Hi-Fi Heart

Yet Even MORE Songs from Commercials.

Ok, this is kind of fun. Five more songs from commercials!

Tim Myers - A Beautiful World (used in Target commercial)
Landon Pigg - Falling In Love in a Coffee Shop (used in Debeer's commercial)
Dragonette - Get Lucky (used in JC Penney commercial)
Amos Lee - Sweet Pea (used in AT&T commercial)
Brendan Benson - What I'm Looking For (used in iPhone commercial)

More Songs from Commercials!

So it seems a lot of people liked the last batch, so I decided to put together another one! Enjoy! Feel free to make suggestions as well.

Melpe Mene - I Adore You (used in Volvo commercial)
Ben Lee - We're All In This Together (used in Kohl's commercial)
Cao Fang - In Summer (used in GE commercial)
Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - Killing the Blues (used in JC Penney commercial)
Orba Squara - Perfect Timing (This Morning) (used in iPhone commercial)

Just a batch of songs I've recently heard in commercials and felt compelled to Google to find out who the artist is... Except for the Simone White song, which I found randomly on the Stroopwafel myspace page (I had a craving, and sadly am not anywhere NEAR The Netherlands at the moment)... And later found out it was in an Audi commercial, which was a good excuse to use it! Well, and the Hem song, which I recognized as Hem but hadn't heard that particular song. Enjoy!

Joe Purdy - Can't Get It Right Today (used in Kia commercial)
Lights - February Air (used in Old Navy commercial)
The Flatmates - Happy All The Time (used in Payless Shoes commercial)
Simone White - The Beep Beep Song (used in Audi commercial)
Hem - The Part Where You Let Go (used in Liberty Mutual commercial)

A Hi-Fi Heart Valentine's Mix

Here's a very random mix of love songs in celebration of Valentine's Day!

The Blow - Parentheses (the cool kids love song)
Daryl Hall & John Oates - You Make My Dreams (the cheesy 80s love song)
Flight of the Conchords - Business Time (the comedic love song)
Guillemots - Made Up Love Song #43 (the off-kilter love song)
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights (the required indie love song)
Queen - You're My Best Friend (the athemic rock love song)
Ray Lamontagne - Shelter (the unconditional love song)
Rufus Wainwright - My Funny Valentine (the required listening love song)
Sondre Lerche - The More I See You (the jazzy coffeeshop love song)
Stevie Wonder - I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) (the quintessential love song)

ENJOY! And Happy Valentine's Day (or Singles Awareness Day, whichever you prefer).

xoxo

New Releases - 2.5.08

[Another Cover Songs Edition!]

I am embarassed I didn't know about Sons & Daughters before now. This album is full of fierce, female fronted rock. But it's catchy too! Enjoy this cover; it's the b-side for the "Gilt Complex" single.

Sons & Daughters - Killer (Seal/Adamski cover)

It's hard to believe that this album is just being released in the U.S. It was one of my early favorites in 2007, thanks to Basia's sweet vocals and all the ukelele! She recorded this Sam Cooke gospel classic for the US iTunes version of Oh, My Darling.

Basia Bulat - Touch the Hem of His Garment (Sam Cooke cover)

All is Well is subtle and delicate and so gorgeous that it overwelms me at times. Only after a few listens do you start to notice the variety of instruments in the background, because it all melds and flows so effortlessly.

Samamidon - Fall On My Knees (trad.)

Other honorable mentions for 2.5.08:

Hot Chip - Made in the Dark (addictive indie-dance)
Nada Surf - Lucky (shimmering pop)
HorrorPops - Kiss Kiss Kill Kill (tongue-in-cheek Danish-punk)
Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off the Lavender Bridge (unlikely troubadour)
Jason Collett - Here's to Being Here (mellow Americana/pop)
Air Traffic - Fractured Life (inoffensive Brit-rock)
Kamera - Resurrection (80's-throwback pop)

New Releases - 1.29.08

[Cover Songs Edition!]

If you like Feist, Cat Power and the like, then you are bound to like Thao Nguyen. Her voice has a lazy, sultry sound (akin to Catherine Feeny). Enjoy this cover; it's the iTunes bonus track.

Thao - You've Really Got a Hold On Me (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles cover)

AllMusic.com describes Yoav as a "mix of Nine Inch Nails, Justin Timberlake, and Peter Gabriel." I would have never though of the Nine Inch Nails or JT comparisons, but I can hear it now. Pensive & dark singer/songwriter with percussion skills.

Yoav - Where Is My Mind (The Pixies cover)

I can't believe that I almost forgot about Shelby Lynne. I Am Shelby Lynne was one of my favorites back in 2000. This album is her tribute to Dusty Springfield, produced by Phil Ramone. She does a fine job on one of my all-time favorite songs "How Can I Be Sure" (seriously, best bridge ever!).

Shelby Lynne - How Can I Be Sure (The Young Rascals cover)

Other honorable mentions for 1.29.08:

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (blogged-to-death prep-rock)
Joe Jackson - Rain (AAA radio-friendly)
Louis XIV - Slick Dogs and Ponies (catchy retro-rock)
Chris Walla - Field Manual (Death Cab solo)
The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead (Dylan-esque indie)
Xiu Xiu - Women As Lovers (too-weird-for-me noise)
Radar Bros. - Auditorium (subdued indie)

Yael Naïm

I must admit I first took notice of Yael Naïm last night when I saw the MacBook Air commercial (and subsequently fell in love with both the computer and the song). Then I realized I had actually heard her voice before on the Readymade FC album Babilonia, which I bought on a whim in Paris over two years ago. I think I bought it because Feist was a collaborator on one of the songs. And, just for fun, some trivia about Yael (courtesy of Wikipedia):

1. Naim was born in Paris in 1978 to Jewish-Tunisian parents.
2. At the age of four, she moved with her family to Ramat HaSharon, Israel, where she learned Hebrew and trained as a pianist.
3. She served in Israel Defence Forces as a soloist in Israel Air Force Orchestra.
4. The songs on her self-titled album are in French, English, and Hebrew.
5. The album entered the French album chart at No. 11 the week after its release.

Yael Naïm - New Soul (used in the MacBook Air commercial)
Yael Naïm - Toxic (Britney Spears cover)
Readymade FC feat. Yael Naïm - The Only One
Readymade FC feat. Yael Naïm - Slide

RIYL: Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, Sia, Cat Power

My Fifty Favorite Songs of 2007

THIS IS JUST A LIST - THE LINKS ARE DEAD

Without further ado, I present to you:

"My Fifty Favorite Songs of 2007: A Hi-Fi Heart Mixtape"
(in alphabetical order, with absolutely no pressure from hipster trends, and with a dash of country songs thrown in just 'cause this is Nashville!)

Adele - Hometown Glory

Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)

Alphabeat - 10,000 Nights of Thunder

Aqualung - Something To Believe In

Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running

Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You

Basia Bulat - Snakes & Ladders

Bishop Allen - Rain

Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You

Brooke Waggoner - Wonder-Dummied

De Novo Dahl - Shout

Delta Spirit - Strange Vine

The Everybodyfields - Aeroplane

Feist - 1234

Fergie - Clumsy

Gabrielle - Love Me Like You Do

GoodBooks - Passchendaele

Groove Armada - Song 4 Mutya

Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am

Jack Penate - Spit at Stars

Joshua James - The Soul and the Sea

Kate Nash - Mouthwash

Kate Walsh - Your Song

Kelly Clarkson - Sober

Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love

Los Campesinos - You! Me! Dancing!

Mandy Moore - Nothing That You Are

Mark Ronson (Feat. Amy Winehouse) - Valerie

Miranda Lambert - Dry Town

Noah and the Whale - Rocks and Daggers

Paramore - Crushcrushcrush

Patty Griffin - Heavenly Day

Radiohead - All I Need

Robyn - With Every Heartbeat

Rogue Wave - Chicago x 12

Ryan Adams - Everybody Knows

Sara Bareilles - Love Song

Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles - The Day We Met

Sigur Ros - Hljomalind

The Silver Seas - This Country Life

Spoon - The Underdog

Sugababes - About You Now

Sugarland - Stay

Taylor Swift - Our Song

Tegan & Sara - The Con

Those Dancing Days - Those Dancing Days

Travis - My Eyes

Wilco - Either Way

Yelle - Ce Jeu

Zookeeper - Ballad of my Friends

New Releases - 1.22.08

So there were a TON of new releases yesterday. I tried to sift through them all, but The Yellow Stereo did a far more thorough job than I ever could. So I'll be lazy and just link to it.

The only addition I have for you:

Rooney - Forever Young (Youth Group cover)
(from the "I Should've Been After You" EP)

And, in case you care, my most highly recommended albums released from yesterday are:

Cat Power - Jukebox (more covers!)
Matt Costa - Unfamiliar Faces (acoustic goodness)
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (fun dance/rock)
Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning (acoustic GREATness)
Jack Penate - Matinee (domestic arrival!)
Steve Poltz - Traveling (acoustic cleverness)
Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause - The Rustic Contemporary Sounds of... (rocking rootsiness)
Bodies of Water - Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink (California throwback sounds)
The Whitsundays - The Whitsundays (quiet prettiness)
Hey Willpower - P.D.A. (indie Mika-meets-JT)

New Releases - 1.22.08

So there were a TON of new releases yesterday. I tried to sift through them all, but The Yellow Stereo did a far more thorough job than I ever could. So I'll be lazy and just link to it.

The only addition I have for you:

Rooney - Forever Young (Alphaville cover)
(from the "I Should've Been After You" EP)

And, in case you care, my most highly recommended albums released from yesterday are:

Cat Power - Jukebox (more covers!)
Matt Costa - Unfamiliar Faces (acoustic goodness)
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (fun dance/rock)
Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning (acoustic GREATness)
Jack Penate - Matinee (domestic arrival!)
Steve Poltz - Traveling (acoustic cleverness)
Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause - The Rustic Contemporary Sounds of... (rocking rootsiness)
Bodies of Water - Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink (California throwback sounds)
The Whitsundays - The Whitsundays (quiet prettiness)
Hey Willpower - P.D.A. (indie Mika-meets-JT)

New Releases - 1.15.08

[Cover Songs Edition!]

Band of Horses guitar player and North Carolinian Tyler Ramsey released his second solo album this week. It is a quiet, melacholy affair with lovely finger-style acoustic guitar picking, reminiscent of Leo Kottke.

Tyler Ramsey - These Days (Jackson Browne cover)

The Battle of Land and Sea is the dreamy sounding duo of Sarah O'Shura and Joshua Canny. After first listen, it's impossible not to think of Mazzy Star. Trivia: O'Shura recorded several songs while in the nude, but she won't tell which ones.

The Battle of Land and Sea - Harden My Heart (Quarterflash cover)

This duet with Canadian songbirds Anne Murray and Nelly Furtado is dreadful, amusing, and fun all at once. Anne Murray's voice was never truly great, and it's teetering on unlistenable at this point, but still - Useful for kitsch factor alone!

Anne Murray with Nelly Furtado - Daydream Believer (Monkees cover)

Other honorable mentions for 1.15.08:

Magnetic Fields - Distortion (title-says-it-all)
The Eels - Meet The Eels: Essential Eels 1996-2006, Vol. 1 (nice introduction)
The Eels - Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities & Unreleased 1996-2007 (serious fans only)
The Steeldrivers - The Steeldrivers ("rhythm'n'bluegrass")

New Releases - 1.8.08

For those of us that weren't alive in '69-'71, I'm happy to say that we now have a chance to hear (and see) some of the best performances from The Johnny Cash TV Show. This duet with Joni Mitchell is particularly wonderful.

Joni Mitchell & Johnny Cash - Girl From North Country

"My Declaration" was the song that introduced me to Tom Baxter back in 2004. He is often compared to Jeff Buckley, but I find Tom's music to be much more accessible. Short of paying $30 for an import CD, it's pretty much impossible to buy his music in the US. A travesty!

Tom Baxter - Better

This is (Willie) Wisely's fourth album, and it features lovely and melodic singer/songwriter pop. He has a famous friend in Jenna Fischer (Pam of "The Office"), who appears in his video for "Through Any Window". It's like if Badly Drawn Boy made an album full 70s AOR.

Wisely - California

Other honorable mentions for 1.8.08:

Sia - Some People Have Real Problems (smooth/soulful pop)
Kate Nash - Made of Bricks (US release, finally!)
Marah - Angels of Destruction (bluesy roots-rock)
Amanda Shaw - Pretty Runs Out (New Orleans fiddler)

New Releases - 11.20.2007

Almost a week late, but better late than never, right?

Usually label compilations are a bit of a mish-mash... And not so good to be listened to from start to finish. But since most of Morr's releases fall into a category I like to call "for the quiet times", this 2-CD set is actually fairly cohesive. Beeps & blips & pretty sounds abound!

Butcher the Bar - Leave This Town

I'll admit it. I love Christmas music. But even if you despise most Christmas tunes, I think you might still enjoy this EP from singer/songwriter Joshua James. It's like a soft and sweet indie-style Christmas, unobtrusively adding some holiday cheer to your day!

Joshua James - Winter Storm

Being The Format completist that I am, I already had most of the songs on B-sides & Rarities. But that didn't stop me from spending $30 on Format merch, just so I could get a physical copy of the CD. It was worth it because I now have their incredible new DVD and a whale t-shirt.

The Format - Does Your Cat Have A Mustache? (originally on For the Kids III)

Other honorable mentions for 11.20.07:

To My Boy - Messages (fun 80s-style-pop)
Benjamin Biolay - Trash Yeye (French folk)
Ed Harcourt - Until Tomorrow Then: The Best of Ed Harcourt (great introduction)
British Sea Power - Krankenhaus (to-tide-you-over EP)
The Devil Makes Three - The Devil Makes Three (old-timey americana/punk)
Ayo - Joyful (sweet R&B songstress)

The Hoosiers

In general, I know that I am bound to like an album if Drowned in Sound gives it a horrible review (usually my favorites receive 3 or 4 out of a possible 10). I honestly love reading their negative reviews, just becuase they are so well written and often hilarious. It may not be hip to like The Feeling or The Hoosiers, but I just can't help myself. Apparently, neither can the rest of the UK... Their most recent single "Goodbye Mr. A" hit the Top 5 and their debut album The Trick to Life is currently number one on the charts. "Goodbye Mr. A" is utterly irresistible on the first listen. It is big and bold and truly one of the most fun songs to come along in a good while. Imagine Jeff Buckley fronting ELO.

The Hoosiers - Goodbye Mr. A
The Hoosiers - LoveStoned (Justin Timberlake cover)
The Hoosiers - We Didn't Start The Fire (Billy Joel cover)

RIYL: The Darkness, The Feeling, MIKA, XTC, The Cure

New Releases - 10.31.07

I thought that I didn't care for Gomez, but turns out every song I heard featured Ben Ottewell as lead vocalist instead of Ian Ball. Now that that I know which one I prefer, I can listen to some Gomez! This is the first solo CD from a Gomez member, and you should tune in if you like laid-back acoustic rock a la Josh Rouse.

Ian Ball - When We Were Cool

Up until now, if you wanted to buy an album from Sweden's Anna Ternheim, you had to pay import prices. Finally, we see a U.S. release by Anna on Decca Records, even if it is just an EP of songs from her international releases. Her voice is pretty and haunting and sad all at once.

Anna Ternheim - China Girl (David Bowie cover)

I'm the dreaded casual Dylan fan. You know, the type that owns Dylan's Greatest Hits (because you have to) and Nashville Skyline (because it's the one time Dylan doesn't sound much like Dylan). I've yet to see this movie, but the soundtrack is an interesting tribute to the man.

Glen Hansard & Marketa Inglova - You Ain't Goin' Nowhere

Other honorable mentions for 10.30.07:

Nicole Atkins- Neptune City (retro-styled neo-folk)
Blue Rodeo - Small Miracles (nice roots-rock)
Various Artists - Goffin & King: A Gerry Goffin and Carole King Song Collection 1961-1967
(necessary compilation)
Alice Smith - For Lovers, Dreamers & Me (funky soulstress)
Graham Colton - Here Right Now (Kelly-Clarkson's-ex-makes-guilty-pleasure-pop-rock)
Kyle Andrews - Find Love Let Go (Local goodness)

New Releases - 10.16.07

It's so sad that Semisonic is often regarded as a one hit wonder from the 90s. Although I doubt lead singer Dan Wilson is too upset, seeing he's been busy earning Grammys for his work with the Dixie Chicks. This song was recorded first for Taking the Long Way but Dan recorded it as well for his recent album Free Life, produced by Rick Rubin.

Dan Wilson - Easy Silence

Back in the day (I think I can say that since it was ten years ago!), I was a huge Dar Williams fan. I haven't kept up with her newer work, but listening to her new live album brought back a lot of memories of my past life as a folkie. Songs like "February", "After All", and "When I Was a Boy" still stand out, whether you like folk music or not.

Dar Williams - Ripple (Grateful Dead cover)

The blogosphere is crazy about Maritime, and rightly so. Heresy & The Hotel Choir is the third album from this band started by former members of The Promise Ring and The Dismemberment Plan back in 2003. This is sensible music that won't offend anyone but still rocks hard enough to please the indie kids.

Maritime - Aren't We All Found Out

Other honorable mentions for 10.16.07:

Angie Stone - The Art of Love & War (old-school R&B)
Steel Train - Trampoline (above-average rock)
Octopus Project - Hello, Avalanche (instrumental indie)
The Launderettes - Fluff 'N Fold: The Best of The Launderettes (Norwegian garage)
Kenna - Make Sure They See My Face (genre-defying-music-from-Ethiopan-artist-discovered-by-Fred-Durst-but-somehow-it's-good)

Hi-Fi Heart

Yet Even MORE Songs from Commercials.

More Songs from Commercials!

Songs from Commercials

A Hi-Fi Heart Valentine's Mix

New Releases - 2.5.08

New Releases - 1.29.08

Yael Naïm

My Fifty Favorite Songs of 2007

New Releases - 1.22.08

New Releases - 1.22.08

New Releases - 1.15.08

New Releases - 1.8.08

A Hi-Fi Heart Xmas, Day Four

A Hi-Fi Heart Xmas, Day Three

A Hi-Fi Heart Xmas, Day Two

A Hi-Fi Heart Xmas, Day One

New Releases - 11.20.2007

The Hoosiers

New Releases - 10.31.07

New Releases - 10.16.07

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