Lloyd, I'm ready to hear the new Camera Obscura

You probably wouldn't expect that an album called My Maudlin Career (read: foolishly emotional) would be the one that'll be played out of rolled down car windows across the country this summer. Or maybe you would, in which case I say way to go. You are a seer of the future.

That's the name of the new one just dropped by indie-pop-boppers Camera Obscura, and it's the bands best record to date. Which is saying a lot — 2006's Let's Get Out of this Country had more catchy-cute songs than a Jonas Brothers record that didn't suck.

Nonetheless, on My Maudlin Career, the Scottish band has sharpened everything about its sound. The harmonies are Beach Boys sunshine, the guitar lines are perfectly catchy and non-obtrusive, cutting in just as Tracyanne Campbell's gorgeously heartbreaking melodies step aside. Is it twee pop? Maybe, but in the least annoying way possible.

Take the first single, "French Navy." The percussion and bass parts are straight out of a 1960's chamber pop tune that was probably about holding hands and those strings are like a part Grizzly Bear wrote for a cartoon. Weird. Lovely. Really, really fantastic.

Here's the clip:


The happiest thing you heard all day, right? I know!

My Maudlin Career is full of gems like that one, and it just dropped this week. You're $9.99 couldn't be better spent.

Some music to help you through finals week. I know you'll need it.

Studying can be a bitch.

No surprise there. And though study aids like booze, Facebook and reading my blog may seem to help pass the time, they won't help you land an A.

That said, I've assembled a study aid that does work — it's the playlist that I listen to whenever attempting to write a paper, study for a test or read something I don't care about. It's a tough life being a college student, I know.

Because the actual playlist is over 7 hours long, I've pulled a few samples for you to use as suggestions. Obtain music by these bands any way you can — I promise you'll make Dean's List.

Here we go:


Welcome to the wonderful world of Air. All smoothed-out, slowly unfolding grooves that'll soothe your brain into learning. I know that sounds stupid, just trust me. If I could only listen to one band during my four years of college studying, this would be it.


Ahh, American Analog Set. Beautiful, muted and subtle. Slow and simple enough not to distract you, but more than gorgeous enough to keep your spirits up. And the fact that almost all the vocals are sung in a hushed whisper is perfect to remind you that there's no talking in the library.


Explosions in the Sky are the perfect band for writing papers. You've got no words to distract you from pumping out your own. Write your thesis to this band, you won't regret it.


And finally, we come to the motherload. Above is one of Godspeed! You Black Emperor's shorter songs. Most edge in on 20 minutes, which is perfect to keep you focused. None of that checking to see which song is playing next — it'll be the same one until you finish reading this chapter!

Of course, the list goes on. Any study session that has any chance of being successful probably shouldn't be without Sigur Ros, Boards of Canada, Portishead's newest record, Chairlift and, of course, a healthy dose of non-swing and definitely non-smooth jazz. As in, real jazz. Davis and Coltrane will make you smarter. And probably sexier.

So there you have it. Good luck taking tests about subjects you despise, writing papers on topics that bore you and generally living in a library or at a coffee shop. As for me, come tomorrow afternoon, I'm officially done doing any school work. Yes.

New Clipse featuring Kanye: "Kind of Like a Big Deal"

Having just watched last week's South Park that lambasted Kanye West's monumental ego six ways from Sunday AND heard his new track with Clipse, conveniently titled "Kind of Like a Big Deal," all within a few hours, I can't help but feel that there's a tinge of irony floating around.

Nonetheless, while no one's got a show stopping verse on the track, this beat if monstrous — a needling guitar line that sounds like its blasting from a garage in the 60s over pummeling drums. I give it a few days before there are remixes even hotter than the original.

So without further ado, here's "Kind of Like a Big Deal." You decide if the track will end up being just that.



Annnnnd in case you didn't catch it last week, here's Kanye's South Park episode. Do you like fish sticks?