Season finales are happening left and right which is just an excuse to play some incredible music. Here is someone I've been wanting to talk about but I haven't had anything super up-to-date to use as a reason to talk about her. Now, that reason is her song "You've Changed"'s being used in the holy-shit-what-just-happened season finale of "The Vampire Diaries."
So who is it? It's Sia! Just to give you a few references, her song "Breathe Me" was used during the final scene of "Six Feet Under" - only one of the most epic television series and chill-inducing finales of all time ever. "The Bully" was used on "The O.C.," "I Go To Sleep" on "Dollhouse" and a handful of her songs have been used throughout six seasons of "Grey's Anatomy."
She is also a contributor to the ambient/trip-hop group Zero 7. And, let me tell you, girl can make some beautiful and sexy music. Please see "Destiny" and "Distractions" for reference/proof.
Her voice is a bit of an odd one. It sounds almost pained and sleepy, but it's a nice change from girls who sing in those soft voices that don't make me feel anything but bored. Her albums have a nice array of piano-driven pieces, some electronic-sounding stuff (think Massive Attack) and acoustic tracks.
If you're skipping a night out with your friends in favor of staying in to have an introspective night, acquire one of her albums in whatever way you see fit. I'll recommend Colour The Small One to get started with. Don't be surprised if some of the tracks move you to tears or almost tears.
In case my recommendations and commentary don't already make it apparent, I'll just go ahead and say it: I am a music snob. I don't like the general public becoming privy to the truly amazing bands that I enjoy so much. The general public likes trash like Nickleback, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and 3OH!3. So, when they start latching on to bands that have real talent and a strong, devoted fanbases that have been around for years, yeah, I get a little bit riled up.
And you know what isn't helping my irritation? The Twilight soundtracks. Today, the artists and track names for the new Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack were released one-by-one on the half hour. Here are all of the artists featured:
I am well aware that those are all relatively well-known bands. I am not stuck in a belief that they are little, independent bands that I can claim as "mine." But, for some reason, when
15-year-old girls who think that Twilight has Oscar-worthy writing and acting - a true love story for the times - start listening to them, it makes them sparkle a bit less (yes, that was an intentional play on the fact that the vampires in the realm of Twilight appear to sparkle in the sun).
That is not to say that I'm not looking forward to the soundtrack. It is comprised of new, original tracks from the artists, and I'm always excited for new music from some of my favorites. Beck and Bat For Lashes collaborating? I'm so there. The track is called "Let's Get Lost" and there is no way it won't be incredible.
But Twilight is a book/film series that glorifies a creepy, troubling, abusive relationship, portrays a heroine whose life hinges on whether or not some dead guy is around or loves her, and reduces grown women to having flighty pre-teen fantasies. I hate to be one of those people, but I just don't like the idea of bands that I cherish being associated with such a franchise.
If only this it a compilation/collaborative project like Dark Was The Night. But no. Naturally, it has to come from a series about vampires with glittery skin, young men who become buff and (I'm ashamed to say) kind of hot because they're actually werewolves, and a girl who has nothing of interest to offer as a human, and - yet - has at least three guys in love with her.
So, I'll be honest. I don't want to share a musical interest with someone who thinks that Florence Welch's voice is almost as good as Carrie Underwood's. But, any new material is a treasure for me. So, I guess I'll take it and just blog/whine about it/act like an arrogant fan.
Hello world! I come to you today not with a recommendation but with something that I found too strange not to talk about.
Sean "Puffy" Combs, A.K.A. P. Diddy, A.K.A. Diddy, A.K.A. Puff Daddy, A.K.A. "Good Lord, do you have enough names yet? You're worse than Prince at this point," has released a trailer for his new blog. Take a second to really let that sink in. P. Diddy has released a trailer for his new blog.
Stranger yet, this trailer features the following things: Diddy speaking dramatically, Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr., Will Smith, M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender, Obama, 300, Michael Jordan, and George Clooney. What really ties it all together is a sample of "The Mark Has Been Made" by Nine Inch Nails.
It is one minute of baffling, awesome, mind-boggling images, voice overs, and music. His blog is literally called "DiddyBlog." I don't know what his plans are for said blog. Based on that trailer, one may conclude that Puff is going to talk about minority plights, political ideals, social unrest, and causes he believes in - not counting Ciroc Vodka. But really, I would venture to guess that it will read something more like, "On the road in the bus, laying down some beats. The new album is gonna be sick."
Wait, when was the last time that P. Diddy was actually relevant?
I'm really into having just the right music for my mood, in case you guys didn't know. I'm not one of those people who can listen to sad music when they are having a great day, the sun is shining and their hair looks good.
Because of that, I am now offering to you a band with a lot of great summertime music: West Indian Girl. If you're walking around outside listening to them, you will feel like every step you take is being filmed and as if something epic is happening in your life. They're a little bit M83, a little bit Polyphonic Spree, and a whole lot amazeballs.
"What Are You Afraid Of?" is my feel-good, I-want-to-start-running-for-no-reason song. It's a bit electronic with soaring guitars and call-and-response lyrics (you know, I don't know if that's a real thing, but I wrote it and it sounded especially intelligent). As an avid "Veronica Mars" fan (R.I.P.), I was hooked the moment I heard it featured in the first season.
So, if you're looking for upbeat and beautiful music that will make you feel unstoppable, follow this link to a world of joy.
So, I'm watching "Gossip Girl" the other night and I'm thinking, "When is someone going to get murdered a la 'Law and Order?' And can it please be Serena Van Der Woodsen?" because - let's be honest - she is extremely annoying. But then, while I was imagining taking her out (and I don't mean on a date), and then stealing her wardrobe, "Audience" by Cold War Kids started playing!
Then I got to thinking. Cold War Kids is relatively popular, but they just don't get enough love in my humble opinion. And I'm a lover, not a fighter (yes, I realize the contradiction in that statement based on the previous paragraph) I want to spread the love and the joy and talk a bit about Cold War Kids.
They're super cool: four guys from Long Beach, California making sexy, spicy indie rock for all to enjoy. If you want scrumptious bass lines, "Hang Me Up To Dry" will get the job done. You want to sing along -- or should I say howl along? "Something Is Not Right With Me" is ideal. And "Hospital Beds" has all the ups and downs you could want in a song.
For once, I'm not here writing about female singers. Well, I almost got through a post without talking about one. I'm talking about something that's masculine and has more of a rock edge. It might not satiate someone who only listens to Pantera and Slayer, but it might do the trick for those that can't get into the boring drones of Beach House, Radiohead (I've said it before and I'll say it again) or Grizzly Bear.
You guys, it's officially May. Which means that it's time for sweeps. Which means that a whole bunch of shows are down to their last handful of episodes. And for some, there are no more episodes until next season.
What I'm trying to say is that my recommendations for television and music alike might be a bit more sparse than you've grown accustomed to. Which means that the spam I receive in Chinese on an almost weekly basis... well, it will just have to go somewhere else.
Here's a quick blurb on someone I like: Correatown. Correatown is Angela Correa and she is a beautiful songstress (is that real word? I don't know, but I'm still using it!). Her song "All the World (I Tell Myself)" was featured on "Grey's Anatomy" seasons and seasons ago as well as on the "Ugly Betty" series finale.
"Sunset & Echo" was featured on this week's episode of "Grey's Anatomy" which was (finally) new. Her songs make me want to float on a cloud and wave my arms around in slo-motion while a camera slowly zooms in on my face. Did that make sense? Probably not.
Angela's voice is an interesting (but good!) mixture of old 1930's jazz, folksy drawls and feminine vocals that any emotional girl would want to sing along with. Go now and be swift!
The fictional character of Chuck Bartowski (from the TV show "Chuck") made a playlist for his girlfriend Sarah Walker. It's featured on the "Chuck" site over at NBC.com and it's written as though Chuck himself wrote it (even though the tone is totally off and it's way too simple, that's besides the point).
It's got some nice little gems on it. I'll take this time to break it down.
"Heart Skipped A Beat" by the xx is a nice tune. I've talked about the xx here before so I won't go on about it too much. From what I've heard, a lot of people listen to the xx's self-titled album before going to bed. But don't let that fool you into thinking that they're a slow, sad-sounding sort of band.
"Rhinestone Eyes," a track from the new Gorillaz album Plastic Beach, doesn't exactly fit the bill for sounding extremely romantic. Then again, with lyrics like "Your love's like rhinestones falling from the sky," I guess that's poetic. Plus, who can deny the awesomeness that is Gorillaz?
The band Gus Gus is featured, but as a journalist (er, a kinda journalist) I have to maintain good ethics and remain honest: I don't care for them. They're from Iceland so they're a bit odd. If you're into lo-fi electronic stuff, give it a shot.
Ooh, and then there're The Kills. Have I mentioned them here? I don't care, I'm talking about them now. I'm a passionate The Kills fan. Ever since I heard "U.R.A Fever" (a super sexy song in my humble opinion) I've been hooked. The Chuck playlist is recommending "Tape Song," and I concur. The Kills is a one guy, one girl duo that rocks so hard I can hardly believe it. The only word I can think to describe their sound is smoldering. You're intrigued, aren't you?
Last one and then I'm out because I've got two exams tomorrow that I probably haven't adequately prepared for.
LCD Soundsystem's newest single "Drunk Girls" is on the playlist. Can someone please listen to this song and the Beastie Boys song "Girls" and confirm that the yelling of "girls!" is very similar? LCD Soundsystem is perfect party music. Whether you're a bro, a hipster or you worship the deity Beysus, I dare you to listen to this and not yearn for the dance floor.
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.
filmed and as if something epic is happening in your life. They're a little bit 
