Harry Potter? No! Grace Potter!

I neglected to talk about the Almost Alice soundtrack because 13 out of 16 tracks are just awful. But I've recently happened upon the brilliance that is Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. I could just kick myself for ignoring them for the past few years. I offer my apologies in raving about them here.

They're not exactly my usual taste, but the lead singer - Grace Potter - has so much stage presence and an unbelievable voice. The band is a perfect mixture of blues, rock, and soul. And, even better news, they're coming out with a new album in June!

The song in question on the Almost Alice soundtrack is the band's cover of Jefferson Airplane's song "White Rabbit." It doesn't deviate much from the original, but it sounds a bit more ethereal, especially considering the fact that Potter's voice isn't quite as insane as Grace Slick's. Basically, their cover doesn't make me feel like I should have just dropped acid. I suppose that could be a good or bad thing depending on who you are.

For those of you who like the musical comparisons, the band is a little bit Rilo Kiley/Jenny Lewis, a touch of Neko Case, and a hint of The Black Keys. "Medicine," a track from their new album, is catchy as hell. "Ah Mary" is a great track as well.

Also, they're going on tour and will be in the Ohio/Pennsylvania area mid-June. Be sure to check them out if you're in the area!

These are a few of my favorite things

Well, faithful readers/spammers, the school year is beginning to draw to a close. And as I've stated before, shows are ending and soundtracks haven't been all that interesting. Because of this, I'll be posting some of my favorite music/television/film moments. How does a few per post sound? It doesn't really matter - I'm doing it anyway!

1. "You Got Me All Wrong" by Dios Malos from "The O.C.", Season 2, Episode 1

"The O.C." was, is and will always be my favorite TV series ever. I credit the series with introducing me to a majority of my most loved bands. "You Got Me All Wrong" is a go-to, kind of depressing, a little bit groovy, lovely song. Plus, Ryan Atwood.

2. "New Day" by Kate Havnevik from "Grey's Anatomy", Season 3, Episode 9

Ah, back in the days of Doctor Burke... The song is intense. Kate Havnevik has such a unique voice and this song blends strings and electronica together so beautifully. As I watch this clip again, I long for the good old GA days. Everyone was much less annoying and not as preachy. And scenes like this existed. And as always, a beautiful performance from Sandra Oh.

3. "Hong Kong Garden" by Siouxsie and the Banshees from Marie Antoinette

Okay, okay. So, it isn't a new band by any means, but it is an awesome band to get into. To date, this is one of my favorite films - aurally and visually. The combination of 18th century garb and new wave music is amazing. The idea of haughty aristocrats dancing to stuff like New Order and Siouxsie Sioux just tickles me.

Recommendations? What recommendations?

As I predicted, season finales have been crazy. What's even crazier? Lack of really great music. A majority of these shows have been relying on artists that are acoustically-driven and who use soft vocals. With the exception of a few artists (Damien Rice, Iron and Wine, Rachael Yamagata, etc), I really don't find those to be all that appealing.

So, instead of recommending something that I don't think is entirely worth your time, I'm going to give you a guys a quick preview of a soundtrack that I think will have you shaking and crying.

I've been trying to wrangle up some serious information on the Scott Pilgrim movie soundtrack. So far, this is what I have for you:

1. Beck is composing a ton of the soundtrack's music

2. An old Metric B-Side called "Black Sheep" is being used

3. There's going to be so much music, it might have to be a two-disc volume

4. 6 songs from the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series' playlist will be used

5. Broken Social scene might be contributing some stuff to the soundtrack as well

With two-disc potential and Beck apparently being heavily involved, this soundtrack will probably be amazeballs.

Who needs lyrics?

I'm going to take a bit of a different route with this post - hope you guys don't mind. I think you might enjoy it.

Clint Mansell. Soundtrack buffs might be nodding their heads and saying, "Yeah," but some of you might be thinking, "Come again?" Don't worry; I'll elaborate.

Clint Mansell is the man behind tons and tons of gorgeous music in soundtracks and movie trailers alike. "Lux Aeterna" is easily the most well-known - it started off as the main theme for Darren Aronofsky's 2000 film Requiem for a Dream before being used in practically everything ever. It was even re-recorded for the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers trailer and released as "Requiem for a Tower."

He is also the mastermind behind soundtracks for The Fountain, Smokin' Aces, The Wrestler, 11:14 and Pi (among others). But what brought up this post is actually Iron Man 2. I know, I know: "How did she get from Iron Man 2 to Clint Mansell when he had nothing to do with the movie's music at all?" I'll tell you how.

Iron Man 2 stars the amazing, attractive, talented and hilarious Sam Rockwell. Sam Rockwell starred in the 2009 independent film Moon. And who is responsible for the score? You're damn right! It's Clint Mansell! The score for Moon is creepy and claustrophobic and makes me feel anxious. That might sound terrible, but i

t's actually kind of wonderful. The main title is called "Welcome to Lunar Industries." If you're into that, dive right in and try out...everything!

Here's another fun fact with only makes him cooler: he provided back up vocals for Nine Inch Nails' 1999 album The Fragile.

Mansell's music is haunting, using everything from strings to electronic beats to piano. It's the kind of music that gets under your skin. And while it is instrumental, it's the kind of music that someone who scoffs at lyric-less music can seriously get behind. His music speaks volumes on its own. Get ready for goosebumps, my friends.

Television stars making music. Hm...

Taylor Momsen (perhaps better known as Jenny Humphrey on "Gossip Girl") has formed her own band called The Pretty Reckless, and they're not as terrible as one might assume. Lucky for us, she's taken some cues from the likes of Courtney Love (though, she isn't a wreck... yet), Karen O and a few other lady rockers.

For being 16, she's actually kind of a kick-ass girl. Speaking of kicking ass,

that's the reason this entry has been written. The Pretty Reckless' first single "Make Me Wanna Die" is featured on the Kick-Ass soundtrack!

It's nice to see a deviation from the "music" of Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift. Even if she's veering toward rebelling for the sake of rebelling, I'm giving her props for not falling into the Top 40-esque, Disney kid stuff. However, I foresee a spike in the number of "punk" 14-year-old girls quoting Momsen's lyrics. Some of her lyrics include "I luh-luh-luh like you. I lah-lah-lah love you. I used to huh-huh-huh hate you. But now I really fucking LOVE you!" Melodramatic and angsty? Maybe so...

If you're feeling risky, check out some of the demos that are floating around the Internetz: "He Loves You," "Blender" and "Zombie" are the only real demos so far.

Scott Pilgrim: before hipster tweens make me hate it

Settle in, reader. This is going to be a two-part post and something verging on a feature (well, a feature in the realm of blogs.) Hopefully it doesn't turn into something deserving of tl;dr.

I'm into graphic novels. I'm into trendy and quirky music. I'm into pretty much every form of media. Which is why I find myself attracted to the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series. And before you get too anxious about CineMUSic implementing books, the series is being turned into a film starring the loathsome Michael Cera (aside from when he's George-Michael Bluth). However, this post is going to focus on the stuff that you find on pages.

Music is a big part of the world of Scott Pilgrim. He's the bass player for a band called Sex Bob-omb, he dates a girl named Knives Chau -- but falls in love with Ramona who has dyed hair and is way more sexually experienced than he is. I'll stop beating around the bush -- Scott Pilgrim is a hipster. And for every volume (the sixth is due out July 20, 2010!) chronicling the trials and tribulations of Scott Pilgrim there is a playlist.

So, is it good music or is it bad music? Well, we've got Beulah, Neko Case (excuse me while I hyperventilate), Spoon, The New Pornographers, The Go! Team, David Bowie, Sloan and Fleetwood Mac (among a few dozen others). It's like my musical wet dream. At the end of Volume 3, the author/illustrator Bryan Lee O'Malley writes "for each book, I tend to make one mix CD of song that capture the right mood." He then goes on to list about 10 songs with a note about why they're important in the world of Scott Pilgrim.

For once, I'm getting a little bit serious at CineMUSic. The point of this blog is not just for me to act like a pompous jerk and express how great I think bands are and if they'll be popular. It's also a chance for people to see how integral music is to all forms of art and entertainment. Music serves as an incredible inspiration. I mean, the song "Scott Pilgrim" by a band called Plumtree is what inspired the entire series. Music isn't just something to add interest to a scene or to take away awkward silent moments, it's there because it's powerful.

My point with this little post (well, actually, it's quite large compared to my other posts) is to shed light on books and music working together to create a new experience. Music and almost every other form of art go together like peanut butter and jelly, Ashton and Demi, Romeo and Juliet (okay, so that one ended badly but you get the point).

I'll be back soon with a post about the movie's soundtrack. Here's a taste: there will be Beck.

Indie of the '60s

Because this blog focuses on up and coming bands, I think it's important to have a well-rounded education in music. Even if all you ever want to listen to is black metal from Finland, it might be a good idea to give a quick listen to some old school R&B or bubblegum pop.

The thing is, I fear that people are forgetting about classic rock. The stuff our parents grew up listening to. The music you'll still find played on the radio because people love it. And with good reason.

Now, get ready to have your brain melted, because there's a movie coming out that might be right up there with "Almost Famous" in terms of wonderful music, amazing acting and the warm, fuzzy feelings it gives you. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is back as a controversial radio DJ (though not as Lester Bangs this time) in the upcoming film "Pirate Radio."

The film features an all-star cast (Tom Sturridge, Bill Nighy, Rhys Darby, January Jones, and so on) and is about a fictitious pirate radio station in 1966 broadcasting dirty, devilish rock 'n' roll music to the UK. Smashing tunes, pop culture references and hilarious dialogue will absolutely ensue.

On to the music. After all, that's what this blog is about, right?

Upon checking out the tracklist, I almost passed out from sheer joy. "These Arms of Mine" by Otis Redding, "Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues and "Let's Dance" by David Bowie are just a few of the songs featured. If you're not familiar with these already, get familiar ASAP.

What seems great about this soundtrack is that it doesn't focus on the classic rock that everyone already knows. You won't find Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" or "All You Need is Love" by (duh) The Beatles - they're both too obvious and too easy. "Pirate Radio" features the music people don't bother checking out. The indie bands of the 60s and 70s, if you will.

If you think knowing every word to "Kashmir" and the multiple personas of David Bowie (even though I'll bet you really don't know all of them) is enough, think again. Get the soundtrack, see the movie (no doubt it will be wonderful) and try out something new.

If roller derby had a soundtrack...

Right now, I am giving major props to the music department of the movie "Whip It!" (Also to Drew Barrymore whose directorial debut was great!) If a Peaches song was used in the trailer, why would anyone question how good the soundtrack would be?

We’ve got The Breeders, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, Har Mar Superstar, Little Joy, The Ramones, and The Go! Team (among others). In other words, it’s sure to be every alternative, “I’m-stuck-between-the-80s-and-90s” kid’s favorite album to spin. Or import to iTunes.

Now, listen up, reader: you should know that I'm a sucker for "bad" (or what I consider great) mid-70s to early-80s rock groups. For instance, I'm a devoted Foreigner fan and I'm passionate about Hall and Oates. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I stumbled upon "Caught Up In You" by .38 Special on the soundtrack. Yeah, it was an absolute highlight.

It’s not just that the songs chosen are enjoyable, it also helps that they were used perfectly throughout. There’s nothing better than watching a film that’s good to begin with, thanks to the script and actors, but the music puts the finishing touch on everything.

Do yourself a favor – go see "Whip It!" and try to keep yourself from smiling when “Bang On” by The Breeders plays. If you manage this feat, then you are officially not a human being.