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Hi friends, I'm writing today on my friend Joe's behalf. If you live in the Chicagoland area, you may already be aware of the incident that occurred in Humboldt Park early Saturday morning. I'm not going to get into it right now, so here's the link for you.
After this unfortunate attack, Stephanie Herrera is dead and little Joe Penkala is in a coma. No words can express the confusion and sadness I feel. I'm disgusted with such a violent act against these young, bright, innocent kids. I stumbled upon Lil' Joe's Facebook page after the incident, and I think I'd like you to do the same. Listen to the song below, as I did while I read the comments, and read the heartfelt and thoughtful messages people are leaving for this young man. And maybe you'll understand the devastation his family and friends are feeling right now.
I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to a fundraiser that Joe's family and friends are hosting this Saturday, Aug. 8, at Underpass Bar & Lounge in Franklin Park, Ill., from 3pm to 3am. More details can be found at www.saferentertainment.com, a website Joe's friends created that is dedicated to this cause.
So please do me a favor and check out all these links above. And take the time to really read the messages on his Facebook wall. Yes, it is sad, but so eye-opening. It's a heavy dose of reality. Joe didn't deserve this. No one deserves this, but you can make a difference. Spread the word.
And the reason why I chose this song to be your background music is because it captures these heavy emotions. "Strangers in the Wind" is a very chill, mellow song that I would listen to on my drive back home from the city, similar to the drive these kids were taking Friday night. Although the song has a sad tone, I feel hopeful when I listen to it. And I have hope that Lil Joe is gonna make it.
Cut Copy - Strangers in the Wind
I've been in this British phase the past month or so. I just can't get enough of the UK-based bands and DJs, such as Bloc Party, Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal, Hard-Fi, The Streets and most recently, Audio Bullys.
This track has been on repeat for the past few days, and I don't see it getting old anytime soon. The first time I listened to it I had no idea what was in store. The song had so many ups and downs and rapid turns, I didn't know what to expect.
After a rough weekend, this was the perfect jam to get me started on my Monday morning commute to work. I had to share it with you. Trust me, your laptop speakers will do this song no justice. I prefer you bump this in your ride.
If you like house music or just some funky beats, check this out. As soon as you think you have this song figured out, you'll be in for a nice little treat.
Audio Bullys - Face in a Cloud
I love it when one single song has the ability to create a movie in the listener's mind. I listen to the track in its entirety and envision scene after scene. Sometimes I'm the star, other times I simply create characters in my head. Either way, I absolutely love those songs that bring on this creative force in my mind.
Although I like to play it off with this tough girl exterior, I really am a softy and a romantic at heart. And for the most part, most of Erlend Øye's songs direct a love story in my mind. Now, that's not to say it's always a happy ending. Most love stories end in tragedy, don't they? Maybe that's the cynic in me writing. Anyhow, when I heard this song this evening (for the first time), this was my vision:
A young man is traveling with his friends. During one of their excursions, a beautiful girl catches his eye. He initiates conversation with the girl, who is also traveling through this foreign land, and doesn't even notice his friends leave him. He spends the entire rest of the day with her. She makes him feel more alive than he's ever felt in his life. They experience the city and behave as if they had known each other for years, like no one else is around. He decides to spend the rest of his trip with her and she with him. And when it's time for the girl to leave and return home, he follows her. He leaves all that he knows behind to be with this girl. But once they reunite, things aren't the same. She found another, and already forgot about him. His heart is crushed and he retreats back home. And years later, thousands of miles away, he still thinks of her...
Erlend Øye - Ghost Trains
With mice and Lollapalooza on my mind, I realized I never posted a Deadmau5 track in any of my previous Lolla posts. The annual three-day music event has always been known to host a variety of rock bands, but with electronica emerging more into the mainstream, it only seems right that the event organizers would throw in some DJs and other similar acts, including MSTRKRFT, Kaskade, Boys Noize, A-Trak and Deadmau5.
I find Deadmau5's mixes to be quite intoxicating and hypnotic. I really want to catch his set, but I'm not sure that's going to happen since The Killers are performing at the same time. And as much as I love to dance to some nasty house beats, I'd much rather jam out to actual instruments.
But that's neither here nor there. This post is about Deadmau5 and how sick his mixes and original beats are. Here's one of my current faves...
Deadmau5 - Slip (Sebastien Leger Remix)
For the most part, I like to focus my energy on those artists that I find to be underrated. With all the ridiculously overrated music on the airwaves these days, somebody's got to spread the word about all these lesser-known musicians that sound a million times better than the garbage you hear on the radio or see on MTV.
The first band that came to mind as I was coming up with ideas for this blog post this morning was Modest Mouse. I was under the impression that they were a pretty well-known band with good recognition. I never really gave them a chance until a few weeks ago. Years ago, I heard that "Float On" track, didn't like it very much, and so I dismissed them. But it seemed people actually liked that song and the band, or so I thought.
I have recently been reintroduced to Modest Mouse, and I gave their other tracks a listen. Go figure, they're my new favorite band (if you know me at all, you are already well aware of the fact that my "favorite band" changes on a monthly basis).
So I got a hold of two Modest Mouse albums, Good News For People Who Who Love Bad News and
We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, and I must say they are both stellar albums that you can listen to all the way through. They have catchy beats and intoxicating vocals. They tell a story with each song. Trust me, Google their lyrics.
And I honestly didn't consider them an "underrated" band until I began asking my pals about their opinion of Modest Mouse. I get into musical conversations with anyone and everyone, friends and strangers. To my surprise, the consensus was that no one really listened to their music. I couldn't believe it!
I guess that's why I'm here now, sharing four of my favorite Modest Mouse tracks below. Please give them a listen. And if after you listen (to all four!) you still don't care about them, so be it. But if you fall in love with their music like I did, you owe me!
Modest Mouse - Education
Modest Mouse - Bukowski
Modest Mouse - We've Got Everything
Modest Mouse - Invisible
