I NEED SUGAR

SXSW's 2010 edition presented many an evening of parties, music, and chaos (as expected, of course). Being there for interactive, film and music meant 10 days of sleepless nights and fighting through days with staples vitamins and beer. In the end, it was those restful interludes that helped get you through the 2 weeks, avoiding the dreaded SXSARS affliction that seems to plague most attendees. Disco naps, ftw. And there was no better place for a disco nap than a balcony church pew overlooking The XX's light, stationary performance. Like angels whispering in your ear.

Sadly, on this church going Sunday I missed the opening performance by jj who are certainly one of the top bands I've been enjoying over the past year. Then again, two disco naps in one evening surely would have set a bad SXSW precedent. Here's a mini review from an earlier show at the Mohawk courtesy of Pitchfork:

The shocking letdown of a performance began with singer Kastlander strumming a guitar and reverbing her voice out into the crowd while multi-instrumentalist Benon stood off to the side of the stage fiddling with a laptop. Then, about five minutes in, Benon pressed play on his computer and promptly exited the stage, leaving Kastlander to sing karaoke with her own tunes. Benon did not resurface for the remainder of the set.

Acoustic karaoke, oh my!

So, to Toronto insomniacs, if you're looking for some rest this weekend, there's no better place to be than the Phoenix this Sunday (and Monday) for some jj and xx lullabies.

More xx pics here.

The challenge: Go to iTunes DJ, delete all the songs, change the source to your entire music library, turn off the setting "Play higher rated music more often", hit Refresh. Grab about an hour worth of music, in sequence, and mix the tracks. You can change the order, but you have to use all the songs.

The fun: up until just a few hours ago I hadn't heard 13 of these tracks. Some of them are great. And then there's the podcast about God.

Here's the full track list:
01 Tom Waits - Medley: Jack & Neal - California, Here I Come 1977
02 Stereo MC's - Gringo (Ragged & Ruthless) 2008
03 Edan - Rapperfection 2002
04 Massive Attack - Teardrop featuring Elizabeth Fraser 1998
05 Sonic Youth - Crème Brûlée 1992
06 Bruno Pronsato/Anonymous - The Make Up The Break Up Part 1 2009 / God The Sequel Podcast
07 The Legendary Pink Dots - Small Anthem 1997
08 Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Tangerine 1965
09 Mali Music - Le Relax 2002
10 Cesaria Evora - Paraiso Di Atlantico 1999
11 Badmarsh & Shri - Get up 2001
12 Client - In It For The Money (Radio Session) 2006
13 The Spinto Band - Needlepoint 2008
14 The Spongetones - She Goes Out With Everybody 1994
15 Big Sugar - AAA Aardvark Hotel 1993
16 Funk La Planet All-Stars - Summertime (DJ Fudge Dub) 2007
17 Simulator - Progression 2002

And here's the download link. Enjoy!

Rough Trade's release of Jónsi & Alex's Riceboy Sleeps includes an exclusive bonus disc, Rain Down My Favorite Songs. It's the most wonderful and surprising compilation I've heard all year and absolutely essential. There are some great standards from Billie Holiday and Audrey Hepburn along with some Washington Phillips, Cliff Edwards and John Jacob Niles, but it's everything in between that makes this absolute magic.

Here's the complete tracklist:

01 Natalia Janotha - The Celebrated Polish Carillon using only the upper three keys of the piano'
02 Alessandro Moreschi - Ave Maria
03 Smárakvartettinn Á Akureyri - Voggubarnsins Mál
04 Washington Phillips - Mother's Last Word To Her Son
05 Django Reinhardt - Doux Sourire
06 John Jacob Niles - The Gypsie Laddie
07 Billie Holiday - I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me
08 Lucienne Boyer - Parlez-Moi D'Amour
09 Raoul Pugno - Marche Funèbre
10 Audrey Hepburn - Moon River
11 Ekkehard Ehlers - John Cassevetes (2)
12 John Somers - A Candy Coated Slow Down
13 Cliff 'Ukulele Ike' Edwards - When You Wish Upon A Star

Purchase from Rough Trade.

More from Jónsi & Alex.