Playlist: Classic Rock

A little classic rock to close out your week...

Maggie May- Rod Stewart

Don’t Stop Believing - Journey


More Than a Feeling- Boston


Heart of Rock and Roll – Huey Lewis and the News


Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield

Jay-Z with Kanye and Rihanna

You're welcome.

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson

The first song off Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson’s compilation cd, ‘the breakup’, is finally here! I know that she’s gotten a ton of criticism for her singing (as most actresses do when they try to delve into the music world to make their mark) but I’m loving this tune. It’s surprisingly upbeat for something that falls under that album name and already has a spot of my driving/summer playlist.

So how’d this whole thing come about? Scarlett was approached by Pete because he wanted to do a duet cd with inspiration from Brigitte Bardot.

‘After I kind of dozed off one afternoon for a few minutes, I just woke up and my heart was racing and I had this thing in my head ... 'I have to do a duets album, a guy-girl album,'" Yorn told Billboard.com. "I was really into Bonnie and Clyde at the time, by Serge and Brigitte, and I thought, 'Brigitte ... Scarlett! She's Brigitte!' It was a really manic thought pattern that was going on. Within 10 minutes, I was texting Scarlett, 'We have to make a record!'"

Also known as: maximizing his time spent with a super hot chick. Smart guy. The album was actually recorded back in 2006 but I’m not sure of the holdup…maybe because her solo career was a complete flop? But apparently this was recorded before her Tom Waits cover album released a few years ago…

I honestly really tried and really wanted to love her solo stuff, because Scar-Jo is my absolute fav actress but I was just never fully convinced she could pull it off. This, on the other hand has gotten me really excited because I now will allow myself to keep that female-crush I have on her and lets me fall in love with Pete Yorn all over again.

So, to summarize:
• Pete got to work closely with Scarlett
• Scarlett gets to prove herself as a singer
• We get a great tune
• My heart will go on and on….
• It’s a win all around.

Album is due September 15.


Relator - Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson>

Antony and the Johnsons vs. Beyonce

Could Antony and the Johnsons rendition of Beyonce's Crazy In Love be any more different than the original? Apparently A and the Js have been performing the cover for awhile now during their live show, but the video was just released this past week. What is so intriguing is that Its such a haunting take on the song, and makes you see this club hit in an entire new light. Even the video is pretty close to being a complete opposite. While B and Jay-Z's version is very upbeat and colorful, this one is full of dark shadows and silhouette shapes.

Compare & contrast. Whatchu thank?

Friendly Fires

So I went for round 2 of my Friendly Fires fix at Lee’s Palace earlier this week, where they headlined the gig (last time they were opening for White Lies) It was a sweaty, dancy, rock n’ roll-y, hell of a show. Its crazy to see the difference in their crowd response from April until now, and its safe to say these guys are on the rise – and fast. From the moment lead singer, Ed Macfarlane took the stage with his signature dancing and belted the first words of ‘Lovesick’ , they had the crowd dancing, hands flailing and having a kick ass time. Seriously, check out this guy’s moves



The guys sound great live and their passion on stage is surely contagious. They hit all of my favs: Jump In the Pool, On Board, Skeleton Boy, Photobooth and their latest, Kiss of Life. (the video, btw, is visually stunning. Check it out in HQ below) The guys are high-energy and all around very entertaining.

Modest Mouse

The long anticipated and controversial music video for Modest Mouse’s ‘King Rat’ was released last week along with their EP ‘No One’s First and You’re Next’. This fully animated video is meant to raise awareness about whaling off the coast of Australia and takes a different angle as it reverses roles to show whales poaching humans to be sold as pet food. What's extra special about the concept is that it was presented to Modest Mouse by the late Heath Ledger and was one of the last passion projects of his that he worked on. Although the vision was fully flushed out before his tragic death, the animation was not and was completed in his honor. Keeping the meaning behind the video, proceeds from the iTune video downloads will be donated to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for the first month of release. A heartfelt dedication to Ledger is at the end of the video from Modest Mouse: “This began with our friend, a great defender of life, and was completed in his spirit”.

Daniel Merriweather

I can't wait to check out the entire Daniel Merriweather LP 'Love and War', being released on the 25th in Canada. Hailing from Melborne, this Aussy has supported Kanye, JT and Mark Ronson. Although he is just breaking the 'household name' threshold, you'll be happy you checked him out now. I'm heading to his release party in a few weeks and will report back....

Daniel Merriweather feat . Wale 'Change'