flashback!! December 22, 2009
Posted by acurefortheitch in 80's, Pop, Soundtrack.add a comment
Man, I feel like I recently discovered the Delorian and zoomed down the Jalan Desa Utama @ 85mph,transporting me back into time!
Well, if you don’t get that reference, means you’re probably much younger than me and that doesn’t make me feel all that good about myself. I’ve sorta stumbled upon a few iconic teen movies from the 80s called “the Breakfast Club” & “St. Elmo’s Fire”. I was also introduced to the infamous “Brat Pack” which was a term coined for a group of young actors and actresses who frequently appeared together in teen-oriented coming-of-age films in the 1980s. This pack consist names of some actors who are still well known but some have since faded away with time. The core group that consisted of Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy.
After watching these 2 movies, I can see how teens back then could relate. High school in the 80s was a crazy place for a teenager. It was the height of segregation based on stereotypes. You know, the nerds, the jocks, the punks, the rebels, the weirdos etc. The characters and issues discussed were very real and gave teens a sense of belonging, that somewhere out there are people who understand.Also, these young actors can REALLY act! I was blown away by their performances! I kinda got hooked and started looking up more of the movies of the same genre and have been indulging in it. To be honest, the two mentioned above were probably the best of the lot.So, to pay homage to the current 80s trapped state I am in, I’m sharing the 2 theme songs from “The Breakfast Club” and “St. Elmo’s Fire”
(500)Days of Summer November 19, 2009
Posted by acurefortheitch in Soundtrack.Tags: (500) Days of Summer, Nancy Sinatra, The Pixies
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If you’re sick and tired of all the formulated cheesy predictable rom coms that dominate the cinemas, you might want to check this movie out, its probably the best antidote you’re gonna find. This is one of my favorite movies of the year. It has a great soundtrack to go with it too, with a line up that includes Regina Specktor, Doves, Carla Bruni, THE SMITHS!!!!, Hall & Oates n a new aussie band called Temper Trap. But today, I’m more inclined to feature 2 songs that was in the movie but not quite featured on the soundtrack. There’s a scene where Joseph Gordon Levitt and Zoey Dechanel goes to a bar and sings karaoke. Although there is a cover version of “Here comes your man” by Meagan Smith on the soundtrack, I thought it’d be fun to share the original tunes, which are no comparison to the covers!
Wolf Gang November 17, 2009
Posted by acurefortheitch in Pop.Tags: Wolf Gang
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Kinda stumbled upon this new brit act. The song is infectious and it got stuck in my head almost immediately. The video is nothing really to shout about, especially if you’ve seen the crazy stuff that Empire of the Sun has done. Nonetheless, a catchy pop tune worthy of sharing!
Wolf Gang – The King And All Of His Men
Friday Night Lights November 17, 2009
Posted by acurefortheitch in Soundtrack.Tags: Blue Merle, Friday Night Lights, Soundtrack, Tony Lucca, W.G. Snuffy Walden
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I’ve just recently watched all three seasons of Friday Night Lights. Yea, I know, I’m so 2006. But that doesn’t change the fact that its a great show! I actually caught the hype when it first came out and went out to get the DVD set, but just never got around watching it. Better late than never right?
Anyway, the show features a group of young talented but unknown actors, with a soundtrack contributed predominantly by Texan post-rock band, Explosions In The Sky. Finally, a teen drama with substance, well written characters that I can stomach. Here are some of the songs that I really enjoyed off the show.
W.G. Snuffy Walden – Opening Theme
NEW HOT CHIP! November 16, 2009
Posted by acurefortheitch in Electro Pop, Indie.Tags: Hot Chip, One Life Stand, Take it In
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Oh yesss…..what a treat folks! Just found a new one from Hot Chip 
Their new album, One Life Stand, is slated to be released sometime in February next year. I’m sure there will be more leaks leading up to the launch. It is the current viral marketing trend on the web. But for now, the new song is called “Take it in” and it has that Depeche Mode haunt feel ala “Enjoy the Silence” but breaks out into a happy tone on the chorus. Something tells me that I’m gonna like the album.
The Unforgettable Fire November 16, 2009
Posted by acurefortheitch in Classics.Tags: 360 Tour, U2, Unforgettable Fire
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U2
The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
Ah yes, the Mullet. A lost iconic hairstyle that defined the 80′s. Bowie, Duran Duran….you name it, the biggest acts of that era had to go through that phase. But none looked more ridiculous than the U2 front man himself. Bono’s mullet was crazier than McEnroe’s on-court theatrics. But thankfully, that is not what is remembered of them in that era. Before they became the “biggest rock band in the world”, before “Beautiful Day” and before “Joshua Tree”, there was, probably THE most significant moment in U2′s career, the appointment of Brian Eno to produce “The Unforgettable Fire”.
From the interviews i’ve read, apparently it wasn’t an easy feat for the Irish lads to convince Brian to get on board. He was hesitant because the type of music they produce was completely at the opposite end of the music spectrum. But U2 was bold and feeling experimental, seeking a new sound at that point. And so, a historic creative collaboration began that grew and expanded over the next two decades. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the release of “The Unforgettable Fire” and a special edition of the album has been released. In conjunction with the release, I thought it’d be nice to revisit the album since I’ve not done so in a long time.
The songs that managed to survived through the ages from the album are the anthems like “Pride” and “Bad”, which are staples on their live sets. But the rest of it has sorta been laid to rest. So listening to the entire album again was actually quite a treat. Throughout the album, you could hear how the band and Eno stretched each other’s creativity limits. Bono’s desire to rule the stadiums with anthems were fiercely met with Eno’s persistence that they need to be more sonically inclined. That really tested the boundaries and pushed the band to see how far they were willing to transform. There was no common ground to stand on but a constant tug of war. But that is when things gets interesting. NEW and interesting things are conceived and sometimes, magic starts to happen.
Tracks like “Wire”, “Promenade” & “Elvis Presley and America” are probably some of the most experimental music U2 has attempted, but the track “Bad” is where the magic truly happens. A song about heroine addiction that ends with revelation and all the -tions you can think of, this song just builds and builds off Larry’s amazing drumming, with no real chorus or hook, relying solely on the emotion that Bono bring to the song and the end product is nothing short of a masterpiece.
But perhaps the title track “The Unforgettable Fire” is and will be the best song to pay tribute to this monumental album release back in 1984. With a beautiful melody and the most 80s sounding song off the album, this is the tune to take you back to that moment. Maybe that is why the band decided to pull this one out of the “dead catalog” and revisit it one more time on the current “360 Tour”. What a great surprise that was!
The xx November 13, 2009
Posted by acurefortheitch in Indie, modern R&B.Tags: Basic Spaces, Crystallized, Infinity, Shelter, Teardrops, The Xx
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The xx
xx (2009)
With all the hype generated on all the major music sites and blogs, it was impossible not to be curious about this group. The singles like “Basic Spaces”, “Teardrops”, “Shelter” started surfacing on the web quite a few months back and when I heard it, I instantly thought to myself: “Oh my God, so much silence, but still SOUNDS so good!” How do they do that? My hunch is that they follow the less is more rule. A lost philosophy in this day in age of music. But I soon found out the true brilliance of the band after listening to the entire album. It has form and structure with no weak link between the songs. “Intro” sets the tone and gives you a good idea of whats coming ahead. “Crystallized” has got some catchy guitar hooks in its right amount and you can hear Chris Isaac’s “Wicked Game” all over the haunting track, “Infinity”. Besides the impressive spacing between drum loops, guitar echoes and some explosive hand claps, the sparring sessions between singer-guitarist Romy Madley Croft & bassist Oliver Sim flows so naturally that it almost feels like you’re eavesdropping on their conversations.
For a debut album to become a near masterpiece, blessing or punishment? Well, that will be the question that the members of the xx will have to ask themselves in due time. Or maybe not. For four 20 something year olds being in a band, I’m quite sure its all just about making music….I hope. And what tunes they’ve managed to carve out!
The Avett Brothers November 12, 2009
Posted by acurefortheitch in Indie folk.Tags: Avett Brothers, Indie
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The Avett Brothers
I and Love and You, 2009
I’ve never really paid much attention to bluegrass music but to be fair, I’ve never dislike it as well. But after I first heard “If its the beaches”by the Avett Brothers, I knew that this was not just any typical bluegrass duo. In fact, I soon discovered that famed producer Rick Rubin had put them on the map after discovering them on My Space and has labeled the brothers as his current favorite act.
Their first major label album released in September, called ” I and Love and You”, produced by Rubin, is genuinely a pleasant treat. They bring the banjo picking, southern folky twangs to a whole new level, expanding it to indie-folk-sphere. You can really feel the emotion in Scott and Seth’s voices. Their lyrics are honest and down to earth,which is probably why it resonates with the everyday folks. The title track ” I and Love and You” demonstrates a certain kind of melancholy which is intimate yet joyful to listen. I’m really enjoying this record and am in the midst of exploring some of their past works as they have probably about 9 or 10 albums prior to this release. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do. Here’s a sample:
Welcome welcome! November 11, 2009
Posted by acurefortheitch in Uncategorized.Tags: Indie
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Hi everyone, I’m so excited that you actually took the time to visit my site! As you can see, its still pretty empty, but fear not, as I will fill it up with loads of music content! Yes, after much inner debate and some encouragement from a close friend, I’ve decided to set up my own music blog. I dare say that I’m quite the music junkie and with that comes a certain obligation to share that joy of discovering great music, irregardless old or new stuff! So I hope that you will come back to visit from time to time and enjoy the music I put up.
