The good, the...let's just say the good and the ugly

Since this blog is all about music on TV and film, I can't not say something about the beyond disappointing performance by Lana del Rey on this past Saturday's SNL.

Oh, Lana, I had such high hopes for you! I hyped you big time a few months ago, right here on my own little blog and then you go and do something like that. We were all rooting for you! (Cut to the video of Tyra Banks yelling at an ungrateful ANTM contestant.)

I won't spend too much time ranting about the performance, because believe me, a

quick Google search of 'Lana del Rey+SNL' will give you a sufficient--nay--copious amount of reading on the matter. But my God, I think all of talent got stuck in her lips. I'm sure it acted as a wonderful plumper - better than a collagen injection! *Ba-dum-chh* Thank you, thank you, I'll be here every Wednesday and Sunday (probably. Most likely. I'll see what I can do).

So that was the ugly and, h'oh boy, was it oooooo-glay. But fear not, my loyal followers who thrive on that which is beauty. I give to you...Dum Dum Girls! Their song "Coming Down" was featured on this Monday's episode of Gossip Girl and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who didn't immediately rush to their computer with the thought of "What the hell was that gorgeous song?!" seared into their mind

They're not total unknowns. In fact, I'm sure a few of you are reading this and you are either a.) going to send me a spam comment with links and weird proverbs or b.) rolling your eyes and thinking something like "I've been listening to them since they played at this dingy little bar in Williamstownburgville, ZZ." Well, whatever, I'm talking about them and when the teacher is talking, you're not!

Dum Dum Girls is comprised of four...did you figure it out? Girls! And by now, you should know me and my love/envy of lady rockers. They're from California (now they're double-y cool!) They work with some pretty impressive people - Scott Cohen is their manager and he also manages The Raveonettes as well as The Deer Tracks. They've also recorded with Richard Gottehrer who has worked with Blondie and helped to co-write "My Boyfriend's Back" and "I Want Candy."

The California outfit is a little bit old-school poppy (The Ronettes) a little punk (Siouxsie and the Banshees) and a little bit something extra (think Patti Smith or Courtney Love.) Lead singer Dee Dee has a lovely, soft voice at times, which adds a bit of quiet femininity to music that doesn't always lean that way. Now I'll go ahead and compare them to Mazzy Star, too. "Coming Down" definitely evokes a very Mazzy vibe, which I just so happen to love.

All right, let's tie this post up and put a fork in it. What did we learn today?

1. Lana del Rey - not a terrible artist, awful live, and massive lips that appear to take up 75% of her face.

2. Dum Dum Girls - nice little quartet of girls who play kind of punky, kind of poppy, kind of flowy music. That sort of covers every genre, doesn't it? Well, they're very versatile!

"Coming Down" Dum Dum Girls

Get it while it's hot because it's about to EXPLODE.

I'm loving being back here at CineMUSic - it's making me hyper-aware of all of the bands I've been missing out on because I've been too busy listening to Letters to Cleo and Eminem, who might not be deemed 'new' or 'hip'. I'm geeking out hard every time I finish watching a show because I've suddenly happened upon my New Favorite Band (or something like that.)

I'm still digging on The Coasts and I hope you are, too. But, I bring to you a new artist who--and listen, I pretty much guarantee it--is going to be famous in three, two, one...now. She's good, she's interesting, she's that perfect blend of unique and indie but still accessible to those who might be inclined to a mainstream sound. Ladies and gentleman, I give to you...

Lana Del Rey! Born Elizabeth Grant, here stage name is a hybrid of Hollywood actresses Lana Turner and Ford del Rey. As soon as I heard her song "Video Games" on Gossip Girl (God, I can't get away from the CW. I promise, next post I will NOT write about a CW show. Cross my heart) my brain was full of "Oh, this is like Florence + the Machine meets Kate Bush meets a lullabye." She's gaining momentum fast, going from virtually unknown--with a full-length album shelved--to being signed to Polydor Records (home to Ellie Goulding, Feist, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.) Not too shabby, eh?

"Video Games" and "Blue Jeans" are her first two singles and they both reached the top five of the US iTunes Albums Chart within hours of their release. Suffice it to say, some people are digging her. And understandably so. I hate to use the words "haunting" and "lovely" but that's exactly what her music is. If this sounds remotely interesting, you should definitely check it out. Dude, Pitchfork named "Video Games" the "Best New Track." You know it's worth a listen.

"Video Games" Lana del Rey


"Blue Jeans" Lana del Rey (undeniably a little Kate Bush-esque, amiright?)