TED TALK: Eli Pariser: What Is The Internet Hiding?

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!!