A suburban London teen finds her traditional education replaced by something slightly more sinister when an older, more worldly suitor sweeps her off of her feet while placing her future in jeopardy. London, 1961: 16-year-old Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is smart, attractive, and eager to start her adult life. She’s grown tired of the familiar adolescent routine, so when urbane newcomer David (Peter Sarsgaard) appears in town, Jenny senses a rare opportunity to shake things up a bit. Quickly falling under David’s spell, the impressionable Jenny begins accompanying her newfound beau to classical concerts, art auctions, crowded pubs, and dinners that stretch into the small hours of the night. But Jenny is brighter than most kids her age, and her parents always dreamt of getting their exceptional daughter into Oxford. These days it seems like she’s headed in a different direction — will David ultimately be her undoing, or the person who helps her finally realize her true potential?

An Education was so good, it might be my favorite movie, in I don’t know how long. I’ve always loved Peter Sarsgaard, and this performance will hopefully bring him all the praise and awards he deserves. He was absolutely brilliant as the tormented, creepy older man, who falls for the beautiful, smart and naive 16 year old girl.  Carey Mulligan  is absolutely gorgeous, and her performance makes you stop and say “Who is this girl!”. She is such an amazing actress, I can’t wait to see her next films.

There are so many things to love about this movie.  For one – the acting is absolutely Oscar worthy. If Peter and Carey don’t come away with Oscar nominations, I will be absolutely shocked.  The second is the cinematography.  Each scene is more beautiful than the next, and the atmosphere almost becomes a character in and of it’s own.  It was like you could pause each scene, and it could be a work of art.

There were so many amazing actors in this film, every time a new character was introduced, I was shocked to see them! There were characters played by Emma Thompson, Rosamund Pike, Dominic Cooper and Sally Hawker (Happy Go Lucky).

It was one of those films that I’m happy to have seen because I know it’s going to really take off. You know when you see a really amazing movie and you just know you’ve seen something special? It really is that amazing. I know the critics are going to love it, and I know I’ll be seeing this on Oscar day. 

Bottom line: An Education is absolutely brilliant. I’m going to see this movie again, just in case I missed anything the first time. You won’t be disappointed, it really is THAT GOOD.

Check here to see when An Education opens in your town!

I had the pleasure of attending a screening of Chris Rock’s new documentary Good Hair on Friday, and I absolutely loved it.

The documentary starts off with Chris’s two beautiful daughters, and was shocked to hear his youngest ask him “daddy, why don’t I have good hair?” And so began an exploration into the billion dollar enterprise of “good hair”.  I literally had NO IDEA this world even existed, let alone to what extent.

Chris delves into why thousands of women feel the need to have “good hair”.  Why they will spend thousands of dollars on a weave, or inflict injury upon themselves with the toxic “relaxer”. Why men can’t even begin to think of touching their wives head, and why they would spend more on their wife’s hair – than their own mortgage payment. It’s unflinching and moving.

Chris jetted from Los Angeles to Atlanta – and even India to find out how important good hair really is.  The most poignant part of the documentary, for me, was when Chris traveled to India, where one of their top exports is human hair. It was difficult to watch as women have their heads shaved in a religious ceremony, only to have the church turn around and sell the hair for a profit.  This particular ritual makes this church the most profitable – second only to the Vatican.  It was really unbelievable to watch.

Chris sets off to talk to hair professionals, stylists, actresses and singers to get to the root of the pursuit of good hair. The documentary was eye-opening to say the least. Chris proved to be a masterful host, bringing humor – and sometimes the sad truth to the what some women will do for a good head of hair.

It’s no wonder this documentary won the Jury Prize Award at the Sundance Film Festival.  It really is a gem.

Bottom line? I loved it. Chris Rock does a perfect job of exploring the topic completely – while keeping us laughing the whole time.

Good Hair opens near you this Friday on October 23rd.

I got my copy of the New Moon Soundtrack last week, and I haven’t stopped listening to it yet.  The album is full of original songs from huge artists such as Thom Thorke, Death Cab for Cutie (video above!), The Killers, Muse and more!  It’s really hard to find an album where every single song is amazing, and this CD really is one of them.  Each song is so great! With the movie still a month away, this soundtrack is helping ease my anticipation!

You don’t have to be a Twilight fan to enjoy this album. It is full of amazing songs – you’d be hard to find a song on the CD you don’t like!

BUY THE ALBUM HERE!

Ever since the lineup went public, MTV News has been hitting up these musicians for their thoughts on joining the “Twilight” universe and the inside word about the songs they’ve contributed.

“We were all really excited to be asked to write for it, because it had become such a massive phenomenon,” Death Cab frontman Ben Gibbard said. “We wrote and recorded the song and turned it in, and you hoped the people deemed it worthy.”

It was indeed deemed worthy, as was the track recorded by Bon Iver and St. Vincent called “Rosyln.” “I think there’s something vampirey and creepy about the two of us singing together,” said St. Vincent, whose real name is Annie Clark. “It’s a simple, stripped-down kind of song. It’s really elegant and beautiful.”

Swedish singer Lykke Li revealed that she caught an early viewing of “New Moon,” sat down at the piano and composed “Possibility.” “It’s almost like a fever haze,” she explained. “It’s very repetitive, like a mood you go into. … The lyrics are like, ‘When you walk, you walk like a thief with blood on your hands, because I die when you leave me.’ ”

Returning for the second “Twilight” soundtrack, Muse said they were thankful for the increased exposure. “I think our music has reached out to whole loads of new people that haven’t heard us before,” drummer Dominic Howard said. “It’s great to know that people are discovering our music. It’s a nice side project to be involved in.”

Here is the official track listing:

* DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE — MEET ME ON THE EQUINOX
* BAND OF SKULLS — FRIENDS
* THOM YORKE — HEARING DAMAGE
* LYKKE LI — POSSIBILITY
* THE KILLERS — A WHITE DEMON LOVE SONG
* ANYA MARINA — SATELLITE HEART
* MUSE — I BELONG TO YOU (NEW MOON)
* BON IVER & ST. VINCENT — ROSYLN
* BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB — DONE ALL WRONG
* HURRICANE BELLS — MONSTERS
* SEA WOLF — THE VIOLET HOUR
* OK GO — SHOOTING THE MOON
* GRIZZLY BEAR — SLOW LIFE
* EDITORS — NO SOUND BUT THE WIND
* ALEXANDRE DESPLAT — NEW MOON (THE MEADOW)

Here is a review and pictures from their live show in Portland, Oregon.  They were awesome!  Pictures by Troy Kujala Photography. Review written by Trista K.

Having just released their much-anticipated Senior album, Daisy, Brand New appeared to be immersed in their on-going transformation during their sold-out performance at the Roseland Theatre. A somber-looking Jesse Lacey (lead vocals/guitar) leisurely walked out on stage in a casual flannel and bright blue beanie, not to move from that very spot for the entire 90-plus minute set. Jesse did, however, manage to bellow out a variety of new songs from Daisy, as well as more familiar tracks from Deja Entendu (2003), and The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me (2006), with an obvious raw sincerity. Brand New’s other members kept the crowd eager by thrashing around the rest of the stage. Sing-alongs ensued, followed by what seemed like confusion at times as to what to do with the bands latest, and more introspective, complex tracks. With the light of a single spotlight, Lacey closed the show with a moving rendition of “Play Crack the Sky”, where in the darkness of the stage, Jesse’s younger brother and theManchester Orchestra front man, Andy Hull, stepped up and added more effect to an already compelling conclusion. Overall, Brand New’s performance left you with more questions than answers and a new curiosity to further explore the inner-workings of Daisy.

Opening for Brand New, no one seemed to want to move anywhere but forward in anticipation of Atlanta, Georgia’s Manchester Orchestra. And rightfully so. This rock band put on a non-stop, delightfully intense performance that was both exhilarating and highly animated. Though they are a young band, the dynamics of Manchester Orchestra on stage tell a story of a unique unity that surpasses the more experienced. Manchester’s latest album, Mean Everything to Nothing, has received much praise from critics and fans alike, and their live performance leaves no less to be expected.

For their first performance of the tour, Portland’s own The Builders and the Butchers kicked off the show with an effective set list from their latest album, Salvation is a Deep Dark Well, that had the crowd clapping and stomping along to every song. These five natives of Alaska have settled into an ever-growing fan base since forming their Southern-Gothic quartet in 2005. The Builders and the Butchers left an energetic buzz swirling around the venue as they exited the stage, proving to be a great new addition to the tour.

Brand New on Myspace
Brand New is available on iTunes
Buy Daisy here

Pictures below by Troy Kujala Photography

Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) lives in small-town Texas and yearns to break free of her mother’s (Marcia Gay Harden) world of beauty pageants and conformity. Bliss sees her chance when she meets the Hurl Scouts, a roller-derby team; she tries out for the team and wins a slot, lying to her parents about her new hobby. Bliss finds friendship and freedom with her teammates, but a conflict between a championship game and the Bluebonnet beauty pageant threatens to spill her secret.

I saw Whip It over the weekend, and I absolutely LOVED every minute of it.

The movie stars Ellen Page as Bliss, a unhappy teen stuck in the small town of Bodeen, Texas.  She has a pageant obsessed mom, played by Marcia Gay Harden and an ex-football star father, played wonderfully by Daniel Stern. (He’s such a great actor, he needs to do more!)

While on a shopping trip with her mother in Austin, Texas, Bliss is introduced to roller derby, and instantly falls in love. What happens next is awfully predictable, but is also completely fun and exciting. Bliss is torn between pleasing her mother by competing in a beauty pageant, and competing with the roller derby team Hurl Scouts. Gee, I wonder what happens!

I think first time director Drew Barrymore did a brilliant job – but my only complaint is that Drew should not have starred in the movie. Her character, a stoner named Smashley Simpson was completely unbelieveble and bordered on annoying. With that said, I totally enjoyed watching Juliette Lewis as the badass, and Jimmy Fallon as the hilarious announcer. PS: Singer-songwriter Landon Pigg made his acting debut as Bliss’ rocker – love interest. I have his album sitting here on my desk – I’ll write that review up soon.

Bottom line – you should definitely check out Whip It! It’s so much fun! I loved it – and will totally be seeing it again!

I absolutely LOVE the Avett Brothers. I first heard them last year, and was eagerly awaiting the release of this new album. I finally got my hands on it last week, and I’ve loved every song on the album. It’s great! It’s so good, in fact, that it’s hard to believe this is their first big-label debut. My favorite songs are the title track “I and Love and You” and also the beautiful “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promises”.  The album contains 13 amazing songs, and I am confidant after listening to them for a few minutes you’ll be as big of a fan as I am.

Each time I listen to the album, I love it more. It really grows on you.  If you haven’t heard of the Avett Brothers before – this is the perfect album to start with. They have previous albums, but this one is the best to date.  I love them! I hope you guys check them out!

Buy “I and Love and You” on iTunes! PLUS! the album is still streaming on NPR and is available in Starbucks everywhere .

There is no harmony like brotherly harmony. Something indelible in the weave of voices and play of sensibilities is stamped into the fraternal DNA and also stems from a lifetime of shared experiences. You can hear it in classic brother acts across the musical spectrum, from the Louvin Brothers to the Everly Brothers and on down the decades through the Wilson brothers (Beach Boys), the Davies brothers (Kinks), the Allman Brothers and even the Brothers Gibb (a.k.a., the Bee Gees). You can clearly hear fraternal magic at work in the songs of Scott and Seth Avett, better known as the Avett Brothers, as well.

That magic is abundantly evident on I and Love and You, the Avett Brothers’ big-label debut. Its 13 songs are delivered in a style that defies pigeonholing but might be described as a rootsy amalgam of folk, country, bluegrass, rock and pop – even a jab of punk-style dynamics here and there. Drawn by the naked honesty of their songs and the rousing intensity of their live shows, legendary producer and talent scout Rick Rubin signed the Avett Brothers – consisting of siblings Scott and Seth, plus bassist Bob Crawford – to his American Recordings label in 2008.

The Avett Brothers released I and Love and You, their major label debut on American Recordings/Columbia Records yesterday! I and Love and You was produced by multi Grammy Award winner Rick Rubin. The band performed the title track on the Late Show with David Letterman last night (See above). The band will also be seen performing another new track, “Laundry Room,” on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Tuesday October 6th.

The band’s diverse style and consistent touring, along with independent releases, have helped the band build a loyal and rabid fan base. Rolling Stone recently highlighted the band in their ‘Artists To Watch’ proclaiming “Over the course of a decade The Avett Brothers perfected a blend of bluegrass picking, country harmonies and rock & roll energy.” While O Magazine proclaimed “The North Carolina rock band creates elegiac Americana.” The Avett Brothers have toured most of 2009 testing out new material, as well as their older songs. This year alone, the band has performed at SxSW Music Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, as well as upcoming stops at Newport Folk Festival, Mulberry Mountain Festival, Outside Lands Festival, Britt Festival, Austin City Limits Festival and more (see full itinerary below).

THE AVETT BROTHERS ON TOUR:
9/22 Oxford, MS The Lyric Oxford
9/24 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
9/25 Little Rock, AR Robinson Center Music Hall
9/26 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballroom
9/27 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
9/29 Baton Rouge, LA Baton Rouge River Center Theatre
10/1 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
10/2 Austin, TX Austin City Limits
10/3 Midwest City, OK Rose State PAC
10/5 Murray, KY Lovett Auditorium Center
10/15 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live
10/16 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
10/17 New York, NY Terminal 5
10/18 Boston, MA House of Blues
10/20 Iowa City, IA The Englert Theatre
10/21 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre
10/22 Urbana, IL Canopy Club
10/29 Huntington, WV Keith Albee Theatre
10/30 Louisville, KY Louisville Palace
10/31 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium

http://www.theavettbrothers.com
http://www.myspace.com/theavettbrothers

When I saw Bat For Lashes in concert last month, I found myself absolutely blown away by the opening band, Other Lives’.  I kept looking at my sister in awe, saying “They are AMAZING! Who are they?”  They were so powerful, and beautiful, and to be honest, I didn’t want them to stop! I love Bat For Lashes, but I would have been perfectly content with a whole night of Other Lives’.

Their first single off the album, Black Tables – was featured on last night’s Grey’s Anatomy!!!! Awesome!!

Sidenote: I do not, nor have I ever been paid for these reviews…just so you guys know. I see a LOT of shows, and I mention the ones I like – and leave out the ones I don’t. Every once and a while I see a band that I love so much – I just want to share it with all of you.  This is one of those times.

Other Lives‘ was breathtaking. I was completely in awe of their music, and the music completely moved me.  I came home and immediately contacted their rep. They sent me an album which I have listened to – almost exclusively – for the last month or so.  I gave the album to my husband, and told him to give them a listen.  He – in turn – has listened to them more than I have.

Other Lives’ self-titled, full-length debut will be released on April 7th by tbd records, the ATO Records imprint that launched a year ago with the physical release of Radiohead’s In Rainbows. It will be available at digital retailers beginning March 17th and lead single “Black Tables” goes to radio this month. The album (and the EP that preceded it) was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Joey Waronker (the Eels, Lisa Germano) and engineer Darrell Thorp (Radiohead, Outkast, Beck). Released in October 2008, the EP – also self-titled – was featured for three consecutive weeks on iTunes’ “Rising Stars of Indie Rock.”

Based in the college town of Stillwater, Oklahoma, the band – Jesse Tabish (lead vocals, piano, guitar, harmonium, organ, vibes, electric harpsichord), Josh Onstott (bass, melotron, backing vocals), Jonathon Mooney (piano, violin, organ, vibes, electric harpsichord), Jenny Hsu (cello, backing vocals) and Colby Owens (drums, lap steel) – has been playing music together for the past five years in various incarnations. They began as an avant-garde instrumental group, then added vocals and eventually evolved into Other Lives.

In a recent feature, Filter hailed the band’s music as “perfect for waking up on a crisp fall Sunday or executing a heartrending breakup in the middle of the night,” going on to note: “If Other Lives was more formulaic or eager to get rich, the five-piece would be in N.Y. or L.A., gloating about impending global success. But that’s not how things are done in Stillwater, Oklahoma…” The landscape informs their music, from the traditional folk elements to the expansive, unhurried nature of their songs. Yet Other Lives owes as much to modern-day classicists such as Jóhann Jóhannsson and Arvo Pärt and British progressive rock as it does to its folk forefathers, drawing from a rich palette that even encompasses traditional Spanish music (“Matador”).

Balancing epic grandeur with quiet restraint, the album evokes characters and civilizations hovering between life and death, majesty and melancholy, hope and despair. “End Of The Year” is a breathtaking tightrope walk between such extremes – a lilting interplay between piano and cello gives way to more somber tones, then comes full circle six minutes in with a transcendent guitar riff over elegant orchestration and drum corps-style percussion. “Paper Cities,” featured as a KCRW “Tune Of The Day,” is a powerful indictment of nationalism, reminding us that the boundaries drawn by war are temporal, “just lines on a map,” while the cautionary “Don’t Let Them” takes to task the powers that be – and those who put them in power, namely us.

Praised by LiveDaily for its “captivating, cinematic sounds,” Other Lives was one of the noteworthy new acts performing at last fall’s CMJ Music Marathon. Upcoming tour plans include a series of dates with Delta Spirit (see below for itinerary) and a stop at SXSW.

Listen to their first single, Black Tables, and tell me they’re not amazing!

otherlives.com
myspace.com/otherlives
facebook.com/otherlives

album available at itunes.com/otherlives/otherlives