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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Phosphorescent – Song for Zula

Think coffee and cigarettes.  Scotch and cigars.  Hell — milk and cookies for those of you who don’t share in the vices of  the cool. “Song for Zula” is built to spin during occasions like these – when two things, perfect standing on their own, come together to create a feeling uniquely different that that … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Matt Duke – Lay

Lay with me I’ll see you through Sometimes, all I need in a song is a simple promise. I don’t want to hear about how the world is perfect, how we’re all going to succeed at everything we do. We can’t. We won’t. However, I do believe in living simply, and not living in excess. … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Kurt Vile – Runner Ups

Losing a close friend conjures myriad emotions. Initially, there is the mandatory grief, anger, and guilt to dominate all others. But once those feelings subside, you’re left with an amazing mix of nostalgia, gratitude, and happiness while experiencing new things he would have loved. Today’s Jam of the Day, by Kurt Vile, is dedicated to … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Air Review – America’s Son

Dallas quartet Air Review are on the brink of something special. These Texans are in the process of releasing their debut EP America’s Son, one single at a time, over the next five or six months. The EP’s eponymous track is a cozy piece of folky Americana. Engaging, rustic, and immeasurably listenable, “America’s Son” envelops … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | SoKo – I Thought I Was An Alien

SoKo (AKA Stéphanie Sokolinski) is a French singer-songwriter (and actress) who is set to release her debut record I Thought I Was An Alien on February 20, 2012. The record’s eponymous single is a candid, reflective, breeze-pop pajammy jam. SoKo sings, accent in tow; “And you look at me as if I was a freak. … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Neil Young – You and Me

Open up your eyesSee how lifetime fliesOpen up and let the light back in This one’s from 1992. But hey, it’s okay to look back every once in a while, right? Especially when it comes to Neil Young, my favorite artist. When people ask why I love Young’s music so much, I’m unsure of the … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Mazzy Star – Common Burn

Just when I finally made it through the entire batch of My So-Called Life reruns on The Sundance Channel, Mazzy Star decides to release a couple of singles for the first time in fifteen years. Lord, will I ever stop reliving the angst of my fourteen year old self? Or channeling Angela Chase? At least … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Yuck – Soothe Me

I’ve been enamored with Yuck’s eponymous debut LP for over a year now – partially because it sounds like what my first album would sound like, if I possessed any musical skillz whatsoever. But also because I can literally hear the influences that led to such a refreshingly different and enthralling album. Maybe it’s because … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Shout Out Louds – Blue Ice

While it doesn’t exist in a single medical book and isn’t even taught in those so-called “medical schools,” there is a tangible space in the human heart where special things are stored. You know exactly what I speak of, even if it isn’t defined, poked, prodded, and put on display in a traveling exhibit of dissected and … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Sharon Van Etten – Give Out

Photo by Dusdin Condren You’re the reason why I’ll move to the city You’re why I’ll need to leave When the stakes are high, and things eventually bottom out, we’re left with reality. We’re left with songs like Sharon Van Etten’s “Give Out,” taken from her latest album, Tramp, and you won’t find a song … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Night Beds – Even If We Try

It’s early, but come this time next year, you’ll have heard all about Night Beds, which is the project from Nashville led by songwriter Winston Yellen. On “Even If We Try,” we get a small glimpse of the magic ahead: a hushed, windy dream that flies in and out of consciousness. Quiet and soaring at … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Anaïs Mitchell – Coming Down

Photo by Jay Sansone I never laughed so loudI never laughed so loudI never laughed so loudThink I’m coming down It saddens me when people confuse struggle with failure. When you struggle, you often lose, you don’t get what you want, and still, nothing can stop you. You only fail when you lose and give … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Glen Hansard – High Hope

Photo by Conor Masterson Maybe when our hearts have realignedMaybe when we’ve both had some timeI’m gonna see you there Glen Hansard just might be the most passionate artist alive, and it’s simply a gift that he also happens to write magical songs. If you’ve seen Hansard perform, whether it be solo, with The Frames, … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Elbow – Lippy Kids

The guys who make up Manchester five-piece rock outfit Elbow have been making music together for over twenty years. Long lost (unjustifiably) amongst Coldplay, Doves, Oasis, Blur, and even U2 (and opening for at least a couple of these UK bands), Elbow have been cranking out beautifully layered and emotive songs since the 2001 (it … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Josh Oliver – Red Rocking Chair

The first time I saw Josh Oliver play live, he was a multi-instrumentalist for the everybodyfields, the now-defunct group from Tennessee that featured Jill Andrews and Sam Quinn. I remember him picking up his electric guitar and blasting my ears during “Aeroplane,” adding that extra amount of energy that makes that particular song fly. These … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Nerina Pallot – This Will Be Our Year

In a year where a certain British singer-songwriter has basically taken over the charts with her beautiful songs, artists like Nerina Pallot (born in London, raised in the Bailiwick of Jersey) can certainly get lost in the shuffle. Oh, but not on Speakers in Code. We’re listening. Pallot’s new album, Year of the Wolf, recently … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Youth Lagoon – Seventeen

Back in July, Matt introduced us all to Tyler Powers, also known as Youth Lagoon, the 22 year old, solo musical savant out of Boise, Idaho. Back then, Youth Lagoon’s much anticipated debut LP, The Year of Hibernation, was still two months away from release. On the strength of what we heard from Powers this … Read more

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Pajammy Jam of the Day | Cat Power – The Greatest

Once I wanted to be the greatestNo wind or waterfall could stall me Haven’t we all felt like the person in this Cat Power song? The assurance. The confidence. The belief that it was all possible. I’ve always wanted to hear this one live, so I’m hoping she decides to dust it off next weekend … Read more