BuzzSugar

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:30:52 -0800

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. In addition to my picks below, Lily Allen's new album hits stores today as well. Here are today's selections:

From the folks who brought you "J**z in My Pants": The Lonely Island (TLI), founded by Andy Samberg and friends, has released its first album and includes greatest hits like "Dick In a Box" featuring Justin Timberlake and "Lazy Sunday" featuring Chris Parnell. But there are so many new songs that are equally hysterical and surprisingly catchy. No, seriously - I want to dance to "Boombox", which features Julian Casablancas, lead singer of The Strokes. The collaborations go on and on including: Norah Jones, Jack Black, and T-Pain.

Live + music = good: Live From the Artists Den is a concert series turned television show, where it airs I do not know (see that? Rhyming). They manage to snag some pretty great artists to perform in some cool venues and now there's a CD compilation of these live performances. The artists on this particular volume include The Hold Steady performing "Sequestered in Memphis," Ani DiFranco performing "Present/Infact," and Aimee Mann performing "31 Today." The sound quality is fantastic! I highly recommend the download.

It's a great day for music. Two more exciting picks up next so read more!

Gone solo: Man oh man, do I enjoy Black Keys, so I've been patiently waiting for Dan Auerbach's solo venture to come out and I'm happy to report that so far I like it. His voice sounds great and each of the bluesy tunes has a little dusting of psychedelia. His sexy electric guitar is something I could listen to all day long. Check out "Whispered Words" and a very beautiful and sparse song titled "When the Night Comes."

Queen of hearts: Aw, India Arie. Sometimes her lyrics are a little (hmm, how to put this. . .) obvious, I guess, but I still can't resist her empowering music. Listening to an album of hers makes me feel like I'm starring in my own reality show and the opening credits are rolling. But anyway, check out the uplifting track "Therapy", and the very pretty "Long Goodbye".

Album Review: The Sex and the City Movie Soundtrack

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:30:00 -0700

I was lucky enough to take an advance spin of the new soundtrack for the Sex and the City movie and I immediately thought of good times with girlfriends. In aggregate, it's not entirely a get-up-and-shake-your-booty kind of mix, but just a cool bunch of songs about love and friendship. I think it would be quite perfect for the background music at a hip wedding shower actually.

The soundtrack is packed with a bunch of recognizable names, like Jennifer Hudson, whose tune "All Dressed in Love" is a cute, uptempo disco anthem that reminds me of the exuberance found in "It's Raining Men." Morningwood's (ha! That name!) "New York Girls" is not my favorite, and if I were in charge of finding a good retro-rock vibe for the album (or the movie) I would have gone with Franz Ferdinand or even the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. That and the smooth techno beats in "I Like the Way" by Kaskade are the kinds of tracks mixed between better songs that give the whole thing the "background music" vibe I'm talking about.

To check out who else is included and the rest of my thoughts, read more.

I love The Weepies' sweet little "All This Beauty," as well as the lovely and intimate cover of "How Deep Is Your Love" by The Bird & The Bee. And I'm always glad when Jem shows up on soundtracks, as she tends to do (The O.C., Six Feet Under) and her song "It's Amazing" fits right in with the rest. As does India Arie's cover of "Heart of the Matter" (featured in the trailer) which is a pleasant take on Don Henley's hit.

One song that sticks out like a sore thumb is Fergie's "Labels Or Love," which thankfully comes first so you can skip over it and not worry about it randomly rearing its ridiculous head in the middle of an otherwise great album. It's just a little too Fergalicious for my taste and makes me feel like I've accidentally wandered into an Abercrombie & Fitch store at the mall. Finally, there are some oldies but goodies in there that I thought were interesting, like the Run-D.M.C. and Areosmith duet "Walk This Way" and a nice Joss Stone-Al Green duet of the classic "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" (uh-oh! Foreshadowing?).

The album will be released on May 27.

Buzz News Roundup, 3/12

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:30:43 -0700

Two more have joined the cast of My Sister's Keeper: Jason Patric will play the girls' father and Thomas Dekker (formerly Zach on Heroes) will play "the older sister's boyfriend and a fellow cancer survivor," writes Hollywood Reporter.
Online video service Hulu is now open to the public, USA Today reports.
ComingSoon has the news that five more actors have joined the cast of the Shopaholic movie, including John Lithgow and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Since Janet Jackson has the flu, Mariah Carey will appear on this weekend's Saturday Night Live, the Associated Press reports.
Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz is writing an animated version of the Australian comedy Sit Down, Shut Up for Fox, writes Zap2It.
According to Billboard, Goldfrapp, Kate Nash and several others have joined the lineup for this year's Coachella festival.
The Gossip Girl Q&A from the upcoming Paley Festival will be webcast live on March 22, TV Guide reports.
Billboard reports that India.Arie will star in a Broadway show produced by Whoopi Goldberg.

Source and source