Tag Archives: Spotify

Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide 2015 Part 2!

ASN Gift Guide 2015 Main 2

As promised, here is part two to my “Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide”!  This list of gift ideas is designed to help you with the music lovers in your life in addition to more for your fashion loving friends and family.  The titles of each section will link directly to how you can purchase each gift idea.  Enjoy and happy shopping!



THE MUSIC LOVERS GIFT GUIDE


Spotify Subscription

Spotify Gift Guide 2015 2

I love Spotify.  I love it so much that I subscribe to Spotify Premium not only because I have access to a seemingly unlimited database of music, but also for the ability to eliminate ads and save music on Spotify so that I can listen to my playlists without the need to use wi-fi or phone data.

For a limited time only, you can give the gift of a three-month subscription of Spotify for only $.99!

(Photo capture courtesy of Spotify)


VNYL Subscription

Get VNYL

I’m a very avid vinyl record collector. I try to participate in some kind of monthly record meme because I love to share my collection, and I love to see what my online friends are spinning.  If you would like to get someone special some vinyl of their own, buy them a subscription to VNYL and they can have their team of curators choose three albums a month based on their profile!

$39 will buy a one month subscription of 3 records. But if you really love someone, you can buy them a whole year subscription at $420 for 36 records.  For those of you in the California area, they have a flagship store in Los Angeles!

(Photo capture courtesy of VNYL)


M. Lineham Art

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If you do not know Matthew Lineham is or his art, please let me introduce you!  I discovered Matthew Lineham’s incredible art on Instagram.  He has 16 “Saints” of New Wave, two of which I have purchased myself:  Simon Le Bon and Bryan Ferry.  Of the 16, I have seen six in concert, and I know he’s working on his Saint Dave Gahan one.  His pieces are truly a wonderful and unique gift for the 80’s alternative lover in your life and won’t break the bank at $15 each print.


Urbanears Headphones

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Because I’m a Premium Spotify subscriber, I received a code to receive half off a pair of wireless headphones from Urbanears.  They have Bluetooth capability, where I can use it to not only listen to music, but pick up a call and swipe to the next song on my Spotify list!

Their line includes ear buds and full headphones, ranging in price from $29 to $99.



THE FASHIONISTA GIFT GUIDE


Love Tatum Gift Card

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I first saw Love Tatum jewelry at a few local boutiques during blogger events.  But I really started to love the pieces after seeing them on my blogger friends like Laura Neuzeth and Vanessa Balli.  I bought my first pieces at Simply Local (two necklaces and a ring), and my most recent purchase is that gorgeous ring pictured above.  Created by Tatum Lenahan, you can give the gift of one of her amazing pieces by purchasing a gift card for your favorite fashionista!


Ja-Vie Shoes

Ja-Vie Gift Guide 2015

Any2ndnow on Ja-Vie Instagram

I reviewed Ja-Vie shoes recently after discovering them on Instagram (original post here).  These have been my go-to shoes lately, not only because they’re comfortable and cute, but so practical for this wet weather we’ve been having lately.  Another great gift for your fashionable friends because they so very affordable at $68 a pair!

And a big thank you and shout out to Ja-Vie for the lovely feature on their Instagram!


Bittersweet by Maria Shireen

Bittersweet Gift Guide 2015

Bittersweet Press

I instantly fell in love with Bittersweet by Maria Shireen bracelets after seeing them on BuzzFeed and even more so when I was invited to their press preview (link to the original post here and on their press page).  If you want to give the gift of style and functionality, these bracelets are your answer for that girl on the go.  As a refresher, these sleek bracelets are designed to hold any hair-tie, lifting it from your wrist and allowing it to blend in naturally with any arm-candy you may be sporting.

Covered in Depeche Mode

Being on this shopping hiatus has given me the ability to refocus and put my energy into other endeavors.  As I’m sorting and editing pictures for some “Fashionably Late” posts, I’m also putting together more playlists on my Spotify account because I’ve suddenly got a list of concerts this summer that I’ll be attending.  In the midst of putting together “My Favorite…” playlists of bands I’ll be seeing like Spandau Ballet and Echo & The Bunnymen (which are my versions of “Greatest Hits” playlists), I decided to put together a playlist of Depeche Mode cover songs.  There are some that were known to me already (all of the ones from For the Masses), some I discovered while searching to see if there was a cover version of a certain song (like People are People by A Perfect Circle), and some I wish I could have added but just couldn’t find on Spotify (like Duncan Sheik’s Blasphemous Rumours or Monument by GusGus).

Initially, I posted this playlist on Facebook, and some friends reminded me of some songs that I forgot.  Of the songs I found, I placed them in an order that I thought was “audibly aesthetically” pleasing (like the juxtaposition of Marilyn Manson’s Personal Jesus next to the Pitch Perfect sounding Just Cant Get Enough cover by InsideOut).  Some songs repeat, because both versions were just too good to be left off (Cage9 and Nada Surf’s versions of Enjoy the Silence).  I had to end my playlist with one of my most favorite covers ever: Depeche Mode’s version of Route 66.

Below, you’ll find my Spotify playlist which I called “Covered in Depeche Mode”, and the full list of songs as well.  I’ve also added my Spotify playlist to the sidebar of my blog, and will change it up regularly.  Cheers and have a great weekend!

I Feel You – Johnny Marr

Personal Jesus – Johnny Cash

Lie to Me – Razed in Black

Leave in Silence – Marsheaux

Enjoy the Silence – Cage9

Stripped – Rammstein

Walking in My Shoes – Finger Eleven

A Question of Time – Clan of Xymox

Ice Machine – Royksopp

Everything Counts – Real Life

World In My Eyes – The Cure

Personal Jesus – Marilyn Manson

Just Can’t Get Enough – InsideOut A Cappella

Master and Servant – Bernd Delbrugge & floorJIVERS

Never Let Me Down Again – Smashing Pumpkins

But Not Tonight – Scott Weiland

People Are People – A Perfect Circle

Policy of Truth – Dishwalla

Enjoy the Silence – Nada Surf

Just Can’t Get Enough – John Lindberg Trio

Route 66 – Depeche Mode

Want "Somethingood?" Listen to Chromeo!

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A few posts back, I explained that I discovered a really great band, DIIV through our five-year-old son (post here).  Believe it or not, Dominic actually helped us discover another band even before DIIV, and it was by watching Yo Gabba Gabba.  On a segment called “The Super Music Friends Show”, Yo Gabba Gabba usually features awesome bands like The Killers, Jimmy Eat World, The Faint and The Shins.  We discovered Chromeo performing a song about washing hands a couple of years ago, and loved how funky it was.  We thought about going to their show last year, but didn’t know enough about their discography yet.  Deon heard “Jealous (I Ain’t With It)” recently from Chromeo’s newest album White Women and we have been listening to them for over a month now.  Not only did we download the album on iTunes, we also have this fabulous album on vinyl.  Note:  Deon won’t let me open the record until he sets up his Technics. Darn!  and just this week, I purchased tickets to see Chromeo at Soma here in San Diego on October 10th.  If you haven’t heard anything yet from Chormeo’s latest album, here is a little taste of my favorites from Spotify.  Enjoy!

 

Chromeo Tour Dates 2014Top photo is from “The Chen Listening Station” as posted on Instagram (basically, my record player in our bedroom).  The second photo is tour list from Chromeo’s official Instagram.

If I Had My Own 80's Radio Show

Rhino Records Musicology

If you didn’t know, I’m on Spotify.  This is my first playlist, because I entered a contest to “Become a Rhino Musicologist“.  A lot of my favorite bands are on Rhino like INXS, Depeche Mode and Joy Division, due to anthologies and reissues.  My first playlist is rife with my 80’s alternative favorites that I know Richard Blade (former KROQ DJ)  or Steve West (current 91X DJ) would be proud of.  This won’t be my last playlist, so if you’re on Spotify, please follow me here.  Cheers and have a great weekend!