DJ ALISHA RECORD REVISIT & Austin Stories...

Its been a little quiet on the 1190 blog lately... I blame SXSW. Therefore, no new RECORD REVISIT this week. But here's your chance to vote for the next record from my collection that I re-review!

VOTE FOR NEXT FRIDAY'S RECORD REVISIT:

1)The Busy Signals - Baby's First Beats
2)DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
3)Papa M - Live in a Shark Cage
VOTE BY LEAVING A COMMENT IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW!

To view past RECORD REVISITS see:

Destroyer - City of Daughters

Ween - Pure Guava

Land of the Loops - Bundle of Joy

Okay, so the whole SXSW thing. I've gotten exciting texts from friends over the last week about who they're seeing on the streets, how much bbq they can eat, what shows they've liked and its made me kind of wish that I was in Austin myself.

But since I can't be there this year, I'll just pull out my old VHS tapes of the tv show "Austin Stories." Did you ever see this show? There's only 12 episodes and it was on MTV back in the 90s.

I don't believe its out on dvd, but you can watch pretty much all episodes on youtube.

Enjoy your weekend,

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DJ ALISHA: High Five (things I love)

Here's 5 things I'm lovin' on:

1)

2)Parker Lewis Can't Lose coming to DVD in June. You know, I haven't seen this show since its original run. I know I could probably go to youtube right now and watch parts of an episode, but I think it will be worth the wait. Now, it will probably be not as awesome as I remember it to be, but it'll be fun to relive. It was on Sunday nights on Fox, right?

3)Cake Mania on the iPhone! I'm like so obsessed with this game. I had it on the Nintendo DS and would stay up all night trying to bake, frost, decorate and deliver the cakes in record time. I even beat it so well that I got a special extended level. This game was so addictive that I would play it between bands at concerts. So yeah, its on the iPhone now and I'm SO looking forward to seeing what has changed with the game and if there's secret levels.

4)Let the Right One In: Swedish vampire flick. I finally saw it! Its about a 12 year old boy who at school is continually bullied, but after school he starts up a relationship/friendship with a girl who turns out to be a vampire.

5)Tocabe: a newish food joint in Denver (corner of 44th and Lowell) that is Native American fare meets Chipotle. Native American style tacos (which means the tacos are served on fry bread) and Chipotle in its design... assembly line style, simple menu and cheap. Fry bread is so good, and their salsas are awesome too. I'm hooked. (pic from Westword)

To see past High 5zzzzz clicky:

Week 1

Week 2

What are you lovin' on? Post in the comments!

Talk soon,

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DJ ALISHA RECORD REVISIT: Destroyer - City of Daughters

Its time for another edition of DJ Alisha's Record Revisit. This is where I re-review an album from my record collection that I haven't listened to in years and you vote on which one I review!

So you had a choice of albums from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Galaxie 500 and Destroyer. You chose Destroyer.

VITAL STATS:
Artist: Destroyer
Album: City of Daughters
Label: Triple Crown Audio
Year: 1998

A few things before I review this. My love affair with Destroyer started when his album Thief came out in January 2000 and Radio 1190 made it their "CD of the Month." I loved this album so much I went to Wax Trax when it was still around on the hill to get the rest of his music.

Oh and if you don't know, Destroyer is a project of Canadian artist Dan Bejar and Dan Bejar is also a member of The New Pornographers and Hello, Blue Roses and probably some other groups that you can find when you google him.

(LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN TO CITY OF DAUGHTERS)

I'm a few songs in and its definitely a lot more stripped down than Thief (which is just what I will compare it against, since its my favorite). But there's a good balance of instrumentation and vocals, which I like so that his lyrics don't get lost in the music. Its very sparse and lo-fi. Its great.

Songs I'm diggin' on: "The Space Race" is really upbeat and poppy, "Comments on the World As Will" is pretty and "I Want This Cyclops" is just a really great song. "You Were So Cruel" is pretty good too, its both a lot of reverb and stripped down at at the same time. I really like his songwriting on "State of the Union." The closing track "Son of the Earth" is a perfect ending to a really great album.

Dan Bejar has long been an indie crush of mine. Last year (well I guess end of 2007) when I saw The New Pornographers in concert he was wearing a scarf and just looked so handsome and dapper, but had this messy hair that was so fitting for how I wanted him to look--- he would hang out backstage, but then when it was a song that he was a part of, he'd come onstage, sing and then leave. SO COOL (hee hee)! I actually thought he was looking like a younger version of Tim Burton. But I'm not an "all looks" kind of girl, I love voices, and that's why I'll always love Dan Bejar and his project Destroyer.

So City of Daughters is a great record, but I must say I love Thief more. I love Theif more because the songs are more poppy and I'm a pop girl. But there's no denying how great of a songwriter Bejar is and what an incredibly well-written and poetic album this is. Give City of Daughters a listen, then Thief... if you've never listened to Destroyer before or not too much or not in a long time like me, you may find yourself wanting to go on a Destroyer kick!

Here's some of my City of Daughters faves-

Did you like this segment? Now tell me what I should listen to next...

VOTE FOR NEXT FRIDAY'S RECORD REVISIT:

1)The Busy Signals - Baby's First Beats
2)DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
3)Papa M - Live in a Shark Cage

VOTE BY LEAVING A COMMENT IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW (you don't need a login and you can vote anonymously if you want to).

To view past RECORD REVISITS see:

Ween - Pure Guava

Land of the Loops - Bundle of Joy

Happy Friday,

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All day I dream about Tim & Eric.

While bloggers seem to *still* be gossiping about "Wayne VS Win," the recent engagement of teen-star Mandy Moore to indie-hunk Ryan Adams or MIA telling the press to f-off because she doesn't want to reveal her brand new baby son's name, all I want to blog about today is my love for Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim. 

They haven't done anything "gossip" worthy but just remain two rad comedians/writers/directors/producers/adorable guys that make the best sketch comedy show I can't get enough of. 

Their surreal sketches, hilarious/infectious songs and sometimes gross-me-out characters on the show Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is all I can think about right now!

You can watch episodes and clips of Tim and Eric on Adult Swim! They just posted a new episode called "Tommy" where they hire cult-director Tommy Wiseau (don't even ask how many times I've seen The Room) to direct a sketch. Also in the episode Fred Willard stars in a sketch called "Mancierge" and Denver is mentioned in it! Please watch it by clicking on "Tommy." Also spend some time at this link watching some more clips. 

I love that they have an amazing rotating cast of characters involved in the show including some of my favorites like Willard, Bob Odenkirk, Zach Galifianakis and John C. Reilly to name a few. But they also have discovered some great lesser know gems like David Leibe Hart. I wish they needed a lesser funny DJ girl to add to the cast, I have worked in tv before, ya know... <3 

I'm listening to their album Awesome Record, Great Songs right now wishing someone was here with me to laugh along. Some of my favorite songs "Come Over," "Father and Son," "Rolo Tony," "Long Legs," "Petite Feet," "Raz," "Lost in the Wheel" and well most of the 47 tracks on the record. 

Indie rock heroes The Shins and Built to Spill both cover songs on the record, but I actually like the originals better. There's an amazing song on here sung by Aimee Mann called "Hearts" which is so pretty. If you know the show, "pretty" is not really a word that people would use to describe the show or the songs, but these guys are truly genius writers and can write "pretty" songs even if the lyrics are gross or the sketch the song compliments is twisted, they sure know how to make it sound real pretty.  

I think Tim and Eric deserve every penny they earn and then some. Hollywood shouldn't be paying big bucks to Will Smith and Tom Cruise when there's guys like Tim and Eric who are my leading men. 

LYLAS,

(PS: I'm on-air today from 4-6pm) Read More......

DJ ALISHA RECORD REVISIT: Ween - Pure Guava

Its Friday and that means that its time for DJ Alisha's Record Revisit. 

If you don't know what that means, check out my previous blog here about this new segment I've started. 

So you voted and this week's Record Revisit winner is Ween's album Pure Guava. 

VITAL STATS-

Artist: Ween
Album: Pure Guava

Label: Elektra 
Year: 1992

I must have bought this album after hearing Ween on Beavis and Butt-head. You remember the "Push th' Little Daisies" skit? Well I loved their voices and needed to own their music. 

Nowadays when I play Ween on the radio, I find myself wanting to play songs from Mollusk, 12 Golden Country Greats or their latest album La Cucaracha. I remember for a while "Freedom of '76" from Chocolate and Cheese would get requested ALL the time, to the point it was annoying that I never play songs from that anymore, even though I really like that album (and I know guys like the cover of that album). 

So I'm listening to Pure Guava and I'm drugged up now on cold medicine and all I can think right now is this is a really great stoner record. I don't smoke "the pot," however, its kind of transforming me into the mindset as if I was. I feel all noodle-y and I realize I don't play songs off this record on the radio because there's a lot of curse words. 

"Push th' Little Daisies" is still a cool quirky song, but I'm liking "Touch My Tooter," "Don't Get 2 Close (2 My Fantasy)," "Tender Situation," "The Stallion Pt. 3" and "Poop Ship Destroyer" better. A song that killed my "noodle-y" buzz is "Pumpin' 4 the Man" ...its a little too cloying for me in my snot-nosed, flu-like state. But then the album redeems itself with the next song, a slow song, "Sarah" with female vocals. "Big Jilm" is pretty kooky cute too. 

I don't know about you,  but I group Ween together with the group The Frogs and out of the two bands, I listen to The Frogs more, so I'm glad I'm revisiting this album again today. All in all, I like this album (actually a lot), but I don't see myself putting this on as "my album" again anytime soon. Its definitely one of those albums that complimented a different time in my life.

I really like the Ween brothers (BTW: they're not really brothers by birth, but they might as well be), they have a great sense of humor and are great songwriters even if their music many sound "weird" to some. 

I saw them at Red Rocks a while back and they have such devoted fans. My brother is a huge fan. At one of their Red Rocks shows he was doing a cookout in the parking lot handing out "weeners" to people and making friends who love Ween just as much as him. I like them a lot, but I wouldn't consider myself a "Ween-hard" or whatever the fans call themselves. A few years ago I remember reading this great A.V. Club interview with Dean Ween where he said that fans come to the town in Pennsylvania where they live all the time to find them. Dean said that while he used to love hanging out with fans, he doesn't want to be bothered much anymore (I need to find that article, it gave me a fresh perspective to the band at that time).   

Ween has been making records for about 25 years and I appreciate all of them, even if they're not "culturally important" on a mass scale, I think they at least deserve a listen. I'm glad I revisited Pure Guava for you today. 

Rock out with me, won't you: 

NOW FOR NEXT WEEK, VOTE FOR THE NEXT RECORD REVISIT: 

1)Galaxie 500 - Copenhagen

2)Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - The Good Son

3)Destroyer - City of Daughters

VOTE BY LEAVING A COMMENT IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW (you don't need a login and you can vote anonymously if you want to).

LYLAS, 

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Upcoming shows that have me in a tizzy

There's starting to be a lot of talk about SXSW this year, but I'm not going so I thought I'd feature some upcoming concerts that I can't wait to attend here in D-town. 

Stereo Total & Leslie and the Ly's: Its no lie, I love both of these acts. I've seen them both in concert and I love Stereo Total's songs and Leslie's live act! 

3/27/09

Bluebird Theater

Mirah: She's such a cutie pie. Her album "You Think Its Like This But Really Its Like This" was the first album I reviewed at 1190. 

4/12/09

Hi-Dive, 16+

Yann Tiersen: The only time I've tried to see him in concert was in London and he was supposed to be playing with Calexico. Then he cancelled. I was sad. This is my chance! PS: He composed the soundtrack for Amelie if you didn't know.

4/24/09

Bluebird Theater, 16+

Leonard Cohen: I'm taking my dad, I can't wait. Red Rocks+Mr. Leonard Cohen=Heavenly

6/02/09

Red Rocks

David Byrne & DeVotchKa: This is just so wonderful. Everything about this show screams perfect. On one hand, I am just so excited to see David Bryne perform, but I'm also thrilled for local-bred, worldly adored DeVotchKa open for him. I hope David watches them play! OH & I heard David Byrne is going to perform songs that he did with Brian Eno. The only thing that would make the show better is if Brian Eno would be there too. Will he be there, do you know anything? Let me know ASAP! <3

6/21/09

Red Rocks

There's other great shows coming up... just look at 1190's Concert Calendar to see when Akron/Family, Junior Boys, Mates of State, Conor Oberst, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and other cuties are playing!

Hope to see you at the shows. I'll be the nerdy girl with the big glasses.

<3,

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Belle and Sebastian Soup

I made Belle and Sebastian soup for dinner last night. 

The recipe is taken from Lost in the Supermarket: An Indie Rock Cookbook that I received for Christmas. I've made this soup maybe four or five times since I got the book. The recipe is easy, healthy and not time-consuming. 

I thought you might like to try the recipe too. 

BTW: If you have the cookbook, the Calexico Tofu Scramble is delish too.

Thai Sweet Potato Soup

By: Belle and Sebastian

INGREDIENTS:

1 large onion
2-inch chunk of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped finely

1 tbsp Thai red curry paste
1 stalk lemongrass*, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed or finely chopped
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
3-1/2 cups veggie stock/broth
1-3/4 cups coconut milk (which is a can)
Juice of half a lime
OPTIONAL 4 or 5 Kaffin lime leaves

Splash of olive oil for frying

*lemongrass should be found by the fresh basil, rosemary and other packaged herbs in the fruit/veg section

PREPARATION:
1. Start by frying the onion with the ginger, curry paste and lemongrass. Fry until soft.
2. Add the garlic and fry for 1 minute
3. Add the sweet potatoes and the stock
4. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the sweet potato is soft
5. Add the lime juice, lime leaves (if using) and the coconut milk and liquidize
6. If you like it hotter, add a red chili (seeded and chopped) at the start (along with the onion)

And don't forget to listen to them while you cook, its like they're right there with you... sort of!

Enjoy,

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DJ ALISHA: High Five

Hi, How Are You?

DJ Alisha here... how was your weekend?

I used to do a feature years back when I dj'd the morning show called "High Five" where I'd feature five things in the world of pop culture that I loved each week. So I thought with the new 1190 blog, I'd start it up again.

From me to you... let's share a HIGH FIVE! This week I'm lovin' on:
1)Ricardo Baca's Denver Post article yesterday featuring our very own DJ and Music Director Katherine! Baca says this of her graduating this year: "she should also get an honorary degree in independent music study," and I totally agree! We love her around here.

2)My "Holy Ba Jesus" dress designed by Leanne Marshall, who apparently won Project Runway last season. Its cute cute cute and H-O-T! Now I need to find the perfect shoes to wear with it...

3)The brand new book I got for Valentine's Day, Daniel Johnston. I like how it doesn't refer to Daniel as an outsider artist, which I often find myself calling him to people who don't know who he is. The book features his amazing artwork as early as his high school years and the print quality is so good, it almost seems as if you were at a gallery looking at the original. Also in the book- a great interview with Daniel, plus an equally awesome essay from Jad Fair and other folks. The book came out last month and its SOOO good!

4)Watching episodes of Doctor Who. I love Netflix On Demand! I sometimes watched the original Doctor Who series on tv as a youngster, but didn't really get into it. But now I'm enjoying episodes of the 21st-century remake! I just finished the first season and had a lot of fun it. I'll be starting season two when I can. FYI: Christopher Eccleston who plays the Doctor in this season is going to be in the live-action G.I. Joe film as Destro out this summer!

5)Neko Case's new album Middle Cyclone. It comes out tomorrow, but of course you can listen to clips online and we've been bumping it in our rotation at the radio station for the last week or so! You should request "Next Time You Say Forever" on our request line, the song shows off her super-awesome song writing skills. In a recent interview of hers I read, she brags about being into quilting and that she got the idea for many of her songs on this new album in her dreams. Her dreams were filled with tornadoes (hence the weather reference in her album title) and in one of her dreams a tornado talked to her and asked if she would read him a book. This is her first album in three years and it sounds real nice.

We should talk... what are you into right now? Leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you!

<3,

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