i first heard this song on my spotify discover weekly playlist a few weeks ago (nice work, spotty) and liked it immediately. however, i find new things to love with each listen: the "whoa-oh-whoa" of the chorus, the fun, summery imagery of "pop rocks and cherry cola," and the singer's audible chuckle when he says "wake and bake on wednesday." and yesterday, i learned that the drummer is the son of billie joe armstrong of green day. carry the torch, dude! 2. instagram memes
these stupid things have just really been speaking to me lately. here's one from the late, great trevso_electric.
A photo posted by trevso_electric (@trevso_electric) on
3. this tv show, younger
not sure how i haven't written about this show yet, but it seems as good of a time as any since it just returned for its second season. the gist is that sutton foster plays a 40 year-old divorcee who is trying to get back into the working world after raising her daughter for 18 years, and ends up lying about her age to snag a job in publishing. hilarity and drama ensue! america's underrated sweetheart hilary duff plays her millennial coworker/bestie, and hot AF nico tortorella stars as her tattoo artist boyfriend. despite what you may have heard, i am the worst tv watcher, but i binged the first season of this in one weekend. watch it! 4. these chill lizards
y'all know that i never buy anything from anthropologie (besides candles and mugs) unless it's DEEPLY discounted, so imagine my delight last week when i saw that they were having a tag sale where errything was 25% off. even the stuff on the clearance rack, which is where i found this beauty. cozy, comfy, and perfect for these winter months when your soul just dies.
2. this hip-hop song, "in my room"
i'm still into this song a month later and wondering why it's not a hit yet. perfect for a dance party! 3. victoria's secret shea body butter
vicky's is amazing because they basically just keep discontinuing and reintroducing the same fragrances under different names, and ladies eat it up. it took me a full week to realize that i was also obsessed with this stuff like 6 years ago when it was the secret garden collection. now it's the "supersoft cotton moisture complex" or some bull. all i know is that it makes you smell like a yummy cookie and i'm into it.
4. tarot cards
i've been gettin' mad mystical as of late, and have been brushing up on the ancient art of the tarot, which is supposed to help illuminate any issues in your life and provide guidance/food for thought. sure, it's probably total bullshit, but it's way cheaper than therapy .... and the cards are wicked pretty. 5. chris d'elia's stand-up
it's weird -- i don't care for chris' TV work at aaaaall, but his stand-up makes me wanna pee my pants. just about every set i watch has my stomach hurting and tears rolling down my cheeks. love how he laughs at himself and just keeps riffing and riffing on each joke. i just bought tickets for my friends and i to see him in may, and i can't wait. this bit in particular kills me.
for my list this year -- the sixth annual -- i pared it down a bit from 2015's 50 items, since i've only accomplished like 18ish of 'em. ugh. there are a few repeats here; mostly ones from my 30 before 30 list, which i've bolded. five months left for those. what do y'all want to accomplish next year? LEGGO!
1. submit an essay to the new york times' "modern love" column
2. have high tea in london
3. drink coffee & eat a croissant crepe at a sidewalk cafe in paris
4. visit an amsterdam coffee shop
5. finish reading sloane crosley's the clasp
6. take a contemporary dance class
7. see the neighbourhood in concert
8. CRASH A DAMN WEDDING
9. complete my book manuscript
10. celebrate my 30th birthday in style
11. ride a bike
12. take a day/weekend trip to providence and/or newport, RI (i've never been, somehow??)
13. attend a music festival (maybe firefly, so i can also cross off #7)
14. whiten my teeth
15. sing karaoke (preferably a rap song)
16. make my own pasta
17. buy a t-shirt at a concert
18. sleep under the stars
19. watch live jazz
20. buy myself a bouquet of flowers
21. give a toast
22. go meatless for a week
23. eat at one of the roxy's grilled cheese brick-and-mortars
24. see a double feature at the capitol theatre
25. go skinny-dipping
26. visit 3 new states (to reach 30 states visited...this will be tough since most options are in the midwest and west)
27. see the mona lisa at the louvre
28. learn this dance routine
29. take a ski lesson
30. have breakfast in bed
31. buy something handmade from etsy
32. buy a home (???)
33. organize my gmail inbox (and get to 0!)
34. order a tasting menu
35. attend the big e
36. learn conversational french (ideally before my trip)
37. visit montreal
38. stay in a cabin or cottage
39. see blue man group
40. take a writing class or workshop at grub street
some will debate me on this, but i hold that the seeds of justin bieber's ultimate comeback were planted at the 2012 release of his slick, hip-hop flavored single "boyfriend."
most of us who weren't 13 year-old girls kept mum about our enjoyment of the song, but secretly grooved along in our cars and apartments with very palpable shame. still, there was something bubbling beneath the surface. something substantial. something ... swaggy. something not unlike the hot fondue that sir biebs speaks of consuming while chillin' by the fire in the song.
although this was well before the era of the makeshift mop bucket urinal, the anne frank faux pas, the fast and the furious 25: bieb takes miami, and his infamous angelic mugshot, there was still a general sourness and animosity towards JB. the image of his middle school bowl cut and smug smirk, plastered on the bedroom walls of our younger siblings and cousins, remained etched in our minds as the everlasting image of a perpetual spoiled brat whom we had no desire to welcome into our reasonable, mature lives.
oh, how the tide has turned. i can't pinpoint the exact moment in time when our collective grinch hearts grew three sizes for the little punk, but i'd estimate that it was somewhere between martha stewart's cougar come-ons at his comedy central roast and the soulful, mumbled plea of "be more straightforward" in his recent release "what do you mean?" then, just as we were all amped up and frothing at the mouths and joining hands to celebrate our newfound acknowledgment of the human jam factory, the VMAs rolled around.
during his redemptive performance, bieber flew over the stage like a goddamn angel with asymmetrical, bleach-blonde hair, and promptly burst into tears upon his perfectly-orchestrated landing. sympathy, whether warranted or not? check. he didn't stop there, though. "sorry," the lite club banger of our dreams, exploded onto the scene shortly thereafter, and nobody went wilder for it than notoriously pretentious brooklyn hipsters. like a musical santa claus, spotify knows who's been naughty, who's been nice, and who's listening to excessive, 19-song albums by reformed canadian pop stars.
even selena gomez, who's almost as famous for breaking the lil' guy's heart as she is in her own right, isn't immune to his charms. rumblings of a romantic reunion have been swirling around the blogosphere -- and as the saying goes, where there's smoke, there's probably justin sharing a joint with selena in a VIP booth.
who knows how long this precious embrace will last, but i plan to ride the sweet bieber wave until i wipe out, man. the pop culture climate is forever changing and incredibly fickle, and tomorrow could bring with it a renewed hatred for our regrettably-tattooed knight in shining supras. so for now, let's just hold onto a moment in time. the fleeting period, however brief, that encourages us all to unapologetically announce to the world that not only do we believe ... but that we're beliebers.
a total throwback to the synth-y, keyboard-driven dance pop tunes of the '80s, "i'm in love with my life" is just a really good time. it's the type of song that would probably play in the opening sequence of a movie, where you're just looking good, feeling good, and nothing can bring you down. the band features a couple familiar indie faces, like z berg from JJAMZ and the like, and alex greenwald from phantom planet. it also has one of the coolest videos i've seen in a long while.
14. hailee steinfeld - "love myself"
speaking of love, there's no, um, skirting around the fact that this song is totally and completely an ode to double-clicking your mouse. i mean, she's wearing a shirt that says "self-service" in the music video. but when you think about it, isn't that the ultimate message of empowerment? sing it loud, ladies.
13. alessia cara - "here"
a total anti-party anthem for all of you homebodies out there. incredible voice aside, alessia's cheeky delivery of a story we know all too well is compelling enough for me to want to hear it retold again and again. favorite line? "excuse me if I seem a little unimpressed with this/an antisocial pessimist/but usually I don't mess with this."rhymes on fleek, as the kids these days say. 12. DMA's - "laced"
y'all, DMA's are totally carrying the torch for '90s britpop/indie rock. i hear bits of the stone roses, oasis, and lesser-known acts like menswear in here and i love it all. and it's so jangly! another one of my favorite musical qualities. 11. donovan wolfington - "ollie north"
while it may sound like the name of a fancy dignitary, donovan wolfington is actually an up-and-coming garage/skate punk band from new orleans. this song (and video) evoke nostalgia for college parties, aimless summer drives, and the IDGAF attitude of your late teens and early 20s, though the lyrics are surprisingly complex. plus, that riff just brings me such joy. 10. fetty wap - "trap queen"
just two words: YEAHHHH BABY!
oh, and two numbers: 17 38! 9. elle king - "ex's and oh's"
randomly enough, i first heard this song when miss king performed it live at a marketing conference i went to in june. i'd never heard of her before, but soon found myself bopping along and noting the cleverness of the lyric "they always wanna come, but they never wanna leave." men, amiright?! fast forward a couple months, and you can't swing a dead cat without hearing it. i'll forgive the grammatical errors in the name, but ONLY because it's a killer track.
8. major lazer f/ dj snake & MØ - "lean on"
still fascinated that this is the most-streamed song on spotify. i loved it immediately, but couldn't help but think that MØ's voice gave it a really quirky, indie vibe. and what do you know? i recently caught a DJ introducing it on the radio, who said that the song was initially meant for nicki minaj or rihanna, but both passed on it. after MØ did the vocals, she was sure it was too offbeat to be a hit. ha! if you aren't dancing when that beat drops, something's wrong witchu. 7. the front bottoms - "historic cemetery"
brian sella of the front bottoms writes some of my favorite lyrics, and sings them in such a genuine way that it sounds like you're hanging out in a friend's bedroom while he screws around on his guitar. that feeling permeates back on top, the latest front bottoms album, but this deep cut stood out to me on my first listen as miles above the rest. the rap by GDP at the end did initially strike me as odd, but now seems like the perfect finishing touch on the track. 6. joywave - "now"
i discovered this song right when i was trying to get over a terrible dude. i have absolutely no idea what the lyrics mean, but every time i listened, i got a surge of "HELL YEAH!" energy from the slick electro-poppiness that did wonders for my mood and melted my worries into, uh, "tiny pieces that don't matter." the power of music, man. 5. chris brown f/ tyga -"ayo"
leave it to chris brown to release a song that references both "bitches with real hair" and aménage à trois in the chorus, and leave it to me to name it among my top 5 favorite songs of the year. i'll admit that the lyrics are extremely questionable, but it's just so much fun, guys.
4. kurt vile - "pretty pimpin"
all hail, king kurt. he also topped my 2013 list with the gorgeous "never run away," but in this sleepy, folky number, he turns his attention back to himself. it's a tale of a confusing out-of-body experience in which he goes through the motions of brushing his teeth, but NOT combing his hair -- "never was my style," his voice shrugs.
perhaps my favorite thing about KV is his unassuming dry wit that sneaks into almost every song if you listen hard enough. after all, the title itself is the story's eventual punchline: "i said who's this stupid clown blockin' the bathroom sink?/but he was sportin' all my clothes/i gotta say, pretty pimpin." you can almost hear him smirking. 3. beck - "dreams"
if you got a problem with dance-rock beck, YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH ME. when this came out, it seemed like homeboy was getting a lot of grief about how upbeat and "radio-friendly" it was compare to his last snoozefest release. i've always been a big fan of happy beck ("sexx laws," "girl," and "loser" are among my favorites), so i was diggin' the MGMT "electric feel" vibes on this one. plus, that "i wanna get me free!" in the chorus is pure, unadulterated joy.
:D :D :D
2. the neighbourhood - "r.i.p. 2 my youth"
aphrodisiacs: chocolate, oysters, and jesse rutherford's voice. my relationship with this song was more of a gradual obsession than an immediate infatuation (like i had with their first single, "sweater weather," which made my 2013 list). for this reason, i strongly suggest you listen to the song twice in a row. i was drawn in by the name due to its relevance to my life, obvs, and i liked it well enough at first. it was really during my september trip to san francisco that its dark, indie pop-meets-r&b brilliance took hold, though. not surprising, since the band's sound just screams california.
i love the weird, evocative lyrics about wearing chanel in one's coffin, the reference to white lighters in the chorus (a nod to the urban myth involving members of the "27 club"), and the incredible, ethereal instrumental at 1:54. the gloomy video perfectly fits the track, and jesse's bizarre kurt cobain-meets-karl-lagerfeld aesthetic is all kinds of intriguing. while i seriously considered their adorable and catchy-as-eff song "single" as a contender for the list as well, this one reigned supreme.
1. circa waves - "t-shirt weather"
back in the day, an old beau and i coined a self-explanatory term we called a "fuck yeah!" chorus. which is what i was describing with the joywave song above, i guess. this year, the ultimate FYC came from british lads circa waves and their bright, bubbly ode to sunny spring and summer days. basically the antithesis of "sweater weather," but just as good. IT'S GONNA BE OKAY!
so, i bought a pair of ripped jeans at primark a few weeks ago, remembering the '90s trend of either sewing up the knee with a funky patch, or wearing tights under them. there are so many ways to mix up the look (colored tights, lace, other patterns), and they add a pop of intrigue and fun to any fall look. 2. this blog post about random turn-ons
when i came across this post the other day on one of my favorite blogs, a cup of jo, i found myself chuckling/smiling while reading the comments because it's comforting to know that we're basically all delightful weirdos. as jenna elfman (while dressed as an angel stripper) says in the teen classic can't hardly wait, "we all have our things." after considering the topic for a bit, i determined that my random turn-ons (besides men with long hair, because, duh) include:
southern accents
forearm and/or abdomen tattoos
chiseled cheekbones a la nick valensi
playing the electric guitar (not acoustic, though) or drums
skater beanies
salt-and-pepper hair
what are your random turn-ons? 3. this acoustic performance of "prey" by the neighbourhood
speaking of acoustic guitar ...
i don't know what's gotten into me in the past couple weeks, but i've basically become a neighbourhood fangirl. the fuzzy, soulful, slick new album, wiped out!, has mad atmospheric weeknd vibes and it's just really hitting the spot for me right now. however, the marketer in me is also a little fascinated with the group's carefully-cultivated image (all videos and photos of them must be black-and-white...whaaa?) and fervent tween fanbase, known as "hoodlums." anyways, this stripped-down rendition of one of my favorites is pretty addictive. jesse rutherford's voice is, to quote a commenter, "not of this world," and his funny facial twists and tics are quite amusing to watch.
4. this sage advice
buzzfeed, of all places, published this piece on relationship advice and it was GREAT. aside from this quote, the final paragraph was poignant and so, so true: Don’t end up in a situation where someone else’s needs and desires come before your own. Don’t allow someone to control your emotions. And don’t put your heart in the hands of anyone who doesn’t treat you the way you deserve. If you’re ever doubting the way a situation is panning out, or how someone is treating you – whether you’re dating, in a relationship, or completely single – just imagine what you would tell a friend in the same position. Because while it can be easy to lose sight of things, and relationships can become complicated, one simple, indisputable fact remains: You deserve the best. 5. this video of a guy and his cat vibing to drake's "hotline bling"
YES, i know he's moving the cat's head, but lololol. may or may not have snorted the first time i watched this. it's almost as good as the kittens dancing to "turn down for what."
“Just because she likes the same bizarro crap you do doesn't mean she's your soulmate.”
The first time I saw the indie rom-com 500 Days of Summer, I barely paid attention to this line, which is delivered by protagonist Tom’s little sister, Rachel. However, in my subsequent viewings -- because, when you’re a single 20-something, there will be subsequent viewings -- I realized that it’s not only one of the movie’s key themes, but also a massive truth bomb that I never bothered to examine.
Summer and Tom initially bond in their office elevator over a Smiths song, an exchange that sets the tone for their entire relationship. Tom is taken by Summer’s surface quirks, from her inexplicable love for Ringo Starr to her retro, hipster hairstyle (those blunt-cut bangs get ‘em every time). Though the film was released in 2009, well before the days of Tinder, their love story could have just as easily began with right swipes that were based on superficial appearances and shared Facebook interests.
Of course, for any romance to get off of the ground, you’ve gotta have some intangible chemistry that usually stems from mutual physical attraction and at least a little bit of common ground. But it’s all too easy to get caught up in the fact that you share the same obscure favorite band, or that you both love the same Harry Potter book, or that you both went to Gathering of the Vibes in 2009. Don’t get me wrong; that stuff is important, and can often indicate the potential for a deeper connection. Getting too wrapped up in it, though, is a big mistake ... even if it’s unavoidable much of the time.
I’m woefully guilty of doing this, over and over. A quirky dude who looks fantastic on paper -- and even better in a plaid flannel shirt -- might be great to shop for vinyl and go to shows and get stoned and fool around with, but not so great when it comes to being a serious life partner. However, when you find such a niche similarity with someone, it can feel almost fated. And everyone knows that we Serendipity- and Notebook-addled millennial women looooove us some fate. Pretty soon, you’ve reached animated dance sequence status, and there’s no turning back. Who cares that he never holds the door for me and disappears for days on end? I’d never met anyone else who digs that random Swedish indie rock song!
With some hindsight and perspective, it all seems so silly. Still, anyone who claims that they’ve never “pulled a Tom” and fell for someone who was all sorts of wrong for them because of some frivolous characteristics is probably (okay, most definitely) lying. The best we can do is appreciate each relationship for what it was and what it taught us, pick up the pieces, and realize that the right person doesn't always have to own a Dinosaur Jr. t-shirt or a David Sedaris book.
... oh, and never, ever trust anyone who names Ringo Starr as their favorite Beatle.
someone pay me, plz. a crowdsourced trick-or-treat map
sure, there are legit apps that allow folks to announce whether or not they'll be giving out candy this year, but they can't say WHAT treats they're distributing, nor can kiddos report back on the quality of each stop. i say we start 'em young and train them to be the disgruntled, insufferable yelp reviewers of the future. however, i would agree that any house in possession of bit-o-honeys or mary janes should be avoided at ALL COSTS. disgusting. shazam for ghosts
whenever there's a spirit sighting, the biggest gripe is that they never actually say anything, right? just knock shit over and possess your kids and stuff. wouldn't it be great if you could just point your phone at the next apparition you see and get their whole backstory? then, you'd be all like "yo, i totally feel your pain. i've never had typhoid fever, but it seems really intense, so i'd probably be haunting people, too."
a personal costume consultant
similar to cher's daily outfit program from clueless, this app would find the best costume for you and tell you where to get all the stuff you needed for it. as a bonus feature, it would also veto a "sexy" anything IMMEDIATELY. halloween tinder
i know, i know. it's hard to imagine anything more bone-chilling than actual tinder, but bear with me. this version only works on halloween, and displays your most compatible mates based on costume choice. kanye west? great, we'll pair you with kim kardashian! a lone hot dog? the hamburger of your dreams is at a party down the street! the best part: there won't be any issue with your matches looking different in person ... at least until the next morning.
you know those d-thru-z-list celebs who occasionally pop into your head, that you don't have the energy and/or interest to research? i've got a bunch. in no particular order, i've wondered what happened to the following folks at some point, but have absolutely no desire to type their name into my google search bar:
da brat
leif garrett
former mtv vj jesse camp:
while we're at it, former mtv vj ray munns:
and, because i'm on an mtv roll, that redhead that co-hosted say what? karaoke with dave holmes (i think her name was laura, but can't even find a picture)
sisqo
the nerdy guy from can't hardly wait/jack from hook
the boy band 5ive
samantha mumba:
the pizza guy from home alone
christian oliver, who played some cute swiss guy in the babysitters club movie and was in some reincarnation of saved by the bell (i think):
moira quirk, the referee from GUTS
mystikal
juvenile
devon gummersall, aka brian krakow from my so-called life
meg white
lou bega
everyone from the ghostwriter cast
evan and jaron:
ryan cabrera
the nerdy guy from sixteen candles who wasn't anthony michael hall or john cusack:
i might be slightly biased, but it really doesn't get much better than fall in new england. leaf-peepin, apple-pickin', cider-sippin' goodness. there are a handful of traditions that make the season feel a bit warmer and cozier. what are the autumnal thangs you simply must do each year to celebrate the season?
eating apple cider donuts and buying gourds from wilson farm
this one's a fairly new activity, as i've only lived wicked close to this epic farmstand for the past 2 years, but oh man. i feel so grown-up when i spend half of my paycheck on useless hot maple toddy candles, little shellacked pumpkins (they're all shiny!), and crisps and pies. aw yeah.
day-trippin' to NH or vermont
while i'm not particularly outdoorsy, as a new hampshire girl, i can appreciate a nice, easy hike up mount monadnock or a woodsy walk through quechee state park. the air's just fresher and the leaves are just better (sorry, mass.)
listening to "so far we are" by the french kicks
i don't know what it is about this song -- it might be that it was my favorite tune when i first moved to boston in september of '06. but every year, around this time, i crave it like a basic bitch craves a pumpkin spice latte. it just sounds like jean jackets and leaves and cuddling with a dude with a beard. right? searching newbury street for scarves 'n boots
in fact, i might actually do this today. whether or not i buy anything, half the fun is the people-watching, strolling in the crisp air, and treating myself to a hot beverage while i window shop at anthropologie.
