When I Come Back You'll Know, Know, Know

I suffered through The Grammys tonight, but it was all worth it to see 5-time Grammy award winner Amy Winehouse perform. Right out of rehab, she (and Feist in an earlier performance) brought a refreshing and welcome change to the format. Lets hope she can maintain her sobriety.

Here's video of Amy Winehouse's performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards



Poor Amy, though. When it was announced right after this performance that she won Record Of The Year, she seemed rather dumbfounded. From the looks of it, I kind of think she may have thought she won album. she certainly deserved it over Herbie Hancock.

Also props go out to Grammy winner for Producer Of The Year (Non-Classical) Mark Ronson (he produced Winehouse's album).

Check her out on MySpace and support her by buying her work on iTunes via the links below:


US

UK

Keep Me Warm At Night

For a moment there, I was afraid that I wasn't going to be enjoying the Moby's upcoming album Last Night after hearing the lead single, Alice. Fortunately, a second single Disco Lies has been released and my faith has been renewed. I guess I was nervous because my interest in him has wained since his previous work has been tainted by an ex (it's a long story), but now I'm eagerly anticipating this new ode to NYC's underground dance scene. It drops April 1, 2008, so pre-order the album on Amazon.com.




For more songs + info on upcoming performances and benefits, check him out on MySpace.

We're Here To Welcome You

With Seventh Tree, their highly anticipated and debated follow up to Supernature, dropping on the 26th of February, many people are complaining about Goldfrapp's departure from dance and electronic. Most are basing that off the lead single A&E. While, yes, the entire album is a big shift from what brought them into the mainstream, this band is known for making each album sound far different from the previous one.

However, they still sprinkled a few tracks with a little influence from that last effort. Case in point is probably the song that will "redeem" this new collection after the disappointment of the first single. Not sure if this will be the second single, but it should be. The song is Happiness.




For more songs + tour dates, hop on over to MySpace. Support the artist via one of the iTunes links below:


US

UK

Back Up Do It All Again

Raine Maida, the lead singer of Our Lady Peace, has ventured out on his own with his debut solo effort The Hunter's Lullaby. It's a great album and features several brilliant songs, including the first single, Yellow Brick Road.





For additional songs + tour dates, check him out on MySpace. Get the album via one of the links below:


US

UK

Canada

Sweden

All I Wanna Do Is BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

I have no idea why, but I avoided M.I.A.'s album, Kala, when it was released last year. The more accolades thrown at it, the more I resisted. Which is so unlike me. I actually think I did give a song or two a brief listen to, but it was pointless since I had already convinced myself that I wouldn't like it. Then last month Of Montreal covered Jimmy, her big hit from the album that landed on almost every year-end list. I thought if they liked her, maybe I should give her another shot. And while I've yet to get the album, I'm falling hard for the single Paper Planes.

The song is about refugees and immigrants, how most people today tend to think that they serve no other purpose other than to take money and leech off society. She really leaves it up to your own interpretation, but it's aimed at the money-obsessed American culture.

For additional songs and info, check her out on MySpace. To support her, buy her work on iTunes using the appropriate link below:


US

UK

Sweden

It Comes Across Me Once Again

The other day I picked up an album by an artist I knew absolutely nothing about. Usually I check up a little on them beforehand, but there was just something about this one that compelled me to give it a chance. Fortunately for me, I'm rather enjoying it. The alt-country singer-songwriter is Christian Kjellvander and, surprisingly, he's from Sweden. I know what you're thinking, "enough with the Swedes already!" Honestly, though, I'm loving the album and I highly recommend you get yourself a copy if you can find it. Below is what is most likely my favourite track from the album, I Saw Her From Here/I Saw Here From Her. It starts off kind of slow, but it gains some momentum once the piano and guitar creep in. The song is titled Big Black Sky




For more songs + tour dates, check him out on MySpace. Support the artist via iTunes:


US

UK

Sweden

For those of you in the US, you may buy the album

Take It Slow

My Moon My Man is easily my favourite Feist track. No, I haven't forgotten about Mushaboom, the phenomenal song that was the highlight of her first album, Let It Die. My fondness for MMMM is most likely due to it serving as my introduction to her, and it (figuratively) blew me away. Below she does a stripped down acoustic version during her European invasion...



For more on the lovely Feist (including additional songs + tour dates), hop on over to MySpace

So Come Along, It Won't Be Long

Just finished purchasing tickets for Sia's concert on March 15, 2008. I'm curious to see what she is like in person. From the few videos that I have seen of her, she doesn't come across as what I would expect. It's not a bad thing, mind you.

If you aren't familiar with her, you must check her out. Her voice is stunning. She has such range, it's beautiful. I'm eager to hear it live! It's also a little more special because it's one of the last things I'll be doing here in Dallas. In order to stay on track with my moving budget, I'm not really able to get out and do too much over the next three months. So, before my going away party, this is pretty much the last thing I'm planning to do with some of my friends.

I'll be sure to post any pics and videos that I am able to take during the performance.

Check out her song Buttons. It's a bonus track on her album Some People Have REAL Problems (which is available at your local Starbucks)




For additional songs + tour dates, head on over to MySpace. To buy the album, use the iTunes links below:


US

UK

Australia

France

Sweden

I Could Be The Apple Of Your Eye

I've been singing the praises of Robyn's self-titled album for three years now. Her new EP, The Rakomonia, hit our shores on Jan. 29th, but she's been a sensation throughout Europe. Hopefully the US will sit up and take notice.

It's unfortunate that I missed her NYC performance the other day, but I heard it was amazing. My London mate has been rubbing it in how he's already seen her twice and is about to see her for a third time later this month. So everybody needs to go support this artist so she'll have reason to launch a tour here so maybe I'll have a chance to see her live.

Posted below is the song Bum Like You in all its original brilliance (I prefer this over version that made the UK release).




For more songs + tour dates, visit her on MySpace. Use the iTunes links below to buy her music:


US

UK

Sweden

Goodbye Little Woman, I'm Gone

Sam Amidon is a folk singer-songwriter that hails from the New England area. His new album, All Is Well, was recorded throughout last year in Iceland with composer Nico Muhly and producer-engineer Valgeir Sigursson. My favourite track off the album is Fall On My Knees. It's a delicate acoustic track that has a great little beat that builds up before shifting into Irish pipes for the conclusion. Check it out below:




For additional songs + tour dates, skip on over to MySpace. Purchase his album HERE.

To Perceive His Face

Daniel Bejar (pictured, far right) is a sing-songwriter that likes to keep himself busy. When he isn't fronting his band Destroyer, he's either collaborating with (The New Pornographers, Bonaparte) or starting up (Swan Lake and Hello, Blue Roses) other bands. But we're going to focus on Destroyer today.

Bejar formed the chamber pop group back in 1995. He calls the band's style "European Blues" and they have drawn comparisons to Bowie, Pavement and Guided By Voices. They've released nine albums over the past decade plus, with their tenth, Trouble In Dreams, due out next month. The lead single is Foam Hands. It's quite an interesting song. Is it religious or sacrilegious? I say sacrilicious (sacrilege + delicious)! Judge for yourself, though. Listen below:




To buy and/or listen to more songs, check them out on MySpace. You can also PRE-ORDER the new album (due March 18, 2007). If you prefer iTunes, use the links below:


US

UK

Sweden

Strings In The Park

You may remember Nada Surf from their early 90s smash Popular. They haven't been absent from the music scene, but they have been under the mainstream radar ever since they broke their contract with Elektra (the record company, not the god-forsaken comic-book based film starring Jennifer Garner) in the later half of the same decade. They've resurfaced on my radar now that I'm delving more into the indie scene, though. Their new album, Lucky, hit stores and iTunes yesterday. Take a listen to the lead single, See These Bones, below:




For more songs and tour dates, check them out on MySpace. Buy the new album over on iTunes via the links below:

Life In The Burbs Ain't Too Pretty

I know all of my posts have been film related today, but I figured another post couldn't hurt. Watching the film Suburban Girl is another story, though. It stars Buffy (a/k/a - Sarah Michelle Gellar) as a book editor who meets and falls in love with an wannabe-eccentric alcoholic publisher played by Alec Baldwin. Talk about hurting!

The studio passed on a theatrical release, opting to dump it into the straight-to-DVD bin that so many other high-profile projects are getting these days. It's actually been faring somewhat well (it's made over $11M from rentals), but I can't find the appeal. I think, like me, others were drawn into it by its stars and the fact that it's adapted from two short stories taken from the popular book The Girls' Guide To Hunting And Fishing. Don't let that tempt you, though. First of all, Gellar and Baldwin are not a believable couple. Their chemistry (or lack thereof) felt forced. The only believable type of relationship they could have had was a friendship, at most.

While the entire movie was near unbearable (I mean, Baldwin's character was romantically linked to Gellar's grandmother in the movie...ick), there was one particularly disturbing scene. After a visit from her father and pouting about just how much she misses him, Gellar's character rushes over to Baldwin's place to have sex with him for the first time. It all felt a little too incestious for me. She quickly moves into his place after the romp and does a little snooping. She finds a photo album of all the girls he has had (supposedly put together by a now ex), and, despite knowing right then that he's a player and has been around the block more than a few dozen times, she still gets upset when she finds out he slept with her new boss. The rest of the film is just delaying the inevitable break up. Alec's character, is, after all, an old man suffering from alcoholism, diabetes and God knows what else. Geller's character is a pretty young thing whose life is really just getting started.

I think this film could have been something half-way decent if it had been in the hands of others. It's an unfortunate mess that should be avoided. Maybe if you don't have anything to do one lazy weekend afternoon and it comes on television...but I don't recommend spending your hard earned money on either buying or renting the DVD.

The Dark Of The Matinee

I watched In The Valley Of Elah last evening. It stars Academy Award winners Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron, and it tells the story of a father on the search for his son who has gone AWOL upon his return from Iraq. Despite adhering to Academy Award winner Paul Haggis's proven formula and winning widespread critical acclaim, the film didn't manage to strike a chord with moviegoers the same way his previous Oscar winning efforts Crash and Million Dollar Baby did.

There was some debate as to what exactly the turn-off factor was. Some say the subject matter (the Iraq war), citing low box office receipts for other war-related films released in the last several months. Other attributed it to the confusing title, an obscure David & Goliath reference plucked from the movie. And still more cite the issue as a combination of the two. It's actually hard to pin-point, and I don't have an answer...despite bringing it up. My theory is that it's a combination of the two. While the movies title didn't grab my attention, I was still interested after reading about it. But I can see where most people don't take the time to read up on a film, relying on the title and posters to tell them what it is. I also feel like people just don't want to hear any more about Iraq than they already do.

The "controversy" surrounding this film aside, though, I must say that I loved it. In the past, I have avoided a lot of movies based on the fact Tommy Lee Jones was in it, but that's changed with his two major films this year. Both of his 2007 films, In The Valley Of Elah and No Country For Old Men, feel remarkably similar, so it's probably not a stretch to say that if you like one you'll probably enjoy the other.

*Both of his characters (Mike Deerfield in In The Valley... and Sheriff Ed Tom Bell in No Country...) are men on the hunt for a killer.

*On top of starring Tommy Lee Jones, they both offer up performances from Josh Brolin and Kathy Lamkin.

While Tommy mustered up an Oscar nomination for his role in ITVoE for a heartfelt performance, co-star Theron wasn't so lucky. Something tells me that if Haggis had stuck two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank in that role the film would have garnered another acting nod.

So the point of this whole post is really just to suggest going to see this movie. Most people skipped it while it was in theatres, but check it out when it drops as a DVD.

I Predict

I finally got around to watching Michael Clayton last night, so that means I've seen all five Best Picture nominees. I figure that now is as good a time as any for my predictions for the upcoming Oscars. I'll focus on one category at a time, starting with:

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Saoirse is a brilliant young actress. Swinton hasn't missed a beat since she was introduced to most American audiences in the 2001 film The Deep End (for which she should have received a nomination for). While both did a fine job, they should consider their nomination their award.

For the longest time (up until the nominations were announced really), it looked like Blanchett (pictured) and Ryan would be duking it out just between themselves. That was until Dee won in this category at the SAG Awards. Blanchett and Ryan need not fear, though, as I've noticed that more often than not the SAG winner in this category doesn't go on to win at the Oscars. And while Ryan may have snatched up most of the early awards, Blanchett seems almost a lock now. I've seen both performances (the only film here I haven't seen is American Gangster) and Blanchett's was the better performance by far.

Prediction: Cate Blanchett (Should Win/Will Win)

Tell Me That You Love Me More

Just as I had hoped, Feist has won the Short-List Prize! If you haven't already picked up the much-hyped (deserved, of course) sophomore effort, The Reminder, do yourself a favour and do so. Also below, I've posted her song So Sorry, cause you can hear her smash 1234 everywhere already.




Check her out over on MySpace for more songs and tour dates. To buy her music, use the iTunes links below:

US

UK

Australia

Canada

Spain

Vote Or DIE

Is P Diddy, Sean Combs or whatever he's calling himself now even still threatening people with death if they don't vote? I'm not sure, but I wouldn't want to take that risk. So go REGISTER TO VOTE so we don't end up with another fuck up like Bush.

Standing Right Before You

Hailing from Sweden (are they from anywhere else these days?), yet another pop singer has emerged. This one goes by the name of Jonna Lee. While her style is predominately pop, it's imbued with that alternative/indie retro vibe. Think Amy Winehouse's style, where it sounds like it could almost be from a different decade, but that also sounds fresh and modern. Jonna isn't a Winehouse, but she isn't attempting to be. Take I Wrote This Song for example. It's a love song, plain and simple. She doesn't try to shock the listener with drug or sex references, just simple lyrics putting herself out there by confessing her love for someone.




If you like what you hear, check her out over on MySpace. Buy her debut album 10 Pieces, 10 Bruises via the iTunes links below (Not available in the US yet)



UK

Sweden

With A Little Bit Of Help

I've been enjoying Lykke Li since I was introduced to her by way of her single Little Bit over two months ago. Her debut album, Youth Novels, was just released in Sweden and now she's prepping her second single I'm Good, I'm Gone. Below is the video featuring her gaggle of friends, including: Robyn (reason enough to post this), Adam & Bebban (Shout Out Louds), Daniel (The Concretes), Lars (Laakso) and Mikael (Hjalmar)



For more from this brilliant pop artist (including additional songs and tour dates, visit her on MySpace. Buy her music on iTunes:

Sweden only

Gotta Love The BPM

If you're a regular here, then you already know that I'm loving the new band The Ting Tings. Everything that they put out is brilliant. With their official debut single (at least on a major label), Great DJ, being released next month, they had Calvin Harris put his spin on the song. Check it out below:




For more songs and tour dates, check them out on MySpace.

People Will Always Be Jealous

Sweden sure knows how to churn out pop stars. The latest to begin making a splash is Lisa Bouvier. She calls her work power pop, but after listening to a couple songs of hers, I'd say she's more indie pop. Her debut, Princess Of Aggravation is out now...at least in Sweden. In the meantime, you can take a list to the song Belgium Today Or Tomorrow below.










For more songs and tour dates, head over to MySpace.

Imagine All The Girls...And The Boys

The Ting Tings finally have a video! This one is for their official debut single, Great DJ. While it isn't nearly as addictive as the two tracks that created the massive buzz that surrounds them, it's still ultra-sweet ear candy. I'm glad to see that this band has delivered on the promise that That's Not My Name created. For me, their debut is currently the most anticipated album of the year.