Blog: 50 Records

In an earlier post I introduced a series based on exposing and exploring the incestuous relationships between movies and music. As noted, musicians have often made cameo appearances in movies, musical or otherwise. One of my personal favorites is (of course) Jack White's rendition of a kung-fu savvy "King of Rock 'n' Roll" in the 2007 comedy, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. A relentlessly hysterical spoof of pretty much any music bio-pic one could think of. Watch WALK HARD clip “The King” en [...]

May we interest you in a little som'n som'n to cleanse your palate...or slit you tongue... and for the main course may I recommend the "Man's Bread"... -Emma Jeanmarie

It may not yet be the year 2095, but California still knows how to party and there's nothin' old school about the cinema and sounds that'll be bustin' through southern CA in the next few months. For all of you cinemafiles headed to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, get on the ball and catch the short Ana's Playground . Directed by Eric Howell and accomplished through donations, it is a film with a purpose about children in the midst of armed [...]

I was recently introduced to an epic film that not only rose to #2 on my list of movies most admired, but gave rise to an idea for a series of posts that will be collectively called "The Sound of Cinema". Music and movies have a grand history together so, because of the scope of the subject each post will have a set of parameters to which it must adhere. Realizing that several artists/films may have overlap in each category, I will try not to make mention of them in more that one post. Nor will I attempt [...]

Rock the Cause is a non-profit organization aiming to raise awareness, visibility, and membership for non-profits through Rock and Roll. Scott Herold, CEO of Rock the Cause, realized a need to involve the young generations with their community as the baby boomers retire. Rock the Cause takes a grass roots route by using Rock and Roll to engage younger generations to take notice and volunteer in their community. Rock the Cause aims to create awareness and to generate an aspiring attitude in youth. Thus far, Rock the Cause has shown significant impact through their events: 40% of audience [...]

I have been a paying member of Pandora for at least 5 months now. I have to say that before that I was an avid listener of the free commercial version, but I wasn’t impressed. At first I fought against listening to online radio because it was easier to listen to what I wanted by bringing my ipod to work and hooking it up to the speakers. After awhile though I started to tire of songs I have been listening to for years. I turned to Pandora through a recommendation for music that I was not originally accustomed too. I [...]

This video has been around for a while, but I thought I'd put it out there for anyone who hasn't had a chance to check it out yet. Enjoy... -Tim

Rolling Stone posted an article which explained a deal made between John Mellencamp and his son, Speck. According to RS, if Speck can get at least 1,000,000 people to join the group John Cougar will quit his habit. Apparently, the man has already cut his habit down a bit from 4 packs a day to an unspecified number less. As of now, about 300,000 people have joined the fight against John Mellencamp’s freedom to get cancer. I’m not sure why, but this whole thing makes me laugh. I thought there were [...]

Along with all the lists of the top songs and albums of the decade, Rolling Stone has made an entertaining list of artists' shenanigans that stood out the most over the past 10 years . The list is long (surprised? of course not), but here are my personal favorites: • Ashley Simpson's lip syncing on Saturday Night Live and avoiding an awkward moment by doing a jig • Madonna adopts an orphan that wasn't really orphaned • A bald Britney Spears attacks a papa-paparazzi car with an umbrella-ella-ella [...]

Speaking of trippy videos , check out the new music video by Islands for the song "No You Won't" featuring Michael Cera. They start the video off by text labeling it as a "zero tolerance production" for a "high school academic anti-drug supplementary." Then, we get to follow Cera as he pops some pills and wanders around tripping out for a bit. Smart move on their part, recruiting Cera for the project, which will likely bring a lot more buzz to the Canadian group's video, as well as more attention to [...]

To segue from my last post , "Who needs to buy a guitar?" After several months of being pommeled by the advertising industry telling me what I "need" this past holiday season, I seriously contemplated becoming more of a Luddite than I already am, until I came across this little set-up that transported me back to the techno-fantasy world that often prevails. These are speakers that fit into any standard light sockets. [...]

Maybe/Maybe not; but the new video for “Brother Sport” off of the Merriweather Post Pavillion album is a trip in itself. The video features crazy psychedelic visuals that seem to complement most of the band's work. The video, which appeared this morning on the My Animal Home Website , features strange children, eggs, hypnotizing Pink Floyd-esque artwork, and one of the weirdest finger-painting sessions ever. “Brother Sport” is the 3rd single off the band’s latest album following “My Girls” and “Summertime Clothes.” Check it out. -Keaton

For more videos from ELEVATION check out their YouTube Channel

Unless you've been hiding in a hermit hole during the last few weeks, you've been inundated by "best of" lists touting opinions that may or may not be agreeable. Generally, I find myself in disagreement with the idea of such lists since opinion, particularly in the arts, is often relative. I tend to disregard the categorical aspect of these lists, but from them make my own list of work I have never seen/heard of before and try to remedy that disparity. This year however, I would like to give a nod to Jack White, who is well [...]

All I have to say is, "it’s about time"! Everyone needs to take part in being environmentally responsible. It’s really refreshing to see celebrities with so much money and power making a commitment to bettering our planet. The U2 360° Tour has committed to net zero emissions for their global tour. The producers of the tour, LiveNation, are in the works of producing the largest concert tour in history with an environmentally responsible policy. The Environmental Advisor is a Minneapolis-based company Music Matters . Music Matters "...is dedicated to advancing sustainability and marketing in the music and [...]

Here's the official music video for "Forever Young" off of Jay-Z's most recent album The Blueprint 3. It features Mr. Hudson of Mr. Hudson and the Library. The track samples the beat and adopts the hook from an Alphaville song of the same name . Now, generally everything Jay-Z touches is gold, but I feel like this track is merely 1 karat. I love the original song ('80's nostalgia), but it's a bit slow for Mr. Carter and his rap style(s). [...]

As a long-time follower of Pandora Radio , I’ve watched them start-up, almost fail and then keep on keeping on. I’ve shared a few articles about them in the past ( Here ). In 2004, I was a paying member of this Internet music service. A paying member gets “special” treatment and that means – no advertisements in my way on the web page, just straight music. When I met president and founder, Tim Westergren, in 2007 he asked me, “Why are you paying? You are probably the only one who does!” I [...]

In less than two weeks we will be stumbling our way into another year! With the holidays still left to endure it's difficult to think about where you want to be when that ball drops at Midnight. House party? On a couch w/ a loved one? Drunk outside The Drink in Uptown? Well, the Twin Cities' music scene is giving you plenty of reasons to spend your last seconds of 2009 at a concert venue near you. Some of the best in local talent are throwing killer parties throughout our little metropolitan area. Here's three that are [...]

Eddie Vedder is finally engaged to his longtime girlfriend. The Pearl Jam singer-songwriter popped the question Friday night in Washington D.C. The couple were in D.C. to attend the Kennedy Center Honors Gala where Vedder performed paying tribute to honoree Bruce Springsteen. The two already have two children together (Vedder and his fiancee, not Springsteen). First of all, it’s awesome Vedder is engaged. Congrats. However I’m a little surprised. I never saw him as the marrying kind. He’s already been married and divorced once, but that isn’t [...]

So I gave you the top albums of the decade , but a recap would not be complete without mentioning those not-so-stellar contributions to music over the past ten years. You all can admit to jamming out to these songs (while alone in your car...or drunk) and I don’t blame you. While they are catchy songs and aren’t necessarily bad, they definitely fall into the category of "guilty pleasures". For fun, 11points.com has posted their 11 most embarrassing songs of the 2000’s (recap listed below). Enjoy revisiting the past! 11. Miley Cyrus – [...]