Let it Sway - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

This band just makes me want to put on my favorite sweater, drink a favorite beer, and talk to my favorite friends.

Sounds like The Hold Steady, except made of nice boys from Springfield, Missouri who probably bake cookies when they're drunk.

If you're in Springfield, the band is playing Saturday night at Randy Bacon's. If you're not in Springfield, check their tour schedule because they're probably coming to you soon.

At time of publication, the new mp3 album is going for $5 on Amie Street.

The first single can be downloaded for free:

Sink / Let it Sway - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Music & Arts Library @ Columbia University

A few hours ago, this Economics major set foot in the Music & Arts Library for the first time in her life. A gorgeous space with good lighting (including excellent sunlight), minimalist decor, and chairs that are comfy but not too comfy, this library is the perfect study space.

There are also study kiosks with CD and record players. Headphones can be borrowed for free from the circulation desk. Needless to say, it's a music library, so check out whatever music helps you study.

The place is unbelievably uncrowded. The Music & Arts Library is located on the 7th floor of Dodge.

Chromeo + Yo Gabba Gabba

In preparation for flu season, there are lots of scary signs on the Columbia University campus about how it is necessary to wash your hands in order to stop the spread of disease.

I think the most effective public health campaign would be to play this video on a jumbotron on the lawn--Nice N Clean, techno hip-hop band Chromeo's song for children's show Yo Gabba Gabba.

Yo Gabba Gabba is coming to Columbia University on October 4 for the annual Great Children's Read.

Choose A Free Song from Amazon MP3

To celebrate its one millionth twitter follower, Amazon MP3 (@amazonmp3) is giving away a free download credit to anyone who wants it.

The download credit must be redeemed by Sunday, September 6, 2009 at 11:59 PM PDT, so jump on it!

Miller Theatre + Melissa Smey

Miller Theatre of Columbia University just got an awesome new director, Melissa Smey.

Miller Theatre has always been the place to see great performances of classical music, as well as the occasional avant-garde ballet, at a reasonable price (especially with the $7 student ticket price).

Before Smey, the Theatre was never really the place for students to hang out on a Friday night. This year, it will be. The 2008-2009 season starts out with the Wordless Music series, in which musicians collaborate to paint landscapes and memories.

Season standouts for the month of September alone:

Th, Sep 10: Do Make Say Think + Charles Spearin's "The Happiness Project." $20, no student discount, tickets available online.

Wed, Sep 23 and Fri, Sep 25: Kadinsky's "The Blue Rider" In Performance. In collaboration with the Guggenheim, there will be lights, music, and dancing. $7 - $35, student tickets available when purchased in person.

(Photo Credit: Angel Franco for The New York Times)

Park Central Branch Library

I'm totally spoiled by the Springfield-Greene County library system. I'm sure the New York City library system is pretty good for a system of its size, but it can't hold a candle to Springfield's in terms of courtesy, community, aesthetics, atmosphere, and convenience. For example, in New York City, there's no way to return a book after the library closes. And the library is only open during hours when you'd either be at work or in class.

So every time I come home, I marvel at the awesomeness of my town's libraries. The Park Central Branch is the newest addition to the system, and it is located on the Square. It's nice--Barnes & Noble nice. You know how sometimes you go to Barnes & Noble not to buy anything, but just to sit in a nice place, read, and drink a cup of coffee? You can do that at the Park Central Branch library, too (The Coffee Ethic is right next door), except at the library, you can take home any of the books, CDs and movies on display for free.

Plus, the Park Central Library has sofa cubes. Yes, the inner walls of this cube are lined with plush, red sofa.

That would be my friend Mark sitting in a sofa cube.

Free Summer Playlist

Nylon Magazine and iTunes have put out a rockin' free summer playlist, and anyone can tune in. Like Nylon Magazine itself, this playlist sounds like windowshopping in Brooklyn with your hip, Williamsburg-dwelling friends, who are cooler than you but (usually) don't rub it in your face. Your friends are dressed fabulously, of course--a bit cheaply, as they're in college, but always classy and fun.

Actually, this playlist pretty much sounds like my own hip Williamsburg-dwelling friend, Ari Botsford (the link goes to her delightful tumblr).