Keeper of the list

I've been a little light handed with blog posts of late. I've been hitting the straps and trying to whip through my to-do list, at last count I have only 11 days to go.

I've been quite successful with some parts of my list, namely socialising, eating butter, gossiping with gaggles of friends, spending money, writing, trying on shoes, selecting books to read, downloading podcasts, watching crap telly with my Mum and trying out a Zumba DVD.

I've been rather too successful at ignoring the less than savoury elements of the list - travel insurance, exchanging cash, find an international sim card, talking to the bank, submitting visa applications, culling through my clothes to prep for packing.

Actually I'm starting to panic with the things I need to do.

Yet I'm not panicked into action. I know I'll regret this in a week's time. But it's so much more enjoyable to sip on free-trade coffee beans and watch Barry Otto mime "Light All My Lights" whilst swinging his hips and twinkling his toes.

I can't wait to hear more music from Seeker Lover Keeper, I also can't wait to get through this bloody 'to-do' list, so it's off to the bank I go.

Lover Lover

This song is more chilled than frozen grapes and packs more punch too. It's positively flavoursome.

In fact, I like-like it. Yup, there's some music loving going on here for Lover Lover.

Anti-D

It's not generally advised for someone to sing at the top of their lungs, as a means of curing an upper respiratory tract infection. But I wasn’t going to lie in bed and miss out on The Wombats.

Perhaps it was thanks to the copious mugs of sweet tea and lemsip – or it could have been the utterly brilliant pop music, but I felt a million dollars at the gig.

Today is another matter. I feel more lackluster than ever. I can barely string sentences together.

Ugh, why does feeling sick entail feeling miserable?

Jodie [Fiasco]

[Jodie]

Jodie Foster has got it going on. Kick, push and coast.

Greedy

My new favourite band kinda sounds like - when you shove your fingers in your ears. They also sound like being underwater. They can be compared to the sound of one hand clapping in a forest. Or the sound of cotton wool.

Basically they don't sound like anything.

My new favourite band don't make music.

They have an album (available on vinyl), track listings and a video clip. Yet no music.

The girls at Greedy Hen are so delightfully obscure, my brain tingles and my armpits sweat a little.

These blue days from the hills

I was looking at Urban Outfitters Summer catalogue this morning. While it’s drenched in spectacular snapshots of sunshine and positively zesty with the promise of good times and divine outfits, it didn’t sit well.

It’s cold in Sydney. I want to reveal in the gorgeous winter weather of the place I call home. So with my scarf wrapped around me and I turned on the wintery sounds of Mumford and Sons and sunk into a stupor of delight for all things blustery, folksy and blue.

[Letters from the hills]

Have a lovely day folks.

If you’re not enjoying the weather as much as I am, then you may enjoy this. I laughed so hard I may have a hernia.

Teenage dreams

It’s day three of “retirement” – I’ve already reorganized my wardrobe, sorted through my tax and banking, washed many loads of laundry, returned an incredibly overdue library book and have basically acted like a responsible adult. I even started planning for when I return to Sydney and started looking up jobs…

Then I realized, hold on, I’m on holidays. Why don’t I just play it cool? So I’ve tried to zone in on what my self-indulgent, teenage self would do with bucket loads of free time, a small kitty of dough and a driving license. So I started singing along with this song to help me get in the freewheeling mood:

So far I’ve decided to go for a walk. Perhaps I’ll follow that up with reading some magazines. Party central right here!

Maybe after a week of living teenage dreams, I’ll end up reverting back to being a child and throwing some hilarious shenanigans like this.

Writing

I'm currently writing up my review of last night's gig and enjoying reliving the night. The dancing floor was heaving to the Perth indie pop, with OAF packed to max capacity.

This cover of Fleetwood Mac was definitely a highlight of the night. A synth-infused dream.

The Grates are great

The Grates are back!! I am positively tickled pink, as it’s been two years since their last release; finally they have a brand-spanking-new album coming out.

Though they are minus their adorable drummer (who has enrolled in a culinary school in NYC), their first single oozes with a sound synonymous with The Grates [Translation: Solid high hats, loose guitar and sweaty, manic, animalistic good times].

[Cake for goodness sake]

They haven't released any of the music online, but they are keeping a delightfully zany blog - Hate Creep.

Now I'm going to sink into their back catalogue and relive some memories of their live shows, cue montage of thrones, animal costumes, hula hoops, rhythmic gymnastics.

Wombats and Dancing

My siblings and I are literary jumping with joy for the latest Wombats release. Yup we’re shaking like ferrets to ‘Techno Fan’ and belting out ‘Anti-D’. Perhaps we’ll even have a synchronized dance down pat for their gig next week? Though I think we'll forgo matching outfits...

[The Wombats]

Besides absolutely gorging myself with this delightful aural feast, I’ve also been loving the album’s cover art. The illustration style reminds me of a Babysitter’s Club book – fresh, innocence, warm and inviting. Plus there are sausage dogs. Be. Still. My. Heart.

Glastonbury 2011

Oh my stars....

Go Outside

I tested my hip today. I've been pain free for three days and decided it was time.

I ran 5km and I'm feeling fine.

In fact I feel incredibly happy, I can't wait to go outside for another run tomorrow.

I want you back

It's four days since I last went for a run. I’m feeling a little bit antsy to say the least.

This song ties all my thoughts together:

- Skeleton motif (I am constantly thinking about my hip joint and sacrum)

- Lyrics “I want you back” (I want running back please)

- Random assortments of clutter (my head space feels cluttered)

- Displays of angst (My family are also feeling the pain of my running withdrawal. I am a bit of a grumpy pants at the moment)

I did get a laugh out of this brilliant thread on Cool Running.

My Mother

In the summer ooo I love her

She's like no other

She's my Mother

My Mum is a hair's breath away from cutting her birthday cake and I have yet to get her a birthday present. In the past no matter how much thought and effort, I always inadvertently gifted her something that I had been lusting after. The old self serving present.

A small patch below my right ear lobe is red raw, as I've been scratching my head all afternoon, trying to find something to give her. This is the best that I could come up with:

[carrot]

[girl and the finch]

[Magnetic]

[Suitable suitcas]

[turntable clock]

[summer shawl]

Unfortunately, after reviewing the list, I think I want them all. For. Myself. Ugh this is a pickle, I just want to eat cake.

Press Play - Inject Fun

I’ve got another inoculation session this evening. So the obvious thing to do is dance till my arms are numb, to dull the impeding pain.

This song ticks all the boxes:

- I’m getting pumped full of vaccinations because I’m going on Holidays. The band are named ‘The Holidays’

- The lyrics mention a confident lady. Which I’m not, but at least I can visual one after watching the clip

- The clip has bizarre imagery and pandering poses. Always perfection.

- Calypso beats to make a dull Thursday toasty

- It makes me want to dance. Till. My. Arms. Go. Numb.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

All Mine

I’ve been lucky to see Little Red go from playing tiny pubs with beer soaked carpets, to ridiculously early sets at boutique festivals (Laneway) to playing later slots at major festivals (Splendour).

Their debut album was full of doo-wop dance floor ditties, but it’s their new heart-achingly smooth songs that are setting my pulse a flutter.

"All Mine" makes me bite my lips and curl my toes in pleasure.

The 80s

Roller skates. check.

Animal masks. check.

Karate kid pose. check.

Joyous running. check.

Sensual egg cracking. check.

BMX bandits. check.

Yup, this is one kooky, yet compelling clip. You could waste hours analysing the meaning behind the sequences and 1980s motif employed - or you can just groove to the song.

I know what I'll be spending my time doing.