Yelle's two-part Video For Singles "Safari Disco Club" And "Que Veux Tu." 

Take responsibility for your choices, for your whims. Own your greatest strength and your most humbling mistakes. Cultivate the purpose you seek. Recognize your unbridled freedom. Everything else is meaningless.

Brooklyn Gang Series - 1959

Florence Welch by Vincent Haycock.

The xx perform Wham's "Last Christmas".

Cat Power's unequaled Jukebox version of her own track "Metal Heart" from 2008.

Brooklyn, NY based noise-poppers Sleigh Bells were remixed earlier this year by maestro and stereo-land favorite Diplo. Here he strips down the opening track off Treats, "Tell 'Em" with fantastic results.

Sleigh Bells kick off two-sold out shows tomorrow, Memorial Day, with Neon Indian at The Independent in SF.

I'll be there undoubtedly with a sunburn left over from this weekend. 

The Knocks featuring Mandy Lee covering M83's ubiquitous "Midnight City."

When I was young, my Mom would take my older sister and I in her modest Toyota Tercel on roads to anywhere and nowhere. Day trips to the Mendocino Coast, or down to Santa Cruz, through vineyards or artichoke fields. There was always a soundtrack for the road, for my mother was still young and big on cassette tapes. INXS, Madonna, and Fine Young Cannibals were heavy in rotation. Lest not forget Pat Benatar. My mom would kill me if I didn't mention her.

Alas, another band was often filling my impressionable ears, whether on the tape deck or ol' KRQR, and that band of course was U2.

Now, you could imagine the shit I've gotten over the years for my penchant for the band's music. Especially from music lovers my age, of whom I've endured so many "Bono sucks" rants I've lost count. 

In part, I understand, Bono's persona is incredibly self-righteous, and he's always had awful hair. It's too bad, because it detracts those who may be so inclined from their music. And their music my friends, has generally been outstanding. In their prime (1980 -1991), the band's catalog is unparalleled. They became the greatest rock and roll band for their passion, their sincerity and their sound, which now has been ape'd like a bad rash (Coldplay would be served well if Chris Martin stuck to his piano).

I have no qualms stating that tonight I'm seeing my all-time favorite band for the first time. I'm not going out on a limb saying I am who I am in part to the music I've grown up listening to, and U2 is a such a significant part of that. 

They're gonna play one of my favorite songs, which you can stream above.

And when they play, I'll sing and holler and put my arm around my brother-in-law(who in fact first saw U2 in '87 for The Joshua Tree tour) and stand in awe of it all. 

The Irish band plays the Oakland Coliseum tonight with Lenny Kravitz.

november.

the front porch. november. oakland. the chill of autumn. ocean blue soaked clouds. lampshades in windows. an american flag in the hood. the blinking red lights on the top of matching buildings. the soft hum of asphalt against rolling cars. the smoke of a girl as i exhale.