Usually I do a little schpeel about a few artists that need some recognition. But with the warmer weather upon us, I thought I’d put together a fun mix of songs that would be a great summer playlist.

If you’re anything like me, you’re iPod is going everywhere with you since you’re spending the majority of the time outdoors. So I have put together a list of songs and have added my comments to let you know what you might expect from the music.

Let’s get this playlist going and I hope you all enjoy what I’ve assembled.

1.    1901- Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
When this song comes on, I can’t stop the excitement and the impromptu dancing.

2.    Duties of a Lighthouse Keeper – Human Highway – Moody Motorcycle
A refreshing breeze cools your face while you’re swinging on a hammock, treating yourself to a glass of sangria. This song will make your afternoon that much more relaxing.

3.    Blue Eyes – Timmy Curran – Word of Mouth
All I can say is this is what romance is to me.

4.    I’ve Got Your Number – Passion Pit – Chunk of Change
This song is constantly on when I’m taking my morning run. It’s also perfect for certain dance moves, like the robot.

5.    For Our Elegant Caste – Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
I can only explain this band through my love child talk. If The Beatles album Rubber Soul and the Flight of the Conchords had a love child.

6.    Bright Side – The Soft pack – The Muslims
Alright ladies, put on some bright red lipstick, super skinny jeans and head out to your favorite indie bar.

7.    Death (Crystal Castles Remix) – White Lies – Death EP
If you need a late night or techno pick me up, this is the song for you.

8.    Love Vigilantes – Iron and Wine – Around the Well
In my opinion, there are only two bands that have successfully covered New Order songs and have made it worthy for a revival. Frente with Bizarre Love Triangle and Iron and Wine with Love Vigilantes.

9.    Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig – Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
Gezondheit! Even though it’s a mouthful, this Swedish musician produces the most memorable and exhilarating music I’ve heard. I can’t help but smile whenever I hear his music.

10.    Xavia – The Submarines – Honeysuckle Weeks
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist had it right to put this on their soundtrack. This song is triumphant and lovable, definitely going in my “classics” category.

Have a great June and hopefully these songs will get you through till my next installment.

photo by riza nugraha

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A blank piece of paper stays clean and untouched while I stare at the endless amounts of uninspiring new music releases. I try hard to find something that I somewhat enjoy but I just can’t seem to put my name behind it or recommend it. Where do you turn when you need to write an article featuring the latest music? How do you soothe the monthly urge to find new artists? Somebody or something, please save me from this musical turmoil!

I paced around my office for a bit, wracking my brain whilst jumping up and down, when all of a sudden, my jumping caused my mouse to move and woke my computer. Like a heaven sent, my Internet browser appeared and revealed my answer. Pandora Radio. (Insert an angel choir here.)

As if an immaculate stream of light beamed me towards my computer, I submitted and willingly took a seat at my desk. My stations were all there, ready to provide me with old and new artists.

Can I just say that Pandora is awesome!? It literally allows me to make my own personal radio station. It’s like my TiVo for music. Love it!

I scrolled down my usual radio stations and decided if I need new music I should create a new station. And the new station that was born was, and still is, amazing. Most of the bands I found are not new, but sometimes the right ones need to be revisited and given a second time to shine.

These artists not only emulate my current mood of excitingly happy summer music with a twist of stank but they are also compositionally brilliant. Enough of my chitchat. Let’s get our love child talk on.

Jens Lekman - If Morrisey and Sufjan Stevens had a child who was inspired by children’s books.

The Sounds – If the Ting Tings and the 4 Non Blondes had a baby out of wedlock.

Stars - The Sundays and Death Cab for Cutie had a summer romance.

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I’m not one for succumbing to media gimmicks and TV-fostered hype. In fact, I am so anti-television that I keep my set in my closet and adamantly cling to the bunny ears that will soon be obsolete. Yet, twice a week I crawl in amongst my dresses and winter coats and give myself over to the mind-numbing awe of American Idol.

For the first 5 seasons (now in season 8), I ridiculed all who gave up their social lives on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in order to avidly drool over a contrived reality program designed to humiliate people as much as encourage them. Then season 6 happened and an old friend from high school made it on the show. Out of curiosity as much as loyalty, I began to watch. While it met every expectation of cheesy, shameless marketing and mediocre smoke-and-mirror showmanship, it far surpassed itself in heightened human drama. Suddenly, and unexpectedly, this show was like heroin in my veins.

At first I thought my addiction stemmed from the tangible nerves of these performers as they dared to publicly dream the impossible. I felt elated when their song choices earned accolades from the infamous judges; my heart plummeted at the pain in their faces when they realized they just made a potentially deadly mistake. There’s also the sickening yet fascinating moment when they’ve been told they’ve been kicked off the show and then have to sing their losing song one more time. What could be crueler (or more interesting to watch) than trying to save face in front of millions of viewers who ultimately rejected you?

And so, for a while, I cynically assumed what America really loved about this show was the ability to torture its participants. But as the seasons have marched on, I have discovered a marvelous yet dirty little secret: the public has been hiding a tender soft spot. The winners are rarely the most marketable package available on the program. The last seven seasons’ winners have included a single mom, an overweight man, a pre-maturely gray southern rocker, and now, tonight, this season we stand to choose an eye-liner-nail-polish-sporting-glam-rockin’ gay man. Is it really possible that in a country torn apart over the issues of gay rights and gay marriage we would elect a gay man as our “American Idol?”

While I would hate to impose more dignity and gravitas than it deserves, I do believe this show is a kind of social marker. Despite the media constantly telling us that we like little blond women with tight abs or hunky men with protruding pectorals, as it turns out, we don’t. When given the choice, we choose the perfectly flawed instead—we choose talent over total package. What a remarkable revelation that stirs my heart: to believe that the generations behind us are gaining a much deeper sense of self and, perhaps. will one day be immune to the artificial flavors in the big-wig marketing schemes.

So even if you’re not already an American Idol fanatic, tune in tonight to the season finale and check out the unbelievable talent of Adam Lambert and trust that America might just have good taste after all.

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It used to be that when we thought Tim McGraw, we were supposed to think of her, too.  No, no…not Faith Hill. Taylor Swift. Only now, there’s no need to think just Tim McGraw; we can think Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, even Brooks & Dunn. That’s some major country royalty. And those names, along with Miss Swift, make up Forbes’ Top Five (Estimated) Earners from Nashville in 2009. (Brooks & Dunn and Tim McGraw both came in at number five.)

Taylor Swift is number four on that list, after being the best-selling solo artist of 2008 and having some fun on the big screen with Miley Cyrus, Swift is expected to bring in about $18 million in 2009. But, as we all know, it’s not about the money.

This sweetheart has broken into the good ol’ boys club. Not only were the others in the Top Five all on last year’s Forbes list, they’re all male. After Taylor, the next highest rank amongst women is Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Nettles (both in 8th). Country music listeners tend to be loyal to their acts and so you see many top earners who have been around the rodeo a time or two but, with the Dixie Chicks on what seems to be a temporary hiatus, we are glad to have and up-and-comer like Taylor breaking through to the top tier.

Taylor writes her own songs and belts them out in a mix of country twang, solid pop, and a bit of coffee shop culture. Her accomplishments have left us wondering what we might accomplish if we have the courage to sing it out loud, too.

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Our plan to leisurely drive across the country to our wedding in New York and enjoy the trip back after our honeymoon has changed. In fact, all of our wedding plans have been — in a word, uprooted. The date hasn’t changed, but rather than the mellow vibe that has guided everything from the plans to our honeymoon, we are suddenly in the brainstorm stages of formulating a whirlwind marriage and a postponed honeymoon.

Ben came home last week and informed me his band planned a country-wide tour for all of June and July. He immediately followed with his decision not to go — obviously because of our wedding. He had recently joined the band (when they unexpectedly lost their lead guitarist) and had worked so hard learning all of their songs in only a matter of weeks. It seemed unfortunate that after all of that work he would be replaced and miss out on the tour. But given our plans, it just didn’t seem like something feasible for him to embark on.

I knew that Ben wasn’t upset, but I started thinking I really wanted him to go. The opportunity was something he had always wanted and I didn’t want him to pass up an experience that might not present itself again. I knew that if I was offered a traveling writing opportunity, Ben would want me to go; so I figured we should at least discuss the subject further.

I explained that marriage should be less of a lifestyle change than a true symbol of our relationship, and figuring out a way for both of us to continue on our own paths was an important piece of our union. Marriage means that, as a couple, we support each other despite obstacles or challenges – and always attempt to work things out as a team. What better way to define that ideal than to rendezvous in our hometown and, surrounded by our family and friends, celebrate the fact we are able to fulfill our individual dreams and embrace each other as our other half? In some way, I felt that if we didn’t make this happen, we would be compromising the principle foundation of our vows.

Needless to say, Ben committed to the tour. He will be gone for the whole month of June and I will go home late the same month and squeeze in showers and dress fittings. We’ll be reunited in Rochester on July 9. Our rehearsal dinner is on the following day and our wedding takes place on July 11. We will drive back to California together, making it back just in time for Ben to meet up with the band and play a show in Los Angeles. Then he’s off for the last leg of the tour. In the fall, we will embark on our own tour — just the two of us.

photo by bu

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In the middle of a pit with screaming fans and circulating dirt, bodies are willingly cramped into a space to get the best view of the stage. Loads of music equipment and lights are scattered throughout the stage, leaving only a small section for the musicians to perform. Sweat is pumping down fan’s faces, giving everyone a glimmer that reflects the lights coming from the stage. Nothing is more awesome than seeing a long list of your favorite bands breaking it down during one weekend.

Who could’ve asked for a better way to spend a hot weekend? Well don’t ask me. I’m unfortunately one of the bitter/jealous people who couldn’t afford to cough up $300 to be a lucky attendant of Coachella.

But I thought I’d have my own Coachella celebration. It just so happened it took place on my iPod whilst I ran around my neighbor. Totally the same.

Alright, it was pretty lame but you can’t deny the talent that encompassed the lineup, so I had to pay homage to them somehow.

If I had been able to take a personal day from work and make an appearance at the concert, I would’ve been front and center for these bands, possibly ready to throw them an interesting piece of clothing.

Beirut - If Air and Radiohead had a date at a carnival.

Peter, Bjorn, & John – If Beck, Crowded House and The Kinks had a summer romance, their love child would sound like Peter Bjorn.

The Airborne Toxic Event – The offspring of Franz Ferdinand and the Cure.

Noah and the Whale – If the 60’s musician, Harry Nilsson and Sufjan Stevens started their own daycare.

TV On The Radio- If Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2 had a love child in space.

Oh, Coachella, maybe I’ll be there next year!

photo by cody peterson

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It began in 2006 as a hit Disney Channel TV series and then branched out to the big screen in 2008 with Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert.  Now the “Hannah Montana” phenomenon is all grown up with a full-length feature film entitled Hannah Montana: The Movie.  Just as the franchise continues to grow in success, the film depicts Hannah’s continued climb to stardom as an international pop sensation.

At the film’s start, Hannah seems to be the girl who has everything, but somewhere amidst the hair, make-up and Rodeo Drive shopping sprees, Miley has begun to get lost in the shuffle.  In an attempt to help her return to her roots, Miley’s father (Billy Ray Cyrus) tricks her into going home to Tennessee for her grandma’s birthday.  This is where the adventure begins, as Miley reconnects with her family, falls in love and rediscovers herself in the countryside of her home town of Crowley Corners.  Miley is joined on the big screen by several favorites from the TV show and additional cameos by Tyra Banks, Taylor Swift, and Rascal Flatts.

Hannah Montana: The Movie was definitely not on my must see list, but since it was a slow weekend as far as releases, I thought I would give it a shot for the sake of you, i am that girl readers.  I walked into the theater with several preconceived notions about this film, despite the fact that I’ve never even seen an episode of the TV series.  I was expecting screaming tweens, blond wigs, and bad pop songs… So when I actually got a touching coming-of-age story, I was pleasantly surprised.

Miley is likeable on-screen and it’s hard not to fall for her charm and youthful energy.  There is an innocence about her that is endearing and the film proves to be genuine and heartfelt overall.  While the plot seems fairly generic and borders on corny cliché at times, it is perfectly suited for its target demographic of young girls.  There is also a wholesome message at the film’s core about finding yourself by returning to your roots and the importance of knowing where you’re from to get to where you’re going.

In the end, it’s all about the journey or “the climb” as they refer to it in the film and as Miley learns, no matter how much commercial or financial success you may achieve, knowing who you are and staying true to yourself is the true definition of success.  The film also offers an interesting depiction of fame through the Miley Cyrus/ Hannah Montana dichotomy, delving into how notoriety can change people and the importance of staying grounded.  In terms of production value, this big-version is well shot and directed and while the music lacks originality, it’s still catchy and appropriate for the story.

That Girl says: Like it! This is almost embarrassing to admit, but Disney delivers an upbeat and uplifting tale that is sure to make audiences smile.  It may be formulaic, but it’s a formula that works and transfers nicely from the small to the big screen.  Amidst the clutter at the box office, it’s encouraging to find a film that promotes the importance of a woman knowing herself and Miley seems to be a positive role model that young girls can identify with.

Release Date:  April 10th, 2009 (Wide Release)
Running Time:  102 minutes
Rated:  G
Company:  Walt Disney Pictures
Cast: Miley Cyrus – Hannah Montana / Miley Stewart
Billy Ray Cyrus – Robby Ray Stewart
Emily Osment – Lilly Truscott / Lola Luftnagle
Jason Earles – Jackson Stewart
Mitchel Musso – Oliver Oken / Mike Standley III
Moises Arias – Rico
Lucas Till – Travis Brody
Vanessa Williams – Vita
Margo Martindale – Ruby
Director: Peter Chelsom
Official Site: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/hannahmontanamovie/#/home

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All the single ladies, all the single ladies!! Psych! Not going to have another piece about Beyonce.

It’s women’s history month and time for some music reviews, a la music love child talk. So what better way to appreciate the awesomeness that is being a woman than by highlighting our sister musicians?

Unfortunately, my quest turned out to be quite difficult. I searched through my routine musical alleys and even strayed off the usual path to find the female voices. But once I was down and out, like any fairy tale, these three musicians lifted my head from my frustrated state and delivered me to my happily ever after, musically of course.

I cannot stop talking about my new favorite female artists. These women not only have great talent but their albums speak volumes.

So let’s begin:

Melody Gardot – If Ella Fitzgerald and Fiona Apple had a love child that was on a mellow caffeine buzz.

Meiko – Imagine that Ingrid Michaelson and Shelby Lynne had an artsy teenage daughter.

Ladyhawke – If the soundtrack of the 80’s movie, Lucas, and Roxette had a one night stand at their Senior Prom.

I hope these three artists will inspire and get you moving to your happy endings.

photo by christian reed, concert co-op

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Her ethereal voice has been heard all over the airways lately in commercials for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). But Sarah McLachlan’s charitable soul has been giving back to a variety of causes since she stepped on stage and into the limelight.

This Canadian singer/songwriter/activist has been putting out hits for over two decades. Starting with her 1988 debut album, Touch, McLachlan has been rewarded with a slew of gold and platinum selling albums — not to mention four Grammys. But her contributions outside the recording studio definitely rival in resonance any sonic accomplishments.

Her most well-known contribution was Lilith Fair. The music festival celebrated the power of femininity while offering more than 100 female artists the opportunity to perform in front of millions of fans. But McLachlan’s altruistic ambitions have only continued to grow since then. She started the Sarah McLachlan Foundation in 1999 which introduces music into the lives of young Canadians in under-served communities. She also has been advocating for animals through her touching SPCA commercials and as the spokesperson for the B.C. SPCA. Her commercials have already moved animal lovers to donate $30 million to the rescue organization.

McLachlan took the majority of the $150,000 production budget for her 2004 video, “World On Fire” and donated it to eleven charitable organization including War Child, Help The Aged, Engineers Without Borders and CARE. Proving money isn’t everything, the music video (which only cost $15 to produce) ended up receiving a Grammy Award nomination for best short form music video.

In recognition of all her charitable work in her native Canada, McLachlan is set to receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award on March 28, the night before the annual televised Juno Awards show — basically the Canadian version of the Grammys. This selfless entertainer continues to grace the world with her uplifting melodies and generous heart and she’s inspiring a world of bellists to do the same.

photo by duane storey

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I don’t know if Beyonce personally discovered the sound or what, but lately hip hop music has solely consisted of a back beat that innately causes you to shake your booty. It almost sounds like the producers scientifically found the exact sound/beat that causes the booty to shake. It’s a natural response and there’s no other movement that would suffice other than shaking it.

Unfortunately these days, the hip hop scene is no longer cultivating the talents of true artists but it’s getting overrun by carbon copy artists all focusing on booty shaking hits. It pains me to even call them hip hop. So I personally refer to them as “pop” hop.

These pop hop songs usually consist of formulaic compositions of a ridiculously catchy chorus and a mediocre rapper degrading women. The male rappers have modeled their vocals to sound similar to Jay-Z. (Great. Just what we need, more monotonous sounding rappers filling the airwaves.) And the female vocalists are usually busy in the song, filling it with repetitive trills that sound obviously forced. And for some strange reason, every song seems to have a solo performed by a synthesized robot. Stop it! Just stop!

Let’s get things straight: I’m a huge fan of hip hop music. And when I refer to hip hop music, I’m talking about the beat masters and lyricists, such as Jurassic 5, Guru, The Roots, Blackalicious and Black Eyed Peas, before they sold out and added the poster girl for plastic surgery. And don’t get me started on Fergie that can be an entirely different article.

Don’t get me wrong. I love having a song that makes me want to shake it, but it shouldn’t be a whole genre of music. We’ve got to have variety and cultivate some artistic exploration.

So if you’re looking for some new tunes, here are my suggestions. And remember this is where the love child talk begins.

1.    K’naan’s latest album, Troubadour- If Bob Marley and Mos Def had a love child that listened to butt rock.
2.    Scienz of Life’s album, The Blaxploitation Instrumentals- John Legend and DJ Shadow have a love child that makes elevator music cool.
3.    Raphael Saadiq’s newest album, The Way I See It- Can’t really do a love child for this one, but it sounds like an album that came straight out of Motown. It’s got class written all over it.

photo by scott robinson

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