music by Grace Bonney 83

the sound of your morning: 5 songs to start the day


It’s been ages since I started a Monday feeling like I wanted to get back in bed for about a week. But last night two of my best friends and I rented a private room at a downtown karaoke spot and sang at the top of our lungs until we felt like we were going to drop. It’s hard to express how therapeutic it is to sing out loud without worrying about how lame you sound. I stopped caring about my puny voice somewhere between a round of Blondie and Clash songs. But I need a little bit of Debbie Harry’s stamina this morning to get off the couch and jump start my week, so I thought I’d share some of the soundtrack to my Monday morning. Last week’s music post got over 100 comments and introduced me to at least five new bands that I’m listening to on heavy rotation right now (thank you!). So today I thought I’d gear the recommendations toward the songs that bring you out of a sleepy stupor. Do you crank the volume and fill your home with something loud, or do you prefer to be lulled back to life by something soft and comforting? After reading everyone’s SXSW tweets this week, I have a feeling I’m not the only one in need of a little Monday morning pick-me-up. (And, in honor of SXSW, my selections this morning are all live music videos.)

So what’s your musical version of espresso? And, if your musical wake-me-up is more like a warm cup of chamomile tea, feel free to lay that on me, too. I eventually want to turn these reader-generated playlists into something we can all download, so please feel free to share MySpace and YouTube links. I’m excited to fill my home with new sounds this morning and hear what it’s like inside your homes. xo, grace

*Image above from Whitney and Jesse Chamberlin’s Sneak Peek

Wye Oak, “Civilian” — It was impossible to follow SXSW this year and not hear a steady stream of “OMG WYE OAK IS AMAZING” online. After repeat listens this weekend, I’m convinced everyone’s right. They’re amazing. Another reason to love Baltimore and the fabulous artists it produces.

#1.2 — The Spinto Band, “Oh Mandy” by lablogotheque

The Spinto Band, “Oh Mandy” — Zach from College Humor is the only reason I know about this band, and I love them to this day. AC introduced me to this amazing Takeaway Shows website years ago, and it’s remained one of the best and most interesting places to watch fantastic bands play live. Click here and get ready to lose a good four to five hours of your day watching live music.

CLICK HERE for more Monday morning music after the jump and to share your own!

The New Pornographers, “All the Old Showstoppers” — I have AC to thank for a large chunk of my favorite music. The New Pornographers are the best example of that. Carl Newman is probably my favorite musician of all time, and this live show in the back of a cab makes me incredibly happy. Geek-out moment? Carl and his lovely wife Christy opened up their home to us last summer, and it will be featured in the D*S Book this fall. I had a hard time sitting there, acting like it was normal to be two feet away from him. I’m pretty sure Amy had to listen to me gush about how amazing he and the band are for the entire ride to and from Woodstock. Sorry, Amy. But they’re that amazing.

The Empties, “Oh My God” by eikonproductions

The Empties, “Oh My God” — I’ve had a crush on this band ever since I saw this performance video shot in Athens, GA. I’m not kidding when I say that I want to time the D*S Book Tour visit to Athens with one of their shows.

The Avett Brothers, “At The Beach” — This is one of my favorite songs of the past few years. These guys are amazing performers and often use their (stomping) feet as percussion for live songs. It’s hard to listen to any of their music and not feel like a) learning to play the banjo and b) smiling and whistling around the house. Click here to read the D*S Sights & Sounds interview with Scott Avett. (There’s a banjo malfunction in this version, but I love their intensity in the performance and wanted to share it anyway.)

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83 Comments

Cristal

I agree, the best therapy is music! And lately this is one of my favorites. “Walk in the sky” by Bonobo

Melissa

I am listening to Wye Oak now! They are absolutely amazing.

After gathering these songs I think in the mornings I like to listen to things that are fun to sing along with.

I used to play “Victoria” by The Kinks to wake up in college: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2GHlcwlT1Y

I like to play Robyn first thing at work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcNo07Xp8aQ

Blood Dries Darker by Woods: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_zziUiSv3Y

Found Love in a Graveyard by Veronica Falls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUw-1YdhFrI

Golden Haze by Wild Nothing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuZRdDZ3ENc

Andrea Avery

David Byrne :: Like Humans Do
Nina Simone :: The Laziest Gal In Town
Heartless Bastards :: New Resolution
Sugar :: Your Favorite Thing
Uncle Tupelo :: Graveyard Shift

Dianne

Wye Oak is amazing and I wasn’t even at SXSW…..I just told all the people I knew who were going to see them if they could.

If you like New Pornographers you should give Destroyer a try. The name is not any indication of the music.

grace

dianne

i really enjoy destroyer- and most of the NP members other projects. though i have to say i prefer the sound of dan bejar with the NP better. though i could listen to neko or carl solo all day. kathryn’s new album is pretty great, too.

grace

Anna

Empire of the Sun–”Walking On A Dream”
Camera Obscura–”If Looks Could Kill”
Okkervil River–”Unless It’s Kicks”

yay!

grace

erin

did you spot the coralie bickford smith book cover in the video? so awesome :)

g

Ruthann

“Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles. Comforting, uplifting, but not too much for a slow Monday morning.

“Astral Weeks” by Van Morrison – another classic, comforting tune.

“Ambergris” by Snowblink. Daniela of Snowblink has such a sweet sound and this song is an absolute favourite of mine. Not on her myspace (http://www.myspace.com/snowblink), but absolutely worth the cost of the album. Amazing! http://www.myspace.com/snowblink

And, to really get moving on a Monday: “Sound + Vision” by DAvid Bowie.

Love this series of posts!

Adam

I’m more of the need to be dragged out of bed type, so these puppies get me fired up and stoked on the day:

The Naked and Famous – Young Blood
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Think I Wanna Die
The Kooks – Tick of Time
Angus & Julia Stone – Just a Boy
Whitest Boy Alive – Burning

Jessica

Spinto BAND! I love them forever. I went to college with Thomas and his little brother went to after I graduated. Fun to dance to, fun to sing, and fun guys.

I like to start my day first with some BBC World Update, and then something with a subtle beat like Feist or Ingrid Michaelson. If I am super sleepy I pop in some Girl Talk to get the blood flowing.

Jenn

Your song post last week actually inspired me to make a Morning Mix! I like something fast and dancey to wake me up… if I’m inspired to dance, I’m usually jazzed enough to attack the day.

Kanye West – Touch The Sky (LOTS of Kanye is good for this, this is my fav)
http://tinyurl.com/6zntcqq

Lady Sovereign – Hoodie
http://tinyurl.com/6jd74ha

Outkast – Bombs Over Baghdad (my #1 running song)
http://tinyurl.com/6ycp9f8

Eels – Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)
http://tinyurl.com/5tpxowp

Kate Nash – Pumpkin Soup
http://tinyurl.com/5snsop7

Ditty Bops – Sister Kate
http://tinyurl.com/65rlgs5

Apologies if the videos aren’t awesome–I wanted to offer links despite YouTube being blocked at my work. So I didn’t get to preview, just copy links from Google. Blocked sites = boo.

grace

meg

ooh, good pick! bill withers is the perfect solution to a rainy day like today :)

grace

Molly

Oh man, Grace, if you keep these posts up, I’ll never get anything done and will go broke from itunes downloads. I already bought several from last week. Erin – awesome picks!

Lauren

“Harlem River Blues” by Justin Townes Earle. Anything by JTE (or his dad) is amazing. This song and the entire album is great for easing into your day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LLqFF89UtU

And I’m with Meg, too – I listened to “Lovely Day” recently and it instantly put me in a better mood.

Larisa

Whoa, Spinto Band! I went to college with a bunch of those guys. Thanks for making me feel 18 again for a few minutes.

Erin Abbott

Colour Revolt (my husband’s band!!)
http://www.subwaysessions.com/colour-revolt-our-names-greenpoint-ave-g/

Honey Trees
http://www.myspace.com/thehoneytrees

Pomegranates
http://www.myspace.com/pomegranatesart

First Aid Kit
http://www.myspace.com/thisisfirstaidkit

Au Revoir Simone (two of them are good friends of mine from Brooklyn)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFG-cUQ1a8k

Sam Amidon (won’t make you want to dance, but oh so good!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw7pZvQPvcg

Love these bands!!

grace

erin

oh man, this only makes me want to catch up and get coffee even more! love these picks :)

g

Jo

UK band Deluka did really well at SXSW culminating with unexpectedly winning a vote to open for Snoop Dogg! They are certainly going to get your toes tapping with their infectious tunes. They’re a mix of indie-rock & disco and singer Ellie has a great style. There’s music and vids on their facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/Deluka

PleinJane

OK, I’ve already spent $5 on iTunes. Love the Brooke Fraser pick, Erin — and that NP video is great.

I’m glad to have put much of the ’80s behind me, but I was feeling a little down Sunday morning and the B52s’ “Love Shack” helped me get moving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leohcvmf8kM

amya

lo noseworthy – i’m totally into that song right now! xo AmyA

Liz

Love this post! I love both loud and calm stuff in the morning, but I’d like to suggest a Brooklyn based band called JP & the Gilberts that just played a few off SXSW shows. I loooove their song “Giddyup”. Good rowdy wakeup song! You can find em at jpandthegilberts.com and buy their debut record at jpgilbert.bandcamp.com :)

jenni o

I have wasted way too much time on these posts. Thank you for all the new artists!

Feelin Good, Nina Simone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22kPiPILteQ

King of the Bongo, Manu Chao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jOm4Q8_6nk

Down Home Girl, Old Crow Medicine Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJhlM6W4uhk‘

for a gentle wake-up:
Balance, Sara Tavares
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C9mWN8vKHQ

Can’t feel to get you moving, thank you Door Sixteen!)
janelle Monae, Tightrope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc

Diablo Rojo (Rodrigo y Gabriela)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lvMQCmUVv8

kirsten

ahhh, i love your music posts! thanks for the shares!

D

I went to high school w/Andy from Wye Oak. They’re so good. I think my favorite song is “That I Do”- featuring Mickey Freemix (also went to my high school). Awesome!

evan

The Shins “Kissing the Lipless” – when he hits that high note it makes you want to jump out of your seat.

Also, if you just put on anything from Superchunk’s No Pocky for Kitty you’ll be standing on your bed pogoing in no time!

grace

evan

agreed. that’s a pretty heavy rotation around the d*s home office ;)

grace

cherade9

My partner and I are both musicians. he plays double bass, bass guitar, guitar, mandola, mandolin and piano. We have a lot of instruments in the house, most of of them on the walls on guitar hangers.

I’m a singer, mostly folk and blues. I’m learning to play the tenor banjo, autoharp and piano very slowly. We’re very much into folk revival, blues, psychadelia and our friends bands who are inspired by the same things.

Right now I’m really into my partners bands. He’s playing with Jen and the Gents http://jenthegents.bandcamp.com/

Forgotten Works
http://theforgottenworks.bandcamp.com/album/the-forgotten-demo

and Trembling Bells who are currently touring with The Unthanks
http://www.myspace.com/445779958/music/songs/Baby-Lay-Your-Burden-Down-63451073

We’re very much into Kevin Coyne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2no4xBL-zc

and The Incredible String Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuHeseIT1HA&playnext=1&list=PL12FB3BA90BC7566D

We collect vinyl as a lot of the music we listen to is still not available on CD. If I’m feeling nostalgic I like to listen to Fairport Convention with Sandy Denny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1it7BP5PckI

or Kate Rusby who is from my home town of Barnsley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVbJ1sEe9lE

Hope it gives you a lovely Spring morning!

Rachel

Where did we go wrong- Oasis
Take one in the morning with boyfriend and a Smoothie to relieve symptoms of seasonal affective disorder

grace

sara

thanks! i really love them! they might become a new favorite this week. doesn’t hurt that the singer is totally adorable.

grace

Sara

I went to High School with these guys and Freshman tolo with the bassist, Eric. Who is the sweetest! This video always makes me homesick!

Gwendolyn

Great suggestions this is totally fun…I LOVE Strange Powers by the Magnetic Fields or basically any song from their 69 Love Songs album.

April

Matt and Kim get my going in the morning when I start off convinced it’s going to be a crappy day. Here’s three of my favorites (their new album Sidewalks is amazing, too, but I’m particularly attached to these songs):

Daylight-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgBeu3FVi60&feature=related

Lessons Learned- (I like watching this video before starting a day of painting. It’s, metaphorically, what I do when I make art)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJkymylTNU4&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fresults%3Fsearch_query%3Dmatt%2Band%2Bkim%2Blessons%2Blearned%26aq%3D0&has_verified=1

Lightspeed (actually a fan vid)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrrdlFc9VxQ&feature=related

xo. I hope I can make someone as happy as this music made me when I first heard it!

Jamie

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the Take Away Shows link! I’ve just lost a few hours watching, as you predicted :)

Nicole

I like to start off pretty mellow in the morning, but something I can sing along to so I can slowly wake up! My list as of late (most are from the past few years):

Laura Marling: Ghosts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA3w6p96Ff8

The Cinematic Orchestra: To Build a Home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhHKfSFGdUI

James Blake: The Wilhelm Scream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVgEaDemxjc

Then I slowly start pepping it up:)

OhLand: Sun of a Gun
http://www.youtube.com/user/OhlandVEVO#p/u/13/lWRi7gDYjVY

Bird and the Bee: Polite Dance Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhDVSiidt_4

Metric: Raw Sugar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3PUTbITtWI&playnext=1&list=PL5CA37059AEB3832C

Kristina

What a surprise! I am from DE, home of the Spinto Band…friends with some of their Dads (The Sin City Band). I love these guys. One of my favorite outings is the Black Friday event at a local bar when both bands play. We love them here in DE!

julia @ Simpletruths

Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves

It’s impossible to be in a crabby mood after listening to that song – no matter how little sleep I got the night before (I have a toddler and an infant so sleep is … interesting)

jc

my cup of tea is bosse nova and all that sexy stuff you hear on james bond flicks. And as my spiked cup of tea the Strokes and the Who.

Love this post!

emily

my boyfriend has been learning to play the ukulele, and when i sleepily refuse to wake up, he starts playing hotel yorba by the white stripes.
it’s so sweet and gets me up for the day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZPEUyiNcjA

(the video is kind of weird and unromantic. i much prefer our recontextualization.)

Luce

This is such an awesome new feature. I love it!
Wye Oak is seriously amazing. My SXSW pick was Karmina. They’re this rad poppy girl duo. So lovable! They always get me dancing even when I’m in the dourest of moods. And they played with Hanson this year. The cutest video in the world: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbSPGSorxOE

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