BuzzSugar

Link Time! 7/2

BuzzSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:30:55 -0700

Apparently the Veronica Mars movie isn't happening, after all. - Cinematical
Ooh-la-la: Check out the sexy French trailer for Ashton Kutcher's movie Spread. - Popwatch
A Wii problem: Can Alec Baldwin go from actor to governor? - TresSugar
Five signs Hollywood's running out of new ideas. - The TV Addict
A respectful farewell to actor Karl Malden. - FilmExperience
Timothy Hutton talks Leverage season two. - TV Squad
Remember that danceable new Bloc Party song? Now here's the video. - Stereogum
Do you know where your movie ticket money goes? - SavvySugar

Photo courtesy of The CW

Listen Up: "One More Chance" by Bloc Party

BuzzSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:30:12 -0700

Officially releasing Aug. 10, "One More Chance" is the latest single from Bloc Party and it is one super-charged, danceable tune. It also makes me want to drive somewhere fast. Or, you know . . . jog (see, Fit? I think about exercising). The song pulses with such synthpop-y intensity, you kind of start to forget that the lyrics are so repetitive. It's pretty much ready for the clubs right now.

To check out "One More Chance," read more.

Source

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:46:17 -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 my selections below you can download new albums from Pink and Snow Patrol. Here's what's on my list this week:

The making of a Legend: I like John Legend and I feel like he's the perfect pick for when I'm in a romantic and/or chillaxed mood. His new album sounds pretty fun. I'm enjoying a duet with Andre 3000 called "Green Light," a sweet song called "No Other Love" featuring Estelle with a nice rasta-beat beneath it, and "This Time" is pretty and different-sounding for Legend. It's good to hear him getting up from the piano and mixing it up a little. Oh, and "I Love, You Love" sounds like wedding mix material.

The Cure for your ears: For what it's worth, The Cure's new album is earning some high praise from music critics. The Guardian called the band's thirteenth studio album "admirably taut and vibrant" and Blender declares, "here's the new soundtrack to Saturday night." Fun! I'm enjoying the upbeat song, "The Only One" and "Underneath the Stars" is another good one.

One more selection up next so read more.

So dramatic: Bloc Party's always had a flair for the dramatics as a band and you know what? I like it. I'm excited that their new album is out today and have had a good time checking out their new songs! So far my faves include the catchy "Signs," the spacey "Better Than Heaven," and the hard-driving "Halo."

2007 SXSW: A Festival in Photos

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:31:56 -0700

Most of us weren't lucky enough to get down to Austin for Southwest by Southwest, but that doesn't mean we can't relive the experience through good music and very cool photos. (Combine the two, and it's almost like being at a concert!)

Looking through some of the best shots from SXSW, I was struck by what a British Invasion there was this year, from keynote speaker Pete Townsend to much-discussed performances by Lily Allen, Bloc Party, Amy Winehouse, and The Pipettes (above). I've got photos from all of those shows and more, so check out my SXSW gallery when you read more

Photos include Winehouse, Allen, Townsend, Bloc Party, Mika, the Bravery, the Pipettes, and - just because it's funny to see him actually performing - Cisco Adler.

View 34 Photos ›

Source

CD Review: Bloc Party, A Weekend In the City

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:30:04 -0800

The weekend in the city that Bloc Party envisions on its sophomore album is ruled by party-ready riffs and thumping beats. But beneath the pop-punk surface of A Weekend in the City lurks a sort of disheveled, drug-fueled dystopia, giving the melodies a much-needed edge.

Fans will appreciate that the follow-up to Silent Alarm never veers too far from its predecessor's path, with frontman Kele Okerere's regal, slightly overwrought vocals coating some of the most soaring guitar work in rock.

But while Bloc Party's lauded 2005 debut was a fast and furious high - I listened to it constantly for weeks then burned out - Weekend never quite kicks in like it should. For the rest of my take and to hear a track off the album,

There are a number of welcome surprises in this set of songs: "Prayer" kicks off with a chorus of stomps, handclaps, and staccato tribal chants before going into the central plea: "Tonight make me unstoppable / and I will charm / I will slice / I will dazzle / I will outshine them all." The counterpart to that sentiment might be "Sunday," where whispered organs and chimey guitars draw the sort of day when you have to wake up in time to "catch the afternoon."

But while the album is chock full of hooks, it failed to really hook me, even after multiple listens. On one hand, it's grandiose and thoughtful, but even clever tracks like "Uniform" - a brooding ballad that blames MTV for lessons in sulking - the big sounds are also overly simple. I should, however, throw out a caveat here, which is that I didn't fully appreciate Silent Alarm until I saw Bloc Party live in NYC. For now, listen to "Sunday" below or stream the album yourself and tell me what you think.

Soundtrack Review: (500) Days of Summer

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:30:23 -0700

Note from Buzz: My buddy Bella is going to contribute some of her thoughtful musings about music here from time to time. Her inaugural post is an album review of the (500) Days of Summer soundtrack. Take it away, Bella!

A movie soundtrack has more or less the same goal as a great mix tape: it needs to put a scene in the listener's mind, produce an emotional response, and introduce an amazing new song or two. Considering how integral music is to the plot of (500) Days of Summer, a lot is riding on the film's soundtrack. The film isn't shy about revealing its hip-kid leanings - after all, our lovebirds initially bond over their love of the Smiths, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt sports Clash and Joy Division tees - but the soundtrack is an ambrosia salad of sweet but all-over-the-place tunes. For more of my take on it all, read more.

These songs are an easy fit for romantic late nights, and about half of the CD will make you wish you were in love. Carla Bruni (yes, the first lady of France) spreads her velvet voice over the dreamy acoustic guitar-and-violin "Quelqu'un M'a Dit," and The Temper Trap's shimmering "Sweet Disposition" has a U2-meets-Bloc Party feel that could make this band. Regina Spektor's two tracks have her crooning as lovely as ever, and the Black Lips contribute a fun, jangly countrified treat with "Bad Kids."

And yet. For all of the good music on this soundtrack - and don't get me wrong, it's there - we've heard much of it before. Feist's "Mushaboom" is five years old now, and as much as I love Moz and Marr, I wish there were something fresher than two Smiths songs. Hall and Oates? Play 'em off, Keyboard Cat. (No, really. Please do.) Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward (She & Him) succeed with a wistful cover of "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want," but Meaghan Smith's cloyingly precious version of the Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man" is a miss.

For casual listeners, this soundtrack should bring some good times. But for anyone who's already into indie-ish music - which is pretty much this movie's target demographic - this "mix tape" might seem lacking in variety and freshness.

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:30:20 -0700

Sadly, Michael Jackson, king of pop, passed away this week. Here's where we all shared our favorite Michael Jackson memories.
Several great trailers came out this week, including ones for The Hurt Locker, The Box, Amelia, Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo, and Ashton Kutcher's Spread.
Crazy cool images from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland hit the web this week. So amazing looking!
It's weird to think of Joanna Garcia on Gossip Girl, but it's gonna happen.
Also in TV casting news, R&B star Eve will join Fox's comedy Glee.
Looking for new music? Check out this She & Him cover of a Smiths song and a new dance tune from Bloc Party.
How crazy is this: this year there will be 10 nominees for Best Picture at the Oscars! This of course led me to thinking about all the movies I think should have gotten nominated over the years.
Finally, I'm curious about how much TV you're watching this Summer. Do you feel like you're watching less than usual?

Source

Austin City Limits: Possibly the Best of the Fests

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 07:48:17 -0700

Music festivals are all the rage these days, but it's easy to get overwhelmed. South By Southwest has simply gotten ginormous, while Coachella has gone all Hollywood on us. Then, along comes the lower-profile Austin City Limits Festival with one of the best festival lineups I've seen in ages.

ACL just unveiled the roster of artists playing at its 2007 fest, which will be held Sept. 14-17 at Austin's Zilker Park. There's a lot of chatter about the big artists - including Björk, Arcade Fire, and headliner Bob Dylan - and the number of bands is astounding.

But it's not just the pedigree of performers that I'm impressed by. It's the fact that ACL has managed to round up some of the best live acts I've had the pleasure of seeing in my adult life. Because no matter how much you like a band, if they suck live, it's hard to get excited about seeing them in concert. To see who I'm most excited about, and for a full list of performers, read more

Here, in my opinion, are the artists that make ACL this year's festival to end all festivals:

Bob Dylan. It is rare that one gets to be in the presence of a legend, and for that reason, I almost never pass up a chance to see Dylan. The bonus is that he's still an incredible performer. Watch him and you'll understand that he can't possibly do anything but play music.
Wilco. Seeing an outdoor Wilco show at the Greek Theater in Berkeley a few years ago is a concert experience I've been longing to recreate, and the band's new album is pretty killer to boot.
Arcade Fire. Overhyped or not, this band is dreaming up some of the most interesting and unusual new music in recent history, and its live shows are just as weird.
My Morning Jacket. The way these guys rock out is a throwback to the jam-tastic 1970s. In fact, MMJ's live shows are so excellent, you'll start to find its albums dreadfully dull.
Bloc Party. I don't even really like Bloc Party all that much, but theirs is one of the funnest concerts I've ever attended. Not surprisingly, they know how to party.
LCD Soundsystem. Anyone who can get a bunch of drunk indie kids dancing like they're on E is really onto something, and Sound of Silver is one of my favorite records so far this year.
Andrew Bird. See above re: favorite records this year. Also, the man is a whistling virtuoso whose stage presence is orchestral.
M.I.A. Though I'm not sure what to expect from her next album, I think M.I.A. might just represent the future of hip-hop, and I bet she's a blast to watch.

Who are you most excited about on this lineup?

And here's the full lineup:

Bob Dylan
Björk
The White Stripes
The Killers
Wilco
Arcade Fire
Muse
Queens of the Stone Age
Bloc Party
Arctic Monkeys
My Morning Jacket
Gotan Project
Joss Stone
Damien Rice
Devotchka
Robert Earl Keen
The National
Lucinda Williams
Spoon
Blue October
Indigo Girls
The Decemberists
Paolo Nutini
Regina Spektor
Amy Winehouse
Crowded House
Steve Earle
Ziggy Marley
Stephen Marley
Kaiser Chiefs
LCD Soundsystem
Augustana
Amos Lee
M.I.A.
Ben Kweller
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Andrew Bird
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
Ghostland Observatory
Midlake
Ian Ball
Patterson Hood
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Reverend Horton Heat
Pete Yom
Butch Walker
Peter Bjorn and John
STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)
Yo La Tengo
Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Zap Mama
Blonde Redhead
Eli Young Band
Aterciopelados
Heartless Bastards
Raul Malo
James Hunter
Mighty Clouds of Joy
Del McCoury Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Andy Palacio & the Garifima Collective
Asleep at the Wheel
Ryan Shaw
Will Hoge
Beau Soleil
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Railroad Earth
Dax Riggs
Elvis Perkins In Dearland
Sound Team
The Legendary Soul Stirrers
Charlie Musselwhite
JJ Grey & Mofro
Young Love
The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker
The Little Ones
Manchester Orchestra
Billy Joe Shaver
Fionn Regan
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
John Ralston
The Broken West
Rose Hill Drive
Brandon Rhyder
Ocote Soul Sounds
Sara Hickman
Jon Dee Graham
Kevin Devine
Ike Reilly Assassination
Greyhounds
Guy Forsyth
Adam Hood
Cary Ann Hearst & The Gun Street Girls
The Jones Family Singers
The Gospel Silvertones
The Shields of Faith
Sylvia St. James
Jeffrey Steele
Amy Cook
Trent Summar & the New Row Mob
Back Door Slam
Mario Matteoli
Kara Grainger
One Mississippi
Kevin McKinney
Jennifer Nicely
Sahara Smith
The Wonderful Harmonizers
Loretta Williams
Gurnell
Amy LaVere
The Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars
The Steps We Go To 11- Kidz
The Sippy Cups
Daddy A Go Go
Farmer Jason
Q Brothers-
Jambo- Kidz
The Bummkinn Band
The Jellydots

What to TiVo: Monday

BuzzSugar — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:50:38 -0700

Fox has a repeat of House and is new with 24
NBC is new with Chuck, Heroes, and Medium
CBS has a new episode and a repeat of How I Met Your Mother, a repeat of Two and a Half Men, and new episodes of Rules of Engagement and CSI: Miami
ABC is new with Dancing With the Stars and Castle
The CW is new with Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill
TNT is new with Saving Grace
VH1 has For the Love of Ray J
ABC Family is new with the season finale of The Secret Life of the American Teenager and the series premiere of Roommates
Late-night highlights include Hugh Laurie and Bloc Party on Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest, John Cena, and Playing For Change on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC; and Regis Philbin, Kat Von D, Jon Glaser, and Morrissey on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC

Check Out Lollapalooza, Wherever You Are

BuzzSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:30:13 -0700

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Sasquatch, and I'm excited to see what San Francisco does with Outside Lands, but in my mind the king of the Summer music festivals is still Lollapalooza. Now in its fourth year in Chicago's Grant Park, the festival just keeps upping the ante: This year's schedule includes headliners Radiohead, Wilco, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West, and Nine Inch Nails, along with a lot of relatively smaller bands that I'd love to see live: Love and Rockets, The National, Girl Talk, Explosions in the Sky, MGMT, and Mates of State, to name just a few.

Luckily, this year we can once again check out the festival from afar via the AT&T Blue Room. The site will be webcasting hours of Lolla shows each day this weekend, starting around 1:15 p.m. EDT each day.

Today's lineup includes Rogue Wave, The Kills, Bloc Party, and the Raconteurs. Saturday, the site will show performances by Margaret and the Nuclear So-So's, Duffy, DeVotchka, and Broken Social Scene, among others. And Sunday wraps up with broadcasts of Flogging Molly, Love and Rockets, and The National.

Anyone out there going to Lollapalooza? Or will you be watching from afar, too?

Source