We'd all like to think that we have the most music knowledge amongst our groups of friends. Right? Oh, that might just be me. Thanks to both budding and established music critique sites, an eternal wealth of music education is continually bestowed upon me. While I find pleasure in seeking out new artists and seeing them gain notoriety, it's sites like Idolator that keep me in the know.

I'll get off my soapbox now. This is not a self-imposed interview. Let's leave it to the pros.

Take it away, Kate!


1. What made you want to start a blog/music blog/when did you start your blog?
Well, in the case of Idolator, Gawker Media decided to start a music blog back in 2006 and I simply applied to be the intern. But before that I wrote blurbs about upcoming concerts for my hometown alt weekly, the Houston Press, which was something akin to music blogging, but far less glamorous and without the option of YouTube embeds.


2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
These sorts of questions always make me really uneasy because there are so many songs that I love, but I can usually never remember them, and if I do I have a terrible time deciding which are my favorites. But ok, here goes, and in no particular order because that's just too difficult...

1. "My Slumbering Heart" Rilo Kiley
To me this is the perfect song. It's dynamic without seeming fussy, high energy, but not frantic, vulnerable, but not sappy, and just ever-so-slightly profound, but not pretentious. I prefer to listen to it in the car at max volume.

2. "She's Got a New Spell" Billy Bragg
My dad played the album Worker's Playtime in the car and around the house constantly when I was really young, and I've always loved this song.

3. "Judy and the Dream of Horses" Belle & Sebastian
If You're Feeling Sinister is without a doubt in my top five albums of all time. A friend of mine introduced me to it in 10th grade and I've listened to it in its entirety at least once a week since then. I used to think Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying was my favorite song off that album, but in the last year I've grown to love Judy and the Dream of Horses the most. It's perfect. The lyrics are at once sad, reassuring, and smart, and the softly building instrumentation is truly beautiful. For an easy listening enthusiast such as myself, the moment when the percussion and mellow trumpet kick in is sheer genius.

4. "Satisfy My Soul" Bob Marley
Told you I liked easy listening. I had a really difficult time choosing between this song, No Woman, No Cry (the live version from Legend), and Redemption Song. Ultimately I chose this one because I think the lyrics are are some of the best about love ever written (despite Bob's rather dubious fidelity record). The line "When I meet you around the corner, you make me feel like a sweepstakes winner" is flat-out perfect.

5. "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" Billy Joel
It's like the Gone With the Wind of pop songs: sweeping, epic, tragic, triumphant. Honestly, what's better than this song? Maybe Only the Good Die Young, but that one doesn't have a clarinet solo, nor Brenda and Eddie, for that matter.

Runners-up include most songs by Jimmy Buffett between the years of 1974 and 1979, the song Pancake America by Tiger Tunes, the entire Midlake album The Trials of Van Occupanther, Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, and Speak Easy by Maria Taylor.


3. What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)
Dolly Parton on lead vocals, Stevie Nicks and Jenny Lewis on backup vocals, Blake Sennett on guitar, Mark Hoppus on bass (don't ask)...hmm, I don't know much about drummers. Let's just go with Ringo because I'm lazy. Maybe Timbaland could drop in some beats every once in a while, too. Sir Elton on the keyboard.


4. Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
Definitely the A.V. Club. It's by far the best all-purpose media/entertainment criticism site around, with an especially strong cinema section.


5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
My general philosophy is to have no shame. But two of my more embarrassing favorites are Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal) by Fergie, and Stay by Lisa Loeb. I also really love Jimmy Buffett, which some people think is shameful, but I don't.


6. Who's next?
I'm kind of terrible with keeping up with this sort of stuff. Vampire Weekend seems to be the big favorite lately. But if there were any justice in the world the band Wye Oak from Baltimore would be big stars.

If you're wise, you'll make visiting Idolator a daily ritual. And then after you check that out, mosey on over to Kate's other sites here and here.