Another One

The weather has been nothing short of sweltering these past few weeks... Despite the first week of September rollin' on out. Hopefully some fall-like temperatures are on their way because I'm desperately in the mood to throw on a leather jacket and not feel like my skin is melting off. I've been really into this 70's skirt trend with the buttons at the front. I already own a camel corduroy one from Topshop and thought that adding a denim one to the collection would be a great idea. Now it's not news to anyone that denim is probably one of the most versatile things ever so I can totally envision see this skirt perfectly transitioning into my fall wardrobe with some tights and boots.  

I'm bringing in those Western vibes that have been inspiring me lately through the addition of the concho belt. I've been wearing this belt with everything since I've bought it, from jeans to shorts to a skirt, like how I've styled here. It's the perfect throw-on piece and can jazz up a simple outfit. Instead of going for my usual ankle boots that I always wear I went for my burgundy suede ones to help bring some more colour and texture into this outfit. This is one of my fav blouses that despite being 3/4 sleeves is exceptionally breezy since it's chiffon and I tucked it in to show off the belt in all its beautiful glory. 

I've been working everyday for the past 7 days and doing a lot of other stuff in between, so that means a ton of long bus rides to and fro which also means a lot of music listening, but I don't mind one bit. I actually thoroughly enjoy taking the bus for that reason. You get to have some quality "me" time and just indulge in some good tunes. I've had Mac Demarco's, Another One, on repeat since its been released and even went out to purchase the vinyl earlier this week, so I can have it for my own at-home listening pleasure. Another One is a more personal album for Mac where he laments about a girl throughout. But the songs on here are just so damn good. Definitely give it a listen if you ever get the chance, lot's of his signature twangy guitar sprinkled everywhere!  

  

The Way You'd Love Her - Mac Demarco 

Time Festival

Time Festival rolled around two Saturday's ago and I had the pleasure of attending. The lineup was short but sweet, including a few greats, making this one worth hitting up. The day was sweltering to the point where by the time I waited in line to get my ticket scanned and let into the festival, I was already all sweaty and dying of thirst. But I trudged through because DIIV was about to hit the stage.  

DIIV hails from NYC and is fronted by Zachary Cole Smith, linked to Sky Ferreira (I love her to death). I'd seen DIIV once before, at a festival in Montreal two summers prior and at that time they had just released their debut, Oshin. This time around, they hadn't released a new album since then, but with a new one set to drop in the very near future (October 2015), via inclinations made from a many a tweets thanks to Smith's Twitter. The set included a few songs from Oshin and a ton of new, unreleased ones. It was great to be able to hear them for the first time in a live setting, heightening my anticipation for the new album. The new songs had their quintessential shoe gaze / dream pop element, but I did notice that these set of songs were definitely more vocal heavy than the last. I guess that's what we can expect for the next album then, to move in a more vocal direction as opposed to letting the musical atmospheric elements take over.   

I think it is better... and definitely more Instagram-able.

I tried Hawaiian pizza for the first time and it's become a new fav!

Ariel Pink went on before Mac Demarco hit the stage and he played a crazy set, equipped with rambunctious hand motions and movements. But once Mac went on, it started to get crowded. This is my third time seeing Mac now and he always puts on a good show. He and his bandmates are the men of the hour, cracking out jokes and just plain absurdities in between songs in the set, making the entire crowd laugh. With the release of Another One, he opened with a track from there, then, moving onto the crowd favourite, "Salad Days". This time around he mostly played songs from his new EP, but in keeping with the usual additions to his set including: "Cooking Up Something Good", "Freaking Out The Neighbourhood", "Ode To Viceroy" (personal fav), "Let My Baby Stay", "The Stars Keep On Calling My Name" and finally, ending the show as he always does with, "Still Together". I had a really fun time, dancing and singing along to all the songs and it was great seeing Mac play in a festival-type setting again. Now here's to the next time I get to see him because I'm sure there will be more times in the future to come!  

Wishing I Was At Coachella...

FOMO (fear of missing out) is hitting HARD. As weekend one of Coachella comes to a close the feelings are real. Another year passed, another year I didn't attend. Seeing everyone I follows Instagram pics made it look amazing, as I'm sure it was. I watched my fav's from the comfort of my bed via the live stream throughout the weekend. Tame Impala kicked off my Friday night. They were amazing as always and started off the set with my favourite song of theirs off Innerspeaker and even included the two new singles off their much anticipated third LP, Currents. Almost as good as their music was their light show. It elevated the entire performance and put you into a psychedelic bubble of bright lights and cool synths and guitars. Oh and not to mention Kevin was rocking his bearded Jesus look with signature tie-dye tee *swoons*. On Saturday, Jack White was one of the last acts of the night and his set brought on nostalgic vibes to last summer when I had the pleasure of seeing him. I grew up on The White Stripes, learning their songs on guitar and praying I could be 0.5% as cool. Jack can shred like no other and his riffs are to die for, perfect festival music. I love the way he eases into every song and puts his own spin on them when performed live, he even snuck a Raconteurs song on there. No performance is ever the same. You have to see him live at least once in your life. To end off the weekend Mac Demarco performed. I love how positive, silly and happy he always is on stage and it really radiates out onto the crowd. He's such a presence, I love his entire being. He played a lot of stuff from 2 and ended the set in typical Mac fashion, a crowd surf! After that ramble... Onto the outfit!    

To somewhat put my Coachella blues at ease I put together a Coachella inspired outfit, for a pre-spring day. The weather was gorgeous on Saturday and gave me smiles all around. I watered my plants, opened the shutters wide, letting the sunlight flood in, put on a record or two and spent a majority of the afternoon just relaxing and getting ready to head on over to PF Changs for dinner. I recently purchased this crochet fringe kimono from Garage and I'm in absolute love!! Everything about it is so "me". This is probably one item I'd always wanted to have in my dream wardrobe and now I do! 

I love myself some good accessories and with this outfit it was no exception. I got my favourite pair of sunnies from Urban Outfitters that I purchased on a whim one night when seeing The National. One of the best "on the whim" purchases of my life, by the way, they've served me so well. I chucked on my actual favourite necklace of all time. It's gold and has coins that jingle-jangle when I walk and I feel like epitome of a janglin' soul (guess that Edward Sharpe lyric?) when I wear it and walk around. It makes everything so much more fun and festive sounding.  

I paired it with the leather leggings you've seen a million times but are now acceptable to wear without feeling your entire leg go numb from the cold and my booties from Urban Outfitters. 

Kimono   /   Top   /   Leather Leggings   /   Necklace    /   Booties

Favourite Albums of 2014

2014 was a pretty good year for music. I enjoyed a lot of records and was disappointed by some but it was overall a pretty good one. I even had the chance to see quite a few of my favourites live! So here is a year roundup of my favourite albums of 2014. 

1. Sun Structures - Temples 

Channel your inner 60's / 70's child, fringe jacket and all listening to psych / glam rock band Temples. After forming just over a year and a half ago, they've released their debut album Sun Structures. Before these guys even released a full album, only having a couple songs online under their belts, I was in love. Their sound is right up my alley and they execute it perfectly. The lead singer is a dead ringer for T-Rex's, Marc Bolan, hair and all. This album allows you to step into a time machine, every song is a journey to somewhere new. 

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The dreamy quality on songs like, Move With The Season, bring you to a distant time where magic exists, with the added imagery from the lyrics about crystal quills and the like. The opening on Sand Dance, the albums longest track and personal favourite, brings you to the streets of Morocco and the ending instrumental piece sends you through its intricate bazaar-ridden streets. I had the pleasure of seeing them twice this year and their live show is just as tight as on the record with some added jams like on the track Sand Dance. If you're into throwback music and bands like Tame Impala circa Antares, Mira, Sun EP and Innerspreaker and White Fence you'll definitely have to give this record a listen and it's earned its place as my favourite album of 2014. 

Favourite Tracks: Sand Dance, Keep In The Dark, Move With The Season and Shelter Song

2. Salad Days - Mac Demarco 

One of my favourites, Mac Demarco, released his second album, Salad Days. With an ode to Shakespeare as the LP's title it was already shaping up to be a step forward for him. The record featured a lot cleaner sounding production than 2 and Rock and Roll Nightclub but without compromising his signature style and sound. 

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He shows maturity and his deeper side on tracks like Brother and Let My Baby Stay. Through these tracks and throughout the album as a whole I got to see Mac's more introspective side, which I really enjoyed. At the end of Jonny's Odyssey there are a few seconds of silence till Mac comes on again, thanking the fans for listening to the record. It was a definite nice touch and made fans, myself included, feel special. This year I had the pleasure of seeing him live twice and it blew me away each time. Aside from being one of the biggest personalities in music, Mac puts on a really fun show, and took part in one of the most epic crowd surf's I've seen to date. Definitely a must see! 

Favourite Tracks: Salad Days, Passing Out Pieces, Blue Boy, Chamber Of Reflection and Goodbye Weekend

3. Atlas - Real Estate 

Picture a group of quiet, dreamy Californian teens on a beach destination road trip seen through the lens of a grainy film camera, that's what listening to Real Estate always reminds me of. Their sound has always been about warm vibes and Atlas is no exception. 

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A little louder and more mature than Days, Atlas makes my wanderlust for that easy going California life grow. I especially loved the instrumental jam, April's Song, a nice touch to the album and such a beautiful piece. Listen to this album when you're lazing around on a summer's day or taking a trip somewhere reclusive; the perfect soundtrack. 

Favourite Tracks: April's Song, Past Lives and Primitive

4. Manipulator - Ty Segall 

It seems as if Ty Segall took his time in releasing Manipulator, as he's notorious for turning out albums every year. Coming in at 17 tracks long this is Ty's longest album, and probably why he took more time with it.

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The album is more mature and a little more toned down on the fuzz than albums like, Melted, but still holding onto that signature Ty sound with the loud guitars and screeching vocals. Ty can always make a good raw rock record but it seems as if he was a little more experimental on this one, branching out into different genres, please note the intricate guitar work on the opening of The Clock and slowing it down on songs like The Singer. Hopefully his next release won't take too long because one can never have too much Ty in their life. 

Favourite Tracks: Manipulator, The Singer, The Crawler and Stick Around 

5. Drowners - Drowners 

Probably the shortest full length LP I've ever listened to, Drowners by Drowners is the first album from this band. Fronted by model and ultimate bae, Matt Hitt, this record is guaranteed to get you in the mood for a good time. 

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With the lo-fi loud and fast guitar sounds and straightforward lyrics this record wears its post-punk revival patch blatantly on its sleeve. I feel as if this band has mastered the art of the catchy chorus especially on songs like, and obvious fav, Long Hair and even on Shell Across Her Tongue. I often found myself humming and singing, "All the girls had long hair / And all the boys had long hair / And you were missing out" throughout this year. Hopefully these guys are able to make it a city near me soon as I'd love to see these songs transmitted into a live setting. It'd be a fun show no doubt! 

Favourite Tracks: Long Hair, You Keep Showing Up, Unzip Your Harrington and Shell Across Your Tongue 

6. Four - One Direction 

In 2014 I finally got on that One Direction train. My sister, a self-proclaimed fan girl, was my first introduction to the band and after much resistance I finally gave them a shot. 

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Upon listening to their previous albums it was obvious that Four, was definitely a more mature step for the boys from not only their songs and sound but also their image (Harry Styles is bae, nuff said). From the slow songs like, Once In A Lifetime and 18 to the more upbeat jams, No Control and Act My Age, One Direction's, Four, is definitely an album that I'll continue to play into much of 2015. And I can't wait to see them on their On The Road Again tour. 

Favourite Tracks: Act My Age, Ready To Run, Night Changes and Stockholm Syndrome