Danger Mouse and Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) have apparently teamed up with direct David Lynch to release an album. The initial idea was for the album to be released packaged with a series of photos taken by Lynch. But due to a some indisclosed legal issues with EMI, for the time being, the album will be released as the booklet of photographs along with a blank recordable CD-R that will be labled as such: “For legal reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.” Hopefully they will get these unfortunate issues worked out soon so they can release the record for all to hear. Until then, you can go to NPR for an “Excluse First Listen.” I listened to the album once through and it was definitely dark and haunting. But it was also very beautiful and multifaceted. This album was able to evoke a plethora of emotions in me in just a 45 minute span.
Although Danger Mouse and Linkous were the brains behind this project and did the bulk of the songwriting, they weren’t without help. Dark Night of the Soul is filled with many vocal guest stars, including The Flaming Lips, Black Francis, James Mercer of the Shins, Iggy Pop and more. One of the highlights of the album for me was actually one of the more chipper and lighthearted tracks, “Daddy’s Gone,” sung by Linkous and Nina Persson of The Cardigans. But there was hardly a song I didn’t enjoy. So head on over to NPR and check it out.
Waxploitation records has just released the second installment of their ongoing benefit series for Darfur. 100% of all profits made on this stellar compilation will go to Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, and Oxfam America. Each of these three organizations are doing incredible things to help those suffering from the crises taking place in Darfur.
Several of the best indie artists in the business have donated rare and exclusive songs for this great cause. So I encourage you to go to iTunes or Amazon and download these tracks. It is a great way to get some new music and love your neighbor at the same time. You should also check out Causes 1, which is also loaded with great artists, such as Bright Eyes, The Shins, Spoon and Death Cab. And if you go to the Causes store, you can buy both albums for just $17.
Tracklist for Causes 2
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Happy Melted City
The Decemberists – After The Bombs (Live Version)
Devendra Banhart – White Reggae Troll
Diplo – Wassup Wassup (Exclusive Samim Remix)
Federico Aubele – Luna y Sol
Gnarls Barkley – Mystery Man
LCD Soundsystem – Starry Eyes Original (Causes Exclusive)
My Morning Jacket – Highly Suspicious (VHS or Beta DJs Remix)
Matthew Dear – When She Don’t Need Me (Causes Exclusive)
Mum – Asleep In A Hiding Place
Neon Neon – I Lust U Feat. Cate le Bon (DJ Eli Escobar Remix)
Richard Swift – Wastin’ M’Time
RJD2 – Wherever
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – It Hurts To Be Alone
Tim & Eric – Petite Feet (Exclusive Devlin & Ghostdad Remix Feat. Sylvia Gordon)
Alas, the summer of ’08 is rapidly coming to an end. It certainly has been a hot and expensive one (darn you opec!). It was a summer of flip flops; such as the changing stance of an effective energy solution from both presidential candidates, as well as the god of Wisconsin football Brett Farve deciding to yet again try another year in the nfl, after vowing earier this April that this past season was his last. It was a summer of darkness; This coming from Christopher Nolan’s truly great film “The Dark Knight” which has broken just about every box office record, and truly gave us a glimpse of the genius which was the late Heath Ledger……sorry i got a bit sentimental….deep breath…..and (exhale)…I’m ok. But one thing that really struck me late this summer (other than falling debree from trees, i helped landscape as a summer job) has been the impact a film can have on a song, or the impact a song can have on a film. I’m sure if your reading this your thinking, “man JC I’d like you to explain this ‘impact’ phenomon in greater detail” well guess what, I think I will.
First, I will start with the impact a film can have on a song by highlighting the song by Savage known as “Swing!”. Now this song has become very popular in the last three months. Yet as I recently began hearing it on the radio, I thought I recalled hearing it somwhere earlier. And guess what interested reader. I had heard it earlier. To be more precise, I heard it exactly a year earlier in the film “Knocked Up”. But the song wasn’t popular last year when Knocked Up was orginally released…hmmm why did it just recently gain in popularity? Upon thinking about how I remembered the song, I came up with a hypothesis: the song “Swing!” was played during the dvd menu for Knocked Up. So if I’m waiting to start the dvd, the song will continually loop over and over again. Well this summer, it must’ve gotten stuck in a lot of peoples heads as they bought/rented the dvd when it came out in december, and requests probably started getting made for local music stations to play this song. And four months later you have a massive snowball effect and a hit song due to a film.
Now ironically the song I’m highlighting that has made an impact on a film is another Seth Rogan movie and it is this years’ Pineapple Express. I have not seen the film and don’t plan to until it comes out on dvd, but what I can say is this is what most people looking at seeing the film have said to me in regard to film. “Yeah Pineapple Express looks funny in the previews, and I really like that song.” I have literally heard this from well over five individuals. The song is M.I.A.’s Paper Planes that has taken off by hitching itself to a highly anticapated film. But I genuinely feel that the likablitly of this song will impact peoples decisions on whether or not they want to view this film. I mean just look at the impact the symbiotic relationship had for the film Gardenstate, and look what Gardenstate did for The Shins!
Ok, so it’s not rocket science. Songs help films. Films help songs. But heck, I thought it was somthing worth taking note of. Oh and I want to aplogize to my readers for the lack of posting. I’ll be writing more reguarlly from now on, be looking for an album review of this summers hottest rap album Tha Carter…yeah that will be interesting until then, enjoy the summer olympics.
There are a few things that get me to sit on my butt and stare at a television set all day long and not regret doing so. And on that short list along with March Madness and the World Cup, is the Olympics. The Olympics is the most recent addition to this list, because 2004 was the first time I really watched the Olympics. And then I only really watched it because I wanted to spend time with this really hot girl I liked (who I later decided to marry). Anyway I decided that this event was worth of a post. So here is my post in honor of the opening ceremonies for the Olympics.
So China in my opinion really raised the bar when it came to the opening ceremonies. I really enjoyed watching the theatrics of it all. They continued to just wow the crowd and the millions watching all over the world. So in honor of the events that have taken place and are going to be happening for next couple of weeks, I have created a little olympic-style playlist for you all. If you like you can leave a comment and vote for your favorite songs and then maybe I’ll hand out some medals. Anyway. Here is the playlist. Hope your ears bleed.
Danger Mouse and Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) have apparently teamed up with direct David Lynch to release an album. The initial idea was for the album to be released packaged with a series of photos taken by Lynch. But due to a some indisclosed legal issues with EMI, for the time being, the album will be released as the booklet of photographs along with a blank recordable CD-R that will be labled as such: “For legal reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.” Hopefully they will get these unfortunate issues worked out soon so they can release the record for all to hear. Until then, you can go to NPR for an “Excluse First Listen.” I listened to the album once through and it was definitely dark and haunting. But it was also very beautiful and multifaceted. This album was able to evoke a plethora of emotions in me in just a 45 minute span.
There are a few things that get me to sit on my butt and stare at a television set all day long and not regret doing so. And on that short list along with March Madness and the World Cup, is the Olympics. The Olympics is the most recent addition to this list, because 2004 was the first time I really watched the Olympics. And then I only really watched it because I wanted to spend time with this really hot girl I liked (who I later decided to marry). Anyway I decided that this event was worth of a post. So here is my post in honor of the opening ceremonies for the Olympics.
