voguegasm: Sharon van Etten

Showing posts with label Sharon van Etten. Show all posts

Between coffee-tasting and tea-tasting days (there's a difference!), I have been putting my creative writing on a higher priority so between the new playlist and that Hocus Pocus piece, the blog juices are a-flowing and the V-Spot folder in my bookmarks is full of things that are pretty amazing. I repeat, amazing.

"Penny Dreadful" is Bleeding

to Come Back!

And honestly, I can't wait! "Penny Dreadful" is a feast for the Victorian-loving senses (and you can quote me on that!). While I can honestly say that the first season's storyline being all knitted and tied up too quickly is the possible downfall of John Logan's series despite the amazing acting from Eva Green, Harry Treadway and Josh Hartnett. But one season is one season, a way for Showtime to know what they have. But let's just hope that Logan will be able to embellish and, like a good Victorian novel, spend pages and pages describing this beautiful sense of longing with these Gothic characters. For now, let's enjoy a promo because "the past [might] return." Bring it! I'm ready!

(Josh Hartnett making out with Reeve Carney again! Josh Hartnett making out with Reeve Carney again! I mean, ahem....)

Penny Dreadful Season 1 is AVAILABLE NOW ON DVD! So you know what to get me for my birthday or Christmas, right? Right???

Say Goodbye to Mr. Mickey Rooney in the latest adaptation of "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

With two well accolighted veteran actors in Margaret O'Brien and the late Mickey Rooney, B. Luciano Barsuglia's adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson story looks pretty good to me. Add the 12th Doctor's distant cousin, actor Gianni Capaldi playing Mr. Hyde and we certainly have a strange production coming our way. Toss into the weird salad two actors playing the normally dual role, Mickey Rooney not dressed in Victorian attire, and the trailer still feeling somewhat ambiguous, damn it, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS! Tell me what magical insanity this is! Please? Let's Take a Moment to Remind Ourselves Sean Lennon is Awesome-r Than the Rest of Us I literally have no words to explain how awesome this is. So let us take these magical four minutes to take in this man's brilliant words. Amen. Blessed Be. And Another Reason Why Donkeyboy is My "Hero" ... and not in a Bette Midler Kind of Way ...

There is absolutely no lie when I say that Donkeyboy is amazing and have the inability to suck, because Cato Sundberg is amazing with everything he composes. While he can't take the whole credit for this new song "Hero" as this was the first 100 % Donkeyboy-produced and written song with the exception of a few lyrics thrown in by Canadian songstress Kiesza (who also helped out on "Triggerfinger"). But damn it, this is just good and Scandipop is right that you start singing along midway through. I'm starting to lose the words of how good these guys are. Just, damn it! Check out the boys performing the new hit on NRK TV!
Ages and Ages NEW VIDEO!

Remember that band that I mentioned once that their music could help change the world? Yeah, they took that opening song from the album and made it into a beautiful video. Despite the fact they dumped the driving introduction that absolutely rocks my socks off, the video is full of the intricate work of instruments and voices shot-by-shot. And that's amazing. So I must share this because every time someone plays Ages and Ages, humanity receives more hope. I really hope I'm right about that. Oh, and Tim Perry talks to his cat.

Conan O'Brien Holds George Harrison Week and It Was...

...Lukewarm. I'm sorry, it was totally lukewarm with some pretty dynamic moments. I have always loved Mr. O'Brien and everything he associates himself with (that epic throw-down three-way between him, John Stewart and Stephen Colbert? Uh, yeah.). With the advent of Harrison's reissued "The Apple Years: 1968-1975," the O'Brien bandwagon leapt to showcase many artists throughout the week playing in the former Beatle's honor. And it was... yeah, it was very lukewarm. Beck kicked off the week with a classic from "All Things Must Pass" which came across well-played but with not much vocal strength. Tuesday was blessed by Paul Simon covering "Here Comes the Sun" and once more, there was something lacking I just wasn't feeling. The Bob Dylan-esque vocals, perhaps? Harrison's own son came on Wednesday night to serve the world the best night covering not only a rocking yet simultaneously soulful "Let it Down" but also a web exclusive featuring Jon Bates of Big Black Delta giving a folky rendition of "Ballad of Frankie Crisp (Let it Roll)." Norah Jones finished off the week with a pretty not incredibly exciting "Behind the Locked Door". But that was only the tip of a very cool iceberg as Sunday night was George Fest at the Los Angeles' Fonda Theater, which was just a huge explosion of music, including Brian Wilson, "Weird Al" Yankovic, The Killers, Dhani Harrison, Spoon, Velvet Revolver, "that guy" from The Eurythmics Dave Stewart, Ringo Starr, Kara DioGuardi, Ann Wilson, The Flaming Lips, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club among many others. This magical night was not only a George Harrison "church service," so to speak, but also a benefit for the Jameson Neighborhood Fund which 100 percent of the tickets went to. You can watch a lot of the magic here. But Mr. O'Brien proved his Beatle nerdiness as he covered "Old Black Shoe" both vocally and on guitar. I immediately gave infinity points to Gryffindor.
And the Honorary V-Spot Award of Life Goes to... ME GETTING A PICTURE WITH SHARON VAN ETTEN LAST MONDAY! You can see it all on my face, "Dear Goddess, her arm is around me and WHAT THE HELL her head is on my cheek. Keep it together B! *internally screaming*"

Charlotte Church: Live in Cardiff Concert

Words cannot EXPRESS how dorked out I am for the moment that someone uploaded Church's BBC special that highlights many songs from the 4 EP as well as some of the fantastic tracks from 1 including "How Not to be Surprised When You're a Ghost" (which seems to be my theme song on some weird level) and "Nerve." While I am sad that some of my more underrated favorites like "The Rise" (which Church has a remarkable attachment to) and "Lasts, or Eschaton" or even "Magician's Assistant" isn't on here, I am more than happy that all 39 minutes are uploaded. So how's about a DVD with more songs or is this all that we have? Oh hell, I'd be happy with a DVD with a lot of interviews.

Tatiana Maslany Continues to be Utterly Awesome

She plays a pill-popping, gun toting house wife, a Ukranian terrorist, a female-lovin' scientist, and even more clones to boot on "Orphan Black" so what else could Tatiana Maslany possibly do to one-up her awesomeness? Possibly having a "Shaun of the Dead" inspired photo shoot for Comic Con including an interview for The Hollywood Reporter . Can she seriously be any more amazing? Stars Unleash "From the Night"

At this point, my love for Canadian Indie-Rock band Stars is pretty apparent as fall approaches, their wonderfully moody and ambient music is like an Autumn lullaby to my ears as the Sun God begins to die. But Torquil Campbell, Amy Millan, Evan Cranley, Chris Segliman, and Pat McGee always has had a degree of unexpectedness in their wide genre-spanning music. What was once lyric-conscious rock turned to occasional pop with the occasional symphonic sound and now... disco? "From the Night" is a letter to those of you who stayed home and didn't take a chance on the possibility that a bassline and a hi-hat rhythm might save your life," thus spoke Stars mastermind, Torquil Campbell to NPR, "We just wanted you all to know that it's beautiful out here; that everyone feels like time won't end and we will all be alive forever. Oh, and one other thing: it's lonely. There is no lonelier feeling in the world than watching the sun rise as you walk home. Go back to sleep. And dream..." I just fucking love this band so much! No genre is too obscure for them! But apparently "No One is Lost" is going to be one huge dance party and it will be landing October 14th which cannot get here fast enough! Le Kid Doesn't Dance and Makes it Sound Danceable

I suppose there was one more song deep within the small discography of ABBA's modern electropop cousin, Le Kid, that managed to escape me. And with good reason, since Scandipop themselves explain that Germany is a bitch to get music out of, which leads to only a two minute snippet of a wonderful electronic dance party despite the lyrics. And really, did we expect something less from this fantastic band? Can we please get this released in this hemisphere so that I can have a dance party in my head since obviously, this girl doesn't dance (in public anyway). Sharon van Etten is Touring Her Way Back to Me *happydance happydance happydance*
Again, I can't lie that Sharon van Etten is seriously my home girl. I know there's not much chance of chasing her down the moment she gets off the stage like last time, but, I will be mentally hugging her the whole time as she is coming back to Iowa City October 13 as she begins her "Are We There" tour.

Between Jazz Fest and Arts Fest lies a very boring and unfortunately workless month for me. Thank God for the internet and pop culture. What would I be without you?

Boring...

...and a little less cool?

Guy Love 2.0

What is better than seeing the cast of Wish I Was Here in the same room as you as you watch the movie? Oh IDK, seeing that bromance endures between Zach Braff and Donald Faison? It's practically perfect that the both of them came out singing "Guy Love" in Austin's Paramount Theater proving that their guy love is life long. <3

Sometimes All You Need is

Sharon van Etten and an Omnicord

"Are We There" has been out for two weeks and while it has a fuller and somewhat louder/cheaper sound than "Tramp," it continues to humble and evolve all that is Ms. van Etten. So when Sharon wanders around Refinery29's office with an omnicord to result in this performance, you better fucking listen! And I did, melted while all the while staring at this strange and magical instrument that is the omnicord. I'm in love but when am I not?

Madison's "In the Bright Light" EP

IS OUT, OUT OUT!

And it's magical! And danceable! And Madison sounds even sexier and

mysterious than ever before!

Magic in the Moonlight Trailer

We all knew that Emma Stone was collaborating with the infamous Mr. Woody Allen for awhile now; but we officially have visual proof of this! "Magic in the Moonlight" proves to be some kind of experiment between fact versus faith, cynicism versus love, Emma Stone in over a million fantastically designed 30's style outfits, Emma Stone kissing Colin Firth for every girl in our generation and Emma Stone looking like a Katharine Hepburn incarnation! Experiment fulfilled; now can July 25th get here any faster?

It's Still a Hard Day's Night

50 Years Later...

Some of my earliest memories involve getting The Beatles's first movie from the movie store (remember those?) and watching it on constant repeat. My brother would memorize visually and audial every move Ringo Starr made on the drums and I was somehow enthralled in the songs that were not the headliners like "Can't Buy Me Love" and the title track. Well, this strange little movie has a Criterion reincarnation come June 24th including 4K digital restoration and dozens of documentaries and features that would make the unofficial film historian in me do happy dance laps around my apartment.

Let's not just stop there, the first Beatles flick is also coming to theaters in July! I'm seriously not kidding. Des Moines or Chicago, I am coming for you! I have to! I mean it! Seriously! *pouts* I'm not, am I?

I have made a decision; my lap top comes with me to Iowa City's free public art space (Public Space One) and in so, I will actually make time to write on this blog which I must sadly report I have been rather lax on. So, instead of staring lustfully at the 1.50 baked goods I cannot afford (chocolate, pecan, and caramel scones, you guys!) I am giving you guys awesome musical announcements.

My New Favorite Sisteromance:

Mackenzie Scott and Sharon van Etten

from Torres's twitter account

We can make sisteromance a thing, yeah? Having been in a room with both of these women (but at separate times), it's no question they are both talented as fuck and with auras that just radiate low key awesomeness and the fact that they have collaborated before is no surprise to me. Note their interactions with one another in the recording process of Torres's new song New Skin (also featuring The War on Drugs) around 4:50. How can I be that low key and awesome at the same time?

As for Sharon, the Indie music websites are blowing up with reviews and praise for "Are We There" that will be out NEXT TUESDAY! Ranging from a fantastic interview with Amanda Petrusich for Pitchfork to Stereogum, she is the one to watch; and with good reason as so far her videos for this album are both strange and magical (literally) especially in her latest single, "Every Time the Sun Comes Up" that just breathes the '70s horror host aura. Personally, I would love to see Torres and Sharon in a band together, can this happen, please?

Do You Have 10 Minutes?

Ages and Ages Will Change Your Life.

While I remain very annoyed that my sparse review for Ages and Ages's "Divisionary" never made up on the college radio website, I am completely convinced that this Portland band will, in fact, lead a revolution if not change a person's life. Seeing these folks live is something pretty amazing as they have been opening for Lake Street Dive (another fantastic band) in their latest Colbert-bumped tour and now with help from NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series, you can watch the magic unfold online! I will leave you with a fantastic quote by bandleader, Tim Perry, that encompasses what Divisionary really means.

‘Divisionary’ signifies a group whose vision of ‘right’ is upsetting to the existing power structure. It includes a philosophical, spiritual, and physical ‘breaking off’ from the status quo. It also references the individual inner conflicts that arise as you struggle to make the right choices in life. Visionaries don’t always create conflict, but they challenge the establishment with new ideas and with the threat of change. Where there is change, there is usually resistance, controversy, division.

Margaret Berger, It's About Damn Time!

Since the release of "Scream" only two months ago, Margaret has been making me salivating, yearning, wishing -- every verb in the dictionary (both Norwegian and English) -- to hear more from this new electropop sound she's acquired. It's darker and sleeker than "Robot Song" or "Will You Still Remember Me Tomorrow" but every new song release has proven that this next album will be something special. And two inches closer to this TBA-dated album, Margaret finally released the horror movie inspired "Scream," full of interpretive dance and beautiful close-ups of our star baring truth that we don't know her as well as we think we do. And of course, like in "I Feed You My Love," it's all in black and white.

After watching the making-of video, oh Margaret, be my best friend! I cook and I have great taste!

Move a Little Over, "Crazy Something Normal," This is My New Favorite Song

...Because Nylon Magazine has fantastic taste covering L.A.-based band Holychild and their new EP, Mind Speak which comes out in the fall. So if Nylon Magazine says they're awesome, I must wholeheartedly agree especially since their first single "Happy With Me" has a little more to it than just a fun dance-y song.

."Happy With Me' is spawned from the incessant images that are pushed at women daily, and my personal difficulty interacting as a human and not being pressured to look, act, or speak a certain way. Ultimately, it's a plea to the audience: 'Fuck our cultural norms, live like me outside of those boundaries.'"

Liz Nistico, I think I love you a little... and you're pretty!

Lzzy Hale Joins Lindsey Stirling

And Generates Awesomeness

I do not know a whole lot about Lzzy Hale and her rock band, Halestorm except for the fact that some of my lesbian fans have huge... well, fandoms attached to the enigmatic singer and musician. So with her rock-trained vocals it seems almost perfect kismet that she fits so well with Stirling's classical but wonderfully dorky edge resulting in "Shatter Me." And it is amazing and beautiful

You know it's officially spring when new music comes popping up faster than the leaves sprouting in Iowa during Spring-Winter, Winterish-Spring? In other words, fast. Very.

Donkeyboy's Crazy is the Coolest, Like Ever

It's seriously hard to believe that just a week ago "Crazy Something Normal" was released. And since then, the new Donkeyboy feel-good has been dominating the ITunes charts including a Late Night stint AND a music video that involves demonic spray cans and the boys looking wonderfully bad ass.

Jena Malone Makes Art

**Warning, there's nudity**

Jena Malone channels something like classical art in The Shoe's video for "Dead Rabbit Hopes" and I don't think anyone is complaining unless you have an issue with yourself when you take your clothes off. She is stunning with nothing but flowers decorating her perfect and -- dare I say -- perfect body you would almost think the video distracts from how lovely her voice is. But it doesn't, or at least to me versus the perverted male species. This is art and it is stunning.

Sharon van Etten "Taking Chances" on a Tarot Reading

This is includes all of my favorite things: close ups on Sharon's lovely face, mysticism, tarot cards, nail polish (albeit chipped) and a strangely profound message in between the lines. Despite the fact I saw the ending from a mile away, I absolutely adored getting lost in this video.

Lindsey Sterling Consorts with Mer-Creatures Now...

There are some musicians whose music just encompasses your spiritual beliefs; my list includes Julianna Barwick and especially the way Lindsey Sterling sets up her music videos. And her latest "Beyond the Veil," the "hip-hop violinist" evokes something between The Little Mermaid and Lord of the Rings as her violin gets stolen by a magical child-creature who can breathe underwater. This is just breathtakingly beautiful! Mission Creek, can we get her next year? Stirling's album "Shatter Me" comes out May 2nd.

Amazing New Videos

Jena Malone Sings and it is Wonderful!

I love Jena Malone; I love her nonchalant awesomeness, her dorky charming smile and never mind the fact she totally got to make out with Patrick Fugit in the movie Saved! Along with her musical partner, Lem Jay Ignacio under the band name "The Shoe," the band is coming out with their first album "I'm OK" in June. Until then, here's a teaser and it's so pretty!

Josh Groban Does it Again on Kimmel!

The Four Words I Never Thought I Would Say:

Mr. Little Jeans Album

Mr. Little Jeans album, Mr. Little Jeans album!!! I have been waiting for this day for so long. "Pocketknife" is coming out March 25th and it is complete with songs that have been out as singles since her "Angel" EP. It is full of Ms. Birkenes's best: Runaway, Oh Sailor, the recent Good Mistake, and my favorite Valentine including seven new songs I am literally dying to hear. March 25th, get here faster! (And it should... I have a date with Ages and Ages and Lake Street Dive that night!)

Speaking of New Albums...

Sharon van Etten album!!! Sharon van Etten Album!!! And as the first single to May 27th's release of "Are We There," Sharon puts out a new symphonic sound quite different to her lo-fi folky tunes from "Tramp." "Taking Chances" teeters a strange line between cheerful (as cheerful as van Etten's smoky music can be) and her signature lo-fi folk as she tempts everyone listening in running away with her. In a second, Ms. van Etten!