was just lying in bed, enjoying my dusty, crackly ike and tina turner greatest hits record. am totally overwhlemed by the genius, especially this delicious otis redding interpretation, and had to share.

this confirms it - i was born in the wrong decade.

ike and tina turner - “i’ve been loving you too long”

as a faithful reader of james kochalka’s american elf, i jealously remember his trip to copenhagen and how happy i was for him to be able to experience it in all its danish splendor. copenhagen is quite high on my list of places i must see, SOON.

to my surprise and delight, when i finally watched the bonus dvd for jks’ our most beloved this past weekened, james had made a sweet, sweet video of the burg while he was there for the song “copenhagen china box.”

so here it is, ripe for your wednesday afternoon. so sit back and get ready hum, sing, smile, and fall in love along.

james kochalka superstar - copenhagen china box

sesame street, the phenomenal free head start program that i (and i’m sure you, too) grew up loving, is going the extra mile. their upcoming 39th season will not only teach kids to count, spell, and generally be loving little people - it’ll also start ‘em off on good indie music!

join feist as she shares her love of counting with the loveable monsters:

aww. but where’s the count through all of this? maybe he’s mad at her for fronting on his turf. sharing is caring, kids!

today’s afternoon piece of loveliness combines two of the world’s most perfect things: okkervil river and the ukulele.

recorded in a locker room in belgium, the belgian news and culture source le soir brings us an intimate moment with the boys, given a ukulele on the spot. combined with will sheff’s strong guitar, a charming accordian, and sometimes lockers used for percussion, the result is nothing but sweet magic.

get ready to hold onto your heart. the ukulele heals all wounds.

okkervil river - “a hand to take hold of the scene/a king and queen”

thao nguyen’s new record we brave bee stings and all has been climbing deeper and deeper into my heart lately. it’s charming, gritty, full of magnificent hooks and witty songwriting. a delightful first listen quickly lends itself to a complete appreciation and love for being a girl. maybe one day, i’ll be as cool as thao. but for now, i’ll just listen.

my workplace has started playing the album’s hit, “bag of hammers” on their special radio thing, which should automatically make me hate it for two reasons: 1) that’s generally a sign for when something’s turned lame, and 2) it plays all the time. but i can’t help it. it’s so damn fun and catchy!

ooohhhh i love it love it. watch! clay-mation juvenile house-shaking terrorists!

thao & the get down stay down - “bag of hammers”

bon iver
12 august, 2008
waldron arts center/bloomington, in

fell in love last night all over again with justin vernon’s hauntingly beautiful voice. sweet melodies, surprising crescendos, and raw emotion all set over back-woods quiet folk music that is the essence of bon iver.

i’d first heard the jagjaguwar sensation played on wiux this past late winter and was hooked. happily found their album in the wrfl playbox a couple weeks later and played it at home for about two weeks straight, unable to pull away. it seemed only right to experience this kind of power back in bloomington, and the result was positively worth the drive. had been a little sad about not being able to get down to athens this weekend for popfest, but bon iver last night and evengelicals/matt duncan at al’s this weekend are a wonderful substitute.

thanks for coming through my neck of the woods, boys.

bon iver - “the wolves (acts I & II)”

bon iver - “skinny love”

i don’t think so.