friends” “robyn call your girlfriend not gentle” and my all time favorite from two weeks ago, “drunk girl bay to breakers panhandle she ok” (clearly I must have been spotted that weekend).

Here is to 101.

Today’s Emo: Speaking In Tongues / Arcade Fire


‘come out of your head / and into my world now’

Arcade Fire made a grumpy, sleepy Tuesday quite a bit better by premiering two new tracks, Speaking in Tongues and Culture Wars, to be in included in a re-release of The Suburbs this summer.  The songs were recorded with the rest of Suburbs and definitely share the melancholy, rolling sound of the neighborhood.

While neither track is causing me to lose my shit like Bon Iver’s new album, both are more than pleasant. Speaking in Tongues, featuring David Byrne of Talking Heads, is my favorite of the two, sounding like a less dreary Suburban War. Can’t wait for Outside Lands. #emo

Today’s Untz: My Feelings for You / Avicii and Sebastien Drums (the Prototypes remix)


Things are about to get a little bit heavy sounding, and a lot bit fun. Came across this take on My Feelings for You on Hypem the other day in the midst of the daily grind, and couldn’t wait to get home, turn the speakers up and free these beats from the my headphones…. this is the type of untz that begs to be played loud.  I have my dancing shoes out and ready for Memorial Day in Vegas and this is the perfect backdrop for a warm up. #untz

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bon wombat

23 May

We survived! Hooray! To quote my favorite Party Cat, we should celebrate.

Today’s Emo: Perth / Bon Iver


‘move dust through the light / to find your name’

Two Bon Bons in two weeks because the new album (which I may or may not have gotten my hands on thanks to the iTunes leak) is blowing my mind and headphones and speakers in a gentle ethereal manner since it’s un-release. I am floored by this song, its little drummer boy beats that become drummer man beats, and the way it makes me want to visit Australia and disappear into the outback. Enough said. #emo

Today’s Untz: Techno Fan / the Wombats (Afrojack remix)

‘the lasers fill our minds with empty plans / I never knew I was a techno fan’

One of my favorite people and untz companions Alex g-chatted me this track on Friday, and it went on repeat for the afternoon and into the weekend. Afrojack needs no introduction, but The Wombats are new to my ears and thus have been Wiki’ed. The bats are a group of Indie pop youngsters from England who sound like early Bloc Party, and Techno Fan is off of their January release, Jump into the Fog. Gladly. #untz

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coyote spring

20 May

My mom flies into SFO this afternoon, and I am looking forward to a weekend filled with good food, time at the park, afternoon tea and Nordstroms. She sometimes reads TUATE from my Facebook links (where she likes to also leave wallposts like ‘Dear Tory, I miss you! Love, Mom’), which is great except when my posts reference musical attributes like bedroom pop and songs best intended for behind closed doors.

Anyway, she adored the post I wrote on my dad and his Neil Young obsession, although temporarily freaked out that I had shared our home internet password with the entire worldwide web, and contacted my father in a panic, who promptly assured her things would be OK. She then foolishly admitted all of this to me over the phone for fodder, thanks mom!

Today’s Emo: Always Spring / I’m From Barcelona


‘somewhere it’s summer / somewhere it’s always spring’

Whiny but tasty on the ears, I’m From Barcelona is the type of band that both the younger, naive emo-lustful me, and current, more musically developed me could both enjoy. Always Spring, off of the group’s recent album Forever Today, offers pleasant trickles of horn, clap along beats, and earnest, concerned vocals emitting convincing though somewhat mindless lyrics.

The group is comprised of nearly half of Sweden, with the band boasting a whooping 29 members at its peak, and I find myself curious what some members are up to in this track that sounds like it was produced by a fine tuned quartet. Group size and hide and seek aside, I appreciate a dose of carefree music to help make it to the weekend. #emo

Today’s Untz: Starchaser / Coyote Kisses


During college I spent a magical semester studying abroad in Chile and my favorite bar in Valparaiso was called Coyote Quemado (flaming coyote), making Coyote Kisses an alluring find before I even listened to their songs. Sarchaser definitely lives up to the idea of flames over besos, and this track stretches my threshold of untz to its limits, but I like it. Playful, poppy beats on beats, hard sounds without being harsh, and like most good electro, some surprises interwoven throughout. Fiyah! #untz

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strfkr lament

18 May

Two posts in two days feels a bit like pulling a double rainbow, but it is nice to get back on track, and there is music to be shared, even if it is occasionally squeezed in before meetings.

I was listening to songs and reading through a few older posts the other day, and realized there is scattered bitter sentiment about being trapped in the corporate jungle from time to time on TUATE.  Yesterday was my one-year anniversary at my job, and as much as my nature may occasionally fight being prescribed to a 9-5+ day, “reaching out” and exhausted, computer screen poisoned eyes, it has been a really great year for me here overall. So occasional bitching and moaning aside, cheers to that.  And cheers to music for drowning out the bitching and moaning.

Today’s Emo:  Lament / Mount Moriah


‘if this will be anything / than let it be over’

Mount Moriah breathe some fresh North Carolinian air into the indie music scene, with a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll and lots of tambourine. The duo’s self titled debut album dropped April 12th, and I have enjoyed earfuls of  slightly rough but girly vocals and guitar laced melodies dripping of sweet Americana. #emo

Today’s Untz: Julius / Starfucker


‘picture your body / hearing your voice / fall into your eyes’

My favorite Portlandians just dropped a music video for one of the best tracks off their new album, Reptilians, and I have revisited and put on repeat. I have been dying to see Starfucker live since I caught the last few songs of their show at Rickshaw Stop a couple months back.

I will forever more call missing a show due to poorly timed arrival / miscalculation of door opening and opener set times as getting “starfucked” and will not let it happen again. Luckily STRFKR will be playing Outside Lands, so I can redeem myself come August. Might need to camp out outside GG park with the homeless the night before, just to be safe. #untz


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call calgary

17 May

A brief disruption from my usual Monday/Wednesday/Friday untz and emo delivery schedule due to far too much fun this weekend and a sleepy, slightly uninspired Monday. Thank you to the few loyal listeners who reached out to make sure I was still alive after my failure to post. To make up for my tardiness I present two magical tracks. Enjoy.

Today’s Emo: Calgary / Bon Iver


‘who goes in and then stays inside / oh the demons come, they can subside’

The Bon is back, delivering Calgary off his upcoming self titled LP as the perfect umbrella for these folds of San Francisco rain and gusty bay winds. I listened for the first time this morning with bated breath and the highest of expectations, bracing myself for potential disappointment. Expectations were all exceeded.

The gentle rolling drums, that haunting voice, the sigh inducing lyrics, the layers of folky goodness laced in at the end… this is everything I expect from the man who locked himself into the isolation of a Wisconsin cabin in the woods for three months to emerge with For Emma, Forever Ago far too long ago. I cannot wait for the rest of his new album, but until then will be curling up into this on repeat. #emo

Today’s Untz: Call Your Girlfriend / Robyn (Feed Me remix)


‘don’t you tell her how I give you something that you never even knew you missed / don’t you even try and explain how it’s so different when we kiss’

OK, so it is never a great idea to promote being “that girl,” wrecking a home and the instigation of someone elses heartbreak. Accordingly, Robyn’s Call Your Girlfriend is pretty mean, and definitely infringes on girl code. To her defense, the girl has been screwed over enough times in her other songs, whether she is dancing in the corner on her own watching you kiss someone else, missing her ex with every heartbeat, or never having him at all… so I suppose she can be a bit nasty and fight for what she really wants, just this once. Especially when Feed Me tosses in serious untz and makes her home-wrecking sound so wicked fun. Just watch your back.  #untz

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