(Suburban) Kitsch, as adj.: A tacky or lowbrow quality or condition.

Now what is Kathy listening to nonstop? I know you’re just dying to know.

First of all, I betray my country. I have been LOVING some European music lately. (Skip to the bottom to see what I think are the best albums I have heard in the past few weeks… surprisingly, they are both American. WTF?).

Exhibit A: the Germans/Austrians (they speak the same language so I’m lumping them in together. Call me ignorant, I don’t care).

• Falco - of Rock Me Amadeus and Der Kommissar fame. These songs are amazing and I could listen to them on repeat pretty much forever.
• A plethora of classical composers (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner, etc.)
• Peter Schilling - I already wrote about the song Major Tom in a prior post. Germans just create great electro-pop.
• The Neverending Story – I have been listening to this soundtrack on repeat for the past week or so. The musical score from this film, and the film itself, is phenomenal. Thank you Germany for giving us this gem (yes, I realize that Limahl, the singer of the title track from the album, is actually British).

Die unendliche Geschichte

Exhibit B: the French

• Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is just a great pop/rock album. I like it as well or better than anything Phoenix has ever put out (except maybe the song Too Young) It’s as simple as that. I’ve been listening to this album a lot for the past few weeks.

Exhibit C: Scandinavia

The amazing Finnish music Pinja sent me a while back has really gotten to me. I am in love with Cats on Fire – Our Temperance Movement (which is in English), and with Regina – Puutarhatrilogia (in Finnish, which means I can tune out and just enjoy the musicianship without worrying about memorizing lyrics).

Also, I have recently revisited (and newly discovered) a few of the following Scandinavian songs and artists that I simply love:

• The Cardigans - everything (but my favorites are Fine and Carnival)
• Kings of Convenience - everything (but my favorites are I’d Rather Dance With You and Toxic Girl)
• Peter Bjorn and John – Young Folks, but on the newest album I am especially fond of the song It Don’t Move Me
• Lykke Li – I’m Good I’m Gone
• Loney, Dear – everything

Exhibit D: The UK

Do I even need to make a list? OK, just offhand… George Michael, Pulp, Muse, U2, Coldplay, Blur, the Streets, Robbie Williams, Lily Allen. I could keep going…

Now, moving on from the Euro-loving… I am LOVING some African and African-American music lately. Man, black people can SING, and I LOVE it! After seeing the Lion King musical at the Civic Center a few months back (and admittedly going in with very low expectations due to not much caring for the music in the Disney movie), I was blown away by the emotion and intensity of African music. Wow. I have been listening to the soundtrack a lot lately (the soundtrack to the broadway musical, not the lame Disney movie. The musical is VASTLY superior. The Disney movie is a steaming hunk of crap by comparison).

Stevie Wonder - I’m lovin’ it. Sir Duke has been my favorite Stevie song for quite a few years now (generic, I know), but today I discovered Higher Ground. Yes, I was previously aware that the RHCP did not originally write that song, but only today did I really listen to the lyrics (in the Stevie Wonder version). I listened to it 4 or 5 times in a row. I was blown away. I was truly inspired. It really hit me today why Stevie Wonder is considered a musical genius and an inspiration to millions. I want to personally cover that song. Everyone can look forward to terrible youtube videos of me attempting to play guitar and sing higher ground. It won’t be pretty (I am not a very good guitar player/singer… I’m not terrible, I’m just not very good either).

Michael Jackson – RIP. I love you, MJ. I may eventually write a post on MJ if I have the time (could be a few months). I do have a lot to say on the man.

RIP Michael Jackson 1958-2009

As a side note, I am trying to incorporate more black/African/African-American music into my regular listening rotation… but I’m VERY picky about what I will listen to. I have to really like like it within the first 1 or 2 times I hear it. I am accepting suggestions. (For reference: I kind of like Rihanna… is that bad?).

Now, on to the BEST albums I have heard in the past few weeks… SURPRISE! They’re both American! (Well, kind of… Regina Spektor is Russian/American).

Regina Spektor: Far – In a word, wow. Way to break my heart, Regina Spektor. Your albums up until now have been mostly whimsical and not too philosophical (in that they are about imaginary situations), but this album kicked my a$$. There I was, happily driving along in my car on my way to a social event complete with full makeup, and the song Laughing With came on and completely destroyed me. Tears were streaming down my face. This is the most mature of Spektor’s albums yet, with the best musicianship yet, in my opinion. You can even hear a strong Keane influence (and I LOVE Keane. Keane’s Hopes and Fears would probably make it in to my top 10 best albums of all time list). Needless to say, I have been playing this album a LOT lately.

Moby: Wait for Me - I’ve given this album two listens now and I think it might actually be *better than* 1999′s Play (GASP!). After only a few listens, I think that this album is better than anything Moby has put out in a LONG time. NPR’s All Songs Considered agrees. My only complaint is that there is no Bodyrock or Southside equivalent on this new album. There is nothing I can run to or work out to on it. It is all just chill music… Simply phenomenomenal chill music.