Liner Notes: Soundtracks

I have always had a bit of a soft spot for soundtracks, it seems that they are the equivalent in music as Music videos are to Feature films... the sort of creative breeding ground where artists can leave convention and try new things, cover their favorite artists, leave their genre comfort zone, anything...

And so i bring you my top 5 soundtracks as of today...
(please note, this comes off a download session the other night, so most of these soundtracks are recent listens... this is in no way a best soundtracks of all time blog, also this is in no order... i am not that picky)


1. Where the Wild Things Are - Karen O and the Kids

I have not yet seen this film (its isnt out yet) but the fact that i loved the book as a kid and this soundtrack is so awesome i will most definately be there opening night with much anticipation. There is something about soundtracks to kids films that really rev me up, so much energy, you just want to bounce around the room, and this soundtrack lives up to that and more.
Karen O as most of you would know is the lead singer for the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, and she has a very distinctive style that comes with that, loud, enegery fuelled screaming. This however is not the Karen O that we hear on this soundtrack, she has toned down, calmed down and it pays off because in doing this she brings out the innocence of a kid in herself.
Alongside her she has assembled a pretty decent band lineup with Deerhunter's Bradford Cox and the Bird and the Bee's Greg Kurstin, bandmates Brian Chase and Nick Zinner and former touring guitarist Imaad Wasif, Liars' Aaron Hemphill, The Dead Weather's Dean Fertita, and Jack Lawrence from The Raconteurs as well as a chior of Kids.

This soundtrack really blew me away, i am a big fan of Karen O but the new sound she brings to this soundtrack as well as the instrumentals has made this album sit on repeat ever since.
Sure the lyrics are aimed at Kids, but they are still well written and great for all ages.

Reccomended Tracks: All is Love, Worried Shoes, Igloo, Rumpus


2. Garden State - Various

Zach Braff has a talent in picking music, the soundtrack to this film was derived from the mix CD that he was listening to when writing the screenplay and so in terms of working alongside the film itself they are almost perfect. But as a CD on its own this is possibly one of the best compilations i have heard in a long time.

If you havn't seen the film i first suggest seeing it, but the basic premise is that its about the main charachter (played by Braff) and his dissconnection to emotion and the outside world. And this music portreys that in its own way, the music is chilled indie rock, slow beats. And this dissconection in the music does to you what the medication does to Braffs charachter in the film... it takes you away from the world, which in Music terms is a good thing.

The Artists included are impressive, The Shins (who got their break from this release), Zero 7, Coldplay, Colin Hay (you's know him from Men at Work), Nick Drake.... to name a few and a really good cover of Such Great Heights by Iron and Wine.

This CD for me has been awesome train music.. a whole journey will pass as i listen to it and i wont even notice it going. Listen to it anywhere it is an awesome mix-tape from Zach Braff to you.

Reccomended Tracks: Caring is Creepy, In the Waiting Line, Such Great Heights.


3. (500) Days of Summer - Various

This soundtrack is really fresh in my mind at the moment, i only just listened to it this morning but it is already up the top in terms of soundtracks for me... it is also a film i have not yet seen and so the music has no reference for me in terms of usage in the film itself. But that doesnt matter because this is a great collection.

It is mostly older indie songs with tracks from The Smiths and Hall and Oats, but it also features some new stuff from Regina Spektor and The Temper Trap. I was grinning wide when i saw the inclusion of Please Please Please, Let me get what i Want by The Smiths, this song has always had a place in my heart and is what got me into The Smiths to begin with... and then on the last track a cover of the same song by She and Him... awesome.

This is a different compilation to Garden State, the songs focus on the theme of Love. The Classic indie love songs included are the perfect soundtrack to any relationship and if i were to ever make a mix tape for my one true love it would probably be very similar to this album.

The one down side to listening to this is that it makes me wish i saw the film even more... and that hurts.

Reccomended Tracks: Please Please Please, Let me get what i want, Us, You Make my Dreams, Quequ'un M'a Dit


4. Finding Neverland - Jan A.P Kaczmarek

Now onto the Classical, i do like film scores but i find with most that i get bored really quickly, Not with this one though, the use of choir vocals and smooth interweaving strings gives this the magic of a burton film with the drama of something from Speilburg.
The tracks hold up on their own as if from a symphony and even without knowledge of the film itself this soundtrack plays out as a nice peice of classical music in itself.

I dont really know what else to say about this album except listen to it, if you need to relax, study, think this is a great thing to have playing, it is motivating, soothing and well... amazing.

Reccomended Tracks: Its all good


5. I am Sam - Various

The Beatles have a very strange rule... no music is to be used in Film, that is... no Original recordings to be used in Film... covers on the other hand....

This soundtrack is the work of good mathematics... take one of the greatest bands in history, add some of the greatest artists of present day.... the result. Soundtrack to the power of awesome.
Artists such as Sarah Mclaughlin, Rufus Wainwright, Ben Folds, The Vines, Ben Harper etc.. doing covers of all the most popular beatles tracks in pure style... they add their own style to create something truely unique.

Originally Sean Penn wanted to put original tracks in the movie, he was declined. I somehow feel that the album is better because of it. This is not a beatles best of... its a tribute and it is done in style.

Reccomended Tracks: Golden Slumbers, Blackbird, I'm Looking Through You




Other Soundtracks that are well worth checking out:

Over the Hedge - Ben Folds
Great soundtrack, awesome cover of the Clash's "Lost in the Supermarket"... Ben folds is a legend, and it shows in this soundtrack.

Hancock: John Powell
John powell is one of the top when it comes to action scores, not at Zimmer level yet but great nonetheless...
This score is top notch, great fast paced action scores alongside heartfelt emotional tunes.

Wall-E: Thomas Newman
Pixar know emotion... and they also know who to get when they need that emotion expressed through music. Thomas Newman is a great composer and he shines in this soundtrack. The inclusion of songs from Lois Armstrong, Peter Gabriel and Michael Crawford from his Hello Dolly Days makes this a treasure part of my collection and a reminder of a great film.

Big Day Out 2010 Artists: Ladyhawke

It is Impossible for me to write a Music Blog without seeming pretentious, and so in a bid to lessen this i have decided to take a new approach... and so i present to you now the second of the Big Day Out 2010 artists... Ladyhawke...

hmmmm.... maybe i should avoid poetry...

In all seriousness i do advise people to go see ladyhawke, she has a cool 80's vibe to her music and it should make for some good dancing!


Reccomended Tracks:
Paris is Burning , My Delirium , Back of the Van

Website: www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock

Liner Notes - Don't Start a Band... Dream about Starting a Band

For a long time i have wanted to be in a band...

The Fans, the songs, the gigs... the thrill of being able to perform for people and for them to repect you back... Heaven.

But what irks me is the sheer logistics of this dream. First i would have to learn an instrument, my choice at the moment is Bass, my fingers are a bit too big for guitar and i cant work out how i could learn drums without being murdered in a bloody household massacre.
So i go buy a bass... starter kit is 600 bucks... not too bad... looks reasonable, comes with an amp and bag and training stuffs, sweet... the one next to it is 4 grand... its shiny, its new...its magnificent. Suddenly my training bass looks like it will get me nowhere... how am i meant to achieve stardom with cheapness?

Ok so now i'm broke, but i've got an awesome axe! Ok... sit down and learn... get the first notes out... sounds good... hmmm... how long do i need to train for? Most big name artists start playing at around the age of 12-16... seeing as most of them reach their peak at the age i am now it will take me till the age of almost 40 to be any good.... 40.... i will have a wife and kids at 40... i will have a career and no time for music... let alone the fact that rock might no be so popular in 12 years time... i will be out of date...
Noone will want to hire a 40 year old newcomer... i'll be playing RSL cover shows, watching old retirees dance along to powderfinger... the young people laughing in disgust as they listen to their nu-techno...

Back in the present i think again about going to the store, buying a guitar and joining a band... it still seems kinda cool... in theory.
Who wants to be in my band?

Big Day Out 2010 Artists: Calvin Harris

It turns out that the 70's are dead.. in fact it seems they died over 30 years ago... people have mourned, they have said their goodbyes and moved on.

But the 70's havn't fully departed, parts of it have hidden away, lay dormant, waiting, changing, adapting...

Disco is not dead.

Gone are the mirror balls, the platform shoes, the Travolta, Disco or Nu-Disco as it likes to be called is a totally different beast, its punchier, more electronic and most of the time you don't even know you're listening to it.

Disco has hidden itself in the world of Dance, it is disguised as being Electro, Trance, House...etc. But it is Disco my friend, and it is awesome.

Jamiroquai, Daft Punk, Armand Van Heldon, Bob Sinclair, Lady Ga Ga, Datarock, Justice...etc. all these artists are disco... and in amongst this re-emergence is Cavin Harris.

Hailing from Scotalnd Calvin Harris is a producer as well as a recording artist, he has produced two albums, I Created Disco and Ready for the Weekend. He has recorded alongside Kylie Minogue and Dizzee Rascal and has only been in the industry for 3 years.

Anyone who has any interest in Dance music probably already knows all they need to know about Cavin and in turn they have already decided if the like him or not... but if you are new to the scene and for some reason that i cannot think of, havn't heard of calvin harris then i really reccomend you check him out. He is very easy to listen to, and even easier to dance to, and he is popular enough to make his stuff easy to find and try out.

When you listen to his music (mostly the stuff not on the radio) you can definatly hear the Disco elements, the beat, the synths... Calvin is definatly making disco.

Get out your shoes with fish in them, that rhinestone gun and the plain white flares and burn them, because disco is back but not the way you know it.

Now lets work on getting over the 80's...


Reccomended Tracks: Acceptible in the 80's, Merrymaking at My Place, I'm Not Alone

Website: http://www.myspace.com/calvinharristv

Also check out this remix of I'm Not Alone by my mates Three Fingers, awesome!

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=a747b5158e2d538f1bee9a6e9edd9c7685aa1592b5cbabe3a9a26c4ed87536eb

Song Intro: A Guide to the Big Day Out

Hey guys just a quick update... i have decided to write up a guide to this years Big Day Out..

I'll be doing a bio page for each of the artists in the First Release so that people can get a better grasp of who to see... (like i'm some sort of expert)... i've decided not to write reviews like i have been doing, i read these back and cringe with the wank that i am seeing... so its gonna be in a more encyclopedic style with some personal opinons and stories.. and as always a illustration from yours truely.

Hope someone finds this helpful.... First post soon.

Liner Notes: Festival Tips and Etiquette

With all the Festivals coming up i just thought i'd provide you with a community service announcement for both my comfort and yours...


1. Pace Yourself: There is nothing worse than passing out before the headline act. Festivals are long, and the amount of good talent that just screams moshpit is huge. Make sure you prioritise, make sacrifices...
Can you sit back for these guys? Have you made time for food?...because at the end of the day you are there for the headline, and when they play, you will want to go nuts.

2. Eat and Drink: you might get to about 1 or 2 and develop sunstroke... this is common due to the fact that festivals usually end up on the hottest days (or the wettest... sorry parklife..). The last thing you will want to do is eat, but this is a lie... eat dammit... because once that heat stroke wears off you will feel more tired than ever. Lunch is important, Water more so.

3. Aim for the middle: You're standing in the mosh, to the right... or the left... the speaker is right next to you... the band plays.... you go deaf. Enough said?

4. Don't feel bad about straying from the group: There will be disagreements, it comes with the territory. Not everyone will want to see the same band. That's ok. Go on your own. You are in Festival land,  everyone is just as into music as you are and so it wont be hard to make friends, and when your favorite band comes on you won't care a bit that your mates are off somewhere else... its just you and the music! Just make sure you can find them after. Its all about the music.

5. Don't be a Douche: I had to break this one up... its a big subject.

  - Keep your fucking shirt on: It's hot, we all feel it... what we don't want to feel is your sweat, which is what you are rubbing all over us, sure you have been at the gym all week, good for you. Noone cares.

  - You are not the only one here: Just because you think you're top shit does not make you invincible to me knifing you. If you are in a mosh and need to get out the simple words "excuse me" are enough. Don't just walk through people like you are the only one there, you are not... and in terms of importance i think i just stepped in something more important than you on the way in...

  - Stop beating women: Mosh circles are something that noone can stop... but if you feel the need to run into someone for the sake of it make sure they want you to run into them. Girls don't like to be bodyslammed. Think you fucking morons.


Hope this enlightens and educates... have fun, be cool, respect your fellow music lovers... peace in the Fest!

Track 2: Amanda Palmer

What is it about the piano that makes it so good for rock and roll?
Something about the complex wavy chords floating in between drums and guitar that adds a richness to the sound, a catchy melody that makes a song stick. Maybe its the fact that the piano doesn't need any other instruments, as Ben folds has proven with his latest tour.

Amanda Palmer knows this too well.
One half of the Brechtian punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls Amanda temporarily strayed into solo work in 2008 with her release of Who Killed Amanda Palmer. Assisted by Ben Folds on keys this album showed that Amanda was just as strong on her own as she was in the Duo. The Deep sounding arrangements of heavy pounding piano work overlayed with equally rich but ever so bitter lyrics this was a really well produced album that always left you finding new things within it each time you listened.
Amanda knew about the secret of piano rock. She hired one of the best.

To me Amanda Palmer has been my anger middle ground. If i am really pissed off i will listen to Rage against the Machine or Metallica.... if i am happy i will listen to Ben Folds, or the Beatles. But if i am neither, if my day has been lousy but i am heading home away from it all, nothing is better. The lyrics are so well crafted, songs ranging from someone playing Guitar hero... to a jaunty tune about getting drunk and taken advantage upon at a party. Amanda definitely has a thing for words.
She doesn't let you  get used to what you are hearing, just when you think she is cold and dark she throws in a cover of Rodgers and Hammersteins 'What's the Use of Wond'rin', a light piece that when juxtapositioned against the other tracks has an entirely different, possibly darker feel to it.
And throughout this, the piano makes itself known. Ben folds accompanies amanda really well... not overpowering, but still making himself known, and it couldn't be a better team up.

I am happy Amanda Palmer is back with the Dresden Dolls... but i am also glad she gave this one peice of herself... listen to this and judge for yourself.

Triple J Unearthed Search of the Week:

"Sounds like" - Amanda Palmer

 

 Girl with Cake (Brisbane QLD)

http://www.triplejunearthed.com/artists/view.aspx?artistid=498

Song:Dead Girl

Website: www.myspace.com/thenancies

Sounding more like the Yeah yeah yeahs these guys have got some good sounds. The Lead singer Sarah Vardy definatly has takena cue off of Patience Hodgeson, her voice high in range and emotion. Would be great to see in concert. Lovin the angry chick rock!

Kage: (Central Coast, NSW)

http://www.triplejunearthed.com/artists/view.aspx?artistid=876

Song:6-21

Website: www.headmess.com

Great cinematic sounds, rolling piano and a heavy dance beat. Harmonies between the two vocalists are effective and this band seem comfortable in this style. A lot of potential here.