Music Goes Movies: High Fidelity (2000)

Since my timetables didn't allow me to write Flashback this Friday to you, I thought I'd give you something else, a new serie: Music Goes Movies. It will not be as regular as the other writings but comes every now and then. And what would be a better movie to start with than High Fidelity, one of my all-time favorites. The story is based to the book written by Nick Hornby and it tells about Rob (played by John Cusack), record store owner having his mid-life crisis. He struggles his way forward through the break-up with his girlfriend Laura (Iben Hjejle) with the questionable help of his two clerks played by Jack Black and Todd Louiso. The storyline follows the romantic life of Rob but includes music into it so seamlessly it's amazing. And not just those top five lists Rob has a habit to do but actual music star in the movie as well: Bruce Springsteen as himself. And Lisa Bonet playing Marie De Salle isn't without her musical credits either after being married to Lenny Kravitz and co-writing a couple of songs with him to his album Let Love Rule.

The movie is filled with awesome music clips from Green Day to Aretha Franklin to Queen, these wonderful artists making this movie a real musical treasure chest. And the subtle art of making a mix-tape.. I so know that feeling. Even the deleted scenes hold some treasures: one scene that didn't make the final movie is named "Records for sale", it is just perfect. Watch that scene and you'll know what I'm like when getting my fingers to any good record collection. And like those guys in this movie I probably could spell the word love as v-i-n-y-l.. And I do make those top five lists as well. :)

Tuesday Top 3

1. Def Leppard - Pyromania
2. Axegressor - Axecution
3. Hugh Laurie - Let Them Talk

Hugh Laurie - Let Them Talk

We know him as Jeeves and Dr. House. And now we'll learn to know him as a musician when Hugh Laurie plays old blues and jazz classics on his debut album Let Them Talk. And let me tell you that if you can't stand those multi-talented people who are good in everything they do, you'll probably end up hating Laurie as well. Because he is actually great next to the piano and his rough singing voice has enough edge to honour these old songs. His talent has even lured some well known artists to visit this album, Sir Tom Jones among others. I somehow though wish Laurie would've done this album all by himself, those visitors seem to stand out a bit too much and those songs differ from the ones Laurie is singing. Those songs might have worked better even as duets.

But the album is absolutely worth listening to. My favorite is the opening track, St. James Infirmary, which starts the album wonderfully, revealing how talented Laurie is as a pianist. The song has a long piano intro that turns into ravishing bass based bluespart with guitar and saxophone. And the following songs ain't any worse. You Don't Know My Mind and Six Cold Feet sound like you're in some dark, smokey bar in the middle of New Orleans. This album just might end up to my collection, it works perfectly like this in the middle of the night. The only problem I have with this album is that I feel like I need to learn to play piano (or guitar) as well as he does.. and a glass of whiskey to go along with the playing. ;)

http://www.hughlaurieblues.com/

Flashback Friday

Sixth studio album from Suburban Tribe is my choice for this weeks flashback. Second Suburban Tribe album for lead singer Ville Tuomi is Manimal, and as the name suggests it is full of raw power coming from the instincts of a hunting beast known as mankind. But just like carnivore in nature have their rest and peaceful moments also this album has it's havens. The album starts strong with You Can't Stop Us Now and Untameable wich was released also as a single. Weight calms the beat a bit and brings in a little feeling of blue with it's chorus just so that Torn Apart and Firedance can bring the speed up again. My personal favorites are songs like Cancer, Swallow, Silent Rain and Drowning. Especially Cancer is one of those that makes me want to sing along, scream those highs with everything I have in me.. I think though that my neighbours wouldn't appreciate it very much..

This album has gotten both good and bad reviews. Most of them compare this album with Korn and Faith No More and lead vocals to Mike Patton. I don't see that kind of comparison being a bad thing since I happen to like them all. I can hear the resemblance with Korn, but with Faith No More or Mike Patton, not so much. Anyhow, I'm loving this band and their music and it's sort of a sad thig they are doing their farewell gigs this weekend. Suburban Tribe has been doing music 20 years and they thought it's a good time to stop in a point where they still are doing good music and being successful.

http://www.suburbantribe.com/
http://www.myspace.com/suburbantribemusic

Tuesday Top 3 (a bit late)

1. The Agonist
2. Crimfall
3. Halestorm

Owl City - All Things Bright And Beautiful

Something more positive and pop for this Monday. Owl City is something totally different I've written about and listened to lately. But the album named All Things Bright And Beautiful certainly suits very well everything from depressing Mondays and sunny, summer Sundays. The album works as a cheer-up or a chill-out music while sippin' your sweet, cold strawberry margarita. :) Just listen to Deer In The Headlights and you'll probably agree with me.

Owl City is basically just a one-man-band put together by Adam Young in 2007 in the basement of his parents. After releasing his music independently through Myspace and iTunes Owl City got a label deal with Universal Republic and is now touring with a band that includes vibraphones, violins and such. Adam Young seem to have stayed the same as he was in the beginning of the Owl City when he was responding to any messages and writing blog constantly, giving a feeling to people that they knew him.

This may not be my cup of tea in the way I'd listen to this every day, time after time but I'm definitely going to remember Owl City when chillin' with my friends in the warm summer sun. Maybe I'll ask the dj to play songs like Yacht Club or Alligator Sky.

http://www.owlcitymusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/owlcity

Flashback Friday

No pretty faces in flashback today. But since the burning summer weather on the northern hemisphere the Def Leppard album Pyromania works just fine. It's an album that maybe isn't quite as popular as the famous Hysteria but this one surely has its highlights and it has sold some serious millions of copies along with the rest of the Leppard albums. The album was released in 1983 and it was produced and mixed by legendary Robert John 'MUTT' Lange, who has also worked with artists such as AC/DC, Nickelback, Foreigner, Bryan Adams, Maroon 5 and lately with Shania Twain.

From this album comes some of the most known Def Leppard hits, Photograph for example. The album starts strong (as they used to in the 80's) with Rock Rock (Till You Drop). And the hard rock beat continues throughout the album, maybe turning into slow ballad style song (Too Late For Love) just to get back up and rockin'. My personal favorite from this album (as if there's any less worthy tracks on the album..) is track number six, Foolin'. The beginning of its lyrics has given me an idea of a tattoo that I'll have one day: "Lady luck never smiles so lend your love to me a while.." What the tattoo will be, I won't tell, but instead I can assure you that this album is definitely worth listening.

http://www.defleppard.com/
http://www.myspace.com/defleppard