through the eyes of a shrimp and the ears of a human

Mantis Shrimp
Joshua Tillman began his music career as the drummer for the Philadelphia-based band Saxon Shore until 2004. Tillman then moved to Seattle and began opening for Damien Juardo and started making solo albums on CD-Rs and handing them out at shows. With is two solo records issued by Keep Recordings and a third from Fargo Records he then joined the band Fleet Foxes, as the drummer. Tillman left the band this Januray and started work on his new moniker Father John Misty. His new album Fear Fun was released this past May. I especially like the video for the song "Hollywood Cemetery Sings" because it features the beautiful (well she's sort of creepy looking in this video) Aubrey Plaza. Also known as April Ludgate from Parks And Recreation.
Father John Misty - Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings


I decided recently started watching Battlestar Galactica again. I decided that it is time to finally get through the series. Not because I am bored with it, but because I have other series I want to start watching. I once again have to reiterate how great that show is. Seriously it's a lot more than just spaceships and robots. Don't get me wrong there is a lot of that, but it's got so much drama going on and the characters are interesting and deep. Oh. and the plot twists, my Gods (thats a Battlestar joke), so good. Princess Chelsea gets it. You should get Princess Chelsea.
Princess Chelsea - Frack


I was listening to WYCE's Radiolab podcast today and they were talking about color. I learned that the Mantis Shrimp has 16 color receptors, where humans have only 3. This means that That shrimp can see way more colors than what we can. It was really interesting. At the end of the show they played this amazing cover song written by James Perrotto. The song was first recorded in 1959 by DeWayne Blackwell but became popular that same year by a band called the Fleetwoods.
Busman's Holiday - Mr.Blue (With Erin Tobey)


Frank Ocean is a member of hip hop crew Odd Future. He has been a ghostwritter for acts like Brandy and John Legend and was featured on the Jay-Z & Kanyes West album Watch The Throne. He just released a solo album called channel Orange and from the buzz that I have been hearing this is definitely an album to pick up. It's filled with chilled out soulful R&B, with intelligent and creative lyrics that you normally wouldn't come to expect from a modern day R&B act. I had the chance to hear a few tracks off of the album and I am surely going to pick this up when I get a chance, Gives me a reason to cash in my iTunes gift card. I knew I was saving it for something special.
Frank Ocean - Bad Religion


I randomly came across this website that linked to tons of small bands and their bandcamp pages. I went crazy grabbing up any free stuff I could find. One of the finds was this band called Sledding With Tigers. I was going to pass them over but a tiger is my favorite animal, so I thought why not. Well I am really glad I decided to do so because this band is great. There is something that I love about Folkish sounding music and angsty lyrics. It makes you want to get drunk and sing every word from the top of your lungs. This band will make you want to do just that. If you are a fan of Defiance, OH, The Ghost Mice or Andrew Jackson Jihad, grab a sled and go downhill with these cats. If you like this song head over to their bandcamp page where you will find a SWEET synth pop version of this song. Oh by the way, they are super nice people...see next blurb.
Sledding With Tigers - Homeless


I did something I usually don't do which is add a band on facebook and tell them how much I like them. I added Sledding With Tigers, and let them know I really dug their band, and that I would spread the word about them in Michigan. They said they really liked Michigan and also sent me this link. Which I like just as much. Do these bands a solid and check them out. If you like them let them know, go to their shows if they are in your area, or buy their music if you can.
Spoonboy - All The Kids In Michigan

The letter Q A.K,A, the second lonliest letter

The letter Q is going to be all videos. Why? Because, there aren't many bands that start with Q that aren't well known. So with this "Q"uandry I "Q"uit my "Q"uest to fill my "Q"uota of downloadable tunes, but I am "Q"uite certain you will enjoy this "Q"ueue of "Q"uality videos. After this sentence I will "quickly" stop this ""Q"uaint use of "Q"uotations and remain "Q"uiet from any further "Q"uirky "Q"uips.

Before she was an actress on TV, A spokesperson for Cover Girl, or a star on the big screen, Queen Latifah was a Hip Hop rapper, and a pretty skilled rapper at that. It's quite an easy thing to forget. I know I did.
Queen Latifah - U.N.I.T.Y.


I wish I had a time machine. I'd go back to the late 60's and early 70's when Rock and Roll was being born. It was exciting, dangerous, and fresh. You knew that you were seeing something revolutionary when watching a band. Quicksilver Messenger Service isn't widely known, but it's not super unknown either. Though the band was never as successful as acts, like Jefferson Airplane or The Grateful Dead, they did play a large role in creating the psychedelic rock genre. The name is one that is unique and hard to forget. Here is a quote I found on Wikipedia from guitarist John Cipollina on the creation of the band name:

"Jim Murray and David Freiberg came up with the name. Me and Freiberg were born on the same day, and Gary and Greg were born on the same day, we were all Virgos and Murray was a Gemini. And Virgos and Geminis are all ruled by the planet Mercury. Another name for Mercury is Quicksilver. And then, Quicksilver is the messenger of the Gods, and Virgo is the servant, so Freiberg says 'Oh, Quicksilver Messenger Service'."

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Mona


I first heard of Question through the South By South West web site. This was not the song I first heard, he has a great song called In My Chevy that I wanted to post. However since there wasn't a great video for the song, I chose this instead. If your wondering, yes I dance like a white boy quite frequently.


I have posted a song from Quantic before no my Golden Shores & Red Shoulders mix. You probably heard his music before on an iPod commercial. This is one I have been waiting to feature for quite a while. The Latin flair and tropical groove will have you craving to be somewhere hot in no time flat. I would also suggest the work he did with Alice Russell. She is a great singer and the smooth sounds make for some purely enjoyable listening.
Quantic and his Combo Barbaro - Un Canto A Mi Tierra


A dark classic that never gets old.
Queensryche - Silent Lucidity

Su-hu-mer Nia-hights

So as promised here is the first "summer night" mix titled We Only Come Out At Night: A RopBop Summer Night Mix. I took the name of a Smashing Pumpkins song, which was going to be included in this mix but, I couldn't find anywhere to fit in in the flow of the mix. I also recently discovered that I can make an embedded playlist. that way you can preview the mix before you decide if you wan it. I had something similar set up where I linked to Youtube videos, but this is much easier for me, and for you. Enjoy!


We Only Come Out At Night: A RopBop Summer Night Mix

01. Shimmering Stars - Sun's Going Down
02. The Radio Dept. - David
03. Damien Jurado - Nothing is the News
04. Kid Cudi - The Mood
05. Gold & Youth - Time To Kill
06. Hum - Stars
07. We Were Promised Jetpacks - Quiet Little Voices
08. The Promise Ring - A Picture Postcard
09. My Morning Jacket - First Light
10. Herman Dune - My Baby is Afraid of Sharks
11. Ben Howard - Old Pine
12. Said The Whale - Howe Sounds
13. St. Vincent And The National - Sleep All Summer
14. The Microphones - I felt Your Size
15. Karen O and the Kids - Hideaway
16. Little Wings - Look At What The Light Did Now
17. Rouge Wave - Eyes
18. Toe - Goodbye (Feat. Toki Asako)
19. Maxence Cyrin - Where Is My Mind Piano (Pixies Cover)