January 20th's Holy Snow Vspot

by B Condon 4:07 PM

"We come from the land of the ice and snow..." but I'm one of those give-and-take Iowans. I don't mind snow, I really don't! 30 degree fluffy snowfall days are sheer perfection. Living in North Central Iowa where we get the colder and harder snow because we have Canada and the flat Minnesota plains to thank for that weather So living in Southern Iowa for so long (6 years this fall) really isn't that painful, non-Iowan immigrants. So in light of the Viking war cry, I give you the best thing that has happened to me in the past few weeks. 

 Karen O, You're Amazing *le drool*

and other things....

Josh Groban in First CollegeHumor Film

Because I wanted an excuse to put this up again

So what would happen if the online company CollegeHumor made a movie that is caffeinated with awesome people like Brad Copeland, the mad genius behind Arrested Development and actors Ben Schwartz from Parks and Recreation and up-and-coming "stop my beating heart" Crazy Stupid Love alum Josh effing Groban got together? "Coffee Town," a Copeland-penned film that will be the coffee house geek's "Cheers" focusing on a group who meets at a coffee house being served by Groban. Two of my favorite things in one, excuse me while I go die of happiness. 

God Help the Girl Goes Musical!

More often super-cute than Broadway spectacular, God Help the Girl and Belle and Sebastian Scotsman Stuart Murdoch wants to make a musical and needs YOUR help here at kickstarter.com as he proposes for this summer film to be green-lit. 

God Help the Girl, which is also the name of Murdoch's latest musical project, is "set in Glasgow, Scotland, the film is about a girl named Eve who is in the hospital dealing with some emotional problems and starts writing songs as a way of getting better. Songwriting becomes her way forward, leading her to the City where she meets James and Cassie, two musicians each at crossroads of their own." Or so kickstarter says, and 698 people love this idea, as do I, and already have donated 71,388 to this cause. We haven't had a good musical lately and maybe Murdoch will bring some retribution to the dying genre.   

Sleigh Bells are Back Ringing Like Amazing

Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller are back, but instead of melting your face with heavy beats and bass, they want to slash your soul with Miller's electric guitar. But that doesn't mean the music doesn't lose momentum. "Born to Lose" which I shared a few weeks ago was a mere precursor to their first official single "Comeback Kid" which truly slashes your soul.

Sharon van Etten Gaining Momentum

Staying on the Stereogum circuit, Sharon van Etten has been grading late night stages on Jimmy Fallon and the back of my BUST Magazine (total unashamed "Hellooo Nurse" moment yesterday at work) which gave her latest "Tramp" high praise. So it seems appropriate for her to check in with stereogum's T. Cole Rachel on the tour (slash Iowa City detour in March), working on Tramp, and maybe a few name drops...

John Cusack Reincarnating E.A. Poe

Knowingly there is a post in this blog somewhere that talked about this movie over the summer where it was called "The Untitled Poe Project" (I looked everywhere! I can't find it!), The Raven has a trailer and is due out March 9th, but is it solid? Probably as solid as other movies in its same genre, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Van Helsing, classic over-campy literature-action films. While I'm ashamed of enjoying these, I have slight hesitation, especially my least favorite actor, John Cusack, making a new reincarnation of the mystery and horror writer and poet. It's anyone's guess -- see it for yourself. I'm at a loss. This could be epic or it could be a huge fail. The poster on the other hand, is made of HUUUUGE win.