Music of the Hemispheres - New York Times

Very interesting article about how our brains process music. Not as scientific as it may seem offhand.

Ah..... Dopamine.

Music of the Hemispheres - New York Times: "Observing 13 subjects who listened to classical music while in an M.R.I. machine, the scientists found a cascade of brain-chemical activity. First the music triggered the forebrain, as it analyzed the structure and meaning of the tune. Then the nucleus accumbus and ventral tegmental area activated to release dopamine, a chemical that triggers the brain’s sense of reward.

The cerebellum, an area normally associated with physical movement, reacted too, responding to what Dr. Levitin suspected was the brain’s predictions of where the song was going to go. As the brain internalizes the tempo, rhythm and emotional peaks of a song, the cerebellum begins reacting every time the song produces tension (that is, subtle deviations from its normal melody or tempo).

“When we saw all this activity going on precisely in sync, in this order, we knew we had the smoking gun,” he said. “We’ve always known that music is good for improving your mood. But this showed precisely how it happens.”"

Thank you

195 Posts and 175 mp3s into our inaugural year, I'd like to thank everyone for reading and listening.

Sharing great music fills me with joy.

Big, big, big shout out to Sean Keener and Boots'n'all for hosting the files.

We're going to try to be a lil more reg'lar in the 2007.

Have a great and safe New Year's Eve.
m

LBF: How Do You Spell Channukkahh

Here's to the Maccabees and their miracle oils!

The Monkees Riu Chiu

HT: Wendy

The Shins - Phantom Limb

I'm a sucker for swords, school plays and Ken Van Damme's Automotive's most famous clients.

New Arcade Fire

DOWNLOAD: Arcade Fire - Intervention

Rolling Stone : The 100 Best Songs of 2006

Rolling Stone : The 100 Best Songs of 2006: "1 'Crazy' [Listen]
Gnarls Barkley
In a perfect world, Al Green could still sing collard-green soul gems like this one, but Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse stepped up with an instant classic, winning this year's 'Hey Ya!' award for the song nobody even pretended not to like. Everybody tried to cover it (our personal fave: the Raconteurs') -- but nobody can hit the chorus like Cee-Lo, and nobody ever will.

2 'Steady As She Goes' [Listen]
The Raconteurs
The first single from Brendan Benson and Jack White's garage-glam band was a perfect dirty sundae of fuzz-box stutter, metallic zoom and pop-chorale candy. It is also a good reason to hope the Raconteurs are no one-album project.

3 'Ridin'' [Listen]
Chamillionaire
The song least likely to be played in Drivers' Ed.: Chamillionaire dodges the cops, riding dirty with a car full of thugs who don't care where they're rolling or if they get there in one piece.

4 'What You Know' [Listen]
T.I.
T.I. gets majestic with bass and synth strings booming like your car just flipped the corner. What you know about that? T.I. knows all about that.

5 'Vans' [Listen]
The Pack
Bay Area MCs the Pack broke out with this sleek, bare-bones ode to midpriced sneakers. Words of warning: 'Lace 'em past the fourth hole, you some type of sucker.'


6 'Thunder on the Mountain' [Listen]
Bob Dylan
So that's how you bring sexy back! Dylan slaps on a cowboy hat and greases up his favorite Chuck Berry guitar riff, one step ahead of the apocalypse and one step behind Alicia Keys.

7 'Smile' [Listen]
Lily Allen
This deceptively named ditty was '06's most gloriously bitter breakup song: Part Mike Skinner, part Gwen Stefani, part Blondie, the young Allen defined her very own bratty, musically adventurous style on 'smile,' a reggae-lite platter about the joys of an ex's despair.

8 'Wamp Wamp (What It Do)' [Listen]
Clipse with Slim Thug
Best line: 'So proper/Hammertime gun-cocker.' But the lyrics aren't really the point here -- the cuckoo-for-coconuts Neptunes steel-drum beat is.

9 'Dimension' [Listen]
Wolfmother
Aussie guys dig out their big brothers' worn vinyl copy of Master of Reality and let the brain-bludgeon guitars off the chain.

10 'Ooh La La' [Listen]
Goldfrapp
The kind of groovy dance number Kylie used to write, full of steamy, sweaty vocals and a fierce Sixties vamp."

NME.COM - Top 50 tracks

Can't remember if I blogged this or not.

I can tell you that Young Folks and Crazy will definitely be on our end-of-year post.

NME.COM - TNME Tracks Of The Year 2006.

DoCopenhagen: Top 50 Music Videos Of 2006

Whatever will I do today at work? Oh yeah. Goof off.

DoCopenhagen: Top 50 Music Videos Of 2006: "Top 50 Music Videos Of 2006
Here we go again... Our top 50 videos of 2005 was a huge success. This year we decided to do things a little bit differently. All the videos are from You Tube and can therefore be watched in the browser. If you want to download the videos to your computer and watch it on your ipod or TV we recommend that you use this download tool from Lifehacker.com

BTW we have also made our own DoCopenhagen Video Podcast that you might want to check out. You can subscribe to it via iTunes by clicking here.

Enjoy
"

Top 30 from Music for Kids who Can't Read So Good

Interesting that so far, 'Crazy' hasn't been denting anyone's top 5. It's easily The Song of 2006, though, right? Right?

My list to come sometime in the next 3 weeks. Currently a little more distracted and busy than usual.

From Taylor over at Music For Kids Who Can’t Read Good � Top 30 Songs of 2006: "This is my first attempt at an end of the year songs list. As a measure I’ve selected songs that I think I’ll still be playing and replaying after the year, but as a rule I didn’t choose more than one song per artist. It’s kindof crazy to try to rank songs at a certain point, but after some toiling I came up with a definitive 30, that I’m happy with. A selection of them are available for download and they are labeled as such. Make sure to click read more… for my top ten. Thanks for visiting!"

NME.COM - Reviews - Oasis: Stop The Clocks

When I was struggling to make it into advertising as a writer, when I was living at home and really missed college, when it seemed like I'd never make it, Oasis was there.

And their raw, full-throated yawp hit me like a ton of bricks. I can remember driving around Orlando, on my way home, and howling along with Liam to Noel's words.

"I think you're the same as me, we see things they'll never see, you and i are going to live forever..."



NME.COM - Reviews - Oasis: Stop The Clocks: "
We'll say it again: you all know what these songs sound like - but stop the clocks, take a look back, rejoice! Celebrate how they made you feel."

Lazy Blogger Friday - Badly Drawn Boy - Silent sigh

This brings me back to Portland 2002. A really good year for music, and a year in which I fell in love with Burning Man and went on a 4 month wonderfully manic kick.

This song was on every 'Thank you for a wonderful 2002' CD that I gave to the crew.

DOWNLOAD: Badly Drawn Boy - Silent Sigh

Index of /

Went and saw Cat Power on Saturday with Christy Van House (my boccé teammate and pal).

At the ornate Orpheum Theater with a full 9 piece backing band, the Memphis Horns, it was an up and down show. She really had trouble with the monitors and her voice levels.

As a result, the songs that she played just by herself, with only piano or guitar stood out the most.

I think my fave was 'Where is my love?'. It really showcases what makes Chan's voice special. Half-lullaby, half-plaintive cry, half-love-soaked-reverie, it's gorgeous.

Excuse the hiss on this live version and soak in some Cat Power.

DOWNLOAD: Cat Power - Where is my love? (live)

swedesplease: Boys Just Wanna Have Fun

Hop over to the always excellent Swedesplease for this Nordtastic cover of 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'.

swedesplease: Boys Just Wanna Have Fun: "Boys Just Wanna Have Fun


Last week Copy, Right? sent a virtual shout-out to Swedesplease. Now I will return the favor. Copy, Right? is a trendsetting blog that's been around since the beginning of time (2004 or so) that only puts up amazing cover songs. This relates to today's post of the Gothenburg band Dreams End cover of Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'.

Boys Just Wanna Have Fun"

Again!Again! Fall Cornucopia Mix

A very random bunch of songs. Most really aren't candidates for the Best of 2006 mix(coming in mid-December, with very special exclusive photography from Amy Whitehouse).

There's a gamut of styles, from the silky Koop to the silly Timberlake cover. 80's style synth-pop (Van She) to actual 80's synth pop (Psychedelic Furs). There's even some unironic Xtina hidden amidst the usual indie wanderings.

Enjoy

DOWNLOAD:
James Mercer - "One Too Many Fights" - acoustic track from The Shins singer.
They Must Be Russians - "Don't Try To Cure Yourself" - Punk advice and education on STDs.
The Walkmen - "Many Rivers to Cross" - Faithful cover of the Harry Nilsson track
Pink Nasty f. Will Oldham - "Don't Ever Change" - previosly posted. relationship ennui.
Badly Drawn Boy - "Born in the U.K." - Was there a memo about claiming The Boss as the hippest newest influence?
the Changes - "Sexy Back" - Justin Timberlake indie cover.
Simian Mobile Disco - "Tits & Acid" - Kanyé protested their MTV Europe Best Music Video award.
The Rapture - "Get Myself Into It (Sebastien Remix)" - Dancepunk goodness.
Van She - "Kelly" - Synthpop 80s goodness. Recorded in 2006.
Beck - "Celphone's Dead" - My favorite track off the new one. Sounds vaguely Dust Brothers produced.
Christina Aguilera - "Candyman" - 30s style sample. You may hate it. I like it.
Gwen Stefani - "Wind it up" - Yodeling sampled from the Sound of Music.
Koop - "Come to me" - silky jazz smoothness. No jeans allowed at this club. Dress code strictly enforced.
Hot Chip - "Sexual Healing" - Marvin Gaye cover.
The Psychedelic Furs - "The Ghost in You"
Lavendar Diamond - "You Broke My Heart"
Husky Rescue - "Diamonds in the Sky"
Gary Jules - "Mad World" - from the Gears of War commercial
St. Vincent - "These Days" - a Jackson Browne cover
Snoop Dogg - "Think About It" - Snoop with ridiculous flow. Favorite off his new disc.
Civilian - "Just Be True for Once" - these guys came into DDB and played an acoustic set that just killed. wish we had the DAT out for these guys, because they're going to be huge in a KROQ kind of way. love the counter harmonies. don't love this recorded version.

Music For Kids Who Can’t Read Good � The Thanksgiving Day Eve Mix (Gobble, Gobble)

The fine folk over at Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good have posted a Turkey Day mix that's pretty nice. Head over there and download yourself some tunes.

New Fall Cornucopia mix to be posted sometime this weekend, in between football and having to work.

I'm thankful to all 12 of you for reading.

Music For Kids Who Can’t Read Good � The Thanksgiving Day Eve Mix (Gobble, Gobble): "The Thanksgiving Day Eve Mix (Gobble, Gobble)
Music, Mix, Megapost — taylor @ 3:53 pm

Since tomorrow I’ll be dedicating most of my time to eating as much food as I can, I’m making a mix today that is so good it could last you even longer than all that leftover turkey and be just as satisfying. There’s a caption that explains what each song has to do with Thanksgiving, if you’re the curious type. Side note: my family decided that we’re all going to see Stranger Than Fiction tomorrow. Any good?"

Lazy Blogger Wednesday - THE BLOW - 'parentheses'

Didn't realize these kids were from Portland, OR.

New therapist = more feelings and emotions welling up at weird times.

Like in the deli section of the grocery store.

DOWNLOAD - The blow - "Parentheses"

New Young Pony Club

Guys, don't use this for your commercials. It's being overloaded in the new Intel spots that don't seem to make much sense unless the brief was "Look like an iTunes ad".

I recommend the Van She mix. Downloads available after the link.

kissatlanta.com: "My Love Is Like A Pony...

01167 20 71 1167901702 LMore now than ever, we gravitate around the single. I won't even throw in the tag 'indie' because at this point it doesn't even really matter. For a while now, everyone has been dancing and singing along to the track 'Ice Cream' by Australia's New Young Pony Club. 'Ice Cream' is quite impossible to avoid, whether it's one of a number of remixes being beaten to death by DJ's or the new Intel ads that appear to be the creation of Mitsubishi's hijacked ad firm. In the end, the single's staying power and popularity ride more on the remixes than the original. In fact, after listening to five different remixes of the track, I can't even go back and listen to the original."

Oasis - "Acquiesce"

Oasis - Acquiesce (2006 Promo Video)

I love this song. I've loved Oasis at times. But i'm so glad that I was 5 years too old to really model my coolness on Liam Gallagher. (instead it was the entirety of the Stone Roses.)

Listen at least to the Noel-sung chorus "We need each other...
We believe in one another".
Stirs the heart and does what most great British bands do: believe that you and your mates could conquer the world together.

DOWNLOAD: Oasis - "Acquiesce"

DOWNLOAD The Shins: “Phantom Limb”

Girl group drums, a few late ooh-ah-ooooh-wah-ooohs.

I don't think it'll change your life, unless Natalie Portman plays it for you, then sleeps with you and gets you off (of all your medications).

Update: Did anyone else notice the irony of a song by a band named after a part of a lower extremity writing about a phantom limb?

Update2: Two clips from Garden State.

1 obvious, but slightly funny:
Garden State Tip

1 horrifying en Español:
Les Shins

DOWNLOAD: The Shins - "Phantom Limb"

And read Pitchfork's review: Pitchfork: Stream: The Shins: “Phantom Limb”: "Stream: The Shins: “Phantom Limb”
Count your arms and legs (especially the bones toward the front of your calves), and slip on those big ol' Natalie Portman headphones, because the Shins have sent some ghost appendage love by way of the Internet.

Fans can now stream new track 'Phantom Limb' from the Portlanders' official website and MySpace page. The number isn't as light (read: catchy) as some of the band's better tunes, but it surely suffices as, at the very least, background music. If you can make it roughly two minutes and twenty-five seconds in, there are some halfway decent 'ooh ee ooh ee ooh's, but even those lose their charm a few runs through. Of course, "

If I only had a brain 900 foot jesus

I'm sure this is how my partner feels every so often when I get a new song in my head.

(NOTE: work partner).

Ben Folds - Learn To Live With What You Are (music video)

Cheesy video. Therapist and I to discuss.

LBF: Gears of War Commercial

Lots of props to whoever chose this music. The juxtaposition is fantastic.

LBF: Johnny Cash Tribute

Clip from God's Going to Cut You Down.

Lazy Blogger Friday THE HORRORS - SHEENA IS A PARASITE

I don't want to be anywhere near director Chris Cunningham's dreams. Egads.

protection

An adjunct to the Santa Ana mix on Monday.

The instinct to fight and protect those you love. We've got a certain friend who always seems to fall for girls who need saving.

Not suprisinly, some of them end up being total psychos.

DOWNLOAD: Massive Attack 'Protection'

Concert à emporter 2.1 - Jens Lekman - Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Heidi: There's too many candles in your cake, but don't you worry...

Crazy at Berkley Place

To quote Jack in As Good As It Gets, "Go sell crazy somwhere else, lady. We're all stocked up here."

Berkely Place has all the remixes, mash-ups, covers and live versions of The Song of the Year you could imagine.

Includes the Prince/Gnarls mash-up, the Ray LaMontagne acoustic version, Nelly Furtado, etc. etc. etc.

Berkeley Place-A lil' bit of BK from VA: "MY BLOG’S GONE CRAAAAAAAAA-ZAY! (part two)
More versions and remixes of the best song of the year.
"

Santa Ana winds mix

Was all set to load up the Again!Again! Fall Cornucopia mix, until the Santa Ana winds blew down from the East.

Instead, here's songs that replicate the high dust chapparal and the unseasonably warm temps here in Southern California.

Starts a little warm and glam and then gets dusty, righteous and angry (Topical for the election tomorrow, too) then settles into a full moon night on the beach.

Hole - Malibu
(written by Kurt Cobain)

Neko Case - Deep Red Bells

Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Rise Up With Fists

Ian Brown - So Many Soldiers

Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down

Calexico - El Picador

The Coral - Don't Think You're the First

Echo & the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon

Santa Ana wind - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Santa Ana winds may get their name from the Santa Ana Mountains that lie in Orange County or the Santa Ana Canyon through which the winds are noted for their high speed. Many Southern Californians believe that the traditional name is Santanas, meaning devil winds in an undetermined language. The similar word 'Satan�s' is Spanish for 'Satan.' Santanas was occasionally used in early reports,"

music is art

What a great fucking blog. Um, music, and, uh, art. Like, together.

Photograpy and mp3s. Gorgeous, both.

music is art

"words, music and art complete one another. the mission of musicisart is to show how passion creates feeling and to share on the meaning. old and new intelligent selections always inspire and will forever include uncensored thoughts, music expressions, intense details to demonstrate sincere and grateful appreciation. simply, thankyou for reading."

I'm From Barcelona - Treehouse

Confetti happiness.

Halloween weekend

Too much love. You guys make me proud to wear the gold lamé.

More stories and pictures to come.

Hip Hop Thursday - Outkast 'Slump'

Anyone for Southern Rock Sundays? No? Good. To Southernfried hip-hop then.


DOWNLOAD: Outkast - 'Slump'

Not the stand-out track from '98's Aquemini CD. That'd be a tie between Rosa Parks and the insanity that was 'Bombs Over Baghdad' (prescient by 5 years or late by 7? you decide).

Back to 'Slump' (must be said while slumpin'). Manages to be angry, happy and descriptive all in one. Somehow the line about 'buyin' all the weed and all the chickin' has stuck in my head for a while.

Think this was back when Big Boi and Dre 3k were still hangin' on the same stoop in the Dirty-dirty ATL. Big dreams in their heads, but they still hadn't moved out of the hood.

Also funny for the revelation that Andre used to work at Steak'n'Ale.

Pink Nasty - "Don't ever change [ft. Bonnie Prince Billy]"

In which you can hear the ennui and fedupness of a relationship in indie rock limbo. (Please baby, won't you shut the fuck up).

DOWNLOAD "Pink Nasty
“Don't Ever Change [ft. Bonnie Prince Billy]”

Bonus track: My favorite Bonnie Prince Billy track, "A Minor Place". Spare piano, hushed voice and I've no idea what it means but I love it. You should, too.

DOWNLOAD: Bonnie Prince Billy "A Minor Place"

LBF: Jens Lekman Live at the 2006 Pitchfork Music Festival

Guess he opened the show with this one.

LBF: Travis - Sing

Met a girl last night who's the doppleganger of my ex, Rory. Hair, body language, attitude, everything.

This song reminds me of the summer after I left my start-up and was just chilling out in Seattle at Rory's place, playing Diablo with MTV2 running non-stop on the TV.

(that was in the era that MTV2 actually played videos.)

LBF:Hotel Yorba

I said 39 times I love you to the beauty I had found.

Lazy blogger Friday: Sonnet - The Verve

My friend and me
Looking through her red box of memories
Faded I'm sure
But love seems to stick in her veins you know


Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord

Positive K - I Got A Man

Rockin' like 1992!

new herman dune songs on their my space

On one of their blog posts they've got a *great* analogy about their new album, invoking the death star station toy.

www.myspace.com/therealhermandune:

"Neman And I Just Finished Mixing The New Herman Dune Album, Giant
In Paris, France, With Julien Delfaud
We Kept 16 of The 22 Tracks We Recorded, And Julien Is Going To Master It With The Guy Who Mastered Electric Warrior On Wednesday...
I Never Thought My Songs, Or Andre's Songs Could Ever Sound That Good
It's So Weird
It's So Much Better Than What I Dreamed This New Album Would Ever Sound Like
I Mean
I've Always Dreamed To Have Horns And Brass On my Songs, And The Jon Natchez Bourbon Horns Were Right On/ Right On
I Don't Know...
It's Like When You Dream Of The Starwars Death Star When You Are A Kid, And Instead Of The Ugly Toy You Thought You'd Get, You Get An Actual Mini Death Star, Like The Holographic One They Watch In Jedi, With Like An Antigravity Device Or Something
I Mean, Horns, Brass, Flute, It Is Really, A Dream Come True For Me
Then
As I Started To Do On Novascotia, And As We Did On Not On Top, There's A Lot Of Girl Singing
But Frankly
My Sister Lisa Combined With The Baby Skins
It's Far Better Than Any Female group I've Ever Heard, Except Maybe The Dixie Cups
They Are So Good
It's So Fulfilling To Hear Them Sing our Songs
Of Course Neman And Doctor Schonberg Were Crazy On Percussions
Then The Sound Is Soooo Vintage, From The Recordingg On, And Julien Mixed It Total Stereo, Rubber Soul Style, It's Cool..."

Koop-Come To Me

Gorgeous new track from Swedish cross-dressers and oddly-penciled eyebrows, Koop.

Sure to appear in something on the tv somewhere. Maybe you can be first.

The Vicodin Song

Not my usual style of music, but the subject matter seems LA-suitable.

(HT: K8)

LBF - Cat Power - Lived in Bars

I'm 100% sure I posted this before, but I'm in love with the section at the end. And I'm in love with the people in the video. And I'd pay good money to have Cat Power naked except for the tiger mask.

Wouldn't you?

LBF - Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At

MENTAL!

If you ever have the chance to see Basement Jaxx live, do it.

LBF - I'm From Barcelona - Treehouse (live)

Dedicated to Misty & Kevin and their possible surprise wedding at a Treehouse resort.

http://www.treehouses.com/treehouse/treesort/prclst.html

Lazy Blogger Friday - Guillemots - Transmission with T-Mobile

Rejoice! It's Friday.

Usually, falling in love doesn't make for brilliant pop songs.

Maybe this is the exception that proves the rule.

Put the message in the Box



Was just reading Headphone Sex . It's the 4th anniversary of the Bali bombings, and well, why not quote him directly:

"You may not realise since it's not had a lot of media coverage, but today's the fourth anniversary of the Bali Bombing. I won't bore you with my story again, however some of you will remember that I was in the Sari Club when the bomb went off, and it's nothing short of a miracle that i'm still here today.

On a couple of occasions now i've met Polly Miller, a fellow survivor of the bombing. Although the stories of how we escaped are very similar, the outcomes were very different. Polly lost her husband of 5 weeks and 8 of her best friends. She also suffered horrific burns to 43% of her body. There was an article about Polly in the Observer Magazine a few weeks ago, that i'd really urge you to read. It's very moving, and conveys what an inspirational woman she is.

Anyway, as you will discover in the article, Polly has since the moment she stepped out of hospital, put an incredible amount of energy into a charity she set up in memory of her husband. Called 'Dans Fund For Burns' (registration details here), it's now raised over £500,000 for the treatment of burns victims in the UK and abroad... and still going strong.

I've been wondering for a while how best to raise some money for the charity, and thought that since I get quite a few readers now I could try and (ab)use your generocity."

Brothers and Sisters - "One Night"

I'm a sucker for videos set at roller rinks.

And harmonies. I love harmonies. And dual tamborines.

DOWNLOAD Brothers & Sisters - One Night

kanyemahna

No, Google, I did not mean 'kanchana'. Wait, what's a kanchana?

Oh "Kanchana - a female name from Hindu meaning a celestial Apsara, gold"

back to normal posting...

where wer we, eh, oh, Kanyemahna.

it's a mash-up, and yet, somehow still relevant to the musical discussion. Gold Digger meets Mahna Mahna. but a sorta redone Mahna Mahna.

fuckit, words are failing. descriptions lacking stuff and um, description. so Download and share:

DOWNLOAD:
KanyeMahna

stereogum: The Good, The Bad And The Queen - "Herculean"

Stereogum has the new track from Damon Albarn(Gorillaz, Blur)'s new band:

Atmospheric goodness. Not nearly as accessible as the Gorillaz work. But I think I like it.

stereogum: The Good, The Bad And The Queen - "Herculean": "The Good, The Bad And The Queen - 'Herculean'

With a line-up comprising Damon Albarn, Simon Tong, ex-Clash bassist Paul Simonon, Fela Kuti-drummer Tony Allen, and a record produced by the ubiquitous Danger Mouse, the world's expecting a lot from this 'story.' Judging by this first single, the world is gonna get alot, too.

Damon is still partial to his 'Feel Good' vocal effect, and the track definitely is informed by his Demon days with Danger, but everything from Allen's deep pocket to the haunting and hypnotic backdrop make this song a sure shot. Sounds to us like someone is making himself into one of this generation's most undeniable and enduring talents.

The Good, The Bad And The Queen - 'Herculean' (MP3)

TGTB&TQ have a trio of warm-up gigs in the UK, leading up to their 10/26 performance of their entire record as part of the BBC Electric Proms season. That is one gig for which we'd surely fly, with or without carry-on liquids.

The Good, The Bad And The Queen is out 1/07."

Best movie songs, best music moments in film, best songs in a movie, best movie soundtrack

Fun debate...

Best movie songs, best music moments in film, best songs in a movie, best movie soundtrack: "Movie Tunes: The Top 40 music moments in film history

10/06/2006

ALSO: What are your favorite music-in-movie moments? Post your thoughts at Premium Hollywood and Eat Sleep Drink Music.

There’s nothing better for someone who’s a fan of both music and movies to sit down in a theater, watch a film, and find yourself in awe of how the director has utilized a pop song to set a scene or convey a mood. It’s easy to know that you need a romantic song for a romantic moment, but finding the right song…? That’s the hard bit, and it gets even harder as you have to provide the proper sonic backdrop for just about every key moment in the film. Bullz-Eye polled all of our movie and music writers (and then some) to get their favorite uses of pop songs in movies.

The only real criteria we set was this: The song couldn’t have been written specifically for the film or have made its debut on the film’s soundtrack. This was pretty rough on us at first, because it meant we had to say so long to Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” (“The Breakfast Club”), bid bye-bye to O.M.D.’s “If You Leave” (“Pretty in Pink”), and offer a fond farewell to Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” (“She’s Having a Baby”).

Fortunately, we had a lot of great songs – and movie moments – waiting in the wings. But be advised: our descriptions contain spoilers galore."

Waterfall (Oakenfeld remix)

Not much done to the original (off The Stone Roses, 1989) other than beef up the dancey 'vibe' without taking away the 'guitars'.

It makes me think of going on an adventure in the tropical rainforest, and then our raft takes a turn in the river and we're back into semi-civilization, Brazilian girls and beer and music and dancing like mad until the dawn.

Your results may vary.

DOWNLOAD - The Stone Roses 'Waterfall (Oakenfeld remix)'

Battle of the album covers

Wow.

go watch this immediately.

Motionographer | Motion graphics, design, animation, filmaking, vfx and bombastic banter� Blog Archive � Ugly Pictures Man vs. Magnet: "This is the funniest bit of mograph work I’ve seen in a while. Maybe ever. Directed by Ugly Pictures and animated by man vs. magnet (both with Curious Pictures), this spot takes you on a hilarious, ultra-violent, semi-pornographic tour through just about every famous album cover known to man.

battle.jpg

My favorite bit, I think, is the Velvet Underground/Pink Floyd prism sequence. So damned clever.

The spot was created for Fluid Battle of the AdBands in NYC.

posted by justin"

Lazy Blogger Friday: The Stone Roses - Waterfall

yawn. slightly hungover.

posting the slightly remixed version below.

Now playing at your bar mitzvah

I never had a bar mitzvah.

Let's say I threw one now, and Uncle Morty gave me a $100k for the entertainment and demanded receipts (ie no hookers'n'blow).

We, the professional planners (do they have unions for that?) and I would then consult this handy Clear Channel list to see how far our money would go.

Thinking of acts that wouldn't get my nana's panties either in a) a bunch or (wait for it) b) sopping wet, I think my line-up goes like this:

G-Love: 30k (decent act, good multi-generational party vibe)
Sarah Silverman: 35k (she's tribe, in case you forgot. expect a discount. wait, nevermind. contradiction in stereotypes)
Torn about the rest.

Feel free to leave your line-up in the comments section. Not that anyone does that here. Why the apathy, playas? Tell me what I could change about me to make you like me more. (Editor hands me copy of Your Audience Is Just Not That Into You and Your Blog (simon & schuster 2006)).

Sigh. Off to fantasize about my bar mitzvah.

TEAPARTY CONCERTS : ELECTRIC FACTORY : CLEAR CHANNEL COLLEGE ENTERTAINMENT

Trains To Brazil - Guillemots

This isn't working.

Lazy Blogger video Friday Gnarls Barkley

Been trying to be a lazy blogger all week, but the interwebs don't seem to be communicating so well.

Herman Dune 'I Wish That I Could See You Soon'

Thought that I had blogged this earlier.

More happiness, this time with pornj headwear, green men, angel muppets and the letters 'y', 'o' and 'u'.

Herman Dune 'I Wish That I Could See You Soon'

Obsessed. Some part of my brain chemistry is very, very off.

But in a good way.

Burners, note the use of pornj headwear.

? cacacacawfee with you

Sometimes, amidst the hubbub and bubble of trumpets near and far, I lose track of just who the fuck I'm downloading music from.

In this case, it was labelled 54254333zhf2323343tps.mp3.

And I googled the lyrics and only came up with someone's myspace page. So, for the time being, we're calling this a Herman Dune song. Lies, probably, but we aim for joy over truth any day here at AgainAgain.

Anyhow, the song is kinda happy and carefree, at least in the instrumentation. Lyrics are about talking smack about people. Which can be fun.

DOWNLOAD: Herman Dune(?) - "Cacacacawfee with you"

And here's the young lady's myspace page. She likes Jesus and Truman Capote. Interesting.

Lyric is found somewhere in the friends' testimonial.


www.myspace.com/phamy: "talking"

By Your Side - Beachwood Sparks

HT to Marcus for instantly recognizing this as a Sade cover, done alt-country(ish) style.

Trying to find a new therapist. So far, none of them have employed this version or the original as an answering machine message.

Too bad, really.

DOWNLOAD: Beachwood Sparks - "By Your Side"

And lyrics:

By Your Side Lyrics - Sade: "You think I'd leave your side baby?
You know me better than that
You think I'd leave down when your down on your knees?
I wouldn't do that

I'll do you right when your wrong
I-----ohhh, ohhh

If only you could see into me

oh, when your cold
I'll be there to hold you tight to me
When your on the outside baby and you can't get in
I will show you, your so much better than you know
When your lost, when your alone and you can't get back again
I will find you darling I'll bring you home

If you want to cry
I am here to dry your eyes
and in no time you'll be fine

You think I'd leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think I'd leave you down when your down on your kness
I wouldn't do that

I'll do you right when your wrong
I-----I, ohhhh, ohhh

If only you could see into me

Oh when your cold
I'll be there
To hold you tight to me
Oh when your alone
I'l be there by your side baby "

Fergie's word of the day

stereogum: Fergie Is Risiculous: "In the new Rolling Stone (the 'Hot List issue') cover girl Fergie gives us even more insight into her addict past and her annoying present.

'When something is so, so sick, it's risiculous. It's sick and ridiculous. Risiculous. See, I have my own dictionary.'"

Top Funeral Songs (UK)

Showing that you can take a little bit of hell with you into the afterlife, the British show their atrocious taste in funeral music.

The best use of music in a funeral related scene for me would have to be 'Can't Always Get What You Want' in the Yuppieflick 'The Big Chill'. Of course, that was a suicide.

I'm on record as wanting a Roast instead of a Wake if I die in the next 10 years.

What music to play though?

My 'dying with loved ones around me a la Philadelphia' tearjerker song: The Verve - 'See You in the Next One (Have a good time)'

For that matter, Bittersweet Symphony is a natural.

Think High-Fidelity had a list of funeral songs... checking interwebs... "Rob: Songs at my funeral: "Many Rivers to Cross" by Jimmy Cliff, "Angel" by Aretha Franklin, and I've always had this fantasy that some beautiful, tearful woman would insist on "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me" by Gladys Knight. But who would that woman be?"

The original post from Kofi's Hat:
Kofi's hat: "Brits Ponder Funeral Music

In a new U.K. poll, 5,000 people were surveyed about the music that might be played at their funeral. 51% said they know what song they would want played, and 79% said they've discussed it. Despite all the thought the respondents would seem to have put into the matter, their top choice is James Blunt's 'Goodbye My Lover'.

Some of the choices are maudlin, some defiant, some baffling ('Every Breath You Take'? Sting thinks it's 'very, very sinister'. That could be the vibe people are going for, but I think it's more likely they misunderstand the song.)

The Top Twenty Funeral Songs:

1. James Blunt - Goodbye My Lover
2. Robbie Williams - Angels
3. Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley - I've Had the Time of my Life
4. Bette Midler - Wind Beneath my Wings
5. Pie Jesu (Requiem)
6. Elton John - Candle in the Wind
7. U2 - With or Without You
8. Eric Clapton - Tears from Heaven
9. The Police - Every Breath You Take
10. Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
11. Daniel O'Donnell - Danny Boy
12. Sarah Brightman - Time to Say Goodbye
13. Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
14. Bob Dylan - Knocking on Heaven's Door
15. Aerosmith - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
16. Simon and Garfunkel - Bright Eyes
17. The Bangles - Eternal Flame (YSI link, available on Greatest Hits)
18. Bon Jovi - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
19. Fame - I Want to Live Forever (they likely mean Irene Cara's song)
20. S Club 7 - Reach for the Stars"

Free Hugs: The Virus of Connection | Personal Democracy Forum

Well thought out blog posting, connecting the "Free Hugs" campaign to, well, political campaigning.

(HT: anonymous commenter. Someone with a jouranlist colleague. Orange?)

One final thought. Who would be the *most* awkward politician to try and pull this stunt. Besides, The Veep of Darkness. Santorum? Allen? ('Come and give me some sugar, ya little macaca, you.')

Free Hugs: The Virus of Connection | Personal Democracy Forum: "Free Hugs' also hits our consciousness at a time when we are being carpet-bombed daily with messages of fear and disconnection. That guy in the shopping mall with a backpack? He might be a terrorist. Report suspicious activity, the signs say everywhere (at least in New York, where I live). Surrender your personal items before boarding a plane. A full-body pat-down by the TSA doesn't do much for my emotional state. I'm not much of a Jungian analyst, but the human need for connection doesn't go away, even in times like these.

Now, when you think of politics today, does any of it inspire you to be hopeful? Right now, the messages I'm absorbing are either about fear (and the need to trust the President to protect us) or about anger (and the need to stop the President from making things even worse. As a woman who was at the Demos talk I did yesterday with Allison Fine noted, we're mostly seeing activists using the new technology to shout even more loudly at each other, rather than figure out how to bridge differences and solve problems. None of the 2008 contenders are doing much to convey hope about the future.

Which is why I think it would be really smart for some politician to embrace the 'Free Hugs' campaign right now. C'mon, John and Elizabeth, go stand in a shopping mall in North Carolina with a 'Free Hugs' and get a volunteer to tape you! How about it Hillary? Mark? Do they dare? If you're really for 'One America' that goes 'Forward Together,' why not?"

BloomKing wedding mix

My friends Joel and Liz just got married in Philly. Before the wedding they asked me to make a tracklist of songs for their dj to play.

Couldn't be more flattered.

Big points to Marc Sobier's initial response to this email: "how do you remember what (was or) wasn't played? weren't you dodging lawn chairs naked?"

The email: "If anyone was curious about the section of music that Joel and Liz let me recommend to the DJ, here's the descriptions and the links. NOTE: some of the ones listed here weren't played:

links to songs about 10 lines below:

Hey Joel'n'Liz

tried to balance between hipster cred and dance floor fillers. think this splits the difference and makes it better.

can't tell you how much I love the Jens Lekman song. So, so, so great. I'd play it 8 times in a row if I were in charge of this wedding. sweet and fun and drunken. i.e. the UnWard.

call me with questions or difficulties.

much love,
m

Don't You Just Know It- Huey 'piano' smith - Snatch Soundtrack
DOWNLOAD HERE
Singalong - without it being painful

Express Yourself - Charlie Wright & the 103th St. Band
Classic Funk. Sampled by NWA.
DOWNLOAD HERE

Bang Bang - Dizzy Gillespie
Horns. And horns. Did I mention horns?
DOWNLOAD HERE

A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill - Jens Lekman
DOWNLOAD HERE
the ultimate boozy horn-filled drunken singalong 2 beers before Ward morphs from laughing drunk to angry drunk.
Ever since I've heard this song, I've wished we could sneak it into your DJ's set late night at the wedding. If this doesn't become a bona fide memory song for your wedding, well, I'm mistaken again.
I'd rather play this one song than all the others combined.

Northern Lites - Super Furry Animals
DOWNLOAD HERE
bossanova indie spectacular - even Jews can samba a little

Chewing Gum - Annie Hey Willpower mashup
Poptastic. Even money as to whether it's Radcliffe, Howell or me that pulls a Sonny Corleone during this song.
DOWNLOAD HERE

ABC - Jackson 5
Let's not get too crazy
DOWNLOAD HERE

Praise You - Fatboy Slim
Everyone starts going bonkers
DOWNLOAD HERE

Brimful of Fatboy Asha - Cornershop remixed by Fatboy Slim
Continue bonkers
DOWNLOAD HERE

It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ EZ-Rock
Bonkers goes completely fucking bonkers. Ward throws a bottle of champagne.
DOWNLOAD HERE

Walk Like an Egyptian (Xpress 2 mix)
Bonkers meets nostalgia. Bonkers wins. Shelley dances like an Egyptian, Ward assumes sarcophagi position.
DOWNLOAD HERE

Young Folks
Grabs the whistling and brings everything back to non-bonkers levels but keeps a mellow fun flow going.
DOWNLOAD HERE

Cinnamon Lips - Prince
Man, I hope your relatives are home or too drunk to notice semi- perverted Prince lyrics (listen to it if you're actually worried, tho you shouldn't be)
DOWNLOAD HERE

Crazy times - Prince vs. Gnarls Barkley
Sweet mash-up.
DOWNLOAD HERE

should segue into Crazy the full song. should kill.

So much more I could add.... "

Lazy Blogger Friday

Some new videos from YouTube. Usually, they'd just be embedded here on the site, but the interwebs don't seem to be communicating well together today.

YouTube - Gnarls Barkley "Gone Daddy Gone" Music Video

More hugs, this time from Badly Drawn Boy - Year of the Rat.

Dancing miners! from the Avalanches. (Who are currently enjoying Stereo MC's level 'what the hell happened to them?' level absence from your local music store.)

And speaking of the MCs, here's Connected. Which, if it had come around 10 years later, would've made them about 6 billion with various phone companies around the world.



Have a Bill Withers day.

a PLAGUE of ANGELS: THE MAGIC NUMBERS (NEW SINGLE)

If you've listened to 'Close Your Eyes' by The Chemical Brothers or 'Forever Lost' by The Magic Numbers and liked it, jump over to the blog Plague of Angels and download the new Numbers single 'Take a Chance'. And no, near as I can tell, it's not an Abba cover.

Harmony laden, 60's inflected British guitar pop.

a PLAGUE of ANGELS: THE MAGIC NUMBERS (NEW SINGLE): "
The Magic Numbers will release their second album, Those the Brokes, on November 6. You will find the first single a couple inches or so below...

Oct 9 8:00A/Melkweg/Amsterdam
Oct 11 8:00A/Debaser/Stockholm
Oct 16 8:00A/Le Boule No/Paris
Oct 19 8:00A/Lido/Berlin
Oct 21 8:00A/Atomic Cafe/Munich

[MP3] 'Take a Chance'"

YouTube - Inspiring Story! Free Hugs Campaign (music by sick puppies)

The music on this clip just doens't do it for me. Does it for you? Nah.

So, let's add a little unbridled goodness, maybe even some say *appropriate* lyrics and make it a little better.

DOWNLOAD: The Polyphonic Spree - 'Hold Me Now'

Then cue up The Spree in iTunes, press play on the YouTube cut and mute their music. Voila.

Added goodness.

YouTube - Inspiring Story! Free Hugs Campaign (music by sick puppies): "Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whos sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives.

In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.

As this symbol of human hope spread accross the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.

In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person.."

YouTube - Herman Dune 'I Wish That I Could See You Soon'

This is ridiculously fun and cute and you shouldn't be reading this blog if you don't go watch it right now.

Having trouble deciding whether or not I want the green guys to be cgi'd out or not.

YouTube - Herman Dune 'I Wish That I Could See You Soon': "New Herman Dune video 'work in progress' directed by Toben Seymour for 1st single 'i wish that i could see you (soon' taken from new album 'Giant' out the 16th of October "

Sweeter than Frango: The Shelley Ward story

We only have 3 firm rules here at AgainAgain, and for the life of me, I can't remember the first two.

But the absolute for sure rule that we will never break is this: You give us Frango mints, and I will dedicate a post and a song to you.

In this case, "Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!" for Shelley Ward, who brought a box of Frango mints to the BloomKing wedding.

For Shelley, who loves to dance, and loves the 80s and is as sweet as can be:
DOWNLOAD ESPECIAL DE FRANGO CHOCOLATE POR SHELLEY - "Walk like an Egyptian (Xpress2 mix)"

Marshall Field's : What's New: Forever Frango: "There are other mints and other chocolates, but only one Frango mint chocolate. The taste is instant seduction. Frango has maintained a fiercely loyal following through 75 years of changing tastes and food fashions."

I'm from Barcelona

Happy review of Swedish band "I'm From Barcelona" from DotMusic, below.

If we were going to have MagellanFest or Joyfiend Festival, we'd hold our breath until they, Jens Lekman, Herman Dune and The Spree showed up. Someone call the fire marshall because the bands alone will put attendance in triple digits.

DOWNLOAD> I'm from Barcelona - "We're from Barcelona"
DOWNLOAD> I'm from Barcelona - "Treehouse"

LAUNCH, Music on Yahoo! - I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends: "I'm From Barcelona - 'Let Me Introduce My Friends'

September 15th, Brixton Jamm. A stripped down version of I'm From Barcelona (a mere 22 members, as opposed to their full complement of 29), is bouncing through the Gig Of The Year. Frontman Emmanuel Lundgren dusts the dancing fans with handfuls of confetti, balloons bobs across the 250-strong crowd, band members rattle fruit maracas and work handheld bubble machines, guys with kazoos are hauled out of the audience, the atmosphere the happiest thing this side of The Flaming Lips. 'It's like a children's party', observes Lundgren, with a grin.

Depending on your temperament, this translates to either the Feelgood Band Of 2006 or a horrific saccharine overdose. Reviews thus far have been strangely polarised - critics either buy into the charm of a collective that was originally started as a bit of holiday fun by web designer Lundgren and wasn't meant to last longer than a week, or react viciously, sneering at the primary colours of the music and the supposedly twee subject matter. Can a band that sings about stamp collecting, chicken pox and treehouses be cool? Apparently not.

But like all true originals, I'm From Barcelona exist in their own parallel universe, a realm where petty notions of cool hold little sway. Sling all the names you want, because - la la la - they can't hear you, they don't care. Like the Polyphonic Spree before them, Lundgren and co are their own self-contained party, a gang of mates cheering each other on. But while you had to climb into a robe to really join the party with the Spree, IFB are a far more ramshackle and inclusive affair, a stage invasion that's spilled back off the stage.

The lyrics, therefore, are an open-hearted reflection of this ethos. Treehouse uses the concept of a "you and me house" to celebrate solidarity and outsiderdom ("nobody can see us"). "Collection Of Stamps" isn't so much about philately as optimism, the stamps representing the boundless possibilities of life ("Every stamp in my collection is a place we could go"). "Chicken Pox", meanwhile, isn't really about chicken pox at all but heartbreak, the line "You can't have it once you've had it" referring to Lundgren's capacity for falling in love.

Like The Flaming Lips, then, IFB are bruised optimists, but ones with just a few bruises and their wide-eyed sense of awe in the world very much intact. Whereas Wayne Coyne is obviously an adult trying to reclaim a sense of childlike joy, there's something genuinely childlike about these songs.

September 17th, the End Of The Road festival. While Richard Hawley plays on the main stage, IFB snake through the back of the crowd, singing and making merry, leading the curious to a wooded path for an impromptu gig. You either join in with something like this or let life pass you by. Hand us a kazoo please."

Me again: Complimentary Kazoos at JoyfiendFest.

Fight. The Evil. Anti. Groove.

Live at the Hen House-Superbroke Brass-Hen House Studios-Bb.mov (video/quicktime Object)

www.myspace.com/superbroke

Took an hour break yesterday and walked around the Abbot Kinney Festival. Found these guys playing and followed them around laughing and dancing.

They're like March 4th, but, um, crazier and more ramshackle with their instrumentation.

www.myspace.com/superbroke: " About superbroke
United in the attempt to uphold the rights of every citizen of this Earth to create, to freely pursue, and to fulfill his or her destiny in this life and all others, and in order that each citizen of this Earth might freely endeavor to fully live in the now each and every now of his or her life, and that each and every being is availed ample space and opportunity to dance the dance of newandexcitingthings with the SuperFlow of the Universe, whom we adore, the league of superheroes known as The Superbroke Brass and Tin and Strings Electric Marching Band Ensemble pledges to battle the forces of oppression, deception, corruption, etc. collectively known as the Evil Anti-Groove, who is the bane of all things creative.

We stand for truth, justice, and the elevation of the human spirit. We believe in the SuperFlow of the Universe and in the pursuit of ones destiny as a means of participating in this SuperFlow. We believe in the power of laughter, spontaneity, and any gesture of love as a means of equalizing the Anti-Grooves nefarious influence in this world.

We believe in loosening the Sphincter of the world.

We pledge our assistance and offer our superpowers wherever the Evil Anti-Groove perpetuates injustice, oppresses the human spirit, or otherwise connives to disrupt the natural and precious Flow of the universe, amen.


The Superbroke Brass and Tin and Strings...'s Friend Space"

DOWNLOAD Calexico - "Alone Again Or"

Sometimes a song gets so woven into my cortex that it brings me joy to sing along to the synapse frequency and melancholy to think that no one can hear the tenor of the joy that it brings.

So download this, fuckers!

DOWNLOAD: Calexico - "Alone Again Or"

Comments from Drowned in Sound, and hello to newest reader and Portland friend KellyMo.

Drowned in Sound - Reviews - Singles - Calexico - Alone Again Or: "What with the current appreciation for the dusty doom of sixties anti-hippies Love, this cover of ‘Alone Again Or’ is a deservedly attention-attracting if not slightly zeigtgeist-y release by Calexico.

Fortunately its a wonderful take on a classic song; crossing the American border, it’s a taco-flavoured mariachi effort with a beautiful trumpet weaving its patterns with free abandon over the top, underpinned by tequila-soaked guitars and percussion. It combines tasy tex-mex drama with a hazy, widescreen outlook, and is really rather great.

"

Snow white and El tao tao

Sure to be removed by the evil mouse Co by tomorrow a.m.

So watch while you can. Me? I'm taking more Dayquil until it's time to take more Nyquil.

Stretching

About to be picked up to go see The Spree.

Stretching out my calves so as not to be sore from jumping around.

8^)

Lupe Fiasco - Could've Been

Digging the new album by rapper Lupe Fiasco. You might know him from the skater song 'Kick. Push.' Worth a YouTube visit, at least.

He's got a laid-back flow that's smart, witty and generally abstains from the booty'n'bling viewpoint. He also forgoes the Kanyé self-aggrandizement.

One of the first rap discs I've listened to all the way through in ages.

DOWNLOAD: Lupe Fiasco - "Could've Been"

Apache

Who needs Burning Man?

Smalltalk - a Jens Lekman mix

New favorite artist Jens Lekman (see 'A Summer's Night on Hammer Hill') has posted his own little summer mp3 mix at his website.

Unfortunately, his bandwidth is slow as fuck, so we reposted here. Fun, gorgeous pop music. He calls it 'The Death of This Summer MP3' but it sounds more like Holding onto Summer Picnic Sunshine MP3 to me.

DOWNLOAD: Jens Lekman - The Death of This Summer MP3

And if anyone's reading this by way of the Unofficial Polyphonic Spree forum, welcome. Stay a while, won't you?

Smalltalk: "Sometimes I get stuck in the recording and writing but instead of cutting my wrists I open the window, bring out my records and put together little mixes for my friends. This one is a mix of some of my favourite songs from this summer and previous ones, some are cut up and put together into new songs, new remixes or whatever. They form a perfect response to the death of this summer.

Jens Lekman - The Death of This Summer MP3

But I'm a Prisoner of This Moment (short sample) /// TTA - Silly Crimes /// Arthur Russell - Lucky Cloud /// Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens - Kazet /// One , Two , Three... /// Ennio Morricone - Mon Nom Est Personne /// Simmar vi , Sv�var vi , �lskar vi /// Most Valuable Players - AC in HCMC /// America - Ventura Highway /// Julien Jabre - Swimming places /// Action Biker - Farrah"

LA Times article on The Spree

have to admit i've got a bit of trepidation when i comes to the new Spree's 'more political, more rock album'.

i fear change. 8)

love the last quote. i've got difficulty with taking care of myself...

calendarlive.com: FAST TRACKS - Another Spree begins: "Now, the Spree returns with 'Wait,' a five song EP that includes covers of the Psychedelic Furs' '80s chestnut 'Love My Way' and an ecstatic-sounding cover of Nirvana's 'Lithium' produced by Jon Brion (who is behind hits for Fiona Apple and Kanye West).

And all two-dozen members will pull in to the scene of the group's earlier breakdown, the Fonda, on Sept. 10 — part of a two-week U.S. tour — with a new perspective.

'Things most definitely have changed,' DeLaughter says. 'It's evolved into this community property. Before, it was more about my personal space. Now it's more about a community of ideas.'

He also seizes the opportunity to correct a common misperception about the Polyphonic Spree: 'A lot has been misconstrued about us: that we have this happy, clappy situation where everyone is in a constant state of zeal,' DeLaughter says. 'Not true. There are major dynamics in a five-piece band. Can you imagine the issues when you have five of those bands as one?'

...

As if mounting a tour and releasing new music weren't enough, the Spree has remained busy for the last year recording a highly politicized, more "rock-oriented" album, "The Fragile Army," which it will release next spring. Also, DeLaughter and his wife and bandmate Julie Doyle are expecting their fourth child in December.

"We're used to overwhelming ourselves," DeLaughter says in his lazy, Texan drawl. "Hence, the four kids, label, record store and 24-piece band.""

Basement Jaxx - Take Me Back To Your House

Alt-gypsy is the new alt-country.

Banksy - Indoors

Banksy is the guerilla artist who slyly hung up one of his pieces of work at The Tate (?) in London.

He's doing a 3 day graffiti extravaganza here in LA over the BloomKing wedding weekend.

Banksy - Indoors

Pitchfork: News

Everybody, welcome Pitchfork to the Peter Bjorn & John party a month after we posted the same song in the AgainAgain Summer Hodge Podge Mix.

Pitchfork: News: "Infinite Mixtape #37: Peter Bjorn & John: Young Folks [ft. Victoria Bergsman]
Swedes do it better, especially when 'it' is sun-kissed, whistle-while-you-frolic indie pop. Commaless trio Peter Bjorn & John (never to be confused with 70s schmaltz-pop wizards Tony Orlando & Dawn) serve up an exquisite slice of 'it' with single 'Young Folks' (from their Wichita UK release Writer's Block), a superlative summertime ditty replete with maracas, happy-go-lucky bumbling bass, and an infectious whistled melody that can't help but incite smile riots.

The chorus soars and the lyrics flirt with youth-appropriate romantic nihilism ('All we care about is talkin'/ Talkin' only me and you'), but it's guest vocalist (and ex-Concretes singer) Victoria Bergsman who owns here: Her dour, pouty vocal enters atop distant storm-cloud synths to provide some much-needed shade from all that chippery. RIYL: endless summers."

#13.2 - Islands - Volcanoes

Just to prove it's not all doom and gloom here in migland, i'd like to point out that I had HDTV and a TiVo installed.

And that I listened to this video. Brilliant idea, LaBlogotheque. lovely execution.

DMC ft. sarah mclachlan - just like me

Musically, I can't really stand behind the song.

But emotionally...

Music really is power

Caught a VH1 documentary last night about rapper DMC (of Run DMC) and his search and reunion with his birthmother.

DMC (Daryl McDaniel) had a big problem with alcohol and prescription pills for a while. Wikipedia: "In 1997, McDaniels began to slide into a deep depression. He became extremely unhappy with the rigorous routine of touring and performing. He hated being away from his wife and newborn son. He began to rely heavily on perscription drugs and alcohol to ease the pain. McDaniels had already built a reputation as a notoriously heavy drinker during Run-D.M.C.'s heyday. He was known to drink up to eight 40 ounce bottles of malt liquor a day and was arrested twice for public intoxication and driving while intoxicated."

Hmmmm. None of this is sounding remotely familiar, is it?

DMC My Adoption Journey - Interivew with DMC - Darryl McDaniels - Adoption Reunion - Adoption Search

DMC My Adoption Journey - Interivew with DMC - Darryl McDaniels - Adoption Reunion - Adoption Search: "DMC on the void he felt that he couldn’t explain and the losses he experienced in a short period of time.
A short time after Jam Master Jay was murdered, his adoptive father passed away. He listened to Sarah McLachlan, “Angel” every day for 3 years. DMC shares the following: “I just thought, ‘God, What are you trying to tell me?’ My story is a story of purpose and destiny. I was questioning my existence. Am I just here to be DMC, to do this rap thing and nothing else? I was suicidal. Angel kept me alive for 3 more years to discover the meaning of the void. Now I know that I am to bring hope, motivation, and inspiration to adopted kids and those in foster care.”

DMC on the importance of his adoption:
“If I wasn’t adopted I would never have met Jay or Run and I wouldn’t be who I am now, where I am and the influence Run: DMC had on rap music today. We were the rap artists to get promotional deals with the song, ‘My Adidas’.”

DMC on whether the search and finding of his birth mom filled the void:
“Yes, it did, it’s a new beginning for me.”

DMC and how his reunion is progressing:
“Really cool. I have 2 brothers and a sister. My birthmom calls herself ‘the other mother’. She believes that she gave me life, my adoptive mother allowed me to experience it.” And what about his adoptive parents and the fact that he did search? 'They are 100% behind me now.”"

Me again: Crazy thing about it is that DMC got McLachlan to record a song with him about his experiences. And revealed to him that she, too, is adopted. Kismet, no?

Back to them:"This documentary brought to light the reality of closed records and closed doors as DMC learned that he would never have his original birth certificate, that it was forever sealed. This knowledge, while nothing new to veteran searching adoptees, blew DMC away and he expressed his frustration in a support group for adoptees. He also shared how the group has kept him going on his search and has helped in his grieving process."

Me: And I just wish that 'this grieving process' could just hurry up and happen already. It's hard being 35 (erm, wait, 34) and being so affected by something that happened in my first 30 days. But it's also comforting to see similar hurt and loss in other people. To know that I'm not completely insane. And that I'm not alone.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I can't recommend this documentary enough. I'll post whenever it's scheduled to run next.

Sorry for the ranting. Thanks for reading.

Lazy blogger Friday: Young Folks

While beating the warpath against uptight softball coaches.

Astronomers say Pluto is not a planet - Yahoo! News

I'm imagining the convention center devolving into a Lord of the Flies like scenario.

"You can't speak, Piggy, you don't have the conch!"

Side note: couldn't find any .wav's of that. Sad.

Astronomers say Pluto is not a planet - Yahoo! News: "The decision on Pluto at a conference of 2,500 astronomers from 75 countries was a dramatic shift from just a week ago, when the group's leaders floated a proposal that would have reaffirmed Pluto's planetary status and made planets of its largest moon and two other objects.

That plan proved highly unpopular, splitting astronomers into factions and triggering days of sometimes combative debate that led to Pluto's undoing. In the end, only about 300 astronomers cast ballots."

Wired News: Music Makes Your Brain Happy

Wired News: Music Makes Your Brain Happy: "WN: What are we learning about the link between music and emotion in the brain?

Levitin: Music activates the same parts of the brain and causes the same neurochemical cocktail as a lot of other pleasurable activities like orgasms or eating chocolate -- or if you're a gambler winning a bet or using drugs if you're a drug user. Serotonin and dopamine are both involved.

WN: Could music be an antidepressant?

Levitin: It is already -- most people in Western society use music to regulate moods, whether it's playing something peppy in the morning or something soothing at the end of a hard day, or something that will motivate them to exercise. Joni Mitchell told me that someone once said before there was Prozac, there was her."

The Spree EP

Going to see the crew live in 2+ weeks, a week after the all-important, life-affirming Start of College Football Season Man Festival. (This year on HDTV).

And the Spree's website has been redesigned to be even more psychedelicallywonderful. And yes, that's a single word when you want it to be.

There's even pieces of a new track, which as hinted at on their blog, is more rock-based and a little less choral.

Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way

Expand this sound by 24 folks...

(btw, why couldn't they have covered Pretty in Pink?)

Polyphonic EP!

Going to see the crew live in 2+ weeks, a week after the all-important, life-affirming Start of College Football Season Man Festival. (This year on HDTV).

And the Spree's website has been redesigned to be even more psychedelicallywonderful. And yes, that's a single word when you want it to be.

There's even pieces of a new track, which as hinted at on their blog, is more rock-based and a little less choral.

The Fragile Army

(Giggling maniacally...)

From the Polyphonic Spree blog:
The Fragile Army: "Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Hello. How are you doing? We are excited to announce we finally have something NEW. NO, it's not the new album but some cover songs we did awhile back and a couple of new tracks too. The EP is called WAIT. We thought this was an appropriate word choice for us and you too, our fans. This has definitely been a long time coming and hope you enjoy it as much as we have. You can find more info at thepolyphonicspree.com as of this afternoon!
xoxo"

My Old Kentucky Blog: Brothers And Sisters

Like these kids. Happy sounds are in beachside.

Worried that were eating up all the winter endorphins here in the summertime.

But, hey, Newsweek says all the 'Big CDs' of the year are coming out in the 4th quarter!

My Old Kentucky Blog: Brothers And Sisters: "Big bands are all the rage these days it seems. How many members can you fit on one stage to create as much sound and as many layers as possible? I don't know, the more the merrier if you ask me. I'm all for it.

Brothers And Sisters : Self-TitledAs their band's namesake emplies, this eight member crew is led by real-life brother and sister Will and Lily Courtney. They're Austin, Texas based and while their sound comes out sunny and positive with loads of pretty boy & girl harmonies, the lyrics aren't always in the same vein. Brother Will sees no problem with this and about it says, 'I don't set out to have that contrast in my songs, but it does happen a lot. The truth is, life, for the most part, is filled with hardships, heartache and disappointment. But for me, I really never lose hope that the good stuff is just around the corner.'

Even though Will and Lily are the only true pair of siblings in the band, each member goes by the title of Brother or Sister. This reflects Will and Lily's upbringing and belief that we are all brothers and sisters in this world. Maybe this belief, in part, set this bands influence, sound and direction to harken back to a time of peace and brotherhood. Brother Will further describes Brothers And Sister's sound in terms of 70's cult movies Five Easy Pieces, Being There and Harold And Maude, 'All those movies have this sense of longing for the past, but are aware that the present, however painful or joyful, is only here for a moment and you really have no choice but to embrace it.'

[listen] Brothers And Sisters - One Night (Highly Rec'd!)
[listen] Brothers And Sisters - Without You (Highly Rec'd!)

For fans of CSN&Y, The Mamas & The Papas, The Byrds, Beach Boys, The Band and The Partridge Family. Brothers And Sisters' MySpace. Buy their self-titled album here. Quotes provided by Jessica Suarez."

Jens Lekman - A Sweet Summers Night on Hammer Hill

A little visual accompaniment.

trashcan sinatras - lyrics: cake

Freshdamn year, University of Florida.

Still lost in a world of music, but removed from the Murmur records job and free entry into local shows, this was one of the CDs I clung to.

A sort of sub-Smiths jangle, too-clever lyrics and that yearning that can infect lonely freshman.

In other words, fantastic.

DOWNLOAD: Trashcan Sinatras - "Obscurity Knocks"

trashcan sinatras - lyrics: cake: "know what it's like
to sigh at the sight of the first quarter of life?
ever stopped to think and found out nothing was there?

they laugh to see such fun
i'm playing blind man's bluff all by myself
and they're chanting a line from a nursery rhyme
'ba ba bleary eyes - have you any idea?'"

The Book I Read: Japanese Playboy

Found this little gem today. I could see playing this at the Bloom/King's wedding reception.

DOWNLOAD: Jans Lekman - 'A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill'

Amazing to me that there's all these fantastic little gems of songs waiting to be discovered and loved.

Happyhappyhappy.

The Book I Read: Japanese Playboy: "Moving on from butt-rock to cheese-pop, this little gem comes from Jens Lekman's release last year -- you know, the one w/ 'Maple Leaves.' While that song is darling, funny, a 'perfect pop gem,' , &etc., it was this track that really made me love the guy. The horn line, the shout out to Warren G and the summer of 1993, the drunken (?) chorus of singers (bum-ba-bum-ba-Bum-Ba-Bum-Ba-BUM-BA-BUM-BA-BUM), the whole house-party vibe; I still can't help but smile each time I hear it.

Jens Lekman - A Sweet Summer's Night On Hammer Hill"

Kofi's hat

Funny post from Kofi's Hat:

Kofi's hat: "Best and Worst Songs About Booze/Helping The Kids

The Uncut folks have drafted lists of the best and worst 'songs about booze' for their latest issue. Who doesn't enjoy reading about Chumbawamba? But please enjoy alcohol responsibly. Don't be swayed into thinking it's purely fun, as consequence-free as, say, responding to a personal ad with the intention of cheating on your significant other. That's what Rupert Holmes' 'Escape (The Pina Colada Song)' would have us believe, kids!"

S K A T T E R B R A I N: Totally Twee Super Summer Mega Mix

As some of you may know, I've been twee-curious lately.

Here's a good summer mix tape by blogger Skatterbrain.

btw, how many of you would be down wiht .zip versions of the mix cds?

S K A T T E R B R A I N: Totally Twee Super Summer Mega Mix: "Okay, so I'm aware that Summer's beginning to wind down, but I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet. I've created a mix, using the most special of ingredients, known to be very powerful against the threat of fall and it's plans to overtake Summer. Join me in listening to this mix all day long and riding Summer out as long as we can! P.S. It's not all twee, but most of it is, so whatever. You can download the big boy .ZIP file, or if you're into having yourself a buffet, you can download all songs seperately below.
"

Daily EP, Day 3, Track 04 - The Legends - "He Knows the Sun"

The Swedes are at it again. Making great music and being tall and good cheekboned and all.

This could be a companion piece to the Pernice Brothers -
"There goes the sun", since it feels a lot more like driving down a city highway at 10pm after a day in the sun and heading for a serious drug bender than it feels like, 'ah, sunshine'.

DOWNLOAD: The Legends - "He Knows the Sun"

Daily EP, Day 3, Track 03 - Ben Kweller - "Sundress"

I get Ben Harper and Ben Kweller confused.

But I like this Ben Kweller song, and I'm going to be lazy about finding out more about Mr. Kweller.

Sometimes confusion is bliss.

DOWNLOAD: Ben Kweller - "Sundress"

This song ain't bad, either.

Daily EP, Day 3, Track 02 - Amadou et Miriam - "Politic Amagni"

Love the pictures of two beautiful beaming blind married people who happen to be fantastic musicians.

DOWNLOAD: Daily EP, Day 3, Track 02 - Amadou et Miriam - "Politic Amagni"

More info:
Amazon.com: Dimanche a Bamako: Music: Amadou & Mariam: "Amazon.com

Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia, a blind married couple whose life story is as remarkable as its music, have long been stars in West Africa. They draw the musical traditions of their natice Mali and the neighboring Ivory Coast, while also embracing the Latin American salsa, Cuban son, reggae, American R&B, and English blues-rock that they discovered via long-distance broadcasts.

Having issued a handful of excellent Afro-rock albums on small independent labels in the last few years, which have attracted attention within the world music community, Amadou and Miriam are poised to break out with Dimanche A Bamako, arguably the best album of a career that goes back 30 years. Produced by mischievous French/Spanish pop star Manu Chao (who even co-wrote and sings on a few tunes), the album fuses the couple's dynamic grooves with the producer's signature everything-and-the-kitchen sink backgrounds. This is truly a collaboration of like-minded individuals: Chao's own rabid multi-culti mix of styles enhances the blind couple's guitar-driven mix of blues-rock and African percussion, as well as Latin, dance and reggae grooves. Highlights include the impossibly catchy 'Senegal Fast Food' and the percolating 'Coulibaly,' while the couple's political bent comes out on 'Politic Amagni.' Truly an album with a global perspective, there is something for everyone here, and rather than diluting the stew, it makes it all the more tasty. � --Tad Hendrickson"

Daily EP Day 3, Track 1 - Death Cab For Cutie - "I'll follow you into the dark"

Love the first line in this verse...

Self-incrimination, indie-cred court: I only have 4 DCFC songs in my itunes library. One of which is a cover of My Girl (no, really).

But I like this one.

Ache is beautiful.

DOWNLOAD: Death Cab For Cutie - "I'll follow you into the dark"

Lyrics:
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE LYRICS - I Will Follow You Into The Dark: "In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule I got my knuckles brusied by a lady in black And I held my toungue as she told me 'Son fear is the heart of love' So I never went back If heaven and hell decide That they both are satisfied Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs If there's no one beside you When your soul embarks Then I'll follow you into the dark"

Daily EP, day 4, track 04

Nelly Furtado.

For real? You're blogging about Nelly Furtado? You're not even that big of a Timbaland fan (and his increasing addiction to putting his own voice into his productions).

What I like about this is that it sounds like originally ms. furtado wrote a mid-tempo number about insecurity and gave it to Timba Labs who put it in the whirlybird with some minor hooks from an old Lita Ford power ballad, the echo chamber and leftover Miss-E/Timbaland Brand Skittery Beats and turned the whole thing into some kind of wondernoughat.

I like. These guys from New Zealand didn't.

DOWNLOAD: Nelly Furtado - 'Afraid'

New Zealand's source for entertainment news, gossip & music, movie & book reviews on Stuff.co.nz: CD review: Loose - Nelly Furtado: "Nelly Furtado's boyfriend should be very, very worried. Judging by her third album, Furtado is promiscuous, a nymphomaniac and a maneater. Even the album's title, Loose, should be cause for some concern. "

Daily EP, day 2, track 03

Matthew from fluxblog is probably one of the OG bloggers. So, big, he doesn't even make his blog available via RSS.

So we'll let him describe the new Electric Six song 'Infected Girls'.

You'll remember Electric 6 from the Jack White collaboration 'Danger! High voltage!' and the viking kittens video - 'Gay bar'.

DOWNLOAD: Electric Six - 'Infected Girls'


FLUXBLOG: An Entire Thing Of Laser Beans: "Electric Six 'Infected Girls' - It's really no wonder that the Electric Six's records are packed top to bottom with ridiculous, over the top lyrics. Dick Valentine's voice is so confident and authoritative that he can get away with singing most anything, be it an excited invitation to a gay bar in a surf rock tune, a Backstreet Boys lyric presented as a solemn remembrence in a modern rock ballad, or highly detailed instructions on how to order drugs by sending a S.A.S.E. to the band's P.O. box in a rollicking glam number. The great thing about the Electric Six is that the tunes are as good as the jokes, and the jokes nearly always contain some kind of interesting, thoughtful subtext, usually involving a self-reflexive critique of male sexuality. 'Infected Girls' is a dark twist on Queen's 'Fat Bottomed Girls,' celebrating ladies with vd with a bumper-sticker ready slogan in the chorus, while also presenting a vague feeling of dread in its Robert Palmer-ish groove. Everything about the song signals the character's conflicted feelings about the 'infected girls,' vacillating back and forth between disrespect and admiration, and desire and fear. "

Daily EP, day 2, track 02

You may remember Razorlight from 'Golden Touch'. Or not. British bands only account for 1.5% of all music sales in the states. A large sum of that is probably devoted to Coldplay.

Too bad.

Razorlight's new cd, out next week here, aims for a bigger sound. And while this track may sound like blatant America-bashing (what are they, French?), I choose to focus on the earlier lyrics of the song, the malaise:

"I light a cigarette cos I can't get no sleep/There's nothing on the tv, nothing on the radio/that means that much to me."

DOWNLOAD: Razorlight - America

Bloomberg.com: Muse: "Razorlight's careerism is clear with the titles of two of the best tracks. The closer is ``Los Angeles Waltz'' -- with a Springsteen-like gut wrench about getting what you deserve -- and there's a power ballad, ``America,'' crafted for Stateside stadium stardom.

It's easy to picture an ocean of fans holding up lighters as Johnny Borrell sings that he has spent ``all my life watching America.'' This leads to the grandstanding lament that there's nothing on TV or radio to believe in. Borrell obviously excludes himself from that statement. He should remember that the star who pontificates about pompousness in others runs the risk of having similar words applied to himself: be they poseur, portentous or something less polite."

Daily EP, day 2, track 1

33Hz. A band who their label, DefDrive, aptly describes as 'Hall & Oates having a throw down with Daft Punk'.

Wouldn't be out of place next to Days Go By (from the Mitsubishi 'poppin' commercial of a few years ago).

Sounds like it was made by robots, but oddly it wouldn't be apropros to do The Robot to this song.

DOWNLOAD: 33Hz - "Digital Lover"

*Sixeyes MP3 Blog: The Little Ones: Sing Song: Review

Saw a review in Spin magazine for these guys. Any time a review mentions 'Oregon', 'The Shins', 'The Magic Numbers' and 'summertime' in a review, you know I'll have to check them out.

*Sixeyes MP3 Blog: The Little Ones: Sing Song: Review: "The Little Ones’ debut EP, Sing Song, features six sunshine pop songs mixed by the talented Tony Lash. It would be fair to compare their sound to The Shins, Neutral Milk Hotel, or Beulah. And if you liked the album art of The Shins’ “Chutes Too Narrow”, you’ll like the cover art of “Sing Song”, as it was done by the same artist, Jesse LeDoux, which would be a clue as to any possible comparisons. It’s sunshine pop using keyboards, electric guitar, bass and drums, so you probably know what sounds to expect: happy sounding songs filled with bright, clean guitar lines and filled with double-tracked vocals and smooth harmonies that frequently sing wordless melodies of just “la la la” or “ooh ooh ooh”s. Be ye warned, however: it’s sunshine pop, and if you have a low tolerance of sugary perkiness, stick to one or two songs per listening. It’s good summertime music and any of these tracks would be apt on a summer mix cd. They’re touring this fall with The French Kicks; check ‘em out.

[listen] high on a hill
[listen] cha cha cha"

swedesplease: A chorus of robots cover I'm From Barcelona's hit "We're From Barcelona"

If you've been paying attention to this blog, you know I like me some joyous singing. Especially from large groups of Swedes.

Well, apparently, I'm not alone.

So, do a) robots and b) drunken Spaniards (full disclosure: I'm only 1/4 drunken Spaniard).

From fave music blog Swedes Please:

swedesplease: A chorus of robots cover I'm From Barcelona's hit "We're From Barcelona": "So are you one of the few who think that the Swedish band I'm From Barcelona is some kind of internet fad? A band that will disappear as quickly as they seemed to appear. A band with no substance, a band that somehow gamed the system to get 200,000 You Tube views (here's some of the many live videos of the band - these will bring a smile to your face), snuck in to a great write up in Pitchfork or is paying off bloggers to rave about them (where's my check!). If so perhaps some of the evidence to their staying power below will convince you to jump on the bandwagon.

Exhibit A: Drunken festival fans spontaneousley breaking into the hit 'We're From Barcelona'



Exhibit B: Cover songs popping up all over the place (including robots covering 'We're From Barcelona')

Maja - Treehouse

Adventure Kid - We're From Barcelona

Exhibit C: Pitchfork writeup

Exhibit D: Catbird Seat gives a qualified thumbs up.
"

again! again!

again! again!: "Cold-Turkey Stats

Nights without sleeping pills: 14
Nights with Benadryl: 5 (Bad trend)
Nights drunk: 4 (2 Christy bdays, 1 Butter bday, 1 lonely drum circle sunday)
Sleep last night: 5.5 hours.
% Increase on successful completion of items on to-do list of past week over random week in previous 6 months: 200%

General notes: Drunkeness trending up. Poker ability trending down. TV picture quality sharply up now.

Once again spent the weekend days out doing shit instead of lying on the couch under the influence of sleeping pills or chardonnay.

Looking forward to football season ON MY BRAND NEW TV!

NOT going to Burning Man. Still.

Safe travels,
magellan"