Friday, October 16, 2009

Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet (video)



Here's our present to you all for the weekend! Hope that everyone conquered their midterms without serious permanent damage to their health. For those unlucky souls who still have more midterms looming over their heads, look for The Perfect Midterm Study Playlist (Part II) next week!




Have a good weekend,
Ellie

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Midterms Study Playlist


Midterms are just a pain. I feel they’re even harder than finals. Not only do you have to prepare for tests, papers and projects, but you have to keep up with menial daily homework too! So here’s a calming study playlist for all of you facing this week of hell-Midterms Week.

Love this song! It’s a great way to start out studying. The chords and harmonies have a muted quality to them and the continuous beating rhythms keep you moving forward from assignment to assignment.

2.) Industry- Jon McLaughlin
Starts out soft and slow to ease you into working, but eventually picks up and keeps you moving forward, much like Coldplay.

3.) Go Away-Eisley
Frustrated with your chem? Put this song on and punch your pillow a couple of times, then hit the books again. No, literally hit the books! It’ll make you feel better as long as you don’t do it too hard. Some of those textbooks are pretty thick!

4.) Details in the Fabric- Jason Mraz featuring James Morrison
First thing you hear is “Calm down/ deep breathes/ get yourself dressed instead/ of running around and pulling on your threads and/ breaking yourself up”. The hypnotic duet between these two will calm you down as the lyrics reassure you that “everything will be fine”. Plus if you listen REALLY closely to the voice message at the end, you might get a laugh.

5.) Space to Write - Priscilla Ahn
Like most of the songs on this playlist, the harmonies and vocals are every soothing, but there is a constant current that keeps pushing you forward. Or it’s a very nice song to fall asleep to if you need a quick 20 minute rejuvenating nap.

6.) Glass of Water- Coldplay The quicker tempo of this song reenergizes you and keeps you motivated. Chris Martin sings that we shouldn’t ask “neither how full or empty/ is your glass” because it doesn’t matter. Why doesn’t it matter? Because you’ve got midterms to study for, silly! Get back to work!

7.) Don’t Know Why- Nora Jones
Nice, chill background music. Good for frantically flipping through novel after novel, looking for quotes for your 8-page, 12 pt., double-spaced paper due by 3:00 pm tomorrow.

Not only does it meet the requirements of being soft and relaxed with a forward moving undercurrent, but it’s one of my favorite songs. And it’s nice to hear a favorite song in a random playlist. It’s like home-familiar and comfy. A welcome change from the stress of midterms.

9.) Just Give it Time- Jon McLaughlin
Hit another rough spot in your history paper? “Just give it time/ it’s gonna get better.” Take a few breathes and out this song on while you go back and work it out. It’ll get you back on track, while reassuring you at the same time. Just like Mom used to do.

10.) Georgia On My Mind- Michael Bublé
This cover of the classic Ray Charles song is good for singing along to as you’re working on that tough math problem on the study guide your prof gave you.

11.) Love Story Meets Love Story- Jon Schmidt
And what study playlist would be complete with out a little Jim Brick... Jon Schmidt! Okay, so he may not be Jim Brickman, but this guy is equally talented. This arrangement of Taylor Swift’s hit can be enjoyed by all, even if you’re not a huge fan of the country crooner. This piece is based off of the hugely popular mash up called Love Story Meets Viva La Vida of Swift’s song and Coldplay’s Viva La Vida. Schmidt says that as he was arranging Love story for his 7-year-old daughter, it seemed to flow straight into Viva La Vida. Schmidt’s website says that “Thinking clearances were properly handled with Love Story meets Viva la Vida, we were later dismayed to discover when you create a mash-up you need personal permissions from songwriters before it can be sold. Let's just say, getting in touch with rock stars has been harder than it sounds.” Which really sucks for all of us, because the song is amazing! Some rearranging took place and voila! Love Story Meets Love Story! An equally amazing song. Make sure you all write to your Coldplay representatives and encourage them to let Jon Schmidt sell this song!


Much luck to everybody on whatever tests, papers, or whatever you have coming up this week, or next! Go kick some Midterm butt!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Death Cab for Cutie: 'Meet Me on the Equinox' Video Premiere on MTV


"The video for Death Cab for Cutie's 'Meet Me on the Equinox' from The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack will be premiering Wednesday, October 7th at 8PM on MTV. The video was directed by Walter Robot and includes footage from the upcoming New Moon film. A preview of the video debuting tomorrow can be seen at the New Moon soundtrack website."
You heard right: Death Cab for Cutie recorded a song for the next Twilight movie. Now, some fans of DCFC are quite upset at what they see as lead-singer Ben Gibbard "selling out". I, personally, am not a huge fan of the Twilight movies, however, I really enjoyed (and purchased) the first soundtrack, which included excellent songs such as "Eyes on Fire" by Blue Foundation, "Supermassive Black Hole" by Muse, and "Full Moon" by The Black Ghosts. Whether I like the movies or not, I have to admit that for some of these artists, the publicity of having their work featured on such an insanely popular album is well worth the imagined stigma surrounding "going mainstream". Fans may have to put up with a few more pre-teen Twilight enthusiasts at DCFC concerts, but isn't the whole point of music that people listen to it? I fail to see how more people listening to DCFC could possibly be a bad thing.

I'm super-excited to see the music video premiere tonight, because "Meet Me on the Equinox" is my current favorite Death Cab for Cutie song. Well, that and "The Sound of Settling".

Who else is going to be on the New Moon soundtrack? Here's the official list:

1. Death Cab For Cutie – Meet Me On The Equinox
2. Band Of Skulls – Friends
3. Thom Yorke – Hearing Damage
4. Lykke Li – Possibility
5. The Killers – A White Demon Love Song
6. Anya Marina – Satellite Heart
7. Muse – I Belong To You (New Moon Remix)
8. Bon Iver & St. Vincent – Rosyln
9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Done All Wrong
10. Hurricane Bells – Monsters
11. Sea Wolf – The Violet Hour
12. OK Go – Shooting The Moon
13. Grizzly Bear (with Victoria Legrand) – Slow Life
14. Editors – No Sound But The Wind
15. Alexandre Desplat – New Moon (The Meadow)



~Ellie

Monday, October 5, 2009

Sufjan Stevens: The Mistress Witch From McClure



Yet another Monday has come, and if you're feeling tired and gloomy then this video of Sufjan Stevens is guaranteed to brighten your day and make you fall in love with him all over again.

Sufjan Stevens - "The Mistress Witch from McClure"


~Ellie

P.s. Our Senior Assistant Editor, Evan, promises that he'll get around to writing his article for Sufjan Stevens Week as soon as he has the time. Better late than never . . . ?