Brief Movie Review for "Ondine" (2010)

Ondine (2010)  3.5/5 Stars ***

Interesting story, not too believable and a bit predictable but worth a one-time watch. The part that gets me is that we are all supposed to believe that these people swimming in the coastal waters just off of Ireland aren't all getting hypo-thermia?? Maybe there is some sort of warm ocean current around the shores of Ireland that I am unaware of but I can't imagine that those waters could be warm enough to even want to consider jumping in. Note that there is somewhat predictable twist to this one.  

Song for November 18th, 2010: "Sugarhoney" by Ross de Chene Hurricanes

Today's song is...Sugarhoney, by Australian indie-garage-rock band Ross de Chene Hurricanes. Ross de Chene Hurricanes originate out of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and consists of members Justin Kuchel (on Drums), and Mark Doman (on Vocals and Guitar). For any further info on this band check out their myspace page HERE, and if you wish to download this song and a few others as free and legal mp3 downloads check out their Unearthed page HERE. Enjoy!Triple J Hottest 100 Vol 17

Marc Johnce Mashup: Dizzee Rascal vs. Duck Sauce

Song of the Day for November 17th, 2010: "It Takes a Muscle" by M.I.A.

Today's featured song is...It Takes a Muscle, by British singer/songwriter/rapper/record producer M.I.A.  M.I.A. (actual name is Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) originates out of Mitcham, South London, UK. She began her career as a visual artist and designer in West London and started up on the music scene in 2004, and after a couple of hit singles she was nominated for an Academy Award, 2 Grammy Awards, and a Mercury Prize. If you check out her wikipedia page HERE, you will see just how many other awards she has been nominated for and won. Her mother works as a seamstress in London, and she notes fashion and guerilla art as being big influences on her style and music. It Takes a Muscle is actually a cover recording of the original 1982-release track recorded by Dutch band Spectral Display, which M.I.A. has clearly added a reggae-style twist to. This song was released on her 3rd studio album titled Maya which was released on July 10th, 2010. The Maya album has been her highest charting album to date, as it reached #21 on the UK Albums Chart, #9 on the US Billboard 200, and #1 on the U.S. BillboardDance/Electronic Albums. Booyakasha!

Lady Gaga and Madonna Mashup - Alejandro (Mkaio's Holiday Smash)

Song for November 16th, 2010: "Girl" by Dolphins

The song for today is...Girl, by 3-piece Australian surf-garage-rock band Dolphins. Dolphins is a side project of the Gold Coast based indie-electro band Elke, consisting of band members Zack, Joel, and Jesse from that very same band. They call themselves a "band for the summer", which they no doubt live up to. I personally really like all of the musical works of Elke, and so I am stoked to hear them continuing to come up with new works, including side-projects such as Dolphins. In my opinion they are a highly under-rated band and its time they got some serious radio-play!! For more info on this band you can check out their website HERE where you can listen to/download a free mp3 of this very song and more. Also be sure to check out their myspace page HERE, and their Elke unearthed page HERE. Also, do note that you can find Elke's Blue Dream Lover EP for purchase on itunes in the US store, and if you are in Australia you can probably get more but I wouldn't know as I am limited to the US store thanks to location, itunes seriously needs to change that but I suppose it has to do with trade agreements or something like that. Enjoy Dolphins!

#42 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: "That's Good" by Devo (1982)

So I have been on holiday for the last week or so, but I do have #42 of the Countdown here, and the song is That's Good by 80's synth-pop legends Devo. Devo is just one of those iconic 80's bands that really couldn't fit into any other era and rightfully so as they have an almost cultish following. Devo originated out of Akron, Ohio back in 1973 and consists of members Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh
Gerald Casale, Bob Casale, and Josh Freese. They were one of those bands that lead the 80's synth-pop-music-video era of MTV into a genre of its own, although I still find it hard to comprehend what has now happened to MTV (or VH1 for that matter), and how it truly does seem to have lost its way, I guess that is what happens when the big boy corporations come in and buy you out, you lose all of your authenticity and uniqueness and become another generic cable tv station....Although I do know that some people probably liked the change, change is a fact of life...Now back to Devo! That's Good appeared on the 1982 release album titled Oh, No! It's Devo. I would like to add that this is my personal Devo favorite of all time, and it makes for a great 80's dance hit that most DJ's don't seem that familiar with, so I hope to change that. Oh, No! It's Devo was their 5th studio release album and contains another of their songs I would highly recommend checking out titled Big Mess. Devo are still best known for their #14 Billboard Chart and music video hit Whip It, and if you don't know that song then I really can't help you, the outfits should be a dead give-away...seriously. One last bit of info on the Oh, No! It's Devo album is that it reached #42 on the US Pop Albums Chart that year. Now, the video below isn't of the highest quality in audio or video, however it comes from a 1982 Devo live performance of this song on Letterman, which is quite entertaining, so enjoy!

Song of the Day for November 15th, 2010: "Angela Surf City" by The Walkmen

Been on holiday for the last week, but I am back now, and the song for today is....Angela Surf City by American indie-rock band The Walkmen. The Walkmen have been around since the year 2000, and are based mainly out of New York City, and consists of members from 2 different bands; three members from Jonathan Fire*Eater being Paul Maroon (on guitar and piano), Walter Martin (organ and bass guitar), and Matt Barrick (on drums) and then 2 members from The Recoys, Peter Bauer (bass guitar and organ) and Hamilton Leithauser (vocals and guitar). I am not too familiar with this band, but I do remember that they had a hit single which was featured on a Saturn Ion car advert, that song being We've Been Had, so many of you may be familiar with that song and not even know it. Angela Surf City is a new single released off of their latest album (released on September 14, 2010) titled Lisbon.

Song of the Day for Novemeber 12th, 2010: "Rapunzel" by Drapht

The song is Rapunzel, by Australian hip-hop artist Drapht. Drapht is from Perth, Australia, and is signed to the Obese Record Label. This comes off of his upcoming new release album called The Life of Riley.

Song of the Day for November 11th, 2010: "Final Round" by Cassian

And the song is....Final Round, by Australian electro-funk-house artist CASSIAN. Now, there is little to no bio info on this artist, however he is from Sydney, and he does sound a bit like another electronic group called Chromeo. So I suppose that makes my job here today easier, and if you want to check out some more of his stuff, try his myspace page here. This song comes off of his Friday Night EP, which was release in 2009 and can be found on Itunes. Enjoy!

"Stardust Kids" mashup of "David Bowie vs MGMT" by A Plus D

Song of the Day for November 8th, 2010: "Beamer" by Coach Bombay

And today's song is....Beamer, by Australian indie-electro-pop band Coach Bombay. Coach Bombay has been called the bedroom project of Melbourne musician Terry Mann, which according to Mann has the goal of brightening your day with upbeat blips, pops, beats, and delusions of grandeur. The other band member is Luci Hodgson who also does parts on the vocals. They have a website which can be found here, and an unearthed page with the usual free mp3 downloads, inlcluding one of this song here. Woot!

Song for November 7th, 2010: "Lost In The Moment" by Daniel Lee Kendall

And today's song is...Lost In The Moment, by Australian indie musician Daniel Lee Kendall. Daniel Lee Kendall originates out of Central Coast (NSW) in Australia and writes his own songs. There really just isn't that much bio-info on this bloke, so you are going to have to go to his myspace page here, or his unearthed page here for more info. Also note that this song and a couple others of his are still available as a free mp3 download on his triple j unearthed site, linked just above.