stereomood

Graham's review: I've been listening to stereomood for the past four weeks. Like Pandora, it streams music, but instead of starting with a song or artist I like, it creates a playlist based on the mood I select. The moods can be pretty specific, including choices like Lost in Thought, Foreplay, Need of Love, and Well-Read.

A radio station based on mood is perfect for me. I often look through my iTunes trying to find a song that will capture or transform my current mood. I mainly listen to Digital, or one of the stations that sound like it will keep me awake, usually Energetic or Let's Party. I turn on Digital while I'm working either at home or in the office, and just don't feel like listening to my regulars: Air, Thievery Corp, Zero 7, or classical. I listen to the other two stations when I feel super tired at work and I'm working on a task that doesn't require too much focus. I've heard a lot of good songs on Energetic and Lets Party, but the only one that comes to mind is "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire because it hit the spot the other day as I chugged away in Excel. Of course there are some missteps. Last week I listened to three horrible songs in a row on Energetic, which prompted me to return to my iTunes. Overall, it does a decent job of matching the songs to the mood, although it's probably hard to match perfectly for everyone.

Be careful, the volume starts out super loud and the meter is a little hard to find. Also, every time you click on a mood, it seems to start you out at the same song.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)

The fact that I sent a mass email to QuickCritters asking for dibs on this review is a testament to how awesome Phoenix's new album is. Lame album art and title aside, it's pretty much been on repeat and is tied for the #1 release for 2009 (thus far) with Harlem Shakes' Technicolor Health. It seriously is my musical equivalent to puppy dogs, ice cream, and ticker tape parades for everyone!

A couple of fun facts: They're from Versailles, France (lucky bastards), the lead singer is Sofia Coppola's life partner, they have musical affiliations with Air and Daft Punk, and did I mention they're French? Mais oui, ils sont tres chouette!

The album: It's fun, upbeat, relaxing, smooth/easy vocals, there's pretty much a song on here to fit any mood you're in. When I heard their first single "1901" (free download here), I literally couldn't calm down... or sit still. It's so vibrant and danceable, which means it's slightly dangerous for driving music since keeping hold of the 10-2 position is damn near impossible. Or maybe that's just me?

Some shared feedback: "Lizstomania" is, as a trusted music friend described it, the kind of song that makes him want to "jump over a rainbow and swim in the pot of gold on the other side," whereas I feel it'd be the perfect song to be featured in a remake of Duck Tales: The Movie (here's hoping?) during a scene where Uncle Scrooge is happily swimming in his money bin. Then, regarding the Harlem Shakes vs. Phoenix album debate, awmercy said he preferred Harlem Shakes' album on an overall basis since "some of the Phoenix songs are great, others are just okay, although it does seem to hold together as an album." I definitely concur. However, since I think BOTH are great I just can't seem to pick between the two. They played SNL the other week and sounded pretty effin fantastic live, making them #1 on my musical must-see list for the summer.

My favorites: "1901," "Rome," "Lizstomania," "Lasso," and "Fences," but the entire album deserves multiple listens. Not because it's a grower, but because you may get hooked after the first listen. I sure as hell did.