Death Cab for Cutie lead singer Ben Gibbard ventured off and released his first solo album Former Lives. Here we have a music video for the single “Teardrop Windows” and it’s actually pretty funny. The clip, written and directed by Tom Scharpling, starts with comedian Kurt Braunohler as his manager telling Gibbard that he’s too normal to sell records; “People don’t want to buy music from normal people. People want to hear music from bad boys,” says Braunohler. After a little over a minute of setup the music finally kicks in and we watch as Gibbard attempts but miserably fail at transforming into a “bad boy.” It’s fun to watch the clean-cut singer from Death Cab for Trudie take a stab at making fun of himself.
Category Archives: Music
SpeakSonic album reviews: ZZ Ward, Taylor Swift & Cee-Lo Green
Who is ZZ Ward? SpeakSonic will introduce you to her with a review of her debut album Til The Casket Drops. Also on tap is Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album Red and a Christmas-themed release from Cee-Lo Green Cee-Lo’s Magic Moment.
SpeakSonic delivers with this week’s bite-sized album reviews.
Going viral: ‘Breaking Bad’ musical parody featuring Walt & company channeling their inner Taylor Swift
Video contains spoilers from the show.
The Internet has produced one of the most ridiculous videos I have ever seen. I’m sharing it with you, though, because it is just the right amount of entertaining for long-time followers of the critically acclaimed AMC drama Breaking Bad. YouTube channel Teddie Films has concocted a viral hit with “We Are Never Ever Gonna Cook Together,” a mashup of Breaking Bad and Taylor Swift’s new breakup single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” The clip does a good job of musically summing up the tension between Walt and Jesse that occurs in season five, and it really scores with the absurd imitations of characters like DEA agent Hank Schrader, Walt Jr., and there’s even a guy in a chicken suit representing fast food chain Los Pollos Hermanos. What takes away from this almost-solid parody are giant inconsistencies like Jesse being Asian and Skylar’s portrayer wearing an obvious wig. Things like these add to the farcical nature of the video, but I feel that it really would have exploded with fans if they were more detail-oriented. Nitpicking aside, you should definitely have a watch if you like the show. Fair warning: Swift’s song is catchy to begin with; mashed with Breaking Bad don’t surprised if you catch yourself singing “Oooo ohhh Heisenberg” throughout the day.
You’re gonna kill me; the track is available for keeps through iTunes. Peace, bitch.
Kanye West drops “White Dress” for RZA’s “Iron Fists” soundtrack
Wu Tang Clan leader RZA is about to make his directorial debut with The Man with the Iron Fists, a martial arts film that promises a bloody good time. The cast is led by Russell Crowe, Lucy Lui, and RZA, and the pedigree behind it is high with Eli Roth writing (with RZA) and producing and Quentin Tarantino is credited as “presenting” the movie.
With RZA’s background in mind, it should come as no surprise that the soundtrack for Iron Fists features a lineup of great rappers. They include Ghostface Killah, Talib Kweli, Raekwon, Pusha T, and Kanye West. The track headlined by Kanye West and produced by West, RZA, Tapez, and Boogz is called “White Dress” and it sits above for your listening pleasure. If anything it will take you back to Ye’s College years as you’ll instantly recognize the classic sound.
After the break you’ll find the full soundtrack tracklist plus a trailer for the movie. The music releases October 23, and the The Man with the Iron Fists hits theatres November 2.
Update: The entire soundtrack is now available to stream for free here.
01 The Black Keys and RZA: “The Baddest Man Alive”
02 Ghostface Killah, M.O.P, and Pharoahe Monch: “Black Out”
03 Kanye West: “White Dress”
04 The Revelations: “I Forgot to Be Your Lover” [ft. Tre Williams]
05 Talib Kweli and RES: “Get Your Way (Sex as a Weapon)”
06 Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Kool G. Rap: “Rivers of Blood”
07 Method Man, Freddie Gibbs, and StreetLife: “Built for This”
08 24 Carat Black: “Poverty’s Paradise”
09 Killa Sin: “The Archer”
10 RZA and Flatbush Zombies: “Just Blowin’ in the Wind”
12 Corrine Bailey Rae: “Chains”
13 Pusha T and Raekwon: “Tick Tock”
14 Frances Yip: “Green is the Mountain”
15 The Wu-Tang Clan: “Six Directions of Boxing”
16 Mabel John: “Your Good Thing Is About to End”
Adele is selected to sing the new Bond theme song “Skyfall”, hear it here
With every Bond movie comes a title sequence theme song. For Bond 23 aka Skyfall, the Grammy-award winning sensation Adele was chosen to produce the latest 007 track. She collaborated with producer Paul Epworth, the man who helped her turn “Rolling In The Deep” into the massive hit it has become. Adele’s vocals shine in this composition definitely worthy of the James Bond seal of approvement. What do you think? Thumbs up? Purchase the track at iTunes.
Skyfall opens November 9. And while you’re here, check out some snazzy posters in the gallery below.
Update: A new trailer that features Adele was recently whipped together. Check it out after the break.
Kid Cudi drops new track off ‘Indicud’ album “King Wizard”
Cudi is back with another new track off his upcoming fourth studio album Indicud. The song is called “King Wizard” and it’s during the hook when Cudi blocks out haters and makes it clear this is his time: “I push the lames aside/They’ll learn…F**k all the talk/In time, they’ll burn…They’ll never take me alive/King Wizard.” Sample the beat and Cudi’s flow in the player below, and click the download button for keeps.
In related news, Cudder officially dropped Indicud‘s first single “Just What I Am” (Featuring King Chip) on iTunes this week.
[Via Complex]
Discover new music: Turbo T. Double
If you’re into the evolving rap/hip-hop scene, Turbo T. Double is a name to look out for. Especially if you’re into Kanye West’s rap collective G.O.O.D. Music. Turbo’s been rapping since he’s ten years old, and now some years later, he’s opened for Big Sean and most recently he’s travelled to Europe to perform internationally. Though his flow is similar to Big Sean’s and even Kid Cudi’s, he definitely has a unique sound that’s worth checking out. His YouTube channel features over 50 clips of him rapping, so you can get a decent sampling over there. It won’t take for you to discover Turbo’s interest in video games, specifically the classic arcade title Street Fighter; see his most viewed video “Gigaton Punch.” To see him in action in the studio, check out this video where he raps over Lupe Fiasco’s “Dumb It Down.” After you’ve checked out his talent on YouTube, head over to his official website to browse and download his varied collection of music.
I had the pleasure of working with Turbo in the past, and I can say without hesitation that he’s a force that will not go unseen in the rap community. He’s been producing tracks for years, but thanks to fan donations and his hard work and dedication to his craft, Turbo is about to really blow up. Need proof? He sent me a behind-the-scenes video for an upcoming track titled “Atoms: The World Is Our Hood.” An accompanied music video is on the way, and it features Turbo along with the same beautiful models ‘Ye used in his Runaway film. The vid is directed by Yemi A.D., another talented collaborator of Kanye’s.
Jump after the break to watch the BTS footage; in it Turbo and Yemi talk about their experience working together and the inspiration behind awesome visuals featured in the music video. Check back here for when Turbo drops the clip in full. Continue reading Discover new music: Turbo T. Double
SpeakSonic album reviews: Owl City, Minus the Bear, Matchbox Twenty, Imagine Dragons, P!nk, Deadmau5 & Muse get scored
The time has come again to get up to speed on the latest album releases. SpeakSonic delivers with this week’s bite-sized album reviews. And they are…
Owl City – The Midsummer Station
Minus the Bear – Infinity Overload
Matchbox Twenty – North
Imagine Dragons – Night Visions
P!ink – The Truth About Love
Deadmau5 – album title goes here
Muse – The Second Law
Frank Ocean raps in unreleased track “Blue Whale”
Can’t get enough of Channel Orange? Then get a load of this. Crooner Frank Ocean opts to rap in a brand new, previously unheard track called “Blue Whale.” He simply posted it to his Tumblr and let it ride. So now it’s time you do the same.
Rihanna’s got a new hit single in “Diamonds”
Before her previous album’s single leave the radio Rihanna is already back with a new one that’s off her upcoming still untitled seventh studio album. Her next radio hit is called “Diamonds” but unlike her previous smashes “We Found Love” and “Where Have You Been” this one features a more subtle beat (from producers Stargate and Benny Blanco) and a more mature RiRi (“Find light in the beautiful sea/I choose to be happy/You and I, you and I/We’re like diamonds in the sky”, written by Sia).
Rihanna shed light on the inspiration behind the track. “You’re not sad or dancing. You’re happy and hippie. It’s laid-back, but it’s hopeful. It gives me such a great feeling when I listen to it. The lyrics are very hopeful and positive, but it’s about love and the gears are a little different from what people would expect. I’m excited to surprise them sonically.”
Take a listen above; download at iTunes. Could this be a softer, reinvigorated Rihanna stepping into the spotlight? She is rolling diamonds into a joint in the single artwork… Her next album is due out later this year.
Music video: Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”
Here we have the first official music video featuring a song off Frank Ocean’s debut album Channel Orange. Clocking in at 7 minutes fifty-eight seconds it nearly matches the longevity of the album version (9:53). The clip stars Ocean on a flashy motorcycle and inside an even flashier strip club (NSFW ladies, included). John Mayer joins the festivities for the guitar solo later on the track. Ocean is hot off his “Thinkin Bout You“/”Pyramids” SNL performances.
Kanye West talks ‘Cruel Summer’
At last, Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music collaboration album Cruel Summer is out. To celebrate its release, Mr. West has released a video in which he discusses the inspiration behind the music. The rapper speaks candidly above.