The Osmonds just got a little bit cool.

If this doesn’t make you cringe & smile, nothing will.

Donny Osmond jams on the Moog modular synthesizer on the Donny and Marie Show, with some help from Desi Arnaz Jr., Jay Osmond and Jimmy Osmond on drums.

Ok, that's hilarious.

[via Synthtopia]

Secret of the 'Inception' soundtrack

Great job, Internet! [AV Club via Angry Robot]

I just saw this movie the other day, and all I can say is: tour de force. Awesome flick.

Some popular recent posts on my blog

Song in the Resident Evil: Afterlife trailer

Swedish Chef does "Popcorn"

New Caribou video - Sun

CARIBOU - Sun from Caribou on Vimeo.

As Kurt Vonnegut liked to say: "Um,"

I liked his animated stuff from a couple albums back much better. Welcome to the Canadian music industry, kids. Unless you're on a big label, you get $40 to produce your video, so you'd better have some talented friends.

[via Gorilla vs. Bear]

History of the Beatles as told by their hair

[Link]

More Disney and classical

After thinking about Impressions of France, I opened up my classical music library on iTunes and came across "Rhapsody in Blue", which reminded me of this excellent Disney bit from Fantasia 2000...

Impressions of the French Pavillion

Back in May, on a trip to Disney World, we visited Epcot's French Pavillion. One of the main attractions there is the film Impressions of France, which is shown on a massive screen, and features breathtaking shots of the cites and countryside in the nation.

Also of note is the exceptional soundtrack, with many well known French composers such as Debussy, Ravel and Satie. I was thinking about it today and hoped I could track down a few of the compositions... turns out that the entire soundtrack list for the film is on Wikipedia.

Here's a nice sample:


...aaaand after reading the comments for that clip, I just found out this was used in Twilight. I guess nothing is sacred after all. And the argument that 'at least these kids are listening to good music' holds as much weight as 'Harry Potter will get kids to read more'... it's not the act of listening or reading that's appealing, it's the content.

Kinda reminds me of when people hear a song and don't realize it's a cover... then you try to explain to them that someone else wrote the song. They listen to it... then decide that the version they heard first is superior. Then I sigh. Ah well.

Swedish Chef does "Popcorn"

Disney continues their Muppet-mashups with the Swedish Chef doing the popular 1969 novelty hit, "Popcorn" by Gershon Kingsley.



[via Synthtopia]

Wait... what? House uses Massive Attack for its theme song?

I may work in television, but it took me a long time to learn that the theme song for the popular television medical mystery drama House is a song from Massive Attack's excellent Mezzanine album, titled "Teardrop". Not sure if I get why it's relevant to the show, maybe the producers just thought it sounded good. Anyway, I'm sure the band doesn't mind, as that one deal can probably allow them to focus on music and not worry too much about selling records, which is definitely a good thing.

Here's a clip of the track that's garnered over three million views, and isn't even an official video... pretty rad. I'm surprised this one hasn't been taken down, but I guess the label people dig it. Neat concept though:

Saigon Sunday

This one came up on rotation the other day. Awesome track.

Music comic that I found on the 'tubes

Found this one on Google Reader's recommended items. I thought it was pretty funny. The guy's got a wicked blog too:
http://thatlukeperson.blogspot.com

Breaking: "Tik Tok" and "California Gurls" share similar chords, song structures, are both pop songs from 2010 about intercourse sung by vapid yet highly sexualized females; more to come on this developing story

And it's got absolutely nothing to do with the fact that uber-pop-sensation producer Dr. Luke had his masterful mitts on the console.



via: Elitaste via Daily Swarm

New Matthew Dear

Here's the trailer:

Matthew Dear - Black City Teaser from Ghostly International on Vimeo.

Sounds like his signature style for sure, a mix of Bowie, Prince and some sweet slick electronica.

Check this link for more, including the mp3 download link.

Broken Social Scene-G20 fan mashup

In 30 years when someone asks me what life was like in the summer of 2010, I will direct them to this video. Assuming we're all still around by then.

The library: Still awesome

I like to preach/rattle on about how awesome the Toronto Public Library system is, and here's yet another reason to love the service: A newly redesigned website.

Check out the blog section, specifically the music blog, 'Make Some Noise' with recommendations on buzzband and other popular artist CDs available in the system.

Reminder: For the time being, it's still legal to convert CDs to mp3s for your own personal use. Enjoy it while you still can!

More of Gary Numan selling out

That is, if the term "selling out" actually means anything these days, which I suspect it doesn't, given the numbers and quality of artists who are receiving sustenance from the corporate teat...

Anyway, remember how a few weeks ago I posted a thing about Gary Numan schilling for soda? Well the synth master is back with a new one:



No press is bad press though, eh?

Why wouldn't the guy want to go with the company who refers to him as "the man that invented electronic music"? How's that for an ego-boost? I guess Kraftwerk weren't available to sell batteries that week.

Rap battle translation. Prepare for fisticuffs!

Saigon Sunday

World Cup edition:

The first one here is by New Order from 1990, featuring rapping footballers and all (2:33):




And here's a priceless clip from BBC Sports, Mark E. Smith from the Fall reading the football results. Words can barely describe the ironic awesomeness contained herein:

A dialectical narrative of rock music

Excellent academic article on the history of rock music here. Grab a drink, this one's a good read.

The infamous Prince interview

In which the genius musician declares the Internet to be "over".

I love reading these interviews with the reclusive, eccentric star. It's amazing to see what superstardom does to a person. I especially love this quote:

"Come," he says, and like an excitable Willy Wonka, he leads me down corridors lined with glinting platinum discs to a lounge where his three talented backing singers, Shelby Johnson, Olivia Warfield and Elisa Fiorilla, are waiting by an ebony futuristic grand piano.

Polaris Prize Shortlist

It's that time of year again. Time to debate about a bunch of albums most of us haven't even had the chance to hear. The 2010 Polaris Prize short list is up!

It's a mix of conservative and way-out-there picks, including a couple of previous shortlisters and even winners... plus the most francophone albums I've ever seen on their shortlist, which is awesome.

Maybe the prize people put Caribou on there so they could award themselves... he won it previously and that cash probably helped him record the new one. Kind of like a return on your investment?

If I had my guess, I'd say it'll be Dan Mangan's Vonnegut inspired album... or one of the francophone groups, just to stay edgy. Then again Shad seems like a cool guy. Jeez I don't know. I guess they're all winners in a way *rolls eyes*

Overall, not the greatest year for Polaris, but these artists will hopefully see a sales spike and really that's what it all comes down to, keeping the industry healthy.

No one ever accused The Black Keys of being original

Check out the Black Keys' new track:


And the classic T-Rex song 'Mambo Sun', the opening track from Electric Warrior:




Homage/rip off/modern update?

T-Rex's Electric Warrior, features a track titled "Rip Off".  Probably just a coincidence.

Blogger in Draft

Just found this tool, Blogger in Draft. I must have missed the email about this one, cause it's pretty handy. Boy was I ever confused when the Blogger help page looked nothing like the editor I was using. Anywho.

Electronic music label releases album in Bento format

After 100 Records, A Bento Box, July Events Full of Ghostly International [Create Digital Music]

Summer tunes

Oldies edition.

Saigon Sunday

On a Monday. I had such a nice day yesterday I didn't feel like posting.

So here's a happy Monday for a happy Sunday. One of the best opening lines for a rock track ever:

New Sleigh Bells song samples one of my all time favourite songs

Sleigh Bells "Rill Rill"



Funkadelic - "Can You Get To That"



If you haven't heard the album this song is from, Maggot Brain, go listen to it now.

Tipped off from the NPR All Songs Considered podcast.

"I make money like Fred Astaire"

*laughs*