Friday, July 31, 2009
Hefner "When The Angels Play Their Drum Machines"
Hefner is a British indie rock band that released music from 1996 to 2002. Their fourth and final album was called Dead Media and was a departure for the band, as they utilized basically all electronic elements versus the traditional guitar, bass and drums that populated their previous releases. One track I loved from the CD was called "When The Angels Play Their Drum Machines." Honestly, it's a pretty depressing song lyrically but I sorta like that and I love the instrumentation. It's sort of disconnected and cold while still somehow being engaging and catchy. I can't speak for all of Hefner's music but I sure do like this one!When The Angels Play Their Drum Machines - Hefner
Posted by soft rock star at 9:35 PM
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Envy Corps
The term 'Best Kept Secret' aptly (and sadly) applies to Iowa-based band The Envy Corps. I've personally been loving their music since 2004. Each time they release a new record I have more melodic, indie rock gems to add to my musical collection. The band have experienced some success. It just happens to be in Iowa and overseas. Their songs regularly get played on alternative commercial radio on stations in Iowa and they had major label status in the UK, signed to Mercury Records for a time.
This is a band I just wish everyone could hear. Song after song, the band has a knack for crafting lush, delicate, dreamy, heartbreaking downtempo songs and sweeping, epic, singalong catchy, uptempo songs. And these aren't throwaway pop songs. Smart is definitely a word I would use to describe the band lyrically.
I wish I could post some songs from the band's new EP, Kid Gloves. It stands up with the best the band has offered up until now. Standouts include "Screen Test" and the title track. Since I can't post these amazing songs, I'm posting three of their past amazing songs! I hope you enjoy them. If you do, you'll love their other stuff and I strongly suggest going out and getting them!
Story Problem - The Envy Corps
Rhinemaidens - The Envy Corps
Rooftop - The Envy Corps
Posted by soft rock star at 9:20 PM
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
I Got Me A Cold
Being sick sucks.
Posted by soft rock star at 9:55 PM
Sunday, July 26, 2009
R.I.P. Tanya
I've been out of town since Thursday afternoon and didn't have time to post this earlier but I wanted to pay special tribute to someone I knew growing up who I found out passed away Wednesday. Tanya was a girl I knew growing up. Our families were part of a group of families at my church that were close. I wish I had a picture of her here but I guess one of my church will have to suffice. She was in the grade below me and along with my younger sister and some other boys and girls from my grade and the two below me, we spent a lot of time together at youth group functions and at eachother's houses when our parents all got together. Tanya was always upbeat and fun to be around and I have nothing but the fondest of memories looking back on at parties, gatherings & church lock-ins. Apparently she contracted a fast moving virus that caused cardiac arrest and water on her lungs. It happened so quickly there was nothing they could do to save her. I hadn't seen Tanya for quite a few years as her family moved to Houston some time ago. But it just breaks my heart to know she's gone so young.
Posted by soft rock star at 11:15 PM
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Cedar Point!!
I'm going to Cedar Point on Friday. It currently holds the world record for most roller coasters (17), one of which is the world's second tallest and second fastest roller coaster, reaching speeds of 120 mph and a height of 420 feet. Cedar Point is also the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than 200 feet. Cedar Point has more rides (75) than any other amusement park. Sounds like fun to me! I just hope the lines aren't so long that I only get on a handful of rides.
Posted by soft rock star at 8:55 PM
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Grizzly Bear: Rooooaaarrr!
Grizzly Bear first came to my attention back in 2004 with their Horn Of Plenty release. I had the pleasure of promoting it when it was re-released with a CD of accompanying remixes. The band was going on their first US tour and I helped set them up with their show in Minneapolis and they crashed on my floor... even hooked me up with a rad t-shirt. I've seen them live four or five times and been blown away every time. I had goosebumps the first time I saw them live. I almost cried when I saw them perfom at SXSW in March at the First Presbatyrian Church. Their chamber pop meets Beach Boys harmony sound was made to be performed with those acoustics.
"Two Weeks" is a song I first heard performed on Letterman ages ago and the live version became a fixture on my iPod until I finally got my hands on the recorded version. Unbelievably catchy, relentlessly dreamy, pop perfection. The video is super creepy and actually a nice fit for the song. And seeing these guys smile is hilarious, hehe.
I also have this band to thank for my personal relationship of four years. Had it not been for their MySpace page and the lead singer's affinity for my bf's pics, we'd most likely not have met. Pretty crazy!
In addition to the video for "Two Weeks" above, I'm posting one of my favorite songs from the band: "He Hit Me" (their cover of the Crystals song). It's haunting, heartbreaking and utterly breathtaking.
He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss) - Grizzly Bear
Posted by soft rock star at 7:14 PM
Monday, July 20, 2009
Delicious Pie, Why Must You Tempt Me So?
Well, I'm in new pie flavor heaven. Get ready for it: Peach Blackberry Pie with a Brown Sugar Crumb top. Hello! Warm that puppy up in the microwave for twenty seconds and you've got dessert nirvana on a plate and a sweet, fruity party in your mouth. And where did this pie come from? Um, Wal-Mart, lol. I know, I'm in shock too. But I'm also in a tasty sugar coma and I'll take both and raise you an empty plate.
Posted by soft rock star at 11:31 PM
Sunday, July 19, 2009
You Win This Round Kevin Costner
We randomly found the movie Swing Vote on TV tonight. I remember when it came out and also remember having no real desire to see it, haha. But it actually was very entertaining and at times, quite funny. I've never been much of a Kevin Costner fan but he grew on me in this film and I actually found him quite believable as a redneck schmuck. The overall feeling I got from the film was a bit depressing though because what it reminded me of was how lacking in morals and self-serving most people are. It occurred at various levels throughout the film but the one thread that connected all the adult chracters was their need for power and their willingness to trade in an moral fiber they once had to obtain it. In some ways it was done for laughs but it was certainly satire for laughs and sadly, we see it every day. We seem to see it most often in people running for political office and those in the media. I'm sure it's only because those are fields of work that are more visible than most. But it's just so disheartening.
Why are so many people willing to lie... willing to present themselves in a completely contrary way to who they would otherwise seem to be in order to get ahead? Is it worth it? I guess that's the question each of us faces when certain moments in our lives arrive and ask us to announce to others who we are. Some seem to have no conscious whatsoever. Some go along for a while until the guilt eats away at them and they stop. It almost seems surprising when someone chooses the path that doesn't result in a job promotion, some monetary compensation, or the praise and admiration of people that if we thought about it, we probably wouldn't care about in another situation in order to maintain their dignity and uphold their moral code. Where am I going with this? I'm not sure. I guess I'm just thinking aloud. And maybe wishing that the good people 'won' a bit more often.
Posted by soft rock star at 10:34 PM
Friday, July 17, 2009
"...And that's the way it is:"
There have been some huge celebrity deaths this year but I think this one ranks right up there with the biggest of them. I'm not sure anyone besides Edward R. Murrow had more of an influence on television news. Certainly no one was more genuine or respected. And with his passing at 92, all the real titans of broadcast news are gone. People like Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw can still be looked to as important figures but in their day, boradcasters like Kronkite, David Brinkley, and John Chancellor (and to a lesser degree, Peter Jennings) were voices of authority. Passionate yet unbiased... I miss the days when anchors delivered the news instead on offering unsolicited opinions after each piece. Cable news has pretty much ruined authentic news in my opinion. It's certainly nice to have it on demand but it's usually the dregs of what really needs to be talked about: an orgy of over information about largely meaningless stories. Back in the day (although it was before my time) anchors like Kronkite were turned to and became part of the news because when they spoke the words it was almost always the first any American had heard the story. From the Cuban missile crisis, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War, to the Apollo 11 Moon landing, and the Watergate scandal, all the biggest news stories of the 60s and 70s include Kronkite witnessing and reporting on them. I certainly respect what he meant to so many people; quite a life to have lived and a contribution to the history of our country.
Posted by soft rock star at 8:13 PM
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Emmy Nominations
The Emmy Nominations were announced today and as usual, there was some cool and some very stupid stuff. I like that they expanded the categories to six spots (some ties pushed a few to seven). I love that Family Guy was named for Best Comedy though I still think 30 Rock deserves to win. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin can continue to win the acting categories there as long as the show stays on the air as far as I'm concerned. I'm glad Lost got a nom for drama too but disaappointed True Blood was passed over. I was happy to see Lettermnan get another nom and nothing for Leno. And Kristin Wiig being acknowledged for SNL was a nice surprise. 
I'm not sure I believe Sarah Silverman deserves a nod for her show since she's basically playing herself and yes, I'll admit that I simply don't like her or think she's funny. But I'll say the same thing about Tracy Morgan. I LOVE him on 30 Rock but he's really just playing himself too. I've never understood comedians getting nominated for shows when they play themselves. Then again, people playing characters that simply aren't funny, like Justin Timberlake on SNL, doesn't make sense either.
I also find it odd that there are categories for guest spots where someone can get an Emmy for a few minutes of work verses and entire season, but whatever. That's the way it is. If it's gonna happen, thank goodness people like Betty White, Carol Burnett, Gena Rowlands, Steve Martin, Ed Asner and Ernest Borgnine were recognized.
My "Really?"s of the list (besides Justin Timberlake) include Tony Shalhoub (does anyone watch Monk? I'm always surprised when he gets nominated because I can't believe the show is still on), Charlie Sheen (seriously?), and basically the existence of the Reality Show Host category. Is that worthy of an Emmy? Ryan Seacrest already gets $15 million more a year than he deserves to be a fake, self-absorbed egomaniac. Does he deserve an award for it too?
Oh well. I guess in the end it's all just opinion. I do love that someone that is so crude and irreverent as Kathy Griffin gets nominated alongside The Antique Roadshow every year! I guess that shows that someone at the Emmy's has a sense of humor.
Posted by soft rock star at 7:58 PM
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
That's Classic: Ivy "I've Got A Feeling"
Ivy is a New York City band composed of a trio of musicians, Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne), Dominique Durand, and Andy Chase (Brookeville, Paco). Formed in 1994, "I've Got A Feeling" was the second single from their second full length CD, 1997's Apartment Life. Ivy have never been massively popular but they've recorded five albums over the years. I love Durand's cool, sophisticated sounding vocals. You can definitely tell she is French. This song has found it's way onto countless mix CDs of mine over the years. It's basically my definition of the perfect pop song. Every part of it works seemlessly with every other part: the chugging, shuffle beat, the intertwining guitars, a stick-to-the-brain melody with a hook as big as the sky, and just about the best bridge ever on a song. It's so simple, but also simply perfect. I can listen to this song over and over again (and I have) and never tire of it. It always ends too quickly... making me reach for the repeat button almost every time.Ive Got A Feeling - Ivy
Posted by soft rock star at 9:04 PM
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Person Of The Week: William Shatner
After seeing Shatner on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross I knew it was time to mention the man. There are few "full of themselves" celebrities that I enjoy, but Shatner is one of them. His over the top, theatrical demeanor and acting have been a staple on TV since Star Trek. He sort of plays the same character over and over in everything he's ever been in, from Captain Kirk to the Priceline commercials, but it's a great character and one I never tire of. I get the feeling when I watch him that he's in on how cheesy he is and I like that. He's even recorded albums I can't imagine enjoying had anyone else recorded them. His collaboration with Ben Folds a few years back was surprisingly listenable ("That's Me Tryin'" is actually quite touching). I'm not sure what kind of guy he really is. He may be a hothead and a total ass for all I know, but I sure do laugh whenever I see him on TV and that's enough for me to bestow him with Person Of The Week honors, haha... like that's any great reward ;)
Posted by soft rock star at 12:25 PM
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Sure Are A Lot Of Heroes Around These Days
I was at the gym today and noticed coverage of the funeral of former Titans quarterback Steve McNair and the caption "heroes are not supposed to die” was at the bottom of the screen. I had to laugh to myself. Hero? First of all, I had to look up the guy's name again and who he played for before I began writing this blog. I'll admit I'm no football fan but still, even if I was... hero? For throwing a football? And didn't he get paid scads of money to do that? Once a week? Sixteen weeks a year? How is that hero worthy? And wasn't the man having an affair with a 20 year-old girl? Cheating on your wife... is that a hero? Terms like 'hero' 'legend' and 'icon' get tossed around for too easily these days. Athletes, actors, singers: many of them get paid ridiculous amounts of money for doing something they love. If that's the definition of a hero then we need to come up with a better term for real heroes. You know, the people who donate their time to help people less fortunate them they are. People who expect nothing in return for their charity (no monetary compensation, no awards, no wings of buildings named after them). There are beautiful people out there that give of their time and their energy to do the sort of things not many so-called 'heroes' would do and they never get recognized.
I really don't know a thing about the man or the way he lived his life more than what I've read the last couple of days. It just makes me cringe to think a promiscuous meathead would have the term hero associated with him. I understand the man is dead and there are people mourning his passing. But I think some realism about why he died and what he did for a living are in order. I just wish more deserving people got their due. Too bad it's not 'newsworthy' enough to be covered.
Posted by soft rock star at 3:44 PM
Thursday, July 9, 2009
500 Days Of Summer
I just attended an advanced screening of 500 Days Of Summer and was thoroughly entertained. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was absolutely adorable (something I can honestly say I have never thought about him before) and Zooey Deschanel can proudly retain her indie princess crown in a refreshingly original, surprisingly funny, and genuinely wrenching (non) love story (I'm not spoiling anything by saying that). Hall & Oates "You Make My Dreams" was used to perfection and it was certainly fun to hear a song I'm promoting not once but twice in the film too :) The film was made even more entertaining by the sassy black lady sitting behind us that laughed and commented in hilarious fashion to almost every scene. I couldn't get enough of her. I want to have her sit behind me in every movie because even if it was bad, she'd make it tolerable, if not undeservingly good. The crowd at the theater was diverse (say free and I think people would pay to have someone poop on their face it was something that normally cost money), old, young, male, female, black, white, indie, unhip, painfully thin, enormously fat... you name it, and everyone seemed to be wildly entertained. There was even applause at the end.
I see on Rotten Tomatoes the movie has an early 100% rating. I simply can't imagine someone not liking this movie. I absolutely loved it.
Posted by soft rock star at 9:12 PM
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Watching The Detectives
Stumbled upon this cute, quirky romantic comedy on TV tonight that I had never heard of. What struck me was how odd it was to see Cillian Murphy in a comedy. From 28 Days Later to Batman Begins. From Sunshine to Red Eye, he's just never been an actor I had thought of as comic. And I certainly never imagined I'd ever see him in a scene opposite someone as dopey as Jason Sudeikis. But it totally worked. And Lucy Liu was perfectly cast as mysterious, oddball, crazy girl who turns her boyfriend's life upside down playing one extreme practical joke after another on him until he realizes how boring his life would be without it. It was a sweet little movie that I found very charming. If you're looking for a nice movie to rent for a night on the couch with your special someone, might I recommend Watching The Detectives? I might.
Posted by soft rock star at 9:38 PM
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Ladyhawke "My Delirium"
I have been loving Ladyhawke's CD ever since it was released here late last year. It's packed with ridiculously catchy 80's inspired pop gems. The names Stevie Nicks and Cyndi Lauper have been mentioned more than once in referencing how possibly unhip and unabashedly sugary this CD is but my problem with that is twofold: I LOVE Stevie Nicks and Cyndi Lauper. I don't think they are unhip at all. On the contrary, I think they are super frickin' cool. And two, I love me some sugary pop.The great news is that Ladyhawke look like they're finally gonna get a more proper push here with plans for a radio push beyond college in the works and a much more extensive fall tour than the brief handful of dates played here back in March.
There are other songs I like on this record just as much if not more than first single "My Delerium," but this is an excellent song that is stick-to-the-brain catchy. Check out the video. If you like what you hear you will love the rest of this record.
Posted by soft rock star at 9:24 PM
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Oh Sarah
Sarah Palin's announcement on Friday that she will resign as Governor of Alaska on July 26th is supposed to be some sort of strategy in her quest for becoming President in 2012, It seems nothing short of idiotic to me. We already know Sarah Palin isn't the brightest bulb. She proved that time and time again in her rare interviews the McCain camp allowed her to give give when she was his Vice-Presidential candidate. She also proved that she is judgemental (touting strict family values with a pregnant 17 year old daughter), a homophobe (attending a church that attempts to 'cure' gay people), a nepotist (firing people in her state that didn't agree with her & appointing friends with no direct experience for the job)), a liar (claiming to have stopped the 'bridge to nowhere' when she rallied for it only until it was clear it wasn't going to happen), a person of poor judgement (turning down national public funds for her state, saying there must be strings attached, when it was shown there were none (which was clearly done for her own personal gain if she ends up running against Obama in 2012)), and ethically bankrupt (charging the state for trips her family never took). With her announcement Friday she has now also shown us that she's also a quitter. Instead of fulfilling her duties of her first term as governor, which is fraught with allegations of wrongdoing and grumblings even within her own party, she'd rather just give up so she can focus on the being the power-hungry opportunist she so clearly showed herself to be during the last election.
This is apparently the 'smarter' of her choices (in her mind anyway). Instead of further miring herself as the Republican governor of a vastly Republican state, she has chosen to 'cut her losses' thinking they'll be less ammunition against her when she announces her run for President. By all accounts she has shown very little interest in her job since she returned to in November. It's apparently beneath her now. So, if Palin can't be bothered to do a good job as the governor of her state why should we believe she'll do a good job as President? Is it because it's a job she actually wants? Will that make her work harder? Will she be any more successful working with more Democrats than she has to now in her own state? I'm baffled.
I really hope Republicans are smarter than to buy this. I suppose that is expecting a lot, but c'mon... hasn't the woman shown us her true colors already? This should just be considered icing on the cake.
Posted by soft rock star at 10:18 PM
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Transformers
Just got home from seeing Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, or as I like to call it, Transformers 2. I was HUUUUUGE into Transformers when I was a kid. I had tons of the toys, I watched the cartoon and I was furious when they killed all the old cool Transformers in the cartoon movie so they could shamelessly sell a whole new line of toys. I enjoyed the first movie. Hearing Peter Cullen's voice was just about all I needed to make the movie cool. It didn't hurt that the special effects were incredible. Bumblebee, Ironside, Starscream, Jazz (rip), Megatron (though I wish they would used a voice closer to the original)... good times. I liked it a lot, I just wanted more. But really, any kid that loved Transformers as much as I did would always find something they wanted changed.
I wasn't dying to see the new movie but I must say, again, that I was definitely entertained. After hearing the barrage of terrible reviews I was expecting an awful film. I guess I'm not really sure what critics were expecting... this isn't high drama or an excuse for academy award winning acting. It was non-stop explosions, fights, transformations and thrills. That's kinda all I expected. Just hearing Optimus Prime...love it. I liked that Soundwave was in this one too but again with the voice! C'mon, throw a fan a bone. At first all the goofy characters were a little off-putting but the comic relief later in the movie offered some nice laughs. So, despite Shia Labeouf's involvements in these films, they've been fun. Now if I could just have a phone that turned everyone's voice into Peter Cullen's, now that would be rad!
Posted by soft rock star at 9:11 PM
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
R.I.P. Karl Malden
Man, the celebrity deaths keep coming left and right. I found Billy Mays passing wasn't worth a dedicated blog post but here we are with the 5th celebrity death on two weeks. Crazy. I can't say I saw much of Karl Malden's work though I certainly knew of it. An academy award winning actor for his role in 1951's “A Streetcar Named Desire” and a another nomination for 1954's “On the Waterfront,” Malden acted in more than 50 films including: “Patton,” “Pollyanna,” “Fear Strikes Out,” “The Sting II,” “Bombers B-52,” “Cheyenne Autumn,” and “All Fall Down.” He won an Emmy in 1985 and received five more nominations for his work on “The Streets of San Francisco.” And in the ’70s, Malden gained a lucrative 21-year sideline and a place in pop culture with his “Don’t leave home without them” ads for American Express. So R.I.P. Karl Malden. At 97 you lived a very full life.
