Sawako Bitter Sweet (05.2008, 12K) Verdict = A gorgeous soundtrack to forgotten ponds The last time we heard from Sawako around these parts was on last year's astoundingly beautiful release under the Anticipate banner, Madoromi . Now after only a brief break Sawako is back, releasing her fourth album, Bitter Sweet , back on the equally wonderful 12K label (also the home of her debut). Despite the label shuffling, Sawako maintains an aural consistency that has moments of both gorgeous relaxation and intelligent tension. The album opens with borderline atonal droning on "Wind Shower Particle" that [...]
I wrote about The Bittersweets here when their Virt Records debut was coming out. I haven't given the band much thought since then. But they're back with a new record and a new label. Compass Records has announced a September release of their followup to 2006's The Life You Always Wanted . Goodnight San Francisco is due out September 9th. The title alludes to the fact that the band has left San Francisco and relocated to Nashville. The band has also left two members behind and become [...]
Anyone who went through the '80s knows that maybe sometimes, for some reasons, you might just miss the side ponytail. On Saturday night I went to a (totally radical) '80s dance party out in the suburbs of Arvada and bravely dressed in my best finery from that decade. It felt so excellent and dare I say liberating to revisit the hairstyle of 5th grade and to not be alone. The entertainment (+ fun complimentary personal mixing lesson!) was provided by DJ Hot To Death and DJ Goose from Denver. If you are feeling listless and cubicle-bound [...]
I'm pretty sure I've used that exact same post title before, but that's ok with me. I would rather repeat than use Easy Like Sunday Morning . That song grates on my last nerve. Getting on with it... Bitter:Sweet 's The Bomb is a great way to kick off your day. It's got the standard B:S style, mixed with playful lyrics, The Doors-esque inspired keyboard breakdown and the ever infectious horn and vocal pairings. If trip-hop lounge music is wrong, I don't ever [...]
Bitter:Sweet's "the Mating Game" in 2006, and the subsequent remix album of last year, were both favorites of mine -- especially the slinky bad girl anthem "Dirty Laundry." I haven't heard the whole of their new album, "Drama," yet, but...
Bittersweet's "Waking Up" from the new album "Drama." Originally from MPR: The Current Song of the Day on June 4, 2008, 10:00pm
Bittersweet because it's been storming/pouring for the last 48 hours; good sleeping weather when you're sick but bad playing weather for my 10-year-old little brother. Bittersweet because of the historic, democratic night as Obama officially clinches the nomination (woo!) over Clinton; we already know how "Fair & Balanced" Fox News feels about Obama but how the next few days pan out and how the party unifies should be extremely interesting to watch. Of course the real reference at hand highlights Bitter:Sweet , the L.A. duo of Shana Halligan (smooth vocals/lyrics) and Kiran Shahani (crafty composition), [...]
May 15, 2008, 1:43pm
MVSW
Song Bitter:Sweet ~ " Waking Up " Bitter:Sweet "Waking Up" (mp3) from "Drama" (Quango) Buy at iTunes Music Store More On This Album Besides having their song "The Bomb" used as the theme song to the show "Lipstick Jungle"(Is that even on the [...]
Yes, if you are wondering whether or not ROCKONRAVE features rock bands and rave DJs mixing it up in a single 2-day music fest on the rooftop of a popular residential mall, then yes, you are spot on. Brownie points should be given to the organizers for daring not only to be so darn silly but also to be so darn obvious, in this day and age where everyone's trying to not show their underwear or their boobs on TV. Oh wait, I got mixed up. That was another time. Rooftop gigs are always fun. I [...]
(looking in the mirror and practicing...) I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my mom, my great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Franklin, the four great artists in my brand new banner (especially Vanilla Ice for proving a white man really can roll in a 5.0), all Harlem Globetrotters (past and present...and future while I'm at it), the Dalai Lama (I'm not buying all that hype China's trying to sell us), Soul Train... But seriously, it's really hard to believe that this party has been rolling along [...]
Taking their natural sound and random beginnings into consideration, The Bittersweets have pulled things together rather quickly. Within weeks of starting a string of jam sessions in a barn behind vocalist Hannah Prater's house, neighbors started pulling out lawn chairs and rehearsals became impromptu concerts. To boot, The Bittersweet's current drummer, Steve Bowman (former Counting Crows member), jumped on board after hearing just a couple of demos. With this type of background, their full-length debut, The Life You Always Wanted , seems aptly titled. In the streak of Over the Rhine's Karin Bergquist, Prater carries the sweet, [...]
Bitter:Sweet, a loungetronica group (featuring Kiran Shahani of Supreme Beings of Leisure) who recently put out a big smash record called The Mating Game, now have a delightful remix album called - wait for it - The Remix Game, featuring...
I guess the chic that wrote the book that became this movie grew up in Allentown (my neighbor to the West and the town that Billy Joel sang about). No Billy Joel on this soundtrack. Mocean Worker ~ Tres Tres Chic Alanis Morissette ~ Crazy (Seal cover) Bitter:sweet ~ Bittersweet Faith More: Soundtracks Buy from Amazon.
Bitter:sweet are Shana Halligan & Kiran Shahani, based in Los Angeles. Sultry, sexy and hip-swaying, that's the sound they aim for. I can imagine their songs playing in exquisite lounges, full of glamorous-looking, martini-sipping women in designer dresses, and well-groomed, nicely-suited businessmen. In fact, they wouldn't sound out of place at all in a Bond movie, or some '60s spy films. Or as background music in a cocktail party. Their debut 'The Mating Game' was released in April 2006 by Quango. Try one or two of the first tracks and if you dig them, just grab the rest. They're all [...]
Bitter:sweet are Shana Halligan & Kiran Shahani, based in Los Angeles. Sultry, sexy and hip-swaying, that's the sound they aim for. I can imagine their songs playing in exquisite lounges, full of glamorous-looking, martini-sipping women in designer dresses, and well-groomed, nicely-suited businessmen. In fact, they wouldn't sound out of place at all in a Bond movie, or some '60s spy films. Or as background music in a cocktail party. Their debut 'The Mating Game' was released in April 2006 by Quango. Try one or two of the first tracks and if you dig them, just grab the rest. They're all [...]
Trip-Hop and electronica sounds will be eminating tonight as LA 's Bitter:sweet takes the stage. You may recognize them from music on some of your favorite TV shows (Grey's Anatomy, Nip/Tuck, Entourage, etc...). Joining them is Philly's own trip-hop songbird Natalie Walker . 8/22/07: Johnny Brendas , Philly 8/23/07: Bowery Ballroom , NYC 8/24/07: 9:30 Club , DC (Bitter:sweet only) Bitter:sweet - The [...]
Before the inevitable Friday show review (in short, wet but excellent), I'd like to present a few short snippets of what's going to be a pretty excellent week of more concert-going, as well as some general musical happenings. Enjoy! Eisley just released a delightful album called Combinations , and at long last, they'll be playing in the area at my favorite small venue, Joe's Pub , on Monday night. I believe the 7:00 show is sold out, but I'll be at [...]
On Thursday of this week classes will resume at the University of Georgia . Ther's always a slight amount of apprehension I feel at this time of year because I hate the traffic students create, I hate my classes (yes, still working toward that Philosophy degree) being filled with people still espousing the opinions of their parents, frat boys and sorority girls (wait, let's back up. I actually do kind of like sorority girls. Not when they're trying to bust my chops for confiscating their fake I.D.'s at The Caledonia but when they're walking around campus. [...]
L.A. trip hop duo Bitter:Sweet dropped a deliciously slinky debut album last year, "The Mating Game." Even on such a good album, "Dirty Landry" stood out as the martini-drinking, Bond-seducing bad girl theme. Keep an eye peeled for their remix...
The National - Fake Empire (goodhodgkins.com) Lil' Wayne - Ride 4 My Niggas (marathonpacks.com) Mark Ronson - Apply Some Pressure (Feat. Paul Smith) (songbytoad.com) Shannon Wright - Everybody's Got Their Own Part to Play (pitchforkmedia.com) Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted (pitchforkmedia.com) Chikita Violenta - Laydown (pitchforkmedia.com) The Bittersweets - Hurtin' Kind (officenaps.com) The Intruders - Together [...]
Forest Gospel
songsillinois
I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS
Sheena Beaston
OregonLive.com: Pop Music
Raised on Indie
i guess i'm floating
Pirates of the Bargain Bin
Mainstream Isnt So Bad...Is It
Instrumental Analysis
Comfort Music
The Late Greats
The Bamboo Orchestra
ÜberDrivel
24 hour party pooper
A.M. 180
The National - The Rains Of Castamere [Game of Thrones Soundtrack]
Running To You
Summer Camp – Always
Friday Remixes
