mySimon Daily Shopping Picks

INSOUND Hoodies and Jackets with iPod/iPhone Connection

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:00:00 -0700

Teens love hoodies. They're also never caught without a music player or phone. So is it any surprise that they can now fuse the two with INSOUND Hoodies and Jackets? Each style features headphones embedded in the drawstrings and built-in jacks that connect to any phone or music player. And a patent-pending design means these garments are machine washable!

Turntables

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 10:41:32 -0700

My dad has a ton of awesome albums that are collecting dust in the basement. After thumbing through them the other day, I had the idea of giving him a turntable for Father's Day so that he can listen to his favorite music again. After all, it sounds better on vinyl anyway. This selection of turntables features very basic ones for the no-fuss dad, and it features turntables with more bells and whistles, including... more

Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 08:27:15 -0800

If you're hosting a holiday party, it's important to find the right music to set the mood. Personally, we like to stick to the classics. Our holiday parties would not be complete without a little Frank Sinatra. Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra is a great collection of Christmas classics sung by Ol' Blue Eyes himself. It includes such songs as Silent Night, White Christmas, and Jingle Bells. It also makes a great host/hostess gift.... more

The Suburbs [Vinyl] by Arcade Fire

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700

If you haven't had the chance to hear Arcade Fire, we recommend that you do so and soon. The large ensemble is based out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is fronted by the husband and wife duo of Win Butler and Régine Chassagne. The Suburbs, their latest album, was just released and does not disappoint. We purchased a vinyl copy of the album and it's already been on constant rotation on our turntable.

Sonos ZonePlayer S5 All-in-One Wireless Music System

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:09:17 -0700

We've been gradually replacing our outdated electronic equipment with all wireless technology. It's so nice to not see a mess of wires and cables underneath every table. This Sonos ZonePlayer S5 All-in-One Wireless Music System delivers crystal-clear, room-filling sound. It connects wirelessly to the Internet so that you can play your entire music collection in any room of the house. You can even control it using your iPhone or iPod Touch after downloading the... more

My One and Only Thrill by Melody Gardot

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:14:01 -0700

We're usually not big fans of the so-called soft jazz that is so popular today, but there's just something about Melody Gardot that we just cant get enough of lately. Her latest album, My One and Only Thrill, has been on constant rotation in our house. It's the perfect all-occasion album; we love to play it while we're working in the office, cleaning our house, or having guests over the dinner.

Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 08:28:01 -0700

Unfortunately, we won't be in Paris for Bastille Day on June 14th, but we do plan on celebrating at home by listening to one of France's most famous singer-songwriters, Serge Gainsbourg. Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg was recorded in 1971, but its sound was way ahead of its time. Listen to current bands, such as Air and Portishead, and you're bound to hear Gainsbourg's influence.

Women and Country by Jakob Dylan

Wed, 26 May 2010 08:00:00 -0700

Jakob Dylan will always be known as Bob Dylans son, but hes come into his own musically. Though he still performs with The Wallflowers, hes stepped out on his own with Women and Country. Produced by T-Bone Burnett, the album features background vocals by Kelly Hogan, and one of our favorite artists, Neko Case. The album blends country, blues, and folk into a lush-sounding collection of songs that are sure to make your playlists... more

Horehound by The Dead Weather

Fri, 14 May 2010 08:42:18 -0700

We've been kind of bored by the whiny, hipster music that has dominated playlists and were looking for a solid rock album when we discovered Horehound by The Dead Weather. Fronted by Alison Mosshart (from The Kills) and Jack White (from The White Stripes), the album has a bluesy, heavy rock sound that makes no apologies. And now that we've listened to it about five hundred times, we're looking forward to their second album,... more

Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday

Sat, 8 May 2010 08:00:00 -0700

Billy Holiday is one of those artists that will always transcend the test of time. Her soulful voice is sure to put a smile on your favorite lady's face this Mother's Day. Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday represents her finest work. The two-disc anthology features such classics as What A Little Moonlight Can Do and These Foolish Things. Pour her a glass of wine, draw her a bath, and put in this... more

There Is Love In You by Four Tet

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:00:00 -0700

We like to have a little background music while we're working, but it can't be too distracting. There Is Love In You by Four Tet (a.k.a. Kieran Hebden) blends organic and programmed sounds pulled from both electronica and hip-hop. The result is an album that provides steady beats and atmospheric grooves that are soothing and hypnotic without putting you to sleep. For us, it's the perfect album for keeping our mind on our work.... more

American VI: Ain't No Grave

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:59:57 -0800

Johnny Cash passed away in 2003, but his legacy lives on in American VI: Ain't No Grave. The sixth entry in the American series, the album features Cash's own musical interpretations of songs by such artists as Kris Kristofferson, Bob Nolan, and Sheryl Crow. Recorded right before his death, each song on the album explores themes of salvation, peace, faith, and survival. The whole album provides a personal and emotional insight into a music... more

Gil Scott-Heron: I'm New Here

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0800

It's only February, but we're already convinced that Gil Scott-Heron's I'm New Here is the best album of 2010. Heron's been around for nearly forty years, and yet, he's found a way to re-invent himself after a 13-year hiatus that saw him in and out of both prison and rehab. His spoken word tracks are intense and the music haunting (Me And The Devil is a particular favorite of ours), but there's no doubt... more

Sade: Soldier of Love

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:24:26 -0800

Sade is like a fine wine: She just keeps getting better and better with age. Sade's sixth album, Soldier of Love, isn't out until February 9th, but you can pre-order it now. And from what we've heard of the album, it's still the same Sade, which is a good thing. That soulful voice and those seductive rhythms make it the perfect Valentine's Day soundtrack. Be sure to load this album into your MP3 player... more

Vampire Weekend: Contra

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:24:52 -0800

Vampire Weekend is back with a follow-up to their self-titled album. And like their first album, we can't help but smile whenever we listen to Contra. The peppy rhythms and unique instrumentation bring familiarity to the album, which is good if you liked their first album. But there are also new textures to Contra that make it stand on its own, and remind us of Paul Simon's Graceland, which is a good thing.

Yo-Yo Ma: 30 Years Outside the Box

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:00:00 -0800

This is the ultimate box-set for any fan of Yo-Yo Ma and classical music in general. Yo-Yo Ma: 30 Years Outside the Box includes-get this-90 CDs. It includes every CD that he ever recorded plus two bonus discs of unreleased and rare recordings. The limited edition, numbered box-set also includes a hard-bound book, archival photos, essays, full track lists, and liner notes all in a velvet-lined collectors box.

Gibson Les Paul Standard Traditional Electric Guitar

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:35:28 -0700

Okay, we'll admit that Guitar Hero is fun to play, but the real talent is in learning how to play a real instrument. This Gibson Les Paul Standard Traditional Electric Guitar is a great way to get started. It features maple top wood, and mahogany neck and body wood. The neck has been analyzed using Gibson's Plek machine to precisely file frets and cut slots to reduce string buzzing. It's a great gift for... more

Gibson Custom Les Paul Sparkle Electric Guitar, Oxblood Sparkle

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:47:09 -0700

At the age of 94, Les Paul passed away August 13, 2009. He leaves behind a musical legacy that earned him a permanent place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you recently won the lottery, you can pick up a Gibson Custom Les Paul Electric Guitar with a cool sparkly design. It's a bit more than the first guitar a very young Les Paul ordered from Sears Roebuck, which was under... more

Stanton T.90 USB Turntable

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:37:44 -0700

There's nothing like the sound of an old jazz record playing on a turntable. Turntables have come a long way in recent years, and with vinyl making a comeback, it's probably time to update your equipment. This Stanton T.90 USB Turntable is perfect for both the aspiring DJ, as well as the casual listener. The beautifully designed turntable even allows you to convert songs to digital format and transfer them to a USB device.... more

Boxer by The National

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:30:55 -0700

We fell in love with the deep velvet voice of The National's lead singer Matt Berninger a few years ago and we've continued to be big fans. If you haven't heard this band yet, we highly recommend Boxer, the latest of this New York-based band's albums. It may not get much mainstream play, but The National's music is totally accessible, and the talented quartet just seems to get better with every album.