and we're closed. again.

i am sorry to say that i have decided to close this blog. unfortunately, the blog never found focus or gained traction.

however, i do have another blog project in the works and i will post details as soon as i get it up and running.

thanks for reading!



Computer Love

99.9 F

ok, so i know the Tears for Fears concert review is super late and that i am lame.  my only excuse is that it's really really hot here and i don't have AC.  in other words, i don't really feel like spending a lot of time in front of the computer.  in the meantime, i thought i would drag out a classic track from the early '90s.  this is one of the few tracks from Suzanne Vega i really enjoy and it's perfect for a hot day.

Kleerup finally available in America!

i have been waiting and waiting for Kleerup's 'Longing for Lullabies' to be made available here in the USA.  it has finally arrived and is available on iTunes.

 

Friday wrap-up

New releases this week Computer Love has its eyes on

Arthur and Martha – Navigation 

The debut album from Arthur and Martha, Navigation, is out this week on Happy Robot Records. Computer Love is planning a review of this album for next week. In the meantime, let's just say it's been on heavy rotation in the iPod machine. 

Marsheaux – Lumineux Noir

Hands down, this album has been the most highly anticipated album of 2009 here at Computer Love. Lumineux Noir is out now and I'll post my thoughts on the album after I've had a chance to jump in the car, drive around aimlessly and spin it a few hundred times.  

News, etc.

Pet Shop Boys – Happy Birthday to Neil Tennant today. Pet Shop Boys have been a huge part of my life and Neil has been a big influence on me. I can still remember the days when my sister and I would spend hours in front of the radio waiting for the DJ to play 'Opportunities (Let's make lots of money)'. Years later, I can remember unwrapping a Christmas gift from my sister only to discover she had purchased 'Behaviour' for me. To this day, 'Behaviour' remains my favorite album.

When Discography, the first complete singles collection, was released I remember my entire family sitting around the living room reading the liner notes and selecting songs to play based upon what Neil and Chris had written in the notes.  'DJ Culture' was requested by my mother, and my dad kept wanting to hear 'Always on my mind' and 'Where the streets have no name' because he was an Elvis and Frankie Valli fan.

Next came 'Very' with it's ultra-bright orange packaging that sort of looks like a giant leggo. I remember picking it up at Tower Records, holding it tightly and being mesmerized by it. Truth be told, I thought the packaging was ugly upon first glance, but since then, it remains my favorite CD packaging to date. Nothing surpasses its originality, and the music is pretty damn good, too.

I returned to the same Tower Records to purchase 'Bilingual'. It remains the one PSB album that disappoints me ever so slightly. The music is there, but the record lacks cohesion. With that said, for years I disliked the song 'Single-Bilingual' but now I think the track has aged beautifully and is a great example of just how diverse Pet Shop Boys really are.  

By the time 'Nightlife' came along, I was managing a music store so it was my mission to do everything in my power to promote this record. 'Nightlife' contains a song that one could argue is the best song the boys have ever recorded, 'You only tell me you love me when your drunk'. If that song doesn't move you, I don't know what will.

'Release' is probably the most underrated album the boys have released; it's also one of their most beautiful. In fact, I've heard it described as 'the best album The Smiths never made'. 'Release' showcases the boys straying from their electronic roots in favor of guitar-driven pop. I took a road trip along the Oregon Coast with my partner when 'Release' came out and the album was our soundtrack for the trip. I can still picture us driving along sandy beaches with 'The Samurai in autumn' playing in the background; nothing else could have been better. 

Pet Shop Boys entered my life again in a totally new way at London's Trafalgar Square a couple years later. We were at Trafalgar to see the boys' debut performance of their soundtrack to Battleship Potemkin. It was a rainy London night, but we hunkered down in the Square with thousands and thousands of fans from all over the globe to witness this never before seen event. Some nights are truly magical, some nights you never forget. This was one of those nights.  

Fundamental was released at the height of the George Bush era, and this new album by the boys echoed the frustrations and cries for justice that could be heard all over the world. The album's lead single, 'I'm with stupid' was often stuck on repeat on the iPod machine, and I still spin it quite frequently. Fundamental also marked a return to Seattle for the boys. PBS had not played live in Seattle for something like 20 years. The show was amazing – another evening I will never forget. 

That brings us up to 'Yes', which was released in March of this year. Many critics are hailing it as the best PSB album since 'Very'. For me, the album's meaning is much more deep and personal. The album was released during my mother's final days, and every day I would listen to 'Yes' going to and from the hospital to see her. The uplifting, positive vibe of this record helped give me the strength I needed to be there for her. For that, I will always be thankful for having this record to fall back on during difficult times.  

Thank you Neil and Chris for bringing such wonderful music and memories into my life and lives of many people. Here's to the glorious future of Pet Shop Boys; Happy Birthday, Neil!
   

The girl and the robot

This song is currently in heavy rotation in my iPod.  Everything about it works well, and Robyn's vocals add a layer of depth and emotion to the amazing electronic soundscape Royksopp have created.  

The girl and the robot is featured on the Royksopp album 'Junior' and is availalbe now at fine record stores everywhere and iTunes.  Embedding of the video for this song has been disabled by request. Click here to watch it.

La Roux

I've been a bit critical when it comes to La Roux. It's not that I dislike their music, but I can't help but feeling that I've heard this type of music before, and I've heard it done better. Even the image seems like a Visage knock-off to me.  With La Roux, it's definitely the '80s all over again, but is the translation a bit too literal?  I'm still not sure. 


With that said, there are a number of things I do like about La Roux. For starters, even though their image is recycled, it's refreshing to see a female-fronted pop duo that hasn't succumbed to sexually exploiting themselves simply to sell records. Instead, front woman Elly Jackson has shown the pop world (and younger women) that non-conformity is ultimately more sexy and appealing than the standard. I also like La Roux because they are bringing electronic music to a new generation – that's good. It's been far too long since we've had a young pop star popularize electronic music, and I am happy La Roux are doing it.

If you live in the Seattle area, La Roux will be playing at Chop Suey on 28 July and I plan on attending. Hopefully seeing the show will give me more insight into this duo and I will learn more about what La Roux is all about.

Click here to see La Roux's video for their #1 UK hit, Bulletproof - it's like my Trapper Keeper from high school exploded all over the set for this video.  Seriously. 

Friday wrap-up

Hi everyone, just wanted to share a few quick notes today:  

It's the beginning of the 4th of July weekend here in the United States, so happy Independence Day to all our American readers. While we're at it, happy belated Canada Day (July 1st) to our friends in Canada.


Kovak: There appears to be some line-up changes in the Kovak camp. From what I can gather, Abby Harmony has left the band and singer Annelies Van De Velde has taken over as lead singer. You will be missed, Abby. I hope all is well with Abby and Kovak and wish Annelies the best of luck. After all, I can't think of a name that is more fantastic and rock star sounding than Annelies Van De Velde!  Kovak's debut album, Heroes and High Heels is out now and available at fine record stores everywhere.


Tears for Fears: I am happy to announce that I will be attending a Tears for Fears concert next week. Not only did Tears for Fears rock out some of the hottest mullets from my youth (business up front, party in the back), but their music plays like a soundtrack to my childhood: that is until my parents sold my Tears for Fears records at a garage sale without telling me. But I'm not bitter. Anyway, I'll be sure to write a review of the show and hopefully post a few pictures. I must confess that the show will be held at a winery, so the prospects of the show being bad are simply nonexistent.  


Marsheaux: Marsheaux's new album, Lumineux Noir is out now in just about every global territory except the United States – why are we always last? If you live in the US, you can pre-order Lumineux Noir on iTunes; expected release date is 10 July.  

Site Updates: I am stewing around some ideas for this site – one of which is setting up a Twitter account and linking it to the blog. The problem is, I kinda loathe Twitter and 'tweets' and 'twotes': I just think it all sounds kinda dirty and solicitous and not in a good way. I'll keep you posted, and if you have any ideas, pass them along.  

Have a great weekend everyone, 

xxx 
Computer Love