Thursday, May 12, 2011

The Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues

The Fleet Foxes' Helplessness Blues is a definite must for your 2011 album collection. The songs are so well written. The music is beautiful, soothing and catchy. You'll sing a long to these songs around the camp fire, while washing your car, stuck in traffic, in the shower and so it goes.

I was lucky enough to see the FF or the Fleet Foxies, if you will, live at the Hollywood Palladium over the weekend, thanks again to Sub Pop Records. I was in VIP with Danny Devito, his wife and some friends, a lot of older men with skinny, tall super model types and some extremely hyper teenagers. I had a blast. Everyone was standing, shacking their booties and singing a long with Robyn and his crew of beard rocker, flannel and sweater wearing band mates.

The Fleet Foxes are RAD and Helplessness Blues is a significant reminder to each of us that there are talented musicians who can write their own lyrics and music in the world. Great work Fleet Foxes.

Thanks again to Sub Pop Records for signing great bands and sharing them with me.
For more info on the Fleet Foxes and Sub Pop click here: http://www.subpop.com/artists/fleet_foxes


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

J Mascis




















This is J Mascis latest Album.
It's extremely mellow, chill and low key. He's an amazing musician and I was lucky enough to see him live at the Echo in L.A. over the weekend.

Thanks again to Sub Pop Records

The show opened with The Black Heart Procession who are very haunting. A two man show with unique, powerful, eerie songs. It's the first time hearing them. I'll own their albums, but I'll probably never see them live again, it was way mellow and there is no seating at the Echo and I really wanted to take a nap and have nightmares of ghosts from the 18th century chasing me to the ballads playing.

Finally J took the stage and he was awesome. He plays the guitar and sings so uniquely. I'm surprised by this album, I'm used the Dinosaur Jr J, not this J. This J is full of melodies, poetry and soft well written songs.

The album is relaxing and enjoyable. The show was kick ass. J Mascis is Rad.
Be sure to check out Sub Pop's website for tour dates and release dates from all their cool ass bands.

I love you Sub Pop!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Fast Five

Hello eye candy, Rio, Portuguese, muscles and muscle cars.

Fast Five is one of 2011's biggest box office successes and I am one of the many who saw this film opening weekend.

Why did I see it, you ask? The Rock and Vin Diesel, of course. I'm a huge fan of these buff, multi mixed culture, not so great actor, actors. The Rock, also know as Dwayne Johnson, has some tasty one liners, as does Vin.
Vin next to the Rock is an academy award winner but both guys are perfect for their roles and make the film great.

Fast Five mostly takes place in beautiful Rio De Janeiro, the city of hot men and women, and displays the city's hotties perfectly. Can you say "Ass Cheeks"? Oh yes and plenty of sexy bodies all over the screen, not to mention, incredible cars and stunts.

The Fast and the Furious franchise is successful because it knows it's audience and doesn't pretend to be pretentious. The FF franchise audience wants hot chicks, hot guys, the least amount of dialogue, the least amount of intelligent dialogue, car chases, car races, car crashes. Add a touch of elaborate criminal activity using cars and some moron law enforcement for conflict and you're golden.

so, if you are into the above then Fast Five is for you. Oh, and stay for the credits, there are some pleasant surprises and because the movie grossed $83.3M opening weekend we can expect Fast Six! Sweet!

This film is RAD and you should see it.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

THATH



























This is The Head and the Heart, an indie band that will make you smile, sing and dance, all at the same time. (and you don't even have to be wasted)

THATH recently signed with Sub Pop in Seattle after a self released album reached number one on local Seattle record shops top 10 charts.

Sub Pop was generous enough to let me review the bands latest self titled album. I opened my cd, popped it in the cd player in my car and the rest is, as they say, history. There are 10 catchy, harmonized, eclectic songs for your listening pleasure. My favorite is Ghosts, but I really, really, really dig this album as a whole.

Sub Pop also sent me to the bands Los Angeles show at Troubadour last week and I couldn't believe how excellent they are live. They engaged the audience and sang their hearts out to us. I shook my booty off with the people around me, including dudes. It's amazing to see a show with so many talented musicians, their instruments, voices and unique styles on one stage singing jammin songs together. THAT was the best live show to start off my summer of 2011 in Los Angeles.

This band is RAD and the Album is Radical. Get it and see them live when they come to your city.

Thank you Sub Pop Records for signing indie bands and letting me listen to their albums and see their shows. Check out all of Sub Pops bands here: http://www.subpop.com/ You won't regret it.



Wednesday, April 20, 2011

SCRE4M

10 years later I am happy to say I love SCREAM 4. I will admit I was surprised. I went in very excited that Nev, Courtney and David came back for the 4th, but I didn't expect much beyond seeing them again.
The new cast turned out be so fun, well written characters. Can we get a shout out for Mary McDonnell? She's the mom in Donnie Darko and the love interest in Dances with Wolves,( "Tatonka") and she made her way in to this cast list.

It's more of a comedy than a horror film however, I jumped at least 5 times and blurted out "oh, shit" 2 or 3 times.
I mean, have you ever seen the mail slot on your front door used for a killing by a psycho before? It's amazing.
The dialogue is timely, intelligent and hilarious.

SCREAM 4 is RAD. See it.

Check out the trailer here: