Twilight Saga: New Moon

Okay, I think everyone needs to back up when it comes to Twilight.

All this Twi-hate is affecting my opinion and that's not cool. We need to stop hating. That includes me.

Rolling Stone magazine called the New Moon soundtrack Pretty in Pink with fangs and I got uber upset. I heard this before I even got a chance to have my own opinion and initially, I resented the comparison. How dare they compare New Moon to any John Hughes movie. Grrr and rampage!

I finally had a chance to listen to the soundtrack and I can see it. I understand the comparison and I kinda agree. It's a beautiful soundtrack actually. Filled with soft yet powerful guitars, piano, and ethereal background noise. Nothing is too loud or fast, setting the pace magnificently for what is too come. Bring on the teenage depression and suicide attempts, whoo hoo.

The songs on New Moon set a very dark mood even for a vampire flick. "Meet me on the Equinox" penned by indie darlings Death Cab for Cutie tells a chilling tale of two lovers going all out knowing that its going to end someday no matter how awesome it is now. Even energetic songs on the album like Hurricane Bells "Monsters" makes it pretty clear the monsters intentions singing "Deep into the darkness where I hide."

Surprisingly OK Go had something to offer. The band doesn't seem like a fit, but one listen to "Shooting The Moon" makes you wonder why they weren't asked to be part of the original soundtrack.

Hands down best song would be Lykke Li's "Possibility." Filled with all the hope of Jacob's love for Bella, as well as Bella's tragic depression for the loss of her precious Edward. It's beautiful. The piano and vocals blend in a way that can break your heart its so thrilling.

Listening to the New Moon soundtrack I am reminded of what it felt like to flip through those pages two summers back in the middle of the night (yeah, I read New Moon in one sitting. Suck on that vamps!). I can feel the excitment welling up in me and I know why I liked the story in the first place. You can be certain of where I'm going to Nov 20.

But as far as calling the soundrack a John Hughes creation, I don't think its a fair comparison. I can't stand the Pretty in Pink soundtrack...or Breakfast Club soundtrack for that matter. Both movies only had one song that really were a hit. They weren't really chock full of amazing artist of the time writing songs for the actual movie. It's not the same thing so camparisons are rather trite.

Besides, John Hughes was a brilliant film maker and Twilight can never compare. It's good people, but calm down.


Key tracks- "Possibility" by Lykke Li, "Satellite Heart" Anya Marina

"A Nasty Piece of Work"

Groups are targeting the CW to stop airing the raunchy night time soap, Gossip Girl after commericals teasing about a "3Some" became apparent.

The group, PTC (Parents Television Council) has before tried to get the CW to cut the cable on the show, deeming that it is inappropriate for teenagers.

Because you know, that teenagers are largely impressionable.
Threesomes seem to be all the rage now, from Britney's song to now this. Is it going to become more mainstream? Who knows?

But, the CW is defending their choice to air the episode. The characters who are involved in the liason have not been leaked (although if you're quick on the interweb you might find out who's who). What I don't understand is how these parental groups think that causing a big fuss over a show like Gossip Girl is going to do anything. Don't they know that the more they tell their "impressionable teenagers" not to watch this "Every Parent's Nightmare" show that, in effect, that is exactly what they are going to do. Hello, Genuises.

I don't watch Gossip Girl and I don't plan to, Blake Lively is about as interesting to me as watching paint dry. Huzzah. Also, the show thrives on its bad publicity, as evidenced by the ads, and so this little bit of controversy is exactly what they need. Interestingly enough, the average age of a Gossip girl viewer is 27 reported by a CW spokesperson.


The episode in question will air November 9th.

Hot Mess Alert--Lindsay Lohan Dramatic Phone Call Leaked

Yikes, poor Lindsay Lohan, girl can't get a break. She has not had a starring role in ages, she's constantly the butt of any and all crack reference jokes, her fashion line with powerhouse designer Emmanuel Ungaro failed, and her dad is a really big attention whore.

It has been linked to various entertainment blogs snippets of an older message that Lohan had recorded in which she claimed that "no one cares about me." Her father, Michael Lohan reportedly linked the audio. Mike Lohan is setting a new standard for shameless, self-promotion by using his daughter's flailing star to get attention for himself.

Even more troubling is the fact that the audio can be heard and it's upsetting. While I'm not a fan of LiLo, I'm also not a fan of kicking someone while they're down. Lohan is obviously struggling with inner demons and not to pass judgement on anyone, she should be able to deal with those demons in her own time without the rest of the world being able to hear her at her worst.

She twittered on Wednesday:
"My fathers such a loser & those recordings are from years ago. To release personal things is foul enough, but to edit them. I used to think That he needed the book for dummies on learning how to be a father. Haha-he's needs the book for dummies on HOW TO BE A MAN."

Reported from RadarOnline and the Huffington Post:
"Mommy says that I'm worse than you were," Lindsay sobs to her dad. "And she's defending...She doesn't back me and she doesn't stand by me. Why? Why? No one cares about me. They don't, by the way. No one cares that much. It's never about that. It's about how they feel, not how I feel. It's not about me. It's never been about me, unless I fight for it."

No telling when the message was recorded. Last week Lohan slammed her dad over Twitter for his lunatic tendencies and physical and verbal abuse.

Sunday's New York Post reported that Lindsay and Dina were seeking a restraining order to stop Michael from kidnapping Lindsay and forcing her into rehab. They reportedly also served him with a cease-and-desist order to prevent him from going public with voicemails from Dina--voicemails he said illustrate Dina's concern that Lindsay's drug use has landed her "on death's doorstep."

RadarOnline reports that Michael released the tape of Lindsay's voicemail "in an attempt to prove his point and to disprove those around Lindsay who are saying she's fine."

Cassette From My Ex

Cassette from My Ex is a website much in the same vein as Post Secret.

Created by Jason Bitner (co-founder of another confessional culture project FOUND), Cassette from My Ex is a collection of stories from writers and musicians that offers a nostalgic and often romanticized look back at first loves, that first kiss, and yes, heartbreaks.

These stories remind us what it was like to be young and in love with the perfect music providing us a soundtrack.

Each story centers around a tape given by the infamous ex.

Breaking out beyond the World Wide Web, Cassette from My Ex has gone off-line and made itself tangible giving us Cassette from My Ex: Stories and Soundtracks of Loves Lost.

The book may have a limited audience in medium (how many people outside of this blog actually takes the time to make a mixtape anymore?) but transcends the mixtape culture becoming art, and honest portrayal of the youthful spirit. Showcasing passion through small black plastic and magnetic tape. Recorded love. We think it will last, but as the tape itself will attest to, can often warp and break, getting stuck in the very machine that surges it forward.

Cassette is filled with tales of the tragic ("Live Free or Die"), quirky ("The Mixtape Virgin"), and the strangely sweet with Rick Moody and Stacey Richter's back and forth letters trying to remember what exactly happened between them and what the heck Richter actually put on that darn tape ("Ribbed...for her pleasure").

Even more exciting, Rob Sheffield (the mixtape master himself, author of "Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time*," and the most rockin'-est man in a sweater) has lent to the book his humble offerings, "You Got the Peaches, I Got the Cream:" a story about loving a girl destined to run. This one entry alone has the power to make Cassette not just a necessity but a given right. Was that too much? Too bad, Sheffield rocks. Period.

Laced throughout the entries are useful, fun articles to help keep the art of mixtapes alive.

Collected into 224 pages Cassette from My Ex: Stories and Soundtracks of Love Lost was released October 27

*Run out and get it along with Cassette

Adam Lambert : Not for My Entertainment

Adam Lambert, of American Idol and boys kissing boys glory released the cover art for his highly anticipated album, "For Your Entertainment."

I don't know about you guys, but this cover reminds me of the many wrongs of the 80's. Lambert says he knows that the cover is ridiculous (and I couldn't agree more.) While I do appreciate his nod to cheesy glam and the trashiness of it all, but the cover's poor photoshop makes it look like my twelve year old sister could have done it. Not that glamorous.

Some fans apparently "don't get" Lambert's decidedly campy genuis, Lambert wrote on his twitter en quote:

"Thank you to those who appreciate and understand that the album cover is deliberately campy. It's an homage to the past. It IS ridiculous. For those that don't get it: oh well. Glad to have gotten your attention." He closed with, "Androgyny. Rock n roll."

To be fair, it's not his fault. American Idol covers are pretty much the cheesiest, bland, misguided covers in the bunch. Lambert has a great glam face, if he wanted to pay homage to the glam rock era of a time gone by, he should have went for it.

My remedy: Ditch the horrid graphics, hire Marilyn Minter and let the sexiness begin.

Grade: C

Playing 'Russian Roulette' with Rihanna

Way too much alliteration in the title, but I do what I can.

So, "the wait is ova" apparently, as the Rihanna machine has released her latest single, "Russian Roulette."

It's not what I was expecting at all, "Russian Roulette" is a gigantic sized ballad about a love that's dangerous. Many were probably expecting based on the title that "Russian Roulette" would have been some crazy energetic single with thumping production and some kind of trademark chorus--but no.

"Soldiers pull the trigger" she sings dramatically over Ne-Yo's swelling production and some critics are even speculating that the song is about her on/off relationship with fellow entertainer Chris Brown.


Other than the speculative subject matter and the really tacky barbed-wire boob cover shot, there's not much to say about this single. I should also mention that the single closes with a random gunshot (probably to be consistent with the title of the song) but like I said it's random. It will probably resonate with many for personal reasons, but, for a flagship single for her new album "R Rated," this single is surprisingly tame.

Cover Grade: D (Seriously BARBED WIRE! Tacky even for me.)
Single Rating : C
Average: C-

listen to it here

Britney Spears - 3 {Single Review}

"Living in sin, is the new thing."

So says the new Britney Spears single, "3." "3" is the latest single by the pop-tart Queen just in time for Jive to release a new singles collection in November. But it's only been a couple of years since the last Britney collection, "My Prerogative." Even if she's in a mess, Ms.Spears can churn out synthy dance singles like it's never going to go out of style.

"3" is not a departure from Britney's latest pop style. It's cool, detached and choppy with a production that borders on schizophrenia thanks to long time producer, Max Martin. Martin also helped Spears with the outrageously silly, school-yard neumonic device "If U Seek Amy" (do we really have to spell out what it means?) and "3" is no different. The single might strike up controversy, which is nothing new to Britney's brand of pop. The pop star is flirting with the idea of a menage-a-trois, even going as far as alluding that Peter, Paul and Mary were "getting down with 3."

I wouldn't say that.

The single doesn't stand out though apart from it's subject matter. We're used to Ms.Spears discussing sex, more sex and the possible idea of sex. That's what makes her songs really addictive, while not outright implicit, the idea is there. It's something that her entire career has been marketed by. The vocal production of "3" continues the trend of editing her vocals so much that the line between the effect and her actual voice is almost unrecognizable. Martin stretches her vocals it as far as she can go. Musically, she's stepping up her game with the sole new single from the singles collection, trading in pop stylings for a very aggressive dance stomp. In the clubs it won't be so much a suggestion but an outright demand.

What I've come to enjoy about Ms.Spears releases is that they mark a cultural zeitegeist, love her or hate her, the sexual political atmosphere of America can be summed up in a Britney song.

The only question is how long can her career sustain on being the proverbial tease?

Rating: C


Listen to it here