Side A: Traditional/Covers

Side B: Original Songs

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people say that there is no such thing as good music on the radio nowadays. But typically your average radio stations are owned by corporations who need to market the mainstream pop giving the average American a disbelief that there is no such thing as relateable music on these top 40 radio stations (but if there is for you, hey, I don't judge). There is a lot of good music nowadays if you know where to look (Spotify, Indie Rock Playlist, Spotify, Youtube, Spotify...) but sometimes music can just happen to you. 

Jamie Cullum happened to me one random Friday (or was it a Saturday night?) in 2004 hoping to find a CD to buy at Kmart which was entertainment "back in the day". I don't know what drew me to an album with this goofy moppy-haired dude jumping over a piano, but I'm glad he happened to me. His music is soothing, his voice gifted with the occasional just-right break emphasizing whatever sad or melancholic lyric Cullum is trying to emulate and his lyrics? Oh God, his lyrics are like Yoda meets Ages and Ages in the way they will hit you in your soul and make you want to be a better person. Being born on the cusp of Generation Y, I would be glad to proclaim Cullum the voice (and lyricist) of our generation (suck on that, Lena Dunham!) as his lyrics are full of an old soul wisdom on love, life and the endless search to find ourselves. So how many times, for me, did Jamie Cullum nail life in the lyrics and in no particular order...

"All At Sea"

(Twentysomething, 2004)

"...You don't need it every day

But sometimes don't you just crave

To disappear within your mind

You never know what you might find..."

"I Want to Be a Popstar"

(Pointless Nostalgic, 2003)

"What is it with all these fakers

Seems to make the morning papers?

They're selling records by the million, seems so easy in my opinion..."

"Twentysomething"

(Twentysomething, 2004)

"...Maybe I'll just fall in love

That could solve it all

Philosophers say that that's enough

There surely must be more

Love ain't the answer, nor is work

The truth eludes me so much it hurts

But I'm still having fun and I guess that's the key

I'm a twentysomething and I'm keeping me"

"21st Century Kid"
(Catching Tales, 2005)

"...So who will fantasize

A new generation politicized

When things are done in our own name

Are we as much to blame?"

"London Skies"

(Catching Tales, 2005)

"Nothing is certain except everything you know can change

You worship the sun but now,

Can you fall for the rain?"

"When I Get Famous"

(Momentum, 2013)

"So given knowledge, given time

I'd take us out of recession

I'd tell the world that all was fine

And that there freedom's a blessing

Cause when I'm looking from the top

You'll all seem smaller

Ain't that what all us humans want?

To stand a little bit taller"

"I Love This"

(The Pursuit, 2009)

"It puts it in perspective

If you're feeling too reflective

Just bones and earth remain of what you are

Have you seen the beauty in

The Chaos that surrounds like the stars..."

"The Same Things"

(Momentum, 2013)

"What is a truthful state

Is it the one that you create?

A boat you built for sea

All you need now is some company"

"Edge of Something"

(Momentum, 2013)

"I don't need a vision I'm just waiting on collisions of the brain and heart

I'm patient for decisions and some stormy revelations I can claim from the start..."

"Take Me (Out of Myself)"

(Momentum, 2013)

"There was an age the battered times

Were coiled up around you like a diamond cage

Though your sparkles long resigned

It flickers like the ember of a dying blaze

These might be the last days of the blinding lights

So you and me should go and get so high tonight"

Yeah, so it's kind of snowing a little earlier than usual, so what? When I was a young 'un I had to wear my fairy godmother Halloween costume over a snowsuit, so things always can be worse. While I was hoping for that "Oh my God it's December and it's special Christmas snow" when I saw snow this year, you know, I think I can live.

Just don't play Christmas music in my direction. I will bite Bing Crosby, damn it!

And those Corona Christmas commercials need to die slowly and painfully.

Jamie Cullum: The Master of Covers

"Shakes it Off"

Jamie Cullum always nails every cover he does whether it's making a shoe-shuffling version of "Singin' in the Rain" to a magically epic "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" or my personal favorite "High and Dry". Essentially, this man cannot suck and I love every bit of that moppish hair and boyish grin of his. Especially with that grin of his is singing Taylor Swift. There's nothing more that I can other say other than watch this, you will not regret it.

Emmy the Great is Making Some Changes and Still is Clever and Ravishing

Speaking of people who simply cannot suck. The Great and Majestic Emma Lee Moss has new music thanks to her recent move to Los Angeles. The move seems almost reported on in her current single, "Swimming Pool" (which features Tom Fleming of Wild Beasts) "I want your sunshine, your tan lines, your blue swimming pool." What was once her quirky and smart anti-folk courtesy of the London scene is now, while still clever, dreamy electropop but then it's only the first single. January cannot come soon enough to hear more of this new sound!
You can read more and enjoy a playlist courtesy of Moss here.
The Prince of Darkness and his Brood are Back!

There was ham-throwing, dogs pooping, Ozzy screaming for Sharon, Kelly pouting, Jack moans lustfully that "the McRib is back" and getting shit for it. Madness is going to ensue on VH1 as of ... well, I hope very soon. While not as crazy as the original show and barely a season The Osbournes will highlight what rock's first reality TV stars have been up to lately, although that might be barely a stretch for people who are obsessed with them. (Kelly having been on "Fashion Police" and recently as a voice-over actress on the Disney show "7D", Sharon doing her thing on "The Talk" and "America's Got Channel" and Jack's documentary career on National Geographic and ITV.) Naturally, I am obsessed with Kelly Osbourne so I, of all people, would know these things. 
But what brought this on? "Ozzy's decided he wants to do another few episodes, about eight, of The Osbournes.... He's said for the three years we did it he was drunk the whole time and he'd like to be sober," said Sharon. Knowing that Kelly wasn't in the greatest state of mind either and now finally finding herself, hell, why not bring them back? Maybe 8 episodes will evolve into more. And who doesn't want to see Jack's adorable little girl, Pearl, being held by her legendary grandfather? I DO! 
And now, a scene where Ozzy yells at the dog. < br/>

So Daniel Radcliffe Did Something Amazing on Jimmy Fallon... . ..So amazing that it explains itself!


Lake Street Dive Takes a Trip to the  "Love Shack"
As a Halloween video to their fans, Lake Street Dive dressed up in nutty costumes and grooved out to the B52's guilty pleasure. What results is just plain goofiness complete with a little swim.


Horror Icons Help Out Animated Poe Adaptation

Guilermo del Toro, Christopher Lee. Bela Lugosi. Roger Corman. Those names alone alongside Edgar Allan Poe in one sentence would be enough to induce heart palpitations for the literary nerd. But Raul Garcia, master animator on such Disney classic as "Aladdin," "Pocahontas" and "The Lion King" has found a way to animate the immortal macabre tales in an episodic series using different animation styles, much in the spirit of Michel Ocelot. "The Masque of the Red Death" is influenced by Egon Schiele, "The Pit and the Pendulum" by mid 19th century photography etc etc.  You can find the trailer here.
Revived Ripper Street Comes Back Today!

After all of the petitions and begging the BBC to not cancel this amazing series, "Ripper Street" will be gracing computer screens everywhere sometime tonight and I cannot be more excited! In this new season, we should expect some pretty amazing things like Molly from Sherlock (Louise Brealey), Rose finally in a good place, new ventures for Long Susan (Myanna Buring), and hopefully more of Jackson's "lack of propriety." Bring it. I'm so excited, I'm doing a happy dance.  
On the inside. 
Because I'm sleepy. 

Master-Cellist Unwoman Welcomes Us to The Muppet Show

This woman can do anything. Covers of Tori Amos, The White Stripes, Ladytron, 4 Non Blondes, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper. Girl can do everything and anything. So how about "The Muppet Show" theme? Sure! Why not?