Cover: Honeyhoney does Smashing Pumpkins

Pretty much anyone that covers a song from the garage bands of the 90's is amazing (in my book anyway).  Though I am a child of the 80's, I really came into my own during the 90's (you know, puberty, the ugly phase, sexuality).  Though I'm a lover of all music, I still tend to gravitate back to the rock bands of that era, ones that would make you shake your head until you puked, or cried until, well, you puked.  Needless to say, Smashing Pumpkins freaking rocked it.

Now as for HoneyHoney (Suzanne Santo & Ben Jaffe), they just gained themselves a few more plays in my iTunes.  I've always been a fan since I saw them open for Augustana a few years back in NYC.  It was something about their rhythmic Little Toy Gun and Give Yourself To Me songs that really won me over.  I eagerly awaited in anticipation after that show for them to release their full length album... meanwhile, enjoying their Little Boots EP.  This past March they finally released a full length album entitled First Rodeo.  Sadly, they did not include this incredible cover of 1979 on it!  I can even imagine Billy Corgan joining on the verses.  I'm assuming he's the reason this song is not available for purchase anywhere (though, if you do google it, you may just find a copy).

Quench your Thirsty Thursday cotton mouth - listen below!  The weekend is nearly here!

HoneyHoney - 1979 (Cover)

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Get that heart pumping

California has a reputation that it's always warm and sunny.  Well that is not the case for Northern California, especially this summer in San Francisco.  With everyone's eyes and ears on the happenings of the Prop 8 trial, most are oblivious to the constant grey fog, engulfing the city on a daily basis.  Though San Francisco has always been known to have an "Indian Summer," this is getting a bit ridiculous.  I feel like I haven't seen the sun in a few weeks, the temperature never seems to reach above 62 and it's always around 50 degrees at night.  Where's my motivation to race home to enjoy the few remaining hours of sunshine?  Where's my motivation to do anything, if that?  Well, thank God there is some good new music out there to keep my heart rate up when I'm at my fog covered gym, just hoping the sun will peak it's head out and shine thru the rusty old Potrero Hill windows.

Jonsi (some of you may know of him as the lead singer from Sigur Ros) is currently on my "Stairmaster" playlist (I couldn't come up with a more creative name for it) and the song "Animal Arithmetic" came on right as I stepped onto the stair master.  Motivation I desperately needed this morning, from this Icelandic genius.  The video is just as heart racing as is the song, without being "pop sounding" or dance/techno style.  It was perfect to get my heart racing and to stay motivated, knowing I still had to drag my ass to the dungeon office today.  Hope this helps your Thirsty Thursday!

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Lather Rinse Repeat

Throughout the rolling hills of San Francisco, people were blasting their sounds of victory from Love vs. Hate last night.  Though most of it was probably tunes you'd hear at gay bars, the energy in the air was so different than November 2008, when Prop 8 was first voted into place.  This country is on a way to change.  Moving on... despite a few postings about poop lyrics and flop movies, I wanted to share with you some more songs that are on rePEAT on my iPOD.  Happy Thirsty Thursday!

Keane ft. K'Naan - "Stop For a Minute" - catchy tune, has a OneRepublic feel to it.

Stop For A Minute (Feat Kanaan) - Keane

Kelly Rowland - "Rose Colored Glasses" - absolutely LOVE this song.  The lyrics are great, the upbeat ballad is just perfect.  If this is any indication of what her new album will be like, it's gonna be damn good.  It's so nice to hear Kelly with out that homeless guy.

Rose Colored Glasses

Robyn - "Cry When You Get Older" - nothing beats seeing this girl live but damn, this song is just feel good summer.

Cry When You Get Older by robyn

Carmen Reece - "Right Here" (Dave Aude Club Mix) - this will have you on your toes!

Right Here (Dave Aude Club Mix) - Carmen Reece by Wonky Pop

Natalia Kills - "Mirrors" - seductive blend of Rihanna, Lady Gaga & Xtina.  Also check out "Zombie."  She is one to watch!

Natalia Kills - Mirrors 

Smashing Pumpkins - "Tonight Tonight" - nothing like 90's rock!  

tonight tonight.smashing pumpkins

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Remember this guy?

Jaron Wood is one of the hunky identical twin brothers from the once popular (sorta) duo, Evan & Jaron.  Well Jaron now calls himself "Jaron & the Long Road to Love" and is a country singer.  His first single, "Pray For You," actually made it on the top 20 Top Country Songs AND his first album released in June entitled "Getting Dressed in the Dark" hit #2 on the Top Country Albums (selling about 20,000 copies.... hmm... must not be a lot of competition in the country world lately...).

I dig this song mainly for the lyrics - it randomly came on the other day and I honestly couldn't stop laughing.  Happy Thirsty Thursday!

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Thirsty Thursday's Video of the Day

And of course, this one is for Christina.  The video is out today for "You Lost Me," the most powerful ballad on her album "Bionic."  Classic Christina style on this video.  Let's hope it pulls the radio waves in her direction.

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Thirsty Thursday's Video

Remember when MTV used to actually show music videos?  Those were the days...  Anyway... One of the most creative (and lowest budget) music videos ever.  OK GO's "Here It Goes Again" even won a Grammy in 2007.  I saw OK GO open for Snow Patrol about 4 years ago and they put on a great show.  Lots of energy and great choreography.  Is it beer-thirty yet?

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Thirsty Thursday's Video & Album You Can't Live Without!

Many of you know that I love the British.  Though they are known for their bad food, their bad English (can you understand half of them?) and botched dental work, they do put out an extensive amount of incredible music.  Both the UK and Sweden seem to be countries that I go to the most for new music- I dunno what it is about these countries, but they are usually incredibly talented (or just a bit off their rocker) and on the cutting edge.  I am constantly checking their top 40 Billboard Charts, listening to Radio 1 when I have a free moment (which seems to be rare these days... except when I'm writing these postings... hmm....) and checking Pandora for spin-offs of the UK artists I love.

Though I can't quite recall how I came across Bat For Lashes (it may very well have been Legalsounds), her "Two Suns" album is fantastic, from beginning to end.  "Daniel" was the song that roped me in, "Pearl's Dream" is an excellent song & video, and "Sirens Song" had me addicted.  Natasha Khan (aka Bat For Lashes) has one of those sultry, sexy, jazz-like voices that I dig so much in female vocalists. And the fact that she has applied this eerily beautiful voice to this blended style of piano driven, fairy loving, with a flair of electronica, is brilliant.  According to the press release, Two Suns is "a record of modern-day fables exploring dualities on a number of levels – two lovers, two planets, two sides of a personality," bringing reflection about "the philosophy of the self and duality, examining the need for both chaos and balance, for both love and pain, in addition to touching on metaphysical ideas concerning the connections between all existence."

Featured on Wonky Pop previously, here's a few of my favorites from "Two Suns."  The video for "Pearl's Dream" is also one of my favorite music videos.

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Thirsty Thursday's Video of the Day

I am SO EXCITED that one of my favorite albums of 2010 has finally released a video for their hit single "The Ghost Inside."  Broken Bells (remember James Mercer from The Shins?) has released their second single from their self-titled debut album and it's awesome.  Move over MGMT, you're 10 minutes of fame is over (sidenote: I was extremely disappointed with their sophomore release "Congratulations."  It should have been called "excuse the mess."  I can't even post one song from that album on WP because it was so bad!  I don't agree with any of the critics out there siting it to be a continuation of greatness.  Stick to what the people like- you ruined it for me!)  Their first single made it to #25 on the Billboard Charts -- I am hoping that this one does even better.  From beginning to end, Broken Bells album is top notch and an also an album you can't live without!

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Thirsty Thursday's Video of the Day

This is the second single from Lights from her self titled debut album.  I can't quite put my finger on it.. but she is very reminiscent of other pop singers from the early 90's that tried experimenting with synth and keyboards, but failed miserably.  She actually achieved a synth-pop sound and I dig it.  I just read that her legal name is "Lights" (the 23 year old hailing from Canada actually changed it from Valerie Anne Poxietner) and she's touring with Owl City.  Her sound is said to be influence by the likes of Abba, Bjork & Phil Collins.  She definitely fits into the realm of Wonky Pop (the musical genre) and that's why her latest video "Second Go" is the Thirsty Thursday video of the day.  I want a room where everything is white and I can go crazy and paint everything.  Actually, what I'd really like is one of those rooms that you can break everything in sight.  That would be a major stress reliever!  Who needs a drink?

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Who's got the weef

I think Chunk is hungry today... it could be the rain that got him going, but today's shuffle from my 21,000 iTunes library (and growing everyday) is none other than G. Love & Special Sauce's "Who's Got the Weed" from their "Superhero Brother" album (circa 2008).  I may not dable in the ganja stuff, but it seems fitting for various reasons on this rainy day in San Francisco.  With it being so available (just hop on a muni, sit in the park for a few minutes or turn to your neighbor) and the legalization of marijuna to be on the ballot this coming November, the Pennsylvanian band would fit right in with the SF scene.

Here's "Who's Got the Weed" and one of my other favorites from G Love, "Wiggle Worm."

Happy wet one day.

Who's Got The Weed - G Love & Special Sauce by Wonky Pop
Wiggle Worm - G Love and Special Sauce by Wonky Pop

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Kick Ass Video of the Day

I wasn't able to get the computer in time to meet Thirsty Thursday's video of the day... however, I've got my lean pocket and lean cuisine here at work and re-discovered one of my ultimate favorite videos from the great Xtina.  With her tour just around the corner, many critics continue to compare her to Lady Gaga.  Guess what world?  Xtina was here first!  Do you forget so soon?  Yes, Lady Gaga is on top and she's all about shock value.  Well, I've got news for you... Xtina may have some shock value in there, but her voice is always going to be stronger.  Keep fightin' Xtina.  See you in San Jose!

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Thirsty Thursday: Xtina still has it- and she's hotter than EVER

I can't help it.  I think this video is so damn hot, I even got a little bothered.  If you haven't watched the latest from Xtina, here it is (full and unedited).  Go here for a review of her amazing video (and I really don't give a damn who thinks she ripped off Lady Gaga...she's NOT gaga!).  This is also one of my favorite videos of all time now.

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Thirsty Thursday's Video of the Day

Though Gotye has been featured on Wonky Pop before, I have to feature him again... because this Aussie-raised, Belgium born good looking fella has a great voice and this video is eerily awesome!  Be sure to check out the song "Learnalilgivinanlovin"

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Thirsty Thursday's Video of the Day

There are millions of music videos out on YouTube and other various websites... but truth be told, a lot of them are just "eh."  Sometimes you fall in love with a certain song and then you see the video and it just ruins it...or seeing the artist live in concert, can do just the same.  Well, that isn't the case for our "Thirsty Thursday" videos.  Thirsty Thursday videos will be the Cream of the Crop, my favorite music videos of all time.  And to start it all off, I've got Natalie Imbruglia's "Smoke." Though Natalie did release her latest album "Come to Life" in October of 2009 (and I freakin' love it!) it hasn't really made a mark here in the States. Just last month, the UK released "Scars" on the radio and she also filmed the music video in February of this year... no word on when it will be released or hit the internet. Natalie's definitely known for her imfamous "Torn" from 1997 (which was actually a cover song from the band Ednaswap, did you know that?) and her many makeup commercials.  Maybe she'll never be a huge pop star, but that's ok by me.  She's still got skills.

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1993 for this Thirsty Thursday

The weather's a bit dreary here in San Fran so why not sprinkle it with a lil' old school SNAP! from 1993!

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