Gotye – Making Mirrors

Having come out last year in many places around the world. Gotye’s Making Mirrors had much hype around its U.S. release.
The first song I heard from the album was the first U.S. single “Somebody That I Used To Know”. Having known Gotye for only that one song I felt the rest of the album would be the same. It was a great surprise to hear that was not the cause. Making Mirrors is an album that could have been released years earlier and not feel out-of-place. Elements of 70′s soft rock,80′s new wave, mid 90′s alternative rock can be heard through the album. It’s experimental pop at its best. Each song has its own feel, style and sound which allows for the songs to stand out, sound fresh, and in a way be appealing for a wide audience. With so many styles I feel everyone can find a song they will like in this album. What holds the album together the clear division of an, A-Side and a B-Side. The A-side has a lighter, happier sound. The B-side is the slower darker end of the album. This divide works great to unite the, the otherwise random, songs in a type of order.

Best tracks; Easy Way Out, Somebody I Used To Know, Smoke And Mirrors, I feel Better, Bronte.

5 Stars our of 5 

Tags: Gotye

My thoughts on the Grammys, 2012

Elvis Presley's Grammy Awards (Photo credit: Jonathan D. Blundell)

I was not able to see the whole broadcast of the Grammy’s yesterday. I had to get a flight back home while part of the broadcast was still on. I was able to see about an hours worth. From what I saw, and from what I  read later on  the interwebs and twitter I felt it was an entertaining show. No surprises at all on the winners, but it was a fun show to watch none the less. Here are my impressions of the Grammys.

• Big night for Adele winning every category she was nominated. No big surprise there. In a weak year for music her album 21 was the safe bet to get the Win. I will not take anything away from Adele her album and singles. They were some of the best songs of the year. I just do feel the Grammy community took the safe route on just giving everything to Adele.
• If I was running the show I would have given it to The Foo Fighters Album of the Year for Wasting Light.
•  Record of the Year to I would have given it to Adele, Rolling In The Deep is just a powerful song.
• I would have given Song of the year, how I understand this award is more of a songwriters award, to Bon Iver for Holocence.
• I would have given Best Dance Recording To for Raise Your Weapon.
• For best pop performance I would have liked either Coldplay with Paradise or to Foster the People for Pumped up Kicks, instead of Body and soul by Tony Bennet and Amy Winehouse which kinda seems like a Grammy just because of Whitehouse’s passing.
• I don’t understand how Bruno Mars got so many nominations. I can understand giving him the pop nomination, but giving him best song of the year for grenades? Really? Have your read his lyrics? I feel the Grammys were desperately trying to be cool with nominating Bruno Mars.
• Since I’m talking about nominations, Kanye West should have been nominated more. Power is a great song and his album, My Dark Twisted Fantasy is great.

Other than that I really enjoyed the Grammys. I like how the show fucus more on the performances than giving out awards. My favorite performances of the night were of Bruce Springsteen, foo fighters, Coldplay, Rihanna and Deadmau5. I would love to post videos of my favorite performances but I could not find any good videos of them.

Related articles

• Adele Wins Six Grammys (shoppingblog.com)

Tags: Bon Iver, Grammy Award

taking the week off

I know I said I would post every Monday Wednesday and Friday, and since then I have not posted any Friday and have miss one Wednesday. well I know I’m going to have a busy week at work. So I’m going to take this week off from my blog. I’ll be back next week in full force.

Most Anticipated Albums 2012

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Some of these albums have been announced and some have not, and some are just wishful thinking. .

• Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror. I heard the first single and its completely nuts. Hope the rest of the albums is just as good.
• Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday:Roman Reloaded. I hope for more cursing.
• Bruce Springsteen – Untitled. I think he has announced an album for the end of the year. I loved his last album, which was the first Springsteen album I heard.
•  Garbage – Untitled. I cannot confirm this will happen but I would like to hear just for the curiosity if it will be new sound for Garbage or same thing they took out in the late 90′s.
•  Phoenix- Untitled. I been hearing that Phoenix is working on a new album. I still hear their last album. More Phoenix is always welcomed.
•  The killers – Untitled. If they do take out a new album I hope it sounds more the Hot Fuss, and not like Day & Age.
• The XX – Untitled. I heard that they are either recording or already finished recording. can’t wait to hear it.
•  U2- Songs of Ascent. While the title of the album is out, I really cant say this may come out this year or ever. Rumor is U2 worked with Danger Mouse on this album. U2 is well-known as a band that does not work well with producers that they are not used to. Danger mouse is one of my favorite producers, I would love to hear what he does with U2.
• The Shins – Port of Morrow. I was surprised with the first single just a few weeks ago. That single is amazing, find it hear it.
• Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself. Love Andrew Bird, More of him is always welcomed.
• Modest Mouse – Untitled. Last April rumor was that they are working on an album. I hope this turn out to be true.
• New Order – Untitled. They got back together recently I hope this results in a new album,
•  Depeche Mode – Untitled. Rumor is they will start working on a new albums this year. I hope it come out this year.
•  The Smiths – Untitled. I know it’s not going to happen, ever. But one can wish.

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• 15 Albums We’re Looking Forward to in 2012 (entertainment.time.com)

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So this happened on SNL

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If any of you caught SNL last saturday (1/14/12) you may have seen to the music guest Lana Del Rey. Some of you may know whom she is, if you don’t feel band. Lana Del Rey has only officially released a  two song EP. None the less, she has some buzz behind her on the internet. If you look her up on YouTube you can find seven songs by her.
I did not see her SNL performance, and I would have not known of it if,  not all the bashing I read online the next day. I had to find a video of it to see for myself. Having heard her 2 song EP last October and now seeing her sing them “live” I have to say I could not see or hear the difference, they were both boring. I really am not trying to be mean-spirited. I see some potential in Lana, I  just don’t think she is yet ready for prime time. I find her singing style to be like a stern librarian telling you not to run in the library set to a beat. While interesting, it is not something I enjoy, or would recommend to anyone. Saying that I don’t understand her internet fame or hype. Perhaps it is the wanting to like something before anyone else, or falling for a nice looking package. I can see people telling me I just don’t understand it, but not give a good reason it is good. I really would like to understand where the appeal is, because I cannot find it.

video games

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Tags: Lana Del Rey, Saturday Night Live

Worst Films 2011

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As mentioned before, I really do think I have seen more of the worse in movies that 2011 had to offer than the good. So coming up with this years list of the worse films of the year was very easy. So easy that My list started with 7 movies and then I cut it down to 5. Some spoilers may be mentioned.

5. The Roommate. This movie could have been a Lifetime movie and it would have been a good one if it was. Since it wasn’t, it had this made for tv movie feel to it. A very pretty cast, but none of them were believable.

4. Just Go with It. When you start the movie you already know what is going to happen. Adam Sandler’s character and Jennifer Aniston’s character are going to end up falling in love.  So the movie is very predictable. Not only that I found the characters very unlikable.

3. I Am Number 4. I watch about 45 minutes of this movie, and I have no idea what it is about. What I got In that time was it’s about an alien that looks like a 15 yr old. Some other aliens are chancing him and his bodyguard, and this aliens don’t look to human. So the teenage alien for some reason want to go to high school. I bet it sounds stupid, and that’s because it is.

2. Season Of the Witch, There is NO witch in season of the witch. I know it’s a small thing to complain about, it just bugged me. Perhaps the writer thought calling this movie season on the witch and have no witch but instead a demon was a  good twist. Well, it wasn’t. It just made it a hard to follow the movie.

1. Your Highness, There is nothing worse for a movie for me than one that makes me want to stop the movie and makes me want to watch something else. I saw about 15 minutes of Your Highness, and then stopped. It’s not funny well at least not funny in those first 15 minutes. I could not tell you what the plot is about, I got so bored watching it, that I just didn’t care.

 

 

Tags: Film