Blackalicious - Alphabet Aerobics

A: Blackalicious
S: Alphabet Aerobics
C: Alphabet Aerobics - Single

Yes, Daniel Radcliff brought me here and I give you the original of probably the most amazing rollercoaster a human brain has ever come up with. Who needs acid when you can break your tounge instead.

... take that, challengers, get a tune up.

Los Campesinos! - When Christmas Comes

A: Los Campesinos!
S: When Christmas Comes
C: When Christmas Comes - Single

Is it too early for the first Christmas song this year? No it's not! Let's kick this year's festive season into high gear with this contribution by Los Campesinos! - smells like snow is just around the corner.

... held you in my hands and I'm not letting go.

Der Mann - Menschen machen Fehler

A: Der Mann
S: Menschen machen Fehler
C: Wir sind der Mann

- "Meinung ist Meins, sonst hieße es Deinung" - Berthold Mann/Der Mann
- "Wir waren schlecht informiert, aber gut vorbereitet" - George Mann/Der Mann
- "Wenn es künstliche Intelligenz gibt, dann muss es auch künstliche Stumpfheit geben" - Ray Mann/Der Mann

... es ist immer ein guter Grund, schlecht drauf zu sein.

The Decemberists - Make You Better

A: The Decemberists
S: Make You Better
C: Make You Better - Single

When it comes to The Decemberists there is one simple rule: They are a fantastic band all year long, but they sound even more amazing in winter. Probably not the most imaginative thing to write, but hey - I try.

... and all I wanted was a shimmer in your shine.

JUNES - Black Harmony

A: JUNES
S: Black Harmony
C: Solaris Empire 

Meet the most interesting Swiss band in the world right now. Why? Because I say so. And because Junes consists to 50% of 100% Yes I'm Very Tired Now, who has THE male Swiss voice right now.

... I like it when it's dark outside.

Howling Bells - Original Sin

A: Howling Bells
S: Original Sin
C: Original Sin - Single

Sins are a funny thing. Much like beauty they tend to be in the eye of the beholder. Is it a sin if you don't feel guilty? And why is there sin in sinister? And why are there guilty pleasures? Stop the world I want to get off.

... why don't you love me?

Sting - Englishman In New York

A: Sting
S: Englishman In New York
C: Nothing Like the Sun

Here's the deal, and since it is Monday and things can always go worse when they are already bad, I will tell you this frankly: Gentlemen are a dying species in this world. So now you know. Deal with it.

... a gentleman will walk but never run.

Herbert Grönemeyer - Morgen

A: Herbert Grönemeyer
S: Morgen
C: Dauernd Jetzt

German lyric Genius Herbert Grönemeyer has released his 14th (!) studio album last Friday. You probably won't get it if you don't understand German, you might not even get it if you, but he gets me every time.

... wirst Du morgen noch mit mir tanzen?

Ty Herndon - What Mattered Most

A: Ty Herndon
S: What Mattered Most
C: What Mattered Most

Who's Ty Herndon - is probably what you are thinking right now. Well, this country singer has just come out as gay, making him the first openly gay man in country music to have topped the US country music chart, twice.

 

... she dreamed her dreams behind closed doors.

Earthkeptwarm - Summer in the South

A: Earthkeptwarm
S: Summer in the South
C: Summer in the South - Single

Well, well, well. Who would have thought I end up in a music video one day. I should stop with this blog right now. And you should come to Südblock in Berlin on November 30, when Christian Ludwigs 4th book, the magic summer novel “Moritz & Ivahn, will be published.

... reflections they feel almost unreal.

The Actions - The Echo

A: The Actions
S: The Echo
C: The Echo - Single

I was searching for the new The Decemberist video and found this one, beautifully shot by The Actions. Much as in life, you sometimes take a wrong turn and you end up in a place even better than the one you were looking for.

... how far can you look to see your future?

Belle And Sebastian - The Party Line

A: Belle And Sebastian
S: The Party Line
C: Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance (out 19.01.15)

Belle and Sebastian gave us a great great gift this January, the musical drama film God Help The Girl. You might have seen that. And Stuart & Co. have another gift in store for us next January - an album called Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. You might want to get that.

... I know that I broke the rule already.

Zola Jesus - Fall Back

A: Zola Jesus
S: Fall Back
C: Versions

If I had a dollar for every friend of mine that loves Zola Jesus - jeez, I'd be a rich bitch. Anyway, that's not going to happen but looking at dog pictures on the internet does make up for almost everything.

... in the clouded mess, you surround me.

Angel Olsen - Acrobat

A: Angel Olsen
S: Acrobat
C: Burn Your Fire For No Witness

Maybe we should start every week with an angel. This one is an American folk and indie singer who was raised in Missouri and has recorded and toured as a backing singer with Bonnie "Prince" Billy, yet another angel.

... I want to be made out of love.

Karen O - Crush Songs

A: Karen O
C: Crush Songs

Wow, that's new! Today I present an album to you. Taadaaah: Karen O's Crush songs. Why? Sometimes one song isn't enough. Sometimes you have to reinvent yourself. And sometimes I can't find a particular song online.

... don't tell me that they're all the same.

Mark Ronson Feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

A: Mark Ronson Feat. Bruno Mars
S: Uptown Funk
C: Uptown Special (out January 2015)

When it comes to Mark Ronson, I'd like to think that he's God. Nothing else would really makes sense in this world. Anyway, God has chosen Disco, and Bruno Mars, unfortunately. Record number 4 is out Jan 2015

... fill my cup, put some n*gga in it.

Marina and the Diamonds - Froot

A: Marina and the Diamonds
S: Froot
C: Froot (out 03. 04. 15)

Marina is back and as glam as she can. With the release of her new album set in April, yes that is another six months for you to wait but guess what, stranger things have happened, she sure as hell won't pull a Beyonce.

... I've been saving all my summers for you.

José González - Every Age

A: José González
S: Every Age
C: Vestiges & Claws

Never thumbs up José González. He is terrific and chill as hell, but, if you do, his songs will soon dominate the playlist. It's a weird phenomenon. Vestiges & Claw will be out on February 17 and is González's first solo album in eight years.

... some things change, some remain.

Kindness Feat. Robyn - Who Do You Love

A: Kindness Feat. Robyn
S: Who Do You Love
C: Otherness

A solo artist in almost every sense, Kindness is still open to welcoming others into his world. Who Do You Love muses on the often hidden manner of communication, and how these messages can reveal undreamed of truths.

... how do you make a connection?

Theophilus London Feat. Kanye West - Can't Stop

A: Theophilus London Feat. Kanye West
S: Can't Stop
C: Vibes!

Reading a song before you listen to it is worth a try, even if it might turn out to be a bit dry. It's probably like eating fries without mayonnaise, or shopping without money, or dancing without Jack and Daniel.

... the grass is always greener when there's bumblebees.

Wulf - Fire

A: Wulf
S: Fire
C: Fire - Single

This is how great a debut single can sound if it is done perfectly. Wulf call London their hometown - and even if I'm not one to compare bands, I'd say they take the best of Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys and make it their own.

... I send all my ships out to see.

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Kelly

A: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
S: Kelly
C: Kelly - Single

25 years since the Berlin wall came down. There's a beautiful installation with illuminated balloons where the wall used to be this weekend. Half of them destroyed already. Which makes this city dickhead capital.

... you said you’d never be fine with being fine.

Haerts - Giving Up

A: Haerts
S: Giving Up
C: Haerts

Can I just say that I liked Taylor Swift more when everybody hated her? Now with that off my chest, this post is about Haerts, probably my favourite debut album this year. Play it lout. And dance, dance, dance.

... I'm a stranger in my own world.

The Lone Bellow - Fake Roses

The Lone Bellow -- Fake Roses - MyVideo

A: The Lone Below
S: Fake Roses
C: Then Came The Morning (out January 2015)

This song is a grower, which makes sense knowing Aaron Dessner, of the definitive grower band The National, produced it. By your third listen, you'll be looking to buy some Oklahoma ranch just so you can listen to this song while looking longingly out on dusty farm.

... your heart is breaking, I hear what you’re saying.

Calvin Harris Feat. Haim - Pray To God

A: Calvin Harris Feat. Haim
S: Pray To God
C: Pray To God - Single

This was a tricky one, but I've decided that I love Haim a little bit more than I hate Calvin Harris, so this song got me hooked in the end. That 80s beat got me totally addicted in a matter of split seconds.

... I thought the end of love is what made you strong.

Dorothy - Wicked Ones

A: Dorothy
S: Wicked Ones
C: Wicked Ones - Single

Here's what happened earlier this morning. I quit the church. Not that temple of techno we nicknamed as such, but the real institution. I figured God and I aren't exactly a match made in heaven, so that's that.

... this night ain’t for the faint of heart.

Elliphant Feat. MØ - One More

A: Elliphant Feat. MØ
S: One More
C: One More - Single

So here's a girl having fun with another girl. Elliphant and MØ make such a great musical match, it almost makes you wish they would both quit their solo careers. But I've heard MØ is a B*** so it probably wouldn't work.

... we can count the street lights.

Alanis Morissette - You Learn

A: Alanis Morissette
S: You Learn
C: Jagged Little Pill

Hello Monday. It's that time a week again and time for another trip down memory lane. I was never a huge Alanis fan, yet Jagged Little Pill is the record that reminds me most of my teenage years, for all the right reasons.

... wait until the dust settles.

Tiga – Bugatti

A: Tiga
S: Bugatti
C: Bugatti - Single

This song isn't about much other thing that the always recurring question whether a man cab be judged by his car. Or maybe his shoes, or his jeans. Shoes most definitely. Been there, done that.

... girl comes up to me and says "What you drive?"

Ben Howard - I Forget Where We Were

A: Ben Howard
S: I Forget Where We Were
C: I Forget Where We Were

Welcome to November, the best month of the year. Anyway, since this year will only last another wee 60 days, it's a good time to let you know that Ben's I Forget Where We Were is the best album this year.

... only time is ours.