When It Rains, It Floods

The title really has no reference to the massive snow storms blowing through the Northeast right now, although I do wish I was enjoying a fresh New York City snow. You know, the kind that's so pretty before it turns to black slush and ruins your shoes.

I've had a recent influx of free music, all of it worth sharing. During my routine Starbucks run this morning I picked up a couple of "Pick of the Week" cards. I love Starbucks for a lot of reasons, but this ranks at the top! I love that they pick really quality songs and artists to feature; I don't feel like they're trying to sucker me into downloading some completely obscure and bizarre track that I'm going to spend an hour trying to figure out how to delete from my iphone. Right now you can pick up Corrine Bailey Rae's I'd Like To Call It Beauty and Spoon's Mystery Zone. Both have been added to my current rotation.

Also, I downloaded a free compilation cd prior to the holidays with great stuff from some up and coming musicians. Since then I've gotten lots of freeby offers as they are starting to release new stuff. I haven't listened to all of this yet, but if you're looking for a "try before you buy" kind of deal, check out Matthew Mayfield, Meiko, and Josh Ritter for some free downloads.

And I have to give credit where credit is due. I watched an episode of The Buried Life this week on MTV with Kristen (our resident MTV expert) . I laughed, I cried (actually, I just teared up - barely) and then I downloaded no less than 3 songs from the single 30-minute episode. MEEP! I couldn't help myself! As much as I like to take shots at MTV, I have to say that their music selection is always shamefully spot-on. Plus, I'm gearing up for my annual trip to San Diego (can I call it annual if it's only my second?) and I'm building my SoCal playlist. I'm not sure if it was the tunes or just the show, but it all seemed very California to me. Plus, they're adorbs.


Check out Walking On A Dream by Empire of the Sun, and don't be scared by their anime album cover - just turn a blind eye. Also Stacy Clark's Strange and The Temper Trap's Love Lost. Also worth noting, Miike Snow's Burial and Animal.

The Elephant In The Room

I try so, so hard not to be this girl. But I just can't help it. It's woven in my fabric; part of my being; a staple of my personality. And dare I say that it's just downright quirky and charming? I don't know about that.

Truth is, I'm fanatical.

My job doesn't allow me a ton of time to blog as I please, so I usually try to have something of substance on the rare occasion that I post. So my internal debate had convinced me that this shouldn't happen, that it is not a worthy topic. But, as I skim my various media outlets here in my cube, I just can't contain my absolute giddiness.

Ya'll, it's New Moon Premiere Week!

This isn't something to be ashamed of! It's a revolution! This is our generation's Beatle-Mania, and I will proudly join in. I never considered classifying myself under such a title, but this week I was reading an article about a woman who got to be an extra in the movie and it made a reference to something I completely understood. Apparently, urbandictionary.com has summed it all up for us:

Twihard: a serious and obsessive reader of 'The Twilight Saga' by Stephenie Meyer, one leap above Twilighters.

I rushed out the day Vanity Fair hit newsstands here in Dallas (which was, of course, a week later than New York...another perk to Manhattan life) because Rob Pattinson had an amazing photo spread in the December issue. He is, obviously, in my Top 5.


I've already committed to 2 showings of the movie within its opening week.

And reread the first two books in anticipation.

I scored "As Perfect As Edward" on the "Twilight Know-It-All" quiz.

Just this morning, my best friend admitted that all the New Moon buzz had converted her to Team Jacob. This also led to her saying, "I'm ashamed to admit that my morning has been spent looking at teenagers with their shirts off".


Hey, that's your prerogative. I just tend to lean towards the older, more sophisticated tween sci-fi hero.

So the proof is in the pudding. But I guess if the shoe fits, I'll wear it.

Overload

I'm overwhelmed by the idea of blogging about all the new music that's coming out this fall. To be fair, I have to tell you that I haven't purchased a single album on this list; mostly because my bank account is breaking just trying to list them all! I'll have to draw straws to figure out what to purchase first, but I'll leave the rest up to you. I'll cut right to the chase and just give you a list of my picks and links to their websites where you can hear some of the new stuff that may not be available on itunes yet.

SEPTEMBER

David Gray - Draw the Line
If you've never really listed to David Gray, I'll give you a few of my favorites to start with. Babylon might be a song you recognize, but it's near the bottom of my list. I'd recommend checking out Sail Away, Kangaroo and The One I Love. I think he has such a seasonal sound and he's perfect for listening to when you're laying in bed with the crisp air blowing in your windows.

Alicia Keys - Doesn't Mean Anything
Besides rocking Jay-Z's Empire State of Mind, Alicia Keys has also just released a new single. I'm not sure when her complete album comes out, but I personally love buying the teasers up front...kind of spreads out the joy. :)

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
I'm new to Phoenix, which is pretty obvious because this cd actually came out in May, but I'm totally digging 1901. I'm considering downloading the whole album...I'm open to thoughts & recommendations.

Paramore - Brand New Eyes
This is about as far as I stretch into the emo, punk genre, but this girl can sing. I typically really like a couple of songs from their albums and am not too interested in the rest. The album just came out today, so I'll keep you posted on my favorites. (hint: if it's featured in Twilight, I'll like it.)

Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement
This guy has gotten lots of buzz in the music industry from other artists. It's kind of different and has a little 60s revival to it...

Muse - The Resistance
I've liked some of their stuff in past and they're opening up for U2 on their current tour, so they've got some big names in their corner...you know...me, Bono...

A Fine Frenzy - Bomb In A Birdcage
She's a quirky and cool songwriter/piano player, if you're into that kind of thing. A couple of her older songs that will give you a good feel for her sound are You Picked Me and Almost Lover. Her new cd is getting better reviews than the first, so I think it would be a safe purchase.

OCTOBER

Michael Buble - Crazy Love
Brace yourself, he's taking that romantic voice and rat-pack style and doing a cover of Justin Timberlake's Cry Me A River. In his typical fashion though, he's mixing it in with a few originals and a few classics like Georgia On My Mind.

New Moon Soundtrack
Not only will I be re-reading the book and seeing the movie as soon as possible, I'll more than likely be buying the soundtrack as well. Call me obsessive, whatever. The lineup (in the movie and on the soundtrack) is even better than the first time around with big names like Thom Yorke and The Killers; as well as indie favorites like Bon Iver and Death Cab.

Death Cab for Cutie, "Meet Me on the Equinox"
Band of Skulls, "Friends"
Thom Yorke, "Hearing Damage"
Lykke Li, "Possibility"
The Killers, "A White Demon Love Song"
Anya Marina, "Satellite Heart"
Muse, "I Belong to You (New Moon)"
Bon Iver & St. Vincent, "Roslyn"
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, "Done All Wrong"
Hurricane Bells, "Monsters"Sea Wolf, "The Violet Hour"
OK Go, "Shooting the Moon"
Grizzly Bear, "Slow Life"
Editors, "No Sound but the Wind"
Alexandre Desplat, "New Moon (The Meadow)"

NOVEMBER (these all come out the same day, by the way)

John Mayer - Battle Studies
I can guarantee you that this one will be pre-ordered, but I'm sure you knew that. You can listen to his new single on his website and buy the whole thing on November 17. swoon...

OneRepublic - Waking Up
November 17 is going to be a busy day. This is another album that is going to be worth pre-ordering. These guys are so incredibly talented, not only is the lead singer responsible for Beyonce's "Halo" and one million other radio hits, his band brings a whole new sound to radio and pop music. Their first single, "All the Right Places" will be available on itunes next Tuesday, Oct 13.

Norah Jones - The Fall
Nothing beats her first cd, and I haven't heard anything from the new one, but I'm hoping she delivers on some smooth jazz.

Jason Castro - Let's Just Fall In Love Again
You know, the kid from American Idol with the dred locks! He's a fellow Aggie and a Dallas resident, so I'm tempted to support him regardless; but I heard him do a live concert on the radio morning show last week and he sounded incredible. I think his album will be sweet & upbeat...and he's including Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah, which will get you every time.

Kris Allen - Live Like We're Dying
Another American Idol alum; he was precious on the show and he did an awesome remix of Kanye, but I have to say - I don't love the new single he released. Let's hope he comes up with something that reminds me of why he was my favorite.

Should've Sold My Soul To Disney

On more than one occasion, I've found myself in a conversation with friends about how we would do life differently if we could start all over. Most of us usually come to agree that we are pretty happy with the way things have turned out and wouldn't really have too much to change. I might hold on to my 16 year old body a bit longer, but we could play that game all day long. However, my friend Robbie always says, "I would've sold my soul to Disney as a child!" Hilarious? Yes. Do I agree? Yes. Over the last couple of weeks I've paid my dues to get wrapped up in the frenzy Disney has created at theatres nationwide right now.

17 Again with Zac Efron? Check. (maybe more than once - don't judge me)

Hannah Montana? Check.

I have to say, I think I could have had what it takes. No, my Dad didn't have a terrible single in the 90's called "Achey Breaky Heart" and I'm not really fond of youtubing myself for the whole world to see, but I think I could have done Disney proud. Since that ship has obviously sailed for me, I think I'll keep the dream alive and pass it on to my son or daughter. Just look at how great Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears (or not) and all those other mouseketeers turned out! I think this idea has potential...like a new kind of pageant mom. I could still have the best of both worlds...(pun intended).

Live From New York...

So much has happened in the last week, I can hardly keep up.

We started the weekend with a proper Texas sendoff; great friends, great BBQ and a live country band at the best Texas joint in New York City. We cancelled the late-night karaoke plans in lieu of an early start on Saturday…a very early start in fact. Four faithful friends and I left our apartment about 3:30 am, the same time most of New York starts to call it a night, and headed to Rockefeller Center in an attempt to score tickets to Saturday Night Live. It was one last hoo-rah for a couple of us…and a chance for all of us to flex our cougar skills with the beloved tween star host, Zac Efron.

Now if you’re not familiar with Zac Efron, then you’re missing out on some of the greatest made for tv musicals of your time! He is the heart and soul of the High School Musical franchise and has been called the Kevin Bacon of our generation. Now, I think Kevin Bacon is far from attractive…but I do agree that Zefron is extremely talented and adorable. He’s everywhere right now; SNL, Ellen, The Today Show, American Idol, your local movie theatre this weekend and the cover of GQ. Here is a fun little preview of what we got to see firsthand:



The show was a blast; Zac and the cast were hilarious, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs played and we all agreed (post-nap) that it was well worth it. Kristen and I rounded out the weekend with VIP tickets to see Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, which was great! If you haven’t tuned in since he took over for Conan, you should start! For one thing, The Roots are his house band and they put on a great show themselves. We also got to hear former Led Zeppelin bassist, John Paul Jones, play with Sara Watkins, of Nickel Creek – such a cool collaboration. NBC should pay me for all this shameless promotion.

Twilight Zone

So in case you haven’t heard the craze, Twilight comes out on DVD this weekend. They are even advertising for you to find a “Midnight Twilight Party” near you. Can you imagine the kind of caped crusaders who show up at those kinds of things?! I’m going to keep my obsessive compulsive tendencies within the confines of 2D. Much to the disappointment of many, I’m not going to rush out at midnight to get a copy…but I probably will buy it this weekend. I mean, why delay more of this deliciousness?? (Besides I have a bootleg copy to keep me company)

All hotness of Rob Pattinson aside, I really got involved with the whole Twilight saga. Everyone made me the butt of the joke for buying the soundtrack too…but soon after they all came crawling back wanting a copy. It’s so good – but in a very different, not what you expect from me, kind of way. It’s got all kinds of alternative tracks from Muse, Mutemath, Linkin Park (I’m a total closet Linkin Park fan) and Paramore. Turns out, I am a huge Paramore fan, I just never knew it! My brother has since shared a couple of their other albums with me…she has an amazing voice. Anyway, in case you plan on having yourself a little vampire fest this weekend, these are some great downloads to set the tone.

Iron & Wine’s Flightless Bird, American Mouth is what is playing in the background of the last scene. It is arguably the hottest scene of the movie, when they are dancing and he oh so carefully kisses her neck and tells her that she can’t be a vampire. I really hope you’ve seen it, or that last sentence just sounded beyond goofy. I promise I don’t have any other Twilight paraphernalia…no “Team Edward” tees, no “bite me” conversation hearts and definitely nothing with the Cullen family crest. Yes, all of these things exist.

Also worth noting, Rob Pattinson’s Never Think. He’s not only a smoldering vampire, but also an extremely talented musician. That’s actually him playing in the movie! What can I say? I have a type.

Weekly Shuffle

Confession: I paid a lot of money to go see the Jonas Brothers concert in 3D this weekend. You might be judging me, but I loved every minute of it. Sure, their voices may not have changed yet and they all wear really tiny pants, but I think they’re sweet. Plus, we encountered a little bit of the madness while they were filming in Central Park this summer, so we had to check it out. The 3D twist was kind of like doing Disneyland on drugs, but here are my observations:



1) Nick clearly has all the musical talent – drums, guitar, piano and vocals all in the bag.
2) Looks are deceiving; Joe actually does have curly hair like the others, which also confirms suspicions that he has his own personal Chi.
3) Kevin’s role is really more like a band manager; they just give him a guitar and use him as a stage prop.

So let’s talk a little bit about Taylor Swift. I’m not usually the hugest country music fan…but that is completely irrelevant when it comes to her Fearless cd. If you went to high school, you will be able to relate to her. Not to mention she was dumped by the androgynous Jonas Brother and then publicly dissed him on Ellen. I like her. Check out You Belong With Me and be confident that guys don’t know what’s good for them. And I miss having a car because of songs like this – belt it out with Forever & Always, also known as the angry anthem written for Joe. Honestly, the whole cd is amazing…but of course my personal favorite is the slowest on the album, Breathe.

Kristen and I were in Old Navy this weekend (you know, making our usual high-end purchases) and we heard a song that made us both hum along. It was Love Save the Empty by Erin McCarley and it kind of makes me feel like I’m walking in a movie (maybe because it was also featured in He’s Just Not That Into You…?). I had previously downloaded her song Pony (It’s OK) and her album also received Robbie’s stamp of approval. It’s only $7.99 on itunes so take advantage of this recession and get it while it’s cheap!

I can’t stop listening to Gabriella Cilmi’s Sweet About Me! Apparently her cd came out about a year ago, but it’s just now getting some popularity. And if you missed the Grammy’s, you missed a really great performance by Chris Martin and Jay-Z mixing up my favorite Viva La Vida song, Lost+. It reminds me of Central Park in the summer and that makes me happy because it’s still snowing in NYC.

“In your life you’ll do things greater than dating a boy on the football team…I didn’t know that at fifteen.” - Taylor Swift
(It reeks of cheerleading skirts and teen drama, sign me up.)