things i'm jamming…

#1 New Brooke Fraser

For those of you who are like “Brooke who?”, honeychile you don’t even KNOW how beautiful this Aussie gal’s voice is.  Some may know her from her lovely album from a few fortnights ago, “Albertine”, with amazing and inspiring tunes such as these.  You also might have heard of this small, struggling little church she sang with called Hillsong. {sarcasm noted}  Well she is dipping her toe in the mainstream waters with her new album “Flags” and if the whole record is anything like this catchy little folky first single then I’m sold.  Ms. Fraser has this uncanny ability to make songs swell and dramatize goosebumpy style, yet the basic framework and lyrics stay simple and genuine.  Check it out holmes and try to keep your toes from tapping…

#2 Jewel Mint

This is a little website that I think has a superbly cool premise.  You sign up, take this style quiz, and pay a mere $30 dues each month and get personalized jewelry choices that will be sent to you free of charge.  This neato little world wide web address is brought to you by stylist Cher Coulter and that gal that’s dating Meekus from Zoolander, Kate Bosworth.  They design cool baubles and present the ones that stylists think you’ll like based on your personal style, and one piece arrives at your door each month.  Ladies go check it out…or dudes, no judging here.

#3 SNL clip of the week

A new segment here on Things I’m Jamming.  I just love SNL.  There’s no getting around it.  It’s borderline creepy.  Fav show by far.  So I figured I would share my creepy archival knowledge and give you a weekly nostalgia laugh.  Click here for a surprise. This rare species includes a natural anomaly…Will Ferrell cracking.  Enjoy.

See yous guys.

So I was driving down the road today to procure some of the nectar of life (that’s Chick-fil-a sweet tea if you didn’t know), and as per my driving usual all windows were down and radio was up.  This new little ditty came through my speakers and I immediately looked down at the dial and said “What is this?”.  I jammed all through the crowded lunch drive thru (they need to get it together at Chick-fil-a at lunch time, it is like camping outside the box office in the mall to get U2 tickets in there circa 12 noon, at least Samuel Powers isn’t there to lose my place in line).  I digress.  So I immediately looked up the song on my phone (while sitting stationary in line, save your lectures) and saw that it was crafted by none other than Cee Lo Green.  Who is Cee Lo Green you might ask?  Only one half of the one hit wonder Gnarls Barkley.  Now I admit, I have had a misplaced grudge against Gnarls Barkley ever since THIS SNL Digital Short gone mediocre…

Random, but true.

Never the less, I am completely enjoying this new tune from Cee Lo.  Bridge built and gotten over.  Enjoy these funky 60′s Motown infused tunes…

So, as usual, it’s been awhile.  This is beginning to feel like the many times in middle school I swore I was going to keep a diary regularly to note every drool-worthy 8th grade drama but it never worked out.  That being as it may, here I am back in the saddle.  I have a smorgasbord of things I am jamming that I want to share with you fine people so here goes nothing…

Thing I’m jamming #1…this lovely Bibione bag…

This bag makes me feel so bohemian...I already feel like I know more obscure bands than you...

It is a wonderful compliment to the chilly Fall-ish styles on the way here in Dixie Land.  I was at a fashion show Friday night here in the ATL and was just talking to one of my besties about how I was pining for a fringe bag when this boho tote strolled backstage.  I was immediately intrigued and at a reasonable $98, I am Facebook official  with this bag for Fall.

Thing I’m jamming #2…my //\\//sync Pandora station…and yes, I did just do that…

This was top-notch masculinity for me at age 11...nothing says testosterone like tulips...

We all fell into a boy band coma in the late 90′s.  Don’t deny it…that’s like saying you didn’t eat Dr. Pepper Lipsmackers when you were little, everyone did it!…didn’t they?…Ok, just forget I said that.  Whether it was BSB, O-Town, or Five you loved to hate them.  As the Willenium dawned, many of these faded into obscurity but Nsync had taken root in the very core of my being and made its way onto my Pandora account almost a decade later.  I cannot express to you how many choice jams pop up on this station.  It is a Dollar Store grab bag full of nostalgia.  On the way home from dinner with some friends tonight I popped it on in my car and let technology take its course.  As this song I am about to share came on, I thought “This sounds familiar” and then proceeded to involuntarily sing every word.  I have not heard this song since it was on 95.5 The Beat circa 1999, but it doesn’t change it’s gold medal status.  A present for you, and the cherry on top is moments 1:50-1:55…consumate performers.  You’re welcome…

Things I’m jamming #3…Red Velvet Fro Yo…

I didn't get Fruity Pebbles, but I could go get some tomorrow, for experimental purposes only of course...

I took my 8-year-old niece for an after dinner treat this weekend and we ended up at the local Yogli Mogli, or as my niece identifies it, “That place at City Hall…I mean, what do they do at City Hall?…Is there a hotel in there?…Can I bring my dog?…I bet I can bring my dog…”.  I am usually a patron of the York Peppermint Patty Fro Yo, but alas as I perused the 5,000 flavors to choose from this one was notably missing.  A new one did catch my eye, Red Velvet Cake.  I was unsure of how a cake flavored frozen yogurt would taste but I thought “Why not be wild?”.  It…is…incredible.  Go try it out at your local frozen yogurt shop.  If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up (name that movie).

Well dolls, that’s all for now.

Soooo, wow, this is awkward…hey…I know it’s been a while…I just needed some space you know?…I mean it’s not you, it’s me…can we go get a mocha latte frappachino double shot thingie and talk it out?…

J SLASH K bloggeroonies, truth?  I’ve been lazy town USA since the summer began and honestly have been so wrapped up in work that I haven’t even really been jamming anything!  (Sad, I know)  But now that a road trip looms on the horizon and visions of Pizza Combos and Cheerwine are dancing in my head, I am in full on planning mode.  And what, you may ask, is the most important part of planning any road trip?  Musique of course.

Me and a few pals are headed up to Myrtle Beach for a long weekend this month.  Why Myrtle Beach?  Well a myriad of reasons really.  Number one, some friendlies live up there and are opening their homes to us free of charge.  Number two, non-tar ball beach time is always a plus.  Number three, the Appalachian gal deep in my blood loves Myrtle Beach and has fond memories of staying in RV parks and listening to AM radio.  ANYWHO, everyone who’s anyone knows that the most pivotal role on a road trip is played by the in-house DJ.  On most trips, this coveted title falls to my #1 doll, Joshua Armande Henry.  While he will probably override me in every way (seriously, he’s the jammingest man I know) I am going to throw my hat into this ring.

My thought process in the all important road trip soundtrack is to evoke montage thoughts of people running around on the beach, holding sparklers up to the camera, waving really fast and smiling a lot…basically the intro to “The Wonder Years”…mmmm that reminds me, I need to buy some of those episodes on iTunes…also, I need to finally settle the decade long argument with my brother that it is NOT Marilyn Manson playing “Paul”…whoops, rabbit trail…

I have been mentally compiling a list of songs since the first rumblings of this trip, and as all true mix cd makers know, it takes much thorough thought to fine tune a collection of jams.  I thought, as a refresher convo with each other (once again, my bad) I would let you in on a few of my choices….enjoy dolls…

You’ve got to have some vaguely Jamaican tunes to roll the windows down and do the hand wave thing…this is that one

Great band, definitely montage worthy, mid-mellowness jam…

This WILL get stuck on a constant loop in your head…underappreciated song…

And my final thought is perhaps random to many readers, but it is a little known fact that Myrtle Beach has its own brand of music, my parents used to have a cassette tape (what’s up people born before 1990?) that had the best mix of this random oldies shagadelic amazingness…here’s a little sample…enjoy because I just dropped some knowledge on you…p.s. check out these dudes outfits…classic

Had to include one more….oh that?  It’s just the desperate cries of me longing for my youth, don’t mind me…

Any suggestions?  I’d love to hear them!  Go ahead, click that comment button…do it…do it…

Hanson…Now I know, I know…you’re really beginning to wonder why you read this blog at all.  You might be thinking, “I thought you at least tried to be cool Brittany”.  Well, this is supposed to be about what I am honestly jamming, no matter the public humiliation I may suffer.  No matter how many trendy points I am penalized!  I will STAND FOR WHAT I…woh, hold on…got a little Braveheart on you…sorry.  Anyways, for many of you whose heyday was the late 90′s, you might just have only one mental picture of the brothers Hanson that probably looks like this…

they all have kids now...ya...I thought it was weird too...

I mean…that’s a lot of kids…they practically have their own minor league softball team.  In addition to offspringing, they have been making some pretty good, nay pretty amazing, pop music.  You may be one of those Snooty McSnootersons who say “ugh I don’t like pop music, blah blah black eyeliner blah blah jnco’s”.  Well, you have to admit that it takes some skills to craft truly solid pop songs to please the mob, and Hanson has the formula.  The CD I was jamming to my Freshman year in college was called “Underneath”.  From there they have dropped many more suprisingly great albums. 

From then on, Hanson has ebbed and flowed from my radar depending on the new music they are impressing me with.  Last night my friend Heather and I were talking about how Hanson was coming to town with The Bamboozle Roadshow (please go check out that lineup…it could possibly be the most random tour ever devised).  When we parted ways, she went home and found the video that is currently my OBSESSION and what this post is truly all about.  This new song from Hanson is possibly the most toe-tapping, smile enducing, sing-along jam that I have heard in a very long time.  The fact that they recreated a scene from “The Blues Brothers” only adds to the amazingness.  So without further ado, here’s what I’m jamming…enjoy…also, try and find the cameo from Weird Al…yah, “Amish Paradise” Weird Al…I promise he’s in there…

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=104317949

*Revision: Hanson is a little less jamming because they are so tight on their copyright rules that I can’t even embed their video…NBC much?  WATCH AND ENJOY!

Katy Perry inspired retro-ness…I’m obsessed with all things glamour (is that the British spelling?).  Now this obsession has been welling within my brain for some time (cause Katy Perry has been around for a HOT minute), but now that Spring is on it’s way it presenting to the forefront of my fashion lobe.  For this post I shall provide you with some tunes to jam to whilst reading, so here’s a little band I’m loving called Kitty, Daisy & Lewis (and they’ve got quite the retro feel, so enjoy)…

I’m just in an oldie mood, as evidenced by previous posts.  I love how this whole Katy Perry movement almost seems to be blending 40′s stylos with some 80′s influence.  I love the bright colors and bold hair wrapped up in a classicly girly package.  I draw most of this obsession-town from the video for the single ‘Thinking of You’.  When I first watched this video many moons ago while laying in bed on a Saturday morning watching VH1 (I’m not a 30-something, I swear), I fell in love.  It’s the emotional content of ‘The Notebook’ wrapped up in a 3 minute blurb.  Wait…let’s keep ‘The Notebook’ out of this (mostly because if you merely mention the title, I start some sort of Pavlovian tear fest and blubber ‘It was us!  It was us!’)  The style is what I really vibed with.  I’m not even going to lie, I’ve seriously considered buying some saddle shoes…

so cute...and risky...this is a knee replacement waiting to happen Katheryn

I mean, how cute do those look?  It would take some magic on the part of my first college degree to pair just the right outfit combo with some two tone footwear of days gone by, but I’m up for the challenge.  Now cute retro style isn’t for the unseasonably icy conditions we have been having south of the Mason Dixon, but it gives me all the more time to think for whenever (if ever) Spring finally arrives.  I’m inspired to step up my summer fashion from my usual sweat rags, to something a little more put together.  Flowy day dresses, Clubmaster Ray Bans, and Rosie the Riveter bandanas pump up the jam.

check out ole Kyle XY over there...

presh...

This movement is even making it’s way to face and hair territory.  A sub-obession of mine is watching make-up and hair tutorials from this girl (about anything, seriously she’s amazing, a guru of sorts) and her tips in this vid stimulate my affinity for all things 40′s…

So there you have it, my latest obsession.  Take it, jam it, make it yo own.  I’m off to get my Nicholas Sparks fix…

The Buried Life…I love this show, and not just because I may or may not have devloped a crush on someone that may or may not be Ben.  The premis, the guys, the inspirationizing it inspirationizes me to do.  I’ll admit when I first saw the previews on MTV (and by ‘saw’, I mean drilled into my brain every 15-20 minutes) I was a skeptic.  I finally took the time to watch the show and experience the craziness that are these…

ye dudes

These guys, young people like you and me (sorry oldies), dropped their lives to pursue what we all flippantly discuss over 5 dollar footlongs on our lunch break with that guy from accounting.  Living our dreams…not just the general ‘be happy’-s.  While being happy is important, they really picked apart their dreams to get some specifics and took that one extra step that the rest of us put up the surrender flag at…DOING IT.  They even help other unsuspecting bystanders onto the bandwagon.  I’m officially addicted (Mondays @ 10).  The great part about this show is its infectious ability to make you want to do that exact same thing.  I don’t know that I can make an initial commitment to 100 things to do before I die (it’s a lot to think about as evidenced below)…

ye dudes list

…I want to make a commitment to 5 for 2010.  I want to take some steps to accomplish the things that wont just accomplish themselves.  So here’s my tentative list to accomplish before December 31, 2010…

#1——>Make a quilt

#2——>Ski down a slope [any slope, preferably not one with a title such as 'dead man's peak']

#3——>Help build a Habitat for Humanity house

#4——>Take a dance class

#5——>Play in a drum circle [preferableee with some sort of tie dye fashion adorning my person]

…I’ll keep you homeys updated when I accomplish these tasks [a time out from my 'things i like'], and maybe you too can get inspired to grab your dreamz by the handlebars. 

p.s. whilst composing this, I have been listening to my ‘Boy Meets Girl’ pandora station (‘waiting for a star to fall’ anyone?…anyone at all?) and I think a few motivating songs were played that you could superimpose on your ‘accomplishing my dreams’ movie montage in your head….’Higher Love’ by Steve Winwood, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, and ‘How Will I Know’ by Whitney Houston…enjoy…and here’s a taste of The Buried Life if you still don’t believe that it’s a must see…

I’m changing up the stylo of my bloggity blog and profiling some things I’m into, which you may or may not in turn get into.  I’m one of those chickees who gets on weekly roller coasters of obsession with this and that, so I thought I’d share.  It will be anything from new (to me) muzac, to flicks, to things that sit on my vanity (aka beauty and hair finds), to clothes and the like…you get the idea.  So first thing’s first….

I’m really into Stubbs the Zombie: The Soundtrack…please, PLEASE everyone don’t applaud at once for how cool I am!  (see?  see what I did there with the sarcasm?)  Before you judge me too harshly for this insanely weird pick for my first article au jamming, hear me out.  I was flipping through the channelz the other night and came across an unamed, insanely dramatic teen drama about (what else?) vamps.  I became intrigued by the plot (see..you’re judging me again…I thought we were friends) and watched on.  This particular episode was set at a 50′s themed sock hoppy dance and as I was expecting your usual jerry lee lewis/buddy holly/ELVIS extravaganza, I was shocked by the updated coolness radiating into my eardrum.  It was 50′s classics alright (‘Runaway’, ‘Mr. Sandman’, ‘All I Have to Do Is Dream’), but they sounded amazingly rocktastic (word? I don’t know, neither do I care).  I had to snap out of my daydream about that ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ episode about the dead prom queen, and think to myself ‘Where can I hear some complete versions of this stuff?’.  The great thing about television these days is that they tell you what song they’re playing right down there at the bottom of your screen, a footer if you will, so I grabbed my handy dandy iTunes (you thought I was going to say ‘notebook’ didn’t you?) and looked it up.  To my astonishment, most of the tunes they used were from a video game soundtrack.  Weird, but nevertheless true.  I am completely obsessed with these trackz.  They are so fresh and different from what I’ve been hearing on the airwaves lately.  I’m a sucker for a cover and these are some of the best I’ve heard in a while.  We all remember jammin’ to the oldies (Fox 97?…that was too soon) with our parents on the way to the 6th grade car pool lane, but these ‘oldies’ are updated by such indie crooners as Oranger, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Raveonettes.  The bands have put their own spin on these little gems, and the result is a blend between ‘Cry Baby’ and ’28 Days Later’.  Check it out and I promise you won’t be disappointed.  Here’s a little taste of one of the oh-so-choice tracks, complete with a picture of this alleged ‘Stubbs’ fellow…with half a torso…as zombies do…typical.  So here it is, on a silver platter.  Enjoy one of the grandest video game soundtracks of all time…well…that I know of…maybe they make them for all video games…I’m not up on my gamer jargon…I wonder if there’s one for Wii Fit?

Stick with me for a semi-serious post…I really like my friends…it seems post college your friend group dwindles [which is sad] but the relationships which you retain get stronger [mucho good].  I feel like I don’t tell my friends enough why I like them and I thought I would use this forum to do so…I call this “part une” [no, I have no typo, i'm dropping some french on you, excuse me...freedom]  because there will be more to come but I thought I would freestyle some appreciation on you…So in no particular order…

Whitney Thompson

Whicky

My ace...

heathah laceee

A. Train

Ugh, Adam.  The nicest boy i know, and not in that annoying nice guy way, just awesome.  A gentleman to the nth degree.  Always there to lend an ear or some elbow grease on your ’95 Toyota Camry.  Adam is on of the kindest men I know.  He is incredibly honest, but never harsh [which is hard to come by].  He listens to me ramble on the telephone for hours at a time [but then again, he is in Montana, what else is he going to do?].  Adam is an amazing man, bottom line.  I could only hope there are more like him out there.

Charity Lucas

I know Charity and I will be friends forever because we have not lived in the same town for over 3 years and we talk on the phone a minimum of an hour every week.  Charity tells it like it is.  Never sugar coats, and I love her for it.  She is so undercover hilarious, spitting out crazy funny stuff straight out of nowhere.  She is always there to listen, no matter how many times you’ve told her about the same fiasco.  She maintains her head no matter what the situation.  Charity would be just the same hanging out with Neil Diamond, as she would be in living room in War-Town. 

PJ Smith

Jean...with a J

I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who’s humor is so perfectly suited to mine.  If he thinks it’s funny, I know I will.   Needless to say, he is one of my friends who makes me laugh the most.  He makes everyone smile who is around him.  I see PJ going places in life because he’s smart, hilarious, and he knows how to rock a Christmas sweater like nobody’s business.  He’s greater than even he gives himself credit for.  Anyone who hangs out with good ole Peej should count themselves lucky.  He’s also a great mix tape maker. 

Well that’s all for now.  Don’t see your name up there?  I’ve got you in the works for part deux, revenge of the sith [why did I just write that like I watch Star Wars?].

Love soundtracks…they’re like a mix cd from you’re favorite celebrity.  I have the uncanny ability to be unable to sit through a whole compact disc by the same person, so the soundtrack is the musical rock to which I cling.  Here’s my top picks…

#1 Empire Records

seen this movie?...no?...you should...

Great…I can’t say much more.  Not only is this movie extremely underrated, the soundtrack is full of gems.  This is a movie that is built around the music, not the other way around.  Some contributors include Better Than Ezra, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Cranberries, and [one of my favs] The Gin Blossoms.  It is a mid-90′s dream.

#2 The Big Chill

I know I'm acting like a baby boomer right now...I know...

I love oldies.  If that makes me a ferg-faced nerd, then so be it.  This is the 1980′s mid-life crisis soundtrack.  You’ve got classics like “Gimme Some Lovin’” by The Spencer Davis Group, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys, and “It’s the Same Old Song” by The Four Tops [random fact: my first concert].  It’s Animal House 2.0 and I cherish it.

#3 The Dukes of Hazzard

ya, really...no, really...

Now here’s where I might lose some of you.  As much as you want to write me off, don’t.  This is one of those rare instances where the soundtrack far outshone the actual flick [but I liked to movie too, it's the trailer park in me].  I also love Southern rock and this soundtrack houses such greats as Ram Jam, Molly Hatchet, The Charlie Daniels Band [Stone Mountain laser show anyone?], and one my fav bands of all time, The Allman Brothers Band.  It’s a roll the windows down, song of the South, sing at the top of your lungs kind of thing. 

Honorable mention: Clueless, Almost Famous, The Wedding Singer, Dangerous Minds, and Wayne’s World