BuzzSugar

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 08:00:25 PST

I never thought I'd get K-Fed and Oprah into the same sentence but I think I just did it.
The DGA brought a glimmer of hope to a bleak strike landscape but networks are still bracing themselves for the fallout with more reality series. Still, new scripted programing is making its way to the airwaves and we're hanging in there with shows like Cashmere Mafia to ride this out.
I'm so excited to go to Sundance this year! Check out the festival films I've been highlighting this week.
You told me the movie you were most likely to see this weekend and I told you neither Cloverfield nor 27 Dresses will disappoint. Not in the mood for either? Perhaps it's a good weekend to tackle that waitflix queue of yours.
Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward will make music together once again and I wanted to know what you think of Sia's Gimme More cover. I'm warming to Freddy and the Dials, however it was the Magnetic Fields that made my week.
We know Hayden can do cheerleader but can you imagine her battling vampires? That's right - I'm recasting Buffy!
I'm still getting over the anti-climactic Golden Globe ceremony but thankfully SAG is on the way to fill the void. Get started picking the winners and win a year of Netflix!

Getting Into: The Magnetic Fields

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:31:43 PST

Today, the Magnetic Fields - the quirky pop band fronted by the deep-voiced Stephin Merritt - release Distortion, the band's first album in four years. It's already garnering positive reviews, and so in its honor, I thought I'd suggest a way to navigate through the band's nearly two-decade career. While there are lots of good starting points, here's my guide to Getting Into the Magnetic Fields.

Beginner: The Charm of the Highway Strip and i

These are two fairly different albums, as Magnetic Fields releases go: One, 1994's Charm of the Highway Strip, is heavy with synthesizers, while 2004's i is mostly acoustic. But they're both good introductions to some of the Fields' standard tricks. Both are concept albums, for one thing: Highway Strip is full of songs about traveling, while i is, well, 14 songs starting with the letter I. Both are also good introductions to Merritt's story-like lyrics and his deep and unusual voice. You may not adore them both - personally, Highway Strip is my favorite Fields album and i my least-favorite - but if you like either one, you'll find more to love in the band's catalog. Also, if you want an intro to Merritt's music in general, not just the Fields, check out the Pieces of April soundtrack for a great overview.

For my intermediate and advanced selections, just

read more Intermediate: 69 Love Songs Merritt's magnum opus is exactly what it claims to be: 69 songs about love, spread over three 23-song discs. It's a lot for a beginner to digest, but it's the perfect thing to turn a casual fan into a more serious one. The songs run the gamut of musical styles, from sweet ballads to country-tinged anthems to songs so drenched in synth it's hard to make out the lyrics. (It also has a fair number of songs sung by band members other than Merritt, which can be a good or a bad thing depending on how you feel about his voice.) Merritt's known for his acerbic wit and cynical lyrics, and that's certainly present here - there's a song called "The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be," for heaven's sake - but there are also some legitimately sweet and hopeful songs, including "Asleep and Dreaming." If you're buying, spring for the boxed set rather than buying each album individually: The booklet is worth it. Advanced: Holiday, Get Lost, The Wayward Bus/Distant Plastic Trees, and Merritt's multitude of side projects. These three Magnetic Fields albums are a bit less refined than the ones mentioned above. That doesn't mean they're not worthwhile, just that it helps to be familiar with the band's sound before checking them out. I particularly recommend Holiday, which is one of my favorites - but which is so fuzzy at points that I thought my speakers were broken when I first heard it. It's also worth checking out side projects the 6ths, Future Bible Heroes, and the Gothic Archies, which released a collection of songs to accompany Lemony Snicket books. Source

BuzzSugar's Must-Haves for January

BuzzSugar — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:28:27 PST

Happy 2008 and welcome to BuzzSugar's monthly must-haves, where I show off a handful of the things I'm most looking forward to watching, buying, renting and reading. I'm hoping to start the new year off right with the following goodies.

To see why these six things are at the top of my list, just

Link Time! 12/13

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:45:29 PST

Tube Talk has an interview with Moonlight's Jason Dohring.
According to MTV Movies Blog, the Lance Armstrong biopic is still on the table, and Matt Damon is still the name being tossed around as the actor to play the athlete.
Stereogum is announcing the results of the reader-submitted 2007 Gummy Awards, starting with Album of the Year: Radiohead's In Rainbows.
LAist has seen the set of the new American Gladiators - and the gladiators themselves. Is it wrong that I'm jealous?
Popwatch is rooting for the song "Falling Slowly" from indie musical Once to triumph at the Oscars over the tunes from Enchanted.
TV Squad introduces us to the new, Will Arnett-voiced, Ford-manufactured KITT for the Knight Rider TV movie.
Pop Candy rustles up a blog post about hidden jokes in Pixar movies.
The Walrus has another new Magnetic Fields song, "California Girls." Let's just say it's not an ode to bikini-clad blondes.
TV with MeeVee makes me wonder: Should I care about the new direct-to-Internet Jackass movie?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Song of the Day: The Magnetic Fields, "Three-Way"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:34:41 PST

I forgot how much I love 69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields until I put the album on the other day after a long absence. Meandering through the massive three-disc song collection, I was reminded of what a stellar songwriter Stephin Merritt is, so it's fitting that this week, a new Magnetic Fields song surfaced on Stereogum.

Called "Three-Way," the tune will appear on the group's new album, Distortion, which comes out in January. It's not the most standout song ever. In fact, it's sort of an odd choice for an early track, since it sounds less like a single and more like a piece of a large puzzle. But the cyclonic melodies, crafted from carnivalistic piano and '60s rock guitars, suggest this new Fields album might go in a totally new direction. And that's exciting to me. Listen and tell me what you think when you

Lock Your Love and Throw Away the Key: Love Padlocks Around the World

Tara Sharp — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:51:19 PDT

Shrouded in superstition and romance, love padlocks (aka love locks) are a worldwide trend that have been spotted everywhere from Budapest to Paris to Seoul to Moscow. Traditionally, the padlocks are affixed by a couple to symbolize their eternal love, but the origin is unknown.

What we do know is that in Rome the padlocks on the Ponte Milvio bridge are attributed to Federico Moccia's book I Want You, and the padlock tradition in Serbia began with a legend dating back before WWI about a woman who died of a broken heart. Serbian girls would write down their names with their loved ones on padlocks and affix them to the bridge where the infamous lovers used to meet, Most Ljubavi (the Bridge of Love). In Fengyuan, Taiwan, the locks are attached in pairs to an overpass in the city's train station and called "wish locks." The story goes that the trains generate a magnetic field that energizes the locks, granting the wishes. And according to a legend in Montevideo, Uruguay, there's a fountain where if you put a lock in it with the initials of two people in love, they will return to the fountain and be "locked in love" forever.

Love locks have recently arrived in Venice, Italy, and despite the city of water being known for its romance, Venice's administration is not feeling the love and is worried they'll cause damage to the buildings and bridges. One would think the ritual would be welcomed since they are less destructive than, say, graffiti or gum walls (have you seen those? Disgusting), but if Venice shut down the trend it wouldn't be alone. Paris stripped the locks on several bridges in 2010, and Florence removed 5,500 padlocks on the Ponte Vecchio bridge in 2006. But love perseveres, as usually it's only a matter of time before they return.

Take an international trip with us now to see the locks of love!

An Indie Wedding: An Alternative Approach to Reception Music

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:29:43 PDT

If your music collection is stuffed with indie rock staples, you don't have to put them aside while planning your wedding playlist. Mainstream dance tunes just aren't every couple's style, and there are plenty of indie songs with a good beat that will get the crowd grooving.

Don't be afraid to wander off the proverbial beaten path when compiling your reception playlist. If this is the kind of music you and your fiancé enjoy most, it will have more meaning. Just because Sinatra didn't croon it (or Timbaland didn't produce it) doesn't mean it's not wedding-appropriate or fun.

I put together a playlist of good reception songs from smaller artists - including some tunes that are pretty and others that are straight-up fun to dance to. Whether you're looking to go all indie or just want to sprinkle in something a little different between your oldies and your retro tunes, these songs are a good start. Are there any indie bands or songs you'd love to hear at a wedding? To check out my playlist,

read more. Slow: "You & I" by Wilco "Marry Song" by Band of Horses "Publish My Love" by Rogue Wave "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" by Death Cab For Cutie "Sea of Love" by Cat Power "Simplest Love" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" by Iron & Wine "Sleepwalkin'" by Modest Mouse "Waste" by Phish "Hold You in My Arms" by Ray LaMontagne "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes "Question" by Old 97's "When the Stars Go Blue" by Ryan Adams "Ambulance" by TV on the Radio "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" by Spiritualized "Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice "You Can Have It All" by Yo La Tengo "Eyes" by Rogue Wave "Let's Dance" by M. Ward "Book of Love" by the Magnetic Fields "Melt With You" by Nouvelle Vague Upbeat: "When I'm With You" by Best Coast "Mushaboom" by Feist "The Sweetest Thing" by Camera Obscura "Home" by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros "I Was Made For You" by She & Him "Heart" by Stars "Do You Realize" by The Flaming Lips "Sweet Disposition" by Temper Trap "I'll Be Your Man" by The Black Keys "Cameras" by Matt & Kim

5 Beauty Trends Straight From Cosmoprof North America

Annie Tomlin — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:28:14 PDT

Today marked the kickoff to Cosmoprof North America, one of the biggest beauty-pro events of the year. While there in Las Vegas, I checked out a sliver of the expansive trade show floor. To see five trends that will be making their way to stores, salons, and spas in the near future, keep reading.

2011 Coachella Lineup: Kanye West, Arcade Fire, and Kings of Leon Headline

BuzzSugar — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:33:53 PST

Coachella's 2011 lineup has been announced, and when the three-day festival kicks off in April, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, and Kanye West will each headline a day. Other acts I'm excited about? The Black Keys, The Strokes, Best Coast, Cee Lo Green, The National, Sleigh Bells - just to name a few!

Coachella takes place on April 15, 16, and 17 at The Empire Polo Field in Indio, CA. Check out the full lineup when you

read more. The headliners are bolded. FRIDAY, APRIL 15: Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, The Chemical Brothers, Caifanes, Robyn, !!!, 12th Planet, Afrojack, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, A-Trak, Beardyman, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Boys Noize, Brandon Flowers, Brandt Brauer Frick, Breakage, Cee Lo Green, Clare Maguire, Cold Cave, Cold War Kids, Crystal Castles, Cut Copy, Emicida, Erick Morillo, Excision, Flogging Molly, Glasser, G.Q., Gypsy and the Cat, Here We Go Magic, Hurts, Interpol, Jakes, Kele, Klaxons, Kyle Hall, Magnetic Man, Marina and the Diamonds, Monarchy, Mount Kimbie, Moving Units, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Nosaj Thing, OFWGKTA, Omar Rodriguez Lopez, Ozomatli, Sander Kleinenberg, Sasha, Scala & Kolacny Bros., Skrillex, Sleigh Bells, Tame Impala, The Aquabats, The Drums, The Morning Benders, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Titus Andronicus, Warpaint. SATURDAY, APRIL 16: Arcade Fire, Animal Collective, Mumford & Sons, Bright Eyes, Alf Alpha, Andy C, Big Audio Dynamite, Bomba Estereo, Broken Social Scene, Cage the Elephant, Chuckie, Cults, Daedelus, Delta Sprirt, DJ Hype, DJ Kentaro, DJ Marky, EE, Elbow, Electric Touch, Empire of the Sun, Erykah Badu, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Fedde Le Grand, Foals, Francis and the Lights, Freelance Whales, Gayngs, Gogol Bordello, Goth Trad, Jimmy Eat World, Joachim Garraud, Laidback Luke, Lil B’ and the Based Gods, Mariachi El Bronx, Mary Anne Hobbs, One Day as a Lion, Paul van Dyk, Phosphorescent, Raphael Saadiq, Ras G, SBTRKT, Scissor Sisters, Shpongle, Steve Angello, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, The Felice Brothers, The Henry Clay People, The Joy Formidable, The London Suede, The Kills, The Love Language, The New Pornographers, The Radio Dept., The Swell Season, The Tallest Man on Earth, The Twelves, Trampled by Turtles, Two Door Cinema Club, Wire, Yacht. SUNDAY, APRIL 17: Kanye West, The Strokes, Duran Duran, The National, PJ Harvey, Death From Above 1979, Angus and Julia Stone, Axwell, Best Coast, Caspa, Chromeo, City and Colour, CSS, Delorean, DJ Zinc, Duck Sauce, Eliza Doolittle, Ellie Goulding, Fistful of Mercy, Foster the People, Fun., Good Old War, Gord Downie, Green Velvet, HEALTH, High Contrast, Jack Beats, Jack’s Mannequin, Jenny and Johnny, Joy Orbison, Kode9, Leftfield, Lightning Bolt, Lorn, Los Bunkers, Mala, MEN, Menomena, Nas & Damian Marley, Neon Trees, New Pants, OFF!, Phantogram, Plan B, Ramadanman, Ratatat, Riva Starr, Roska, Rye Rye, She Wants Revenge, Sven Vath, Take, Terror Danjah, The Bloody Beetroots, The Presets, Thunderball, Trentemoller, Tinie Tempah, Tokimonsta, Twin Shadow, Wiz Khalifa, Yelle, Zed Bias.