Lighting Strikes

I was just introduced to this next artist by none other than Rolling Stone magazine. Yes, every now and then they actually talk about music. Liam Finn is the son of Crowded House singer Neil Finn and his own debut album I'll Be Lightning is due out in January '08. He recorded the record in his homeland of New Zealand entirely in analog at his father's studio and it sounds fantastic. The few tracks I've picked up make me really hopeful for the rest of the album. Give a listen to the tracks I have featured below then check out his sites for more info and tunes. Enjoy.

From I'll Be Lightning:

Second Chance

Fire in Your Belly

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Visit Liam's

Myspace

Official Site

Sweet Tooth

It's been a while since I made a mix of goodies and this is a veritable grab bag. Pop gets a really bad name these days and I'd like to do my part to put and end to the stigma. These songs are sweet and delicious and bubble gum free. Enjoy.



PopRocks

1. My Party (Kenna & Chad Hugo Remix) - Kings of Leon (Purchase Because of the Time)*

Neptunes' other half and Kenna team up to teach these good ol' boys to dance.
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2. Handle Me (Bjorn Remix) - Robyn (Purchase Robyn)*

Like a lolly pop that's fallen on the dirty floor. What!? It's still good, 3 second rule!!!

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3. Fleur de Saison - Émilie Simon (Purchase The Flower Book)

French pop is so hot! So what if she's singing about a flower!

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4. Australia (Peter Bjorn & John Remix) - The Shins (Purchase Wincing the Night Away)*

The album version's sullen, dissonant twin.

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5. The Underdog - Spoon (Purchase Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga)

Horn blowing, hand clapping, tamborine shaking goodness.)

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6. I Feel it All - Feist (Purchase The Reminder)

Feist is a bit over exposed at the moment... and I can't think of anyone more deserving. Let the world know of her brilliance!

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7. Simple X - Andrew Bird (Purchase Armchair Apocrypha)

I don't remember which blog I read it in, but someone once described this song as sounding like "...a Radiohead B-side... in the best possible way." Well said, sir or madame!

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8. Consolation Prizes - Phoenix (Purchase It's Never Been Like That)

I've been meaning to share this track for some time now. This seems as good a time as any. Let the hip shaking commence!

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9. Lake Michigan - Rogue Wave (Purchase Asleep at Heaven's Gate)

I've been there once. This song is way better than that visit.

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10. The Prayer - KT Tunstall (Purchase Drastic Fantastic)**

Possibly better than the original by Bloc Party. Recorded for Radio One Live Lounge. Duh!

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11. Buttons - Sia (Purchase Day Too Soon)

No, this is not a Pussycat Dolls Cover. Shame on you! Oddly enough, reminds me of "They Don't Know" by Tracey Ullman. Not sure where that's coming from.

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12. La La La - The Bird and The Bee (Purchase The Bird and The Bee)

Daydream pop at it's very best!

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13. Foundations - Kate Nash (Purchase Made of Bricks)

She's not even trying to hide her cockney accent and it's all the better for it! The line "You say I must eat so many lemons, 'cause I am so bitter" wouldn't work any other way!

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14. Breakin' Up - Rilo Kiley (Purchase Under the Blacklight)

If the video for this doesn't take place at a Roller Rink I will be sadly dissapointed!

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Download the entire Pop Rocks Mix and a .zip file HERE.


* This is a remix and doesn't appear on the studio album.
**This track was recorded live and is not available for purchase.

Leave it to Lerche

I have yet to see the film "Dan in Real Life" as it is clearly a "rent", but I did pick up the soundtrack when I heard my favorite Norwegian pop folkie was at the helm. Yes, friends, Sondre Lerche has done it again. He's produced a fantastic feel good pop album that skips along with tones fresh from another time. Much of it sounds like a throwback to a 50's television show. Like when families ate dinner at the table without the TV on. Notable tracks include the retro pastiche "Hell No" a duet with indie it-girl Regina Spektor and the playful "To be Surprised." My favorite track is Lerche's cover of the Pete Townshend hit "Let my Love Open the Door" the original of which is featured in the trailer for the film. I forgot just how much I enjoy this song. I also remember (and am not too proud to admit) that until a few years ago I thought he was singing "it might have opened the door." What!? I was young! And song lyrics don't always need to make sense! Anyway, check out these tracks from the soundtrack, go pick it up and love it! That's right! You do what the hand says! Enjoy.




From the Dan in Real Life Original Soundtrack:
(Purchase from Amazon ; iTunes)

Sondre Lerche - To be Surprised

Sondre Lerche - Let my Love Open the Door

Also have a go at the 80's pop goodness that was Townshend's original and another, very "margaritaville" cover by M. Ward.



From Empty Glass:
(Purchase from Amazon ; iTunes)

Pete Towneshend - Let My Love Open the Door



From The Starbucks Compilation Sweetheart.
(Purchase Hear Music Stuff Here)

M. Ward - Let My Love Open the Door

iamsam.

I was cruisin' the interweb the other day (like ya do) when I came across this next artist. Much thanks goes out to my boy Drew (he doesn't know he's my boy, by that's really not the point here.) at linesthroughlines for introducing me to Sam Amidon. Drew posted a song called "Saro" as a listening assignment and I dutifully went to work. The song is absolutely breathtaking. I cannot begin to describe how it makes me feel. It's like finding a letter written about a great love from another time. It warms me like a shot of whiskey. Makes me hopeful. "Saro" is on his forthcoming album All is Well due out in February 2008, I cannot wait to listen to the whole album. The few tracks I've managed to round up have been like discovering buried treasure. If these tracks are any indication, February cannot come soon enough. Enjoy.



From the forthcoming album All is Well:
(Preorder from Amazon)

Saro (this song is AMAZING!)

Little Johnny Brown (Fan-bloody-tastic)




From the 2007 Release But This Chicken Proved False Hearted:
(Purchase from Amazon ; iTunes)

Tribulation

Check out more of Sam here

Official Website

Myspace

Brought to You By The Letter "B" and The Number 25.

I had a great time this weekend celebrating my girl Lisa/Bethy's 25th birthday in Vegas but I am so thankful to be home and sleeping in my own bed again. Three days and two nights (on a terrible hotel mattress) were just enough to leave me with found memories and still a yearning for the comforts of home.

While in transit I was doing a crossword puzzle with the aid of my lovely travel companion and one of the clues was "Funny Chevy." Of course there could be no other answer than Mr. Chevy Chase. The first thing I thought of with the mention of his name was not of the many movies he's been in but of a music video he starred in with Paul Simon. This video for "You Can Call Me Al" came out when I was a child, long before I knew of who Paul Simon was and I remember thinking that Chevy himself was the actual singer because he lip syncs throughout. It wasn't until I started asking my mother questions about the wonderful music she was listening to that I came to know the greatness that was Simon and Garfunkle and Paul Simon himself.

It goes without saying that as soon as I got home I listened to the song and went looking to youtube to show me the video I only vaguely recall. It was even better than I remembered! Like watching a Looney Tunes cartoon for the first time as an adult and finally understanding the jokes beyond exploding TNT. Upon watching more closely to the beginning of the video I noticed that Paul begins to lip sync along to the track only to be cut off by Chevy who steals the show right out from under him. Leaving Paul to be relegated to the background vocals. Brilliant! I also never noticed that after Chevy drinks his water he goes to place it on what looks like a table to his left, only it's a drum stand and the glass of water falls straight to the ground below. This happens again with the flute. Hi-liarious!!!

I've posted the video below for your (and my) viewing pleasure and I've also included the song that began it all. While I was looking for more info on the song (like I do) I came across a cover that Jens Lekman did for a swedish radio set. Lekman retools this into a gorgeous acoustic diddy, leaving out the chorus while keeping the instantly recognizable sound of the horns transformed into gentle guitar strums. Enjoy.



Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al

Jens Lekman - You Can Call Me Al


Speaking of Lekman, I think some acknowledgment is due to the half Japanese girl without whom this post would not be possible. Happy Birthday Lisa/Bethy!!!


Jens Lekman - Happy Birthday, Dear Friend Lisa

and just because I can, really,

The Simpsons (Feat. "Michael Jackson") - Lisa, It's Your Birthday