All In A Week's Work 07/05/09

No I haven't shrunk, I'm just sitting on a really big chair. So, another week gone and not really much to report. Ampersand's new collection is available for viewing on our newly restyled website and we'll be co-hosting a trunk show at Thriving Ink (55 W. Angela St., Pleasanton, CA) on July 27th from 7-9 p.m. Good music, refreshments provided and lots of shopping. Come say hi if you're in the area.
As for this week, English Best Friend's baby shower is next Saturday AND (drum roll please) En Vogue is performing at the Alameda County Fair that same night. "Funky Divas" was the first CD I ever bought and I get to see them with both Bell and Ideal Man (both of whom are fans and participants of the mini concert we put on in my back patio on my 27th birthday for ourselves) for SEVEN DOLLARS! Oh how far the mighty have fallen but you won't catch me complaining :)
There's a pretty big offering this week and I now have a new favorite which is always fun so without further ado, just push play....

84.85 consist of a rapper and DJ (Cassius & Jay Bones) from Toronto that seem to be churning pretty damn good music. Looks like America's hat is coming up in the music world :)
84.85 - 40 and a Fistfight
84.85 - Breathe

I'm trying not to jump on the whole "Michael Jackson is dead so we're going to flood the music blog world with his songs" train but I couldn't resist this one. Don Diablo managed to make this song sound deeply dark which is definitely appropriate for the times.
Don Diablo - Song For MJ (Remember The Time)

Don Diablo Vs. The Roots - The Seed 3.0


Slaughterhouse consists of Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, and Royce Da 5'9" and is pretty damn good for a collaboration. Judge for yourselves.
Slaughterhouse - The One

Love love love this song which makes me think I should just go ahead and pick up the rest of the album :)
Lily Allen - Fuck You (Doctor Rosen Rosen Remix)



Mos Def - Auditorium

Netsayi - Punch Drunk (Mighty Mouse Remix)

Indie infusion for the week:
Free Energy - Dream City

And finally...

Nickodemus has just released a new album, "Sun People" and it's available for free streaming. His first single "Sun Children" is available for download below.

Nickodemus Ft. Real Live Show - Sun Children

Long overdue All In A Week's Work 06/28/09

I've been absent for about a week due to my Palm Desert vacation/San Francisco tourist-athon. My old boss, Jim, says that I'm living a better life than I was when I was working which is hilarious because it's true. I've been on more vacations since being laid off in February than I was when I was working at my old place and I kind of like this "living like Riley" life. At least for now. So, I got to go down South, took pictures of the Santa Cruz boardwalk and relive my old college days on USF's campus. And then I took the week off while waiting to hear from my last interview...which never came. Still got those fingers crossed though. Which leads me to this week's "AIAW" which is at times poppy and melancholy, covering my mood completely. On a side note, Ampersand's new fall collection will be available in our online store (complete with website re-do) on July 1st (www.ampersanddesigns.com)...

Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be

Wax Tailor - Ungodly Fruit

Nina Simone - Feeling Good (Wax Tailor Remix)

Yes, Rob Thomas is looked down upon in "cool" music circles but I've always shamelessly, unabashedly loved him. Matchbox Twenty CDs are in constant rotation on roadtrips because I don't have to be embarrassed at the fact that I know all of the words to "More Than You Think You Are." And he got a little cool boost a couple of weeks ago by Rolling Stone claiming his new CD in the three-star "Excellent" range. Therefore, I'm done arguing my point. Just listen to the damn song :D
Rob Thomas - Her Diamonds

Strangely enough the above song reminded me of this one (probably to put a little bit of thug back in my street cred):
Slim Thug - Diamonds

Melanie Fiona with ?uestlove. This girl's gonna be big...


Gossip's new album "Music For Men" is now available on Spinner's website for free streaming here: Spinner's Listening Party but here are my choice cuts from the album that I haven't been able to stop listening to:
Gossip - Four Letter Word

Gossip - Vertical Rhythm

And finally, a little bit of folky goodness that makes me want to see "Away We Go" as soon as possible (Alexi Murdoch has a bunch of songs on the soundtrack):
Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky

And just to show that I've been doing more laughing than crying lately:

Michael Jackson dead

Whoa. Weird day. First Farrah Fawcett dies, then Michael Jackson and now rumors are circulating that Jeff Goldblum died on set in New Zealand - WHAT?!?!?!? Even though Michael Jackson was frickin weird and hasn't churned out anything decent for about 15 years, he was a powerhouse when it came to Motown-stylie pop in the 80s. So, in a small tribute here's some of his best songs that still get people booty-shakin at parties...
Michael Jackson - Thriller

Michael Jackson - Beat It

Michael Jackson - Billy Jean

Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Starting Something

All In A Week's Work - 06/15/09

In an attempt to get me and Bell out of the house on Saturday night we went to Aura. I also decided to imbibe the following:
3 shots of Jaeger
3 beers (1 dropped on dance floor)
3 Purple Hooter shots
We took pictures while sitting on the floor outside of Aura, Bell cut her hand open on broken glass (not from my broken glass as there were many other spillages that night) and I lost my phone. I have been without one since then (after dealing with a massive hangover yesterday where I didn't get out of bed until 4...ugh) and Verizon neglects to tell you that not only is there an insurance fee per month but you also have to pay them another fee to get a replacement phone. I also narrowly missed getting caught in a money order scam from a Craigslist ad posting for a mystery shopper. Seems that the money orders that were sent to me by this company are completely fraudulent. Excellent. Look up gullible in the dictionary - you'll see my picture there.

So, during my hangover day of hell yesterday I watched as much as I could of "An Evening with Kevin Smith 3" and it's HILARIOUS.


Going to Palm Desert this weekend with my USF girls which is exciting so no doubt I'll get sunburned, talk too much and avoid the hard liquor so I can do the seven hour drive back....can't wait! And this is what I will be listening to on the drive down there:

Jay-Z - D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)

Flight of The Conchords - The Most Beautiful Girl (Kissy Klub DnB Version)

Tanya Morgan - Bang and Boogie

Flunk - Cigarette Burns

Silversun Pickups - It's Nice To Know You Work Alone

Alexi Murdoch - Towards The Sun

Mary Poppins Remixed!

Chachel just sent me this and she's right, it is catchy!

All In A Week's Work - 06/07/09

So, it's good to be back. I hate not posting "All In A Week's Work." Even if the other regular posts fall by the wayside, that's the one that I feel sums up my mood of the week, the great songs that are just waiting to be delivered to your ears and I want to be the one to do so goddammit (so, sorry for not posting last week :)). OK, rant out of the way.
Atlanta was rad. Lots of drinking (I actually did karaoke and rapped Salt N Pepa's "Shoop" to a downtown Atlanta bar at 2:15 a.m. And yes, I have video. I'm still debating whether I should post it on here or not ;) ), lots of fabulous Sirius satellite radio (once my finances are sorted out I am buying myself a car AND a home set up because it's just so good to hear new and emerging artists without commercials), lots of family time and old family movies. Including the one where my face is so swollen because I'd gone horse riding and discovered that I was (and still am) deathly allergic to horses. Again, one day that video will come to light but not right now :) My cousins were great and it's sad that we all live so far away because, being the oldest of 12 of them, I'm sure we'd all hang out and get palatic every night. Actually my liver's thanking for me for being so far away. Still sad though. I also attended an FA Cup screening at a fabulous Irish bar last Saturday and commenced drinking Stella at 9:30 a.m. surrounded by Liverpool accents. I was in pure bliss until Everton lost :( Makes me want to go to more soccer events though!
Anyway, since getting back on Monday I've been picking up the pieces of my shattered life and trying to figure out how to get a job, move Ampersand Designs along, and generally feel like I'm DOING something. Speaking of Ampersand, there's a coupon circulating this week until June 10th where you get 25% off your entire order (make sure to type 25OFF in the comments at checkout) so go shop (CLICK HERE TO BE REDIRECTED TO OUR STORE!!!!)
Enough shameless promotion. Here's this week's pickins':
Winner of this week:
Taking Back Sunday kept playing on Sirius' "Lithium" channel and I kept loving it. This is so stuff I used to listen to at the beginning of this century and am not ashamed at its shameless way of aiming right for the girls aged 16-23 demographic :) Even better is the Taking Back Sunday Pandora music channel which is a boost to anyone who loves shameless Emo-rock in the vein of "My Chemical Romance" or "30 Seconds To Mars." More heart-breaking is that this song was written after the lead singer broke up with his fiance...
Taking Back Sunday - Everything Must Go

Of the rock vein:
Effing phenomenal. And they'll be in L.A. the weekend I'll be in Palm Desert. Hopefully I'll be at that show :)
White Rabbits - Percussion Gun

White Rabbits - March of the Camels

Arcade Fire - Crown Of Love

This album can't come out soon enough...
The Gossip - Dimestore Diamond

Of the dancey/hip-hoppy persuasion:
The Gossip - Heavy Cross (Burns Remix)

Kings Of Leon Ft. Lykke Li - Knocked Up (Death To The Throne Remix)

Lil Wayne Ft. Kanye West, T.I. & Jay-Z - U Ain't Neva Gotta Ask
If the chorus to the above song sounds familiar, it's because of this:
George Michael - Careless Whisper

Mickey Factz & Kid Cudi - Do My Do

Nosaj Thing - IOIO

And your sleepy, shoegazer music:
Run Toto Run - Sleepyhead (Passion Pit Cover)

Alexi Murdoch - All My Days (from the "Away We Go" soundtrack)

And finally, a fabulous video that Jiggy sent me (and makes me want to get one of those little machines):

Nostalgia Wednesdays

So, I'm back from Atlanta, getting stuff sorted out (like still trying to find a new job) but I just wanted to do a little shoutout to Blake, one of my oldest friends from Canada who is getting married in August. I also need to figure out how I'm going to get my ass up there as it's proving to be a tad bit expensive. Anyway, I hope this song ends up getting played at the reception :)

Run DMC Vs. Jason Nevins - It's Like That