themelomaniac2

[themelomaniac2]

Backstage free eats #thenextbigthing #samsung #androidisbetter

[themelomaniac2]

The view from my oatmeal this morning.

[themelomaniac2]

Not Spanish but Latino still. Sweet, crisp and my favourite word for white - aromatic. Perfect with pizza at Una for instance.

[themelomaniac2]

I'm back and excited about music again

I got suddenly excited about music again tonight. I was working on my Outside Lands playlist and it just hit me. I need to get to bed but I wanted to share one thing I'm really looking forward to in SFO in two weeks! New Santigold album plus I'm hoping for lots of old stuff, I've never seen her live and I think it's going to be amazing.

  Enjoy and look for more from me in the coming days and weeks as I go festival crazy.

[themelomaniac2]

The Hunger Games - Book, Music and the Movie

I know this is a music blog but I saw The Hunger Games movie last night and I really wanted to share. Plus, I will include the soundtrack in my review.

The casting is perfect, they made it a little gritty with the production design and camera work, the acting was amazing, the music was bang on and overall the 2.5 hours flies by and you don't want it to end. It's very real, District 12 was depressing and the people shots when showing it were like a sad documentary about a dying mining community today. The capital is just what I envisioned and the capital people are impressive, it's not too cheesey with the wild hair and make up but just right to see how extravagance gets crazy when people lose touch with what real suffering is. I was worried Jennifer Lawrence would be too old for Katniss, too sexy or something but she's has the slightly bratty defiant teenager that had to grow up too soon perfectly. I didn't really like her in X-Men origins but she's the perfect Katniss. I cried when Rue died, they flashed to the start of the rebellion in District 11 and except for the uniforms the peace keepers where it could almost be footage from any rebellion we've seen in the news recently, clips from Arab spring news coverage popped in to my mind. Jennifer's emotion is so raw and the little actor who played Rue can't help but pull you in.

I was impressed mostly with the feel of it, I was expecting a little more teen focused drama such as the cheese of Twilight or the huge effects of Harry Potter but it was neither. It was very true to the book. It calls to attention the themes of war and portrays it's warning to society clearly yet still wrapped with style. A youth movie about a highly controlled oppressive government that creates a society where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer where the heroine is a unwilling participant but must step up anyway seems awfully timely. The conspiracy theorist in me starts to wonder how this got made? But the art and movie lover just thinks everyone should read the books and go see it.

I can't wait until the next two come out!

My dad and I are proper movie goers who sit through the credits at the end (there was over 50 hairstylists on the crew) so we sat and listened to the soundtrack that featured popular artists' songs that aren't actually included throughout the movie. The movie soundtrack is mainly instrumental but there is a soundtrack called The Hunger Games - Songs from District 12 and beyond. I downloaded it as soon as I got home as it features a new Arcade Fire song called Abraham's Daughter. The whole soundtrack is fantastic and does take you right into the head of Katniss, the residents of District 12 and the other oppressed districts. There's a beautiful Miranda Lambert song (I know you're thinking, Country? You don't listen to Country!) but listen it's heart wrenching.

Read the books, get the album, see the movie, in that order!

[themelomaniac2]

Madonna Disappointment

I bought tickets about a month ago to see Madonna in Chicago in September. It's a really big deal because I bought them for my little sister's 27th birthday! We have been listening, dancing and full out performing to Madonna since we could remember. Our first cd (we had to share it) was the Madonna Immaculate Collection. We listened to it so much I vaguely remember having to get a second one.

Our favourite song was Like a Prayer, we had a full act to it and sang whole heartedly along with it. This was before the hundreds of song lyric websites existed and for some reason the CD jacket did not have the lyrics in it so we sang what we thought were the lyrics for years. When the song slows down and she sings:

It's like a dream, no end and no beginning.You're here with me, it's like a dream. Let the choir sing.

My sister and I thought that last song that takes the song into the next section was "lepra choising" or something similar. We thought it was latin or something because the song was abour praying (although we weren't raised catholic so maybe that's just my grown up justification for my 8 year old stupidity). It hit us one day and we both were so pumped we knew all the words after years of being wrong and not even knowing it. We still argue over who had the epiphany in the middle of our routine. 

This is where my love of Madonna stems from; childhood dancing, singing and rocking out with my sister. 

In preparation of the first time ever seeing Madonna in concert this September I bought the new album; MDNA. It's not good. On most of the songs she barely sounds like Madonna, her voice is way too altered. The songs are trying to hard to be edgy. It's like if Lady GaGa sucked this would be the album. I'm actually disgusted with the Martin Solveig produced Give me all your Luvin', it's really bad. After having the Martin Solveig with Dragonette song Hello on repeat for over a year I just can't believe how bad he botched Madonna, well I give her credit for botching herself as well. 

I just can't get into it. I will try for my old memories sake to get on board before the concert but it's going to take some serious effort.

Maybe just maybe there's one song that's starting to grow on me, Gang Bang, the title is a bit off putting but it's got a lot of relationship anger and a cool beat that I can see working out too and thinking about a certain person while I pound the pavement or beat a punching bag. 

Last lines of the song: Now if you're gonna act like a bitch  Then you're gonna die like a bitch

Ok - pretty violent but hey, it's just art.

As part of my review writing practice after I'm done I like to read other reviews, Rolling Stone was a lot more generous but Pitchfork and I are on the same page this round. 

For old times sake (and because I just couldn't share one of the new songs) here's my favourite Madonna.

[themelomaniac2]

Sled Island time is nearing.

The sneak peeks for Sled Island have started to roll in, which means I need to start building my preparation play list. I'm going to start at the top with renewing my knowledge and sometimes love of good Calgary girl Feist. 

[themelomaniac2]

Faking it with Lana Del Rey.

Ok, I've been meaning to post this one for a couple weeks now and maybe because it's an average review I just haven't had the motivation to get it done.

I was waiting for Lana Del Rey's first full length album to be released January 31 (she released another full length album in 2010 under her real name Lizzy Grant) after loving the song Video Games that was released in the fall. I accidentally read Pitchfork's review of the album before I had go to it though. It was not a positive review and I didn't rush home to buy the album after reading it.

I have now listened to the entire new Lana Del Rey album Born to Die. Overall I give it a 7/10 (Pitchfork only gave it a 5.5). No song on the album comes close to touch the eerily beautiful and unique Video Games but there are a couple songs that are good. I enjoy Radio it might because I love the line "Now my life is sweet like cinnamon Like a fucking dream I'm living in." Too bad this song with lyrics that are so positive sounds so sad.

I am still going to try and avoid reviews until I've developed my own opinions but I am in complete agreement with the review of Born to Die on Pitchfork by Lindsay Zoladz. I also love the last line in the review "For all of its coos about love and devotion, it's the album equivalent of a faked orgasm-- a collection of torch songs with no fire."

I have a feeling Lana Del Rey fakes it a lot. Hopefully her voice is put to better use next time. 

So that she doesn't leave you too cheated here's Video Games

[themelomaniac2]

Miike Snow for Swedish Tuesday.

Ok, so Swedish Tuesday isn't a thing yet, but maybe I'll make it happen. Or maybe it should be Swedish Sunday or Saturday? Mmm, I do love the tunes coming out of Sweden so maybe I'll make it happen.

Miike Snow is another band that I seem to have overlooked in recent years, and I feel ashamed to admit it because I love them. I was a little confused about who they are so I did a little looking around. Miike Snow is two Swedish producers; Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg and American Andrew Wyatt. Karlsson and Winnberg produced under the moniker Bloodshy and Avant. They worked with such mainstream pop big hitters as Britney Spears, Madonna and Kylie Minogue. The Miike Snow project is not mainstream pop sounding at all. It's mellow classic instrument sounds mixed with easy synth electronic. Pitchfork's review slammed their initial release in 2009 so it will be interesting what they say when the new album "Happy to you" is fully released as the first track "Padding Out" sounds very similar to the first album.

Check them out:

The new song can be found on their website:

http://www.miikesnow.com/

and a great song with a super weird/awesome/random

[themelomaniac2]

Cold Saturday yoga music.

It was -50 this week so the -20 of today feels almost balmy, well not really. To get warm I'm headed to hot yoga. I'm actually not a fan of the usual yoga music with chanting and indian instrumental so when I practice at home I listen to beautiful, calm and inspiring music from my own collection. My favourite yoga at home song is Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Wonderfull World by the Hawaiian singer Israel "IZ" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole. It always makes me appreciative.

[themelomaniac2]

Friday throwback.

I know this one is way before my time but it's one of my favourite videos from the good 'ol days of MTV and MuchMusic. 

Happy Friday, Enjoy!

[themelomaniac2]

Covers I'm loving.

The last few weeks have been filled with some amazing covers. Some courtesy of The Burning Ear some I managed to discover on my own and some from other sources.

Here's a few I'm really really loving:

Where is my mind - Sunday Girl (Pixies cover)

Rolling in the Deep - John Legend (Adele cover)

No ones gonna love you - Cee-lo (Band of Horses cover) - this is one I've mentioned loving before

And today's obsession, perhaps because the lyrics are very timely for me but also because it's unique and retro at the same time it's super smooth easy listening. I can't wait to get home and buy the entire album for the original song.

You have to actually watch the video for this not just hear it, five people playing one guitar. The song is Someone I used to know by Goyte the link below is a cover by Walk off the earth.

And here's the original:

[themelomaniac2]

Hello 2012.

I'm going to welcome 2012 in with a farily quiet night at a pub with some close friends. I've decided that my NYE album is going to be M83's Hurry up, We're Dreaming that was released in October. 

I've had Midnight City on repeat this morning already and Wait just seems to match my mood lately; bittersweet and hopeful. 

[themelomaniac2]

Adios 2011.

2011 was not my most musical of years but as always music was still ever present. I had some epic adventures that definitely had music in the background. I was trying to think of one song on my drive to work today that represented 2011 to me. The only one that I could come up with was Someone Like You by Adele. I loved the song when it was released, I sang it at the top of my lungs in a convertible in California with my love and then I cried to it when that love broke my heart. As he was breaking my heart he also brought up that he had always hated Adele and only put up with her for me (says a little something about the relationship and how it ended).  I know it's awfully mainstream for many out there but too bad. Adele can sing and this song will always have a spot that reminds me of 2011 now.

[themelomaniac2]

Goals, resolutions and what not.

Ok, the blog failed in 2011. Not a good blog with one post. I did experience some great music in 2011 but not as much as 2010. I was a little distracted by some other parts of life and I reverted to some old favourites and allowed other influencers to take me on their musical histories instead of experiencing my own present. I will get back to these others in a post one day but today is about prepping for 2012. Resolution pertaining to this blog: I will blog.

With that resolve top of mind I'll share a blog that inspires me to get in the game, theburningear.com. Brandon has great taste in music and is a great source to find the new indie, electronic and much more. It's an easy to experience blog with solid content. Add it to your twitter feeds! Oh on top of remembering to blog I also resolve to start a melomaniac twitter account... 

http://www.theburningear.com/

[themelomaniac2]

2011 and Metric's iTunes Session

Ah shit, yet another blog I have almost abandoned. New job with a new year means I'm going to change my goals a little bit for this. Shorter more frequent posts. More about sharing my music loves than rambling about why the love. There will still be some rambling but only when I have time. 

Now for the music love. Metric released an iTunes session on Jan 18th in Canada. Stripped down and rebuilt versions of some of their greatest songs and a new cover of a Buffalo Springfield song, "Expecting to Fly". The video is amazing and the song is beautiful, highlighting Emily's voice perfectly.

 Also check out the rearrangement of "Gimme Sympathy" the string section is beautiful and I now love this song that didn't stand out for me before.

[themelomaniac2]

Nostalgia - Ben Harper

I received a Merry Christmas text from my first love. Aww yes, lovely. He's the only ex I'm in contact with still and really it's only a couple of phone calls a year and a few random messages but I'm glad he was and is in my life. Love, sex, dating, men and music have been pretty closely tied together for me. I can't date someone with bad taste in music. I know this makes me sound like a music snob, but it's something that's so important to me. If the person I'm dating can't identify with it I know we won't go anywhere. 

Luckily I have dated some wonderful guys who have amazing taste in music, and when you meet and spend time with another melomaniac you discover so much more music. Evenings spent together sharing your favourite songs and artists are simply magical for people like me. This is likely to be a recurring theme on this blog as I have been introduced to some of my most favourite bands by lovers. 

Anyway after I got the text from first love I was thinking about the music we shared. One summer many many years ago we drove out to Vancouver to see Ben Harper and Jack Johnson. The text made me realize that I hadn't listened to Ben Harper in ages. He's one of the best guitar players I've ever seen, when he flies over his lap slide and croons into the microphone, the first love was at once forgotten for the sexy Ben and yet will always be remembered when I hear Ben.