Oscar Calling: Randy Newman’s ‘Toy Story’ Tunes

 Posted by at 1:00 pm  1 Response »
Feb 252011
 

The 83rd Academy Awards take place this weekend and – big surprise – Randy Newman is nominated. Since 1988, Randy Newman has been nominated for 17 Oscars. Fans quibble that in that same time the renowned songwriter has released exactly three albums, but with the money he rakes in every picture, it’s a testament to him that he recorded anything else. His only win came for Monsters Inc.’s “If I Didn’t Have You,” but this year marks a three-peat for Toy Story nominations. Maybe Toy Story 3 marks Newman’s first trip to the podium for the Pixar films to which he is most closely associated. After all, Peter Jackson didn’t win his Oscar ’til The Return of the King. Continue reading »

This Week on Bandcamp: Pastel Group, Red Adler, The Firmament, Beauty, Matt Bentley

 Posted by at 11:00 am  1 Response »
Feb 252011
 

This Week on Bandcamp rounds up our favorite covers to hit the site in the past seven days.

We’ve already posted on this biggest Bandcamp news this week: that free King of Limbs cover set. Even amidst the indie blog targeting, though, plenty more covers burbled under the surface. Here are the best, for whenever you get sick of Thom Yorke dancing. Continue reading »

A Cappella Pioneers Sonos Stream “Farewell” Concert

 Posted by at 9:30 am  No Responses »
Feb 252011
 

Sonos is not your typical a cappella group. Due to the lack of a bass voice in the group, they incorporate an octave pedal. They use a loop station in order to create sonic layers of beatboxing. In concert, they add an array of other electronic gizmos, from harmonizers to delay pedals. All of this adds up to a vocal performance more musically akin to Björk‘s Medulla than Andy Bernard’s nerdy band in The Office. Their first album, SonoSings, met with critical acclaim and received a bump due to the Glee craze and a live performance on NPR. Continue reading »

Clinton Curtis Channels Jamaican Roots on “And It Stoned Me”

 Posted by at 5:00 pm  1 Response »
Feb 242011
 

When one thinks of Van Morrison, one country immediately springs to mind: Ireland. Morrison has drawn on the island’s landscape and legends his entire career, infusing his music with an ancient history. Well, American songwriter Clinton Curtis connects another location to Van Morrison: Jamaica. The parallels are there. An island connected to a world power but with a distinct culture and history. Continue reading »

Twintapes Take “Strawberry Fields” to Dreamland

 Posted by at 3:30 pm  2 Responses »
Feb 242011
 

While true for several Beatles’ hits, the name of the song “Strawberry Fields Forever” seems to anticipate the number of covers that would later be made of it. Good thing Lennon changed the working title, “It’s Not Too Bad.” That phrase does little justice to either the original version or this latest quirky and organic cover made by Twintapes. Continue reading »

Skunk Anansie Gives Us a First Listen to the ‘Sucker Punch’ Covers Soundtrack

 Posted by at 1:30 pm  4 Responses »
Feb 242011
 

The opening words to the latest Sucker Punch trailer, punctuated like they’re spoken: I lost everyone I’ve ever loved. Then they locked me away. With nowhere to hide. From the pain. Just when you think all hope for this film is lost, though, Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks” kicks in. Sure, they keep blathering about escaping from some asylum that apparently only holds gorgeous teens (and they want to escape why?), but at least music supervisor Tyler Bates seems set to deliver. Continue reading »

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