4 posts tagged “tom waits”

Scarlett Johansson - Last Goodbye Scarlett Johansson Aw, it's that most dreadful time of the year: V-Day. According to the box office numbers, the all-star rom-com (romantic comedy) He’s Just Not That Into You is the number one film last week with $27.8 Million dollars. Warner Brothers did a smart move and also released Friday the 13th yesterday - for the guys, as looking at the demographic for Into You, you can see it's an outstanding 80% women. I haven't seen either films, but I do have the soundtrack to talk about. The soundtrack has a mix of well-established alternative rock artists like The Human League, Talking Heads, R.E.M., The Cure, The Replacements, etc and modern/current bands. While I can't stress enough, the soundtrack, like the movie, has an all-star music cast - doing its best to keep the music genre in that pop/alternative area. I sometime think that the old songs are meant for the older audiences, while trying to keep fresh with the hip young kids with songs by more modern bands. For instance, young fans will probably be drawn to Lily Allen's "Smile" song (which was the first single from her acclaimed Alright, Still), with its message about about her depression over her first breakup. Or check out The Ting Tings' "Fruit Machine", with Katie White's girlish yip-yip yell. No idea what a Fruit Machine is, but I suspect it's one of those Vegas slot machine with the three cherries. I'm sure the young kids can tell you what it is. The Cure - Friday I'm in Love 1 comment As for the older crowd, I'm sure you all know The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love". You can fit this song in any romantic movie, but I have to tell you that hardcore Cure fans will never admit this was a Cure song. I mean, listen to it, it's their most happiest, poppiest song. I also dig the Maroon 5 song, "If I Never See Your Face Again". It's a little too funky and upbeat for its 'hateful' song title. A little interesting trivia about the song, it was co-written appropriately by James Valentine. It looks like the other stand-out single that Warner Brothers want people to check out is Erin McCarley's "Love, Save the Empty" with its unforgettable piano intro. You can watch the video on the official website. Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head Most people who looked over this soundtrack immediately was drawn to Scarlett Johansson's song. "When did she start singing?" they would ask. When I tried to explain to them that she actually released an all-Tom Waits cover album called Anywhere I Lay My Head last year, they couldn't believe it. This time around, she covered the Jeff Buckley song, "Last Goodbye". While I won't compare the two songs, I think Johansson's version, with the blonde beauty singing over a jazz-ish piano, definitely is in frame with the rest of the movie. Scarlett Johansson - Last Goodbye (excerpt) If you've seen the movie, you will definitely want this soundtrack as a companion to remind you of the movie. He’s Just Not That Into You is currently in theaters now, the soundtrack is available at most stores - noticeably at Deep Discount ($12), Amazon ($12), and Best Buy ($14).

 02/14/2009 12:54:58 ♥ vu () ♥ hesjustnotthatintoyoumovie.com 

 07/04/2008 15:14:50  ♥ written by vu ()

Today is July 4^th, America's Independence Day. I have put together a collection of Americana/Roots music as theme. Some artists are not strictly in this genre, and to group them together might be unfair, so I suggest if you like what you read and hear, find out more about them on their respective websites.

Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark

Bruce Springsteen

6 comments

Of course, when you think of "America", the one name that really comes to mind is Bruce Springsteen. Since 1973, "The Boss" have been representing the everyman with his American heartland rock music. He's probably best known for his album (and song), "Born in the U.S.A." at the height of his popularity in 1984.

The album tied for "Most Top 10 Songs from One Album" award, alongside Michael Jackson's Thriller and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, with - count 'em - seven songs: "Dancing in the Dark" , "Cover Me" , "Born in the U.S.A." , "I'm on Fire" , "Glory Days", "I'm Goin' Down" and "My Hometown".

With an amazing string of hit songs, it's actually not surprising that find out that Springsteen's albums consistantly hit #1 on the Billboard charts, with eight #1 albums: The River (1980), Born in the U.S.A. (1984), Live/1975-85 (1986), Tunnel of Love (1987), Greatest Hits (1995), The Rising (2002), Devils & Dust (2005), and Magic (2007). With the exception of Jay-Z, all of the chart-toppers are no longer around (The Beatles, Elvis, and The Rolling Stones), so this is a pretty amazing feat for an all-American New Jersey boy.

By the way, I have never seen Springsteen live, but from watching SNL and reading about it, I get the impression that The Boss and the E Street Band plays an amazing, live show, full of blood, sweat, and tear.

CORY CHISEL thewanderingsons.com ♥ myspace.com Cory Chisel - Home In The Woods 1 comment The EP I have here is called Cabin Ghosts, and it's listed simply as "Cory Chisel", but I believe the full, and correct, name should be listed as "Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons". There is also no cover art with the EP, so please note that the art that I used to represent them here is not the final CD cover. I tried looking up when the CD will be release, but I couldn't find any details of the details. I am assuming it will be release sometime in 2008 and/or only sold on tour. Listening to the EP, it sounds to me to be very Springsteenesque, especially when Chisel sings out, "The thunder roll, its angry heart, across my shoulders in the dark, maybe I'm losing ground" on "See It My Way". I am also guessing that the EP was recorded live as there's clapping from the audience inbetween the songs, but on some songs, the audio sounds too perfect (you can clearly hear everything, from backup singers to the quiet acoustic guitar). The song I was asked to use is "Home In The Woods", which I can understand as its lyrics and theme is about wanting to escape from the city and live in an isolated cabin in the woods - perfect for an EP called Cabin Ghosts. They are currently on tour with Joshua James. See tour information below. Jul 16 - The Intersection - Grand Rapids, Michigan July 17 - Club Cafe - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania July 18 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis, Indiana July 19 - Beat Kitchen - Chicago, Illinois July 20 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, Michigan July 22 - Shank Hal - Milwaukee, Wisconsin July 23 - Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, Minnesota July 24 - Waiting Room - Omaha, Nebraska July 25 - The Record Bar - Kansas City, Missouri July 30 - Toad Tavern - Denver, Colorado July 31 - Belly Up - Aspen, Colorado Aug 1 - Club Sound - Salt Lake City, Utah Aug 3 - The Triple Door - Seattle, Washington Aug 4 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, Oregon Aug 5 - Boardwalk - Orangevale, California Aug 6 - Hotel Utah Saloon - San Francisco, California Aug 8 - Casbah - San Diego, California Aug 9 - Hotel Cafe - Los Angeles, California Aug 10 - Rhythm Room - Phoenix, Arizona Aug 15 - Lawrence Memorial Chape - Appleton, Wisconsin Sep 13 - Red Rocks Amphitheater - Morrison, Colorado Nov 26 - New American Theater - Rockford, Illinois

SAMMY WALKER ramseurrecords.net ♥ myspace.com Sammy Walker - Another Sad Song About You 1 comment Sammy Walker is a folk/country singer/songwriter from Georgia (but I think currently in North Carolina?), was briefly popular from 1975 to 1977, with two of the albums on major label, Warner Brothers. It would seem he went into early retirement until 1994 with Old Time Southern Dream. Now, after 14 years since that release, he is back now with Misfit Scarecrow to be released on July 22nd on Ramseur Records. Walker has a very distinctive, southern, and clear, but aging, voice. Some of the melodies and lyrics really made me think of Bob Dylan. Since I don't have Walker's earlier works, I can only imagine what his earlier works might sound just like early Dylan. Walker's songs all tells little timeless stories, all told through the eyes of the protagonist. Sometime that person might be a corpse ("Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone") or a scarecrow ("Misfit Scarecrow") or a farmer ("Proud and Poor"), but they all tell epic tales. I really enjoyed "Another Sad Song About You", a song about running into someone from the past. It goes into great detail describing someone leaning on a lamp post: "a blue scarf around your neck, and a silver charm across your heart". Despite a timeless feel to the song, I did enjoy the modern references, in such lines like: "I heard about your brother, when the Twin Towers came crashing down." The country/blues song, "Someday I'm Gonna Rock and Roll", ends the album with a humourous tone. I get the impression that the song is really about Walker, himself. He must get a lot of people telling him he should do rock and roll, but he scoffs at it. If you want to make it today, You're gonna have to rock and roll If you want the big money You're gonna have to rock and roll I guess even old Jimmie Rodgers Would've even had to sell a piece of his soul Had to sell a piece of his soul. In case you were wondering why that line is so funny, it's because Rodgers is often considered as the father of country music.

FISKUM fiskum.com ♥ myspace.com Fiskum - Tom Wait's Bar and Grill Fiskum is actually from Minneapolis, and his album, Darkness/Fire/Dancing was released late last year. The first time I heard "Tom Waits' Bar And Grill", I thought of Harry Chapin's "Taxi", especially when he sings "and she says 'hi, how'd you been? I saw your call, I stopped on in'". With the title, you can tell that he is giving a little nod to Tom Waits, and, like Waits, paints a story about a chance encounter with an old close friend at a bar & grill. I later read Fiskum got the idea for the song from a short conversation with someone trying to "explain to his new girlfriend why he was seen hanging with his old flame." He wrote notes for each of his song on his music page, and this is for "Tom Waits' Bar & Grill": Northeast Minneapolis has dozens of neighborhood taverns where locals gather after work for a beer, for burgers, and maybe a game of billiards or darts. Places where softball teams hang out after the game. I used to frequent these bars often, and I visualize one of them – Tommy’s Bar–as the setting for this song. Its about a man who is torn between his old flame and his new girlfriend. There is a surprise at the end of the album, it's another version of "Winter Moon". The song looks like a live recording, and it's sung entirely in Welsh by an uncredited woman. You can find Darkness/Fire/Dancing at your usual location on Amazon and iTunes.

JOSEPH ARTHUR josepharthur.com ♥ myspace.com Joseph Arthur - Slow Me Down 1 comment Peter Gabriel saw something in Joseph Arthur, because he signed Arthur on his record label, Real World. Although he's no longer on Real World, he's releasing a ton of material on his own record label, Lonely Astronaught. Already this year alone these are the EPs that's already released: Could We Survive (Mar 2008), Crazy Rain (Apr 2008), Vagabond Skies (Jun 2008), and Foreign Girls (July 2008). At the rate he's going, he'll probably have three or four EPs released before his album, Temporary People comes out September 16th, 2008. I actually have only two of the EPs, Could We Survive, which seems to have a (anti?) war theme, and his latest, Vagabond Skies. There's something perfectly folk and pop on the lead song, "Slow Me Down", that you should check out. As you can hear on that song, it's not completely traditional folk. Such beat/loop machine can be found in the background of "Pretty Good Company" and "Second Sight". It's also nice to hear Joan Wasser (violins) doing some backup vocals on some songs, I hope she participate more in the upcoming album. I like what he's doing, bundling his limited art prints if you buy two EPs ($20). This is good for hardcore fans to collect his art, while at the same time give the second EP as a gift of music to their friends and family.

PS, this article took very long to write. There may be a part two later tonight.

Links: www.weheartmusic.com

 05/08/2008 04:00:02  ♥ written by vu ()

Music is Good (5-7-2008) NEVER GET OUT OF THIS David Yazbek And His Warmest Regards Links Philanastasia http://weheartmus... I have here The Outfit Movement Vol 1 by Philanastasia (official/myspace), a New York-based unde... David Yazbek http://weheartmus... David Yazbek is not only a Tony award nominee for musicals like The Full Monty and Dirty Rotten S...

Okay, so these were all going to be different articles was actually meant to go live on May 6^th to today, but you know how it is when things don't go exactly according to plan.

I'm actually feeling a little under the weather (coughing/horrible throat issues and too much mucus build up). I just feel incredibly miserable right now.

Item #1: Christopher's Rollo Armstrong article is featured on vox.com/music - but the real conspiracy is that doesn't feature any The Crimea.

David Yazbek - We Heart Music Promo 1 comment Phil Anastasia - We Heart Music Drop Phil Anastasia - Simon Says 1 comment

Item #2: One of the PR company that sends us music to review did some promo for us and among the 20 tracks, these are my favorite: Phil Anastasia and David Yazbek, only because they really deviate from the standard "you're listening to We Heart Music" script that they were probably given. Phil Anastasia especially cracked me up and I had to play that back a few times when I first heard it.

I do have a note I wanted to mention about Yazbek, I was shopping at Cheapo Records in Uptown. Yes, I still buy CDs, although I have to admit, often used. Anyway, I was in the very end of the Jazz area when I happened to see that distinctive Evil Monkey Man cover! I had to smile to myself as if there was some kind of inside joke with the punchline of "I saw you on W♥M, dude".

Item #3: By the way, speaking of Jazz, one of my favorite shows that I listen to is NPR's Jazz Profiles, which I get as a podcast.

This is such a great program. It's often very detailed, and in fact, the last episode I listened to on Charles Mingus was so long and rich with interviews and history that it was split up in two parts.

Even if you don't love Jazz, I think you'll enjoy listening to host Nancy Wilson as she takes you on a journey of some of American's famous (and not-so-famous) Jazz musicians.

Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance Lykke Li 5 comments Lykke Li Tour Dates 05/08/08 New York, @ Bowery Ballroom 05/09/08 Boston, MA @ Middle East 05/10/08 Montreal, QUE @ Lambi 05/11/08 Toronto, ON @ Mod Club 05/12/08 Chicago, IL @ Shuba’s 05/14/08 Vancouver, BC @ Red Room 05/15/08 Seattle, WA @ Triple Door 05/16/08 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir 05/18/08 San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 05/19/08 Los Ang, CA @ El Rey Theatre 05/31/08 Siesta Hässleholm 06/01/08 Blue Flowers London 06/02/08 Night & Day Manchester 06/03/08 Hi-Fi Club Leeds 06/04/08 Cargo London 06/06/08 Albert Brighton 06/07/08 Stealth Nottingham 06/08/08 King Tuts Glasgow 06/10/08 Jericho Tavern Oxford 06/11/08 ICA w/ El Perro del Mar London 06/12/08 Sugar Club Dublin 06/14/08 Hultsfred Festival Hultsfred 07/03/08 Quart Festival Norway 07/04/08 Arvika Festivalen Arvika 07/05/08 Roskilde Festival Roskilde 07/06/08 Eurockeennes Festival Belfort 07/31/08 Storsjöyran Ostersund 08/07/08 Öya Festival Oslo 08/08/08 Haldern Festival Lower Rhine 08/09/08 Way Out West Göteborg 09/05/08 Bestival Isle Of Wight

Item #4: Lykke Li releases Little Bit EP on said Tuesday, and Buster called her album, Youth Novels:

Pretty much flawless. With a perfect balance of catchy sweet pop tunes, and depressing slow jams, it's going to be one of the best albums of 2008... if not the best.

Those are some pretty bold words.

Now, I actually listened to just one of her b-side, "Dance Dance Dance", and I'll have to say that it's actually pretty good. She has a very sweet voice, a little bit creepy, and I'm even going to refrain myself from saying "me lykke".

She's currently on tour with fellow Swedes, Anna Ternheim (read more) and headliner, El Perro Del Mar, who we've previously mentioned, many, many, times, throughout the US.

Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head

Item #5: Okay, I'm not even sure why this fascinate me, but apparently hot girl Scarlett Johansson has an album coming out called Anywhere I Lay My Head on May 20^th. What probably saves her is that they're all Tom Waits cover songs!

There's not really too much I can add to this, except that I remember the first time I saw Johansson on Dan Clowes's "Ghost World", I thought she was going to go places. By the time "Lost in Translation" came out, she was already a star.

I don't know, maybe I see her differently now, but now I just group Johansson with other popstars and I can't really take her seriously.

That's all I can muster up, I'm heading back to bed now. Goodnight and thank you.

Links: www.lykkeli.com

Ross Mitchell his Band And Singers - It's All Right With Me (Quickstep)

Ross Mitchell his Band And Singers

When I first saw this cover artwork for Ross Mitchell, His Band And Singers, I knew I wanted to talk about him. Just looking at that cover makes me laugh!

And seriously, who names their album Sweet Beat????!!??

So anyway, he's been in music since he was 15, leaving school behind to join The Nat Allan Band as a drummer. He recorded for EMI and Vogue recording in various groups (The Nocturnes, The Track, Crème Caramel, etc) and eventually formed Ross Mitchell, His Band And Singers.

They mostly cover songs into dance-room numbers. For instance, "Love Potion No 9" was changed to Cha Cha Cha.

Tom Waits - It's All Right with Me

3 comments

There's so many good numbers on this record, but I think I'm going to stick to Cole Porter's "It's All Right With Me" was changed to a Quickstep dance song.

If you're into ballroom dancing, the good news is that checking his concert appearances, he's very busy throughout 2008. Unfortunately, they all look like very fancy-pants events.

As a special bonus, I'm including Tom Waits' crazy version of "It's All Right With Me".

 12/30/2007 02:14:40  vu my♥posts www.rossmitchellband.com