theBigFriend

theBigFriend http://urban.ashleyrath.com i don't know where i'm going, but i'm sure i'll find my way Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:37:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 peace & love. http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/12/peace-love/ http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/12/peace-love/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:32:09 +0000 admin http://urban.ashleyrath.com/?p=1368

“I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.” – Henry David Thoreau

]]> http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/12/peace-love/feed/ 0 scratch that. http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/12/scratch-that/ http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/12/scratch-that/#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:44:38 +0000 admin http://urban.ashleyrath.com/?p=1338 i was in the middle, er, actually throwing together my top ten albums of the year. those who know me well know that i take compiling my list somewhat seriously. really, seriously, actually. it’s part of my quirky obsessive compulsive list making personality to do just that – make a list. however, i have, on a whim, decided to change directions. 2011 wasn’t so much about albums as it was songs. so here are my top ten songs.

1. Someone That I Used to Know – Gotye

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

simple sotry, yet told so well. love the added vocals of kimbra. ps the kcrw version is bomb.

2. Room for Happiness – Kaskade

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

one of the most beautiful songs i have ever heard. the lyrics are gorgeous.

3. Mother Mother – The Stand

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

i forgot about handfuls. i SO forgot about handfuls.

4. Bayside – It’s Not a Bad Little War

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

love this tune from my favorite band

5. Cold War Kids – Finally Begin

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

this track was in heavy rotation in june

6. Florence & The Machine – No Light, No Light

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

is she for real?

7. Adele – Someone Like You
we all know this tune…

8. Little Dragon – Ritual Union

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

bum bum, bum. bum bum, bum. ritual… union…

9. Bon Iver – Calgary

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

he’s amazing.

10. Lykki Li – I Follow Rivers

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

this was in heavy rotation in april

and then for what it’s worth, Adele’s 21 was my pick for record of the year. she’s top of the billboard charts and she’s at the top of mine. can’t believe that’s true, but she deserves all the attention and accolades. her voice is above the rest. she’s giving my personal female vocalist, neko case, a run for her money.

florence, bayside, cold war kids, bon iver, kaskade, gotye, dale earndhardt jr. jr. all put out solid records.

]]> http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/12/scratch-that/feed/ 0 nyc. wedding. sun. guns. http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/12/nyc-wedding-sun-guns/ http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/12/nyc-wedding-sun-guns/#comments Sun, 04 Dec 2011 08:10:15 +0000 admin http://urban.ashleyrath.com/?p=1287 while i am busy writing my 2011 best albums of the year post, here’s the skinny on what’s been up lately.

• finished up my gig on hell’s kitchen. the hours were bitchin’ but i could not have asked to spend the hours of 7pm -5am monday through friday with a better crew. really learned a lot and look forward to the show airing. hope you’ll tune in.

• iPhone 4S. upgraded from the 3G. wow. such a powerful, sophisticated, and worth-the-hype device.

• peaced out and escaped to nyc for a weekend. saw one my favorite bands, saw my favorite couple on the planet get married, and saw some of my best friends from my hometown and college. consumed copious amounts of dunkin donuts.

• returned to LA to start a new gig. it involves guns. lots of them.

• returned to LA to some of the clearest days everrrrr. it’s so beautful here. the blue pacific with a fresh ocean breeze. this just doesn’t get old.

]]> http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/12/nyc-wedding-sun-guns/feed/ 0 happy halloween! http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/10/happy-halloween-2/ http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/10/happy-halloween-2/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:13:40 +0000 admin http://urban.ashleyrath.com/?p=1279 trick – or – treat! say hello to my new friend. we are hangin’ out on venice beach.

]]> http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/10/happy-halloween-2/feed/ 0 the old theme is back! http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/10/the-old-theme-is-back/ http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/10/the-old-theme-is-back/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:57:25 +0000 admin http://urban.ashleyrath.com/?p=1267

…and i bought a back light for my bicycle helmet and it charges via USB through my computer. how cool is that?

]]> http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/10/the-old-theme-is-back/feed/ 0 smashing pumpkins http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/10/smashing-pumpkins/ http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/10/smashing-pumpkins/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 06:44:24 +0000 admin http://urban.ashleyrath.com/?p=1259 first time catching the pumpkins. only billy, but still pretty epic. they played only two radio hits and the rest were obscure classics (for the die-hards!) a night like this truly makes me love LA.

]]> http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/10/smashing-pumpkins/feed/ 0 currently spinning: http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/currently-spinning-6/ http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/currently-spinning-6/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:15:00 +0000 admin http://urban.ashleyrath.com/?p=1250 blind pilot - we are the tide

ximena sarinana – ximena sarinana

mat kearney – young love

kcrw – morning becomes eclectic

kcsn – nic harcourt (connections)

in the hopper:

st. vincent – strange times

also, please vote for the above photo for a contest my friend is in. you don’t have to register or anything, just click the link and vote! thanks!

]]> http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/currently-spinning-6/feed/ 0 bite back. http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/bite-back/ http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/bite-back/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:56:09 +0000 admin http://urban.ashleyrath.com/?p=1242 so i stumbled upon this clip of gordon traveling to various places investigating shark fin soup. what he discovered is shocking. i encourage you to watch the whole clip.

it’s probably one of the worst cases of animal cruelty that i’ve ever seen.

]]> http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/bite-back/feed/ 0 let’s hear it for new york http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/lets-hear-it-for-new-york/ http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/lets-hear-it-for-new-york/#comments Sun, 11 Sep 2011 22:39:16 +0000 admin http://urban.ashleyrath.com/?p=1238 one hand in the air for the big city
street lights, big dreams, all lookin’ pretty
no place in the world that could compare…

]]> http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/lets-hear-it-for-new-york/feed/ 0 yessss http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/yessss/ http://urban.ashleyrath.com/2011/09/yessss/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:00:31 +0000 admin http://urban.ashleyrath.com/?p=1231 really stoked right now. just won tickets from the wonderful listener supported radio station that is KCRW to see The National, Neko Case, and Sharon Van Etten at the Hollywood Bowl. The National and Neko Case are in my top 5 (favorite band category), so seeing them on the same bill is going to be epic!

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