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What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:15:12 -0700

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores. So I take a spin through each week's music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. Here are today's selections:

Dylan's got the blues: Bob Dylan's back with a new album, and I'm ready to dig in. The LA Times writes that the album was inspired by "midcentury Chess and Sun label recordings" with the influence of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf apparent in the tracks. I'm enjoying "Beyond Here Lies Nothin" and "It's All Good."

Let the choir sing: I love the idea of university choirs singing Ben Folds songs. The effect, from what I've heard so far on this new album, totally reminds me of what makes the upcoming Fox show Glee so fun: my favorite pop melodies sung with lots of earnest harmonies. Love it! Maybe a whole album of this could be a bit much, but I'm definitely downloading "Brick." And OMG, "The Luckiest" is so beautiful this way!

One more up next, so read more.

Cool and jazzy: Melody Gardot is a 23-year-old Philadelphia singer-songwriter with one heck of a beautiful voice. Her new album features the orchestration of Vince Mendoza and contains original songs plus a cover of "Over the Rainbow." One reviewer had nothing but nice things to say about this album and praised the singer's "intimate lovestruck and lovelorn lyrics and smoldering, bluesy pipes." Check out the lovely "My One and Only Thrill" and "Who Will Comfort Me" for a taste of what this artist has to offer.

Link Time! 3/17

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:30:01 -0700

Take a break today for St. Patrick's Day with the old trailer for Leprechaun, starring Jennifer Aniston. - Popwatch
Is the American Idol top four already totally fixed? - Vulture
Notes from South by Southwest: Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno footage is 20 minutes of comedic bliss. - Cinematical
The many headbands of Blair Waldorf. - BellaSugar
Brett Simon’s 2008 Sundance hit, Assassination of a High School President, starring Mischa Barton and Bruce Willis, may soon go straight to DVD. - MTV Movies Blog
If you could only choose one hour of TV each day, what would you pick? - Give Me My Remote
Why does this tickle me so much? Ben Folds is compiling an album of college a capella groups covering his songs. - Stereogum
Check out the SciFi Channel's new reality show about gamers: WCG Ultimate Gamer. - geeksugar

Buzz News Roundup, 10/3

BuzzSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:32:35 -0700

Frasier's John Mahoney is joining the cast of Burn Notice. - Entertainment Weekly
Liev Schreiber and Helen Hunt will play a couple in a troubled marriage in the upcoming drama Every Day. - Variety
David Strathairn and Catherine O'Hara are among the new additions to HBO's Temple Grandin film, which already stars Claire Danes. - Hollywood Reporter
Feist is turning her Fall tour into a charity drive. - Pitchfork
AMC is developing a TV series about a human colony on Mars. - TV Guide
Salma Hayek will reportedly guest-star on 30 Rock. - New York Post
Tyler Perry's in trouble with the Writers' Guild for firing four writers. - Variety
Live tracks from Ben Folds' tour will be available almost immediately on iTunes. - Billboard

Source

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:00:25 -0700

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. In addition to the songs and albums below, you can now download the Mad Men soundtrack and Jennifer Hudson's self-titled new album.

Foul-mouthed piano man: I've been patiently waiting for the new Ben Folds album, and so far, it sounds like everything I expected from the weirdo songwriter. A lot of the lyrics are dark in subject matter, and I like the tracks focused on relationships most, including his duet with Regina Spektor, "You Don't Know Me," as well as "Before Cologne" and "Cologne."

Soul singing: I am such a sucker for pretty, romantic, soulful tunes, and James Morrison, a singer from across the pond, delivers just that. Off his new album, I like, "If You Don't Wanna Love Me," "Love is Hard," and "You Make It Real." Maybe it's just the name, but he sort of reminds me of a young Van Morrison.

One more release still to come, so read more!

Folk transformation: When I think of Tom Morello, I think Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, not folk music of the Bob Dylan variety - but that's what he's been up to recently, and his new album is getting great reviews. I like his voice, and the band behind him adds interesting depth. Songs I'm digging include "The Iron Wheel" and the title track, "The Fabled City."

BuzzSugar's Must Haves for September

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:45:53 -0700

All right, September is here! Let the good times roll! I know that sounds awfully cheery given the end of Summer, but from an entertainment perspective, this time of year is exciting. For my must haves this month I chose a book that intrigues me, several albums coming out from some of my favorite artists, a bunch of TV shows that will be out on DVD, and one of the most anticipated movies of the year that's soon to be yours to own! Ready for Fall? Just hit "Start." Source

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What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:30:42 -0700

Not just Beyonce's little sister anymore: I posted the video for Solange Knowles's single "I Decided" a while back and now the entire album is available. This new album blends classic Motown melodies with elements that are little more far-out and groovy. I've already purchased "Would've Been the One" and "Sandcastle Disco." It's only on slower tracks that the album gets weak - the funky tempos, not her voice, make this album shine.

A sparkling duet: Remember when I told you about that really cute duet called "You Don't Know Me" by Regina Spektor and Ben Folds that's from his upcoming album? Well, now it's available on iTunes and remains extremely cute! Hurry up and get it while it's hot!

One more big, anticipated album and a new single up next so read more.

Oldie but a goodie: The members of The Verve have not made an album together for almost a decade, so it's pretty cool for fans that there is now a whole new album full of very Verve-ish songs. The track "Judas" is great and "Love Is Noise" is addictive and wonderful. A pretty great reunion album as far as I can tell!

Politically correct: As the campaign season truly kicks off this week with the Democratic National Convention in Denver, not only do we get to learn more about the candidates' positions but, apparently, we also get great new music. You may have caught John Legend's performance of "If You're Out There" last night, and it's available on iTunes as well. Check out his inspirational tune while reading Citizen and Liberty's coverage of the conventions!

Song of the Day: Ben Folds With Regina Spektor, "You Don't Know Me"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:30:35 -0700

Ben Folds's plucky tune "You Don't Know Me" has that bouncy piano thing that actually reminds me more of Regina Spektor's music than Ben Folds's, so it seems fitting that Spektor would contribute some sweet vocals to the track. "You Don't Know Me" will be on Ben Folds's September album Way to Normal.

I'm really digging this song. No, it's not much like Folds's older stuff, but it's a cute, jaunty departure from the norm, and I can appreciate that. To check out the song for yourself, read more.

Hat tip to Stereogum for finding this video.

Link Time! 8/5

BuzzSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:30:28 -0700

If you're a fan of Sci-Fi's Eureka, TV with MeeVee has an interview with its producer and star.
MTV Movies Blog asks Deepak Chopra why he thinks The Love Guru bombed so dramatically.
TV Filter posits that more TV series should air 13-episode seasons.
Cinematical talks about the Japanese critics who are upset by the nuclear bomb scene in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Spinner has the cool stop-motion video for the Ben Folds track "Hiroshima."
Popwatch asks the important questions: On this, National Underwear Day, what TV and movie scenes do you think of first?
DearSugar examines Nerve.com's list of the 50 sexiest music videos.
If you've got a problem with Batman's voice in The Dark Knight, then Vulture's got a problem with you.

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 5/16

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 16:10:08 -0700

"24" will be back for two more years, says the Hollywood Reporter. Meanwhile, a final verdict on "Veronica Mars" might not come this week after all, writes TV Guide.
No matter what happens to "Veronica," its star Kristen Bell will narrate the new "Gossip Girl" series, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Billboard reports that Ben Folds will headline his own Jamaican cruise, The Ben Folds Experience, leaving from the Port of Miami next February.
According to BBC News, Mischa Barton has joined the cast of St. Trinian's, a 1950s-style comedy also starring Rupert Everett and Colin Firth.
Variety says The Women in Film Foundation has announced the winners of the 2007 Film Finishing Fund who will receive money to complete their film projects.
Weirdly, Michael Buble is atop the Billboard charts - with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, of all people, right behind.
The AP says Beyonce has been nominated for six BET awards.
Mena Suvari will star in an adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's The Garden of Eden, Variety reports.
"House" actually beat "American Idol" in the key 18-49 demographic on Tuesday, Zap2it reports.

Photo courtesy of Fox