Juno: So Quirky, You'll Puke.

I finally saw Juno last week. I actually liked it far more than I expected. To be quite honest, I thought I would hate it, because I am extremely fed up with the recent influx of pregnancy comedies in Hollywood. I never saw Knocked Up or that other movie about the two guys who are trying to "make a baby for daddy", and quite frankly I'd really rather not. I made an exception for Juno, however, since everyone in the universe was praising it to high heavens, and I'm sort of glad I did because it really was pretty cute. The story is pretty cute, the acting is superb, and Michael Cera in short-shorts is generally a good thing. (I don't care how young he is. He's hot. Shut up.)

I did have one problem with Juno, however: THE DIALOGUE.
OH MY GOD. The dialogue is "campy" at best, and nauseating at worst. It's seriously got the worst and most contrived writing I have ever seen in a movie. It runs rampant with pop culture references, namedropping, and awful, corny humor. Here is an example of what I mean:

Juno: (yelling through the house) Uh, dad?
Mac MacGuff: Yeah?
Juno: Either I just wet my pants... or...
Mac MacGuff: "Or"...?
Juno: Or... THUNDERCATS ARE GO!

THUNDERCATS ARE GO? Come on. What the fuck is that? On what planet is that even remotely funny? Perhaps one-liners like that are to be expected in a film written by an ex-stripper. There is also a scene in which Juno is asking the pharmacist if her pregnancy test could be a false positive, to which he replies, "This ain't no etch-a-sketch. This is one doodle that can't be undid, homeskillet." The worst of all, however, was the gothy receptionist chick at the abortion clinic who asked Juno if she wanted some "boysenberry" condoms, commenting that it made her "boyfriend's junk smell like pie".

Anyway, regardless of the fact that I find the dialogue annoying and tasteless, I still think that this movie is worth seeing for the excellent cast, the awesome soundtrack (Kimya Dawson, Belle & Sebastian, et cetera), and Michael Cera in short-shorts. Go see it.

Michael Showalter's Sandwiches & Cats

I've finally gotten around to giving Michael Showlter's debut comedy album Sandwiches & Cats a listen. I absolutely love Michael Showalter, but I'm typically not a fan of most stand-up comedy and I never find myself sitting around listening to comedy albums on repeat all the live long day. Surprisingly, I rather enjoyed Sandwiches & Cats upon a first listen and have already managed to make it through the entire album a few times thus far. I'm embarrassed to admit that several times I found myself sitting there with my headphones on, chuckling out loud with no one else present in the room. I suppose that's a testament to just how powerful and moving Sandwiches & Cats truly is.

One highlight of the comedy album includes Michael Showalter's dismay at being mistaken for Screech. "He thought that I was one of the most iconic losers ever of all time. Do you know how badly that hurts?" On another track, Showalter goes through a list of some pretty unbelievable alternate names for the so-called restless leg syndrome, including 'jiggly legs', 'the kicks' and 'sewing machine foot'. Michael Showalter's joke about his love for DVR is interrupted by a mewing sound coming from the front row. He then spends several minutes marveling at the audacity of the woman sitting in the front row who brought her two cats to his comedy show. An actual video of that spectacle can be seen here.

Michael Showalter's Sandwiches & Cats is mixed bag of observational humor, slight self-deprecation and a few separately recorded comedy sketch songs. Amazingly enough, the songs aren't bad. For example, It's quite enjoyable to hear Showalter's song abut the ten commandments of sandwich making, where he yells excitedly (as only Showalter can) about how mustard goes with everything.

My absolute favorite track on the album is 'The Apartment', where Showalter talks about the honor of being editor in chief of his high school literary magazine and then proceeds to read through a dramatic poem that his teenage self had written. The way Michael Showalter reads the poem is so amazing, you just have to hear it for yourself. All in all, Michael Showalter's brand of comedy is both hilarious and comforting. He makes me quite glad to be alive and a part of this world, a world where Starbucks sells thermoses and copies of Akeelah and the Bee. I highly recommend giving Michael Showalter's Sandwiches & Cats a listen.

MP3: Michael Showalter - The Apartment (zshare)

MP3: Michael Showalter - Sandwich Commandments (zshare)

Purchase Sandwiches & Cats here:

David Shrigley's Worried Noodles

They're noodles, and they're worried. How the hell can noodles be worried, you ask? I have no idea. What ARE these worried noodles, you ask? I shall tell you. There's this Scottish artist named David Shrigley. In 2005, he published an LP-sized book called Worried Noodles, a wacky collection of song lyrics and pictures. This year, he has re-released this book accompanied by a two-disc compilation of 39 artists who have set his words to music. Among these artists are Deerhoof, Franz Ferdinand, Islands, Hot Chip, Final Fantasy, and David Byrne.

The songs on the compilation range from disturbing to hilarious, and are sometimes both. Take, for example, Manager and Coordinator of Prostitutes, recorded by Les Georges Leningrad:

Give me a chance, mate.
Allow me to demonstrate
That I can do things well.
Better than the last bloke
Who stole from you
And called the police on you.
I will not let you down.
I can do things well but
I'm only ten years old
And I'm in a wheelchair.

Need I say more? I think not. However, the lyrics are way more exciting than the actual song, so I will not be posting the mp3 for it. Instead, I would like to draw everybody's attention to No, which is featured twice, with one version by Franz Ferdinand and one by Hot Chip. Franz Ferdinand's version is a guitar-driven dance-rock hoedown, and Hot Chip's version is soothing and reminiscent of their early work. I'm going to post the Hot Chip version, because I highly prefer it to the former.

MP3: Hot Chip- No

Jens Lekman - Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo

It's no secret that I've been gushing over Jens Lekman for the past couple of years. The first song of his that I ever heard was 'Tram #7 To Heaven', which I'm confident should be everyone's first venture into the world of Jens Lekman. I felt as though I had been transported in time back to 1962 and was listening to a scratchy record on one of those old turntables, except Jens was asking me If I had eaten my banana from 7-Eleven.

October 2007 finally brought us new material from Jens Lekman; his second full length release Night Falls Over Kortedala. This album is no disappointment. I fell in love with it immediately. Everything I love about Jens Lekman is still there: the beautiful melodies, the obscure samples, the witty lyrics and the nostalgic feeling that is ever present in all of Jens Lekman's songs. Night Falls Over Kortedala offers a sound that is much larger and stronger in comparison to Lekmans' previous releases. Jens Lekman knows what he is doing. There is not much to say about Night Falls Over Kortedala other than that it is an absolutely wonderful and unique recording.

What I really want to talk about is the song on Night Falls Over Kortedala that I thought for sure was my least favorite. 'Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo'. It's a favorite among many long-time fans as well as recent converts. The 1950s horn, prevalent throughout the entire song is just a little bit much for me to handle. Every time I hear it I feel like I'm on the set of Grease or Happy Days (which isn't necessarily a pleasant feeling). Despite my original distaste for it, 'Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo' has begun to grow on me. While listening to it today, I started to notice lyrics in the song that I hadn't noticed previously. It suddenly struck me that this song is actually pretty great.

There's a cow and an ostrich just waiting for you!

A glass of apple cider just waiting for you!
The smell of 1952 just waiting for you!
And all I'm doing here is just waiting for you...

Sure, any Jens Lekman fan is aware that a great deal of his lyrics are humorous and 'quirky', but those lyrics just really hit the spot. It's probably the usage of 'ostrich' that did it for me. I can't really think of the last time I heard the word ostrich utilized in a song. Also, the visuals of a cow, an ostrich and apple cider waiting for me out in the country is just pretty profound and well... amazing.

There is another charming little verse earlier in the song where Jens Lekman attempts to squeeze in a million words per line about what people in a small southern Swedish country town are like.

Why do the people in the country wanna look like the people in the city?
When the people in the city aren't the slightest pretty
I want the people in the country to wear flannel shirts and saggy jeans all covered in dirt
I want the people in the country to be open and kind
but most times I've met those with a narrow mind
with a big black dog to bite your behind
if they ever find out you're not one of their kind

Maybe I can appreciate it because I've definitely seen some tiny tiny country towns in the United States that seem to be stuck in the 1950s (Vermont, I'm looking at you). In closing, 'Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo' is a much better song than I originally thought it was. I'm even beginning to appreciate those over the top horns that make me feel like I'm wearing a poodle skirt, cardigan sweater and saddle shoes at a high school dance.

MP3: Jens Lekman - Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo (zshare)

Purchase Night Falls Over Kortedala here:
(CD, MP3 and Vinyl formats available)

Best Music Videos of 2007

2007 will be remembered as a year that offered simply way too much good music to keep track of. Alongside the good tunes came some equally brilliant music videos.

This list contains 15 of the best music videos of 2007, and was compiled by me (Melissa Robot) and no one else. Thus, it reflects my own personal favorites from the past year. I have no idea what the co-bloggers picks for favorite music videos of 2007 would be. For all I know they sit around watching videos of Billy Ocean all day. Oh wait, I guess I'm the one that's been watching 'Get Outta My Car' non-stop for two days straight. Anyway... For once I'm going to refrain from my typically epic reviews and allow these videos to speak for themselves. I recommend that you watch all of them.

15.

SHITDISCO - OK
Directed by Price James
SHITDISCO's video for 'OK' features pop-up book puppetry that somehow manages to sync up with the song to near perfection. A cute and innovative concept for a video that completely blew my mind the first ten times I watched it.


14.
To My Boy - Model
Directed by squarelips

'Model' is the first To My Boy video I ever laid eyes on, and it sold me on them completely. The colorful clockwork motif compliments To My Boy flawlessly, right down to Jack and Sam's matching belts. Click here to read my full review of To My Boy's music.

13.
GhostHustler - Parking Lot Nights
Directed by Pete Ohs

Is that a Nintendo Power Glove I spy? Those things seem to be resurfacing everywhere lately. This video clearly exhibits the most practical usage of the classic Nintendo Power Glove. Look out for my absolute favorite punch-to-the-face (occurring immediately after the sub-par breakdancer finishes executing enthusiastic uprocks and coffeegrinders on a Nintendo Power Pad).

12.
Spoon - Don't You Evah
Directed by Jeff Nichols
Keepon developed by Hideki Kozima and programmed by Marek Michalowski

Oh wow do I want one of those little Keepon robot things. It's just so cute. Not to mention that it dances to Spoon's music beautifully. As a dance journalist I must note that the cinematographer has captured little Keepon's quality of movement on film exquisitely.

11.
SoftLightes - Heart Made Of Sound
Directed by Kris Moyes

Kris Moyes has succeeded in keeping the painstaking art of stop motion animation alive and well in the video for 'Heart Made Of Sound'. This super cute video looks like it must have taken eons to make. Kris Moyes also directed the video for the SoftLightes' 'Microwave Song', which can be found here along with more information about SoftLightes.

10.
Dan Deacon - The Crystal Cat
Directed by Jimmy Joe Roche

I would probably include any Dan Deacon video in a top 15 list based solely on that weird little prancing dance he does and the face he makes whilst doing so.

9.
Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor
Directed by Nima Nourizadeh

If you knew how much I adore this Hot Chip video you'd probably ask why I've placed it at #9 and not #1. Seeing as the video has only been floating around since December and is for an album that has yet to be released, it will likely be included on next year's list too. Read my full review of 'Ready For The Floor' here.

8.
Architecture in Helsinki - Hold Music
Directed by Kim Gehrig

There is just something pretty wondrous about a bunch of Australian hippie nerds jumping on trampolines in brightly colored ponchos. The editing is stellar as well.

7.
Beirut - Elephant Gun
Directed by Alma Har'el

I'm fairly certain that most people watch this Beirut video and think to themselves 'Whoa, Zach Condon has a mustache and people happen to be dancing and there is a lot of confetti fluttering around and then suddenly he is at the ocean and his mustache has disappeared and he plays his trumpet while standing in the water'. I can't help but take a closer look at JoAnn Jansen's ballet influenced contemporary choreography. It looks very West Side Story-esque to me at times and leaves me wondering if Jerome Robbins might be choreographing Beirut videos were he still alive today.

6.

Van She - Cat and the Eye
Directed by Krozm

I adore Van She and I love love love all of the music videos the guys from Krozm have directed. What I like most about 'Cat and the Eye' other than the bizarre costumes, is mainly the way the camera never stops panning right or left, circling around, or focusing out and back in. The effect is dizzying, and somehow it almost feels as if you're the one moving. Read more about Krozm and Van She here.

5.
Jens Lekman - Sipping On The Sweet Nectar
Directed by Marcus Söderlund

This Jens Lekman song tugs at my heart strings and the video reminds me of when I would find myself in scenic locations having epiphanies about life. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous and Jens is flying a plane and singing at the same time. Does life get any better? 'Sipping On The Sweet Nectar' also happens to be the only Jens Lekman song that reminds me slightly of Barry Manilow. I probably shouldn't disclose that, since everyone seems to be disgusted by Barry Manilow.

4.
Omnikrom - Été Hit
Directed by Jérémie Saindon

I'm not sure exactly what it is that makes me love this video to the extent that I do. It could be the catchy as hell song by Montreal's Omnikrom. It could be the spinning neon Rubik's Cube heads. Or it could very possibly be Linso Gabbo's colorful plaid shorts that truly make this video great.

3.

Damn Arms - Homewrecker
Directed by Krozm

Krozm seem to have a penchant for including heads with strange features and inanimate objects as heads in the videos they direct. It never gets old for me, especially in Damn Arms' 'Homewrecker', where various shapes for heads are interchanged and when removed, show nothing to be beneath them.

2.
Bat For Lashes - What's A Girl To Do
Directed by Dougal Wilson
'What's A Girl To Do' might just be the most amazing single take video I have ever seen. It features a beautiful girl riding a bike down a dark forest-y road, accompanied by a gang of hoodie sporting, animal masked beings that appear at every chorus to clap their hands (or paws) and perform choreographed tricks before disappearing once again behind Natasha Khan. Dougal Wilson's creative vision for the 'What's A Girl To Do' video is just absolutely flawless in every possible way.

1.
Of Montreal - Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse
Directed by The Brothers Chaps

If there is one music video that I will remember 2007 by it will be Of Montreal's 'Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse'. Upon seeing this video for the first time in early 2007, I thought it was the most random and bizarre video I had seen in a good while. My reaction was a mixture of 'wtf' combined with wonder and awe. Every time I watch it, I sit around and ponder what sort of mind it took to come up with every little last character detail seen in the video. Upon closer inspection (just two days ago) I discovered that the video was directed by The Brothers Chaps. Yup, that would be the guys who have brought Homestar Runner to us for all these years.

My favorite parts of 'Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse' are 1. The sheet ghost in the audience and 2. When Kevin Barnes sings that he is 'in a crisis' and at that moment he is kneeling inside of some strange red object with a worried expression on his face. Every second of the video happens to be pretty amazing, really.

So there you have it. Those were my personal 15 favorite music videos of 2007. Hopefully 2008 brings us some more visual stunners.

Holiday Hiatus / Happy New Year!

I apologize for the recent hiatus and lack of new posts. I've been extremely busy with the holidays. Who is intently reading blogs during these holiday weeks anyway? I've also been experiencing some extreme sinus pain that has debilitated me pretty severely the past few days. I'm all set now that I applied some Head On sinus headache relief directly to my forehead. Would you believe that a topical pain reliever that closely resembles a glue stick actually works? Surprisingly, it does work.

Anyhow, hopefully 2008 will bring great and wonderful things to this little blog here. I'm a little bit behind on completing my year's end lists of music and music videos, but hey, just because 2007 is about to end doesn't mean we can't appreciate some of the products of the past year one week into 2008, right? Expect to see a higher number of posts more often very soon from me. Hopefully the co-bloggers will have some wonderful things to contribute in 2008 as well!

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve celebration, whatever you may be doing. I'll be sitting here having an existential New Year's Eve party in my bedroom.

MP3: Tobiah - i exist therefore i sing (zshare)

I hope you all ring in the new year happily! 2008 looks to be a year full of remarkable and wondrous things.

With Love,

Melissa Robot of Ginger Cookie Disco

P.S. My sister and I decorated those Ginger Cookies pictured up top. I decorated the male, and my sister decorated the one with the boobs. They are out on a date. How cute.

Christmas Mix

Exactly a week from now it will be Christmas Eve. Exciting times, people! I've always enjoyed the holiday season. I love looking at Christmas lights and baking treats and decorating the tree. I have so much holiday spirit that I'm even excited about the wrapping paper I bought. Sometimes I feel like I'm Andy Williams, ready to put on a holiday sweater and skate around on a set with fake trees and snow. Oddly enough, there happens to be no Andy Williams whatsoever on the mix below.

About the mix: I wanted to put together a mix that I could play around the whole family without someone getting annoyed by a certain song being too 'loud' or too 'weird'. Still, I think I managed to get a good mixture of old classics and newer tunes in there. One listen to Cassette's rendition of 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' and you'll see that I haven't gone completely 'traditional' with the whole mix. Several of the songs included also happen to be some of my favorites from childhood. Oh and also, for some reason I thought It would be hilarious to start off a Christmas mix with holiday wishes from Marc Bolan of T. Rex followed immediately by a Burl Ives song? Maybe I am just going crazy from all of this Christmas cheer.

Download individual tracks, or download the entire mix in a convenient zip file. And yes, that is a picture of my cat.

Ginger Cookie Disco Christmas Mix 2007
compiled by Melissa Robot

Download the entire mix in one convenient zip file

01. T. Rex - Xmas Message
02. Burl Ives - Holly Jolly Christmas
03. Jens Lekman - Run Away With Me
04. Royal Guardsmen - Snoopy's Christmas
05. XTC - Thanks For Christmas
06. Sufjan Stevens - O Holy Night
07. Phantom Planet - Winter Wonderland
08. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Skating
09. Frank Sinatra - Jingle Bells
10. The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song
11. Math and Physics Club - A Marshmallow World
12. Guster - Donde Esta Santa Claus?
13. Marah - Holly Jolly Christmas
14. Sufjan Stevens - Put the Lights on the Tree
15. Cocteau Twins - Frosty the Snowman
16. Cassette - Do You Hear What I Hear?
17. The Dandy Warhols - Little Drummer Boy
18. Bright Eyes - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
19. Bing Crosby - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
20. The Partridge Family - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
21. Dean Martin - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
22. Starflyer 59 - Christmas Time Is Here
23. Squirrel Nut Zippers - Winter Weather
24. Sharpetiquette - Jingle Bell Rock
25. Darlene Love - Marshmallow World
26. PAS/CAL - Last Christmas
27. Elton John - Step Into Christmas
28. Frank Sinatra - The Christmas Waltz

Happy Holidays!

To My Boy: step inside the mainframe

Do you love synthesizers, excited yet robotic vocals and songs about computers? If so, then you will surely love To My Boy. I certainly do.

To My Boy is an energetic electro pop duo hailing from Liverpool, England. The twosome is comprised of Jack Snape and Sam White. The ingredients of their music consist of synthesizer, guitar, arpeggiator, drum machine and vocals. All of the above are self-recorded and produced on their computer, giving it that nice homemade DIY type feel, yet still managing to sound polished and professional. If I were to compare To My Boy to anyone else I would say that they sort of sound like The Cars and Gary Numan combined, except on speed.

Typically, synthesizer heavy songs about machines and space are cold sounding, monotone, and minimalistic. Whether recorded in the late 70s/early 80s or within the last decade, these songs often sound like the product of a Dystopian nation in the distant future (except with music that sounds like it was recorded on a 1970s analog synthesizer). It's like when you watch watch Logan's Run and they're in the future, yet they're wearing tacky 70's disco mall elf outfits. Anyway... As much as I love that bleak sort of sound, it is refreshing to hear such nerdy and triumphant excitement regarding machines. To My Boy seem to find a certain warmth and comfort in computers and technology. To them, the future does not look bleak at all. And luckily it doesn't seem as though they'll be sporting Logan's Run inspired outfits anytime soon. Instead, they seem to have an affinity for sweater vests and matching belts.

I can't think of one thing about To My Boy that isn't perfect. Their art design is brilliant. They sing about convex windowpanes, lines of constant latitude, and stepping inside mainframes. Their videos are colorful and completely adorable. Jack Snape and Sam White also appear to have an overabundance of energy. That is part of what makes them so likable. Their energy is unavoidably contagious. With To My Boy you will not find one single ounce of pretension.

Check out the videos for I Am X-Ray, The Grid, Model, and Fear of Fragility. Trust me, you need to watch all four of these videos. Do it now.

To My Boy's debut album Messages is out now on XL Recordings.

MP3: To My Boy - Model (zshare)

MP3: To My Boy - Tell Me, Computer (zshare)

MP3: Eliminate (zshare)

Purchase To My Boy's album Messages on Insound, where you can find it in MP3, CD, and Vinyl format.

Blanche: reinventing the "Southern Gothic" sound

This is Blanche. They are absolutely brilliant. Described by many as "Southern Gothic", Blanche is definitely a band worth checking out. Their sweet sounds very well may give listeners the urge to don cowboy boots and hang out at saloons. Based out of Detroit, Michigan, the band is composed of Dan John Miller and his wife Tracee Mae, along with Lisa Jannon, Feeny, and Little Jack Lawrence (of The Raconteurs). They look exactly like what they sound like, which is very old-school Southern and very fancy. The band's website describes them as "a dolled-up meeting of the Stepford Wives and a Lawrence Welk gospel special." Tracee Mae has a pretty intense beehive, if I do say so myself.

The band emerged in 2004 after the breakup of Two-Star Tabernacle, which featured Jack White on guitar. In the three years between their first single "Who's To Say" and current new album Little Amber Bottles, the band has had a whole slew of various side projects to keep them busy. Some of you may remember Dan and Tracee's guest appearance in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, as they made a cameo appearance in the film as Luther and Birdie Perkins. The band has also backed Loretta Lynn on her Jack White-produced album Van Lear Rose.

Little Amber Bottles, a spooky-country masterpiece, is nothing short of spectacular. The first track, "I'm Sure Of It", is a psychedelic duet with Dan and Tracee on vocals, accompanied by banjo. Their voices basically sound like Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood from hell, if you can imagine that. The haunting "No Matter Where You Go" stands out as my favorite track. Tracee Mae's sly, breathy, and slightly creepy (in a good way) vocals begin the song with the line, "You set yourself on fire, and then complained." The theatrical atmosphere of the song is reminiscent of The Dresden Dolls, minus the cheesy gimmickry that the latter are oh-so-famous for. Further more, Belle and Sebastian's Isobel Campbell plays the cello on this song, which is sweet. The title track is a reworked version of the song "Olden Amber Bottles" from a 1933 movie, the original version of which is actually on the album as a bonus track.

Blanche- No Matter where You Go

I love the colors in this video.

Christmas Songs - Last Christmas

It's been snowing all day here in Massachusetts, so of course I can't resist posting more Christmas tunes.

Wham!'s 1984 holiday classic , 'Last Christmas' might just be George Michael's single most important contribution to music. It may sound a little bit dated with the cheesy mid-80s synthesizer and over the top heartbroken lyrics, but it just isn't Christmas without Wham! I never thought I'd hear myself say that, but it's true.

'Last Christmas' also happens to be one of the most frequently covered modern Christmas songs. Surprisingly, the majority of the covers I've heard don't even mock the classic Wham! song (which would be so easy to do). Most of the renditions I've heard just sound incredibly earnest and sincere. What's so interesting about the covers is that every artist really does put their own unique spin on the song. No matter what type of music you prefer, there is bound to be a version of 'Last Christmas' that will be right up your alley.

MP3: Wham! - Last Christmas
The original version by Wham! proves to still be an essential for any Holiday mix.

MP3: Manic Street Preachers - Last Christmas
The Manic Street Preachers recorded a stripped down acoustic version of the Wham! classic. Is it just me or does James Dean Bradfield's vocal performance here not sound that dissimilar to George Michael?

MP3: PAS/CAL - Last Christmas
PAS/CAL's cover of 'Last Christmas' is the most fun and innovative one I have heard. Filled with guitar, piano, disco drums and bass and topped off with just a little falsetto, this version is a must have.

MP3: Erlend Øye - Last Christmas
Another stripped down version of 'Last Christmas'. The only ingredients are an acoustic guitar and of course, Norwegian singer Erlend Øye's lovely voice.

MP3: Jimmy Eat World - Last Christmas
Say what you will about Jimmy Eat World, their cover of 'Last Christmas' is actually quite good! I advise that you do not deny it a listen.

MP3: Le Sport, Montt Mardié and Mr Suitcase - Last Christmas
Before Le Sport's untimely split, they gave the world a Swedish euro-dance cover of 'Last Christmas' that is ready for the dance floor. It might be even cheesier than the original (if that's possible).

MP3: Swipe! and Gwenno (of The Pipettes) - Last Christmas
A girl & guy duet version this time around. This cover of 'Last Christmas' is quite sweet and heartfelt sounding. Fans of The Pipettes should be especially interested in hearing this one.

Christmas Songs - The Little Drummer Boy

No matter what holiday you celebrate or don't celebrate, there is always room for the David Bowie & Bing Crosby classic "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth". I don't know how anyone could NOT enjoy listening to that song and watching the video. I was watching it last night and realized how hilarious I find it when he casually says "I'm David Bowie. I live down the road" in the beginning of the video. I just love the way he says it. I can't stop imagining David Bowie appearing at my door and nonchalantly telling me that he lives down the road.

Although released before my time, as a kid I remember seeing the Bowie & Bing video air all the time on VH-1 throughout the holiday season, as well as hearing it on the radio constantly. I still hear it on the radio and even have it on mp3, just in case I don't hear it enough for my liking. One of my sisters and I have always enjoyed making fun of the song and mimicking Bowie's slightly off key sounding 'peaace on eaaarth' parts in the song, as well as Bing Crosby's ridiculously low rum pum pum pums.

I'm not super religious but I do enjoy some of the more religious Christmas songs. For years now It always makes me giggle when in 'The Little Drummer Boy' it says 'the ox and lamb kept time'. I picture the ox and lamb stomping their hooves and bobbing their heads to the beat of the song. Ridiculous. I mean, who wrote that?

Here are my favorite renditions of 'The Little Drummer Boy' for your Holiday downloading pleasure:

Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy (zshare)
Dandy Warhols - The Little Drummer Boy (zshare)
Low - The Little Drummer Boy (zshare)
Bright Eyes - The Little Drummer Boy (zshare)
Sufjan Stevens - The Little Drummer Boy (zshare)

SoftLightes - The Last Christmas on Earth

Considering that I've already compared the SoftLightes' sound to Christmas music, It's difficult to imagine what an actual holiday song by Modular's resident Californian indie popsters could possibly sound like. Their regular music makes me want to cut out paper snowflakes and decorate cookies with gooey frosting.

SoftLightes bring just a little more to the table this time around with their environmentally conscious holiday single 'The Last Christmas on Earth'. One can grasp from the title alone that this is perhaps not your ordinary 'sleigh ride' or 'winter wonderland' type holiday ditty. Despite the serious topic at hand, SoftLightes manage to pull off a heart warming and cheerful sounding holiday jam, complete with Ron Fountenberry's sugary sweet vocals and a diverse musical arrangement that includes strings and bells. No Christmas classic is complete without bells. Let's also not forget the chants throughout the song, commanding us to dance. What more could you possibly want in a holiday song?

'The Last Christmas' is available for digital download only, starting December 11th. Stream the song here to have a listen, and then download the song from iTunes or another digital retailer if you are able to! All proceeds go to the Sydney based eco-charity Earth Hour.

Felix da Housecat does Devo

Admittedly, I have never been a huge fan of Felix da Housecat. As often as I have owned up to liking bucket-loads of cheesy music, Felix da Housecat borders on just a little too cheesy, even for my tastes. His music is like a sharp cheddar that has been aged for four years, whereas I prefer a cheddar that has been aged for just two or possibly three years.

That being said, Felix da Housecat's latest release Virgo Blaktro & The Movie Disco is a fun little album. The main downfall of the record? It just seems rather short. There are several skits (something I have never been a fan of) and several songs (or perhaps, interludes) that fall short of not only the three minute mark, but the forty second mark as well. Felix Stallings has sited Virgo Blaktro & The Movie Disco as being "a sexy, black, electronic disco record". As a worshiper of Giorgio Moroder, I can't help but notice the obvious influence his Italo Disco mastery had on this album, particularly on the track 'Night Tripperz'. The last time I checked, Giorgio Moroder was pretty far from being black, or sexy for that matter. Actually, never mind. Giorgio Moroder is totally hot.

What I really want to talk about is 'Sweetfrosti'. As I gave Virgo Blaktro & The Movie Disco a first listen, 'Sweetfrosti' immediately caught my attention. I automatically recognized the Devo song 'Snowball'. I was completely and utterly confused for several moments. First I thought to myself, 'Is this track sampling Devo?' No, the entire song is pretty much an exact copy. My second thought was, 'Is this a Devo cover?' No, the lyrics are different, so it can't really be considered a cover. Well, what is it then? I suppose that 'Sweetfrosti' could simply be defined as Felix Stallings' homage to Devo.

I hated 'Sweetfrosti' at first. All I could think was, 'Why would anyone take a seminal Devo song and turn it into something called 'Sweetfrosti' of all things?' Still, something has to be said for the fact that I've had 'Sweetfrosti' stuck in my head for several days now. If anything, Felix da Housecat confirms for us that Devo's music still sounds amazing nearly thirty years later. While 'Snowball' isn't one of Devo's most well known songs, it is by far one of their best. Hopefully listeners will realize that those awesome 'early 80's inspired synthesizers' actually are from the early 80's and are in fact, not a product of Felix da Housecat (as monumental as he may be).

Felix da Housecat's Virgo Blaktro & The Movie Disco is definitely worth checking out. Pick up a copy at Insound. While you're at it, why not pick up Devo's classic Freedom of Choice as well?

Give a listen to both Sweetfrosti AND Snowball.

Felix da Housecat - Sweetfrosti (zshare)

Devo - Snowball (zshare)

Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor

While Hot Chip have not been out of the picture for long, somehow it feels like it's been eons since we last heard anything from our favorite synthesizer wielding Brits. Loyal Hot Chip fanatics (myself included) have been patiently awaiting the release of their third album Made in the Dark, set for a February 5th release date here in the U.S. We've still got some waiting to do, but at least there is a brand new Hot Chip video to keep us at bay. The new video, directed by Nima Nourizadeh is for Hot Chip's forthcoming single Ready for the Floor. It is nothing short of a quirky, colorful, and visually stunning treat.

Nima Nourizadeh is yet another one of my favorite video directors these days. His videos are always attention grabbing and surreal. Taking a look at Nima Nourizadeh's videography, I realized that some of my favorite videos he directed in the past also happened to be for Hot Chip. I still watch the videos for Over and Over and Playboy at least once a month, no matter how many millions of times I have heard those songs. Nima Nourizadeh's latest vision does not disappoint. I am still shocked at how inconceivably giddy I became as a result of watching Ready for the Floor. It was as if a joyous explosion of nerds, synthesizers and brightly colored paints took place in my heart.

Aside from the beautiful art design and camera work, I am absolutely in love with the dancing in Ready for the Floor. Small, syncopated movements isolating various parts of the body are performed by the expressionless dancers. While I'm no stranger to post-modern Fosse inspired choreography, I had never seen it performed in conjunction with Hot Chip until now. The minimalistic choreography works perfectly juxtaposed with the costumes, backdrop, camera work and synthesizer heavy, New Order inspired beats.

The movement quality of the band members should also be taken note of. In opposition to the small, controlled movements of the dancers in the video, singer Alexis Taylor jogs and flails his arms around in attempt to regain balance. The other four members of Hot Chip can be seen laying on a spinning floor, crouching down while covering their ears, and struggling to fit through changing shapes. The band members also attempt to keep their balance as they flail around while leaping from one object to the next. I might be crazy for making this comparison, but these movements remind me greatly of a genre of post-modern dance called 'Release Technique', which basically translates as 'following the least path of resistance'. Anyway, enough over-analyzing... here's the video!

By the way, you can pre-order Hot Chip's third release Made in the Dark now on Insound. The album will be released on DFA Records/Astralwerks here in the U.S. You can also stream the forthcoming single Ready for the Floor over at Hot Chip's myspace page. I hope it makes you as giddy as it makes me.

Just because I love Hot Chip so much, here is the song plus a few remixes to tide you over until early February:

Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor (zshare)

Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor (Extended Version) (zshare)

Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor (Soulwax Dub) (zshare)

Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor (Jesse Rose Remix) (zshare)

KROZM vs. Van She & Midnight Juggernauts

What do Krozm, Van She and Midnight Juggernauts have in common? For starters, they're all Australian. Secondly, they're all amazing. It may or may not be obvious to you that Van She and Midnight Juggernauts are bands; but who or what exactly is Krozm? Their myspace informs us that Krozm is a collective comprised of five humans (Chris Hill, Ewan Macleod, Lachlan Dickie, Brandon Tay and from time to time, Dan Bronsema) who specialize in video, film, direction, cinematography, animation, design and interpretive dance.

Whether Krozm are kidding about the interpretive dancing or not, I do not know. It seems laughable, but interpretive dance would be almost too appropriate to list, considering that their videos do feature some dazzlingly killer moves and editing.

These lads are based out of Melbourne, Australia and are responsible for directing some of my favorite music videos as of late. Krozm typically make the type of videos that you watch and wonder 'how can someone (or five someones) have the brain to come up with any of this stuff?!' I've come across people that hate any video (or any piece of art, for that matter) if they cannot wrap their brain around the concept of it or figure out where the logic is. If you often find yourself staring at the screen in confusion and anger when shown a moderately abstract video, then sadly you may not like Krozm. However, If you're anything like myself and love seeing things like random deer heads on a human body juxtaposed with interesting editing and camera work, then you just might love the creations of Krozm.

The boys of Krozm have created a visual masterpiece for Van She's new single 'Cat And The Eye'. What I love about this video other than the bizarre costumes, is mainly the way the camera never stops panning right or left, circling around, or focusing out and back in. The effect is dizzying, and somehow it almost feels as if you're the one moving. The song itself is a lot more commercial sounding in comparison to the sparkling 80's reminiscent space pop previously heard from Van She. Still, Van She prove further that they know how to drop an addicting melody. If I heard this song on mainstream radio here in the U.S. it would be a welcomed change to what is typically played. Look forward to a full Van She album being released soon on Modular.

Van She - Cat and the Eye
Uploaded by krozm

Krozm have made a whole slew of videos for Melbourne band Midnight Juggernauts. 2007 saw the release of Midnight Juggernauts' full length debut Dystopia, released on Siberia Records. With a synth-rock sound that draws influence from Daft Punk, ELO, Giorgio Moroder, 70's sci-fi/horror film score music/Goblin; Midnight Juggernauts somehow manage to create a unique sound as mysterious and expansive as outer space itself. My favorite Midnight Juggernauts video may also be one of Krozm's simplest. The key ingredients are fog, lights and mirrors.

Into the Galaxy - Midnight Juggernauts
Uploaded by krozm

Again, the way that the camera pans and appears to dance around the band members is what truly makes this video great. It's incredible that simple things such as lights and mirrors in conjunction with a camera could create something so beautiful and fascinating to watch. What's even more impressive is how perfectly the atmosphere and visual aesthetics of the video match up with the song.

Check out more Midnight Juggernauts videos directed by Krozm here.