The Sound of Cinema (Part II): Sirens of the Silver Screen

In an earlier post I introduced a series based on exposing and exploring the incestuous relationships between movies and music. As noted, musicians have often made cameo appearances in movies, musical or otherwise. One of my personal favorites is (of course) Jack White's rendition of a kung-fu savvy "King of Rock 'n' Roll" in the 2007 comedy, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. A relentlessly hysterical spoof of pretty much any music bio-pic one could think of.

Watch WALK HARD clip “The King” en Yahoo! Video

But I digress...

The topic at hand speaks to the musician whose presence on the silver screen rivals that of their presence on the concert stage. There are few musicians who have claimed, or at the very least shared the lead role in a film. For this discussion, I am requiring that the acting be on par or better than, said performers musical ability, and that the film be worth the view altogether. Although I would also like to categorize these persons as musicians who later turned to acting, the most obvious and accessible blurs this distinction. Cher is a consummate performer and can't be denied success in either medium. For an homage, here is a montage of her Oscar winning role as Loretta Castorini, in the 1987 film Moonstruck:



The musical beginnings of Cher's career included, providing back-up vocals for The Righteous Brother's "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and several chart topping hits as one half of the "Sonny and Cher" duo. It was however, the coupling of her distinctive voice, provocative stage presence with a few acting lessons that earned her a Golden Globe for her shenanigans on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, in 1971. Along with two other Golden Globes later in her career, Cher's list of awards and nominations for her acting is as spectacular as the outfits she wears to receive them. It was no surprise to see Cher presenting at this years Golden Globes "shamelessly promoting" yet another movie role in the upcoming film Burlesque.

Although the acting career of Norah Jones is not quite as epic as the fore mentioned single syllabled diva, she's got time and talent tantamount to other rookies in the film industry. As the daughter of legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar and concert producer Sue Jones, and one who received training as a jazz vocalist and pianist, Jones' musical career was obviously first to take flight. Her first album Come Away With Me, earned her a Grammy for album of the year in 2003. Jones' acting debut in My Blueberry Nights may not have been award worthy, but performing alongside movie mainstays Jude Law, David Strathairn, Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman, not to mention the savory cinematography, Jones is not entirely overwhelmed. As the movie progresses, so does her comfort level as an actress.



A woman with a radiant presence, Norah Jones leaves me hungry for an acting performance that does more than just wet my appetite. Given time and opportunity, however, her film career may be able to compliment her musical main course.

After exploring how a few female musicians have been able to modify their craft to reveal cinematic charm, it is time to acknowledge the male musicians who have also produced profound performances in film. Stay tuned for, "The Sound of Cinema (Part III): Crooners With More Than Just a Cameo..."




-Emma Jeanmarie

The Sound of Cinema (Part II): Sirens of the Silver Screen

Delicacies a la ELEVATION

May we interest you in a little som'n som'n to cleanse your palate...or slit you tongue...



and for the main course may I recommend the "Man's Bread"...



-Emma Jeanmarie

Delicacies a la ELEVATION

SoCal Shindigs

It may not yet be the year 2095, but California still knows how to party and there's nothin' old school about the cinema and sounds that'll be bustin' through southern CA in the next few months.

For all of you cinemafiles headed to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, get on the ball and catch the short Ana's Playground.




Directed by Eric Howell and accomplished through donations, it is a film with a purpose about children in the midst of armed conflict. Ana's Playground has all the real feeling of United 93 with the aesthetic brilliance of Soderbergh's Traffic wrapped in enigmatic symbolism. It is stunning indeed!

Even if you are not able to make it out to view the film, please take a peek at the online media kit and trailer which can be found at: www.anasplayground.com.


Maybe your trip to "the state that's untouchable, like Elliot Ness" has to wait until the spring, but don't make it too late, lest you miss "The Coach", otherwise known as Coachella or The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. It is a three day adventure of creative stimulus that'll keep ya jammin' until Lolla.



Many of the bands included in this year line up got a bit of a career boost by blogs and social networks, so lets keep up the talky talk...Can ya "digg" it?

Here is the list of what can be expected for each of the three days:

Friday, April 16th: Jay-Z, LCD Soundsystem, Them Crooked Vultures, Vampire Weekend, Deadmau5, Public Image Limited, The Specials, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, Echo and the Bunnymen, Benny Benassi, Fever Ray, Grace Jones, She & Him, Erol Alkan, The Avett Brothers, Calle 13, The Whitest Boy Alive, The Cribs, La Roux, Yeasayer, Lucero, DJ Lance Rock, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Proxy, Ra Ra Riot, Deer Tick, Wolfgang Gartner, Aeroplane, Iglu & Hartly, Sleigh Bells, P.O.S., Baroness, Hockey, Little Dragon, White Rabbits, Wale, Kate Miller-Heidke, As Tall as Lions, Jets Overhead, Alana Grace, Pablo Hassan.

Saturday, April 17th: Muse, Faith No More, Tiësto, MGMT, David Guetta, The Dead Weather, Hot Chip, Devo, Coheed and Cambria, Kaskade, 2Many DJ’s, Major Lazer, Dirty Projectors, Gossip, Z-Trip, The xx, John Waters, Les Claypool, The Raveonettes, Mew, Sia, Camera Obscura, Tokyo Police Club, Porcupine Tree, Old Crow Medicine Show, Aterciopalados, Bassnectar, Frightened Rabbit, Dirty South, Flying Lotus, Corinne Bailey Rae, Pretty Lights, Shooter Jennings, RX Bandits, The Almighty Defenders, Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, Craze & Klever, Zoe, The Temper Trap, Portugal. The Man, Band of Skulls, Girls, Beach House, Steel Train, Frank Turner.

Sunday, April 18th: Gorillaz, Pavement, Thom Yorke????, Phoenix, Orbital, Spoon, Sly and the Family Stone, De La Soul, Julian Casablancas, Plastikman, Gary Numan, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sunny Day Real Estate, Yo La Tengo, MUTEMATH, Deerhunter, Infected Mushroom, Club 75, Matt & Kim, The Big Pink, Gil Scott-Heron, King Khan and the Shrines, Florence and the Machine, Yann Tiersen, Little Boots, Miike Snow, Talvin Singh, Ceu, B.o.B., Babasonicos, Owen Pallett, The Glitch Mob, Mayer Hawthorne, Local Natives, Rusko, The Middle East, Hadouken!, The Soft Pack, Kevin Devine, Paparazzi, Delphic, One EskimO.

"Shake it Cali"!
-Emma Jeanmarie

SoCal Shindigs

The Sound Of Cinema (Part I): Beyond the Bard

I was recently introduced to an epic film that not only rose to #2 on my list of movies most admired, but gave rise to an idea for a series of posts that will be collectively called "The Sound of Cinema". Music and movies have a grand history together so, because of the scope of the subject each post will have a set of parameters to which it must adhere. Realizing that several artists/films may have overlap in each category, I will try not to make mention of them in more that one post. Nor will I attempt to delve into all of the examples that may fit into the space of the designated parameters, but instead provide a sampling of inspired insight and musical memories from my some of my favorite flicks.

The film that triggered my ambitious musings about music and movies was Andrew Dominik's The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. The film is a gorgeous portrayal of the last few months of the life of Jesse James (played by Brit Pitt in one if the most sublime roles of his career) before he is shot and killed by Robert Ford whose fanatical, yet curiously narcissistic demeanor is defined in an extraordinary performance by Casey Affleck. The beauty of the dialog and character portrayal is rivaled only by the stunning cinematography juxtaposed by a haunting soundtrack complements of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.



It was however Nick Cave's bit role of saloon singer mocking the follies of Robert Ford,



that gave me the idea to note some of the great cinematic performances
given to us by musicians. A few that come to mind immediately include: Tom Waits in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Norah Jones in My Blueberry Nights, David Bowie in The Prestige and The Labyrinth, and of course Cher in Mermaids, Moonstruck, The Witches of Eastwick and Mask, just to name a few. In the next post of this series I will lay out the parameters and delve into the details of the where some of our most beloved crooners and sirens make a scene on the silver screen, with more than just a cameo.

-Emma Jeanmarie

The Sound Of Cinema (Part I): Beyond the Bard

Rock the Cause: Building a New Generation of Volunteerism

Rock the Cause is a non-profit organization aiming to raise awareness, visibility, and membership for non-profits through Rock and Roll. Scott Herold, CEO of Rock the Cause, realized a need to involve the young generations with their community as the baby boomers retire. Rock the Cause takes a grass roots route by using Rock and Roll to engage younger generations to take notice and volunteer in their community. Rock the Cause aims to create awareness and to generate an aspiring attitude in youth.

Thus far, Rock the Cause has shown significant impact through their events: 40% of audience members gave money to causes they discovered through Rock the Cause, 33% became volunteers in their community, and 79% of the audience discovered new music.

On the 29th of this month, Rock the Cause (partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters) will be throwing an event called Glitter Ball 3: Big Hair Big Hearts, in which 80% of proceeds go to the partner non-profit. This event is a tribute to the 80’s with free big hair makeovers, cheap drinks, Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap, free beef jerky, Minnesota Roller Girls, and Vikings Cheerleaders. Furthermore, wine and chocolate truffles for the ladies. White Light Riot will be playing a tribute to Spinal Tap. The whole night will be full of 80’s fun and 80’s tunes played by The Melismatics, The Notties, The Bloodsugars, and Alison Scott. This is sure to be a rockin’ event which will end with a late night dance party hosted by Stellar Vector!

Glitter Ball 3 will be at Music Box Theater, 1407 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, and will start with Happy Hour at 6:30 pm and music beginning at 8:00pm. Tickets can be purchased at irockthecause.org for $15 in advance or $20 at the door. They also have VIP tickets for $50 which include open bar, reserved seating and swag. I wouldn’t wait too much longer, the show will sell out soon!

Check out these links to get involved:

YouTube: Videos of past events
Website: Learn what it's all about and how you can Rock the Cause!
Micro Website: Learn more and watch videos of others who Rock the Cause.
Facebook: Keep up-to-date with Rock the Cause news and events
Big Brothers Big Sisters: How to become a Big Brother or Big Sister

-Annie H.

Rock the Cause: Building a New Generation of Volunteerism

Pandora Radio: Worth the Investment?

I have been a paying member of Pandora for at least 5 months now. I have to say that before that I was an avid listener of the free commercial version, but I wasn’t impressed. At first I fought against listening to online radio because it was easier to listen to what I wanted by bringing my ipod to work and hooking it up to the speakers. After awhile though I started to tire of songs I have been listening to for years. I turned to Pandora through a recommendation for music that I was not originally accustomed too. I was hoping to find songs that I could later add to my iTunes to make a better variety. I turned to Pandora and half way through the month I had eclipsed their 40 hour free limit, and they offered that I pay $1 to finish the month or go for the premium version for $36 a year. It was around pay day so I felt… why not? I paid for what they said was higher quality, commercial free, and in general an easier to use version.

5 months later I believe it clearly is worth the investment. This is by far the best online radio I have used, and the premium Pandora “One” is actually playing music I am familiar with as well as fully utilizing their logarithms in giving me music that is similar. I have found over 20 new artists that I have now started following and realize that my iTunes is useless now. All I use is Pandora and I haven’t even thought of buying a cd or individual songs (except Talib Kweli and Anthony Hamilton) since that time I decided to pay for Pandora.

All in all I give it a 8/10.

I wish I could skip more than 6 tracks in in an hour, but with licensing I understand why it’s not allowed. The interface can by clunky at times, and I wish the skip and pause buttons were a little bigger. Other than that, I listen to Pandora on my iPhone like a radio everywhere I go, at work on the computer, on my ps3 to use my sound system, and on my laptop while I’m out. I love it, and would recommend the premium version for those who can’t live without music like myself. Thank you.

From the mind of
Keveeno Reeverts

Pandora Radio: Worth the Investment?

"Monkey Jazz" : BEARDYMAN & mr_hopkinson™

 This video has been around for a while, but I thought I'd put it out there for anyone who hasn't had a chance to check it out yet. Enjoy...



-Tim

"Monkey Jazz" : BEARDYMAN & mr_hopkinson™

John Mellencamp’s Battle Heads to Facebook

Rolling Stone posted an article which explained a deal made between John Mellencamp and his son, Speck. According to RS, if Speck can get at least 1,000,000 people to join the group John Cougar will quit his habit. Apparently, the man has already cut his habit down a bit from 4 packs a day to an unspecified number less. As of now, about 300,000 people have joined the fight against John Mellencamp’s freedom to get cancer.

I’m not sure why, but this whole thing makes me laugh. I thought there were far too many Facebook groups as it is, now there’s one for the well-being of John Mellencamp’s throat. To me it’s a bit ridiculous. At fist I thought, “People need to be free to do what they want. It’s legal, so why can’t he smoke in peace without all of Facebook hassling him and giving their two cents.” But then I thought, “This guy agreed to it, he’s asking for it. Hell, he could have even planned it all with his publicist.”

And what happens if they do get a million people to join and John reneges on his promise to quit lighting up? It’s very possible. In fact, 80% of people that use stop smoking aids to quit will start smoking again in the next year. Think of the disappointment his child might feel for a father that can’t even quit smoking for him, let alone one million fans. Will all these “so-called” supporters turn their backs on him once he lets them down?

So what do you think, is it just a publicity stunt? a young boys cry for help? a waste of server space? or is that the beauty of social networking sites that YOU can have a say as to what happens to John Mellencamp’s lungs?

Post your comments below.

-Keaton

John Mellencamp’s Battle Heads to Facebook

Rolling Stone's List of Meltdowns and Blowups

Along with all the lists of the top songs and albums of the decade, Rolling Stone has made an entertaining list of artists' shenanigans that stood out the most over the past 10 years. The list is long (surprised? of course not), but here are my personal favorites:

• Ashley Simpson's lip syncing on Saturday Night Live and avoiding an awkward moment by doing a jig

• Madonna adopts an orphan that wasn't really orphaned

• A bald Britney Spears attacks a papa-paparazzi car with an umbrella-ella-ella

• Brett Michaels gets nailed by part of the stage set during a performance at the Tonys. I'm wondering why he'd be so upset and embarrassed by that after Rock of Love one AND two.


• Metallica sues Napster

• Mariah Carey pops in on TRL and goes a little nuts with an ice cream truck.

• Madonna and Brittney girl-on-girl and Adam Lambert's boy-on-boy award show performances


• And of course, the Kanye vs. Taylor incident. He appeared on the Jay Leno Show afterward, where Leno asks him what his mother would think if she were with us - a little harsh, even for Kanye.


What would we do without entertainers?

-Erin

Rolling Stone's List of Meltdowns and Blowups

Island Trip

Speaking of trippy videos, check out the new music video by Islands for the song "No You Don't" featuring Michael Cera. They start the video off by text labeling it as a "zero tolerance production" for a "high school academic anti-drug supplementary." Then, we get to follow Cera as he pops some pills and wanders around tripping out for a bit. Smart move on their part, recruiting Cera for the project, which will likely bring a lot more buzz to the Canadian group's video, as well as more attention to their music.

Watch it here:



-Erin

Island Trip

What We Have or What We Do With What We Have?

To segue from my last post, "Who needs to buy a guitar?"




After several months of being pommeled by the advertising industry telling me what I "need" this past holiday season, I seriously contemplated becoming more of a Luddite than I already am, until I came across this little set-up that transported me back to the techno-fantasy world that often prevails.

These are speakers that fit into any standard light sockets.  Not only will they play music remotely from your PC, stereo or iPod, they are equipped with 5 and 6-inch light fixtures that you can even dim for a little ambiance to match the musical mood.  Do I need these?...uh, ya...about as much as I need this significantly less tangible, but ever the more magical music making machine...




This is a far cry from trying to take apart my old "Speak & Spell" or is it?




All too often people, whether serious about making music or just want to have some fun with sound, are deterred by the price tags on equipment or the idea that they lack the talent to play. One of my favorite musical memories came from just that- play. A friend and I were wasting away the early morning hours eating pancakes at some suburbia hole-in-the wall, when he whipped out a pocket knife and started carving holes into and beveling the end of a straw: "Straw flute!" he declares. A few notes and we were decisively extricated from our seats. So, away we went to the nearest 24/7 convenient store, purchased a box of 100 drinking straws and proceeded until daylight with every permutation of hole configuration, length and bevel angle we could conjure. Were we making music? That's debatable. Playing? Definitely! If you've never watched a toddler get down with a set of pans and plastic bowls, do yourself a favor...or just do it yourself. You can bet there's some great, greasy grooves amidst all that clatter. Is musical success dependent on the recipe, whether or not you care that anyone likes the flavor, or with what kind of pots you're cooking...or playing, as it were?

Some of the most sublime sound has come from manipulating or simply reinventing for what a thing is "supposed" to be used. A recent "iPhone Symphony" post is a perfect illustration of how something that has become part of our everyday experience can transport us into an entirely different atmosphere of sound if we allow ourselves the creative license to transpose the thing. I have also had the joy of witnessing some of Minneapolis' finest talent brandish everything from screwdrivers to toilet-bowl scrubbers and successfully pass them off as instrumental accoutrement. I caught one of my favorite local jazz drummers, Jay Epstein (Firebell, The Dan Musselman Quartet) at a gig this summer; cooler than cool, without missing a beat, he pulled out a pair of plastic handled, nylon bristled toilet-bowl scrubbers. I was astounded! The sound was a little heavier than traditional "brushes" and perfect for the piece. Similarly simple in presence and just as innovative in thought, was guitarist Jeremy Ylvisaker's (Alpha Consumer, Andrew Bird) performance at the Modern Guitar Fest, held a few weeks ago. He began by precisely finessing a screwdriver behind his strings, then after looping and building upon this beautifully humble beginning and filtering through layers of distortion, he arrived at the simple static of an out of tune radio held up to an amp.

Ylvisaker's radio became a quite echo of his masterful guitar work and a reminder that what we have may not be as important as what we do with what we have. Actually, the performance, with it's use of simple artifacts juxtaposing a modern instrument, seemed to bring full circle the ideological conflict between manual and technological manipulation, which may not be a conflict at all, but a question of how do we find harmony within that space. As for me, I don't yet have an iPhone and I'm still waiting for my "Reactable" to come in the mail, but until then I'll just keep delighting in repeatedly pressing the "on" and "say-it" buttons on my "Speak & Spell".

-Emma Jeanmarie

What We Have or What We Do With What We Have?

WARNING: Animal Collective’s New “Brother Sport” Video May Initiate Acid Flashbacks

Maybe/Maybe not; but the new video for “Brother Sport” off of the Merriweather Post Pavillion album is a trip in itself. The video features crazy psychedelic visuals that seem to complement most of the band's work. The video, which appeared this morning on the My Animal Home Website, features strange children, eggs, hypnotizing Pink Floyd-esque artwork, and one of the weirdest finger-painting sessions ever. “Brother Sport” is the 3rd single off the band’s latest album following “My Girls” and “Summertime Clothes.” Check it out.

-Keaton

WARNING: Animal Collective’s New “Brother Sport” Video May Initiate Acid Flashbacks

Happy New Year from ELEVATION

For more videos from ELEVATION check out their YouTube Channel

Happy New Year from ELEVATION

Jack White: Artist of the Decade?

Unless you've been hiding in a hermit hole during the last few weeks, you've been inundated by "best of" lists touting opinions that may or may not be agreeable.  Generally, I find myself in disagreement with the idea of such lists since opinion, particularly in the arts, is often relative.  I tend to disregard the categorical aspect of these lists, but from them make my own list of work I have never seen/heard of before and try to remedy that disparity.  This year however, I would like to give a nod to Jack White, who is well deserving of an “Artist of the Decade” title.

The beginning of the decade was marked with several White Stripes releases, including their breakthrough album White Blood Cells and the acclaimed Elephant album... and yes, Meg, (although painful to watch) is entitled to her props as well. White has often said that her drumming style is unique in its simplicity. Meg does seem to know just when not to play and anything more would crowd the lyrics and complexity of White's guitar work.

After contributing 5 songs to the Cold Mountain soundtrack, White produced and performed on Loretta Lynn's “rebirth” album Van Lear Rose. Then, in between The White Stripes' Get Behind Me Satan and Icky Thump albums, Jack formed The Raconteurs, releasing Broken Boy Soldiers in 2006 and Consolers of the Lonely in 2008.

In 2009, as a result of Jack losing his voice during a Raconteurs tour and apparently not having enough to do already, The Dead Weather was formed.  As The Kills were warming up for their turn on stage, White's voice began to fade, so Alison Mosshart stepped in.  Shorty after the show and a recording that was supposed to be just 7”, White, Mosshart, Raconteurs bassist Jack Lawrence and Queen's of the Stone Age guitarist Dean Fertita, recorded their debut album Horehound.  From this album also came one of my favorite videos of the year for the song “Treat Me Like Your Mother” (below).  According to Jack, “The song is algebraic” and the short film by director Johnathan Glazer (Sexy Beast) equals a brilliant balance between the searing and the subtle.




Last year also saw the premier of the film Under Great White Northern Lights.  The story of  The White Stripes gallivanting across the great white north opened to stellar reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and is slated to release as an epic box set this March.  It will supposedly include:  A DVD of the film itself, a DVD of White Stripes 10th anniversary show -"The White Stripes Under Nova Scotian Lights", a 16-track White Stripes live album recorded during the Canadian tour on both vinyl and CD, a live 7" (featuring "Icky Thump" and "The Wheels on the Bus"), a 208-page book with photos, AND a silk screen print...I think I just wet myself...

Finally, as if  his solid, prolific and profoundly outstanding career needed the volume cranked any further, Jack White starred in the documentary It Might Get Loud, along side the Edge and Jimmy Page, for which he released the track “Fly Farm Blues” under his own name.

Jack says he doesn't trust anyone that doesn't like Led Zeppelin...I don't trust anyone that doesn't like (or at the very least can't appreciate) Jack White.  White is not only prolific, but revolutionary in inventing and reinventing how sound is processed as music. He distorts the concepts of that which is tangible, raw and real, while simultaneously maintaining a quality untouchable brilliance.

-Emma Jeanmarie

Jack White: Artist of the Decade?