Featured Song of the Day = 'Up Up Up' by Givers (2011)

Today's feature song is Up Up Up by American indie-pop band Givers. Givers have been active since 2009, they originate out of Lafayette, Louisiana, and consists of members Tiffany Lamson (vocals and percussion), Taylor Guarisco (guitar and vocals), Kirby Campbell (drums and vocals), Josh LeBlanc (bass guitar), and Nick Stephan (saxophone, keyboards, flute). Up Up Up is a single released off of their first studio album In Light, which was just released on June 7th, 2011. Head over to their MySpace page HERE for more info and music.

The Last Days Of House: 'Sunny' by Boogie Pimps (2004)

Now for another edition of The Last Days Of House, and today we have German-electronic/house group Boogie Pimps and their 2004 release hit track Sunny. Boogie Pimps is a collaboration between DJs Mark J Klak and Mirko Jacob which began in 2000 out of Erfurt, Germany. Sunny was a cover-version of the original 1966 song by American singer/songwriter Bobby Hebb, and the Boogie Pimps version would reach #10 on the UK charts, and #23 on the Australian charts. I was surprised to see that the original radio-edit of this song isn't available as a digital download on either ITunes or Amazon, but their hit house-cover of Somebody to Love is, so you can check that out, although it will probably appear in a future post here. Til next time, and lets hope for some more sun too!

Featured Song Of The Day = 'Simple Man (feat. Daniel Merriweather)' by Diafrix (2011)

Today's featured song is Simple Man (feat. Daniel Merriweather) by Australian hip-hop duo Diafrix. Diafrix consists primarily of the Melbourne-based duo Khaled “Azmarino” Abdulwahab and Mohamed “Momo” Komba, both of whom were refugees from their home countries who immigrated to Australia at a young age. They have since made their mark on the Australian hip-hop music scene having made an extensive career on the Aussie live-music festival scene, as well as music tours all over Europe. Simple Man is a new single release by the group, released on April 4th, 2011, and featuring the guest vocals of Australian R-and-B-singer Daniel Merriweather. If you like the song you can head to the group's MySpace page HERE, or their very own website HERE for more.

A Brief Movie Review for 'All Good Things' (2010)

Movie = All Good Things (2010)

Director = Andrew Jarecki

Rating = 3/5 Stars ***

Bit of a strange movie, and oddly enough they say its 'based on events,' but they never say 'true' or 'factual events' so who knows how loosely based they are, although they do say that sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. The movie starts out quite normal about a young couple who get married and live happily for a few years until the wife (Dunst) discovers that her husband and his powerful New York real-estate mogul family are really quite evil to the core. The story then takes quite a twist and the husband (Gosling) basically becomes a  cross-dressing homicidal maniac on the run. Again, a strange movie and one would hope not too true to actual events.

Mentionable Mashups: 'Word Up This Way' by Marc Johnce (2011)

Its been awhile since I posted any mashups, so Mentionable Mashups returns from holiday to present you with the latest track Word Up This Way, by Nuremburg-based mashup producer Marc Johnce. This mashup involves the 2011 released #1 hit Born This Way, by the Empress of Pop Lady Gaga, and it has been brilliantly mashed together with 2004 cover song Word Up! by American nu-metal band Korn, both songs that I recommend checking out on their own as well. If you like what you hear you can head over to Marc Johnce's website HERE, or head over to Mashuptown for more mashups HERE.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Alfie' (1966)

Movie = Alfie (1966)

Director = Lewis Gilbert

Rating = 3.8/5 stars ***''

 The original 'Alfie' (starring Michael Caine) is an interesting movie, and not exactly what I expected it to be either. It is in fact much better than one might initially think after reading the taglines and movie brief. It is a movie about a playboy who leads a reckless love life and doesn't seem to have much other purpose in life than scoring with as many women as he sees fit; but it is also about Alfie having to face up to reality that he is now a middle aged-adult and starts to find himself confused as he begins to leave the lifestyle that defined who he was for much of his youth and begin to face what it means to be a father and someone who no longer fits the old mold quite so well (almost a mid-life crisis sort of movie, but of one who never moved on past the party-stage). Michael Caine does a great job in this role, and I recommend watching this one, and after doing so I have little to no interest in the more recent version.

Featured Song Of The Day = 'Modern Art' by Black Lips (2011)

Today's feature song is Modern Art by American garage-punk band Black Lips. The Black Lips began back in 1999 out of Atlanta, Georgia and consisting of current members Cole Alexander (guitar and vocals), Jared Swilley (bass guitar and vocals), Ian Saint Pé (guitar and vocals), and Joe Bradley (drums and vocals). Modern Art is a single release off of their 6th studio album Arabia Mountain, which was just released on June 7th, 2011. You can check out their MySpace page HERE for more music and band info.

Another Classics Shuffle: 'Can't You Hear Me Knocking' by The Rolling Stones (1971)

And the Classic's Shuffle result for this week, straight out of 1971, and hardly an unknown song is Can't You Hear Me Knocking by legendary British rock band The Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones formed in London, UK back in 1962 with an original lineup of Brian Jones (guitars, and harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (vocals and harmonica) and Keith Richards (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass guitar), and Charlie Watts (drums). Yes, they are still touring to this day despite some of them being almost 70 years old which is pretty amazing and cool at the same time. Can't You Hear Me Knocking comes off of the band's 11th American and 9th British studio albums Sticky Fingers, which was released in April of 1971. This song has been featured in many films including Blow, Casino, Comedian, The Fighter, and Without a Paddle to name a few. This is one of my favorite Stones tracks so enjoy and stay tuned for more.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Waste Land' (2010)

Movie = Waste Land (2010)

Director = Lucy Walker

Rating = 5/5 Stars *****

Waste Land is a very worth-while documentary about the Land-fills of Rio De Janiero and the people who make a living as 'pickers' that collect and sell the recyclable materials from everyone else's rubbish. Brazilian visual artist Vik Muniz makes his way back to Brazil in an effort to raise awareness about pickers and the lives they live, as well as taking the opportunity to give them a human face, and to give something back to his people who need it most. Check this one out!

Feature Song Of The Day = 'Fall At Your Feet' by Boy And Bear (2010)

Today's featured song is Fall At Your Feet by Australian indie-folk band Boy And Bear. Boy And Bear started out in Sydney Australia in 2009 originally as a solo-project by Dave Hosking who was later was joined by Jake Tarasenko, Killian Gavin, and Tim Hart, all members that have since contributed as singers and songwriters in the group. Fall At Your Feet is a cover version of the original 1992 song by Aussie/Kiwi band Crowded House. The Boy And Bear cover version was released in November of 2010 on a Finn Brothers covers album titled He Will Have His Way, so you can find it there. I look forward to more from this group in the future. You can check out their Unearthed page HERE, or their MySpace page HERE.

Featured Song Of The Day = 'Have Fun' by Bleeding Knees Club (2010)

And the song for today is....Have Fun by Australian indie-punk band Bleeding Knees Club. Bleeding Knees Club originate out of the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia, and consists of members Alex Wall (Drums/vocals) and Jordan Malane (Guitar). Have Fun comes off of their October 2010 released Virginity EP. So, as per usual you can head over to their MySpace page HERE, or check out their Unearthed page HERE.

Featured Song Of The Day = 'Foreign Lover' by Stonefield (2010)

Today's feature song is Foreign Lover by Australian rock-band Stonefield. Stonefield consists of 4 sisters Amy Findlay (lead vocals and drums), Hannah Findlay (guitar), Sarah Findlay (keys and vocals), and Holly Findlay (bass guitar) and who are based out of Melbourne Australia. The song Foreign Lover comes off of their debut EP titled Through The Clover, which was released in November 2010.  For more music and info on the band you can visit their MySpace page HERE, or their Unearthed page HERE.   Foreign Lover by stonefieldThrough the Clover

A Brief Movie Review for 'The Tourist' (2010)

Movie = The Tourist (2010)

Director = Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Rating = 2.2/5 Stars **'

  

The Tourist, starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie is a very formulaic action-intrigue film with a very thin plot and what seems like little substance/soul. The film has wonderful scenery though, lots of beautiful settings and European city-scapes, especially of Venice which most definitely helps. I get the feeling that they sort of slapped-together the standard Hollywood action-intrigue formula plot-line together just for an excuse to get Depp and Jolie in the same film (which clearly equals easy big bucks at the box office), and I think they could have easily come up with an interesting plot but opted not to for some reason. This movie is however worth watching once, and be warned as it may make you want to travel.