Stuff You Slept On, Alternatively Titled "layzman's filler" -- shlara Edition

Shlara, also known as Gheorghe Muresan's favorite Gheorghie, sent what she deemed a "half-ass entry" in response to my request for layzman's filler, which means that one of you attempted what is at best an eighth-ass entry. But I guess that's what happens when you can only write one sentence a day. Foreshadowing! Anyway, here's a post about an album that Shlara thinks you should listen to.

I like this idea
I don't like doing a lot of work, though.
So you get a half-ass entry from me

Album: The Rip Tide by Beirut

Link #1: cheating with this Tiny Desk concert clip. It features 3 songs, 2 of which are from this album (East Harlem and Santa Fe)
Upside is you get so see the band's endearing nerdiness



Link #2: official video for Riptide (video is weird, song is good)



Why Gheorghies should listen:

It's got a modern 80s throwback feel to it. Angsty and also optimistic. If you like DeVotchKa, you'll like this Beirut album. It was on my regular rotation when I lived in NYC--nice way to tune out and stay zen while you're riding the subway. I think the band is technically labeled as "world folk music" and I'm pretty sure I heard one of their songs on XMU years ago and bought the album. The critics didn't like this album as much as their others, "too mainstream and cute." But that's just the way I like my fringe music: pop-y and cute. Top to bottom, all 9 tunes are good, but if I have to pick one, East Harlem is my fav song on the album.

My Kind of Desk

Bob Boilen has one of the coolest jobs in the world, curating music for All Songs Considered and managing NPR Music's overall efforts.  As if that weren't enough, serendipity and a corner location led to the Tiny Desk Concert series, where bands strip down their equipment and play short gigs amongst the piles of papers, CDs, and books in Boilen's Washington, DC office.

This week, G:TB fave Wilco played two new tunes and and old favorite hard by Boilen's workspace.  Check it out.  And check out the entire series. My office is not nearly this awesome.