Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Halloween!

Even though it's almost over, I decided to put together a Halloween playlist to hold you over until next year. Start planning your costumes now! You could be something totally epic. Or dress up as a celebrity, that always works.

MP3: Halloween Jamz - Monster Mash
MP3: J Curch - Vampire Girl Prefers Me Alive
MP3: Nerve Agents - Planet Frakenstien
MP3: Dead Kennedys - Halloween
MP3: Sue Schnitzer - Halloween Party
MP3: The Misfits - Halloween
MP3: Ryan Adams - Halloweenhead
MP3: Sonic Youth - Halloween

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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Late-Night Wrap Up

Sorry I'm a day late...

I know I'm always pissed when I find out that I've missed an awesome musical guest on late-night TV, so I thought that every week I would post a round up of the performers for the week (no matter how crappy).

Monday
Jay Leno (NBC) - Carrie Underwood
Conan O'Brien (NBC) - Seether
Craig Ferguson (CBS) - Avril Lavigne
Carson Daily (NBC) - Paolo Nutini

Tuesday
David Letterman (CBS) - Nicole Atkins
Jay Leno (NBC) - Sex Pistols
Conan O'Brien (NBC) - Zappa Plays Zappa
Craig Ferguson (CBS) - Good Charlotte

Wednesday
David Letterman (CBS) - The Go! Team
Jay Leno (NBC) - Barry Manilow
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) - Everytime I Die
Conan O'Brien (NBC) - Manchester Orchestra
Craig Ferguson (CBS) - The Sex Pistols
Carson Daily (NBC) - Regina Spektor

Thursday
David Letterman (CBS) - Ryan Adams
Jay Leno (NBC) - Leann Rimes
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) - Thurston Moore
Conan O'Brien (NBC) - Slash
Craig Ferguson (CBS) - Barry Manilow

Friday
David Letterman (CBS) - Jay-Z
Jay Leno (NBC) - Backstreet Boys
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) - Leann Rimes
Craig Ferguson (CBS) - Dwight Yoakam
Carson Daily (NBC) - Talib Kweli

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Sorry I haven't been around...

I've been pretty busy this week, so I haven't been able to post much, so to make up for it, here's a nice big MP3 post with stuff I've been into this week.

First up, is the Weeds theme song by Jenny Lewis featuring her bf Jonathan Rice. I don't really follow the show, (I don't get Showtime), but their version is too cute to pass up.

MP3: Jenny Lewis Feat. Jonathan Rice - Little Boxes

Next up we have Owen. This is the name under which Mike Kinsella (of American Football, Cap'n Jazz and Joan of Arc) currently performs. I have been a fan of his other bands for a while now, but never gave his solo stuff much of a listen. This weekend I cam across this song, and I'm in love. It's all slow and acoustic and sometimes whiny, and can sounds a lot like a Dashboard Confessional, but with the clever lyrics (and Kinsella's indie cred), you won't be embarrassed if you're caught listening.

MP3: Owen - I Woke Up Today

Finally, I admit, I have a soft spot for covers. I like hearing my favorites in a different way, even if it's awful. The first cover is a cover of Architecture in Helsinki's Heart it Races by Dr. Dog. This is one case where I'm not even sure if I like the original or the cover better. There's a few more covers I found this weekend, including a decent cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart by Jose Gonzales, and a not so good Smiths cover by Nada Surf.

MP3: Dr. Dog - Heart it Races
MP3: Jose Gonzales - Love Will Tear Us Apart
MP3: Nada Surf - There is a Light That Never Goes Out

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Oh, Leggings.

I think I've developed a love/hate relationship with leggings. I admit, I have worn them from time to time, they can add warmth and coverage to an outfit, but like everything, people take them too far! I'm all for leggings to the ankle with a cute dress or long sweater like this:

but the look so many girls try to pull off with a denim mini and leggings that hit the calf makes me die a little inside every time I see it.

Get a hold of yourself!
So help me God if you add a cut-off t-shirt to this look.
It was bad enough when it was a huge trend and everyone was wearing it, but seeing people that still wear it is even worse! Way to beat the dead horse of a terrible fad. This look also makes people think that they can wear a skirt that is too short for their body type just because they have a skin-tight fabric covering most of their legs. Just because your legs are covered doesn't mean that mini skirt looks any better on you.

Another style that hurts my eyes are girls that wear leggings as pants with a normal length shirt. Do you not remember the 80s? Stirrup pants and cut off t-shirts need to stay where they are. People need to realize that unless you are a stick figure, leggings as pants will look terrible on you.

So, in conclusion: let trends that are over die! Some good things came out of the 80s, but this isn't one of them. If you are reading this and think, "Hey I like this look. I wear it all the time!" Then maybe you should take a good, long look in the mirror, pull you hair into a side ponytail and realize that you look like you really wanted to be extra from Flashdance but didn't quite make the cut, and don't leave the house until you change.

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Say Hi Releases New CD, Cuts Name in Half


Say Hi, formerly Say Hi To Your Mom (A.K.A Eric Elbogen) is releasing their (his?) 5th cd, The Wishes and the Glitch. They seem to be following a similar Radiohead route by allowing the album to be downloaded now when you pre-order, and still receive the cd when it is released on February 5th. They are currently on tour, so check them out and check out their website to have a listen to the new album, old albums, and some free downloads.

MP3: Say Hi - Toil and Trouble

Tour Dates:
10-23-07 Austin, TX
10-24-07 Houston, TX
10-25-07 Baton Rouge, LA
10-26-07 Birmingham, AL
10-27-07 Atlanta, GA
10-28-07 Chapel Hill, NC
10-29-07 Charlottesville, VA
10-30-07 Washington, DC
11-01-07 Wilmington, DE
11-02-07 Philadelphia, PA
11-03-07 New York, NY
11-04-07 Boston, MA

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Get Schooled by The Smiths

Actually, just one.

Johnny Marr, who gained fame as the guitarist of The Smiths and currently is a member of Modest Mouse has accepted a job as a visiting professor at Salford University in Manchester, England. According to Salford University, he will be teaching classes in the Music department in Popular Music and Recording.

Salford is also the location of a legendary Smiths performance. According to the article, "Those lucky enough to have been present at The Smiths' performance (one of the last few) held at the University in 1986 experienced what Johnny regards as the best gig he ever played. As he himself says: 'the PA had to be tied down because the floor was bouncing up so high that the stage was practically falling to pieces.'"

While you're wishing you lived in England, here's a classic Smiths tune to ease your pain.

MP3: The Smiths - Rubber Ring

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Crazier Now That He's Sober?

Ryan Adams has too much time on his hands.

When he's not creating alter-egos, he is apparently making videos. Take a look at one which includes his very white legs, lightning bolts shooting from his eyes (a concept Smashing Pumpkins are no stranger to), and some serious growling.



Check out the rest of his videos here.

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Monday, October 22, 2007

Late-Night Wrap Up

I know I'm always pissed when I find out that I've missed an awesome musical guest on late-night TV, so I thought that every week I would post a round up of the performers for the week (no matter how crappy).

Monday
David Letterman (CBS) - John Fogerty
Jay Leno (NBC) - Bright Eyes
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) - Sara Bareilles
Conan O'Brien (NBC) - Andrew Bird
Carson Daily (NBC) - Ben Kweller

Tuesday
David Letterman (CBS) - Will.i.am
Jay Leno (NBC) - The Editors
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) - Brad Paisley
Craig Ferguson (CBS) - Zap Mama
Carson Daily (NBC) - James Morrison

Wednesday
David Letterman (CBS) - Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals
Jay Leno (NBC) - Paolo Nutini
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) - Ben Harper
Conan O'Brien (NBC) - Flight of the Concords
Craig Ferguson (CBS) - 50 Cent
Carson Daily (NBC) - Jamie T

Thursday
David Letterman (CBS) - Faith Hill
Jay Leno (NBC) - Chris Cornell
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) - Interpol
Conan O'Brien (NBC) - The Mooney Suzuki
Craig Ferguson (CBS) - Kat De Luna
Carson Daily (NBC) - Peter, Bjorn and John

Friday
David Letterman (CBS) - Mariza
Jay Leno (NBC) - Raul Midon
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) - Soulja Boy
Conan O'Brien (NBC) - Rooney
Craig Ferguson (CBS) - Cary Brothers
Carson Daily (NBC) - Ingrid Michaelson

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Hello!

Hello and welcome to Standard Voltage everyone! I have recently made the decision to make my own blog since I love reading other people's so much, and I seem to have an opinion about everything.

I first started with the intention of making a fashion blog with pictures I would take of street fashion, but that has been done to death, and I feel like I have more opinions about what NOT to do instead of what makes an amazing outfit. I figured that since I can't walk up to that person who clearly didn't look in the mirror before they left the house, I can have a place to vent, and hopefully someone will read it and stop to think before they walk out the door in the morning.

Next, I thought about combining the fashion blog with a music blog. Two of my favorite things, why not throw them together in the same place? So in addition to my fashion opinions, there will be music news and MP3s.

I Hope everyone enjoys what is happening over here, and if anyone has any suggestions on how to make it better, let me know!

-SV

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