Friday, May 29, 2009

Best Movie Songs

All right, Best Movies Songs. So I'm the kind of person who will completely pause my life just so I can get the lyrics and name of a song I hear on TV or in a movie. Mostly movies, since I don't watch many of those "niche" TV shows that play new artists (Grey's Anatomy, et all), I just READ about what songs they played.

Anyway, let's begin. Here is a list of some songs I have stumbled upon while watching a movie (which is about the only time I'm not actively looking for new music...guh).

1. Mason Jennings - Which Way Your Heart Will Go
From Ghost Town (2008 version)

2. The Pixies - Where Is My Mind
From Fight Club

3. Elliot Smith - Angeles
From Good Will Hunting

4. The Kinks - Nothing In This World Can Stop Me Worryin' 'Bout That Girl
From Rushmore

5. The Shins - New Slang
From Garden State

6. Coldplay - Don't Panic
From Igby Goes Down

And there you are. As you can see, I went for quality, not quantity, and if there were any more songs on the list they would probably be from the Rushmore and Garden State soundtracks (which everyone has probably already heard to death by now and will call me an asshat for mentioning). A notable song that almost made the cut in Best Movie Songs is Hash-Pipe by Weezer, but I thought the experience for that is kind of non-existent seeing as I already knew the song/artist when I saw it in the Emmy Award-Winning movie American Pie 2.

Lanae' Hale - Free Music

Lanae Hale - Back & Forth...I think I'm in love? I was watching the local news today and saw who I thought was some fly-by-night Jewel wannabe, nothing special...but after I heard her song Back & Forth (from the album of the same name), I was utterly f'n hooked.

Give her a try and let me know what you think of my future wife.

Download the song Back & Forth here (zip file):
http://www.wgntv.com/news/liveperformances/wgntv-music-lanaehale-052909,0,6172122.story

Listen to samples of other songs off Back & Forth:
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Forth/dp/B0029N909S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1243623741&sr=8-2

Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist

Ah, the Smashing Pumpkins. The band that changes members more often than Mariah Carey changes shoes. 2007 marked the return of Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlain and two new members who I STILL can't remember the names of. Regardless, the new SP released Zeitgeist which was for the most part critically panned by critics and most die-hard fans because it wasn't another Siamese Dream, or even Machina. The first single they released was "Tarantula," a song that really got a lot of heads turning, kind words lavished, and sparkly doe-eyed fans looking forward to the new album with much hope and positivity. As expected, it was all a set-up!

Well...not really. Not every song had the same old SP feel as Turantula, but most of the songs were beautifully poetic and rockin'. I've personally loved Zeitgeist ever since I picked it up on a village-drowning rainy day in July. It was the perfect way to sink into relentlessly dark and angsty songs like Bleeding The Orchid and 7 Shades Of Black. Though, there WAS one big letdown in the fact that the album came in so many special editions - at least 6 - that I couldn't decide which one to get. However, I was more than satisfied with my pick: the "default" red album with the bonus track "Zeitgeist" (which, correct me if I'm wrong...was a Target-exclusive).

If you know SP your faith in them has probably dwindled after hearing about Jimmy Chamberlain leaving the band...but who cares? We're all still going to buy the next album to see where Billy Corgan takes things next, and how many different colored albums he's going to try and make us collect. Anyway, if you're new to SP start with the older stuff and listen to it IN ORDER if you can. It's the best way to experience how they - mostly Billy - changed over time.

Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist - comes in more colors than Kool-Aid.

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes' self-titled album Fleet Foxes is an interesting little adventure. Listening to the whole album is akin to sitting on a hill and watching the sun go down. It's an all-around great album - songs like Quiet Houses and White Winter Hymnal absolutely brim with breathless beauty (seek out the latter's music video, nice stop-motion). I should note that one of their best songs - Mykonos - is only available on The Sun Giant EP. Which is just as good as Fleet Foxes. Give the songs a listen, and I'm sure you'll want to hear more.

Fleet Foxes - Quiet House:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugxXqqGepCU

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrQRS40OKNE

Fleet Foxes - Mykonos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeiRe4Qp9Dw

New Music Out Now

Here is a list of New Music Out Now (all released this week):

Eminem - Relapse
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Marylin Manson - The High End Of Low

If you pick any of these up, feel free to post your thoughts on them. I personally picked up Relapse, am I'm still on the fence about Grizzly Bear, and I never really cared to get into Marilyn Manson (all I know are his singles, which is bad of me I'm sure...but regardless, I did like most of them). Also, if I miss anything feel free to bitch-slap me.

Expect another New Music Out Now post this Sunday.

Random Music Playlist vol. 2

Here is another Random Music Playlist for you. Feel free to comment and tell me what kind of music you like and I'll go ahead and try to put together a decent playlist for you (I do it all the time for my friends...I mean several DOZEN times a day), I'd gladly do it.

Random Music Playlist vol. 2


1. Butthole Surfers - Pepper
2. Bloodhound Gang - Along Comes Mary
3. Tonic - Knock Down Walls
4. Burden Brothers - Beautiful Night
5. Hoobastank - All About You

Like it? Don't like it? Let me know.

Radiohead - In Rainbows

Radiohead's latest album In Rainbows was truly the highlight of last year for me. From Radiohead's clever little "go to our site and download our album...and pay us whatever you want" attention-seeking album build-up, to the song Reckoner, it was just such a memorable experience...ESPECIALLY on vinyl. Seriously, listen to In Rainbows on vinyl and there's no comparison, and I'm not saying that as if I'm a bias vinyl-divotee...I own maybe 12 records, tops. Point is, it's just so much "warmer," so if you can, seek out the vinyl. Mwah.

Album art (pretty crazy):



Check out the song "Reckoner" here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBalSWs5ngY

Feel feel to state your thoughts and opinions on In Rainbows below.

Random Music Playlist vol. 1

Here is a Random Music Playlist that I recently put together:

1. Third Eye Blind - An Ode To maybe
2. Barenaked Ladies - Down To Earth
3. Joshua Radin - Brand New Day
4. Beck - Modern Guilt
5. Stars - Look Up

Like it? Don't like it? Let me know.


Air Traffic - Fractured Life

If you like Radiohead then you'll probably like Air Traffic. The lead singer not only sounds a lot like Thom Yorke, he even looks a bit like him too. I can't say they have as much depth and genius as Radiohead, but their new album Fractured Life has a few great songs on it like Charlotte and No Running Away. The latter songs drums sounds a lot like the ones on "There There" by Radiohead.

Oh and of course Shooting Star (the bread and butter of the album).
Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-rsQ2e_Gls

Feel feel to state your thoughts and opinions on Fractured Life below.

Beck - Modern Guilt

Modern Guilt is Beck's latest album, released mid-08. Personally I think it's a 4+ star effort. Much better than The Information.


Album art:



Check out his Itunes-exclusive track "TimeBomb":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWtZ1TqMq4g

Feel feel to state your thoughts and opinions on Modern Guilt below.

Dave Matthews Band - new album

Dave Matthews Band's new album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King will be released on June 2 according to Amazon.com. So far I've heard nothing but good things, even so much as people hailing at as their best album yet. Big claims, indeed. Let's hope it's true.

Album art:



Check out the bonus track "Beach ball":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1IoSj-Q4OE

Feel feel to state your thoughts and opinions on said album below.

Welcome to Songsnack Music Reviews

Welcome to Songsnack Music Reviews. Where we have an absolutely tasty array of song/album recommendations. Basically the aim here is to give you short and concise recommendations of music you should listen to and/or skip, new album releases, singles, reviews, etc.

Let's not waste any more time - "song snackage" forthwith.