Category: mixed media

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5SF: april 11 – bad movie soundtrack edition!

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Today, I decided to switch things up a bit, and do a themed five song Friday for fun. Instead of picking five songs at random, this week, I will be featuring five songs that all come from soundtracks; and more specifically, soundtracks of movies that many wouldn’t consider to be necessarily any “good”. The songs I picked are just five songs that prompted me to go out and buy a soundtrack for that one song, regardless of the lack of desire to see the film. With the exception of two (which I will note… and weren’t really great themselves), I have not seen any of these movies, so if they are among your favorites, try not to take offense; I did buy the soundtrack after all! Also, there will be a bonus song featured this week as an extra soundtrack-song treat!

Now… on with the show!

Aaliyah – Try Again
Movie: Romeo Must Die. Unfortunately, this was one of Aaliyah’s first, and tragically, last movie roles. The movie itself isn’t good by any means, but there are moments when she was allowed to shine (this is the first of two movies on the list that I saw)… however, it was on the soundtrack where her shining is the most notable. Even as a stand alone track, this is a hot hip-hop number, and the production on it is so tight, that not even water could get in. I remember being so excited by the work that Timberland and Missy E were doing back in 2000, because the stuff they were turning out (this included) were off the chain. This is an excellent example of a flawless track gracing an otherwise forgettable movie’s soundtrack; drawing more attention to the film than it may have been given without its inclusion. I remember when I first heard this song, I seriously had to have the soundtrack, and I remember listening to this on repeat. Bringing this one back out of the closet has reminded me of just how damn good this song really is.

Pras, Mya, and ODB – Ghetto Superstar (That is What You Are)
Movie: Bullworth. Don’t deny it… you loved this song at some point in the past. We all did. Even those that resisted found themselves singing along with Mya in the end. Her sweet voice calling you in with that chorus made us swoon. While this song was a massive radio hit, and probably sold TONS of sountracks for Bullworth, I don’t think that it did much for the movie; I know that I had the soundtrack, and never saw the film (and still don’t have any desire to). However, there is no denying this little slice of gold that found itself sitting all alone on a strange soundtrack for an otherwise forgettable film. Even though this song became massively overplayed on the radio, I will admit that it is great hearing it again… it is definitely a fun song!

Michael Jackson – Will You Be There
Movie: Free Willy. Now for the tear-jerker (you know that you cried like a bitch when that whale jumped over that little boy… don’t deny it). This comes from Free Willy, which was actually a favorite movie of mine when I was younger. I can say now, that I really didn’t know good movies back then, because I have seen it since, and it is pretty much as close to a stinker as you can get (regardless if it is enjoyable or not, it is as hokey as it comes)… however, this ballad by Michael Jackson is a beacon of light shining warmly on the film’s soundtrack. I remember that after we saw the movie, and this song started being played on MTV, that I made my aunt take me to Coconuts records, were I bought this soundtrack for $18!!! I wanted it so badly, that it cost me more than 3 weeks’ allowance!! Now, that is dedication (well, it was also for my “favorite” movie at the time). Looking back, the film has definitely lost some of it’s luster, but this song is still a winner. I am not the biggest Michael Jackson fan, but this is one of those songs that I will always love.

Aaliyah – Are You That Somebody?
Movie: Dr. Dolittle. This is the second, extremely notable entry from the amazing, and missed, Aaliyah. She was a breath of fresh air for hip-hop, and honestly, one of the only hip-hop artists that I have gravitated towards. Her voice is so silky, and the production value on her songs were always top notch. It is tragic that she is gone, but she left behind a body of songs that would still be hits if they were released tomorrow; this song especially. The first time I heard this song, I ran out and bought the soundtrack, and I even tried to learn as much of the dance they do in the video as I could. This song is hot, and I am glad to get back in touch with it; and Aaliyah. After doing this little themed 5SF, I have a feeling that I am going to be listening to more Aaliyah again.

Blackstreet, Mya, and Mase – Take Me There
Movie: Rugrats the Movie. First of all, I want to complain for a second… When I came up with this idea, it hinged on this and one other song specifically, so it was one that I felt that I had to include. Well, I thought it would be easy enough to obtain the songs; however, it wasn’t. I literally spent 2 hours trying to get this damn song. Ridiculous. Anyway… This is one of those super-saccharine songs that makes you get up and dance, even though you feel terribly guilty for liking it in the first place. Yes, I bought the Rugrats soundtrack, because this song did not get released as a single (so far as I knew then). The reason I had to search for it last night?? Because I sold the soundtrack a long time ago!! Well… I am glad to have this little jam back, because it really is a fun number; even though it is from a potentially bad movie, and it was definitely the only reason to get the soundtrack. This is also the second track with Mya in it… which shows that she definitely had some cred when it came to soundtrack contributions!

BONUS TRACK!!!! — and now for something completely different…
Smashing Pumpkins – Drown
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/smashingpumpkins-drown.mp3]
Movie: Singles. I wanted to include this track, because I really wanted to feature a completely different type of great song from a bad movie’s soundtrack. Smashing Pumpkins have always been among my favorite bands, but there was a period where I was borderline obsessed with them. About the time, I became aware that the Pumpkins were on the Singles soundtrack, and such I had to have it… I rushed out and got it right away. They didn’t disappoint either, because Drown is an amazing song, and has some truly fantastic lyrics. I have still never seen Singles, but it just didn’t look like a movie I wanted to see… plus, I had what I really wanted, a new Smashing Pumpkins song, so I was pretty much happy with what I had already gotten. I hope that you have enjoyed the bonus track for this week.

Well, that concludes another five song Friday, but it also concludes the bad movie soundtrack themed five song Friday!! Now, I chose these 5 songs, because I actually did love them enough to go out and get the soundtracks. There are far more bad movie soundtracks that had great songs on them… which ones did you run out and get the soundtracks for?? Let me know! I hope everyone has a great weekend, and I hope that you enjoyed the theme this week!

happenings, is it just me?, listen up!, mixed media, show the love, that is so gay

new who

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So this weekend was the beginning of the fourth series of the amazing show Dr. Who on the BBC. Unfortunately for us, it hasn’t hit our televisions yet, but that didn’t stop me from tracking down the show via the interwebs, and getting my Dr. Who fix last night.


This season, the Doctor has shed his most recent companion, Martha, and found himself a new tag-a-long in Donna, who we were introduced to in the last Dr. Who Christmas special. I have to say, that while I really liked Donna in the Christmas special, as usual, it is hard to let go of what I have come to know and love about Dr. Who. It is hard not to have Martha along for the ride, and the wound of losing Rose is still there, so getting used to Donna is definitely going to take a while. It was the same way when Martha “replaced” Rose, so I was pretty much prepared for the separation anxiety this time around.

I enjoyed the episode, however, and really love that they didn’t mess with the formula that has worked so well for three great seasons so far. I am looking forward to getting to know Donna more, and seeing the adventures that she and the Doctor go on. I have heard that Rose (*squeee!!!!*), Martha, and Jack are all supposed to pop back up this season, so I can say that I am definitely looking forward to how this season progresses. I may not be able to watch the show when it is broadcast, but hey, I get to see it commercial free, which is better anyways, right? (which, it airs commercial free on the BBC, but anyway…)

Also, on a totally unrelated note, does this piss anyone else off but me?? Seriously. Perez fucking Hilton is the #16 “most influential” gay person? Gag. Puke. Repeat.

five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: april 4

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I still can’t believe it’s already April! Oh well… spring has sprung, and the parking lot has been heavily dusted with that annoyingly itchy powder known as pollen, and I am just counting the days until I am in a full fledged allergy coma. I have to say, that sometimes, I find it hard to come up with 5 songs for each Friday, because I am always wanting to feature something fresh and new, but I guess I shouldn’t pressure myself too much… are you guys enjoying what I have been posting? What is something you would like to see more of?? I try to do a “flashback” track each week, and I have been having fun with that; but is that something you would like to see more of? How about theme weeks? Let me know what you guys want, as I think it could make this weekly event a little bit more fun for all of us.

Alright enough chit chat… on to this week’s five!

Ferras – Hollywood’s Not America
While I heard this song some time ago, back when they were talking about using this as the “time to go home song” on AI, I didn’t really get into it until recently. After several listens, I can definitely attest to this song being a well crafted pop song, as well as a major grower. The soft, and hidden power in Ferras’ voice is exactly what I love about other male solo piano-driven pop artists (ala John McLaughlin and Matt Nathanson). This is definitely a radio friendly track, and one that I expect will get many months of airplay. While I am still warming up to the rest of Ferras’ CD, this song is definitely a stand out, and a fantastic track. One word about the video though… Ferras would totally be a hottie… IF he cut that mullet. Seriously, a mullet… WTF? Those earrings are fucking sexy though… I kind of want them myself.

B-52s – Funplex
By the power of GAY-skull! Seriously, the B-52s are about as pop-rock campy gay as they come, and while I originally didn’t like this song AT ALL, after I saw the video randomly, I found myself singing “faster pussy cat, thrill thrill… I’m at the mall on a diet pill!”. I am so glad that I came to my senses, because I am loving this song. With each subsequent listen, I fall deeper and deeper for this track, and if you find yourself a fan of other B-52s hits like Love Shack and Roam, then you will probably fall for this one as well. These guys may have some years on them, but damn they look and sound just as good as ever!

Booty Luv – Some Kinda Rush
I posted a Booty Luv video as a part of a five song Friday quite some time ago, but the other day, I popped this CD back in my car and their infectious dance rhythms overtook my body again. Pulling out this CD again was actually inspired by the fact that I have been quite enjoying Danity Kane’s new record more and more, which has had the undeniable effect of getting me moving, and needing to groove more and more. Booty Luv’s CD is perfect for filling that prescription too, especially with Some Kinda Rush; this song is a club banger, and it is REALLY hard to sit still during the pulsating beats and the synth-guitar riffs. This is euro-dance at it’s best, and it is no wonder that I was so happy to have it pop back up on my radar. What a great song; and perfect for a Friday.

Jars of Clay – Weighed Down
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_44_jarsofclay-weigheddown.mp3]
Last night, when I was compiling my weekly five songs for today’s post, I got frustrated that I couldn’t post one of the ones I wanted (no video, and I only have the mp4 of it… don’t worry, it will come in a future installment), I stumbled upon a new release that tickled my fancy; Jars of Clay released a greatest hits album this week. While I don’t listen to them very much anymore, I still consider Jars of Clay one of my all time favorite bands, because literally, every song on their first 5 CDs are flawless, and I love each one completely. I have seen Jars of Clay many times in concert, and when I picked up their second CD Much Afraid last night for the first time in a long time, it was like no time had gone by; I still loved every track. This song is one of my favorites by Jars of Clay, and one of the songs that really cemented them as a favorite group for me. If you like this one, you should check out some of their other stuff, because it’s pretty much all brilliant. I love re-discovering music that you may love, but haven’t heard in a long time. Sometimes, it’s nice to be reminded of the past!

Owl City – The Saltwater Room
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_44_owlcity-thesaltwaterroom.mp3]
Okay, it is kind of rare that I hear something, and I am inexplicably and amazingly blown away by it. Enter Owl City. A flickr pal of mine recommended it to me (he has recommended several fantastic things in the past), and after I downloaded it, I realized what I had in my hands… something amazing. The comparison to the Postal Service is undeniable, but it is like they put Hellogoodbye and the Postal Service (two bands I REALLY love) into a blender, and when they poured it out, they put a great little umbrella in the drink. Seriously, the beats are melodic, and fantastically created. While lyrically, he is definitely quite wordy, and at times, nonsensical, the vocal arrangements are spot on, and his voice is definitely reminiscent of Ben Gibbard and Forrest Kline. I love the melody he has with the female singer, and the more I listen to this album, the more I love it. I can count this among some of the most amazing suggestions I have gotten recently, and I am just glad to have discovered the amazing group, and even more so, I am glad to pass it along to all of you. You can download both Owl City CDs from iTunes today; and if you liked this track, then you definitely should.

Well, there you have another five song Friday. I hope everyone is doing well today, and as always, let me know what you think. Also, be sure to tell me what you are listening to… I really want to know!

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the rock band “racket”

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Yesterday, after searching heartily on the internets, I found out that you CAN indeed use the Guitar Hero controller to play Rock Band. Excited, I ran out and got the game for my Xbox 360, because as a major fan of the Guitar Hero franchise, I reveled the chance to have some new, better songs to play.

Others like me, who have all of the Guitar Hero games (there are 4 in all), know that the most recent Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero III, has one of the weakest soundtracks of any game in the series. That is doubly disappointing too, because the next game that is slated to come out doesn’t even offer a reprieve; it is going to be a game of nothing but Aerosmith songs. So when I saw the track listing for Rock Band, I knew I had to have it… but I didn’t want to shell out almost $200 for all of the stuff needed to play it; regardless of the great soundtrack. However, after I knew I could use my Guitar Hero controller with it, I jumped at the opportunity, and was excited that I could get by with just getting the game itself.

Well, after playing the game for a while last night, I kind of think that whole Rock Band package is a rip off. See, I personally have NO DESIRE to have those drums for this game (seriously, I get annoyed watching people do it at Best Buy… there is no way I am bring that annoyance home), so all I wanted was the game, a guitar, and the mic. Well, they don’t offer the mic separately as of this writing, and since I found out I could use my Guitar Hero controller, I figured I would settle for being able to play the guitar tracks (and get a mic later when they do offer one). I also think that it is VERY important to say this: the Rock Band Guitar controller is a complete piece of crap when compared with the Guitar Hero III controller… seriously, if you like the Guitar Hero III controller, do yourself a favor and use it.

Well, much to my surprise (and delight), I discovered that you can use the free Xbox 360 headset that came with my Xbox 36; thereby eliminating a need for the mic that comes with the bundle as well! It has been sitting in the box ever since I got it, and I pulled it out, and low and behold, it works perfectly. As I said last night, you will just have to be a little more like Britney or Janet in concert, and use a headset as opposed to a hand-held mic. So basically, I had all of the peripherals that I needed already at home… so what was I waiting on before getting this VERY fun game??

Well, there was not much on the internet about these two discoveries that I made. I didn’t see anything about the mic, and I really had to search to get a clear word about if the Guitar Hero controller really would work with Rock Band. I guess I wanted to write this post, to let anyone out there with an Xbox 360, who also has Guitar Hero (II or III), and wants the save some money and still get Rock Band, that you don’t need to buy the overpriced bundle (unless you just want a new guitar, and you of course, want the drums and a mic). You can “make due” with the Guitar Hero controller, and the headset is actually better in my opinion… in my searching, I saw that all of the Rock Band bundles have CORDED peripherals. I prefer my cordless guitar and headset over that shit any day. Also, the drums are now sold separately if you really need them… but again, that just isn’t on my interests list.

I see this as a huge win; even though I had to jump through many hoops to get to this point. And… I don’t have to chuck those annoying ass drums out on the street. I wish I had gotten the game sooner, because it really is awesome (even if it is almost the exact same as Guitar Hero), and the songs are great. However, at least I was able to find out the right information, and save a bundle… by skipping the bundle and just getting the game. If you find yourself in my position, make sure you do yourself a favor and get the game; it is well worth the price of the disc, and I am just glad that I don’t have to have ANOTHER guitar peripheral laying around!

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there’s similar, and then there’s the SAME!

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Okay, just last week, I was sort of ranting about the similarity between two songs, and low and behold it has happened again. However, this time, there is one key exception: I have heard two songs that not only sound similar, but I swear, they are the same damn song!!!

I was riding with James the other night, and when we ride in his car, we are almost always listening to the radio (which I don’t usually do), and they announced that the number one song of the day was coming up. Well, it was a song by Chris Brown, which I had never heard, but when they started playing it, I thought to myself, “hey, self, I HAVE heard this before… when it was called Irreplaceable!”. Now, while I like Irreplaceable by Beyonce, I think that it is a total crock of shit that you can take a song and completely re-release it, with different lyrics a year later, and STILL TOP THE CHARTS!!!

WTF people? Seriously. This is one of the problems with music today: People are just eat whatever they are fed. In this case, two practically identical songs have been fed to the masses, and what have you done? You have eaten it up, and propelled both songs to the top of the charts! I just don’t get it. There is so much amazing music out there, that it is practically inexcusable to have two practically identical songs make it so high on the charts; especially when so little time has past since Beyonce’s version hit!

But don’t take my word for it: listen to each one yourself, so you can really see how similar they are: (on the left, you have Irreplaceable by Beyonce and on the right you have With You by Chris Brown… neither of which is the real video because of how stupid music companies are with you tube stuff, however, the Beyonce video is quite hilarious to me)

After doing a little investigation myself, I see that it is indeed the same producer for each track; which really begs me to question if one (or both) of these stars didn’t get ripped off. I mean, they are paying for production, and the producer just shills out the same damn song for both of them. I would be infuriated!! Well, I am a little irate, but that is because of what this does to music in my opinion. It just solidifies the fact that people are not open to innovation, and true talent. Bands and artists with enormous amounts of talent will continue to be “one hit wonders”, and will always be overlooked because of cookie-cutter shit like this, and it pisses me off, because I tend to prefer the former.

What is even more ridiculous to me, is that if you take an amazing band, one that may not be as popular as Beyonce (but is popular in their own realm of the music world), and listen to their take on Irreplaceable, that it becomes a totally different song; even though it isn’t! Chris Brown’s “different song” is more like Irreplaceable than Sugarland covering Irreplaceable. Freaky stuff man. It’s just frustrating when you constantly see that this music industry is full of such crazy, crazy shit. I just wish that the talented and overlooked people could get half of what those Chris Brown’s out there get; both in fame, and in fortune. Hearing the same old songs and making them both best sellers just isn’t right.

Sigh. Now I will go back to my music that isn’t so radio-friendly… but at least it is genuine, and dare I say it, different.

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5SF: march 28

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TGIF motherfuckers! Holy shit, this week has flown by, and thank goodness too… I am so looking forward to the weekend! This week has a bunch of pretty mellow stuff for whatever reason, and the “flashback” song is one of those instances where I love the song, and think that it is incredible, but don’t really care for anything else by that group. Alright, enough chit chat… strap yourselves in, because here we go!

Guillemots – Get Over It!
I will warn you… before you push play, you had better be ready for the catchiness of a song that will get stuck in your head for quite some time!!! This song is one of those songs that will have you bopping your head, tapping your toes, and wanting to seriously dance about. When the title of the song comes up, and they shout “get over it!”, you can’t help but feel compelled to do the same. The first time I heard this song, I was reeled in, but for whatever reason, I have waited until now to bring it up in a five song Friday. Regardless, this is one of those driving with the top down kind of songs, which is perfect for a beautiful day like today!

Idina Menzel – Brave
I first heard Idina’s amazing voice in RENT, but it wasn’t until Wicked that I fell head over heals for her. In case you are scratching your head wondering what I am talking about, Idina is a Tony winning Broadway actor, and it was her performance in the amazing Wicked that got her that well deserved award. Well, it was only a matter of time, based on the popularity Wicked rightfully cast on her, that she would release a pop album. While I am surprised that much of the album focuses more on very subdued “celine-lite” type of stuff, this song is truly beautiful, and shows that she definitely has the potential to cross over into mainstream pop. She just needs a few more like this one, and she is definitely on her way! I also have to mention how insanely beautiful Idina is in this video; she is stunning, both in voice and beauty!

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s – Maps
This is the song that I spoke of earlier, when I said that I love the song, but that pretty much completes my interest in the group that sings it. Well, it is unfortunate that this is the truth, because this song is so emotional and powerful, and I love it completely. This is one of those songs that, when it comes on in the car, I put it on full blast and sing the shit out of it, alone with Karen O. I absolutely LOVE the hard drumming and the wickedly repetitive guitars in this song; they totally make the emotion Karen O is trying to get out more noticeable. Also, you HAVE to watch the video for this song, because she not only sings this song; she performs it. You can see the raw emotion on her face, and it totally makes this less of a song, and more of an experience. I will always count this among my favorite songs; regardless if they do another song I like or not.

Goldfrapp – Monster Love
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_328_goldfrapp-monsterlove.mp3]
I will admit that I had a really hard time getting into Goldfrapp’s most recent album; but not because it wasn’t fantastic, it was more because I had to be in the mood to experience it. It is much more mellow and acoustic than I expected, but the more I listen to it, I realize that there is so much more texture and many more layers to the songs that I originally heard. Well, since I have been listening to it more and more, I have to say that Monster Love really stands out much like A& E did, because it is a fantastic song. My favorite thing about this song, is how it begins so softly, and builds to a crescendo, where she expresses her demands, and then she falls back to that soft state again; only to repeat the process throughout the song. I think that the layering and the build up of this song is masterful song making, and I am glad that I went back for more, and gave this album the attention it deserves. Good form, Goldfrapp, good form.

Forest City Lovers – Don’t Go
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_328_forestcitylovers-dontgo.mp3]
My final selection for today, is a mellow folk-laden song from a random band I discovered through myspace, Forest City Lovers. I saw their CD on one of the many websites I visit, and I checked out their myspace to see if it warranted a further look. I was instantly taken by Don’t Go, and I ended up getting the CD right away based on this one song. I love how her voice reminds me of Inara Day of the Bird and the Bee, and how the music uses the acoustic rhythm, and the haunting violins in the background. This one is sure to get a lot of play from me, and I am looking forward to getting to know more about the rest of the CD. I love it when you find random good music, don’t you?!?! Well, that’s part of the reason for this weekly post; so I can share those finds with you!

I hope that everyone has a great weekend, and as always tell me what you are spinning; I really want to know! Enjoy!

hmm interesting, is it just me?, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, wtf?!

imitation, the sincerest form of flattery?

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I was reading one of my many music blogs this afternoon, when I happened upon the following music clip (via discopop directory):


After listening for about 20 seconds, I had this sneaking suspicion that I had heard this song before… Hmmm, where have I heard that same drumming, same guitar riff, and same distortion effect? That’s right… Muse’s Knights of Cydonia:

Well, I guess if you are going to copy a song, at least copy an amazing one, right? What I don’t get, is that I have never seen the amazing allure that the Arctic Monkeys have to them, and this just makes me question it even more… And I am not really familiar with the Rascals as of this writing. Oh well, perhaps they meant it as an homage to Muse, who are in their own right, a truly amazing band. I just wonder why they had to make it so damn similar, you know? The similarity was instantly recognizable to me, and I am sure that I am not alone in that sentiment.

What are your thoughts? What do you think when you hear an amazing song rehashed by a group that may be more commercially popular, but not necessarily any “better”, as far as you concerned? How does it make you feel when said “copied” group is a group that you really enjoy, but the other isn’t, and you know that they will have more success with their clone?

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region free is the way to be

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A couple of months ago, I decided it was time to upgrade our DVD player to a HD upconversion unit, and I managed to get a great deal in the process. One of the other requirements I had for the unit, was that it not be Sony, because I wanted to see if I could unlock it, and make it region free. Being a lover of British shows and lots of British things, I wanted the opportunity available to get region 2 DVDs if I should so desire.

Well, as I wrote about some time in the past, I have had a great time watching shows like Spaced and Hyperdrive; both of which are only available on region 2 DVDs. Well, my most recent exciting region 2 goodness comes in the form owning the movie that is just hitting US theaters this week: Run Fatboy Run.

Now, my love for Simon Pegg may be a little bit on the verge of “I’m ready to walk down the aisle with this sexy man and have his babies”, so it should be no surprise that I jumped at the opportunity to get this DVD; even though it was like $35 (damn conversion rates and shitty US dollars!). Well, it was a good purchase, because the movie is actually quite cute, and definitely enjoyable. I am debating on whether or not to see it in theaters, but I probably won’t, because a) I paid so much for the DVD, and b) I hate going to the movies, and if I can sit home, I would rather do that.

Either way, I am definitely a believer that being region free is the way to be. Having a region free DVD player has given me the opportunity to relish all of the amazing material that my dream lover Simon Pegg and sexy bear Nick Frost have done overseas; some of which is brilliant. Either way, here’s to consumerism, right?!

five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, movie musings, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: march 21

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Well, this week, I am going to have to post my five song Friday a little early; I am flying to Ft. Lauderdale for the weekend for a friend’s wedding. I am worried, as of writing this, because I fear that I might be coming down with something… talk about bad timing. I cannot get sick. I will not let it happen!! Here’s hoping that I don’t.

Now, let’s get you the music, shall we?

The Lightning Seeds – You Showed Me
I have always loved the Lightning Seeds, and this was the first song of theirs (even though it is apparently a cover) that I ever heard. They have some amazingly upbeat and super happy songs, even though this isn’t one of them. While this is sort of different from the rest of their style, I have to say, I keep coming back to this one. Recently, someone mentioned the Lightning Seeds, and I had to run home and add it back to my ipod, because it got lost when the ipod was reformatted a while back. It’s nice to reminisce!

Danity Kane – Damaged
While this one had to grow on me at first, I will gladly admit that this is a hot track. I have been a huge Danity Kane fan ever since I watched Making the Band, and fell in love with these girls. When their debut record came out, I bought it on day one, and loved almost every single track. Imagine my excitement when I heard that their sophomore record was about to drop, and Damaged was the first single. After initial feelings of “meh”, it has really grown on me, and now I am digging it. However, the rest of the record is a bit of a let down. Maybe it will grown on me too? Here’s hoping. I do have to say, that I could COMPLETELY do without Diddy talking during the track.

Lindsay Lohan – Rumors
Love her, hate her, love to hate her, I don’t give a shit. I love Lindsay, and this club banger is a great fucking pop song. After posting Danity Kane’s new one, I had to bring this one back. I was shopping recently, and this song came on the overhead system, and I almost broke it down in the fucking store. Seriously, I loved this song when it came out, and even had it as my ringtone for months. Lindsay will always be my girl; and you have to admit it, she is fucking hot in this video. She could make a gay boy go straight (well… maybe for a night…)!

Mariah – Touch My Body
I will admit this; when Emancipation of Mimi came out, I didn’t give a shit. I have been a long time “hater” of Mimi, mostly because I felt like she was trying too hard. However, I couldn’t avoid the greatness that some of the tracks from Emancipation threw at me, and eventually ended up caving in, and loving a lot of what I heard. Well, I was all ears when I heard she was coming out with a new record, and after the first listen, I was in love with this song. It is as slutty as she wants to be; Mariah probably would have done the video totally nude if they would have let her, and that is what I love about Mimi. Plus, how can you not love that she named the record E=MC2?? Mimi, sweetie, we all know you are not up for Mensa membership… but another Grammy? Maybe!

Gnarls Barkley – Run
Damn, this track is, how do the kids say it these days… Bangin’?! I fucking love this song. It embodies some of the amazing tracks that Gnarls Barkley totally surprised me with on their debut. After hearing this song, I immediately got the record, and I have to say, that I was really underwhelmed. There were some AMAZING tracks on their debut (e.g., Transformer), so I was surprised I was so turned off by this record. Maybe it will grow on me (the first record did), but for right now, I play Run and just move on… this song is a fucking hit if I ever heard one. It totally makes me think of Andre 3000’s massive hit Hey Ya, but with more indie cred. I know that this one is going to be huge.

Well, there’s another, albiet very early, five song Friday!! As I said, I am off to Ft. Lauderdale for some fun with my friend, and a little wedding tossed in. Here’s hoping that I don’t get sick, and that my weekend rocks! One final note, I want to say a huge thanks to the reader that suggested Vampire Weekend to me, I have been spinning it like crazy, and it gets better with each listen. Thanks!

five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: march 14

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We have made it through another week, and it’s time for our weekly five song Friday. I am personally glad that it is Friday, because this week has been less than fun (mostly school related stuff). Either way, I am just looking forward to a good weekend, but then again, aren’t we all?

Let’s bring out the jams, shall we? This week has some off the wall bits, where some of the songs are a bit different than my “normal” tastes. Every once and a while, I am struck by a really strange song, and I love it because of its strangeness. Two such songs caught me recently, and I felt it fitting to put them together today. I am also bringing the pop hardcore this week, so strap yourself in, and let’s go!

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – This Low
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_314_glenmarketa-thislow.mp3]
After seeing the quirky, sweet, and romantic movie Once, I was so taken by the music, that I had to snag the sountrack right away; but that wasn’t enough. I found out, that when coming together to make music for the film, Hansard and Irglova (who won an Oscar for their song Falling Slowly from the film) actually wrote more songs, which were released on a separate CD called The Swell Season, which I promptly snagged as well. This song comes from the Swell Season, and is amazing. It is almost like a David Gray track infused with a bit of Damien Rice. I love the whole CD completely, and I am so glad that I finally saw this movie, and got the music. Great stuff, I tell you. If you like this song, make sure to check out the rest…

Jo O’Meara – What Hurts the Most
Today’s “throwback track” is from none other than Ms. Jo O’Meara, who may be better known as the lead singer of the smash pop sensation, S Club 7. While S Club only really had a couple (or maybe only one?) of hits in the US, they were pretty huge overseas, and I would definitely say that I count myself as a fan. I chose this song, because of all the buzz that has been swarming around about Cascada’s version of this song, which I like, but I figured that most people probably haven’t heard this version, and I feel that Jo’s version is far superior. I have her solo album, and it is quite good; I hope that she does more in the future. She is a great singer.

Jesse McCartney – Leavin’
He grew up! That is what I said when I saw this video. I checked out Jesse’s new song, because I was amazed to find out that he actually co-wrote the mega-hit Bleeding Love, which was the best selling single of ’07 in the UK! I really like that song, and actually think it is pretty well written, so I wanted to see what little Jesse was up to these days. Well, I have to say, that I really like the vibe and the beat of this song, and even though I wasn’t a fan before, I am eager to see what he has up his sleeve for his upcoming record. If it is more stuff like this, I will definitely be picking it up.

Hot Chip – Ready for the Floor
Holy shit, this song is soooo freaking catchy. The first time I saw the video, I had a natural WTF reaction (because seriously, these kids are a bit weird), but I was instantly pulled in by the hook in this song. It so catchy and fun to listen to, and really makes me want to get up and dance about. While the repetitive part that starts the song could be left out (IMHO), the rest is fabulous electro that has made me pay attention to a group that I would normally (continue to) ignore (I’ve heard some of their other stuff, and it is not my cup of tea). I will be checking out their most recent album because of this song, but even if I don’t like it, I am in love with this song, and have been listening to it non stop all week!

The Presets – My People
Alright, I will warn you… before you watch this video, realize that the video is really fucking creepy, and totally the stuff of nightmares. Nightmares that you have while you are on psychotropic substances. Regardless of the strange video (which does sort of suit the song), this song is dark, pulsating, and enjoyable. It took a couple of listens, but even after the first listen, there was something about it that made me want to hear this song again. This is a grower, but it is one of those rare ones that really intrigues you at first, because there is something special about it, something that makes you want to investigate further. It reminds me of LCD Soundsystem a bit, but it makes me think of the stuff that I like about them.

So there’s your five songs for this week! I hope that you enjoyed some, or all, of them! As always, let me know what you are listening to, and hey, tell me what you thought of these songs. Perhaps you have suggestions that you want me to check out?? They might make future incarnations of 5SF, so you have to let me know!! I hope everyone has a great weekend.