Featured Song Of The Day = 'Lose It' by Austra (2011)

Today's feature track goes to Canadian indie-electronica/new-wave group Austra, and their song Lose It. Austra are a Toronto-based trio consisting of members Katie Stelmanis (lead vocals and keys), Maya Postepski (keys), and Dorian Wolf (bass guitar). The band's name is taken from the goddess of light in Latvian mythology, as lead singer Katie Stelmanis is of Latvian descent. Lose It is a single from the group's debut album Feel It Break, which was just released on May 17th, 2011.  This group's sound and style sort of reminds me a little bit of Bjork, and if you like what you hear you can head over to their website HERE for more music and band info.

Featured Song Of The Day = 'I Would Do Anything For You' by Foster The People (2011)

Today's feature song goes to Los Angeles-based indie-pop band Foster the People and their song I Would Do Anything For You. The band has been active on the American music scene circa 2009, and it consists of members Mark Foster (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Zach “Reazon” Heiligman (MPC), Mark Pontius (drums), and Cubbie Fink (bass guitar, vocals). I Would Do Anything For You comes off of their debut album Torches, just released on May 23rd, 2011.

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Featured Song of The Day = 'Half Of It' by YesYou (2011)

Today's feature song is Half Of It, by Australian dance-pop duo YesYou. YesYou are a Brisbane-based duo consisting of Jono Kirkham and Gav Parry who began producing music collaborations in 2010. Half Of It is the duo's first single-release, which features James O'Brien (from indie-band The Boat People) and the St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School Choir. Word on the street is they are looking to produce a full-on dance-pop album with many musical collaborations so looking forward to that! For this song and more info you can head to their Unearthed Page HERE.

Feature Song Of The Day = 'Everywhere' by Tim and Jean (2011)

Today's Feature Song is Everywhere, by Australian indie-electro-pop duo Tim and Jean. Tim and Jean are Tim Ayre and Jean Capotorto who come out of Perth, Western Australia. They started up a MySpace page and ended up entering Triple J's Unearthed High School competition for unsigned bands, in which they made it to the finals with the song Come Around. They were later then selected to by that radio station to play at the Parklife Festival. Everywhere is actually a cover single-release by Tim and Jean of the original Fleetwood Mac song. It doesn't appear on their April-2011 release debut album titled Like What, but you can find it at their Unearthed page HERE.  If you like what you hear you can surely go check out their MySpace page HERE for more songs and band info. Like What

The Last Days Of House (weekly): 'What Is Love' By Haddaway (1993)

This week's house-track is one that everyone must be familiar with by now, thaaats riggghht, its the 1993 mega-hit house-track What Is Love by Trinidadian-Dutch singer Haddaway. Alexander Nestor Haddaway was born in Trinidad in 1965, then moved with his family to attend boarding school in Europe, and then moved with his mother to the United States. He went to high-school in Maryland, and then moved back and finally settled-down in Cologne, Germany in 1989. At that time he was playing Grid-Iron football for the Cologne Crocodiles in the German Football League, as well as working as a choreographer, selling carpets and making music in his spare time in which was born his one-hit smash hit wonder What Is Love. What Is Love was released in 1993 on his self-titled debut Haddaway album and it very well may unofficially be the most well-known house track worldwide, but that is just speculation. What Is Love peaked at #2 in the UK and Germany, #11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and it was resurrected to popularity via the Saturday Night Live "Roxbury Guys" sketches, and 1998 feature film A Night at the Roxbury with Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell. So there it is, I had to do it, and stay tuned to see what gets the feature next week. 

A Brief Movie Review for 'Queen Christina' (1933)

Movie = Queen Christina (1933)

Director = Rouben Mamoulian

Rating =3.5/5 Stars ***'

This is quite an old movie from all the way back in 1933, but it is well done and worth watching. It stars Swedish actress Greta Garbo, who played a believable part as the 17th-century Queen Christina of Sweden (a true historical figure during the 30-Years War time-period in Europe). I don't know how historically accurate it is but the real Queen Christina sounded like she was quite an interesting person and leader. This film is entertaining and I would probably watch it again sometime in the future.

Feature Song Of The Day = 'Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat ' by Cut Copy (2011)

Today's feature song is...Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat, by Australian indie-synth-pop group Cut Copy. Cut Copy are fresh out of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia) and consists of members Dan Whitford (vocals, keyboards, and guitar), Tim Hoey (bass guitar and sampler), and Mitchell Scott (drums). It all began with Dan Whitford who is both a DJ and a graphic designer, and in fact Whitford released the first single and EP on his own before he recruited the other band members that comprise the band today. I have had the privilege of seen Cut Copy live on two occasions, and I highly recommend checking them out live if you ever get this chance, a very good show. Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat comes off of their recently released (February 8th, 2011) Zonoscope album. If you like what you hear from these lads then head on over to their MySpace page HERE, or head on over to the band website and get yourself a free mp3 download when you sign up for their mailing list HERE.
Cut Copy – Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat found on Pop 

Another Classics Shuffle: 'Cherry, Cherry' by Neil Diamond (1966)

The results for this week's Classics Shuffle goes to American singer/song-writer/musician Neil Diamond, and his 1966 hit song Cherry, Cherry. According to wikipedia Diamond wrote, composed and recorded this song, while it was arranged by Artie Butler and produced by Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich. This tune was Neil Diamond's first major hit reaching #6 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October of 1966 and it has been named "one of the greatest three-chord songs of all time" by Rolling Stone magazine. The song can be found on his The Feel of Neil Diamond album, or you can also find an alternate version of this song on his Classics: The Early Years album.

A Brief Movie Review for 'The Power' (1968)

Movie = The Power (1968)

Director = Byron Haskin

Rating = 2.5/5 Stars **'

An interesting old sci-fi movie from 1968 starring George Hamilton (a little less tan, and much younger in those days) and Suzanne Pleshette, and by the same director who made the 1953 War Of The Worlds movie. A group of top-secret scientists working on calculating human pain-thresholds in space travel discover that someone amongst them has a far superior brain power and IQ, as well as the amazing power to control others, perform telekinesis, and even to kill other people with their mind. After one of the top scientists who uncovers this fact is found dead in the laboratory George Powell takes it upon himself to discover who the superman is and get to him before he kills all of them off. A bit nerdy and the plot seems a little weak, but its entertaining enough to watch once. The cinematography really makes California seem like a nice place and reminds me of the early James Bond movie sets from the same time period.

Feature Song Of The Day = 'The New You' by Convaire (2011)

Today's feature song is The New You, by Australian indie-electro-pop group Convaire. Convaire is a 4-piece band from Sydney, Australia which consists of John Towey (guitars), sisters Liz and Jane Slattery (keysboards) and Dan Talbot (bass guitar). The New You is a new single release by the group and if you find you like it you can listen to more of their songs their Myspace page HERE, and for even more general band info be sure to head to their Unearthed Page HERE.  THE NEW YOU by Convaire

Feature Song Of The Day = 'Phantastic Phone Call' by Alexander Dexter Jones (2011)

Today's song is called Phantastic Phone Call and its by British DJ/producer Alexander Dexter Jones. Alexander Dexter Jones is the son of Foreigner founding-member Mick Jones, as well as a brother of uber-successful  British musician/producer/DJ Mark Ronson. For more information on this artist you can check out this article on him HERE, or this article HERE. Phantastic Phone Call can be found on the French music Label Kitsuné Maison Compilation 11  album which was just released on May 17th, 2011 and which I also recommend checking out.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Pandorum' (2009)

Movie = Pandorum (2009)

Director = Christian Alvart

Rating = 2.5/5 Stars **'

The basic plot for this film is that 2 flight crew members on a deep-space mission wake up out of their extended sleeping pods to discover their spaceship and crew have disappeared and that something is very wrong. This movie wasn't quite what I expected it was going to be as I was expecting more a psychological thriller as opposed to a super-zombies in space movie (I suppose I should have watched the trailer in this case), and basically this is 'Resident Evil' in space (although if you watch it to the end you realize they aren't actually in space at all), and the super-human zombies look the same as the ones in that movie. If you like sci-fi action/thriller movies such as 'I Am Legend,' 'Aliens,' or 'Resident Evil,' with the graphic violence and suspenseful chasing scenes then you will at least find this one entertaining to watch through once, and that is what the movie is like if you didn't already know. I wouldn't watch this one again.

The Last Days Of House (weekly edition): 'Doctor Pressure' by Mylo vs. Miami Sound Machine (2005)

And now for another edition of The Last Days Of House we have a legendary mashup-track from 2005 called Doctor Pressure, by Scottish record producer/DJ Mylo. This is without a doubt one my personal top 20 house tracks of all time, and it was originally released as a bonus track on the 2005 re-release DJ Mylo's Destroy Rock & Roll album. This track involves the 1984 track Dr. Beat by American band Miami Sound Machine, and it has been mashed together with Mylo's 2004 house-track Drop the Pressure. 
The version being featured here is the Dirty Club Remix, so be sure to check that out.

Feature Song Of The Day = 'Desert Island' by Architecture in Helsinki (2011)

Today's feature song goes to Australian indie-pop/avant-garde band Architecture In Helsinki and their song Desert Island. Architecture In Helsinki are a Melbourne-based indie-pop group who've been active since on the music scene since 2000 and includes members Cameron Bird, Gus Franklin, Jamie Mildren, Sam Perry, and Kellie Sutherland. Desert Island is a single just released on April 5th, 2011 and which will appear on their upcoming Moment Bends album also due out on May 3rd, 2011. If you like what you hear you can check out their official website HERE.

A Brief Movie Review for 'The Brother From Another Planet' (1984)

Movie = The Brother From Another Planet (1984)

Director = John Sayles

Rating = 4/5 Stars ****

I seem to like John Sayles movies, and I really liked this one. This one is about an alien, who appears quite human, who crash-lands in New York City where he must blend in and learn how to live amongst the humans while evading pursuit by his alien slave-owners. This movie really is a social commentary on illegal immigration, slavery, and racial issues. The message I got after watching this is you don't necessarily have to be from another planet to feel like an outsider in another culture, country, or even a strange neighborhood in your own city. The movie is entertaining, I would recommend it, and I would watch it again. Also, this movie is currently available on for free viewing in full on YouTube Movies HERE.

Feature Song Of The Day = 'Here She Comes' by Skipping Girl Vinegar (2011)

Today's song goes to another great Melbourne-based group called Skipping Girl Vinegar, and recently released song their song Here She Comes. Skipping Girl Vinegar are an indie-roots band that have been active on the Australian-music scene circa 2006, they are based out of Melbourne, Australia, and consist of members are Chris Helm (drums and bv), Mark Lang (vocals and guitar), Sare Lang (bass, bv) and Amanthi Lynch (keys and bv). According to the band's wikipedia page they are named after an animated neon-sign of Audrey the Skipping Girl located in Abbotsford, Victoria. Here She Comes was released as a single on February 24th, 2011 and can be purchased/previewed on ITunes HERE. I had the pleasure to see this group live in Melbourne in 2008 and was impressed by how good they sound live, definitely check out their other songs too.

Feature Song Of The Day = 'City Dreams' by Antonio Paul (2010)

Today's song goes to Australian indie-pop group Antonio Paul and their song City Dreams. Antonio Paul are based out of Bunbury, Western Australia and consists of members Marc Antonio, Michael Paul,  Jordan Gianfrancesco (live synth), and Sam Maher (live drums). City Dreams appears on their Treasures EP, which was released in September of 2010. You can check out their Unearthed Page HERE, their Facebook page HERE, or even purchase their EP HERE.

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Featured Song Of The Day = 'Be Mine' by The Kooks (2006)

Today's feature song is already a few years old but I liked it enough to feature it here today, and it is bonus track Be Mine, by British indie-rock group The Kooks. The Kooks are an indie-rock band out of  Brighton, England who formed in 2001 with members Luke Pritchard (vocals and guitar), Hugh Harris (guitar), Paul Garred (drums), and Max Rafferty (bass guitar). Be Mine is a bonus track found on the enhanced/import version of their CD-album Inside In/Inside Out, which was originally released in 2006, so don't go looking for it on ITunes or Amazon because this bonus-track does not seem to appear on the digital-album version, but only on the audio-import-cd version as far as I can tell. If you like what you hear go check out their website HERE.

Another Classics Shuffle: 'I'll Be Around' by The Spinners (1972)

I know I keep changing the name of this series, and what I am really looking for is a simple title to post songs pre-1980's under, so now its Another Classics Shuffle. Today's shuffle results in the 1972 classic track I'll Be Around by American R&B vocal group The Spinners (known as "Detroit Spinners" in the UK). The Spinners are a Detroit-based soul-music vocal group who formed in 1961 and who had various hits during the 1970's and there are a few members to mention so I won't go into that here. I'll Be Around was released in 1972 on the group's self-titled Spinners album and it would reach #1 on the U.S. R&B chart and #3 on the U.S. Pop chart, and #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart. This song has been covered many times and ways by many artists but I would personally recommend the 1994 Rappin' 4-Tay version which you can listen to HERE.

Feature Song of The Day = 'Moon As A Mirror' by Joshy Willo (2011)

Today's feature song is Moon As A Mirror by Australian roots/folk/rock musician Joshy Willo. Joshy Willo originates from Elliston, South Australia, has been involved in music for most of his life playing guitar and drums as well as singing vocals. He has released his first album of the same title as todays feature song Moon As A Mirror on April 11th, 2011, which can be purchased in full at his ITunes page HERE. Also, you can check out his Unearthed page for more biographical info HERE. There is no video for this on YouTube, so you will have to visit one of the links above to actually listen to today's song.

A Brief Movie Review for 'City Of Ember' (2008)

Movie = City Of Ember (2008)

Director = Gil Kenan

Rating = 2.5/5 Stars **'

This sci-fi/adventure is about a future human civilization who have created an underground city/society to remain there for 200 years while Earth's environment on the surface becomes habitable once again. Somewhere along the way the information that a surface world gets lost as the underground civilization faces collapse of their infrastructure. An engaging movie, and this was not the typical Bill Murray role either, but it was nice to see him in a movie again, albeit his character isn't the most likable. Some scenes and situations in this movie really reminds one of the 80's classic The Goonies too, so you may find it interesting if you like that style of adventure flick. I doubt I would watch this movie again in the future.

Feature Song Of The Day = '(Don't Let Them) Cool Off' by Peter Bjorn and John (2011)

Today's feature song goes to Swedish indie-rock group Peter, Bjorn, and John and their song (Don't Let Them) Cool Off.  Peter, Bjorn, and John have been active on the rock-music scene since 1999, they are based out of Stockholm, Sweden, and consist of members Peter Morén (vocals, guitar and harmonica), Björn Yttling (bass guitar, keyboards and vocals) and John Eriksson (drums, percussion and vocals). (Don't Let Them) Cool Off comes off of their new album titled Gimme Some, which was just released on March 28th, 2011. If you like what you hear then head over to their website HERE for more music and band info, Enjoy!

Feature Song Of The Day = 'Piper's Song' by Gypsy And The Cat (2010)

Not sure what is up with blogger.com, I posted this and the next post a few days ago and they seem to have mysteriously disappeared so I have to repost them including the new one. 
Today's song is....The Piper's Song, by by Aussie electro-pop duo Gypsy and the Cat. Gypsy and the Cat formed back in 2008, and the duo consists of Melbourne DJ's Xavier Bacash and Lionel Towers who are currently based out of London, UK (London is where they are currently based, though they both are originally from Melbourne, Australia). I have posted a couple of their previous songs on this vlog, and now they have released their debut album titled Gilgamesh in November of 2010.This band has a unique sound, and the more of their stuff I listen to, the more and more I am really enjoying it. Check out their Unearthed page HERE, and you can check out their other works at their myspace page HERE.

The Last Days Of House = 'Tell Me Why' by Supermode (2006)

We're back with another issue of The Last Days of House, and today the feature song is the 2006 release Tell Me Why, by Swedish House Mafia DJ collaboration Supermode. Supermode (aka Supermongo) is a collaboration of Swedish DJs Steve Angello and Axwell, and this song being one of their better known tracks to date. For those of you who know you 80s music Tell Me Why is a remix/mashup of two songs by British 80s group Bronski Beat, and namely their songs Smalltown Boy, and Why?, both of which come off of the 1984 The Age of Consent album. So there is another house-entry for you, stay tuned for more...I think I might brainstorm a few new issues but nothing coming to me as of yet.

Feature Song of The Day = 'Beverly Kills' by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (2010)

Today's feature song is Beverly Kills, by Los Angeles-based recording artists/psychedlic-indie-pop collaboration Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. Ariel Pink (Ariel Marcus Rosenberg) is a recording artist who is the primary member of the band, which has had various other musicians and personnel do bits and pieces of work under the band name, and their are about 17 of them in total so I won't name them all here. Rosenberg has been active on the music scene in L.A. since 1996. Beverly Kills comes off of the latest album titled Before Today, which was released on June, 8th 2010. If you like what you hear you can find this album and more artist info on ITunes, or you can head over Ariel Pink's website HERE.

They Call Them Classics: 'Wooden Heart' by Elvis Presley (1964)

Welcome to another issue of They Call Them Classics (weekly edition), and this weeks shuffle result is the 1964 release song Wooden Heart by The King Of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. I find it funny that I have had this vlog up for over a year now and this is the first Elvis song to show up, and here it is. Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn) first appeared in the 1960 Elvis Presley film G.I. Blues and it was a #1 hit in the UK for 6 weeks there before it was ever released in the USA. It was released in the USA in 1964 on the B-side of  Blue Christmas,
and a cover version was released by Joe Dowell in 1961 which reached #1 in the US too. So there is this weeks issue, stay tuned for more, its always a random result, well mostly anyway.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Changing Lanes' (2002)

Movie = Changing Lanes (2002)

Director = Roger Michell

Rating = 4/5 Stars ****

This movie is actually quite a bit better than it sounds, and has a pretty good cast too (includes Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, William Hurt, Amanda Peet, and a few others) despite not really getting much attention upon its release. Affleck and Jackson have a fender bender on the JFK and this sets the course of their day in which they manage to just about ruin each other's lives with acts of manipulation and vengeance, but wait, there seems to be some sort of moral lesson here too, like "treat others as you would be treated," and that anything else just leads to chaos and cyclical conflict/drama. Definitely check this one out, its fast paced, has lots of action, and is a bit suspenseful too. I would watch it again sometime.

Feature Song of The Day = 'Curtain Falls' by Ou Est Le Swimming Pool (2010)

Today' s feature song is Curtain Falls by British synth-pop group Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool originate out of Camden, London UK and consisted of members Charles Haddon (ex-lead singer, is now deceased), Joe Hutchinson, and Caan Capan. This song appears on their debut album titled The Golden Year, which was officially released on October 11th, 2010. The release of that album was delayed from its original release date when the lead vocalist Charles Haddon tragically committed suicide on August 20th, 2010 following a performance in Belgium. One piece of Wikipedia trivia not noted on previous posts is that the group's name was inspired by a line from the French teacher Mrs Crabbe in the television series Hardwicke House.You can check out their MySpace page HERE. 

The Last Days of House: 'The Weekend' by Michael Gray (2004)

The Last Days of House returns with this weeks track by British DJ/producer Michael Gray his 2004 hit track The Weekend. Michael Gray began his career as a British-house DJ as well as a renown remixer in the 1990's. The Weekend (featuring vocals by Shena) was released in the UK in 2004 where it would hit #7 on the UK Singles Chart, and made the Top 10 in Australia and in a few countries in Europe as well. Truly a great house track that speaks to 9-5'ers the world-round, lets get to the weekend already!!