om sproget / on language

Jeg vil skrive bloggen på både engelsk og dansk. Hvis du kan ikke forstå ordene, fortæl mig, og jeg vil forsøge at oversætte. Hvis du er dansk, vil jeg gerne fortælle dig, jeg endnu er ved at lære sproget, og mit dansk er ikke særlig godt. Hvis du gerne vil hjælpe mig med ordene, det er rart og tak for det. Min email er somedayashtrays@gmail.com.

This blog will be written in both English and Danish. If you, as a reader, have trouble with one of those languages and would like a translation, please let me know, and I will do my best to oblige. If you are a Danish reader, please know that I am just learning, and my Danish is far from perfect. If you would like to suggest corrections please do so. Email me at somedayashtrays@gmail.com.

31 October 2008

Ikke mere kæledyr

If one of the CD players hadn’t stopped functioning halfway through, this could have been my best show yet. Even so, it will, I think, go down in history due to my playing the Spot Magazine “Everything Pets” underwriting spot back to back with the community calendar advertising (unbeknownst to me) a Halloween showing of the film adaptation of Pet Sematary. Oh yes.

I also talked a bit about some interesting articles published in the most recent issue of a magazine I don’t usually (okay, ever) read, the American Conservative. (You, too, can join in doing something completely in contradiction with all previous political activity -- read the articles starting here.) Anyway, the editors asked eighteen contributors to write short essays on who they’re planning to vote for and why. If the results of this “survey” -- of people, remember, whose opinions are recognized by the readers of a nationally circulating magazine, and who are considered far enough to the right to be allowed to write for it -- are at all indicative of how the upcoming election will turn out, well, I’d say that’s very good.

A recap of what I said on the show: Of the eighteen, four were so displeased with their options that they plan to abstain from voting entirely. Two others, who plan on giving their votes to write-ins, might as well. Four more votes will go to third-party candidates. That leaves eight, and five of eight American conservatives support Obama. (PS -- the three who plan to vote for McCain are all reluctant.) Again -- oh yes.

Here is the playlist, which was mostly normal but with a vampire song and a mention of pagan holidays thrown in, just in case.
1. Hate to Say I Told You So – the Hives (SV)
2. Minua Ollaan Vastassa – Regina (F)
3. Blah Blah Blah – Say Hi to Your Mom
4. Current Acids – Shout Wellington Air Force (DK)
5. Piazza, New York Catcher – Belle & Sebastian
6. King Canute – the Kabeedies
7. Invisibility Trick – Stars in Coma (SV)
8. Le Beat’s on Fire – epo-555 (DK)
9. Mouth – No and the Maybes (DK)
10. I Wish You’d Stay – Club 8 (SV)
11. How Did We Forget? – El Perro del Mar (SV)
12. Leaving You Behind – Hello Saferide (SV)
13. Asleep – Juni Järvi (SV)
14. Locked in Tight – the Flaming Stars

--DL--
Ashtrays Podcast (31. oktober 2008)

29 October 2008

En rigtig post!

Spillelisten!
1. Yes this is My Broken Shield - the Deer Tracks (SV)
2. I Know You Sleep - Bang Gang (IS)
3. Something New - Bakers at Dawn (SV)
4. Romance on Drugs - Little Jimmy Reeves (DK)
5. Drown them Out - Viva Voce
6. Avec - Dazzle Ships (DK)
7. For Lovers - Wolfman featuring Peter Doherty
8. Icecold Kisses - Ostrich (SV)
9. Ways to Dance - Kite (SV)
10. The Magic Position - Patrick Wolf
11. Love Doesn't Last - Broder Daniel (SV)
12. Heartbeats - the Knife (SV)
13. Sovereign - the Duke Spirit
13. Bachelor Kisses - the Radio Dept. (SV)

Funny how one song can change the tone of the whole set, and you go from 'For Lovers' to 'Love Doesn't Last.' I'm talking, of course, about the new Bang Gang single, I Know You Sleep. It's from his third album, Ghosts from the Past, and admittedly the only track I've heard from the new album. But -- even though it sounded kind of flat and processed through the KPSU speakers when I played it on the show tonight -- I Know You Sleep pretty much puts the songs on the previous album (2003's Something Wrong) to bed.

The video was released about a week ago, I think, and I have to wonder if it was timed for Halloween. Even though I've never seen a B horror film, the I Know You Sleep video reminds me of a B horror film, complete with creepy sound effects, blue screen driving scenes, vicious dogs, and -- I don't want to give too much away, but -- a guy with too many sharp teeth, and the requisite heroic rescuer guy in the car, played, of course, by Bardi Johansson (the man behind Bang Gang) himself. What I won't give away is the ending, but it's... interesting.

At first, the song and the visuals seemed really incongruous, but upon further reflection, they go well together. Even the song's title begs for a creepy horror film to illustrate it. Otherwise, I mean, people might get confused and think it's a romantic song to be played at weddings (but seriously, Every Breath You Take?). It's got nice sentiment, though. I cannot breathe; I need you here... Hmm.

ALSO -- My Friday show falls on Halloween. A lot of other DJs this week have been doing themed shows; should I follow suit? I played a vampire show a couple months ago; I could do that again. Or I could just play the Knife for an hour. Or just do normal. Any requests? Suggestions?

--DL--
Ashtrays Podcast (29. oktober 2008)

27 October 2008

Sidste tre programmer

I dag, jeg har kun links. Du kan måske allerede se, men jeg har ikke tiden, og jeg er nu nok ligeglad. Undskyld.

Fredag, 17. oktober: playlist -- podcast
Onsdag, 22. oktober: playlist -- podcast
Freday, 24. oktober: playlist -- podcast

22 October 2008

I aften

Distinct possibility that there may be no show tonight. The sewers have ruptured or something, and the bottom half of the building KPSU is in is roped off with caution tape. Even if they get the pipes put back together by this evening, sewage tends to flow downward -- you know, with gravity -- and since the station is located in the sub-basement, I'm kind of thinking... don't get your hopes up.

20 October 2008

Jeg bekymre mig

After several weeks of sleeping under all seven blankets in so cold it still felt like camping, the radiators in my building have finally been turned on. The noises they are making sound like my apartment is going to blow up. I'm really scared. If you don't hear from me after this, you'll know what happened.

16 October 2008

For sent igen

I'm trying to get everything all caught up, which will probably never happen. Here, though, are my missing playlists.

Fra i fredags (10. oktober):
1. Feelings. Getting Stronger in the Night - Moneybrother (SV)
2. Loaded Gun - the Charade (SV)
3. Where Birds Don't Fly - Club 8 (SV)
4. She Says It's Alright - the Rentals
5. The Gray - Daníel Ágúst (IS)
6. Two Skylights - Southern Belle
7. Lund - Hello Saferide (SV)
8. You're So Great - Dreamboy (SV)
9. Feels Like Drowning - the Lost Patrol Band (SV)
10. Wooden Heart - the Duke Spirit
11. I Know a Place - Jay Reatard
12. Exit Bag - Andy Love (SV)
13. ADHD - Jonas Game

This show was interrupted by a fire drill between tracks 4 and 5. I put the automix on, and I don't know what played then. It messed up my playlist. I think the show wound up okay, though. I didn't mind to play so exclusively Swedes.

Spillelisten fra i gårs (15. oktober):
1. I Grunden er Afgrunden Grunden - Thunderbear (DK)
2. Undefined - Bakers at Dawn (SV)
3. Looking at You is Like Looking at the Sun - Juni Järvi (SV)
4. Suffer for Fashion - of Montreal
5. Ex Lion Tamer - Wire
6. The Beat Dies - the Raveonettes (DK)
7. Lost in You - Tiger Baby (DK)
8. Today - Agata & Me (DK)
9. Summer Sun - Batte (NO)
10. The Sweetness of Air France - Taken by Trees (SV, SV)
11. Going to Where the Tea Trees Are - Peter von Poehl (SV)
12. Crooked Spine - Sambassadeur (SV)
13. Vinterbørn - Under Byen (DK)

Yesterday I also guest-hosted My Secret Crush (the 10 o'clock show) in Zach's absence. This show consisted mainly of me starting out by ridiculously embarrassing myself, followed by a redemption of sorts with 40 minutes of good Scottish pop. If either of those things sound interesting to you, you can find the playlist or stream/download the show via the KPSU site.

This reminds me, also -- today's featured artist over at It's A Trap! has members who are both Swedish and Scottish, or something like that. I haven't listened yet, but that kind of combination has got to be pretty alright.

--DL--
Ashtrays Podcast (10. oktober 2008)
Ashtrays Podcast (15. oktober 2008)

09 October 2008

Den her sang behøvede ikke at have et remiks

I spent an hour this morning trying to get Firefox AK's myspace page to load, and once it did, I wished it hadn't.

Let me explain. I guess that when you have a great song like Anna, you're eventually going to have to let somebody remix it, and who better than a member of your own backing band? However, if I'd been Annika Norlin (otherwise known as Hello Saferide) I might have been tempted to kick Andrea Kellerman (otherwise known as the aforementioned Firefox AK) out of the band when I heard her remix of Anna.

To be fair, it's -- for a remix -- relatively (and blessedly) short, clocking in at 2:55, and I'll admit that it has improved a bit with repeated listens. But this -- the original -- was a song that couldn't have been improved on, and it's also not a song that anyone should ever dance to -- or at least not dance to in the remixed fashion, if you know what I mean. Occasionally, putting electro beats under sad songs works; here it does not. Despite what I said about the remix improving after a few listens, this is not something I want to hear. Ever again.

And it's not just the beat, it's the lyrics. The original Anna is beautiful and heartwrenching (and would be even without the music), but in the remix, half the lines are gone, and the lyrics are destroyed. I just don't know.

On her website, Hello Saferide writes that the remix breaks her heart -- I have to wonder if she really means that in a good way.

Usually, Firefox AK is an artist I can either take or leave. I enjoyed Once I Was Like You; wasn't too fond of Winter Rose. And, of course, she was the other voice on Hello Saferide's Long Lost Penpal -- no complaints there. There are very few artists who are so hit-or-miss for me -- usually I just give up. The Anna remix is definitely a miss, but hopefully whatever she comes out with next will be more along the hit side, because Firefox AK really is an artist I'd like to like.

Download the original version of Anna, or stream the remix here.

--DL--
Anna (Hello Saferide)

08 October 2008

Spillelisten!

Typed this up last night during the show, then forgot to post it.

Spillelisten for 8. oktober:
1. Life's A Beach - Studio (SV)
2. Ball & Chain - Social Distortion
3. Something Nice - Stina Nordenstam (SV)
4. Europa - Entakt (DK)
5. White Noise - Death Valley Sleepers (DK)
6. Arrows - Einar Stray (N)
7. Heartbeats - the Knife (SV)
8. Skin of the Night - m83
9. Adrenaline (Darkboy/TAT200 Remix) - Oliver North Boy Choir (FN, DK)
10. Travel as I Wait - Tomas Halberstad (SV)

--DL--
Ashtrays Podcast (8. oktober 2008)

07 October 2008

I dags ord er nedslået

As if it couldn’t get any worse... Today, It’s A Trap! announced that Hello Saferide will play not just one but two shows in New York later this month -- one of which, to add insult to injury, will be free. As of now, I officially hate everyone who lives in New York.

Her website is down again, though. Perhaps that means she's adding west coast dates?

I uges' spillelister

Onsdag, 1. oktober:
1. Bear Quartet International Airport - the Bear Quartet (SV)
2. You Make Me Weak at the Knees - Electrelane
3. Hands Remember - Seabear (IS)
4. Det Kommer Bara Leda Till Nåt - Säkert! (SV)
5. Shoreline - Broder Daniel (SV)
6. Paris 2004 - Peter Bjorn & John (SV)
7. Tonight I Have to Leave It - Shout Out Louds (SV)
8. Noisy Summer - the Raveonettes (DK)
9. Seconds Away - the Legends (SV)
10. Keep it Down - the Worn-Out Virgins (DK)

--

Fredag, 3. oktober:
1. Hoppipolla - Sigur Rós (IS)
2. Not Enough - Maria Timm (DK)
3. I'll Be Fine - Bertine Zetlitz (N)
4. I Love You, You Imbecile - Pelle Carlberg (SV)
5. Hej Då Karolin - the Honeydrips (SV)
6. Saintly Friend - Said the Shark (DK)
7. Lion Tamer vs Tigers - Echo is Your Love (FN)
8. Because Trees Can Fly - Lampshade (DK)
9. For Once In Your Life Try to Fight For Something You
Believe In - moi Caprice (DK)
10. Love and Nostalgia - Friday Bridge (SV)
11. Stop in the Name of Love - Bang Gang (IS)
12. Comforting Sounds - Mew (DK)

Næsten alle bands, fra begge dage (minus kun Friday Bridge, Maria Timm, moi Caprice, og the Worn-Out Virgins) har været spillede sammen med the Bear Quartet på mit program før nu. Interessant.

Også, i gårs, spillede Sigur Rós i Portland. Da jeg gik hjem fra mit dansk klasse, gik jeg forbi koncertpladsen, og set jeg ikke dem, men deres to meget storre busser, og også en hel semi af deres udrustning. Jeg vil hellere har set dem -- eller hørte dem -- men det kunne ikke være. Jeg håber -- og jeg er sikker -- koncerten var godt for dem som var der. Men jeg skulle har været der i stedet.

--DL--
Ashtrays Podcast (1. oktober 2008)
Ashtrays Podcast (3. oktober 2008)