b l o g o r e l l i

Weekly Music Mention: Ellen Paige + Michael Cera Rock It

Now that  all the Juno buzz has died down, I feel safe publicly recommending Ellen Paige's and Michael Cera's iTunes Celebrity Playlists. As previously evidenced, I'm not really 'down' with the famous folks dictating what us commoners should listen to, but sometimes the resulting setlists are just too ripe for ridicule. Not so with Paige and Cera -- these two refreshingly down-to-earth Canucks actually seem to have finely tuned tastes, especially Page, who recommended the stellar Kimya Dawson to director Jason Reitman for the Juno soundtrack.

The iTunes store has grown pretty mammoth, but from the home page, click on "iTunes Store > Music" and scroll down to "Celebrity Playlists." Or just cull together the mixes from your own personal collection using the lists below as reference.

Ellen Paige's ITunes playlist:
Björk - "Possibly Maybe"
Broken Social Scene - "Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl"
Cat Power - "Wild Is the Wind"
CocoRosie - "Honey or Tar"
Erik Satie - "Gymnopedies, No. 1"
Joanna Newsom - "En Gallop"
Kimya Dawson - "You Love Me"
Mary Gauthier - "Please"
Nouvelle Vague - "In a Manner of Speaking"
New Young Pony Club - "Ice Cream"
Patti Smith - "Break It Up"
Sleater-Kinney - "Entertain"
Susanna and The Magical Orchestra "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
Broken Social Scene - "Lover's Spit"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Michael Cera's ITunes playlist:
Dion Mcgregor - "Don't Break the Mailman"
Cher & Sonny - "A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done"
Brendan Benson - "Let Me Roll It"
Beulah - "Night Is the Day Turned Inside Out"
Neil Young - "Till the Morning Comes"
Microphones "I'm a Pearl Diver"
Dr. Dog "Ain't It Strange
The Unicorns - "Ghost Mountain"
Jim Guthrie - "Toy Computer"
Dino, Desi and Billy- "Not the Lovin' Kind"
Built To Spill - "Strange"
Louis Prima & Phil Harris - "I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)"
The Zombies "Care of Cell"
Daniel Johnston - "The Sun Shines Down On Me"
Weezer - "The Good Life"

Weekly Music Mention: I'm Tellin'

Getting back in the swing of hopefully doing one WMM per every seven days, this week I wanted to let everyone from the East Coast to L.A. know that my adorable and very, very clean brother Brandon's band Ruckus and the Trousers are on a cross-country tour that ends in a few weeks. It's a full band electric tour from Pittsburgh to L.A. … where my brother will then stay to attend college <whole family crossing fingers.>

Live somewhere in the middle of the two oceans? Then you can likely catch them playing out nearby you. Personally, I'm a little irked that I'll be missing the Wichita, KS, show...because I might never have another reason to go to Wichita.

They really ARE great — so try and catch them somewhere between "Rustbelt to Tinseltown"!

(Below: the band. Brandon, why are you not wearing the sunglasses I bought you in ITALIA?!? Also, when did we start smoking, hmmmm? You're busted. Mom is gonna be up here in a few days, and I'm totally making the bottom photo my computer screensaver and then programming the eMac to never "sleep.")

Make A Ruckus

Despite my constant nagging over his shower behavior, life choices, and basically any other decisions about which I have no business, my brother Brandon is one of my favorite people. And currently, he's doing an accoustic cafe tour in selected cities to promote the cd he recorded this past fall.

Check out his site, music, and hell, even him -- if you're lucky enough to live in one of the locations listed below. I think he's very talented, and cute too (a little bonus for you non-related ladies out there.) Of course, there's a chance I'm speaking from a slightly biased perspective since he wrote a song for me, and always lets me accompany him on the tambourine. The best part about the whole thing is that he'll be in Providence this weekend, which means I'll have someone from my family here to celebrate a holiday with me (Easter) for the first time ever!

Weekly Music Mention: "This Song Is Simply Perfect"

Heidi Klum, honey, we need to have a little "talk" about your iTunes celebrity playlist.

(click to view full-sized image)

Now, first off, you should realize that most normal people don't even receive the opportunity to create a list of their favorite songs to be sold on the iTunes store. Others would shy away, either because of modesty or privacy, if offered the chance to create their own mix-for-sale. Not William Shatner, per say, since he put five of HIS OWN songs on his celebrity playlist, and not me...because I love my taste in music and would get a real rise out of having my very own 15 minutes on the iTstore.

I don't expect someone who makes most of her income by being 75% nude to understand my point, but: as Knight Templar said in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, "you must choose, but choose wisely."

Keeping those words in mind, on to the playlist...

Now, even my grandmothers know that you're married to Seal. Yes, that Seal. So we're all not one bit surprised to see that you led off with your hubby's song. Hell, I'll even give you minor props for choosing the non-traditional "Touch" over more popular, known choices (basically two: "Kiss for a Rose" from that Batman movie during the early 90s, and the never-waning "Crazy, most recently performed at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in NYC where you wore that light-up bra and panty [shudder] set. You, I, and millions of people worldwide know the one.)

That's enough Seal for me, personally, but then you all go on to mention him at least three other times (and I suspect, actually four, if he is involved with the "special memories" you write about after Track 2. He is, isn't he? Wait, I don't want to know.) Now, I always thought Seal was "the winner" in whatever deal he made where he got to marry a Victoria's Secret model, even with the limp...career and lupus-induced facial scarring — but a quick glance at your playlist indicates that you are clearly infatuated with him. I am shocked! Can true love really exist?!? And he is obviously tormenting himself, being a musician and living every.day.with.someone.who.loves.Tim.Hardin.

Go Seal - who knew you had it in you, old boy? And also (this one for Seal) — are you comfortable devoting you life to a person who calls John Mayer "a terrific, talented musician"? Hmmm? He looks pretty clammy to me, but then, who am I to judge? I haven't had a date in months, even wtih all those Seal songs playing while my online personal ad displays (KIDDING!)

[ASIDE: John Mayer, are you available for a date? You could even serenade me. I promise not to kick you in the shin for at least 5 seconds of the first song.]

Moving on, H.K., when I want to "go straight for the dancefloor," I generally choose bourbon, not Chic's "Le Freak," but to each her own. Besides, you models need to shake your little provocatively lingeried asses to something with a simple rhythm, so disco seems like an appropriate choice. Come on, don't front...we all saw you girls trying to "dance" backstage at the fashion show I mentioned above; I think I even witnessed a few arm pumps and a lot of off-beat swaying.

You actually did right by putting an Aimee Mann song on here...but why do I have a feeling that Seal might have helped you with that one? And also, thank you GOD that the version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" was NOT by 98 Degrees. For these two things, I commend you.

I could continue picking through your playlist like a shopper at the Filene's Basement discount underpants bin, but I'll simply conclude with this comment (directed at Bloc Party): guys, when someone with a playlist like this calls you "one of the hot newer bands that [she] is into..." and that you "do great dance music," well, you are simply not getting that invitation to perform on The O.C. ...ever. Apologies.

Heidi Klum, from your playlist, you are many things: a Seal fan, a woman over 30, someone with a beautiful...soul, a disco-dancer, a sentimental fool, a Mac user (score!) but most of all...an enigma. Like, how could a brash businesswoman/brand like yourself possibly think that "Le Freak" in any way flows into "If I Were A Carpenter" smoothly? Do you have functional ear drums? I will never understand your complex celebrity brain, even if you are very pretty and did lose all of your baby weight in six weeks.

I'm sorry to say it, but on the runway - you're In. In musicmixland ..."Yao Oawt."
Cheers & Rhinestones,
Blogorelli

Weekly Music Mention: Keeping Up with the Smiths

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed a proliferation of songs which, both in title and music, make one think that (s)he is listening to a cover of a Smiths or Morissey song?

I am offically noting this trend and thus naming it: "keeping up with the Jone's Smiths"

The initial "huh?" came when I heard the song Everyday Feels Like Sunday by Of Montreal.The rhythm AND music (mostly in the chorus) sounded so much like the Morissey song Everyday is LIKE Sunday that I was positive I had a ringer - which, coincidentally, I sort of preferred to the original (right, right, I can just hear all the pale, maladjusted and asexual Smiths fans shaking their skinny arms at me right now. Well -- newsflash! -- Smiths' songs are now a musical  and you should all get some sun.)

But the real fruity filling in my theory pastry came when I heard the Decembrists' song We Both Go Down Together from their new cd. Prior to my "keeping up with the Smiths" hypothesis, the only thing I remembered about Picaresque was that there is one annoyingly long (10+ minute) song on it, which they played when we saw them live and during which Cho and I were loudly vocally tipsy. Ahem, anyway...post-listening, I was dead sure that this song was a cover Morissey's Angel Angel, Down We Go Together.

After reviewing to all four songs many more times (both individually and in their "cover" pairs,) I realized a few truths:
1. Neither of the new songs is actually a cover of the old songs, but posess so many similar elements that they might be called a "tribute" to the originals
2. The term should actually be "keeping up with the Morissey" because both of the original songs are by Morissey, not the Smiths, even though the Smiths fits much better with the "keeping up with the Jone's" analogy
3. I need to stop over-listening to music and contriving crackpot theories

Based on my conclusions, I've moved on to a new album full of ACTUAL, self-proclaimed covers...This Bird Has Flown , a 40th anniversary tribute to The Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album.

Seriously, though...has anyone else noticed a band trying to "keep up with the Smiths"?
(ah, c'mon, "Smiths" just SOUNDS better!)

Weekly Music Mention: Go North, Young Men

Iceland has been on my hopeful short list of travel destinations for two years now. But until I actually get there, at least I can listen to the new Sigur Ros album and wax poetic about Northern Lights, picturesque scenery and more-than-a-few cute foreign boys.

Cho and I are going to see this melodic quartet tomorrow night at the Opera House in Boston and I am excited on a variety of levels:
1. the Opera House just underwent a massive renovation and is renewed to its former architectural glory
2. according to kottke's review of their show in NYC, the actual performance should be a really "different" concert experience
3.the event presents an opportunity to wear this -smoking- dress bought in anticipation of a date yet-to-happen (watch out, Cho!)

The whole new album is available for streaming on the Sigur Ros myspace page – enjoy!

Weekly Music Mention: Double Your Pleasure

I thought nothing could be more exciting than when, this weekend on a road trip to IKEA New Haven, The Dairy Queen managed to snarf 83 packets of Splenda and stuff them into my Happy Meal bag during a refueling stop at McDonald's on the MassPike. But I forget that today, new albums by two bands high on the Blogorelli radar drop.

The first, PLans, is Death Cab for Cutie's new offering. Someone who shall remain nameless but has been named many times on this blog so he dosn't need any more ego boosting, gave me an advance copying and I've been listening to it for the past few days. Initial reaction: I don't, immediately, love this cd. Beat me with a leather strap Seth Cohen, but I'm more into DCfC's earlier stuff. These lyrics don't hook me with their catchiness and the music feels slightly repetitious throughout the album. But since this is DCfC's first major label effort, I'll give them a pass on a few of these aspects because overproduction is almost certain in major label recordings (opinion.) However, much like the new New Pornographers' Twin Cinema (website not working -- WTF? -- or I would include a link,) Plans might be a "grower." Still, Plans is a good listen while shopping for that tight new cotton tee and needlessly lamenting about romantic failings.

The second newbie, which I've been waiting YEARS for (the same amount of time, coincidentally, that I've been waiting for Damian Kulash to call me) is Ok Go's Oh No. Yeah, I'm not totally sure what the title is referring to either, especially because this cd isn't on iTunes yet so I'm gonna have to run out at lunch and pick it up. I anticipate good things from Oh No, though. The tracks were recorded in Malmo, Sweden, with Franz Ferdinand's (good) and the Cardigans' (pro or con, depending on which album) producer Tore Johansson. They've put together a little film about the record and posted it on the Video section of the newly re-skinned website. More comments to come once I hear the actual songs. But my friend John and I saw OkGo play a free show two weeks ago at the Middle East downstairs in Cambridge...and even though I got so excitedly tipsy that I almost knocked over a speaker doing a modified version of the twist, the band was in fine form. And Damian Kulash is still a frothy frappe of rock boy dream crush.

(Below, top to bottom, Ok Go and Death Cab for Cutie. Both four-member boy bands with new albums out today. I know whose bus I'm getting into, but make your own choice accordingly.)

Weekly Music Mention: Tune that (sun) Dial

As some of you may remember, Blogorelli is in a cd mix club. The club is called Air&Grey and it's by invitation only (before you even post a comment, thank you Demet for MY invitation.) Despite this lofty (woo) requisite for membership, the pretense is relatively simple: every 2 weeks, a member makes a mix whose design and set list reflect some theme. Sure, all the A&G-ers try to one-up each other with obscure songs, the smoovest flow and most cohesive design, but really the whole idea is about the new (as in, music and people.)

Everyone loves a good mix cd, especially in the summer, when travel/beach/general laziness provides plenty of time for multiple listens. As such, Salon's Audiofile recently named the winners of their first annual Summer Soundtrack Competition.

The rules really made me appreciate the effort: all songs had to be free and available for download somewhere online, and although contestants COULD use songs from the Audiofile song library, they were encouraged to bring new stuff to the table.

Plus, the titles are kinds of funny.

Weekly Music Mention: A Million Ways

...that Damian Kulash still proves himself to be my #1 rock-boy crush.

OkGo practices a new end-of-set dance in someone's backyard. Mr. K. shaking his fine shelf on the far right, with Bobby Crocker's #1 boy Tim leading the vocals in the front.

Thanks, Kristin from Chi-Town for the link!

(A Swooning) Blogorelli

Weekly Music Mention: Gotta Yatta?

Everyone knows that the Japanese do things with a certain, uh, unique flair

Take Engrish.com, or the overly tan/fake-blonde and outrageously clothed school girls of Shibuya.

But nothing quite compares with (warning: jump to video link) YATTA! A bit of explanation here. But, simply, they are something that must be seen to be...understood?

I like the one with the leaf.