"Home is wherever there is you..."

I just felt like putting up the Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros performance from the other night when they paid a visit to David Letterman's show. Dynamic, cult-like, and energetic - I find that larger piece bands usually have interesting hair and a front man with a Jesus-like persona. Everyone's been posting the video on the interwebs, and so I thought to join in.

Also, if anyone has the live mp3 of this performance, shoot me an email, as I'd love to have it. It's much better than the album version. I especially appreciate the minor chorus change in the live version to "Home - you are me and I am you" and how smiley the entire band is, to the point where I was mildly creeped out but very intrigued. I applaud the musical genre change up from a former member of Ima Robot.

"Don't make me think before I speak..."

Wade Robson, you magnificent twisted bastard. This is the sickest performance I've seen in a while.



The song that he chose for the piece is called "Hi" by the band Psapp.I particularly enjoy the closing lines of the song:

I know what you're thinking
I know how you see me
Although it hurts
You're probably right.




Psapp - Hi from The Only Thing I Ever Wanted






For all those Grey's Anatomy fans out there, apparently Psapp does the title theme to the show. I wouldn't know as I don't watch it. My medical show preference belongs to Scrubs, but hey, you guys had a one up on me for this one. I wish I'd known about Psapp prior to this very moment. In researching a teeny bit about the duo, Psapp, I discovered that they are part of a genre known as "toytronica" in which all the elements that comprise the music consist of toys and toy instruments.

"In your truth, you buried mine..."

So You Think You Can Dance post!

Milwaukee produced the most number of dancers that I really found myself connecting with thus far.

Kourtni Lind, Evan Kasprzak (the kid who did the Gene Kelly number), and Cooper Zamorano - the Travis Wall duplicate. Although in previous episodes, I found myself really enjoying Thayne Jasperson as well (I suppose these names show that my allegiance this year seems to be with jazz and contemporary dancers). I hope at least those four make it to the top 20.

Personality and fluidity were paramount to me, as well as the precision in the execution of movement.

This is going to be a great season, but thus far, I haven't really been invested in the contestants yet. In previous seasons, I found myself rooting for Donyelle, Benji, Travis, Danny, Lacey, Neil, Nick, etc from the moment they auditioned. I guess you could say that I'm rooting for the above people, and that they're excellent, but in previous years, the aforementioned list of dancers just had that extra something that made them standout from the getgo and you knew they'd be in it til the end. Also, in previous years I've been able to pick the top 2-4 from the first audition day, and I don't see that skill continuing this year.

Travis Wall makes a pretty (albeit somewhat agressive!) girl, lol.

Anyway, the song Kourtni danced to last night was:




Ani DiFranco - Parameters from Knuckle Down








And here's a clip of one of my Top 20 hopefuls - Cooper Zamorano, dancing to a song by Craig Lyons.

Craig Lyons will be an artist to watch. 3 of his songs have found their way into contemporary auditions, and even one partnered dance. He is a singer-songwriter with a guitar focus. The sound is passionate, and slow, but not heavy like Ray LaMontagne's, or softly restrained like Damien Rice. I'd say maybe he's comparable to Matt Nathanson, but Craig Lyon's voice is more well defined and doesn't have that Jason Mrazzy upswing that Nathanson usually does with some of his words and choruses. Obviously, I've been trying to fit Craig Lyons in to some sort of category, and with some sort of name, but labels don't matter. What it comes down to is that he's good. And you should listen to him.

Craig Lyons - In Your Eyes - danced by Cooper Zamorano

"That girl wanna give it up, watch her..."

This past week was chock full of So You Think You Can Dance as both days the program aired 2 hour double episodes. The standout performance for me this past week was that of identical twin brothers, Anthony and Antwain Hart. When Anthony didn't make it due to a performance that underestimated the judge's needs, Antwain went on to deliver an excellent routine and then highlighted his twin's skills during the question period. He even said that he thought his brother was the stronger, cleaner dancer and should be there instead of him. When Nigel asked them to dance together just to see what they were capable of, they really shined, and both later made it to Vegas.

It was a very sentimental moment, but not overly cheesy.

Good job, guys!

They danced their duo routine to:





Twista feat. Pharrell - Give it Up from Adrenaline Rush 2007







And here's Twista's candy colorful video:

"You're a breath of fresh air to me..."

Because I love So You Think You Can Dance so much, every week I'm going to try and put up a song I enjoy that was featured in that week's episode. So You Think You Can Dance makes some great (and some not so great) musical choices, but best of all, reminds me of songs that I've liked in the past and had forgotten about or highlights new songs.

Though she didn't really stand out to me this opening week, someone did audition to The Time is Now by Moloko (aka Roisin Murphy), and I personally think that is an excellent song to use to make a danceable first impression. It transcends the boundaries of pop and has a jazzier funkier twist than most, in addition to having the strange Roisin Murphy influence that is always present. That girl wound up getting a ticket to Vegas.

Moloko - The Time is Now from Things to Make and Do

Another fun song that is featured as part of montages on So You Think You Can Dance is Sonny J's Can't Stop Moving. I think this represents the show quite well in atmosphere, energy, and lyrics.

"I don't want to be your friend, I just want to be your lover. No matter how it ends..."

Radiohead - House of Cards on Late Night With Conan O'Brien


There's no guarantee how long this one video will be up. NBC has a knack for finding and pulling everything related to their shows pretty quickly. I have to give them props for quickly and efficiently protecting what's theirs, even if it's at the cost of other people being unable to enjoy it too.

"In every city there are dozens of these clubs where men can go..."

The Faint was on The Office!! Well, their music was anyway.

I totally squealed when I heard Worked Up (So Sexual) in the background of a scene where Michael (Steve Carrell) is hitting on a woman. And I loved coked out Ryan (BJ Novak).

Refocusing to what I wanted to say, it's constantly fascinating to me when things permeate the mainstream without having reached a saturation point. There's been a higher occurrence lately of more... independent, I'd say, bands in the forefront of the media but it appears to have risen out of nowhere. Months ago I'd mentioned Shiny Toy Guns in a commercial, Mates of State, etc. Lately, I've been noticing Ben Lee, Silversun Pickups, and so on and so forth, have been populating commercials and television show episodes more than say, your Kelly Clarksons or Rihannas. I don't know what to make of it yet, because I'm not a marketing person and don't know the trends as far as exposing people to what they haven't heard and how these things correlate to big business. Nevertheless, it's just fun to recognize snippets of things you enjoy.

Here's a tiny clip of the Faint's Worked Up (So Sexual)

"Don't you worry, I won't bite - not that hard..."

I heart South Park. And I loved Butters singing What What (In the Butt), but I never knew that was a legitimate song!!!

Oh my goodness.

I like Butters' version better than the original. Sorry, Samwell.


Edit: Hopefully this Butters vid will work.

"You are the only road I know..."

Old Navy has been choosing some great music for their ads this year. First, they really propelled the career of Ingrid Michaelson, and now the Lights are featured as background music in their latest ad campaign. I look forward to seeing how that aids them (her?).

Until now, I've never heard anything regarding this band (or singer, as the case may be). If anyone has any pertinent info, feel free to drop me a line and educate my mind.

Lights - Drive My Soul

"Remember we used to dance and everyone wanted to be you and me..."

I've been listening to an odd mix of hip hop, hipster tunes, Dave Matthews, and John Mayer. So might as well toss some here.

"Stay or Leave" has been particularly soothing lately. I enjoy his lyric of "what day is this?" as I am someone who will remember specific dates in relation to events that are memorable to me.




Dave Matthews - Stay or Leave from Some Devil










Also, just to keep up with random musical happenings:
Roisin Murphy's new video was released. You Know Me Better (below)



This past weekend, Vampire Weekend was on SNL. They were fun to watch, however, the episode itself sucked. Anyway, NBC took down the videos of the performance that were on YouTube, so here's A-Punk instead.

"Be my friend. Hold me, wrap me up..."

I finally got around to watching the finale episode of Six Feet Under even though it aired years ago. I've got to say, it's quite a satisfying and emotionally stirring episode. I was really focusing on the Sia song played during the end, I've been a fan of her contributions to Zero 7 and the occasional solo song, but now I really feel more inclined to take a fuller listen into the albums she's released over time (and not just the latest one which is being promoted like whoa in Starbucks and elsewhere).

Anyway, the combination of "Breathe Me" and the finale reminded me of the importance of celebrating life. And while, yes, love continues, it's not always in the way that you think because things in our lives are so utterly transient. The only given is death, so you should live your life in the most authentic and best way possible.




Sia - Breathe Me





And I didn't forget my friend theme! This video is a shout out to Bryn, because she is an amazing, brave, and loyal individual and an all around fantastic friend. So here's a Nelly Furtado video (oddly, I don't think it's one of her best, but whatevs, it's fun).


Nelly Furtado - Do It

"I just wanna know what to do cause I need your love a lot..."

I think for a few days I'm going to do a mini-theme.

A handful of songs will be dedicated to the friends I was blessed enough to spend time with this past weekend: Bryn, Bruce, Dani, Nick, and Alexander (and their friends who popped up as well!)

These songs will include numbers by Cursive, Nelly Furtado, We Are Scientists, Garbage, etc. So keep reading if you like these bands. We'll see what else I decide to put up as well.

Also, for those looking for newer music, fear not! I've fallen behind on my email checking in regards to this blog, but a lot of great bands and PR folk have written in to be listened to, and they will be heard.

So if you have a band or music that you want to share, click the email button and make it happen. :)


Anyway, for now, here's some Boosh love:
The Mighty Boosh - Love Games (acoustic)



Their impromptu back and forth jam towards the end is amazing. I have a growing adoration of Julian Barrat, from his currently asymmetrical hair, to his voice, to the fact that in every interview he never seems like he cares about what he does and is just sorta chillin there being quiet and observant. He could well be my new Colin Firth is all I'm saying.

"I know you in autumn and I must be there..."

I was watching a recorded episode of The Simpsons on my DVR (The Homer of Seville) when I fell in love with the song that Homer was singing in the hospital montage. It sounded familiar and was clearly some Broadway number that I couldn't place.

Turns out, it was "If Ever I Would Leave You" from Camelot. And while some critics (cough cough IGN cough cough) touted Dan Castellaneta's rendition as unimaginative, I thought it was sweet and an appropriate showcase of his personal talent. And it gives the Homer character a romantic depth and soul that is so very appreciated when it is displayed.



Robert Goulet - If Ever I Would Leave You from Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast Recording)



Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) - If Ever I Would Leave You - The Homer of Seville

"Locked up with all of my people..."

The second song that was played on the radio was The Presets' "My People."

After hearing "Are You the One?" on So You Think You Can Dance this past season, I was beyond intrigued. The group's sound fell right into a spectrum of bands I enjoy.

I tend to group them in with Interpol, She Wants Revenge, and The Faint. They are the most similar to the Faint, I believe, because the music has an edge and anger that contributes to its immense danceability. But the vocals are in between Interpol but not quite She Wants Revenge (I suppose this might just be a roundabout way of referring to the staccato deep voiced delivery of lyrics known to Paul Banks and Justin Warfield. Yeah, the Presets fall in line with that). The Presets are a little less post-punk, a lot more electronic, so if that's your scene, then these Australian guys are for you.

When "My People" came on the other night, it felt like it was in direct opposition to Modest Mouse, but both were such distinct entities that the combination of the two by way of intelligent callers really caught my attention.





The Presets - My People









And here's the clip from So You Think You Can Dance that introduced me to the Presets. I'm surprised I hadn't heard them earlier, but oh well. Much like the dance, the band brings the fight.

"And we're changing our ways, taking different roads. Then love, love will tear us apart again..."

Joy Division is one of my favorite 80's bands. Anton Corbijn is my favorite photographer.

Put those two together, and you have what will undoubtedly be an upcoming unforgettable film experience in Control. I think I've mentioned this film before, but I really cannot wait to see it.



The song that they are most famous for has always been very fascinating to me. The idea that love can tear things apart, that something so positive can create a negative? Well, it's very paradoxical is all. Or something intelligent along those lines which I currently cannot use my brain power to expand upon.






Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart from Substance







And what I've always thought was the direct opposition to Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart:" Captain and Tenille's "Love Will Keep Us Together."


So where do I side in the directly contradictory arguments between the Captain and Ian Curtis? I'm not really sure, haha. But they sure are fun to listen to.

"Music is the reason why I know time still exists..."

I have been addicted to So You Think You Can Dance since season one. Needless to say, their hiatus for this week left me with a dance void that needed to be filled. So I hunted out the videos for old performances on YouTube.

Anyway, when it comes to listening to music, I am always mentally choreographing dance routines. Sometimes, I'm lucky enough to see it brought to stage or studio. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the alumni from my dance school on two anniversary routines: a disco set to the Scissor Sister's Paul McCartney and a dance battle to Metric's Dead Disco. It's amazing to see stories emerge through the combination of dance and music. So You Think You Can Dance has been able to weave some amazing narratives, and having heard a lot of the songs before their aired tv episodes, I felt glad to encounter the music on an entirely new level through their artistry.

Annie Lennox - Why. I have nothing original to say about Annie Lennox. She's a legend. She recently announced the title of her forthcoming album, Songs of Mass Destruction, but has yet to issue a release date.
Ivan + Alison Contemporary Performance - Why


Elisa - Dancing. This was an artist I discovered because of the show. Elisa is an Italian singer who has been releasing successful albums overseas for the last decade. Her music has gone double and triple platinum and earned her a lot of awards. She is currently on tour, with date scheduled through the fall in Italy.
Lacey + Kameron - Dancing


Zap Mama - W'happy Mama. Zap Mama makes consistently strong world music (they're a Belgian group who make African music while singing in French and English), having released five albums with the sixthcoming out soon. And Travis' movement in the accompanying video is the epitome of the word "fluid."
Travis + Heidi - W'happy Mama


Here are some other entertaining performances from the show, which airs Wednesdays at 8 and Thursdays at 9 on Fox. Enjoy!

Jesus + Sarah - Cabaret Hoover


Hok + Jamie - The Chairman's Waltz


Benji + Donyelle - You Can't Stop the Beat. Benji always reminds me of Socialite Commentary: sassy, hilarious, and can dance like a winner.

"I can't do this all on my own, no I know, I'm no Superman"

While driving to Scarsdale today, my friends and I had a conversation about our enjoyment of Scrubs and Reno 911. Scrubs effectively uses their background music to hammer home or propel their plot points, so here are a sampling of my favorite songs used on Scrubs.

Colin Hay - Overkill. Colin Hay, of Men at Work fame, was the troubadour that semi-haunted JD in the episode titled after the song. He's the only musician I've noticed to appear on the show (I don't count Clay Aiken as a musician, but if there are others that I'm not remembering, let me know), and he was used cleverly throughout the episode. His music truly mirrored the problems of other characters and, of all the music used on the show, was the most useful device. Colin Hay's solo work is also incredibly well crafted. I think I enjoy it more than the songs he did with Men at Work.



Erasure - A Little Respect. This was used in the season one episode My Best Friend's Mistake. Of all songs to play in the background of an operation, this is a really fun(ny) choice. Erasure's also touring as part of the True Colors tour with Cyndi Lauper, The Gossip, Margaret Cho, etc. Tour schedule and other information can be found here.



Jon McLaughlin - Human from Indiana. Heard in the episode My Conventional Wisdom. It's used when Elliot's wondering if she's making a mistake by marrying Keith. Using the lines "is there any other reason why we stay instead of leaving" really makes the moment intense.






Lazlo Bane - Superman. This is the Scrubs theme song. The soundtrack can be purchased here.






And oh yeah, they did a musical at some point too.