Three

Last week marked 11 years together and 3 years married and each year since our wedding BJ makes a compilation CD and we take our anniversary photo. It's my favourite time of year. And this year it was SO nice to be able to share it all with Audrey.

Our anniversary album never disappoints. BJ will collect songs over the year. Some old but mostly new songs. He will often hide an entire album if there is a song on it that he's wanting to save as a surprise.

This tradition started after we did a CD as the wedding favour for our guests. It was so much fun to make and was just so us. So I thought I'd share the playlists and albums covers.

The Wedding Album

This album is a mix of some of our favourite songs and also songs we including in our special day. 

Faithful Heights - Night Beds

Your Arms Around Me - Jens Lekman

Love Song - Tilly & The Wall

First Day Of My Life - Bright Eyes

Love Interruption - Jack White

Stay Forever - Ween

These Old Shoes - Deer Tick

That's What's Up - Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zero

In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel

Think I'm In Love - Beck

No Children - The Mountain Goats

My Love - Mariachi El Bronx

As strange as this might sounds, this is our song. I love it!

(I was so sad when we saw The Mountain Goats live and they didn't play it.)

One

This album had a few of the same artists from our wedding album but seriously, how can you go wrong putting The Mountain Goats on a compilation CD? 

Shepherd's Bush Lullaby - Benjamin Gibbard

Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine

The Way Love Used To Be - Colin Meloy

Feb-75 - The Mountain Goats

Hannah Hunt - Vampire Weekend

The Hardest Part - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Nausea - Beck

Awkward Conversation - The Front Bottoms

Oh Yeah - Foxygen

Black Cadillacs - Modest Mouse

Palaces Of Montezuma - Grinderman

Seeing this song performed live is one of the most mesmerizing and amazing things I've ever experienced.

Two

I got this album one month before Audrey was born and it was the perfect album to get me through those last few weeks.

Just A Dream - Tobias Jesso Jr.
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) - Iron & Wine And Ben Bridwell
Beginners - The Tallest Man On Earth
Wastes Of Time - Elvis Depressedly
Slow Show - The National
If I Love You - The Brian Jonestown Massacre
West Virginia - The Front Bottoms
Depreston - Courtney Barnett
Against Pollution - The Mountain Goats
A Girl In Port - Okkervil River
I Went To The Store One Day - Father John Misty

I seriously burst in tears as soon as the album started because of this beautiful song.
(And can you tell we have a serious love for The Mountain Goats)




Three
I've already listened to this album a few times and like the rest, I love it. This one tells the story of our first year with Audrey starting off with the song that was playing when she was born... Yes, my kid came out to mariachi music... She's my little Mexican baby.

Arpeggiator - Mariachi El Bronx
Welcome To Earth (Pollywog) Sturgill Simpson
C'est La Vie Way - Wolf Parade
Are You Serious - Andrew Bird
Two Kids - Laura Gibson
Dust Bunnies - Kurt Vile
Belong To You - Eric Bachmann
Brother's Song - Brand New
River - Leon Bridges
Being Around - Courtney Barnett

What the hell?! No Mountain Goats... C'mon BJ!
This is the song that I would sing to Audrey when I was trying to get her down in her cot. His album was often playing in the car so she would snooze... And because it's amazing!



Already excited about what next years album will be like

xx
Smorgy

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Two

When we got married we made a wedding album which we gifted to our guests and since then BJ has made one every year for our anniversary. We go to the same place each time to take our cover photo. BJ then scrolls through his music collection and creates the perfect playlist. Often using songs that he's found and kept from me until the next album because he knows i'll love them.

It was a little late this year with everything else that's been going on so I finally got it off BJ this week.

He makes every album so special and unique. I look forward to it every year and it is always on regular rotation on my ipod.

I pressed play in the car as I drove to work for my last 'official' day in the office on Thursday and enjoyed every second of it.

This years album starts off with a beautiful song about having a newborn baby girl and I was instantly in tears listening to it. It continues with a lot of beautiful sounding songs and is a nice easy listen. I have listened to it a couple of times already.

Now he just needs to finish our 'labour playlist' ready for the big day.

The tracklist:
Just A Dream - Tobias Jesso Jr.
This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell
Beginners - The Tallest Man On Earth
Wastes Of Time - Elvis Depressedly
Slow Show - The National
If I Love You - The Brain Jonestown Massacre
West Virginia - The Front Bottoms
Depreston - Courtney Barnett
Against Pollution - The Mountain Goats
A Girl In Port - Okkervil River
I Went To The Store One Day - Father John Misty

xx
Smorgy

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Goodbye 2012...

Well here we are again... Another year about to come to an end.

2012 has been a HUGE year for me and even though there have been some down moments mostly it's been a great year.

The year started off perfectly with BJ and I moving into our house. We've spent the year doing little home improvements and really making it our own.

And we ended this year getting engaged. After 7 wonderful years together we are both very excited to be getting married... in 2013!!!

I've finally let go off stressing about my work as our office is doing the best it's ever done and that is all thanks to our amazing team. I don't mind that i've had to go in and do what a few times over my Christmas holidays as it just means that things aren't going to slow down for us - Which is great news.

I havent blogged as much as i'd hoped to, or stuck to a lot of my goals this year but i am going to make up for all that in 2013. I'm motivated more then every to get healthy, get crafty and get bloggin'.

And now in no particular order here are some awesome things that i've seen and hear this year...


Awesome movies I've seen this year:
The Avengers
Take Shelter
The Muppets
Moonrise Kingdom
The Perks of Being a Wallflower


Awesome albums I've heard this year:
Jack White - Blunderbuss
Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
The Black Keys - El Camino
Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeroes - Here
Bon Iver - Bon Iver


Awesome TV I've watched:
Breaking Bad
AMC's The Walking Dead
Game Of Thrones
Mad Men
Treme
(And honorable mention to Boardwalk Empire... I could keep listing because there has been some AWESOME TV this year)


Favourite Fork This episode for 2012:

2013 is going to be a great year for us and I cant wait to share it all on here. 

xx

Smorgy

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Monthly Album - FEBRUARY

BJ's Words:

Seeing and hearing the other albums in the monthly swap, I realised that I needed to up my game and make some big steps forward.

I heard the Saul Williams song when I got his new album and it blew my mind, I knew it was going to be the one that opened the album. The clapping, the synths, the spoken word to open it up, it was perfect.

I filled the rest of the album up with songs that packed a little bit of punch but weren't too in your face.

The artwork I wanted to make desolate, the cover, two thirds sky, the remaining part to look simple yet grabs your attention. I wanted the artwork to fold open and there to be an image inside, we made it work.

Looking back, putting the track list on the inside of the foldout was a mistake, but one that I did learn from.

Artwork:

Tracklist:

Reach For The Sun - Saul Williams
If You See Light - The Mountain Goats
Energy - The Apples In Stereo
Tony The Tiger - Manchester Orchestra
From The Hips - Cursive
Beatles Or Stones - Beady Eye
Thickfreakness - The Black Keys
We Need A Myth - Okkervil River
Just For Today - The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Transdermal Celebration - Ween
The Ship Song - Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds

A Visual Selection:

Extras:

February had a mini poster the the track list printed on the inside of the booklet and a promo video

February album promo video from BJ Carter on Vimeo.

Copyright:

©February 2012 FTI RECORDS. Another album of solid gold treats, although this one is dated correctly. January had a misprint on the dates, if was an oversite by FTI Records and we refuse to apologize, so take your complaints and jam them where the sun dont shine. See you in March you damn nazis, I dont mean you killed a bunch of jews, Im pretty sure you understand, Pigs.

My Thoughts:

This album starts with an artist which I'm not really a fan of. This had me worried that I would let that cloud my judgement and stop me from enjoying this album. But even now (in July) FEBRUARY one of my favourite albums. It's got such a great flow about it and some of my favourite artists (The Mountain Goats, Ween). This album doesn't just stick to one genre and even though it does jump around a fair bit it still works soo well. 

We'd love to know what you think of FEBRUARY so if you would like a digital copy of this album please send me an email silhouettesofknights@gmail.com

xx

Smorgy & BJ

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Monthly Album - The January Wilderness

BJ and two of his work mates decided to start making a monthly CD for each other (sooo cute) as they all had quite different tastes in music and thought it would be an awesome way to hear some different stuff.

I've helped BJ a lot with his monthly CD's. I am constantly being asked to listen to the playlist and see how it flows. I've created templates for him to make all the artwork in and when it's all ready I get it all printed then I cut, fold and assemble it all, plus sometimes I also create some extra goodies.

So I thought I'd share each month with you guys as I think they are fantastic. Not just the playlists but the artwork and all the extras.

January

BJ's Words:

I had been listening to far too much 70's pop. When I saw far too much, I mean, my days were filled with Cat Stevens, Ross Ryan, Jim Croce and a handful of others.

Fuelled with my 70's pop hard on, I headed to my iTunes to make an album indicative of what I had been listening to.

Without pumping the album full of Jim Croce, I wanted the feel of a 70s album without using songs from the 1970s. I wanted songs that had the feel of 70s pop. Songs that make you feel good and songs that make you want to drive with the windows down, driving into the sun, music blaring.

The artwork was weird, its ugly, but charming, disgusting yet eye-catching. Everything I wanted it to be.

Artwork:

Track List:

Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes

Section 9 - The Polyphonic Spree

Kathleen - Townes Van Zandt

Part Time Believer - Boy And Bear

Low Rising - The Swell Season

Where Dirt And Water Collide - White Buffalo

Right Or Wrong - Heidecker & Wood

Dear God - Monsters Of Folk

You Know That I'm No Good - Wanda Jackson

Lorelei - The Mess Hall

Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me - Iron & Wine

A Visual Selection:

 

Extras:

This album had no extra goodies. But i think it's pretty darn good.

Copyright:

©January 2012 FTI RECORDS. This album is full of songs pinched from a bunch of other albums, I guess it could be considered a compilation, however we here at FTI RECORDS consider it a masterpiece and anyone who has a copy of this album should thank their lucky stars that they got their grubby, filthy, little hands on it.

My Thoughts:

I love this album. It flows soo well and I really enjoy putting it on while I'm driving to work. 

We'd love to know what you think of The January Wilderness and if you would like a digital copy of the album send me an email silhouettesofknights@gmail.com

xx
Smorgy & BJ

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Surreal

This weekend was one that i will never forget. Around 8 years ago a friends sister at school invited me to a local all age gig to see a band called The Tall Poppies. I remember the nerves. Not knowing what to wear, not knowing what they sounded like and going out with a group of people I'd never hung out with. But i went to this place call TLC and was introduced to a new world.

I met this band that was soo down to earth and friendly, made friends with other fans and developed a love of a new kind of music and a love of badges.

I continued to go again and again seeing other bands and enjoying it all more and more.

Through that scene I was introduced to band forums which i excelled in. To sit in front of a computer all night and post to people i don't know about stuff we both enjoy. Forums are my thing (I mean,  i met my partner of 6 years in a band forum so I fully support them).

And then i found a band called Mightyboy. With two of the nicest guys (and the nicest roadie) I've ever met. They were soo welcoming to new fans. I started talking to them all on their forum and MSN chat (back in the day) and never expected that in the future i'd be able to consider them friends.

My first overage gig was a Mightyboy gig. It was an awesome night but when thinking of it the first thing that comes to mind is Broni's Tonka tshirt. I continued to see MB and TPP whenever and where ever i could.

Then, both bands called it quits... 'What am i going to do now?!'

Members started new bands and side projects. And i was lucky enough to be able to continue to follow and support them all as they grew and changed over the years.

Saturday night, these two bands reunited for one final night.. a charity event to raise money to assist children who have been abandoned due to parents drug addictions. Something that i am very much willing to support + two of my old school favourite bands playing again... As if i couldn't go to THAT show.

It was a night of great music. Not only the two bands mentioned about but Broni performed a solo set which is always enjoyable (Especially when your sitting with my mate Jarryd) and gpop did a set as well. It's been quiet some time since I'd seen a gpop set so i was really excited for that too.

There were also two other bands which I'd heard of but never seen. Polar Disco and Cooper Street Exit... Both AMAZING bands which I really enjoyed.

I mentioned my mate Jarryd above. I met Jarryd at a TPP gig. This young little over-excited kid who just made friends with everyone. It seemed fitting that i went to this gig with him.

Watching Mightyboy play made me sooo happy. Speds (the singer) was in his element, and nothing could have knocked smile off his face. They all looked like they had never stopped, like they still play together every weekend. It was great.

I got to sing and bop along to all the songs i still to this day listen to and love.

After MB finished someone arrived who i wasn't expecting to see that night. Jess, who is the friends sister i mention early that brought me into this world of local rock bands. I was soo happy that she was able to come down because it was just the cherry on top of what was already a great night.

There were people i remember from back in the day, who were always at the same gigs as me. And then there were people who have come into the picture since these two bands ended, and came to experience and support this reunion. And they did not go home disappointed.

When TPP came out in there costumes, it was a perfect touch to the evening. Everyone just started jumping and enjoying themselves as the music played. Singing along to the classics. Everyone had a smile on their face by the end of the night.

After they finished i did my rounds to say goodbye to all my mates. People that without these two bands i never would have met and gotten to know over the years. People who I'm proud to call friends.
They are soo amazing and I look forward to continuing to support them for many years to come.

To Gez, Speds, Broni, Gimp, Jarryd, Jess, BJ - You guys are what made this music fan you see before you and i am soo thankful for all that you have shared with the world.

I will always be there bopping along.

xx
Smorgy

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My Goals - June

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So I've decided that I'm going to set at least 5 goals at the beginning of each month for me to achieve. 

Nothing ridiculously hard, just things to get me moving and motivated.

And I'm going to blog my goals each month to make myself accountable.

So here are my goals for June:

1/ Post out earrings to Ellen and Erin (with a little extra something special for the wait)

2/ Make something new! Don't care if it's jewelry, resin, clay - just something

3/ Decide weather or not to renew www.silhouettesofknights.com and my store

4/ Change my hair in some way - New colour? New Style? New cut?

5/ Find a way to make some new friends

6/ Blog more!

7/ Get out my SLR and Diana at least once for some photo fun

8/ Continue with the diary i started last month

9/ Listen to more music

10/ Smile!

So they are my goals for June. I will keep my blog updated on how i go with them, and will also post if im looking for ideas or help with any of them. (I'm always open to suggestions.)

xx

Smorgy

PS: These are the earrings I need to send out to Ellen and Erin. I made them in March (I've been really slack)

For Ellen - Star Earrings

For Erin - Record Earrings

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Broni Album Launch

Last night i got to get see my mate Broni launch his new album 'To Get Her  Together'.
It was an awesome night at The Wesley Ann in Northcote. The night started off with Broni great friend Gimp making a surprise appearance. He has been traveling overseas for some time now and flew back just for the gig.

The opening act was SheBlondeSwede and it was brillant. He got the crowd singing along and warmed up for when Broni went on stage.

It was a nice intimate venue and was a night enjoyed by all.

The reason i bring up this gig is (not only because of how awesome the album is) because i made some new merch for Broni. Keyrings, Zipper Pulls and magnets. And while i was creating these i decided to make some Broni earrings to wear to the special occasion.

The earrings came out awesomely adorable but with my little ears and oddly shaped head they didn't really suit me so i didn't end up wearing them on the night. BUT i wanted you (all two of you) to see them.

Modeling them...

 

And they even suit the guys...

 Let me know what you think. Oh and please go check out Broni's album. At the moment you can choose your own price to get the digital download and i tell you it's worth every cent you can spent. So get it now!

xx
Smorgy Pin It