While brainstorming for this week's mix (too early for anti-Valentine's Day songs and too late for Squirrel Appreciation Day?) Kelsey came up with something brilliant: a mix inspired by the 1993 movie Groundhog Day featuring the same song played over and over again (Bill Murray's character in the film experiences, inescapably, the holiday every day). But because the utter meta-ness of the mix might be overpowering (and because 8Tracks doesn't let you include two songs by the same artist), I thought different artists singing the same song might be a little more palatable. It turns out one of the most-covered songs of all times, "Yesterday" by the Beatles, is more than apt for Punxsutawney Phil's shadow-casting on Thursday. And from En Vogue's harmonizing to Tammy Wynette's lonesome wail, it turns out some of the most original covers have been by women. So here's ten tracks dedicated to yesterday, Bill, and Phil... and if it ever feels like déjà-vu, just press "next."
Chilean-French emcee Ana Tijoux (whose mixtape Elefant I included in my best of 2011 podcast) is back with a thoughtful, third release today—La Bala—from Nacional records.
Suzanne Ciani basically had the coolest job ever: As a groundbreaking electronic musician in the seventies, Ciani composed sounds for pinball machines, composed Atari and Coca-Cola commercials, did the sound-effects for Meco's disco Star Wars theme, and scored The Incredible Shrinking Woman (becoming the first woman hired to score a major Hollywood film). And that's just how she paid rent.
Ciani was an innovative musician in her own right, as well. And now for the first time, a mix of her early commercial and compositional work (1969-1985) is coming out from B-Music/Finders Keepers.
No, this isn't an "in bed" playlist for hanky-panky, this mix is for those rockstars struck down by flu season, reduced to figuring out the best pillow to lean on when eating soup. Judging by inter-office emails, I'm not the only sick one, so let's all embrace it and get down with some nice cozy tracks...in bed. But don't get in bed with me, because I'm still contagious.
Ani DiFranco has taken a lot of sides in her decades-long career. She has also famously refused to take sides, and, undeniably, looked at many things from both sides. Her new studio album ¿Which Side Are You On?, released today, is both a personal State of the Union address from the iconic folksinger, and an appeal to her listeners and the larger world to decide and declare where each of us stands in a world that's begging for champions.
Welcome then to the second installment of Queercore Now and Forever More! I regret to am thrilled to inform you that the last BitchTapes devoted to contemporary queer music was incomplete. Limited to under 20 tracks with links flickering to former + side projects, there is so much more queer music to share with you reader/listener! Plus, after Not Enough! and the self-motivating cultural ripples the Portland-based queer arts/music festival creates, a heap of queer projects in the Northwest alone have started up since the last mix 10 months back. Check out the latest tracks from Queercore's lesser-known-soon-to-be-faves as well as established contemporary artists:
The Last Names is a pretty new band, and as such they don't have much music beyond a pleasant EP that makes me think their upcoming album, Wilderness, will also be pleasant. What they do have, though, is the 52 Covers Project.
Vi Subversa took late '70s British punk idealism and held it up to its own values. She challenged the seas of angry, violent young men that crowded British clubs and opened punk up for personal expression. With her band the Poison Girls, she forged a path of punk rock that examined the politics of everyday life. And, who else can say they released their first single when they were a 44-year-old mother of two?
Friends are the best. Here are a few songs about loving friends, missing friends, and losing friends (also, they're great for mixtapes...for your friends!). Let us know which friendship songs we missed in the comments!
New Year's Eve is a tricky holiday. While a night set aside for dressing fancy, toasting to a maybe-great future, and counting down to a kiss with someone cute should equal the best time ever, it can quickly turn into a stress-filled letdown that leaves you walking home barefoot in the slush because you couldn't get a cab, uncomfortable shoes in hand and false eyelashes sliding down your cheeks like a sad Living Classics version of a Picasso portrait. (Just me? Doubtful.)
Like it or not, tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and whether your plans include living it up at a fancy champagne party or stuffing your cat into a shiny paper hat (or both!), you'll need some tunes to set the mood. Here are a few songs that are about this most loaded of nights—in party order from plan-making to waking up the next day, of course.
I'm the library coordinator here at Bitch Headquarters. If you need help navigating your way through our library of over 2,000 books and zines, or just want to chat about feminist reading materials, I'm your gal.
What I'm watching:
Big Love
What I'm reading:
Persistence: All Ways Butch and Femme, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
What I'm listening to:
Lovers, MEN
What I'm reading:
Persistence: All Ways Butch and Femme, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
I'm a fitful novelist, former New Orleanian, lady-lovin' PWD, and twentysomething feminist bookworm interested in creative writing, queer rights, literary analysis, disability issues, teen issues, theater, film, sex education, and much more. I've completed two fictional books and one book of poetry, and I'm currently looking for a literary agent.
Prior to opening this account, I wrote for and commented on this site under the handle TheBadassMuppet.
What I'm watching:
Veronica Mars (as a constant), Party Down, Community, Glee
What I'm reading:
I consistently read a lot. My favorite authors are Douglas Coupland, Jaclyn Moriarty, Dorothy Allison, Joanna Russ, Woody Allen, Jessica Valenti, Jennifer Baumgardner, Augusten Burroughs, Lisa Tucker, Nancy Garden, Christopher Moore, Julie Anne Peters, Lori Aurelia Williams, Jonathan Safran Foer, Nicole Krauss, Christina Hopkinson, Ariel Schrag, Marc Acito, Curtis Sittenfeld, Tom Perrotta, Megan McCafferty, Judy Blume, Thea Hillman, Steve Martin, Sasha Cagen, Jaclyn Friedman, Eve Ensler, Wendy McClure, Jennifer McMahon, Bennett Madison, Mark Haddon, Kate Bornstein, Kate Harding, Colin McAdam, Kelley Eskridge, Pablo Neruda, Cristina Henriquez, Frank Portman, Jeff Lindsay, and Heather Corinna.
What I'm listening to:
my usual collection of musicals and '90s rock, pop, and R&B. I also have a minor obsession with uber-trashy Europop.
I consistently read a lot. My favorite authors are Douglas Coupland, Jaclyn Moriarty, Dorothy Allison, Joanna Russ, Woody Allen, Jessica Valenti, Jennifer Baumgardner, Augusten Burroughs, Lisa Tucker, Nancy Garden, Christopher Moore, Julie Anne Peters, Lori Aurelia Williams, Jonathan Safran Foer, Nicole Krauss, Christina Hopkinson, Ariel Schrag, Marc Acito, Curtis Sittenfeld, Tom Perrotta, Megan McCafferty, Judy Blume, Thea Hillman, Steve Martin, Sasha Cagen, Jaclyn Friedman, Eve Ensler, Wendy McClure, Jennifer McMahon, Bennett Madison, Mark Haddon, Kate Bornstein, Kate Harding, Colin McAdam, Kelley Eskridge, Pablo Neruda, Cristina Henriquez, Frank Portman, Jeff Lindsay, and Heather Corinna.
What I'm listening to:
my usual collection of musicals and '90s rock, pop, and R&B. I also have a minor obsession with uber-trashy Europop.
What I'm watching:
Veronica Mars (as a constant), Party Down, Community, Glee
As a young feminist growing up on the mean streets of Portland, Kelsey dreamed that one day a kickass, independent, feminist media organization would move its headquarters to her beloved home city. Well kids, Gabrielle was right: "Dreams can come true"! Bitch moved to Portland, and one MA in Media Studies from the University of Oregon later, Kelsey moved in as web editor. She hasn't looked back since.
When not editing the interwebs at the Bitch office, Kelsey can be found lecturing reluctant students, listening to podcasts, and hanging out with her French Bulldog, Edith. She also enjoys making things out of fabric and watching pretty much anything on television (preferably at the same time, and preferably with Edith). If you're looking for a new pal who loves both LOLcats and Linda Ronstadt records, she's your gal.
What I'm watching:
Arrested Development, The Twilight Zone, Mad Men, Parks and Recreation
What I'm reading:
Graduate school and the Internet have relegated Kelsey (and her attention span) to the land of short stories. It's a nice place to be, especially when Lorrie Moore and George Saunders are there.
What I'm listening to:
King Khan & BBQ Show, Girls in the Garage, The Blow, NPR
Graduate school and the Internet have relegated Kelsey (and her attention span) to the land of short stories. It's a nice place to be, especially when Lorrie Moore and George Saunders are there.
What I'm listening to:
King Khan & BBQ Show, Girls in the Garage, The Blow, NPR
What I'm watching:
Arrested Development, The Twilight Zone, Mad Men, Parks and Recreation
I work to improve B-Word's web presence by beefing up our blog, working on our podcasts, managing Bitch's social networking sites (be my friend?), and spreading the good b-word all 'round the Net.
Always into what you have to say! Email me at online{at}b-word.org with suggestions or kind words.
The Last Names is a pretty new band, and as such they don't have much music beyond 
