Daily Tuneage

The yet-unreleased song, You Were a Kindness, from The National. They performed this as part of their in-studio session with The Current, and I luckily found a version online. (You can download it here: http://drop.io/kqfh2uy) Give it a play, or a dozen. It’s magical.

I was in a fog, I didn’t notice everything
Was coming all apart inside of me
There wasn’t any way for anyone to settle in
You made a slow disaster out of me

There’s a radiant darkness upon us
But I don’t want you to worry
I was careful but nothing is harmless
Baby you’d better hurry

You were a kindness when I was a stranger
But I wouldn’t ask for what I didn’t need
Everything’s weird and we’re always in danger 
Why would you shadow somebody like me?

It doesn’t work that way 
Wanting not to want you won’t make it so
It doesn’t work that way 
Don’t leave me here alone

I’ll do what I can to be a confident wreck 
Can’t feel this way forever, I mean
There wasn’t any way for anyone to settle in 
You made a slow disaster out of me

There’s a radiant darkness upon us
But I don’t want you to worry
I was careful but nothing is harmless
Baby you’d better hurry

You were a kindness when I was a stranger
But I wouldn’t ask for what I didn’t need
Everything’s weird and we’re always in danger 
Why would you shadow somebody like me?

It doesn’t work that way 
Wanting not to want you won’t make it so
It doesn’t work that way 
Don’t leave me here alone

It doesn’t work that way 
Wanting not to want you won’t make it so
It doesn’t work that way 
Don’t leave me here alone

The first single off of The Walkmen’s new album, Lisbon, is this fantastically orchestral track, entitled ‘Stranded’. It’s very quintessential Walkmen, with a rousing horn section and putting Hamilton’s voice to good use. So excited to see them this weekend at Lollapalooza!

Turn the light out, say goodnight
No thinking for a little while
Let’s not try to figure out everything at once

Fake Empire, The National

Has been a week or two of all The National, all the time. This is not a complaint, just note that I’ve started to give (and receive) relationship advice by solely quoting their lyrics. This one has come up a few times, and fittingly.

I believe I’ve found my motivational album of the summer. (Or at least the band…both The Drums’ eponymous LP and their Summertime EP are equally fantastic, as is this single: I Felt Stupid. Now I’m just feeling stupid for not listening to them before.

Oh Stars, how I’ve missed you. Yours was the concert where I chose to stand there even though I DESPERATELY needed to pee because I was afraid I’d miss a moment. Painful, but very wise, choice. YOU ARE THAT GOOD. And with this new album - Five Ghosts - you again make me a very, very happy gal. Can’t wait to see y’all at The Independent in mid-June. Until then, I’ll be rockin’ out to your tuneage, including this one, “Fixed”. (Shh…I’ve heard the rest of the album as well…just as good as you’d expect. Possibly better.)

I’m counting the days until The National’s new album - High Violet - releases. (33. If I counted correctly. Whenever May 11th is.) This first single, Bloodbuzz Ohio, is SUPER catchy and not only because it talks about my home state. 

Aaron & Bryce, you’ve done it again. See you in May.