Everyone has the fall mindset on the brain but the weather blooooows. Not literally, unfortunately. So between summer's last days and the fact this weekend is the infamous University of Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Ames Cyclones football match on Saturday and Barack Obama in town tomorrow afternoon causing streets to close down and my weekly radio concert that I go to is cancelled (thanks a bunch Mr. President, don't you have a Senate to babysit?) this girl is planning on spending a little of my paycheck at the Mall tomorrow then I'm going into hiding..
So until I come out of hiding, stew on this.
"Let's Sing The Laundry Song Again!"
Get ready because"Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog" will be a blink of an eye between shows Monday night and Wednesday night as of October 9th which ... is .. a Tuesday ... (I'm trying to understand that reasoning...). Yeah you may have the DVD with "Commentary! The Musical" or even the option to watch it online for free... but Whedonites! It's finally a chance to get Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion's relationship on screen, and that's more precious than Gossip Girl or Supernatural!!
Taryn's Manning "Send Me Your Love"
Remember how Taryn is being such a tease with her latest music? First "Turn It Up" and "Spotlight" last year, now she's teasing us with a collaboration with Sultan and Ned Shepard; the results showing the girl still has it all: style, awesomeness, and the ability to even make *me* dance. What say you?
Polar Prize Provides Pretty Amazing Covers to Download
Every year in the wonderful land of Scandinavia (or more appropriately Sweden) they honor one international classical and contemporary musician with all the donations going to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Last year it was Patti Smyth and this year Paul Simon and most often Swedish superstars cover their songs. First First Aid Kit -- my latest musical obsession -- covering Patti Smyth's "Walking Barefoot" and this year's Eurovision winner Loreen making a New Age-spin on Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" -- both instances nailed it and caused both the songwriters to mist over. I'm ready for next year's!!
50 More Reasons to Fall in Love with Juno Temple
I already had my girl crush long on her long before Rebel Wilson and it just keeps on going in this interview with hellogiggles.com for her latest indie-flick Little Birds. Yep, it's a summer road movie but not completely as Temple's Lilly and Kay Panabaker's Allison travel from their home in Salton Sea to L.A. when they meet some very cute guys (including Jennifer's Body's Kyle Gallner) and their lives are radically changed. While the premise is still pretty mysterious, it sounds like a fantastic movie and anything Temple is in rocks. Note: the Eva Green movie Cracks... seriously. Watch.
No Light, No Light (Mtv Unplugged) - Florence and the Machine
Krokodil - St. Vincent
Hello - Martin Solveig feat. Dragonette
Demons - Sleigh Bells
Hip Eponymous Poor Boy - Jack White
You Could Have It (So Much Better Without Me) - Miss Li
Hungry Like the Wolf/Rio (Duran Duran Mash-Up) - Darren Criss and Matt Bomer from "Glee"
Touch Me - Katharine McPhee from "Smash"
HTML
The Hot Toddies
The EMI Song (Smile For Me)
Alex Chilton
Cough Syrup (Young the Giant Cover)
Darren Criss from Glee
**Warning, Video Contains Self-Harm**
Escape Artist
Zoe Keating
Pelican
The Maccabees
Signals
Eva & the Heartmaker
Let Me Be Your Star
Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty
from Smash
All Tomorrow's Parties
The Velvet Goldmine and Nico
Perfect Picture (It Would Be Better)
Lilyjets
Pretty Things in Life
Margaret Berger
We Will Rock You (Queen Cover)
Russian Red
Rachel Goodrich - G-Dino
Sharon van Etten - Leonard
Backstreet Boys - Poster Girl
The Golden Filter - Favourite Things
The Pipettes - Guess Who Ran Off With the Milkman?
El Perro del Mar - It's All Good
Angus and Julia Stone - Say It Right (Nellie Furtado Cover)
Fun. - One Foot
Taken By Trees - Sweet Child Of Mine (Guns n Roses Cover)
Jessie and the Toy Boys - Let's Get Naughty
The Pipettes - Boo Shuffle
"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.
Let's get 2012 started for the next fresh music batch!
... to the tune of this ...
Young Circles - 2012
Because my bookmark folder labelled "Vspot List" is overflowing with news!
Karen O goes Country
In light of the most obscure covers in my life (Lettercamp doing White Stripes, Charlotte Gainsbourg doing Dylan...) this one has to be one of the most "wtf awesome" covers known to man! So... thank you, Chipotle for an "online video" that involves Yeah Yeah Yeah's front woman Karen O singing the Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys" It's not bad, I'm just trying understand the actual video and it's connection to Mexican food, survey says?
Cue the Monotonous "La La La La La": She's Back!
History has been made as of this past Saturday at the "Beavis and Butthead" Comic Con panel, straight out of the mouth of its creator Mike Judge. According to the "Daria" facebook page:
Live from the "Beavis and Butthead" Comic con panel and Mike Judge just said Daria will be making a cameo on "Beavis and Butthead" this season. Judge says he likes Daria a lot and maybe he should do more with her. (<-- This was met with overwhelming applause!)
While I'm trying to forget "Beavis and Butthead" ever existed, being a 90s child unfortunately exposed to it waiting for Daria, this could be fantastic news. But what more could we possibly get out of Daria Morgendorffer now? She got through high school (and some of us wondering how the hell she got out of it in the first place), got a boyfriend and went to college... what more can we get out of the snarkfest that is my Halloween costume this year? (not kidding either) Let's hope Judge comes up with something really really good.
Elton John Biopic "Rocket Man"
It's been nine months since "Rocket Man" has been greenlit under the powers of John as executive producer and Lee Hall's screenplay know-how and from the sounds of this project.... pardon my French ... this is going to be super gay.
"“Rocketman will be a radically different kind of biopic. It will be as unique as Elton’s life, told in a non-linear and hyper-visual manner that will transport people through the many intense experiences, some wonderful, some not, that helped define Elton as an artist, musician and man.” says producer Stephen Hamilton Shaw to collider.com. It will not only be nonlinear (as John says to Entertainment Weekly it would be in tradition of Dylan's "I'm Not There" and wouldn't be opposed to having multiple people playing the rock legend. Cate Blanchett, anyone?") But John also announces that the movie will also have a "fantastical in the vein of Moulin Rouge" vibe. Um... yeah. gay.
The real question is: who should play this Rock God? For once, I'm at a loss. Hugh Jackman?
Lykke Li Covers Unchained Melody
Lykke Li can do anything -- from winning over late night hearts from playing Fallon and Letterman to catapulting her 2011 released "Wounded Rhymes" to #36 on the Billboard 200. #36? Sacrilege to those who believes that "Wounded Rhymes" deserves the end of the year award for Best album of the year. Outside of this impending controversy in December, let us all enjoy Lykke Li covering the Righteous Brothers for Australian radio triplej.
New Florence + the Machine tracks Live!
I never tire of my love for Florence Welch, simply because she lacks the ability to suck. So when stereogum put out the article, Watch Florence & The Machine Debut "Never Let Me Go," "Spectrum," & "Heartlines" At Creators Project, I want to love it despite I can't hear the music, the downside of poor acoustic youtube videos. I can definitely say that "Never Let Me Go" has me interested and simply cannot wait in the release of "Ceremonials" coming out next Tuesday. NEXT TUESDAY!! Get excited! This is one new album I shall actually buy.
So what does the all mighty stereogum have to say about "Ceremonials" in their Premature Evaluation? One comment really gets to me and has me worried for the album, "Big sounds, big notes, gigantic crashing orchestra noises on every song. Florence is not playing around on this one. There’s no false modesty, no restraint. I’m terrible at predicting stuff like this, but I can’t remember the last time I was this sure an album would be massively popular." Is this the return of the solid track-to-track album in the tradition of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's "It's Blitz!"? And if this album is persistent, should we worry that Florence will eventually lose her sense of fun in her music if it is without "false modesty, no restraint" which seems everything but who she is in singing a cappella Disney songs and smiling that enigmatic grin? Who is the real Florence or should we simply take this over-ambition in "Ceremonials" and just go with it as sophomoric egotism.
New Collaboration for the Depp-Burton marriage
Depp and Burton is just one of those classic combinations, like peanut butter and jelly, orange and chocolate, pumpkin and cupcakes (had one Tuesday night, don't judge me!), in their eight projects they have done together and being best friends for 20 years (although at this rate we are good with calling this a marriage that will never end). It seems only reasonable after the impeccably horrid version of "Alice in Wonderland" they spurned out last year. It sounded fantastic in concept but the execution was poor. Should we expect this for... wait for it... a film revamp of 60s gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows?"
Part of me is crossing every limb on my body in the hope that it will not suck. IT WILL NOT SUCK, I tell you despite the fact that Depp and Burton have marked their graves somewhere between Alice in Wonderland and Sweeney Todd. So far, "Dark Shadows" has been in treatment and started filming just this past April, allowing Depp back into some gothic leeway as Barnabas Collins, a vampire patriarch in the crazy town of Collinsport, Maine. And it will not suck despite the fact people are tired of the movies Depp is putting out now.
Here is my list of expectancies
First and foremost, there must not, under any circumstances, have anything CGI. Not even one sparkle on the vampires (which thank God, there will be none)
Burton must stick to what made him great in the 80s -- Caligari-heavy angles and strong shadows in terms of aesthetics. (I didn't choose him for my Weimar film analysis for "Vincent" just for kicks) And by the early promo shown in Entertainment Weekly, it looks like he listened to my internal pleas.
For vampires slowly becoming more and more blase in modern culture, writer Seth Grahame-Smith has the advantage of having "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" and "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire hunter" to give the story something more witty with dark humor. But don't be surprised if the writing doesn't have the same fire as Burton-written projects -- or if Burton does end up adding scenes like how Howard Ashman wrote a few scenes that stuck out on "Little Mermaid" versus the rest of the movie by the film's real screenwriters. I look forward to this little battle. But please oh please Grahame-Smith, let Burton have a little influence, despite your current hold on pop culture.
I have zero problem with the story, because I know Depp can rock this role harder than Jonathan Frid's original role of Collins, or rather put a new spin on the character. That was one of the good things out of Alice in Wonderland is Depp's ability of bringing a deeper psychology to already-loved characters (Willie Wonka, Mad Hatter, J.M. Barrie). All in all, I can only pray to my alter every night in the hope that this won't be like their last few projects.Please don't suck!
Yoko Ono surprises tUnE-yArDs on stage
What could be better than covering a Yoko Ono song (which is a pretty tall order in itself) and realizing the activist is just back stage waiting to rock the stage with you? Ask Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs after covering Ono's "We're All Water" at Iceland Airwaves last Thursday. Garbus actually rocks this cover, although naturally I think all of Ono's music is written with beautiful intention (because she is such a beautiful person and such a pioneer for activism) but it takes someone with solid vocal cords to really pull the songs off. Ono's airy voice helps the contradiction, which is why I'm a fan (and the fact she made the sexy Sean with a rock legend -- one part of one of the greatest rock love stories of all time) of her more as a person than a singer. But Garbus... and this song... just... damn. It's spell-binding and almost wish the surprise was more jolting than it was.
Mirah feat. Tender Forever "Low Self Control"
Darren Criss - It's Not Unusual (Tom Jones Cover)
Amanda Palmer and Kim Boekbinder - Such Great Heights (Postal Service Cover)
Quadron - Jeans
Let's Whisper - Meet Me on the Dance Floor
Lady Gaga - Electric Chapel
Emilie Autumn - Willow
Princess Chelsea - And I Love Her (Beatles Cover)
While it wasn't too painful coming up with this week's list, oddly placed in the middle of the week when I should be - oh I don't know - not spending money on a Sweet and Sara vegan peanut butter s'more and some metromint spearmint water ... I consider this a necessity for this disgusting heat, as the mint almost helps hydrate more than the water... - instead of grocery shopping and cleaning my apartment. So in lieu of the internet being messed up at my apartment, I am here at the library giving you the 7 most tingly things that have happened to me in the past 2 weeks.
New Super-Amazing clothing essential
As I promise a Summer-Must-Have post in the near future complete with pictures, I cannot wait any longer to show off this cute little number I found at Ragstock for five dollars... and then I bought a hoodie there, which may or may not appear in the Autumn-Must-Have post for TWO DOLLARS! ... anyway enough of my gloating and look at this cute little number.
This is a description of what I consider a piece of clothing very Nylon (Magazine), something that is slightly neon and can be switched up in any attitude. The only thing I don't like about it (other than the high voltage pink which is OK but not my favorite color in the world) is the spaghetti straps. I have very rounded shoulders and thin straps tend not to not like this type of shoulder. But the elastic underbust looks great on my shape and the pockets! Oh the pockets is what made me fall in love with it along with the almost-baby-doll look to the top.
My mission for this top is to get a plain crew neck white or black t-shirt and wear it underneath this for fall. As Cinderella sang, "This is love."
Free Music
What I love most in life (besides a cute girl... you know who you are) is late night last.fm free download searches. But sometimes, like a cute girl, free music just happens to you. Allow me to distribute.
This song is absolutely fantastic for this fucking awful weather and even better imagining Gidget and every bad beach movie to the tune of these guys. Speaking of Gidget, it's on this Sunday on Turner Classic!
Fuzzy and slightly reminiscent of the 90s makes you think something between twee and full-out Daria attitude, the Dum Dum Girls are back with their impending release of their sophomore album "Only in Dreams" coming out September 27. I will be getting back to Dee Dee in another project she took part in covering the Jesus and Mary Chain's "Teenage Lust."
Sometimes you just need a good loud electonic vibe and while I'm not the biggest remix hoarder, I support any free music from Madison 'cos well, one cannot ignore her impending message of taking over the world.
Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside
I love all music and somehow finds a little solace in a bluegrassy or jazzish feel in live music, mostly just live. So when I heard Jolie Holland was in town doing the Intimate Series at the historical Englert Theater, I was on board for ushering. Then... Portland's own Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside happened to me. Sallie looking like a piece of 90s twee adorableness with large glasses and a mass of curly hair, I fell in love with her slight Buddy Holly hiccup and the fact it was a real bass melting my face. I love their subtly.
Another band I must recommend for their subtly, sounding like a mix of something bluegrassy from "Barton Hollow" to completely revamping the Jackson 5 in a lo-fi cover of "I Want You Back" but best known for their biggest hit on Grey's Anatomy "Poison and Wine", John Paul White and Joy Williams, already an indie star in her own right, The Civil Wars have melted my face and I have yet to recover from John Paul's hotness. Yes I said it, this man is beautiful, like I have mentioned on facebook already he is a man-baby of Sirius Black and Johnny Depp. *drool*
Everyone either loves to hate or hates to love the Kardashians but you know, I think they are hilarious. Kris Jenner is like a copy of my mother in most clips, Kim as you watch her closely enough is one big ball of paranoid OCD-ness and Khloe? Well she's just hilarious and makes all the shows worth watching (such as her playing with her blow-up giraffe she named Henry). But what about the line of nail polish that is coming out this winter but everyone already got all the swatches in advance? Truthfully, I think it's a little much but if they want to put a stamp on the fashion world -- why not? Khloe should be a covergirl for her beautiful Amazonic size. But check out the colors... if I had to get any of them definitely "Khloe had a little Lam Lam" despite its moronic title. That one would be the dark-dark blue green up on the first row. But is it just me or do the colors look a little biased to the Kardashian's dark skin tones? Think about that...
Hangover Owls Tumbling
oh i get it! owls are like humans *headpalm*
Since everyone already knows that this blog is practically a love letter to Nylon Magazine, I'm sharing a site from their widget on netvibes of a website they recommended on their weekly Song + Site of the Day. Now since I have the great gift of never having the ability to actually be hung over or can give a sympathetic giggle, I somehow see the hilarity of the owls looking the way they do. And we all know I love owls.
... and Mary Chain's "Teenage Lust." Or more appropriately Dee Dee from The Dum Dum Girls and Tamaryn covered this in a project called Les Demoniaques, either way, it's awesome. Like the covers I love, I actually have never heard the original but I can only guess it's less mid-summer suffocatingly hot as this one. It's sexy!
After a conversation with a friend last night, I realized I haven't made the essential, *essential* playlist that everyone must have in their lives. Now, this isn't necessarily my all-time list, although there are always more deep in the recesses of Itunes but this is just from this year. And yes, I know... there's 40, but we know me don't we? Click on the title for the youtube link, all starred ones I have mentioned on this blog before.
you knew it was inevitable I'd find a screenshot especially for this post!
There is a difference between covers and what Glee sings. Sorry, Gleektards for the brash comment - but a cover in a non-broadway with a story line sense counts as making your own sound with a much loved previous song. You will receive hate for it but at the same time you will gain a whole new following and respect depending on how good the cover is. Behold my top 10. (and in no particular order)
Mr. Bright Side
Original by The Killers
Cover by Le Kid
A common denominator in song covers, I find, is the closeness of the melody to the actual accompaniment, if a song can become sing-songy to a more complicated accompaniment or vice versa, that is a just cause in making it sound more original for the cover band. Le Kid succeeds with Mr. Brightside because of the more rocker sound to a, as a friend said, a more "DDR sound." Plus, I'm just obsessed with the song - gender switching is another one of my favorite cover denominators.
Womanizer
Original by Britney Spears
Cover by Lily Allen
It's the same case with this, a more rhythmic note to note by Lily Allen seems more effective to be sing-songy versus the danceable, yet always fun and classic, Britney Spears. Lily's version is slightly down a few beats and her tone of voice definitely sounds more wry and a little sarcastic than Britney's seductive delivers. It's so good I'm posting it a second time!
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Original by Beyonce Knowles
Cover by Mr. Little Jeans
As if I need to plug Ms. Birkenes any further on this blog with almost under ten songs under her belt, she has to go and make this epic, lo-fi version of Beyonce. Lowering the beat doesn't so much make it more singable than it already is, but gives the song more of a chill sound than the hectic sound of the original.
Street Spirit
Original by Radiohead
Cover by Eliza Lumley
Sometimes all it takes is a really trained ear and great taste to cover something 90s emo and Tim Burton-ify it. That's what Eliza Lumley's goal was, somewhat, when she made the album "She Talks in Maths: Interpretations of Radiohead." "I was a choral scholar at Cambridge, doing Palestrina, Tallis and Byrd, and I think that style suits the Radiohead material really well. The lyrics are so fantastic; quite hard and angular - and the music is so beautiful when it's stripped bare. I think I've discovered other sides to the songs in the process." This is me not complaining considering her voice just soars during the "And fade out again" which feels like wind versus Thom Yorke's (as much as I have loved his musical contributions to Velvet Goldmine) angst. Is angst something that makes the soul slightly soar or grounds you in your misery? It's all personal choice. And according to my friends, this cover is even better than the original.
Toxic
Original by Britney Spears
Cover by CallMeKat
Again, this is so good it needs a repeat. Danish goddess Katrine Ottosen turns one of the most covered (and successful) Britney songs into a lo-fi tango. Every so often I need the maddening instrumentation of Britney, but the hipster simplicity of Katrine just feels right on a rainy day.
My Body is a Cage
Original by Arcade Fire
Cover by Sara Lov
Sara Lov's perfect dream pop, stripped down and airy, is the perfect contradiction to Arcade Fire's almost theatrical operatic angst of "My Body is a Cage." Sometimes all it takes is a pained singing voice and a piano versus massive accompaniment to get the point across. Oh, she gets the point across and if it made me a little scared and cry at first listen, it will make you cry.
Brand New Key
Original by Melanie
Cover by The Dollyrots
Kelly Ogden has a voice of summer, bad-assness and attitude ... blend that with a classic 70s single in Melanie's "Brand New Key" and yes, your face has indeed been imploded. There's not much else to say. IMPLOSION!
Plus: check out Kristine Tuna's cover of Tegan and Sara's "When I Get Up (I Want You)" free download at last.fm Such a beautiful voice is finally tackling the sometimes grating Quinn harmonies.
Get ready because"Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog" will be a blink of an eye between shows Monday night and Wednesday night as of October 9th which ... is .. a Tuesday ... (I'm trying to understand that reasoning...). Yeah you may have the DVD with "Commentary! The Musical" or even the option to watch it online for free... but Whedonites! It's finally a chance to get Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion's relationship on screen, and that's more precious than Gossip Girl or Supernatural!!
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