Chromeo: More Synth!

Talk box + synth + more synth = gold. Go stalk this guy at Columbia University.

Sea Wolf

I admit, I got started thinking about Sea Wolf again when their song "I'm A Wolf" appeared in an episode of Gossip Girl. (Yes, I was watching Gossip Girl.) I got turned onto them from the You Ain't No Picasso blog and magically, I somehow have 6 songs of theirs in my Winamp library. (And yes, I've transitioned from Itunes.)

Download "The Garden That You Planted" by Sea Wolf. (expires on Christmas!)

Here's "The Garden That You Planted" by Sea Wolf. Although perhaps overly meaningful, it's sweet-sounding and I like it.

Muppets Tonight Nostalgia

I saw this in Pitchfork's Forkcast and was thoroughly amused.

The Gospel of Matt

... Matt Berninger, that is. I can't find a good YouTube video of the full song by The National, an Ohio-based indie rock band led by baritone Berninger, but the acoustic teaser of the song is a pretty good representation. The sailboat performance? Somewhat poignant, but you can be the judge. I believe the clip was recorded early in the making of Boxer, their fourth album release, because at 38 seconds, you can hear the guitarist slip up a little in a chord change. It's nice to see someone playing a nylon-string too.

The National's Boxer was heavily praised by the likes of Pitchfork and Rolling Stone, probably why I brushed over it in the first place. Thanks to shuffle, I was able to remedy my mistake. But hey... Pitchfork did love Deerhoof and I'll never understand why.



And for anyone that cares... download "The Gospel" by The National.

Justin Timberlake cover

I'm smitten with this cover and its minimalist approach, somehow aided by the green background and trash can. Also... a ukelele is always a good idea.

Jason Schwartzman: Epitome of Cool?

Is Jason Schwartzman the epitome of cool? For me, he is. The reasons to love Jason Schwartzman keep growing and growing. For me, it's Rushmore, Shopgirl (...ok, maybe because of Claire Danes too), Marie Antoinette, and most recently The Hotel Chevalier. I can't wait for The Darjeeling Limited to come out in theaters. With Mark Gonzalez ("The Gonz") footage in his video for Coconut Record's "West Coast," I'm completely won over.

Favorite GAP Commercials

Since I'm in London and am not an active TMC DJ, I've been a little separated from the show itself (although clearly, not from the blog). But tonight, I listened to Kate's masterpiece and was inspired to post my favorite GAP commercials.

1. The life-changing Depeche Mode "Just Can't Get Enough" commercial. Notice Alex Greenwald, lead singer of Phantom Planet and former GAP model, with a major part.


2. Sheryl Crow, Lisa Lopes, India.Arie, and Liz Phair on a kick ass "Give a Little Bit"


3. Claire Danes. Enough said.


4. Because Juliette Lewis is a good dancer and Kate likes it.

Sleeping Is The Only Love

Good things come out of actually spending time in the library. And one of them is listening to your Ipod on shuffle and discovering gems like Silver Jew's "Sleeping Is The Only Love." I did some reading too, in case you were wondering.

Mention snow cones, Earn TMC Mention

"If you never had a day a snow cone couldn't fix, you wouldn't relate to the rogue vocoder blitz."

This is damn good.

Mellow Down to My Soul

My first memory of "Crazy Love," not to be confused with Beyonce's "Crazy In Love," strangely goes back to the 1996 movie Phenomenon starring John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick. So when I think of the song, the voice that invades my head is not that of Van Morrison but of... Aaron Neville. Yes. Mole-a-licious Aaron Neville. Neville's cover is good; I'm not complaining. But Van Morrison's original is better, as most originals are.

I rediscovered my love of this song when I was back at Georgetown before my trip to London. I was visiting the lovely house that I will share with fellow TMC-er, Kate, as well as 5 other girls, for Senior year and this song was playing in the room of a current occupant. There's not much to dislike about "Crazy Love." The melody is sweet, the lyrics are poignant, and the lack of proper grammar is perfection.

As I've been doing, here's a You Tube video of the song. What's notable here is that Bob Dylan doesn't seem to know the words too well, yet his mumbled grunts harmonize well with Van Morrison's soulful delivery. Here's a rare occasion where I can appreciate Bob Dylan's live contribution. Enjoy.

"Yes it makes me righteous, yes it makes me feel whole / Yes it makes me mellow down in to my soul."

In the Mood for some Dylan

I'm always in the mood for some Bob Dylan, but I've ignored this favorite of mine for too long. Fare thee well, readers.

"Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" by Bob Dylan

We're Fit, We Know It

I discovered Kate Nash's "Foundations" a few days ago on Hype Machine's most popular playlist. It's basically one of those quintessential, possibly overly literal, we-should-break-up songs, but it works. The Brits always get away with this kind of thing. She was in a feud with Lily Allen a while back but besides for both being British, I don't really see a basis for rivalry.

Daria Would Be So Proud

TMC will soon be burning in fiery emo hell, a play in two lines.

anonymous person 1: only if by work out, they mean eventually die.
anonymous person 2: except maybe that just desserts means that we all have a chance to be crap people . . . . instead of that we all get a chance to be happy.

*Curtains come down*

. . . At least Josh Ritter knows how to be graceful about it. Try "Best For The Best" here. Buy The Animal Years here.

ps. dear readers, these two tags could not be more opposite.

Hype Machine, the best thing you've never heard of

I've always been a big Hype Machine fan (even purchasing a t-shirt with TMC member Kate), but never before have I actualized its potential. Everyone needs to visit: Hype Machine.

Click "listen" on the first listed track, and you can listen to the day's top-blogged tracks like its commercial free radio. It's economics, (wo)man. You're actually listening to songs with a buzz, not songs ClearChannel is promoting. So get on it. You'll enjoy Hype Machine if you're into discovering mostly new, indie-ish music. I say indie-ish, because hey, Kanye West's "Stronger" is the top-blogged for today... and probably tomorrow. I think I'll make it a daily habit, so I don't fall out of the know. Wait. I'm already out of it.
Edit: There you go, Duncan.

TMC Goes Respectfully Emo

Here's a live video of Antony & the Johnsons performing "Hope There's Someone." I'm not sure if Kate turned me on to this song or if it's a random one I downloaded from an mp3 blog, but I've rediscovered it thanks to a fresh Ipod synch-ing. Regardless, it strikes a resonant chord. The bare piano accompaniment beneath his quivering voice is perfect for conveying the human fear of being alone of which he sings:

"Oh I'm scared of the middle place / Between light and nowhere / I don't want to be the one / Left in there, left in there."

Other listeners compare his voice with that of an old blues singer, tumbling strains and all, so don't be fooled by his... eccentric... appearance. I'll post the mp3 up here as soon as I have the opportunity and hope to check out some more Antony & the Johnsons. Until next time... hope there's someone... reading this and more.

Led Zeppelin to Reunite?

The date 11.13.07 has mysteriously appeared on ledzeppelin.com amidst a swirl of internet rumors of a Led Zep reunion. All I have to say is that I'm going to be in London and after seeing cover band Lez Zeppelin at the State Theater in Falls Church, VA, I'm ready and excited for the real deal.

Here's my favorite Led Zeppelin song "Tangerine." I always wondered why there was that silent gap in the beginning of the original recording (not heard in the video). Any insight?

Lauren's Inaugural Post!!!!!!

So I suppose its time that I actually post something on the TMC blog seeing as that I am 1/3 of TMC. Kate and I went to the radio meeting tonight and are hoping to get our 4-6 pm on Friday time slot back. If we don't I might get depressed. Also, we miss Jess and I can for sure say that Emily (as funny as she is) will not fill the void left by Jess' absence.

In response to Jess' post...the Call on Me video is not too sexual for this blog, but maybe I just think that because I have seen it before and am thus desensitized!
Jessie G. I miss you

ps... I would have a song for this occasion but Kate is gonna have to teach my how to do that as I am technologically uninclined!

Call On Me

Recognize this? I didn't realize Eric Prydz's party favorite drew so heavily from Steve Winwood's "Valerie." I heard this at Pizza My Heart and was kind of surprised that the hook from "Call On Me" was taken from this 80s song. Shield yours eyes! Here's the more sexual video of D6's favorite dance hit.

Edit: I'm almost too ashamed and bashful to see this video on the blog... so we'll see how long it lasts up here. TMC is down with the song. Not the video.

Home Sweet Home

Just because we're all back here . . . a passel of Washingtonian mp3s for you fine people, in order from most to least obviously relevant:

1. "Washington, D.C." by the Magnetic Fields - This is a love song. Believe it. Get behind it.
Buy the album 69 Love Songs here.

2. "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" by the Postal Service - TMC sleeps together.
Buy the album Give Up here.

3. "Anacostia" by Son Volt - This song is really really pretty. And a little bit folky. Strangely, these are exactly the same two things that first come to mind when TMC thinks about Anacostia, the place.
Buy the album Okemah and the Melody of Riot here.

4. "Ooh Ahh" by Grits - Okay, we're going to be straight with you. This one just refers to "the capital city" . . . and we just hope its us, and not, say, Montpelier . . . because its so crazy good. But wait. Theres more. This is probably the c-raziest TMC post ever; Grits is an All Christian All The Time group. Or something. We could have linked you to a chrisitan music site to buy this, but that was almost too much . . . and yet this is the most infectious hip-hop song we've found in the past 6 months . . .
Buy the album 7 here.

Stay tuned: DCtastic trivia (possibly) coming soon to a post near you . . .

Air Force Ones

Girl 1: "Do these shoes make me look gay?"

Girl 2: "No, crazy. [pause] They make you look black."

Kate Edit: Clearly the only rational response to this is for us to post "Be Real Black for Me" by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway here.

Buy the album Roberta Flack here.

New Authors, possibly

Hello loyal TMC readers/listeners. I have just invited housemate Andy and TMC host Lauren (who has never blogged COUGH) to join the blog. TMC welcomes Andy's enthusiasm for jazz, hip hop, and R&B to fill the void that Kate and I have never filled. Lauren... blah blah blah. Thanks for letting us sleep in your room. Here is a photo of TMC + Andy, who I suppose is TMC now. Amazing. Something else amazing... the Touch My Clickwheel t-shirts, hand-made with love by Kate. Yes, I cried when I saw mine. You would too. Click on the post's photo for a closer look!

Move Out, Don't Mess Around

Moving sucks. Yes, college is the time of our lives, but I can't wait to just have a place where my belongings are not in constant jeopardy. I will soon be reduced to two backpacks, a rolly suitcase, and a duffel while the rest of my belongings are shipped away. In related news, the ladies of Touch My Clickwheel will all temporarily be living in the freshman sanctuary that is New South. I don't know if we can handle it, but it will be an experience. In honor of the big move, here's an excuse to post the 90s-licious hit by Yaz. Bring on the synth!

Download Yaz's "Situation"

Buy Yaz's album Upstairs At Eric's.

Rilo Kiley Redeems

"Silver Lining," the second song released from Rilo Kiley's upcoming release Under the Blacklight, has got me smitten. The first song they released, "The Moneymaker," was both shocking and terrifying but "Silver Lining" is redemption. The bass, followed by the handclaps, followed by the cheery guitar chirp. And then Jenny's voice. You had me at "Hello." If I could squeal via blog, I would. It's verses are almost too short, launching and re-launching into the simple yet poignant chorus of hooray's.

"Hooray, hooray / I'm your silver lining / Hooray, hooray / But now I'm gold."

I could speculate on the lyrics but I won't, because hey, that'd be embarrassing. Listen to the entire album streaming on Rilo Kiley's MySpace and more importantly, buy it from a local record store on August 21st.

Download "Silver Lining" by Rilo Kiley.

Pre-order Under the Blacklight here.

TMC Apologizes for Neglect

I regret to say that both Kate and I have neglected the TMC blog for the entire summer. I blame my failure on my indentured servitude to M Street retail and Kate's on the miscellaneous diseases she contracted from her internship in the sex industry. I noticed today that a Portuguese-speaker commented on one of our posts! The comment reads:

"Oi, achei teu blog pelo google tá bem interessante gostei desse post. Quando der dá uma passada pelo meu blog, é sobre camisetas personalizadas, mostra passo a passo como criar uma camiseta personalizada bem maneira. Até mais."

Besides for recognizing it as Portuguese, I obviously had no idea what it said. With some google-ing, or shoudl I say blackle-ing, of translation sites, it roughly translates to:

"Oi, I found yours blog for google tá well interesting I liked this post. When to give gives passed for mine blog, is on personalized t-shirts, shows step by step as to create a well personalized t-shirt way. Until more."

I believe our fine friend is giving us some tips for blogging? And also trying to entice us to hire him to make TMC t-shirts. Well, we might not be ready for personalized t-shirts, but perhaps daily blogging is back in our futures. Music and I have been somewhat estranged for the summer. Luckily for me, the Helly Hansen Itunes is stocked with music I have never bothered to look at or have even heard of and it, rather than Hype Machine or any other mp3 blog, has provided me with new music this summer. At this moment, I'm so infatuated with Etta James that I'm attempted to add her to my facebook music favorites (huggggggggge deal, kidding kind of). Here's "Anything To Say You're Mine" that somewhat echoes the feelings of our unexplained absence from blogger (and others).

Download "Anything To Say You're Mine" by Etta James.

Buy the album At Last here.

Edit: Clearly this post is insane, for some reason. Well get on it.

And Now For Something Completely Different . . .

For once, a post not complaining about Lauren's aversion to the 21st century or Kate's disappearing antics. Jess, who has mastered every other technical intricacy known to mankind has somehow managed to let her blogger name become muddled . . . inquiring minds hope that the lameness will soon come to an end.

Edit: All is well.

Black is Beautiful

We've made it this far into the summer without any major blackouts, and we have to be honest, the violently retro side of TMC was getting a bit nostalgic for the Summer of the Son of Sam, so we're bringing the blackout to you . . .

Blackle. Go. Now. You'll be glad you did.

Others will make points about the environmental edge of the site, but in light of some tech-geeky challenges to these claims we will only say that:

1. It looks so very very chic
2. Its much more fun to say. C'mon. Try it.

And now . . . we will perform amazing feats of blogging acrobatics to somehow make this musical (actually, we've just been looking for any excuse to post these songs for quite some time)


The Paint It Black Progression

1. "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones. NOT the original, actually. Based on a soul song we can't find at the moment.
Buy Aftermath here.

2. "Thirteen" by Big Star. References #1, is awesome, and covered well by Wilco, etc.
Buy No. 1 Record/Radio City here.

3. "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard of the Frames. Its in here too, you just have to listen a little harder.
Buy the Once soundtrack here.

Find Back to Black for yourselves - we're a bit Amy-Winehoused-out just at the moment.

Mr. Lee Takes Photos, Is a Cat

This is completely unrelated to music, but I ran into it while sifting through blog entries for work at FMC. The owner of Mr. Lee, a cat in Germany, attached a camera to his collar and posted the pictures of Mr. Lee's adventures on his website. It's artsy and reminds me of those shots into sunlight that I remember from The Virgin Suicides combined with the digital flavor of The Blair Witch Project. See more pictures by Mr. Lee here.

In other cat news, lolcats consume 30% of Wordpress' bandwidth (read full story here).

In honor of cats, I give you "Tom Cat Blues" by Cliff Carlisle. It's a fun little country ditty from the 1930s with just the right amount of yodel and sexual connotation. Buy more by Cliff Carlisle here.

. . . Twice, Three Times a Lady

After a forced march to the mall in the summer heat and an accidental visit to the National Memorial Day Parade, 2/3 of the ladies of TMC plus Katy (2/3TMC+K) were losing hope . . .

The E Street Cinema came to the rescue; roughly 20 seconds after feeling the air-conditioned blast of its doors, we were seeing Once, the reinvented musical with Glen Hansard of The Frames and sometime-collaborator Marketa Irglova. Everyone else is saying really more than enough about this movie, so we will say just a few things.

1. It is lovely and amazing, but to be honest, we were a little more impressed when we thought the two leads were just the best singer/actor finds of the last 20 years, instead of establishments in their own right.

2. This isn't Hansard's first foray into movie-making; he was also one of the stars ofThe Commitments - - - sweet sweet soul music and all.

3. We fell in love with the duet on Falling Slowly, we moved by All The Way Down . . . blah, blah, blah. Really, all you need to know is that when Hansard and Irglova have some back-of-bus bonding (a la Before Sunrise) and Hansard pulls out his guitar, its a moment that even Richard Linklater must envy.

. . . And here it is: Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy by Glen Hansard. Buy the Once Soundtrack here.

No Protests, Yet. We'll Keep You Posted.

5 people moved in 4 hours? We deserve a short post.

This is about how we feel:
Summer in the City by Regina Spektor.

Buy it here. Or better yet, help us move. And save us from our sweaty selves.

Its a Bird! Its a Plane! Its a Disappointment!

Jess and Kate were having an overwhelmingly High Fidelity moment the other day. Minus the Beta Band and Marvin Gaye exaltations. But with some sweeping and deeply felt resolutions about the state of music.

Here's the thing: there is nothing more tragic than an album you love being destroyed by a live performance. Okay, this is possibly a lie, Hutus and Tutsis, etc. considered, but for the music enthusiast, its certainly a bit true.

At least 2/3 of the ladies of TMC had scarring experiences of exactly this sort this past Saturday night. At approximately the same time that Andrew Bird was slowly, slowly subverting all the catchiness of his best melodies in twisted, tortured jamming at the 9:30 club, Spoon was managing to prove that vocals and rhythm are - shockingly - rather important to music making. Unfortunately the indie-darlings of Gimme Fiction et al chose to prove this by only having decent guitars, their failings made all the more apparent as they followed the Roots and surprise guest Lupe Fiasco at the University of Chicago's spring concert, both of whom have most definitely mastered rhythm n' vocals. As for Lauren, we can only assume that the sweet warblings of the Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher, state bird of Oklahoma, did not disappoint.



Don't get us wrong - we love live music. Jess has single-handedly seen every band that has ever existed in concert twice, and enjoyed most of them. Its just that some records are better left in the studio.

To lighten the mood, a fun Marvin Gaye fact: he was simply Marvin Gay until he added the e in an homage to his hero, Sam Cooke.

TMC returns from May Sabbatical

Touch My Clickwheel, or at least Jess, has returned from the May Sabbatical. Lauren has still never joined the TMC blog and is forever banished from the internet. However, banishment is not really necessary since Oklahoma doesn't really do the "internet," as they call it. Kidding. We love you, Lauren. Kate, the other TMC co-host, is missing in the Midwest. Will she come back to DC? Rumors suggest so.

But back to music, Touch My Clickwheel is here for this summer. I haven't settled on a timeslot yet, but I'll let you know. I was in the radio station today, because I needed to use a computer and this song was playing Martha Wainwright's "Whither Must I Wander". It's actually a Robert Louis Stevenson poem of the same title from 1896's Songs of Travel and Other Verses which was then set to music by Ralph Vaughan Williams in his 1903 collection, Songs of Travel. Interestingly, the song was written for a baritone voice.

Buy Martha Wainwright's self-titled album here.

TMC apologizes, fire ensues.

It's that time again for TMC... finals. We're a little disheveled and sadly have been slacking on the posts.

I read a sad bit of news in today's DCist though. Eastern Market was on fire early this morning and part of it has been destroyed. I haven't visited there yet in my time in DC, but I'm hoping it'll bounce back for summertime fun.

Photo from DCist

Kate Edit: To lift your spirits in this time of trouble, and to absolve the ladies of TMC (we were nowhere near the dumpster that started it all . . .), we present We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel. Buy the Billy Joel album Storm Front here.

Someone Still Loves You . . . Actually, THREE Someones

Especially your sweet sweet moves . . .

Fair and Imbalanced

. . . a pretty good description of the ladies of TMC? We tend to think so. In honor of, well, nothing at all, a political post.

1. Before you cast your vote in Novemeber, you should probably be aware that Barack Obama likes to wax poetic. The Guardian dug up a college journal of his, and this is what they found.

2. This will, inevitably make us seem to have a political bent . . . "where's the mockery of the other side?", you will say. we will say: "be quiet. don't question McSweeney's." Because we're lame like that.

3. The Living Room Candidate is an online exhibit of political ads from presidential candidates hosted by the Museum of the Moving Image. And its about 1000 times more interesting than that makes it sound. Seriously. Kennedy's jingle? Johnson's fatalistic Daisy ad? It's morning again in America? The bear whose existence is in doubt? Pure. Gold.

4. And finally, to redeem ourselves for all this, a song: The President's Dead by Okkervil River. Buy it on vinyl (the only option) here.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Having an odd, late, introspective moment earlier today, I thought of an strangely a propos episode of The West Wing. The whole thing is great - its called 20 Hours in America, check it out - but this scene is the cheesy-lovely-best.

The song is a cover of The Boomtown Rats' I Don't Like Mondays by Tori Amos. The story behind the song, as another blogger or two have noted, is also rather eerily appropriate.

I feel like this is a really lame moment on my part . . . but it doesnt make Aaron Sorkin or Bob Geldof any less sweet . . .

Buy the Tori Amos album Strange Little Girls here.

Page France regret

Ahh, I just read the DCist today and learned that I missed Page France, my favorite Christian-themed shameless pleasure! I'm kicking myself for not keeping a closer eye on the Black Cat acts, since I've become kind of pretentious in preferring the 9:30 club. I've learned my lesson.

Read what the DCist had to say here.

And listen to some amazingly cute indie (Christian-themed) pop while you're at it. I only mention that they're Christian, because it almost bothers me that Jesus lyrics are thrust in my face. Almost.

Download Page France - Jesus (live)
-Don't be turned off by the title. It's an amazing song.

I would post more, but I sadly bought their album on Itunes so the .m4p files won't work.

Ratatat... again

Someone commented in a previous entry that they didn't like Ratatat when they saw them live. I have to say that Ratatat is the first show in a long time, probably since Jenny Lewis, where I actually felt moved by the music. Yeah, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists are fun but unless he plays "Parallel or Together" or something, I'm not moved.

They played "Cherry" as the last song before the one-song encore. The song never really struck me before, but it does now. They had a projector screen behind them and during this song, it was blue-ish in color with raindrop-like dots spreading all over it. These are probably meaningless descriptions, so check out the video. "Cherry," especially in the last minute and a half, expresses how I feel about the end of this semester. That was really emo, but I'll bring shame to this blog for the sake of honesty.

Somewhere, Cheri Oteri and Will Ferrell Are Smiling . . .

Saving the whales springs to life!

The world is a strange and wonderful place . . . (but mostly just strange). There's a WHALE in New York City.

Also, Wholphin, the McSweeney's dvd/mag, has a new video by Nicholas Thorburn (of The Islands) of a killer whale who became a bit too human that's worth checking out. The band even has a sweet song inspired by the whale: Tsuxiit by The Islands. Buy The Islands album Return to the Sea here.

Edit: Also, if you have not yet seen the Will Ferrell video "The Landlord," take two minutes to make your life significantly better.

I'm randomly going to a Ratatat concert tonight. In honor, I give you these: Ratatat's "Get Em High (remix)" by Kanye West (also appropriate for upcoming 4/20, for those of you who are into that kind of thing. We at TMC neither encourage nor discourage it, according to the rules of Gtown radio) or... I was going to say buy it here, but I can't find it online. Nevertheless, I like this version a lot better than Kanye's, so give it a good listen.

Also check out an old favorite, "Crips" from Ratatat's first self-titled album or buy it here.

Word on the street is that Vol. 2 is out somewhere. I must attain a copy, possibly at tonight's show.

Don't forget everybody, mp3's expire after 7 days. Download them while you can.

Putting the Days to Bed . . .

Today is April the fourteenth . . . the anniversary of many violent acts with sweet names:
It's been 375 years since the Battle of Rain, which must have been the most soothing and rejuvenating of all battles (not that this is saying much), and 126 since the Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight - informative, but cumbersome. Actually today, to speak academically . . . sucks. Lincoln got shot. The Turks invaded Armenia, engaged in genocide. The Titanic sank. Lars Ullrich sued Napster and brought the evils of DRM upon us (this last one isn't great, but is only flippantly included in the list - we're insensitive, but not that insensitive).

Never fear though. With TMC, there's always a reason to celebrate . . . . today, its Avril 14th by Aphex Twin, yet another favorite from a Sofia Coppola soundtrack. Buy the Marie Antoinette soundtrack here.

. . . that said, songs in tune with the calendar (Gregorian calendar? Gregorian chant? Coincidence? We think not.) have long been an interest for the ladies of TMC (for a while there, we couldn't think of a Thursday song) . . . a mixtape might be in order. Some suggestions are below, feel free to add others via comments.

Monday: Manic Monday, I Hate Mondays, Monday Monday
Tuesday: Ruby Tuesday
Wednesday: Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.
Thursday: Blackouts on Thursday
Friday: It's Friday, I'm in Love
Saturday: Another Saturday Night, Same Old Saturday Night, It's Saturday Night, Saturday Morning, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Sunday: Another Pleasant Valley Sunday, Sunday Morning
General: Everyday, Eight Days a Week, Hard Day's Night

04/13/07 Playlist

Third nipples, caved in chests, "that's so lesbian," and guest host/GU Class of '11 Emily Hayes... 'twas a fun show. As you can see from length of playlist, we got a little carried away with Mark Wahlberg's third nipple.

Also, I wore cowboy boots tonight and LIKED it. How do you like that? Check out Nice and Smooth's "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow" from this week's playlist or buy it here. Sweet, sweet rap that samples the guitar from Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car."

1. Amy Winehouse - Rehab
2. The Beatles - With a Little Help From My Friends
3. Skee Lo - I Wish
4. Sublime - Badfish
5. The Rolling Stones - I Just Want To Make Love To You
6. John Legend - Slow Dance
7. Devendra Banhart - The Beatles
8. Leonard Cohen - Chelsea Hotel No. 2
9. Nico - These Days
10. Citizen Cope - D'Artagnan's Theme
11. Azure Ray - Sleep
12. Queen - Bicycle Race
13. The Arbiters - Missing Sweet Love
14. Lesbians On Ecstasy - Mortified
15. Daryl Hall & John Oates - Rich Girl
16. Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers
17. Nice and Smooth - Sometimes I Rhyme Slow
18. Cake - Jolene

Dastardly DRM

I've been working hard on breaking the locks of Itunes' dastardly .m4p files and converting them to .m4a's or .mp3's, but I may have met my match. I thought I'd found the key with Noteburner, which works perfectly until it doesn't actually work at all. Also, the free trial only allows you to convert 3 minutes worth of a song. Hey, it would've worked for Leonard Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel No. 2."

What is DRM, you ask? DRM stands for digital rights management. It's why you can only play Itunes-purchased songs on five different machines (or give them to five different friends). I've always been prone to buying cds even though I simply planned to upload them to my computer. But this Itunes debacle with Kate's music (she buys lots off of Itunes) has really cemented by love for buying music on cds. But never fear, Steve Jobs of Apple as well as EMI have announced plans to sell DRM-free music starting in May.

So hold off until May to buy your music from Itunes and tune into our show tomorrow.

EDIT: Exciting new comment from Rachel, a real person that isn't even obligated by friendship to read the blog! She posted a link to a really illuminating article that explains the Apple/EMI change. Read it here. I've got a lot to learn.

Come In, Come In, Come In To My Room

A convergence of circumstances so powerful it actually NECESSITATES a post:
Over easter break Jess' very musically-minded uncle (he has the same speakers used by The Grateful Dead) called and asked her if she knew the song "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" by Leonard Cohen . . . luckily, thanks to Kate's creepy obsession with it (if it were a person, it would have a restraining order) she DID know the line about a certain indecent act . . .

Time for a little clarification: this is basically the best song in the world. About a one night stand with Janis Joplin. By a sexy Canadian poet/songwriter. In a very very historically pleasing hotel. That, and it is sad, and sweet, and covered by the very best of people. We hope you'll agree. And excuse our hyperbole.

The liner notes for the album New Skin for the Old Ceremony (a pretty hot name, if you ask us) make its origin sound even more exotic: "I wrote this for an American singer who died a while ago. She used to stay at the Chelsea, too. I began it at a bar in a Polynesian restaurant in Miami in 1971 and finished it in Asmara, Ethiopia, just before the throne was overturned. Ron Cornelius helped me with a chord change in an earlier version." Really, who could resist oblique references to Hailie Selassie? Not us.

As for the #2 in the title, it is either to mark a mundane alternate version, or a sign of something much more pernicious.

And now for the workers in song . . .
1. The original: "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" by Leonard Cohen. Buy The Best of Leonard Cohen here.
2. The cover: "Chelsea Hotel (Live on the BBC)" by Regina Spektor. For other notable covers, try Josh Ritter or Rufus Wainwright. Buy any Regina Spektor album (take your pick . . . they are both excellent, but sadly, neither includes this song) here.
3. The takeoff: "The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song" by Jeffrey Lewis. Jeffrey Lewis doesn't have a wonderful voice. Or much variation in his chord playing. But he does write funny, light, and lovely anti-folk. That, and he's a cartoonist. Which is pretty sweet. Buy the Jeffrey Lewis album The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane and Other Favorites here.

Jess EDIT: I too was excited to download "The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song" but was dismayed when the song didn't work. DRM has won the fight, but we will win the war. As consolation, here is Rufus Wainwright's live cover or buy it here.

Kate EDIT: Forty million Frenchmen may not be wrong, but I certainly am. Jess is the golden god of technology around here. I am but a sham of a blogger and apologize for my inability to provide you with the Oral Sex you desire . . .

Devendra Banhart obsession permeating Econ notes

Apparently, I'm really obsessed with "At the Hop" by Devendra Banhart, because I keep writing the lyrics out in pretty cursive whenever I'm bored in class. So should anyone open my Econ Stat or I-Finance notes, they'll find emo cursive scrawled all over the place.

"Put me in your dry dream / Or put me in your wet / If you haven't yet." It's so sweetly sexual.


I have a weakness for simple, scribbly drawing imposed over film, so maybe that's why I like this video so much. There's also a lengthy sitar/guitar solo not found in the recorded version. I do like the recording better, but this is a nice change too.

I'm drowning in The Brothers Karamazov for now, so apologies for infrequent updates. Actually, at this very moment, I should be working on The Brothers Karamazov. Even though few people may have actually discovered the brilliance of Kate, future blogger extraordinaire, I'll pretend some have. And most importantly, frequent updates are supposedly one of the many keys to blogging success.

Let us know you're downloading. And get them while they're hot! Download links expire after only 7 days.

Buy Devendra Banhart's album Nino Roja here.

Nouns, Vol. 2 (People, Places, Things from TMC)

Quickly tying up loose ends . . . promise a fuller edit for later.

1. Norwegian Wood - lovely, but misunderstood . . . there is some speculation that the title is a play on "knowing she would," a change made to obscure from his then-wife references to affairs John Lennon may have been having. Looking for more semi plausible explanations? Try here.

2. Lupe Fiasco, whose "Kick Push" we played a few weeks ago, is impressive and surprising . . . he is a devout Muslim and does not drink or smoke - making him quite something in the music industry, let alone the rap world. . . even better, though? He has a college radio show too, broadcast from the Illinois Insititute of Technology in Chicago. While Lupe gives away skate gear . . . we can only WISH we were that cool.

Jess edit: Skateboarding is cool. A song about skateboarding is even cooler. Find me longboarding (or potentially eating shit) at Gtown.

Jess edit #2:
shazzer87 (9:49:00 PM): find me longboarding (or potentially eating shit) at gtown
shazzer87 (9:49:05 PM): seriously?
shazzer87 (9:49:09 PM): what does that even mean
.... it means falling, everyone. Falling.

Kate edit: Just to help my fellow ignoramuses out, a skateboarding dictionary.

Download "Kick Push" by Lupe Fiasco or buy his album here.

TV on the Radio . . . No, Seriously.

The ladies of TMC may not have sweet sweet hair, or status as mildly pretentious indie heroes, but looking at the March 30th playlist it seems like we may have had more of a theme than we originally thought . . . between "Wolf Like Me;" the Happy Days theme song; Cake's version of "Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps" (which in another incarnation is the theme for the British/better version of Coupling); and the Beach Boys - who memorably appeared on Full House - the breakout show for their one-time drummer John Stamos, we were very Aaron Spelling.

TV is rife with the awkward and the uncomfortable . . . Carson Daly trying to be amusing, Tom Cruise giving interviews, obscene near-death sequences on Grey's Anatomy, Rosie O'Donnell feuding with Donald Trump . . . and much of the rest of the world, Connie Chung "singing" . . . sometimes even so much so that it jumps the shark. Perhaps not so off track for TMC after all . . .

Edit: Now for a bit more commercialized fun . . . several current advertisements have really fantastic background tracks . . . if you're tempted by their commercial clips, find the full versions here:

"Half Acre" by Hem shows up in a Liberty Mutual commercial.
Buy the album Rabbit Songs by Hem here.

"I Think I Need a New Heart" by the Magnetic Fields is in a Caesar (we think) dog food commercial.
Buy the album 69 Love Songs by the Magnetic Fields here.

Edit #2: Older, but perhaps sweetest of all, as the commercial itself is enough to make you wish heaven were nothing but bouncy balls, is a Sony Bravia Ad featuring a cover of The Knife's "Heartbeats" by Jose Gonzalez.
Buy the album Veneer by Jose Gonazalez here.

almost an mp3 blog...

I'm testing this out. Download "Ultimatum" by The Long Winters who sadly (because we missed it) played at the Rock 'n Roll Hotel in DC. We at Touch My Clickwheel will one day conquer that venue. Until then... TOUCH MY CLICKWHEEL IS AN MP3 blog!!

Edit: I'm kind of ridiculously excited about this, even though, potentially, no one will take advantage of this greatness. But I'll definitely add mp3s throughout the summer and next year while I'm fortunately or unfortunately in the UK for study abroad. I love you all.

Buy The Long Winters album Putting the Days To Bed here.

03/30/07 Playlist

The theme for this week... no theme. But conversation soon centered on Lauren's vomiting problems. She threw up in the library, burst many a blood vessel in and around her eyes, and had a trip to the ER. I, apparently Lauren's friend, learned of these events during the show. Basically, this means that I don't see Lauren each week until our show. So appreciate Touch My Clickwheel as the weekly reunion of two D6 friends... separated East and West by different dormitories.

Also, this playlist was soooo fun. Still fake working on making this an mp3 blog. But this will probably not happen for a while.

1. Happy Days Theme song
2. Dressy Bessy – The Things That You Say That You Do
3. Cake – Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps
4. Desree – You Gotta Be
5. Dave Matthews Band – Say Goodbye
6. The Beach Boys – Don’t Worry Baby
7. Jens Lekman – Black Cab
8. Bubba Sparxxx – Back in the Mud
9. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – The Sons of Cain
10. TV on the Radio – Wolf Like Me
11. Elliot Smith – Miss Misery
12. Fiona Apple – Never Is A Promise
13. Rilo Kiley – With Arms Outstretched
14. Slightly Stoopid – Sweet Honey
15. The Beatles – Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
16. Regina Spektor – Düsseldorf
17. The Long Winters – Ultimatum
18. Vitamin C – Smile
19. Weezer – El Scorcho
20. Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing

03/23/07 Playlist

Our topic... awkward encounters. Songs 9-12 reflect the most awkward encounter ever experienced in which I may or may not have threatened suicide on air. We're still recovering from this one. Sorry for the late post (for the two people that read this). I am now either Lauren or just excessively busy with my self-centered life.

1. The Shins – Australia
2. George Michael – Faith
3. Apples in Stereo – Same Old Drag
4. Lupe Fiasco – Kick Push
5. Jackson Browne – Take It Easy (live)
6. Devendra Banhart – At The Hop
7. Beck – Lost Cause
8. Snow Patrol – Chocolate
9. Rilo Kiley – Pictures of Success
10. Patty Griffin – Moses
11. Pearl Jam – Last Kiss
12. The Decemberists – The Engine Driver
13. Blink 182 – Going Away To College
14. Belle & Sebastian – The Blues Are Still Blue
15. Madonna – Beautiful Stranger
16. Marvin Gaye – Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
17. The Arbiters – Sure Side of Fame
18. The Futureheads – Meantime
19. The Boy Least Likely To – Hugging My Grudge
20. Ramatou Diakite – Gembi
21. Smash Mouth - Padrino

The Internet Isn't JUST for Porn . . .

. . . no matter what Avenue Q may say.

Jess' love for Ratatat is nearly boundless, and she's slowly winning Kate and Lauren over, too. GoodMagazine (we're not familiar, either) has a really graphically pleasing video about Nuclear Transparency, which just happens to be set to Ratatat's "Gettysburg". Good music, and editing, and the message isn't too bad either.

Also, we played a mash-up by The Arbiters on Friday's show, and while you can't find them on iTunes, you can find them here.

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Try Mali.

That's where the ladies of TMC would like to be, at least (minus the shots, safety concerns, and exorbitantly-priced plane tickets, that is).

We are slowly discovering the musical wonders of Mali,thanks to All Songs considered, and random finds in the studio, and have recently played "Senegal Fast Food" by Amadou and Mariam, and "Gembi" by Ramatou Diakite.

Amadou and Mariam are a world music powerhouse (they're produced by Manu Chao) and a married couple. They are also both blind, and met at the Bamako Institute for the Blind. What could be sweeter? We certainly don't know.

Other Malian artists to check out:
Ali Farka Toure - Malian nobility who defied his family to become a renowned blues guitarist (again, pretty awesome)
Toumani Diabate - plays the traditional Malian instrument the kora, occasionally rocks out with an orchestra
Mo DJ - does remixes of Amadou and Mariam, among other things
Tinariwen - a Tuareg band!

Senegalese music is similarly enjoyable (and often slightly better-known); try:
Youssou N'Dour - who has worked with Sting, among others
Cheikh Lo - sweet, sweet name
Orchestre Baobab - a Cuban (of all things) influenced band
Baaba Maal - who has collaborated with Brian Eno and been a rap producer
MC Solaar - Senegalese/French rap

In the end though, who wouldn't have a soft spot for a country whose name comes from a local word for Hippopotamus, and which includes that wonderfully improbably named place, Timbuktu?

03/16/07 Playlist

The three of us were pretty enthusiastic about our playlist for the week... aka we may have all been singing "Hey Leonardo" in the studio. We discussed awkward seasonal fashion transitions as well as fashion in general at Georgetown. We're still working (kind of) on making this an .mp3 blog and podcasting.

1. Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky
2. Spin Doctors – Two Princes
3. Phoenix – Too Young
4. Jason Mraz – I’m Yours
5. Shiny Toy Guns – You Are The One
6. Simon & Garfunkel – 59^th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)
7. The Strokes – 12:51
8. The Smashing Pumpkins – 1979
9. Busta Rhymes – Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
10. Spoon – I Turn My Camera On
11. Otis Redding – Respect
12. Paul McCartney – Let ‘Em In
13. Patty Griffin – Long Ride Home
14. Frankie Vallli & The Four Seasons – Walk Like A Man
15. Tilly And The Wall – Rainbows In The Dark
16. Blessid Union of Souls – Hey Leonardo
17. The Specials – Rudy, A Message to You
18. The Roots ft. Eryka Badu – You Got Me
19. Fountains of Wayne – Hey Julie
20. Andrew Bird – Fiery Crash
21. The Flaming Lips – The Golden Path

03/02/07 Playlist

Sorry for the late posting... I'm sure all 2 of you were dying to know what was played. Kate barely declared her major by the deadline and after Spring Break, it turns out she didn't declare it at all (but it wasn't her fault)! What did we do for Spring Break, you ask? Wellllll, we watched the Georgetown Hoyas win the Big East Championship. We're back on the air (metaphorically... since WGTB is streamed...) tomorrow so tune in.

1. Jonathan Edwards - Sunshine (Go Away Today)
   
2. Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Born Secular
   
3. The Supremes - Stoned Love
   
4. R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
   
5. Michael Jackson- Black or White
   
6. U2 - I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
   
7. Janis Joplin - Rollerskate Song
   
8. Paul Simon - Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
   
9. Dustin O’Halloran - Opus 23
   
10. Jewel - Who Will Save Your Soul
11. Scarface - On My Block
12. The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
13. Page France - Trampoline
14. The Velvet Underground - I'll Be Your Mirror
    
15. The Flaming Lips - Plastic Jesus
16. Moby - Southside
    
17. Wilson Phillips - Impulsive
    
18. Regina Spektor - Samson
19. Rachael Yamagata - Worn Me Down
    
20. The Allman Brothers - Blue Skies

02/23/07 Playlist

Uncomfortable topic of the week... facebook, including facebook whores, de-tagging, profiles, stalking, sabotage, etc. Jess makes it through the first hour solo (with guest D6-er, Lizz), Lauren shows up eventually, and Kate... not dead (alive but absent!!).

1. The New Pornographers – The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism
2. The Grateful Dead – Casey Jones
3. Hellogoodbye – Touchdown Turnaround (Don’t Give Up On Me)
4. Jurassic 5 – The Influence
5. The Kinks – Lola
6. Cake – Pentagram
7. The Beatles – Rocky Raccoon
8. The Beach Boys – Feel Flows
9. Belle & Sebastian – Expectations
10. John Legend – Show Me
11. Cat Power – Good Woman
12. Rancid – Brad Logan
13. Hole – Celebrity Skin
14. Limp Bizkit – N 2 Gether Now
15. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists – Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone?
16. Pete Yorn – Lose You
17. The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
18. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Straight Into Darkness
19. Barenaked Ladies – The Old Apartment
20. A.C. Newman – Miracle Drug
21. The Walkmen – The Rat

Lauren is really lame for not joining the blog yet. She's too cool for the internet apparently (as she just got AIM last semester). People in Oklahoma are still used to the cup attached to a string form of communication.

I want to make this an mp3 blog, but am too sick to really put my mind to it right now. I can host songs at yousendit.com or mac.com... apparently. More later.

Nouns, Vol. 1 (People, Places, Things from TMC)

In which the ladies of TMC play catch-up in topical posting . . .

SHOW ONE
Famous Virgins:
Gary Coleman
Isaac Newton
J.M. Barrie
Nikolai Tesla
there are more, we swear . . . we just don't remember

SHOW TWO
Two Videos in honor of V-Day (but which are still funny in the aftermath):
http://www.zefrank.com/valentine/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfl9e53LX_U

In a slightly more brutal mood? Try:
http://www.prairieghosts.com/valentine.html


SHOW THREE
Some Isms we may have missed:
anthropomorphism
patriotism (suggested by Kate's Mom)
sadomasochism (suggested, jokingly, we swear, by Kate's Dad)
polytheism
epicureanism
for more, see:
http://www.ismbook.com/ismlist.html

Fun Ambrose Bierce (JournalIST) Fact: he went on a Civil War battlefield tour when he was in his seventies . . . somehow this turned into him joining Pancho Villa's army, and disappearing, never to be heard from again . . . what a difference the AARP makes . . .

Fun Benito Mussolini (FacIST) Fact: he was hung upside down at a gas station with his mistress on a meat hook after they'd both been shot

Fun Fransico Franco (Kate and Lauren's Favorite FacIST) Fact: sadly, nothing but this alliteration

02/16/07 Playlist

Theme of the week: -isms... fascism, existentialism... journalism??

1. Nina Simone – Sinner Man
2. Rilo Kiley – More Adventurous
3. Third Eye Blind – Jumper
4. Amadou & Mariam – Sénégal Fast Food
5. The Cloud Room – Hey Now Now
6. The Streets – Could Well Be In
7. Kings of Convenience – Homesick
8. Alanis Morissette – Hand In My Pocket
9. Cat Stevens – Wild World
10. Sting – Fields of Gold
11. Metric – Succexy
12. Kanye West – Get Em High (Ratatat Remix)
13. Billy Joel – It's Still Rock And Roll To Me
14. Ben Arthur – Keep Me Around
15. Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes
16. Ray Charles – Drown In My Own Tears
17. Loudon Wainwright III – The Swimming Song
18. Wilco – Heavy Metal Drummer
19. The Blow – Bonjour Jeune Fille
20. The Beatles – I've Just Seen a Face
21. The Offspring – Why Don't You Get A Job

Do you get the title now?

This photo is so amazingly (in)appropriate. Need I say more? We're taming our uncomfortable topic for this week and staying away from the sexual, but this should definitely tide everyone over.

How to Listen

One way is to go to http://georgetownradio.com/ and click "Listen Live."

OR

An alternate way to tune in:

1. Go to Itunes
2. Go to the "Advanced" thing on the menu (where File, Edit, etc. are)
3. Choose "Open Stream."
4. Paste http://georgetownradio.serverroom.us:6860/listen.pls into the box.
5. Listen to hilarious banter and good/random music.

02/09/07 Playlist

Uncomfortable (maybe just for Jess) topic of discussion: Valentine's day, our plans, hitting on friends, and covering the bases...

1. Barry White – Can't Enough of Your Love, Babe
2. The Cardigans – Lovefool
3. The Magnetic Fields – I'm Sorry I Love You
4. Nada Surf – Your Legs Grow
5. Air – Playground Love
6. The Bloodhound Gang – The Bad Touch
7. New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
8. Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy
9. Elton John – I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
10. They Might Be Giants – Another First Kiss
11. Joni Mitchell – Carey
12. Otis Redding – Try A Little Tenderness
13. Johnny Cash – Ring of Fire
14. Sufjan Stevens – To Be Alone With You
15. Hellogoodbye – Here (In Your Arms)
16. Rufus Wainwright – Instant Pleasure
17. Madonna – Cherish
18. Peter Gabriel – In Your Eyes
19. The Features – The Idea of Growing Old
20. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole – Somewhere Over the Rainbow

02/02/07 Playlist

Uncomfortable Topic: Virginity. Our very first show!

1. Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al
2. Len – Steal My Sunshine
3. Night Ranger – Sister Christian
4. Billy Joel – Only the Good Die Young
5. The Temptations – Ain't Too Proud to Beg
6. New Order – Age of Consent
7. The Magnetic Fields – Washington, D.C.
8. Counting Crows – Hangin' Around
9. Everclear – Everything to Everyone
10. Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins – You Are What You Love
11. The Strokes – What Ever Happened
12. Aphex Twin – Avril 14^th
13. Ben Kweller – Thirteen
14. The Shins – We Will Become Silhouettes (Postal Service cover)
15. Josh Ritter – Good Man
16. Belle & Sebastian – Sukie in the Graveyard
17. The Human League – Don't You Want Me Baby
18. Green Day – Basket Case
19. Ratatat – Crips
20. Simon & Garfunkel – America
21. Regina Spektor – Hotel Song
22. Annie Lennox – Walking On Broken Glass
23. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – I Won't Back Down
24. The Cure – Friday I'm In Love