BuzzSugar

Buzz-Worthy Video: Beck, Feist, Wilco Performing Together

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:30:46 -0800

Guaranteed way to make me drop everything I'm doing and press play: tell me that Beck, Feist, and Wilco are collaborating. It's true; Beck recruited the folk chanteuse, the rock band, and British singer Jamie Lidell to join him to perform a tribute to '60s musician Skip Spence.

Their cover of Spence's song, "Little Hands," was recorded in the famous Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood in ultrahip black and white. The song is beautiful, but I'm still just beaming to see some of my favorite artists in one room together (including Jeff Tweedy's son Spencer on drums!). And Beck, you're rocking that devil's haircut.

To see the video of "Little Hands", just read more.

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:30:39 -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.

Wilco reintroduction: I've already checked out Wilco: The Album (check out my track-by-track review here), and now it's officially out and ready for you to download! It's more spunky rock than it is country-ish, and overall it's a well-rounded and satisfying album. Check out the tracks "Wilco" and "You and I" to get started.

A little EP is better than nuffin: It feels like it's been forever since Austin indie band Spoon released its stunning 2007 album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. I have no idea when this group will release another full album, but at least we get a fun EP today! The first track, "Got Nuffin," is hard-driving with an interesting guitar solo. The other two tracks, "Tweakers" and "Stroke Their Brains," are more experimental but well worth the download.

One more up next, so just read more.

Kind of a flashback: First of all, doesn't that look like Michael Cera on the cover? I never would have expected a resemblance between Cera and Rob Thomas, but there you have it. Anyway - when I listen to Thomas's music, it takes me back to the '90s, when artists like Goo Goo Dolls ruled the radio and The Real World was in San Francisco. Get a load of "Real World '09" and "Her Diamonds" for a journey back in time.

Album Review: Wilco (The Album)

BuzzSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:30:35 -0700

I'm not a Wilco connoisseur, exactly, in that I don't know every song by heart or every nuance of the variations in their discography, but I do own many of the band's albums and I am seriously stoked to see a whole new one emerge from them, titled simply Wilco (The Album). The album is streaming in its entirety right now (you can take a spin through it here), so I took a little listen.

Just like the funny/cute cover, many of the songs have a spirit of playfulness to them, even as many of the lyrics remain typically sad or ominous. It's more spunky rock than it is country-ish, as some previous albums have been, and overall it's a really well-rounded and satisfying album. Wilco fans will probably be pleased to hear some familiar sounds, but the music is still imaginative and interesting enough to hook new listeners. I'm digging it. For more of my thoughts on the individual tracks, read more.

"Wilco (The Song)" - Appropriately, "The Song" with the same name as "the band" is quintessentially Wilco-y. It's got a great beat, wail-y guitars, a fun melody - I can easily imagine this making it onto Summer mixes, played loudly while driving around with the windows down.

"Deeper Down" - This one has something of an Andrew Bird quality to it, with the unusual sounds of a whimsical, other-worldly realm. It's a lovely, surprising tune that feels like the soft soundtrack to a forest journey scene in a movie.

"One Wing" - Compared to the first two, "One Wing" seems almost sparse and simple with its drums/guitar/vocals combo. I love that the drums are featured alone in the beginning; later the song picks up steam with the repetition of some sad lyrics: "One wing will never, ever fly, dear, neither yours nor mine/ I fear we can only wave goodbye." I like this song, but if I were in a down mood it might just push me over the edge.

"Bull Black Nova" - Using cool staccato piano sounds and a drumbeat that chugs steadily along, this song has some dramatic flair and a feeling of forward motion that keeps my attention. It's a little long and rambly but still solid, distinctly Wilco stuff.

"You and I" - With the addition of Feist's pretty voice, "You and I" is a soft little relationship song that's most notable for the vocal duet which, despite lyrics asserting that "You and I might be strangers/ however close we get/ sometimes it's like we never met," lends a delicate intimacy to an otherwise fairly ordinary tune.

"You Never Know" - Playful piano, a tune and backup vocals that remind me of some other time period in music history, a catchy chorus - I think this song will rock when played live, everyone bopping about and singing along.

"Country Disappeared" - Soft and dark, the bittersweet "Country Disappeared" seems like something the band would play in a smoky bar to a small audience in the wee hours of the morning. It's pretty and a little mournful.

"Solitaire" - With light, folky guitar strumming and gentle vocals, this tune is like taking a quiet break in the middle of the album, and I appreciate the change of pace. The lyrics connote, of course, solitariness, but there's a hopeful sound to the song itself.

"I'll Fight" - There's a country twang lingering in the background of this dramatic and ominous-sounding song, giving a homey feeling to the stubborn, assertive lyrics: "I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight for you, I will, I will, I will/ I'll kill, I'll kill, I'll kill, I'll kill for you I will." It's a great song; I especially enjoy the use of the organ.

"Sonny Feeling" - The second-to-last track picks things up again with a real toe-tappin' rock tune. By this point I'm just marveling at how different each of these songs sounds, from track to track. And for some reason this song makes me want to buy a pickup truck.

"Everlasting Everything" - Like some of the band's previous tunes, this one goes back and forth, starting out soft and tender and then building to a crescendo of sound and emotion, then easing back down to soft again. I like this one as a last song, especially the final, dreamy moments.

Buzz News Roundup, 9/19

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:35:47 -0700

Aww, more Vaughn-Favreau goodness: Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman and Faizon Love are set to star together in the comedy Couples Retreat. - ComingSoon
New albums are on the way from Wilco and from Weezer. - Billboard
Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones will play Stella's ex on How I Met Your Mother. - TV Guide
Guess who's the latest name rumored to be playing Dr. Watson to Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's film: Jude Law. - Variety
Wade Allain Marcus will play "a hipster photographer" on Gossip Girl. - Hollywood Reporter
David Duchovny, Demi Moore and Amber Heard will play a perfect family in the drama The Joneses. - ComingSoon
Get your glasses ready: Chuck is planning a 3-D episode to air the day after the Super Bowl. - Chicago Tribune
Keira Knightley, Eva Mendes and Sam Worthington will star in the romantic drama Last Night. - Variety

Source

Link Time! 11/6

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:32:21 -0800

TV Squad mulls the news that ER could get one more season.
Forget voicing Beowulf, Ray Winstone wants to talk Indiana Jones 4 over on the MTV Movies Blog.
Popwatch decides Prison Break is "going nowhere slowly." On the other hand, TV with MeeVee thinks the show could teach 24 a few lessons.
Pretty Much Amazing rounds up the Arcade Fire's covers of Springsteen, the Smiths, and Clinic.
TV Filter has some suggestions for the fourth season of Weeds.
Head over to AquariumDrunkard for a review of the companion soundtrack to the Bob Dylan movie I'm Not There.
Give Me My Remote wonders: What one TV episode is on your desert island list?
Cinematical has a weird vintage clip of a young Morgan Freeman on the old television show The Electric Company.
Stereogum has a new live video of Wilco playing at Austin City Limits.

Photo courtesy of NBC

Playlist: The Summer Road Trip

BuzzSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

We're smack-dab in the middle of Summer, and to me, there are few more quintessential Summer vacations than a good old-fashioned road trip. Of course, any good road trip needs a great Playlist, and there is no shortage of songs that pay tribute to motorized wanderlust.

In fact, when I made my trip cross-country several years ago, I asked all of my friends to burn mix CDs so I would have plenty to listen to en route. Of course, that was before these newfangled iPod Playlists, but I've used those original CDs as inspiration for my summer road trip iMix. Clicking the link takes you to a URL that will ask you to launch iTunes, so just click "launch application" in the pop-up window. Since I'm now publishing the BuzzSugar Playlists on iTunes, you can even buy the iMix for your next road trip. Tell me what would be on your road-trip mix, and to see the list of songs on mine, read more

“The Weight” by The Band
"Ramblin' Man" by The Allman Brothers
"Heavy Metal Drummer" by Wilco
"Sister Christian" by Night Ranger
“Honk if You’re Lonely” by The Silver Jews
“Cecilia” by Simon and Garfunkel
“Another Travelin’ Song” by Bright Eyes
"Band on the Run" by Wings
“Going Mobile” by The Who
"Float On" by Modest Mouse
"18 Wheels of Love" by the Drive-By Truckers
"Women in Black" by The Roadside Graves

Source

Link Time! 6/5

BuzzSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:01:50 -0700

According to Cinematical, Mark Ruffalo is replacing Daniel Craig in the movie Blindness (which I told you about back when Craig was first cast and I was giddy over the news).
Stereogum recounts the bizarre saga of the dude who thinks Arcade Fire stole his basketball when the band played at UC Berkeley. Arcade Fire denies the charges.
According to PopCandy, BJ Novack (Ryan on "The Office") was a prankster in high school, recording fake audio tours for the Boston Museum of the Fine Arts.
The Movie Blog thinks casting a magician to play a magician is a good idea, referring specifically to Criss "Mindfreak" Angel who has been cast in Mandrake the Magician, based on a Depression-era comic strip. Well, he's certainly comical.
I Guess I'm Floating finds Wilco's explanation for selling its songs to a VW campaign.
CHUD (Cinematic Happenings Under Development) has a source who heard something about a remake of Meatballs.
TV With MeeVee reviews the "Heroes" 360 Experience.
Earvolution says the Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr. is writing a play.

Source

Song of the Day: Wilco, "One True Vine"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 05:59:53 -0700

As I mentioned a few weeks back, Wilco is streaming its new album on the band's web site. After listening to it all week, I have to say: It's pretty damn good. The more I listen, the more I like it, so by the time Sky Blue Sky actually hits stores next week, I'll have heard the heck out of it already.

So I was excited to find a newly leaked Wilco track, called "One True Vine," which is supposedly the first B-side off Sky Blue Sky. Like most of the songs on the album, this ballad at first reminded me of The Band - perhaps it's the triple threat of piano, organ, and slide guitar - but after a few listens, it just sounds like a more mature side of Wilco. Listen and tell me what you think when you read more

Wilco Streaming Its New Album Online

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 16:16:16 -0700

The next Wilco album, Sky Blue Sky, is now available for pre-order on Amazon, which means that May 15 release date is right around the corner. Of course, this is Wilco we're talking about here, so there are plenty of early chances to hear the tunes.

In addition to the leaked tracks floating around and the free download the band released last month, Wilco is now letting us stream Sky Blue Sky on its web site, though no word on how long this will last. Just go to the home page and click on the bird to listen. I'm there right now, and my snap judgment is favorable, so tell me what you think.

Free Download: New Wilco Track, "What Light"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:43:33 -0800

On Thursday I posted a few leaked tracks from Wilco's forthcoming album, "Sky Blue Sky, which comes out May 15 on Nonesuch.

Thankfully, you can always count on Jeff Tweedy and Co. to follow Internet leaks with a totally legit free download. Today, the band posted a new song called "What Light" on its web site. It's a simple but lovely ballad that, if taken with the tracks we heard last week, suggests Wilco is returning to its twangy roots with some interesting twists. Like "You Are My Face," this song reminds me of The Band in a really good way. I've uploaded the song for you guys, so to listen, read more