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Jubilation.

Posted over at Said The Gramophone. They are really fantastic writers with impeccable taste in music. This track makes me want to beat on something. Anything. Everything.

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Dodos - "Jodi"

(wait until the finger-picking is over)

Given six minutes to pack up my entire life
Stupidly, I went right for the kitchen
I just packed up food and soap and liquor
I even forgot your picture, my wallet
My shoes, a change of clothes
A blanket, believe me
I panicked, pissed in the plant
brushed my hair 28 strokes
and tripped out the door
I've already forgiven myself and lost the key in the grass

Sweet anticipation.

I just had to post this before I went out for the night. If I knew how to play the guitar, this would be my song. Something I'd whisper in her ear just before I went in for the first kiss. Eyes closed, slowly mouthing the words in sweet anticipation. That's what this song is.

"That's Where It's At" by Colin Meloy with Laura Gibson from the Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke EP.

P.S.

Coachella and a slew of other things.

Just want to share these while they are on the top of my brain.

First up, a sick remix of DVNO live at Coachella.



Not only is Justice ridiculous musically, but they put on a hell of a show.

Next up, the opening set for Simian Mobile Disco. I don't know much about these guys other than what I've heard floating around the blogosphere, but I will definitely take notice after watch this. There are no words for how incredible this would have been live.



Now, if I had to pick a favorite DJ, you know it would be Boys Noize. Alexander Ridha has shaken up an already great genre of music, and constantly makes me flip my lid when I heard stuff like this:



Just watch what happens around the :49 second mark. Had I been there, I wouldn't have legs or a voice right now.

I'll leave you with a track I thought I'd hate, but ended up liking a whole lot (courtesy of Panda Toes). Think Miley Cyrus/electro. Yeah, that's what I thought too. Take a listen though, you might change your mind.

Miley Cyrus - "See You Again (D.veloped Extended Remix)"

New Slide Show!

So proud.

Roughnecks.

Made some new friends over the weekend in Chattanooga. Decided to drive just outside to Lookout Mountain, GA where my new friends and I hiked the Lula Lake Land Trust (quite a mouthful). About a mile in, we climbed down a steep slope and stood 50 feet away from a giant waterfall. There was slippery rock beneath us leading up to where the water touched down and had I had different shoes, I would have gotten much, much closer. After we got back in town (Chattanooga), we stopped for some Barbeque, and then took a tour of UTC before I left to go home. On the way back however, I had to pull over into a Burger
King and nap for an hour, as I was falling asleep at the wheel.

A few music notes:

Kidz in the Hall just dropped a new video for "Drivin' Down the Block." Heard about this over at Panda Toes. Like the track, love the video. Take a look.



And as long as we're talking about ridiculous videos that are also decent songs, here is a track from the Pack called "In My Car." It's been around for about a year now, but I still love every minute of it.



Also from the Pack, "Vans" is a fantastic video and an even better song. Youtube disabled embedding, but you can find it here. Treat your eyes and ears to this video. You won't be disappointed.

Next is just a track I can't get enough of. It's been around the blogosphere and remixed so many times, it should be illegal. To top it off, it's only been around for a month or two. This goes out to my favorite rapper, Lil' Wayne. You make candy-coated beats that send a room full of uncoordinated white kids into a frenzy faster than a sale on New Balance shoes, which apparently we all like. Not going to lie though, I own a pair.



Gonna leave you with a video for a track that has kept me nodding my head for years now. Straight from Biggie Smallz:



**Bonus: Ratatat remix - here.

Where's your head at?

It's Friday aka our last day of classes (ever) and that means only one thing. We will be drinking lots and lots of water. **If an Employer ever finds this, you can't prove anything. I meant water.

I'll let my friends Hadouken! explain what will probably take place tonight like only they can. You'll see what I mean when you take a listen.

P.S. This music makes me physically go crazy.

Hadouken! - "Get Smashed Gate Crash"

I wish to God I could post the rest of their new cd, but I'm not much for lawsuits. Please though, do yourself a favor and click on this and check out the 30 second clip of "Crank It Up". You won't be disappointed.

Your favorite band you haven't heard of yet.

If you've been out all night drinking, and you need something to bring you down lightly from that buzz, whether it be from the people you were with or what you decided to drink, The Weepies have exactly what you need. From small indie folk-pop to one of the most-downloaded folk albums ever, they will not disappoint. Below are steps to fully enjoy
The Weepies:

Step 1. Go out with friends.

Step 2. Come back around two a.m.

Step 3. Settle in, download these songs and relax. Let the Weepies take you away.

The Weepies - “All That I Want”
The Weepies -"Gotta Have You"
The Weepies - "Little Bird"
The Weepies - "Can't Go Back Now"

Create. Burn. Recreate.

I spent most of the day dealing with an auto accident that wasn't my fault, but the way Tennessee law fell, it was. At first I was furious, but then I realized that if something like that happened, it happened for reasons I'll never understand. Through the accident, I met a woman who was both sweet and reserved, an interior decorator as it happens, newly graduated from Alabama and recent adopter of a ten-month-old baby boy. As I said, I have no idea why her car was supposed to collide with mine, but I bet something amazing will come out of it. I've got my fingers crossed anyway.

On another note, Lily Allen is a guilty pleasure. I don't care how you feel about her, no one can deny her talent and charm. With that, I present two new demos circulating around the blogosphere. Allen, if you're reading this, you create songs that feel warm and inviting like a group of friends around a fire in late December. Thank you.

Lily Allen - I Could Say
Lily Allen- I Don't Know

Close your eyes.

I got this today and I feel like I should keep it a secret. I've been listening to it on repeat for awhile, picking at bits and pieces of its heavy whispers and even heavier lyrics. This is a song you know, about a moment you've lived a hundred times. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

Courtesy of one of the greatest music blogs I've ever read, Said the Gramophone. You guys rock.

Aimee Mann - "Little Tornado"

Two in one.

Good things always come in twos.

http://bball3.muxtape.com/

New Muxtape!

It is well known that I am a huge supporter of digital mixtapes and as I listen to more than 200 new bands a day, I thought I'd start sharing. Below is a mix of the songs I've been discovering this month, minus the Iron & Wine song. I included that because it is awesome, and I heard it again for the first time in years at Stir Fry Cafe on Tuesday. Hope you like it!

http://bball2.muxtape.com/

Yeah, it's that big a deal.

Above is a signed copy of a Mute Math cd. That is the greatest thing I have ever randomly found in my room after forgetting about it.

Three things.

1. Muxtape is the greatest digital invention ever. If you haven't made one yet, you need to.

2. Chromeo is just amazing. Seriously, do yourself a favorite and check them out!

3. I WAS JUST NOMINATED FOR AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN CONSULATE IN FREAKING MILAN!!!!!!!!

Now that I've lost it, this isn't the actual job. Apparently in Government, you get placed on a huge list, then they place you on a big list, then a small, and then a final. I'm now on the final list. If they offer me an actual position, I will sell everything I own (except my ipod, laptop and camera), including my clothes to get over there. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Shameless Plug.

I just want to plug these guys as they are certifiably badass. If you like Girl Talk and Gregg Gillis, you'll love Car Stereo (Wars).

http://www.myspace.com/carstereowars

Fo Sho.

Big things have been happening here in Knoxville. We just finished yet another Journalism conference for TNJN, and I must say it went well. I took the pictures for the conference again, and Steve Klein, George Mason's E-Journalism Coordinator said my style of photography reminded him of a White House press photographer. Interesting. It's no secret I love to get up right in people's faces with my camera, which I did throughout the conference. A lot. It paid off though, as Kelly Hunt, the JEM website editor wanted my photos for the site (Thanks Kelly!), and one was published in The Daily Beacon, our on-campus old school newspaper.

On another note, we just finished Eyes On LaFollette, a weekend long journalism project. For all intensive purposes, our teacher dropped us into small town LaFollette, TN with our cameras and audio recorders with the sole mission of creating a story from scratch. I stumbled upon Matt Mitchell, one of the coolest 19 year old dairy farmers I've ever met. Here's the catch. Not only is he the only dairy farmer I've ever met, he owns his own massive farm, complete with eighteen 2000-pound show cows. Landed a full page in the paper and a front page photo.

Pictures coming soon, or you could just facebook me.

Also, new Dizzee Rascal track (zshare), courtesy of one of my favorite music blogs Panda Toes. Love those guys.

Yeah Buddy!

Blind Date Beer Goggles from Brandon Ball on Vimeo.

Rock It Out.

I love music and that's no secret. What I love more than music, is sharing it. When people get excited over a mixtape you made, it might be the greatest feeling in the world, second only (I can imagine) to someone freaking out over something you wrote. If I ever met Leslie Feist, I would lose it. True Story. Anyway,

http://bball.muxtape.com/

If you enjoy it, please give me a shout and say so!

Delays In Communication.

It's been a few weeks since I've had the time to update this. Two weeks ago I was building houses in Bay St. Louis and last week's theme was "catch up on school work." Heard a new (at least for my ears) Riot In Belgium remix. They took an already amazing Yelle song, added sick beats and a general badassness to it and called it theirs.

I love music.

Track courtesy of Hot Biscuits. (Awesome blog)

Grab the track here.

Will update again later.

Reykjavik.

http://tnjn.com/2008/mar/10/students-icelandic-adventure-b/

Yeah!

The Rush of Falling.

This week has been hard, but at the end of every low, there is a high. This picture and the track attached have been my high. I took neither the picture nor made the song, but they feel and sound just as if they were flowing out of my days, out of my conscious. Hope you enjoy!

(Track courtesy of Pagette Music, awesome music blog)

Grab the track here.

First Video.

JEM 336 - Project 1 from Brandon Ball on Vimeo.

Another day, another experience.

Today has been crazy. Photography, video production, learning how to make bruschetta in Italian class, managing to park in at least two off-limit spots and not get a ticket. Haha, anyway, new Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Cloud Cult cds are
amazing.

The first, by SSLYBY, is just ridiculous. Start to finish, it is polished, substantial and warm. The catchy riffs and lyrics remind me that there are still records that you can listen through without stopping. Fantastic. The song attached, Glue Girls, is off their upcoming second cd Pershing and is as energetic and pop-y as they come, but makes me want to dance. (Track courtesy of Captain's Dead)

Grab the track here.

The second, by Cloud Cult is a dreamy soundscape of words and noise. Theirs are the kind of tracks you could lose yourself in. Check them out.

Off to the library to finish up the editing on our second video project.

Audio Bliss

Holy crap. I just heard a remix of a song from The Knife, done by Trentemøller, which is like electronic crack. Taken from The Knife's "We Share Our Mother's Health," I am fairly certain my ears just heard musical bliss. Oh my God. The breaks in this song are INCREDIBLE.

Grab the track here.

Slow day. Woke up around 12 and watched "In Short," a collection of five short snowboarding films, the 3rd of which is probably one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Ordered chinese take-out, never a good idea for your digestive tract, but was much better than I was expecting. Anyway, heard this track by Wiley today that had me jumping around my room in audible bliss. Rough british accents mixed with electronic and hip-hop usually get me excited anyway, but this track by unsigned Wiley is bangin'. (track courtesy of The Pingle Pad):

Grab the track here.

Also heard an new track from The Kooks, called Always Where I Need To Be, which I believe is their new single. Usually I
end up really liking their singles and disliking their albums as a whole, but hopefully they'll prove my theory wrong this
time. Great song though.

Grab the track here.

Played with the new Mac Air today as well. FANTASTIC. Go out and buy one immediately.

Craving Pow

Woke up this morning and flipped through some podcasts on the apple TV until I stumbled upon shralp!, a series of podcasts about snowboarding. I was hooked as soon as I hit play,
and even now, three and a half hours later, I am still watching as I type.

Also check out brother's factory for some full (and free!) snowboarding vids, particularly B****es with Stitches. For an all girl, non roxy video, it's not bad.

Broken Hand, Sound Mind

Spent all week preparing for the TNJN verge conference and I think it well, especially after walking out of the "lunch" today with a 4 ft. loaf of bread tucked between my arms. Pictures turned out well, but I think it might be time to finally suck it up and buy a nice 70-200mm lense. I mean, I don't mind jumping around like a cat to try and get a good shot up close, but sometimes it'd be nice to stand towards the back and "blend" in.

Anyway, on to music. Heard this Poney, Poney track today, "Cross the Fader" that peaked my interest. Produced by Justice so you know it has to be good, and it is definitely banging. Never heard of them before, but I dig the beat and I can not wait for the album to drop March 10th. (track courtesy of bigstereo):

grab the track here

Second track is by Estelle ft. the great Kayne West. I really dig the vocals, and the warm sound flowing out of my speakers. As always, Kayne spins some nice rhymes, but, as mentioned before, it's really Estelle Swaray's vocals that seal the deal. You can
check out her myspace; there are some nice tracks on there as well.
(track courtesy of discobelle)

grab the track here

Finally, take a listen to The Teenagers. There has been a lot of fuss over these guys lately, and they are definitely worth checking out, especially the song Homecoming. Dig it.