I'm writing this from Portland, Oregon. Portland is nice. Portland is so nice that I could live here, except that everyone is so hip, smart, and musically savvy that then I would have no one to feel superior to. So I guess I'll have to stick with Los Angeles, where there are plenty of superficial, too-skinny actresses for me to mock.
Music-wise, there's plenty to be savvy to this Spring. It's a good season for the girls, with PJ Harvey finally releasing a new album that mixes up her tender and powerful personalities nicely. Karen O of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs is right up alongside her with a new album in the cool rock chick category. The two girls formerly in Azure Ray release new projects simultaneously - Maria Taylor taking the dreamier side with a new solo album, and Orenda Fink teaming up with Cedric Lemoyne of Remy Zero for a band called O+S, and an album that delightfully remind me of the Golden Palominos. None of these female icons can rest on their laurels too long with rookie Ida Maria (Sivertsen) coming up fast on a charming debut album that has all the spunk of PJ and all the charm of The Cardigans.
Maria Taylor / LadyLuck
Mando Diao / Give Me Fire
Ida Maria / Fortress 'round My Heart
Actionslacks / Kids With Guitars
Peter Bjorn & John / Living Thing
Bill Callahan / Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Yeah Yeah Yeahs / It's Blitz!
O+S / O+S
Clem Snide / Hungry Bird
Bob Mould / Life And Times
Cursive / Mama, I'm Swollen
The Felice Brothers / Yonder Is The Clock
Camera Obscura / My Maudlin Career
The Mostar Diving Club / Don Your Suit Of Lights
PJ Harvey & John Parish / A Woman A Man Walked By