Rogue Wave is by no means a super unknown band. They were signed to Sub Pop Records up until 2007 and are now signed with Brushfire Records. They've toured with Death Cab For Cutie. They're definitely not unknowns. But this week's episode of "90210" prompted me to blog about them.
I distinctly recall being 14 and hearing "Publish My Love" on The O.C. and thanking God for the existence of Google. Since then, I've been hooked. And while they're already relatively well known in the land of indie music fans, they've been getting some serious playtime - probably due to the release of their new album, Permalight.
"90210" used the song "Eyes" which is three things: classic, well-known and a bit out of date for such a "hip" show. However, the people over at Chuck had the right idea a few episodes back in playing the song "Permalight" from the new album. On top of that, their music has been used in a ton of other stuff.
I'm not going to overdo it and create a music recipe to describe what they sound like. They vary between mellow and poppy. And they were on Sub Pop - you know that means it's good. I predict what is already a successful, independent band gaining some serious popularity in the coming months.
Iceland may not be the first country you think of when asked "Where does cool music come from?" but the fact is, cool music does come from Iceland! Take, for example, Sigur Rós, Björk and Emilíana Torrini. Now, let's add indie/folk band Seabear to that list.
Seabear is the most quintessential, classic example of indie/folk I've heard in quite a while. As of late, most indie music has been shoe-gazey (even though I refuse to acknowledge that as an actual genre of music), and the folk stuff has been very blues or country influenced. But Seabear's music is full of modest vocals and violins with a little flare of music that sounds like something you might want to sway to on a beach somewhere.
The most recent episode of "Grey's Anatomy" featured their song "Cold Summer" in the closing montage. It's classic "Grey's Anatomy" closer music - strings, keys, horns and heartbreaking vocals. A match made in heaven. Their song "Cat Piano" has also been used in a BBC advertisement for Finding Neverland and in "Gossip Girl."
Okay, so indie/folk is a bit vague. Let's get a bit more descriptive: Seabear is "Sufjan Stevens meets Arcade Fire unplugged," according to Clash Magazine. And Rolling Stone has determined that lead singer Sindri Már Sigfússon is the Icelandic Beck (a la Sea Change). My two cents is that I've got three papers to write over the next five days and this will be just the right music to keep me calm and motivated.
"Gossip Girl" is back and let me tell you guys, I could not be more pleased. And Monday's episode? Well, the music choices were so good, I'm covering almost the entire episode's worth!
First, there was Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. I talk about them at CineMUSic and in daily life constantly, so let me just reiterate: they're awesome.
Then there was "Spirit Horse" by Sea Wolf. Sea Wolf is led by Alex Brown Church (previously of the band Irving) and is a band that creates this comfortable, relaxing (but never boring) indie rock. Their most popular song "You're A Wolf" has been used in a slew of television shows and film and it's this beautiful little piece of music that just gets under your skin in the best way.
"Crystalised" by the xx popped up next and reminded me how good that song is and how enjoyable their debut album is. If you're familiar with The Kills, imagine that duo only a bit toned down and understated. They're a little bit dark and moody, and yet the music makes me want to move. Wikipedia tells me they're "dream pop." I suppose that's an adequate genre choice.
And rounding it all out was Monsters of Folk's "Map of the World." If you're at all interested in folk/indie music, I can say with 99% certainty that you've heard of one of the members of the supergroup. It's made up of Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis (both of Bright Eyes) and M. Ward. I've never been a big fan of Bright Eyes (too mopey and sad for me) but Monsters of Folk is... well I think the name of the band kind of says it. It's folk music you can sink your teeth into and enjoy even if folk isn't your favorite genre.
Basically, "Gossip Girl," you dominated this week.
CineMUSic is turning into this more-often-than-not feminist style music blog. I feature a lot of ladies in this blog, but hey, that's the music I tend to like at the current stage of my life.
Charlotte Gainsbourg's sexy little song "Trick Pony" was featured in the opening (and also sexy) montage of last week's episode of "Grey's Anatomy." It's sexy in that strong, confident way as opposed to strictly sultry and "We are so gonna do it" way.
Gainsbourg has released three studio albums, the first being in 1986, titled Charlotte For Ever, when she was just 15 years old. That kind of thing makes me wonder what I've been doing with my time for the last five years of my life. Better yet, she's a film star. Not like Jenny Lewis who had a brief stint as a child actress and a role in Pleasantville (wonderful film). Charlotte appeared in 21 Grams, Jane Eyre, I'm Not There, and Antichrist.
Want to know why her latest album IRM will crush your soul into oblivion and make your heart explode? As if Charlotte herself wasn't enough, Beck wrote and produced 12 of the 13 songs. I think that about covers it.
There is currently an under-the-radar band whose music has quietly been floating around television, and they have major potential to be popular. Like... super popular. I'm talking Sex-on-Fire-please-not-this-song-again popular.
Great Northern is a band from L.A. and is comprised of Solon Bixler, Rachel Stolte, Michael Regilio, Marissa Micik and Dusty Rocherolle. I'll say it right now: Solon Bixler is the former guitarist of 30 Seconds to Mars. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth (aside from the whole Jared Leto part because... look at him) but don't be too quick to judge. The band has an uncanny ability to turn out catchy rock songs and I always give major thumbs up to ladies who kick ass.
It's tough to describe Great Northern. Maybe like the Followill brothers (and one cousin, but whatever) had a younger, rebellious sister who also wanted to make music? Or like someone told Hayley Williams to stop whining and playing the same song over and over again?
This is a band that makes me believe in what some might call "chick rock." It's not Lillith Fair and it's not a 17-year-old singing about how she's simultaneously one of the guys but the only girl you should love.
And since this blog is about television/film, not just music, I'll let you know that they've been heard all over the place. They've had songs featured on almost every CW show, Bones, Grey's Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, The Hills, Nissan commercials and in the movie 21. But the music supervisors have been hiding the goods because the band hasn't been too prominent. At least not yet...
It's been awfully quiet here at CineMUSic. You'll have to forgive me -- week seven mixed in with the Olympics makes a whole mess of reruns on television and no time to watch the new stuff. Because of this, we're going to travel in time to March 2, 2009. The setting is "Chuck," season 2 episode 15, "Chuck Versus the Beefcake." I give to you "Airplanes" by Local Natives.
This particular episode featured a band that's gaining a lot of popularity really quickly.
Local Natives is a band from Los Angeles and is exactly what someone wants from an indie band: haunting lyrics, quirky but beautiful vocals and some careful guitar plucking. A lot of people have chosen to compare them to the likes of Arcade Fire (not really), Fleet Foxes (slightly, only not boring) and Vampire Weekend (NO).
Their debut album Gorilla Manor, was released in the UK in 2009 and received a U.S. release less than 10 days ago. I'm siding with Pitchfork on this one: they gave the album an 8.4 which is -- dare I say -- praise! The 8.4 rating is well-deserved. The album is a nice little gem that people might overlook.
I'm predicting that now that the album is available in the U.S. there will be a noticeable spike in the amount of play they'll receive in television. Let's see: CW shows will want to jump on them and quite possibly Shonda Rimes's Thursday night train wreck (you know, because the shows are simultaneously horrendous and awesome at the same time).
Keep your ears peeled (ugh, gross visual. Sorry everyone!).
Since everyone has different taste in music, television and film, it seems safe to say that a number of people might not always relate to my posts. So Greg Gallant, Copy Chief of ACRN, is writing here today as a guest blogger. He'll be listing his top 10 music/film/television moments from the 2000s. Without further ado...
Songs usually serve to enhance an episode of television, but, many times, the drama on the screen can serve to enhance the song, creating a more fitting visual counterpart than any music video could drum up with just a few minutes of story.
Rules:
1. Must be pre-existing songs used in a scripted sitcom or drama.
2. Characters singing the song is OK.
3. No theme songs or title sequences.
4. God Bless Flight of the Conchords, but they don't count.
As the first season of "Mad Men" came to a close, viewers got their first glimpse of the cracks in Don Draper's armor. After declining to go on a family vacation in order to work, Don decided to hurry home and join in on the fun. He made it in time, and there was much rejoicing -- except that it was only a fantasy (a rare gambit from the AMC show). His actual arrival was too late, and he wound up sitting alone in his empty mansion. Cue Bob.
9. Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight. "Arrested Development" - Afternoon Delight - 2004. "Arrested Development" had so much comedic success with their own music and song rip-offs (eg, "Yellow Boat" for "Yellow Submarine"), that they rarely used popular songs. In this episode though, Michael and his niece, Maeby, decide to sing a little karaoke. Michael suggests, "let's do the first song on the list!" The song proves to be more sexual than the title indicates, and their mistake is soon repeated by Michael's sister and son.
The amazing second season of FX's "Sons of Anarchy" featured an almost non-stop escalation of the feud between the two main characters, Jax and Clay. Their animosity reached one of its several boiling points as Gemma (Clay's wife/Jax's mom) was serving dinner to the club. Gemma smashing a serving tray is a good wake-up call for the Sons, but only temporarily.
Words can not express how saddened I am that this clip is not available online. It probably could have cracked the top 3, but it's hard to explain how amazing the scene is without showing it. After a series of intensely dramatic events, the soldiers are once again driving through the desert in their humvee, and they bust out an amazing (and apt) a Capella version of the song.
6. Seal - Kiss From a Rose. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" - The Gang Wrestles for the Troops - 2009.
With IASIP, as the quality of the show has waned over the past couple seasons, the budget has gone up. In short, more money = less funny. However, in this scene, surely one of the most bizarre pieces to ever air on basic cable, Dee abandons the soldier she had been writing to upon seeing him in a wheelchair. Frank is stuck there with his gift of jean shorts and a Seal-filled boombox. His salute for the soldier lasts absurdly long and is only made funnier by the song and the fact that Danny DeVito is barely taller than a handicapped man. (Skip to about the 1:30 mark if you just want to hear the song.)
5. Solomon Burke - Fast Train. "The Wire" - Mission Accomplished - 2004.
Season 3 of "The Wire" was perhaps the greatest season of television ever, and Burke's rendition of the Van Morrison classic was the perfect choice for the season-ending montage. SPOILER ALERT: The images show the ends of many of the brilliant stories told over 37 episodes, while also evoking the theme of business as usual, returning to the streets of Baltimore.
4. The Polyphonic Spree - Light and Day/Reach for the Sun. "Scrubs" - My Choosiest Choice of All - 2004.
"Scrubs" has used a billion great songs over the years, many of them employed excellently within the show. It was a challenge to pick one, but when all (or most, or some, maybe) of The Polyphonic Spree showed up in a patient's room to perform for the montage, that took the cake.
3. TV on the Radio - DLZ. "Breaking Bad" - Over - 2009.
SPOILER ALERT: "Breaking Bad" is the story of a chemistry teacher who essentially uses his cancer diagnosis as an excuse to descend into the world of crime. Sure, he is providing for his family, but as the show goes on, he keeps losing reasons to cook meth... and yet doesn't stop. In "Over," he vows to quit the drug game, but the monotony of his everyday life drives him back into its arms.
2. ASIA - Heat of the Moment. "South Park" - Kenny Dies - 2001.
Again, it is a tragedy that this clip is not available on YouTube, but if you haven't seen it, trust me, hilarious. When Kenny is on his death bed (for real), Cartman must plead to Congress for stem cell research. When his speech isn't quite working, he launches into this 80s staple. One representative joins in with the stomp-stomp-clap, and pretty soon the entire legislative body is rocking out to ASIA.
1. Johnny Cash - When the Man Comes Around. "Generation Kill" - Bomb in the Garden - 2008.
I defy you to show me five minutes of footage that says more about modern warfare than the final moments of the HBO miniseries "Generation Kill." As the soldiers gather around to watch the movie created by one of the grunts, they have mixed feeling about what they're watching, and begin to leave one by one. Cash is the perfect soundtrack for this powerhouse scene.
People ask how Kings of Leon got to be so popular and on the radio 24/7. I have two words for them: "Gossip Girl." It’s amazing what a TV show or film can do for a band. The blog's author, Kaitie Firm, sifts through what’s worth listening to and which artists are sure to be big, thanks to the big or small screen. Keep your eyes – and ears – peeled.
