remember the sprawl

18 Feb

It is Friday leading into a three day weekend. Thank you presidents, for the precious gift of time (among other things).  Time to slip out of the workweek and into the land of dancing all night, playing all day, and squeezing in rest along the sides. While today’s first track is a bit of a downer, what a beautiful downer. And the second is sure to cheer you right up. Happy holiday. Tor

Today’s Emo: I Remember / Yeasayer

‘I remember making out on an airplane / still afraid of flying but with you I’d die today / you’re stuck in my mind all the time‘

I love tracing the release of a new remix back to an original song that slipped through the cracks. Brooklyn based experimental rock trio Yeasayer released the track I Remember in 2010’s Odd Blood, but since I’ve barely dabbled in the band, I missed it. Then Yeasayer graciously offered the original track, as well as two new remixes, in an EP for free download on their site for V-Day. The remixes are nice, but its the original that has me floored. Twirling, playful synth sounds intertwined with some of the saddest vocals I have heard in a while. Somehow it works. This song is eerie and mesmerizing and I have it on repeat, listening to it with a dopey grin on muni. My only concern is for any lonely fans that might have had it on repeat on Valentines Day. #emo

Today’s Untz: Sprawl of Glass (Arcade Fire vs. Blondie) / The Hood Internet


’cause on the surface the city lights shine / they’re calling at me, “come and find your kind”‘

Seems fitting to celebrate an Arcade Fire song after their big Grammy win, although I missed it stuck in transit on Sunday night. I heard that watching the wtf faces on everyone else was just as exciting as the indie fans freaking out. The twitter response is nothing short of priceless…. “the grammy people have lost their mind…who are the Suburbs and how in the heck did they win album of the year… smh.” I had to Google smh to figure out it’s basically a more polite way of saying wtf.

To throw in an untz twist, I present The Hood Internet’s mash of Sprawl II with Blondie’s Heart of Glass. Hood Internet is on point – I caught half of the Chicago mash up duo for a show last spring, and will see Hood in its entirety at Rickshaw Stop on Thursday. While some of their stuff is laced with a bit too much rap/hip hop for my taste, it is tracks like this that make me beyond excited to dance my face off to their entire set, even on a school night. #untz

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candy rawr

16 Feb

Sleepy. Rainy. Wednesday.

Today’s Emo: Candy / Paolo Nutini

‘oh I’ll be there / waiting for you’

I always assumed Paolo Nutini was from Latin America, perhaps because of his name. Sounds Brazilian. Then I heard Candy, and Nutini’s Scottish chops shined through. Somehow smooth and coarse at the same time, he sounds like a sexy young smoker, with a bit of Mumford and Sons and Avett Brothers tossed in.

Candy boasts one of my favorite music videos, showcasing a delightful little wedding south of the boarder. The location had me temporarily questioning Nutini’s nationality again, but confusion aside, I really enjoy the cinematography and simple happiness here. Things also get pretty steamy at the end. The last few clips are just marginally safe for work, depending on computer screen size. With all the love in the air, perhaps this would have been a more apropos selection for Monday’s v-day post, but it serves well to warm up this rainy midweek. And it means more when it’s just because instead of some corporate Hallmark fueled holiday, right? #emo

Today’s Untz: I Can’t Behave Myself / Deadmau5 ft. Neon Hitch

‘rawr’

While I was a bit disappointed with Deadmau5’s newest album, 4×4=12, this track makes up for some of the other songs’ lackluster untz. It is hard for me to resist strong female vocals on some serious beats, and when you toss in growling animal noises, I’m done. Dark club, speakers up, yes.

I owe a lot to Deadmau5 (pronounced mouse, not mau-five), aka scrawny Canadian dj Joel Zimmerman, because it was while experiencing one of his live sets that I fell in love with the untz. Love his signature bobbing mouse head, trancey collaborations with Kaskade, and that he posts live video casts of himself mixing stuff on his computer while talking to himself. Mostly I just love the way his music makes me feel. Like I want to misbehave. #untz

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head and heart, naked and famous

14 Feb

I thought about doing a sappy Valentines Day post on the best untz and emo love songs of all time, but I am happy and tan and tired and jet lagged and not in the mindset to make such a sweeping selection of songs. Instead, I present two mellow tracks that have nothing to do with cupid but are definitely lovable. It is good to be home. ❤

Today’s Emo: Rivers and Roads / The Head and the Heart

‘been talking ’bout the way things change / and my family lives in a different state / if you don’t know what to make of this, then we will not relate‘

I’ve waited as long as possible to share a second THATH song, and it’s time. My favorite Seattle sextet closed both of their SF shows with this aching campfire worthy tune, and to be perfectly honest about my degree of emo, I teared up a bit the first time I heard it. The song’s lyrics, booming drum, and Charity’s raw, throaty voice embedded in the slightly off in a good way harmonies make it worth crying over.

Rivers and Roads was not on the band’s original cd release, and I have been dying to get my hands on a clear recorded version of the track for months. Prayers were answered when the band issued a remastered version of their debut album with a studio version of R and R in January.  #emo

Today’s Untz: Young Blood / The Naked and Famous

‘trying to find the in-betweens / fall back in love eventually / yeah yeah yeah yeah’

The Naked and Famous is a young group of New Zealanders that remind me of a less whiny Passion Pit. I love the beats in this song, the male/female vocals, and the feelings it evokes… like you’ve missed out on something good but you still feel hopeful for what is next. A fitting song title. The Naked and Famous’ ablum lands stateside March 6th, and Punching in a Dream is another favorite track. #untz

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longest nights and lights

6 Feb

This post comes a day early and from 30,000 feet somewhere over Arizona (thanks gogo) as I find myself en route to Costa Rica. I am reuniting with two of my best college friends from the other coast for seven days of sun, surfing, monkeys, mango, and lots and lots of beer. No words to express this excitement, but a couple of fantastic songs to carry the week.

Today’s Emo: I Feel Better / Hot Chip

‘I only want one night, together in our arms / this is the longest night, we’re meeting arms to arms‘

Somehow Hot Chip makes robots sound sexy, and I love it. The Brit electro-pop gang garnered my interest with Boy From School and Ready for the Floor, but won me over with this string filled, nintendo game-esque declaration of adoration. The music video is also absurdly entertaining, and while boy bands and aliens don’t exactly mesh with the lyrics of this song, it worth a view (or three). #emo

Today’s Untz: Lights (Bassnector Remix) / Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding has a sultry sweet English voice, a la Kate Nash, and has done some crazy good slow jam covers on anything from Bon Iver’s the Wolves to Rihanna’s Only Girl in the World. She also has a most mashable sound and has been sampled and untz’afied by some of the worlds best djs. This Bassnector remix of Lights is insane. Even if you hate dubstep, just try not get blown away by the drum and bass. Bon voyage. #untz

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sympathy for gayngs

4 Feb

While the rest of the country is buried in snowpocalypse and burying the interweb with far too many photos of the white stuff, I spent the end of the week enjoying a long run and untzpocalypse from my ipod watching the sun set over the Bay in a t-shirt and shorts. Best. Coast. To celebrate the greatness, an unusually untzy emo standout from supergroup Gayngs, and a killer Metric remix. Happiest of Fridays. And happy shoveling.

Today’s Emo: Faded High / Gayngs

‘you’re breaking every rule I made / I only play by the book’

I got tipped off about Gayngs from one of TUATE’s most faithful readers and advocates, who just happens to be one of my best friends, Kurt. I was smitten before I even heard a song based on the spelling of the band’s name and debut album (Relayted). Upon listening to a few of their tracks, I started settling into their experimental groove, but was still wrapping my head around the eclectic nature of Gayng’s sound. They are a supergroup in the traditional sense, boasting serious talent from Bon Iver’s Julian Vernon to Zach Coulter of Solid Gold, but also super in number. With 23 contributing members in the gayng, it is a lot to take in.

Then I heard Faded High and things clicked. So many voices, so many noises, so many beats underlining beats, so weird, so pretty.  Also, so much back and forth and indecisiveness woven into the lyrics. As  a girl known for never knowing what she wants, I can dig it. I can also get lost in these echoy vocals and beats all day. #emo

Today’s Untz: Gimme Sympathy (Techtrocity remix) / Metric

‘we’re so close to something better left unknown’

Gimme Sympathy came on the jukebox at Big Foot Tavern Tuesday night during a heated game of dice that I was losing terribly at, and I actually had to use Shazam to figure out who was behind such an attention grabbing chorus. While Metric has been around since 2001, the Canadian foursome is just beginning to pop up frequently on my radar. This was my first taste of Gimme Sympathy, and I can’t get enough. Smooth beats, clever lyrics, smoking female vocals, and the catchiest of choruses.  To bump up the untz, I found a killer dance remix. Friday Friday Friday. #untz #untz #untz


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au revior insanity

2 Feb

Between the streamers and champagne at midnight to the the 1st’s subsequent hangover to the month’s last sleepy Monday morning, I am really not sure what to make of January and what I chose to do with it. Still, I enter February with a sense of optimism and momentum. Accordingly, for the month’s inaugural post I have included one of my favorite feel good, optimistic-y untz tracks by Au Revoir Simone. Also, a more subtly optimistic emo-y new folk jam that is so good I couldn’t bear to sit on it for another couple days. Happy February.

Today’s Emo: Running with Insanity / Alcoholic Faith Mission

‘nice enough to know you / really nice to meet you / but I’m saving myself for someone else’

This is the title track off of  Danish indie band Alcoholic Faith Mission’s upcoming EP, set to be released stateside at the end of March. I fell for this song on first listen Monday afternoon, despite being momentarily put off by the opening few seconds of polka. I love the sing-a-long harmonies, splashes of tambourine, the Grizzly Bear like ‘ooooh ohhh’s’ echoed throughout, and the surprising sense of cohesion the sixsome is able to establish.

Like the Head and the Heart, this group does a great job of playing off of one anothers  sounds, and I am looking forward to any opportunity to catch them meshing live together on stage. Sadly, I wont be able to attend SXSW this year, but for anyone who does, I think Alcoholic Faith Mission will be must see… even if they do tend to get a bit sweaty on stage.  #emo

Today’s Untz: Young Turks (Disco Pusher Remix) / Au Revoir Simone

‘paradise was closed so they headed for the coast in a blissful manner / they took a two room apartment that was jumping ev’ry night of the week’

Oh songs on top of songs on top of songs. Au Revoir Simone take Rod Stewart’s 80’s classic, ground it, and infuse in their signature dreamy, feminine, indie pop vocals. Then Disco Pusher polishes the track off with some beats. The result is pretty awesome.

I was introduced to this song during my junior year of college, when a friend with impeccable taste made me a set of mix cds to help me trek through finals. Ever since it has stayed in my vault of go to feel good gentle untz. I’m really glad things work out for the song’s protagonists, and like to think of this story as what would have happened if Tommy didn’t have to work on the docks, the union never went on strike, and Gina didn’t slave away at the diner all day. Nothing wrong with an occasional happy ending.

Young hearts be free tonight. #untz

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indestructible jet planes

31 Jan

I had a very untz and emo intensive weekend. Think underground dance party  til 4 a.m. on Friday and then a beautiful couple of days in the rolling hills of Napa with the new Cold War Kids album on repeat. Life is good. So are these songs.

Today’s Emo: Big Jet Plane / Angus and Julia Stone

‘she smelled of daisies / she drive me crazy’

Brother/sister acts weird me out a little bit in the same way the dads do on the e! reality television show ‘Toddlers in Tiaras.’  Something just feels a bit off. This hasn’t stopped me from loving Australian sibling duo Angus and Julia Stone ever since I heard sigh inducing Just a Boy a couple years ago. I like that this song keeps it simple. Gentle guitar rifts, calming vocals, subtle strings, and the idea of a sweet escape make Big Jet Plane the perfect sleepy Monday morning song. #emo

Today’s Untz: Indestructible (A-Trak Remix) / Robyn

‘and I never was smart with love / I let the bad ones in and the good ones go’

A-Trak borrows the violins from Robyn’s acoustic version of Indestructible and injects them into her dance track, and the result is untz genius. The strings remind me of a mixture between the shower scene of Psycho and the part of Romeo and Juliet where Leo is following Claire Danes through the costume party when they first meet, and they look at each other through the fish tank. Sharp urgency, just like Robyn’s lyrics. The remix kicks an already fantastic song up a notch, and just when things start to feel a little emo, A-Trak tosses in some crazy electro for the final minute.  This is hard core. #untz

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cults and starfuckers

28 Jan
With this post The Untz and the Emo officially becomes non-child safe. It’s about time.

Today’s Emo: Go Outside / Cults

‘I really want to go out / I really want to go outside and stop to see your day / you really want to hole up / you really want to stay inside and sleep the light away’

I am a bit late on this train, but I came across Go Outside last month and was instantly won over by the track’s xylophone tings, warm childlike tone and simple premise (minus all that cult speak at the beginning). Per usual, I began scanning the interweb to figure out who Cults are, and after a couple detours into some seriously freaky satanic stuff, arrived at an answer. Pitchfork says Cults is comprised of two young film students living in New York who are dating each other and just started dabbling in producing music for fun one afternoon. I have those kinds of afternoons all the time…

The two unsigned lovers are now at work crafting a full album, and if it is anything like this, I can’t wait. Even pre-relesase, the duo has already garnered enough buzz to secure a coveted spot at Coachella this April. There. #emo

Today’s Untz: Bury Us Alive / Starfucker

Chill untz to ease into what is mapping out to be a fantastic weekend. Starfucker (family safe/stock ticker version of name is STRFKR) is an indie electro group from the best state on earth (Oregon) and just make me want to move, slowly, all the time. Love the soft vocals, love the trickling beats, love getting lost in this song. They have been around for a few years, but I only discovered them on Hypem a couple weeks ago and have been Starfucking quite a bit since.  I love that I can say that. The band temporarily tried to change its name to more NCA friendly Pyramiddd, but rightfully returned back to Starfucker last May.

Bury Us Alive is the first single off their upcoming album set for March 8th, a date they will just happen to be tearing up the Independent in SF. There, DMFO (dancing my face off). #untz

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deep sea love lost

26 Jan
It has been unusually pleasant in San Francisco, making it increasingly unpleasant to be trapped indoors. 68 and sunny t-shirt weather in January. Sigh. Between dreaming of Dolores Park, Ocean Beach and hiking, I present two tracks to help trek through the rest of the work week.

Todays Emo: Love Lost / The Temper Trap

‘keep in mind / when you’re ready / I am here to / take you every time’

Love Lost is played at the end of  “No String Attached,” which I saw on Monday night. Great song, not so great film. I was happy to hear it, because it took me back to an afternoon in Golden Gate Park, at Outside Lands last August.  Aussie group The Temper Trap was the first band I caught for the day, and I really just showed up to hear their single, Sweet Disposition. It seemed like everyone else did too as there was quite a bit of chatter and little focus amongst the crowd when the band took the main stage. Then this song’s signature clapping came on, and things fell quiet. Fast. It is rare for a song to win me over on first listen, let alone first fifteen seconds. Love Lost is definitely attention worthy, and soaking it in for the first time with the sun and a beer and my best friends was simple happiness.  #emo

Today’s Untz: I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix) / Lykke Li

“I, I follow / I follow you / deep sea baby / I follow you”

This jam makes Lykke Li a serious contender for Sweden’s 2nd best musical export next to the goddess that is Robyn. Lykke’s raw and unchecked voice isn’t necessarily pretty, but somehow her songs are pretty to listen to. And while the lyrics in this track are beyond repetitive, it really doesn’t get old. Bongo drums, a disco vibe, and piano cords mesh to untz worthy perfection, only aided by ex-Aeroplaner The Magician’s clever twisting of rhythm.

I also like that Lykke is out there, a la Lady Gaga, from her outfits to her interview comments to her music videos. Just watch her video for Get Some and you will see what I mean. Her new album, Wounded Rhythms, will be released at the end of February, and I will definitely be checking it out. Until then, rivers. #untz
Tor

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cold war, hot fire

24 Jan

After an active weekend of boozing and boarding in Tahoe, I present a couple of mellow tracks to ease into the work week. The first an old favorite, the second a new addition to my collection on heavy rotation. Happy Monday.

Today’s Emo: Hot Like Fire (cover) / the xx


‘I know you’ve been waitin’/ you’ve been waitin’ a long time for me/ but if you wait a little while longer this is how it’ll be‘

The xx are great at producing covers that rival their original counterparts, often while sounding nothing like them. With Hot Like Fire the trio takes Aaliyah’s Timberland laced track you probably grinded to in high school and flips it into a hazy, sultry duet that begs to be played behind closed doors. The result is bedroom pop at its best: echoing, whisper-like vocals delivered with a subtle sense of urgency. I’d love to think that the ridiculous sexual tension exuded in this song is inspired by real life, but when you see the two leads together physical chemistry is the last thing that comes to mind. The vocal chemistry, however, speaks for itself. #emo

Today’s Untz: Mine is Yours (Passion Pit remix) / Cold War Kids


‘you were changing colors like the leaves in fall‘

This. song. makes. me. so. happy. I have listened to it at least 50 times in the past few days and I am still not sick of it. Yet. The Cold War Kids’ confident vocals meet Passion Pit’s knack for a beat, and it’s all tossed together with lyrics that have pulled my heartstrings undone.  While CWC have been clever with words in tracks like Audience and Hang Me Up to Dry, this is the first time I have heard them with heart (and a truly untz worthy backdrop). The new Cold War Kids album officially drops Wednesday – and their single ‘Louder than Ever’ is also definitely worth a listen.  You can stream it here. #untz

‘all of my stones become your pearls/ all of my trials are your treasures / what is mine is yours‘

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