Posted in music on 12. Mar, 2009
I’ll be the first to admit that one of the reasons I like many of my favorite television shows is the music they choose for the soundtrack. The background music is part of the overall package. Of course the writing and acting is the big draw, but a well chosen and placed soundtrack always gives a show a special place in my heart. NCIS has not always been fabulous at this.
Don’t get me wrong they have always played rockin’ music in Abby’s Lab, but it wasn’t a theme through out the show. As the seasons progressed the show has began to showcase new music from old favorites and lesser known artists alike. Now it is has become something I look forward to. Of course when I heard they were releasing the soundtrack I was happy and hopeful that it would be worth the wait and money. Would the two disc set be a must have, or would it be some lame attempt at making more money?
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Posted in music on 13. Feb, 2009
I heard several people complain about Coldplay as rock band extraordinaires at the Grammys. I mean they were REALLY angry at the thought of Coldplay being mislabeled as a rock band. Apparently, piano playing leads don’t qualify as Rock. Who knew?
To make matters worse for Rock, you have The Fray, a talented band with a sophomore album on its way to similar stardom, and another lead singer playing piano. Rock snobs will not consider allowing these freaks into the genre. And God forbid you suggest that The Fray should have played Super Bowl halftime instead of Bruce Springsteen! That’s Rock heresy!
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Posted in music on 13. Dec, 2008
For her third solo release, I AM … Sasha Fierce, Beyonce put together a rather enticing package. The one-name pop star released a double disc aimed at reinventing herself while staying true to her hardcore fans. The first ballad heavy disc is filled with Linda Perry penned gems (famous for her work with Pink) that offer fans a glimpse into the more vulnerable side of the usually tight lipped star. Songs like “Satellite” and “Disappear” are surprisingly bare for Beyonce but actually come off as the most convincing. Lead single “If I were a Boy” seems to match the intensity of B’Day’s “Irreplaceable” and the powerhouse “Halo” gives the stunning vocal performance we have become accustomed to from the singer.
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Posted in music on 17. Sep, 2008
When Coldplay first came out, I have to admit that I was skeptical, mostly because I wanted to avoid trends. Come to find out, a few years later, good music is just good music. And good music is unavoidable. I am definitely not a Coldplay skeptic any longer, regardless of the trend.
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Posted in music on 07. Jul, 2008
How would you describe a sound that you have never heard before? That was my dilemma when sitting down to write this review for Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker (USS for short). Their debut six-song EP, Welding the C:/, is flying off the shelves of HMV stores everywhere, and has been completely sold out on their official online store for some time.
USS is a two-piece group based out of Toronto, Ontario, with Ash Boo-Shultz on acoustic guitar, vocals and ehur, and Human Kebab, dubbed as the turntablist hype man extraordinaire.
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Posted in music on 29. May, 2008
Most of the time, I don't approve of actors becoming musicians. It's usually ill-advised (are you reading this, Scarlett Johansson?) and feels more like an indulgence than a definite career move for the actor. I have to say that there are some notable exceptions to the rule, and after listening to Volume One by She & Him, you can count Zooey Deschanel as one of those exceptions.
She & Him is comprised of Deschanel, who you may remember from films such as Almost Famous and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and M. Ward, who enjoys a successful solo singer-songwriter career in addition to his many collaborations with artists like Jenny Lewis, Norah Jones, and Bright Eyes. (more…)
Posted in music on 23. May, 2008
Hideaway is the follow-up to The Weepies' critically acclaimed 2006 album Say I Am You. You know it was critically acclaimed because you could barely throw a rock without hitting a TV showing a mainstream drama featuring a track from the album. But seriously, they were slapping The Weepies all over Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl because Say I Am You is a great CD full of melty, minimalist indie-folk tunes about falling in love and being in love.
Hideaway is another charming release from husband and wife duo Steven Tannen and Deb Talan. That may sound patronizing, but it's not how I mean it. (more…)
