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dTunes Editor's Week Day 8: Ben PerLee photo

[dTunes is a community organized blog showcasing the musical tastes of Destructoid's users. For two weeks, the editorial team is commandeering the series because, hey, we like music too. To further expand your horizons, make sure to check out the dTunes blog.]

I'm going to be real here. What you are going to hear here is the biggest pile of pretentious music you will probably discover  on Destructoid. I really don't want it to be pretentious, but I have a habit of rattling off bands that I like, only to have indie kids to say I am their new best friend, and everyone else look at me with pity.

Oh well.

However, I'm the one in charge tonight, and while you honestly might find my choice in music to be utterly disgusting, I just have to say this: You are probably right. Like all things in life, personal aesthetic is like a beautiful butterfly, individual in its glory. That is until you set it free on the internet, and everyone steps on it.

Let the music commence!

 
Bon Iver - Woods
 
Right now, Bon Iver is my musical go-to man. If you don't know by now, Bon Iver is a musician with a story like this: he gets a liver disease, goes off to a Wisconsin cabin to angst away about his ex-girlfriend, grows a beard and deals with bears. His music tends to deal with mopey topics and stuff like that, all wrapped in a haunting falsetto and minor folk refrains. He's also really damn incredible, and I've chosen Woods mostly because it slays me every single time I listen to it. It is a stunning play on Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek, and the overwrought auto-tune does something incredible with his voice. Too bad most of his fans hate this song in relation to the rest of his work, which is more folk in orientation, because I love this song.
 
 
 
Sufjan Stevens - Sister Winter
 
Ok, you have every right to hate me for this one. First of all, it's a Sufjan Stevens song, a guy who had the balls to say that he was going to make an album based off every state in the US. Top it off, he makes songs about serial killers, bees, and zombies. But he is so. damn. talented. Like with everything else I listen to, I love his music, and he does some incredible things with layers. Each song is an orchestra of guitars, horns, drums, voices, and loads of bizarre audio tricks. Of course, the fact that I choose a Sufjan Stevens Christmas song is surely going to bring me ire. Sorry, but I got to be real: Sister Winter is damn straight amazing.
 
 
The Decemberists - We Both Go Down Together
 
I discovered this bad while living in London, and they changed my life. Seriously got me through some rough times. We Both Go Down Together is a great love song retelling the story of Romeo and Juliet, culminating in a suicidal jump from a cliff. If that's too much, there's always the Mariner's Revenge. That song is a little better for those inclined to 18th century tales of roustabouts.
 
 
Union Station - The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn
 
The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn is a traditional bluegrass song performed by Union Station, the real musicians behind George Clooney and gang in O Brother Where Art Thou? It's really an amazing song that really shows that American folk music can be neither crap or semi-pop callow music for the masses. Really great.
 
 
 
Basement Jaxx - Raindrops
 
Now to really change things up, I'm bringing out this pretty awesome and catchy song from Basement Jaxx. It has had some airplay in the UK, although I have yet to hear in in the States outside of a Rhapsody commercial. It's a trippy dance tune that changes style halfway through, and really shows a pretty cool progression for the group. The whole album (Scars) is pretty great, and Raindrops is only a start.
 
 
CSS - Music is My Hot Hot Sex
 
CSS is this amazing band from Brazil that sings about raunchy things and having fun. Basically all you need from a lead singer that calls herself Lovefoxx. Good enough for an Apple commercial, good enough for you.
 
 
Some of you probably know this singer from her popular sophomore album, Begin to Hope. She's an incredible singer with some awesome chops, all with a quirky and bizarre style that makes her unique. I really love her song Us from her first major album, Soviet Kitsch. It's a sweet about love and all that, but damn if she doesn't use some weird metaphors.
 
 
Yes. I know. The band I'm From Barcelona is a guy and 20 something of his friends singing songs about being friends and being from Barcelona. Even though they are from Sweden. Don't be a player hater, this song is damn catchy and happy, you cannot be bitter when you listen to lyrics like "We'll aim for the stars/we'll aim for your heart/when the night comes/and we'll bring you love/and you'll be one of us when the night comes". Actually, that just comes off creepy. Oh well! 
 
 
The Pinker Tones - S.E.X.Y.R.O.B.O.T
 
This song is about a sexy robot. This video is weird. This song is great.
 
Anyway, that's all I got for now! While this is only a small bit of the music I could have brought out (like the Nor Cal post-punk music, French alternative, tap dance-based percussion music, more girl rock, as well as my more mainstream music), I figure what you see above is a different typeof audio in your life. Like I said, it's not for everyone, but hopefully you found something you might at least like a little bit.

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28 comments | showing # 1 to 28

Cataract's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 00:33
Cataract
Hipster o clock?

Already?


:P
Tactix's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 00:34
Tactix
You're right...I'm looking at you with pity.
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 00:38
Xzyliac
CSS? Regina Spektor?

I dunno. This is the best list I've seen thus far. It not only features musicians I know but even musicians I enjoy.
Volkarin's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 00:38
Volkarin
Some awesome songs some of which I never actually heard before and I am interested in looking some up.
Char Aznable's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 00:45
Char Aznable
Please allow me to jauntily flip my scarf over my shoulder with aplomb in approval of these selections.

Alright, I'm done breaking your balls now.
n0brein's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 00:46
n0brein
these are the bands I was expecting from rev ant ;)
nice ones though :)
GBreaux's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 02:14
GBreaux
Woods is one of my favorites Ben. We can ride the cool wagon together and laugh at everyone else.

Also, one of the best dtunes to date.
Fogo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 02:36
Fogo
Some very awesome musicians on this post. I'm digging that Sufjan Stevens track and I'm interested in listening to more Regina Spektor. I haven't listened to Basement Jaxx in awhile, but I'll have to start again after hearing Raindrops.

I'll have to agree with GBreaux on this one - best dtunes post this week.
burglarize's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 04:57
burglarize
This isn't pretentious, it's just indie music with a bit of folk.

I'd say pretentious music is more like stuff found on pitchfork, although you might see Bon Iver and Sufjan skulking around there from time to time.

Sufjan's probably my favourite on this list, nice one.
RonBurgandy2010's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 06:43
RonBurgandy2010
Have any of the editors showcased normal music at all?
Fusiontr's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 06:51
Fusiontr
I approve of this list.
Oh Ben
Why do you have such great taste?
Stevil's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 07:22
Stevil
Sufjan Stevens & Bon Iver?!

Wooooo!

Not as pretentious as you made it out be though. It's pretty normal stuff in my eyes.
Joseph Leray's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 08:35
Joseph Leray
You're a cuntbag. Now I have to take, like, 3 people off MY dTunes.

Also, I'm From Barcelona has ONE good song, and "We're From Barcelona" isn't it.
SilversunFrenzy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 08:38
SilversunFrenzy
Regina Spektor had an album before "Soviet Kitsch", called "11:11". "Begin To Hope" would then be her. Junior year album, I guess?
grafkhun's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 09:33
grafkhun
Do you wear scarf's indoors?
Slick Icarus II's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 10:52
Slick Icarus II
Sufjan and Bon Iver? Fuck yeah.
Steel Squirrel's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 11:09
Steel Squirrel
I am getting the overwhelming urge to shop at thrift stores now... weird.
grasslunatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 11:10
grasslunatic
Don't apologise about your good taste, Ben.
Primo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 11:18
Primo
lol@Ronburgandy

I liked Rey's list.. I think that was the one with NIN & Deftones on it.
Ben PerLee's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 11:57
Ben PerLee
I would hardly say my music is far from "normal". As a matter of fact, as far as indie hipster stuff, most of this is pretty mainline.

Oh well!
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 12:24
Holyetheline
This is good stuff Ben. I love Bon Iver, Bloodbank is the shit. I liked the other stuff too, nothing new but everything was great.
hoechst's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 12:43
hoechst
Best list so far! :)
peachboy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 13:47
peachboy
this is more on the folk-tip of indie music, which is generally the tolerable tip.
i was expecting to see a bunch of god awful electro and mindless 80s throw back bullshit.
my mom rocks sufjan man...that definitely shatters any idea of it being pretentious bullshit.
RonBurgandy2010's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 14:58
RonBurgandy2010
This is really Day #8, fix it.
Occams electric toothbrush's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 15:06
Occams electric toothbrush
Twatty hipster shit aside, I like Raindrops quite a bit though it sorta sounds like a techno-gospel song after a while. Now I'm waiting for the day that one of you mentions the Tiger Lillies. That would be swell.
Justin Villasenor's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/29/2009 17:41
Justin Villasenor
I thought Basement Jaxx sounded familiar, and then I realized that it was because they have a song on the techno-heavy Appleseed soundtrack.
MisterGrieves's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2009 00:39
MisterGrieves
Regina Spektor?

You win, sir. You win.
Zen Albatross's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/30/2009 01:06
Zen Albatross
Indieblog is indie :3

Good picks. Although, I'll admit that I'm kind of burnt out on Decemberists and Sufjan Stevens at this point. Working for 2 1/2 years at a college radio station will do that to you :(
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