PS22 Chorus

I'd like to think I'm a sponge for all things pop-culture and internet-hype, but somethings slip by from time to time. I feel like why didn't anyone tell me about the greatest thing EVER...Probably more my fault for not listening, but when Hasselhoff is up on the most awesome coolest thing EVER, you feel like you're out of touch..*sigh*

PS22 choir in Staten Island have been generating plenty of internet buzz for the cover versions, which at times are way better than the original. Formed in the year 2000, they are an ever-changing group of 5th graders from a public elementary school in New York City. They even appeared on Passion Pit's latest album. Here's the Fader video of the kids in the studio with Passion Pit;



You can follow all of their clippings and videos at the blog; http://www.ps22chorus.blogspot.com/

Bonus; Don't Stop Believing

Zooey Deschanel; Fabric of My Life (cover)

I usually don't pay attention to internet ads, but Zooey Deschanel covering "Cotton: The Fabric of My Life" caught my eye and made me go "for real?" I must of missed it when it made the blog rounds, but its pretty delightful. Listen to over here.

Going To Africa

Frank from Voodoofunk lived in West Africa in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. He traveled and collected many hard to find records from this region and surrounding areas. He's a DJ and has posted some of his mixes on his blog. Also, check his link section for more blogs spreading knowledge of Funky Africa. The following extended documentary trailer looks awesome, and let's hope for a proper release some time soon.

"Take Me Away Fast" Trailer from Leigh Iacobucci on Vimeo.

Hip House

(via Struggle Inc's blog)

Still Bill Documentary Trailer

I really want to see the Bill Whithers documentary. Trailer does a good job of teasing.

Weezer Covers MGMT & Gaga

glenjamn's youtube account is one of the best youtube accounts EVER. I'm a big fan. Frequent updates, so fresh, quality, quality, and more quality. I'm jealous but super glad that he uploads his dope videos. Fans of DJ AM, Daft Punk, and good DJs, you need check the videos.

Yeah, Nudity!

I'm a sucker for nudity. The first video is from a French electro group Make The Girl Dance. Ironically, found via hypebeast (a site known for sneakers and cool clothes, as opposed to the opposite; nudity). Most people may have seen the second video or at the very least heard of the band Matt & Kim. They were brave enough to march down Times Square and start stripping down to their birthday suits. Do check them out live if you get a chance. You will have an awesome time, I promise.

Make The Girl Dance "Baby Baby Baby" ( official video )
by placeblancherec

Phoenix Covering Air = 2 French, Make It More Right

Head over here for Air's Playground Love covered by Phoenix. So Good!

Me Likey; Coeur de Pirate - Comme des enfants

Coeur de Pirate || Comme des enfants from Dare To Care Records on Vimeo.

Me Likey; Pilar Diaz - "Piñata"

Mayer Hawthorne is The Truth (Re-Edit, Updated Vid)

Mayer Hawthorne has a new single and here's a simple video for the song. My first introduction to Mayer Hawthorn was through DJ Addverse. After bar hours closed, the bartenders and workers would request some tunes as they shut down. Mainly, the music was pretty chill, but not in that martini lounge setting way. More like The Doors and soul music. Each time Mayer would play, your lips come together and go "oooo." Then when I found out the vinyl is heart-shaped, color-red and he's a white dude who's NOT dead(!)..omg, where has he been all my life?. Soul music for REAL.

plus, Stones Throw record owner, Peanut Butter Wolf is good creepy;

Phoenix - Lisztomania (brat pack mashup)

This makes me wish summer was already here, instead of spring break-up. I can't wait for the French band that sings in English Phoenix's 1901 to come out. I might be setting my expectations too high, but I think it could be the summer album for 2009.

John Lennon's Jukebox

"In the mid-60s, John Lennon purchased a portable Discomatic jukebox that held forty 45 rpm records. The records in that jukebox are the focus of this documentary that examines John Lennon’s musical taste and the influences on the Beatles. ..."

Michel Gondrey

Today, director Michel Gondrey has launched his official website. Nothing really of interest, unless you want to buy stuff, which is kind of lame coming from a guy who's last film was all about do-it-yourself. Movies ain't cheap, eh? Mr. Gondry recently did a guest DJ stint on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Some of the past shows on "Mornings..." are viewable, and I recommend checking out Raphael Saadiq's stripped down acoustic set.

Adventureland

I'm a sucker for good "coming-of age" movies. There's a hint of nostaglia that makes you remember "back in the days..." The really good stories reveal how messy and scary growing up can be. Gregg Mottola's Adventureland falls in the good category. This Nerve article has a decent enough review of the film, so I'll spare you a summary review.

Yo La Tengo handles the original music to the film, which makes the film 10x more awesome, but the music credits don't stop there. This site reveals how much good music is in the film and makes me what to take all of my friends to go see it just to enjoy the music. Thank goodness, it's a good film as well. (I orginally planned to see Fast & Furious with my little brother, but he had plans to see that already, so I took him to a movie I was going to see anyway) For a little more information on Yo La Tengo's film music contribtutions, check here.

Klosterman

Chuck Klosterman gave a lecture along with Q&A session about a week here in Anchorage. Klosterman is a writer known for his memoirs, Fargo Rock City, Sex Drugs & Cocoa Puffs, and his writing for Esquire and Spin magazine. He talked about his development as a writer which was kind of catered to the expected audience; students at UAA (the event was free to the public). Of course, his speech and Q&A session had plenty of pop references and he was just as witty live compared to his writing.

You can always learn something from someone's development, but Klosterman warns that he doesn't have a ritual. He did go through a post-college newspaper job that he called his "woodshedding" period, and he must have saw a lot of blank faces so he briefly explained "woodshedding." This bit of knowledge was enlightening because I feel like this stage of my is what Klosterman is describing. I'm not saying I'll become a writer like he is, but maybe I'm honing skills that will be very practical in my profession just like a musician who dedicates themself to a craft.

Portraits of BBC Radio DJs

"Ninety per cent of the population tune in every week and with listening figures soaring, top radio presenters reveal the highs and lows of broadcasting. Portraits by James Mollison"

That freaking blows my mind away! 90 Percent! Then again, I'm not sure what the rest of the statistic means. Is that out of the whole UK population? Is it out of the 3 million who listen to radio? Nonetheless, to have 90% is incredible no matter what the rest of stat means. Also, the above portrait is Annie Mac. She is mainly known for her show called "Mash-Up," which could be described as the show you would want to hear prior to going out on the weekend or if you're a fan of dance music with a bit of bounce that will instantly make you want to dance and tear the club up. Then again, that's just what I think whenever I hear her show.

Btw, sometime down the line, I'll give proper love to some stateside radio people, especially folks doing things in Alaska.

Flying Lotus

Flying Lotus - Los Angeles [Music Video - HD] from Brendan Sinnott on Vimeo.


This unofficial Flying Lotus video from Brendan Sinnott blends some wonderful scenes from essential Sci-Fi films. Be sure to also check out Bredan's bonus video. Another bonus; Flying Lotus did a 2 hour mix for the BBC1 radio show Essential Mix, which you can download over here.

The sci-fi element reminds of the promo videos Kanye had made for his listening parties for his Graduation album. The one below borrows from 2046 from Wong Kar-wai. I think this version of Flashing Lights was way better than the official video directed by Spike Jonze. Speaking of Spike, do check out the Where the Wild Things Are trailer. It's amazing!


GRADUATION ALBUM LISTENING EXPERIENCE PT. 6 - FLASHING LIGHTS from kwest on Vimeo.

Wild Is The Wind

I finished watching Steven Soderberg's CHE (Parts 1 & 2) at the Bear Tooth, which is a second-run theater/restaurant. The charm to this Anchorage establishment is that you can order REAL food, and it will be delivered to you while the film plays. If you're +21, then you order beer/wine on the first floor. If not, no worries, since you can enjoy the film on the balcony. I kind of prefer the view from the top because it reminds me of watching films on the military base growing up in Hawaii.

The Bear Tooth used to have a better art house selection years ago, but I could only assume management realized that profits were better off by showing more "Hollywood" films. I'm still amazed that people will show up and not know what is playing. All they want to do is eat, drink, and zone out to whatever is on the big screen.

aNWAYs,
Nina Simone's version of "Wild Is The Wind" is a perfect selection for the trailer to Revolutionary Road. It's very haunting, but fits so well. I tried a video search for an actual Nina Simone performance of this song, but no-go, instead I found a pretty cool black and white video of David Bowie tackling "Wild is the Wind."

The Feeling - Peter Bjorn & John (Matchstick Remix)

DJ Addverse/Matchstick is a DJ/Producer up here in Anchorage, Alaska. He hit me up with his latest remix, which makes its blogsphere debut here on Push Play. He tackles "The Feeling," a Peter Bjorn & John song from their upcoming album. Cheers!

The Feeling - Peter Bjorn & John (Matchstick Remix)