BuzzSugar

Album Review: Jenny Lewis's Acid Tongue

BuzzSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:38:53 -0700

When Jenny Lewis first went solo from Rilo Kiley, she had the Watson Twins to help her let us into her most soulful, folksy thoughts with each song. That debut was excellent and, like Death Cab's Ben Gibbard, I've been excitedly awaiting her next solo project, Acid Tongue. Today we can hear the whole thing for the first time on her MySpace page.

I've read that she was interested in rocking out this time, and that's definitely the case on this new album which is full of (non-twin) collaborators. There's M. Ward, Zooey Deschanel, Chris Robinson and even Elvis Costello! At times the vibe is psychedelic and trippy, but mostly I'd describe the album as eclectic. There's still twang there - even in her rock - which is smart because that's what suits her voice best, I think. But she also brings in the gospel ballads, along with tunes that sound exactly like some good ol' Rilo Kiley stuff.

What I appreciate most after taking a first listen is how ambitious it all is, and overall I like the way her tracks transported me to another hazy time. This is definitely an album that will be awesome to hear live. I've jotted down a few thoughts on each of the songs for your consideration, so read more.

"Black Sand": Starts softly with deep bass and a melody that sounds almost Abbey Road-ish. Her voice is high up in a soft falsetto. It's bluesy, there are strings, and I believe that atmospheric guitar is M. Ward.
"The Next Messiah": This song is long, almost nine minutes, and has three distinct parts to it. There's a pulsing rock 'n' roll vibe to start, then it turns into an uptempo toe-tapper, and descends into a duet between Lewis and a male voice. Unexpected and cool.
"Badman's World": She darkly sings "It's a bad man's world" over and over again. This song is slow and trippy. There are sparse strings, and the whole thing just makes me think "wasteland."
"Acid Tongue": I like this song a lot. The pretty harmonies with male voices in the background during the chorus are just lovely. It's a melancholy country tune. She's so effective at making me really feel her lyrics, like "Now I am tired/ It just made me tired." Gorgeous stuff.
"Fernando": Kind of expected, least surprising track of the bunch. I could see Rilo Kiley rocking this song. I like the fun lady singers in the background.
"Godspeed": Effecting piano ballad, it's a song about getting away from a no-good kind of guy. And she's been there before.
"Carpetbaggers": This is her duet with Elvis Costello. A super country rock song with a lot of "Whoa, yeah"s Not sure how I feel about their sound together. . . going to need a couple more listens.
"Trying My Best to Love You": Oh, man. Oh, goodness, this song is lovely. The strings, the piano. It almost sounds like gospel singing behind her. I feel like Aretha Franklin would have enjoyed belting the crap out of this song. Love it.
"Jack Killed Mom": Another gospel, down-home piano song. Tells a somewhat twisted story about Jack and his mom.
"Sing a Song for Them": Sad little song with pretty harmonies. A song for the outcasts and the forgotten. Nice ending.

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Link Time! 6/19

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:40:42 -0700

Using television programming as one facet of a large and difficult issue, CitizenSugar is taking a closer look at racism in America.
One Popwatch editor is taking one for the team and going to see The Love Guru with her mom. Are there any entertainment sacrifices you've made for loved ones?
According to Megan Fox's conversation with MTV Movies Blog, Michael Bay's directorial notes to her pretty much amount to "Just look hot." Classy.
Speaking of hot, eye candy alert! You Ain't No Picasso has pictures from Rilo Kiley's set at Bonnaroo.
TV Filter has seen Fringe. Yeah, I'm jealous too.
Cinematical tells us all about Aaron Yoo's next project: Playing the fake dad to Lindsay Lohan's character's fake baby in Labor Pains.
TV Squad just had a chat with Kim Cattrall.
Stereogum offers up thoughts on Paste's list of the top 17 coolest record stores in the country. Our Amoeba Music here in San Francisco didn't make the cut (though the one in L.A. did)!

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Well Played: Rilo Kiley Covers "Let My Love Open the Door"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:29:07 -0700

Covers can be an iffy thing. Nothing sucks more than having a song you like butchered to pieces, and conversely, it's a bit of an awesome surprise when a song you like is redone well. Thankfully, Rilo Kiley recently did a super job covering Pete Townshend's "Let My Love Open the Door" at South by Southwest.

It's a sweet, feel-good song in general and the cover doesn't mess with it too much, which is great. I like it way more than the Steve Carell-Dane Cook cover in Dan in Real Life, that's for sure.

For a nice, Monday afternoon pick-me-up, check out the MP3 of the live show, courtesy of YouAintNoPicasso.

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BuzzSugar's Must-Haves for March

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:30:26 -0800

March is that kind of in-between month that's still chilly enough to require some cozy movie nights, but also shows the promise of warm Spring and bouncing down the sidewalk, listening to good music. My March must-haves allow for all kinds of weather. To check out what I'm reading, watching and listening to this month, press "Start."

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Coachella Music Fest Lineup: Hipsters, Start Your Engines!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 07:30:56 -0800

While the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival has become a giant, crowded experience that has gone increasingly Hollywood over the years, the festival still continues to book some pretty excellent bands. At first glance, this year's lineup, announced Monday at a press conference in Mexico City, has some folks feeling underwhelmed. Still, there's enough good stuff planned for the three days of fun in the Southern California desert that music fans like myself will still want to get busy mapping out the bands they want to see from April 25 to 27.

The big news this year is a performance by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, who will re-create Dark Side of the Moon, as well as a Portishead reunion, according to the LA Times. The festival organizers also confirmed what had been rumored for months: They're bringing a Coachella-style music festival to the East Coast. On Aug. 8 to 10, the first All Points West Music & Arts Festival will take place at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. This might be a good option for the not-so-outdoorsy music lover, because it won't have camping a la Cochella.

For more information about how to get tickets and to hear about some of the bands from the 125-act lineup that caught my eye, read more.

Tickets for Coachella will go on sale at 10 a.m. this Friday, Jan. 26. Three-day passes are $269 plus taxes and fees, and single-day tickets are $90 each. More info is available here.

It's pretty hard to top the earth-shattering Rage Against the Machine reunion from last year; however, there are some pretty cool recently united bands performing this year, including the Verve and the Breeders. I'd love to see Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket, M.I.A., Fat Boy Slim, and Rilo Kiley. I'm also really curious about how bands like Vampire Weekend sound live.

As festival season continues to ramp up, there will be a lot more news out of Coachella and other music festivals, including more details on ticket sales and lineup for All Points West, so stay tuned!

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Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:00:44 -0800

Hollywood writers went on strike this week, shutting down The Office and delaying 24, among other things. I wondered if you care and whether the strike will make you watch more Web-exclusive shows.
It was a week chock full of music videos, so watch as Rilo Kiley does The Frug, Jay-Z becomes an American Gangster, Rashida Jones rocks out with the Foo Fighters, and John C. Reilly walks hard.
We learned a lot about next summer's Valkyrie, thanks to this featurette and a full-length trailer.
This week saw the release of Lions for Lambs, and I wondered how you felt about movies dealing with contemporary politics.
What's your list of the worst TV shows ever?
NPR Music got infinitely cooler with its great new Web site. Also, I suggested a step-by-step guide to getting into Neko Case.
It was a week for first looks at a couple of creepy things: the Terminator-based Sarah Connor Chronicles and the freaky-looking film Awake.
And finally, something to mull over for the rest of the weekend: Who could be the heir to John Cusack in an updated Say Anything?

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Song of the Day: Rilo Kiley, "The Frug"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:30:00 -0800

Ok, Rilo Kiley fans, are you ready for a serious geek-out? If any of you saw child-actress-turned-frontwoman Jenny Lewis in her star-making role in Troop Beverly Hills, then you may remember the scene in which troop leader Shelley Long teaches the girls a bunch of 1960s dances, such as "The Freddy." In fact, my memory is hazy, but I think there was a scene at a nursing home, with dancing elderly folks, set to the tune of "Do the Freddy." (Does anyone remember this? Help me out here.)

Anyway, given Lewis's personal history with such dances, I've always thought it utterly charming that the singer penned a track called "The Frug" that name-checks many of those same dance moves. The hard-to-find 1998 song appeared on the soundtrack for a movie called Desert Blue, which is infinitely more obscure than Troop Beverly Hills (but check out that cast!). Thankfully, The Music Slut graciously unearthed it this week. To listen and tell me what you think - and, now, watch the adorable video - just read more

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Link Time! 10/16

BuzzSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:31:14 -0700

Buddy TV fills us in on a Save Sara campaign launched by CSI fans.
Cinematical has a list of movie-related candy to hand out for Halloween, including Wonka Bars and Reeses Pieces (see: E.T.).
TV with MeeVee says you'd better watch the leaked trailer for the Futurama movie before Fox takes it down.
CasaSugar has a look at Miranda Hobbes' Sex and the City home.
Popwatch has to admit that Fergie's new video for "Clumsy" totally rules.
Two and a Half Men has hit its 100th episode, and TV Filter wonders why so many of us can't be bothered to care.
The TV Addict has a chat with Tate Donovan of Damages.
Mark Wahlberg chats with the MTV Movies Blog about working with M. Night Shyamalan on The Happening.
Give Me My Remote wonders: Is Brothers & Sisters too much of a downer sometimes?
Idolator poses a theory that Rilo Kiley gets worse as Jenny Lewis' skirts get shorter.
Best Week Ever thinks The Price is Right seemed rigged on Drew Carey's first day.

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Concert Review: Rilo Kiley at The Warfield, 9/6/07

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Watching Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley on stage is to see someone completely aware of the spells she can cast on a crowd. A little shrug of the shoulders here, a cock of the eyebrow there, and in no time, the audience for Rilo Kiley's show at The Warfield last week was thoroughly held in thrall by Lewis' charm and blockbuster voice.

But Lewis' sly sexiness wasn't the only thing keeping eyes glued to the stage. Touring in support of Under the Blacklight, the group's first album since 2004, Rilo Kiley trotted out an almost flawless set of old favorites, new standouts, and even a cover tune of sorts. For me, it was one of those strange, rare concert experiences where the band plays virtually every song you'd hope to hear from their catalog and none of the ones you'd pray they skip. To hear more about what made the show a standout, read more

Under the Blacklight has grown on me in the few weeks since its release, but it's gotten mixed reviews. So I thought it was wise that the group chose to open the show with some better-known, more-beloved songs, including "It's a Hit" and "Portions for Foxes" off 2004's More Adventurous. A high-energy rendition of "Breakin' Up" from Blacklight and Blake Sennett's solo-with-ukulele version of "Ripchord" were some of the other highlights of the early part of the set.

But things really kicked into gear when Lewis rejoined Sennett on stage for a duet of "With Arms Outstretched," which quickly became an emotional crowd sing-along. The band then launched into the upbeat "Wires and Waves," a favorite of mine from debut album Take Offs & Landings, and it was suddenly clear that this was going to be a special night, indeed. "Silver Lining," still my favorite Blacklight song to date, got some help from giant balloon orbs stuffed with glitter and launched into the crowd. (A stunt involving two girls from the audience dancing to "Smoke Detector" was less successful.)

The true standout of the evening, though, was "Spectacular Views," which closed the main set and had the crowd even more rapt than the songs that preceded it. In comparison, the encore was a bit of a disappointment - though it did feature Rilo Kiley covering Lewis' "Rise Up with Fists," from her 2006 solo album Rabbit Fur Coat. But that didn't really matter, though, on a night when I'd already heard everything I could have hoped for.

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Music Video: Rilo Kiley, "Silver Lining"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:30:54 -0700

Well, as if I weren't already pumped to see Rilo Kiley live tonight, this music video for "Silver Lining" - easily my most-played song off the group's new album, Under the Blacklight - just made me even more excited for the show.

In the video, the ever-adorable Jenny Lewis plays a blushing bride in white who ends up leaving her groom-to-be at the altar during the song's climactic moments. Better yet, the ditched groom is Rilo Kiley guitarist Blake Sennett, who was Lewis' real-life flame more than a decade ago. Who knew jilted love could be so darn cute? To watch the video, read more

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