Under The Covers

I love when a current band covers a current song. It's so 1960's. Here's two big acts covering the big indie band of the year. Katy Perry and The Kooks get their hands on some MGMT and bring their acustic guitars along. It's fun.

"Kids" by The Kooks

"Electric Feel" by Katy Perry

                                         
As far as getting super indie cred covering, The Ruby Suns get the coup for their spot on english transition of El Guincho's island anthem Palmitos Park. The best covers don't copy the original they indulge in it. The Ruby Suns gave El Guincho a big hug and we reap the benefits.

"Palmitos Park" by The Ruby Suns

Bonus crazy music video link: Follow this link to see a video for Flying Lotus's song Parisian Goldfish. Um, yeah...

I Dub-Ya Dare You

Those who know me know that I once had my own George W. movie project in the works. Sadly it didn't work out and that's why I hate to painstakenly admit that Oliver Stone's "W" actually looks really good. It seems like the right amount of absurdity, history and inspired casting. With the spot on promotion, this is for sure turning into a must see.

Is the use of "Talking Heads" a subliminal message you ask. Is the film directed by Oliver Stone?

The Best Song Of All Time, Today

Today's best song ever made comes from our old friend Mike Skinner AKA The Streets. It's the opening and title track of his latest (I had no idea it would be as good  as it is) album "Everything is Borrowed". The loop Skinner drops in this jam puts American hip-hopers to shame. The song does an amazing tight rope walk between corny and profound never pushing it's self over the edge. Let it go to your head. If you're in a bad mood listen to this song, you'll feel better. If you're in a good mood, listen to this song and get in a better one. 

"Everything Is Borrowed" by The Steets

A Thousand Words...

Wow, tons of new albums to catch you guys up on. In the mix we have a break out best of the year contender (hint: starts with TV, ends with Radio) as well as new albums from some of our favorite artists. Enjoy the tracks.

"Acid Tongue" by Jenny Lewis

Download: "Carpetbaggers"

"Loyalty to Loyalty" by Cold War Kids

Download: "Golden Gate Jumpers"

"Everything Is Borrowed" by The Streets

Download "Heaven For The Weather"

"Dear Science," by TV on the Radio

Download: "Halfway Home"

"Only By the Night" by Kings of Leon

Download: "Notion"

"Carried to Dust" by Calexico

Download: "Writer's Minor Holiday"

"Microcastle" by Deerhunter

Download: "Microcastle"

Oscar Watch: Part 2

Sam Mendes returns to suburbia and gets Leo and Kate back together. This time around their relationship looks like it doesn't go as, er, swimmingly, but that won't stop oscar from crashing into this dramatic heavy weight. Some films have too much talent to ignore. This is one of them.

Getting Some On The Side

My problem with side project is that it takes away from what the main band could be doing. Like shouldn't Jenny Lewis be saving her good songs for Rilo Kiley instead of hoarding them for her own albums? Or Peter Moren releasing a solo album and then we hear that Peter, Bjorn, and John's new album is mostly instrumental. Peter took all the lyrics for himself! Stop him! 

That being said sometimes it's nice to hear what band members can do with other people. Here are a couple recent side projects of note:

First up is Little Joy which features another Strokes member going out on his own. Fab Moretii has joined forces with Rodrigo Amarante and Binki Shapiro(?) to form a pseudo west coast Strokes. Props to Albert for breaking the ice but Fab has taken things a little things further by keeping the blue print of his day job and taking it on a tour around the world. This is garage rock if you have a garage in the Caribbean.

Mp3s:
"Brand New Start" by Little Joy
"No One's Better Sake" by Little Joy

Next is a side, side project for Mr. Jack White. Billed as an Alicia Keys song, this is all White. As I mentioned earlier these two soulful singers have teamed up for the new Bond theme song. The first thing they did right was not have the song be called “Quantum of Solace” because frankly, it would have sucked. Second thing done right is Alicia singing like Jack instead of the other way around. The two make a dynamic pair, Meg should be concerned. To say this an just upgrade from Casino Royale’s terrible Chris Cornell song would be like saying the Tampa Bay Rays are just a little bit better then they were last year.

Mp3:
"Another Way To Die" by Alicia Keys featuring Jack White

Double O Heaven

This looks like one of the good ones. 

When he jumps with that guy through the window? Awesome.

The Sun Will Come Out, Tombrady

I haven't made any sports posts yet even though along with music and movies it's one of the three things I like the most. I'm writing today with a broken heart. My hero Tom Brady will not be QB1 for the Patriots this year. It's a huge bummer. There was however one cool thing that came out of the worst thing ever happening. 

See if you can follow this, it might blow your mind. So Tom goes down in the first quarter and back up QB Matt Cassell enters the game. The green quarterback plays just good enough to give the Pat's there 20th consecutive regular season win. That's not the strange part. Get this: later that day in Houston, Matt's brother Jack, who was just called up to the Astro's, was called in the game to relieve starter Wandy Rodriguez in the first inning! So both Cassell brothers get there most professional playing time in the same day, in the same seniro. Now, albeit, Matt's situation had much bigger stakes, but it's still a cool thing to come out of the un coolest thing of all time. 

That's my little bit of lemonade for 9/7/08 (never forget).

Best or Worst?

Isn't odd how some things can be both the best and worst thing at the same time? I.E the new video from Natalie Portman's Shaved Head:

natalie portman's shaved head - sophisticated side ponytail from thatgo on Vimeo.

Is it so bad it's good or so good it's bad? 

Oscar Watch: Part One

Too soon? Hardly, it's September and the summer movie season is over. It's to begin wheeling out the red carpet once again. Here is one of the sure fire critical favs of the year. "Milk" has it all, untold but very popular true story, gay rights, Gus Van Sant and a cast featuring some serious talent. Best picture of the year? Maybe. 

A Thosand Words..

Back with a couple reviews from a new and an upcoming album. In one corner new kids of the block Ra Ra Riot give us "The Rhumb Line". And in the other corner a leaked peek at Indie pop vets Of Montreal's latest "Skeletal Lamping".  I usually let the pictures speak for themselves but I wanted to make one note on the Of Montreal album, along with last year "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?", O.M. have put out the best 2 albums in 2 year combo in this decade (I don't count "Kid A"/ "Amnesiac" because they came from the same recording session) . It's very impressive that two unique and incredible albums could come from one band in such a short time. We are living in blessed times. 

"Skeletal Lamping" by Of Montreal

Preview: "An Eluardian Instance"

"The Rhumb Line" by Ra Ra Riot

Preview: "Suspended In Gaffa"

1,2,3,1,2,3...

Collider has a glowing review for the Canne hit "Waltz with Bashir". You've got to see the trailer, the visuals are amazing. Once and a while a story comes along that we haven't heard yet. Waltz looks to be one of them.

Check out the trailer and review here.

Know Your Onion!

Old, Grizzled Third-Party Candidate May Steal Support From McCain