Happy Hols!
December 24th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Some of my very favorites:
I am wishing you a wonderful holiday season,
wherever you might find yourself.
And if you’d like to try your hand at my family sugar cookie recipe,
you can find it here.
Happy Hols!
The Gymnopédies: Aldo Ciccolini x Erik Satie
December 22nd, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Erik Satie‘s Gymnopédies are among my favorite pieces of music.
Perfect for cold and quiet winter days.
Even if New York is rather unseasonably warm, as of late.
“These short, atmospheric pieces are written in 3/4 time, with each sharing a common theme and structure. Collectively, the Gymnopédies are regarded as the precursors to modern ambient music — gentle yet somewhat eccentric pieces which, when composed, defied the classical tradition.“
Celebrated Italian pianist Aldo Ciccolini playing Gymnopédie No. 1 in 1956…
…and at his 85th birthday concert in 2010.
If you are new to Ciccolini and Satie, this album is great.
Relentlessly restless. Restless relentlessly.
December 16th, 2011 § 1 Comment
Wanderlust ~ Björk x Ratatat
QC Loves: Summer Camp
November 7th, 2011 § 1 Comment
I just discovered the amazing British band Summer Camp via Charlie and Caroline’s Blog (they are the delightful couple behind the lovely British homewares store Pedlars, which I discovered on my last trip to London — do check out both the blog and the shop!), and I’m completely obsessed. Jeremy Warmsley and Elizabeth Sankey have put together a great set of 80s-infused, synth-y pop tracks for their debut album Welcome to Condale, which is out today.
Better Off Without You
Round The Moon
Down
It’s about to be on constant repeat on ye old iPod. Sorry, neighbors. Or maybe I mean you’re welcome…
Sidenote: Definitely do stop by the Summer Camp site if you have a moment. It’s great.
I Left My Heart…
October 15th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Dear San Francisco,
I know I’ve said in the past that I never really liked you.
But I think — maybe — that this trip I’m on is changing my mind.
(Los Angeles, please don’t be jealous.)
Love,
Mariah
Boys. Beards. Guitars.
October 4th, 2011 § 1 Comment
Roo Panes ~ I’ll Move Mountains
Roo is the latest offering from Burberry Acoustic.
Ryan Bingham ~ Hallelujah
Ray LaMontagne ~ Shelter/Hold You In My Arms
Sam Beeton ~ My Doll
Sam is also a Burberry Acoustic alum.
Ben Carroll ~ Precious, Precious
Ok, so it’s more of a soul patch…
Sounds of Summer: Beirut ~ Goshen
August 26th, 2011 § 1 Comment
These days I am majorly obsessed with Beirut’s long-awaited third album, The Rip Tide, and this song, “Goshen,” is easily my favorite.
Not familiar with Beirut? You can listen to the entire album here, and if you’re in New York, you can catch them twice in September at Terminal 5. I’ll be there, singing along to every song.
Sounds of Summer: The Civil Wars ~ Forget Me Not
August 1st, 2011 § 1 Comment
Just realized that my love for The Civil Wars has been confined to my Tumblr and I wanted to rectify that. How adorable are they? More than a little obsessed with this duo. If you haven’t already picked up their album, do take care of that as soon as possible.
Sounds of Summer: Edith Piaf ~ La vie en rose
July 26th, 2011 § 2 Comments
I am feeling a bit like a Francophile these days… Whether it is because of my near constant playing of La Môme Piaf, the fact that I just read this book, because I loved this film, or a bad case of New York City summer blues, I can’t be sure. But my guess is that it is a combination of them all.
While La vie en rose is undoubtedly her signature song (to see a lovely clip of her singing it live, go here), my favorite Piaf song of the moment is Les prisons du Roy (which I could only find here as part of some kind of odd lip-synch performance in the 90s — don’t watch, just listen). It is as beautiful as it is haunting. I love how dramatic her voice is.
New to Madame Piaf? This album is a good starting point.
Sounds of Summer: Carlos Gardel ~ Volver
July 11th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Currently listening to this collection of Carlos Gardel songs, nonstop. Argentine tango music from the 1920s by the master.
The best part is that the mp3 recordings are from records. The hiss, the crackle, the magic is there…
Sounds of Summer: Yeah Yeah Yeahs ~ Maps
June 23rd, 2011 § 4 Comments
“Wait, they don’t love you like I love you…”
The lovely Karen O has me contemplating bangs yet again. What do we think…?
Badass.
Sounds of Summer: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong ~ Summertime (from Porgy and Bess)
June 15th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Sounds of Summer: The Rolling Stones ~ Wild Horses
June 9th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
“Everyone always says this was written about Marianne but I don’t think it was; that was all well over by then. But I was definitely very inside this piece emotionally.” –Mick Jagger
Sounds of Summer: Sam Cooke ~ A Change Is Gonna Come
June 1st, 2011 § Leave a Comment
“Considered by many to be the definitive soul singer, Sam Cooke blended sensuality and spirituality, sophistication and soul, movie-idol looks and gospel-singer poise…Cooke was shot to death at a Los Angeles motel on December 11th, 1964, under mysterious circumstances. RCA posthumously issued “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Regarded as one of the greatest singles of the modern era, it matched a hard-hitting R&B number with a haunting song about faith and reckoning that returned Cooke’s voice to its familiar gospel home.” –The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Billie Holiday ~ My Man
May 23rd, 2011 § Leave a Comment
A gem. Hadn’t actually ever seen footage of Billie singing before.
Dean Martin ~ The Rat Pack Live, 1965
April 25th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
“I don’t drink anymore. I freeze it now and eat it like a popsicle.”
Hosted by Johnny Carson, filmed at the Kiel Opera House in St. Louis in 1965.
I Won’t Dance!
March 30th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
One of my most favorite songs, and perhaps you can see why…
“When you dance, you’re charming and you’re gentle,
‘specially when you do the Continental,
But this feeling isn’t purely mental…”
To brighten up our Tuesday morning, Jerome Kern’s I Won’t Dance, a #1 hit in 1935, two lovely ways:
First, a gorgeous little big band mash-up of Old Blue Eyes and classic cinematic moments featuring Audrey Hepburn dancing with some of my favorite leading men...
…and Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers doing what they did best in the closing scene of Roberta (1935).
“You know what?, you’re lovely,
Ring-a-ding-ding, you’re lovely
And, oh, what you do to me
I’m like an ocean wave that’s bumped on the shore
I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor”
Dame Shirley Bassey ~ Where Do I Begin?
January 7th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
J’adore Dame Bassey. J’adore!
Dancebreak: Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons ~ Beggin’ (remix)
July 19th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
All this talk of Mad Men has put me in a 60s kinda mood…
