Amy Winehouse will not be attending the Grammy Awards this Sunday. This is terrible, terrible news for folks like myself who were rooting for her to be there and win all kinds of awards. Hopefully she’ll still take home a few trophies, despite her recent troubles and her absence from the ceremony itself. Continue reading
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No, No, No …
7 FebAll the Colors Came Out
27 Jan
Despite the weather outside, it was a beautiful day up in Reading today. I braved the elements so I could see U23D, which if you haven’t heard, is the 3D IMAX film that captures the U2 Vertigo tour in all its glory. And oh man, does it ever. From the very first frame to the last, you are right there in the action. I mean, I’ve seen U2 live before. Technically, I suppose you could say that was 3D. But wow. This was, to make the obvious reference, even better than the real thing. First of all, it’s a huge movie — in sight and sound. Bono is already a bigger-than-life figure, but this is crazy. And the bass literally shook the seats. Secondly, the camerawork is just amazing. Add in the 3D effects and you have a film experience that can’t be duplicated. The crowd shots look so layered. The stadium, so deep. There were times when I thought people seated in front of me were up and dancing, but they were really on screen and not in the theater. Sure there are some gratuitous guitar-in-camera shots (mostly courtesy of Adam Clayton), but really, this is a rock show filmed with a minimum of cheese. It’s the technology that makes it look even better, not anything the band is doing differently. For example, nearly every shot of Larry Mullen’s drum kit is impressive. The set list includes 14 songs, and all are performed with the typical gusto, but for me, “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own” and “Where the Streets Have No Name” were highlights. The band plays “The Fly” during its encore, and it’s notable, I think, more for the superimposed effects than for the music itself. If U23D doesn’t exactly duplicate the concert-going experience — I felt sort of wimpy just sitting there and not applauding or cheering or singing along — then that’s alright. It the next-best-thing to actually being there and it’s a damned cool experience. I fully intend to go back and see the new Rolling Stones film, Shine a Light, when it plays on the IMAX screen. (All this can be yours too. Click here to find a theater showing U23D.)
The Kids Are Back in Town
27 Jan
So not only are New Kids on the Block still hangin’ tough, but apparently they’re reuniting and going out on tour sometime this year. Seriously? Seriously. Ugh. This is just pathetic.
There Will Be Milkshakes
14 JanThanks to Jeff Wells, who tipped me off to this pretty funny (albeit totally predictable and inevitable) mock trailer/music video for There Will Be Blood, a movie that I loved.
But It Is a Classic
22 Dec
Jeeeez. A whole article about Christmas CDs and not one mention of A Very Marty Xmas 2007 being an instant classic. That doesn’t seem right.
Not Doubly Great
20 Dec
All those self-important musical bio-pics — like Walk the Line and Ray — were due for some mockery, but they don’t quite get the ribbing they deserve in Walk Hard.
While the film does make fun of many of the conventions of the genre, it’s more of an affectionate tribute than a satire, and that, ultimately, makes the film less impressive. Continue reading
It’s Xmas All Over Again
10 DecEvery year without fail, someone who receives my annual Very Marty Xmas mix says to me, “Hey, where’s [fill in the blank]?”
That blank can be filled by your choice of Bruce Springsteen’s “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” or Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas” or the Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping” or any other favorite tune.
And the simple answer is always that all those classics had already appeared on my mix, back in 2000 or 2001.
In 2005, I toyed with the idea of creating a “best of the box” mix of my favorite tunes, ones that had previously appeared on my mixes, but this year I actually compiled one. Continue reading
Sure Does Feel Like Xmas Time
10 Dec
As the great John Lennon once sang, “And so this is Christmas.” At long last — and ahead of schedule — here is the track listing for A Very Marty Xmas 2007. I spent a bit of time revisiting my older mixes this year, and after re-listening to last year’s mix, I decided to err on the side of festivity and jolly-tude when deciding what to include on the ’07 edition. As a result, some folks (like Harry Connick Jr.) had to take a year off. But I think this is a mix that will definitely stand the test of time, just like 2004 and 2005’s have. And I love some of the new stuff I discovered, like Mindy Smith’s “Santa Will Find You,” a hopeful tune that’ll appeal to kids of all ages. And of course, how great is this live version of Darlene Love doing “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” on The Late Show with David Letterman? So anyway, without further ado, here we go:
KT Tunstall — Sleigh Ride
Kay Starr — (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man with the Bag
Johnny Mercer with the Pied Pipers — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix)
The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl — Fairytale of New York
Hello Saferide — iPod Xmas
Pearl Jam — Someday at Christmas
Peggy Lee — Happy Holiday
Darlene Love — Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (live on The Late Show with David Letterman)
Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters — White Christmas
Colbie Caillat — Mistletoe
Carnie and Wendy Wilson — Hey Santa
Mindy Smith — Santa Will Find You
Guster — Donde Esta Santa Claus?
Eels — Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas
Bon Jovi — I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas
Heritage Hall Jazz Band with Gregg Stafford — Silver Bells
The Chipmunks (with David Seville) — We Wish You a Merry Christmas
The LeeVees — How Do You Spell Chunnukkahh?
James Taylor — Jingle Bells
Brian Wilson — Deck the Halls
Mighty Mighty Bosstones — Xmas Time (It Sure Doesn’t Feel Like It)
Teddy Geiger — All I Want for Christmas Is You
Fiona Apple — Frosty the Snowman
Rufus Wainwright — What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
Good stuff. Copies are still on their way to some of my readers, but if you’d like to compile your own copy of this mix, most of these tracks can be found by going to the Hype Machine. And don’t you fret: I still have hundreds more tracks in my collection that have yet to appear on a mix, so yes, Virginia, there will be a Very Marty Xmas 2008. Stay tuned. Until then, happy holidays everybody!
I’ve Got Spring Fever
8 Dec
Unexpectedly, I also got the chance to see Spring Awakening this weekend. And what a great, great show it was.
Is.
No wonder this won the Tony Award back in June for Best Musical — and Best Direction, Score, and five others.
Spring Awakening is so full of energy, so full of passion, so full of life that it’s hard not to be moved or shaken to the core while watching it. I haven’t liked a new show this much in, oh, I don’t know how long. Continue reading
Xmas Is Coming
8 Dec
On Monday you’ll find out what’s on this year’s A Very Marty Xmas CD. Ooooh, I can’t wait to share it with y’all. But until then, I’m still trying to figure out if it’s possible to copy a CD on a Mac without using iTunes. But that’s my problem, not yours (unless, of course, you have a solution for me and then I’d be more than happy to hear it). Thanks!
Martin's Musings 