Song in My Head

Here's a new one I just discovered (and will no doubt make my end of the year Best Of list): Washed Out's "Amor Fati". I'm a sucker for 80s sounding chillwave (Neon Indian anyone?) and this fits the bill -- warm synths, a cool, ambient vibe and almost unintelligble vocals (who needs words anyway?). And the video was shot in Iceland. Washed Out is the stage name of Ernest Greene, a rural Georgia boy who started making music after moving back in with his parents after earning a Masters degree in Library Science. He couldn't find a librarian job and the rest is history. (He also gave us the terrific theme song to the IFC show "Portlandia".) Enjoy!

Portlandia Tonight

It's Friday and if you're like me, you'll be watching Portlandia tonight at 10:30 on IFC.

I never was a big Sleater Kinney fan, but I have to say -- as an actress, Carrie Brownstein is really very talented. She and Fred Armisen are a very strong pair as they poke fun at Portland hipsters, and this skit just sums it up for me:

While Brownstein brings musical chops to the series, the best thing about the show musically is the great song that plays over the opening credits:

It's clearly not a Brownstein tune -- it's more a slow groove of electronic funk. After some digging, it's a song called "Feel it All Around" by Washed Out, which is actually the stage name of Ernest Greene, who makes music in the bedroom of his parents rural home in Perry, Georgia. Here's the whole song: