2012, Its been too long

Wow! Hi. I used to blog about entertainment all the time.  I seem to have lost my way.  But fear not I am still watching movies. Still watching too many TV shows, still reading books and still listening to music.  Here are a few things that I have found entertaining lately:

Movies:
The Avengers
The Hunger Games
The Dark Knight Rises
Brave
Ted
21 Jump Street
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
The cast of The Amazing Spider Man. The story was pretty much a copy of the first Spider-Man movie but the cast makes it worthwhile.


Books:
The Hunger Games Trilogy. The last book was my favorite but the writing style wasn't my cup of tea.
Harry Potter. Yes I am reading them again. No I am not ashamed of this.
The Count of Monte Cristo.  I try to read this book once a year of so. I am currently half way through the unabridged version.

Music:
Blind Pilot
Neon Trees
Jamie Cullum
Mumford & Son
Young the Giant
Adele

TV:
Revenge
Person of Interest
The Good Wife
The Amazing Race
Happy Endings
Modern Family
The New Girl
Raising Hope
Top Gear US version
Sherlock
Downton Abbey
Survivor
Suits
White Collar
Necessary Roughness
Royal Pains
Covert Affairs
Castle

And that is what I have been enjoying so far this year.
Tell me what have I missed?

Alison Krauss: A Hundred Miles or More

Do you ever find yourself in need of a CD that is simply relaxing? Well if you do, then I have the CD for you. A Hundred Miles or More by Alison Kruass is just that kind of CD. The subject matter of the songs on this album cover every aspect of life but while doing so you can't help but be relaxed by the unique sound of Alison's voice. Once your drawn in my the melodies you start to pay attention to the lyrics and they run the gambit from happy (Sawing on the Strings, Down to the River to Pray) to heartbreaking (Jacob's Dream, Molly Ban) to hopeful (Simple Love, Get Me Through December, Baby Mine). Of the 16 songs on the album I can say that I really enjoyed them all, well maybe not You Will Be My Ain True Love as much as all the others but that might be because it is the one song that seems out of place on the album. Which is not to say that it is not a good song but just not as good as all the others. While the album is considered Country I would say that it is more Folk/Country then full on Country and the only song that screamed Country to me was Whiskey Lullaby and what a Country song it is! This CD is definitely worth a listen to. I have found that I have listened to it all the way through several times and keep coming back for more.

Below is Get Me Through December, one of my favorites from the CD.

The Ting Tings (We Started Nothing)

You know how there are those songs you just can't help but dance to? (American Boy, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, etc..) Well I found a whole cd that makes you want to jump out of your chair and dance, hum, tap your toes..

The Ting Tings album, We Started Nothing. So many great songs. You will have heard a couple of them from the radio, but some of my favorites are the ones that they don't play. Fruit Machine, and Traffic Light are genius.

I would also recommend seeing them live if you get a chance. We went (for only 12 dollars a ticket by the way) and loved the show. My husband even loved it.

Check it out. I think you'll love it.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus is a singer/songwriter that when he sings, makes me want to hop a plane to Paris, sit at a quaint table sipping my drink and watch the passer-by's. I love him.

A lot of people have told me they think he whines too much. He is whiny, but I like it, because it has a different sound. He not only sings but he plays the guitar and piano as well. Probably known best for singing "complainte de la butte" from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. (click here)

But I adore him for his other songs. Sample my one of my favorites here.

If you like a different sound, Rufus could be for you. And that's the trufus. (Any How I Met Your Mother fans?)

Caitlin

I have fond memories of Rufus Wainwright. 10 years ago some of my friends had just started driving and we went on an adventure. The soundtrack to this adventure was provide by Rufus Wainwright and the song "Instant Pleasure". We would drive around and sing that song at the top of our lungs. Ah, good times!


I also enjoy his version of "Hallelujah", not to take anything away from the Jeff Buckley version which is a bit slower and drawn out then Rufus' take on it. Of Rufus' newer songs I really enjoy "Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk" and "California" they both always manages to bring a smile to my face and I wouldn't say either of those songs is whiney.

Eric

Prime

Prime is a comedy set in New York City. Rafi (Uma Thurman) is a recently divorced, 37-year-old career woman from Manhattan. David (Bryan Greenberg), a 23-year-old Jewish painter from the Upper West Side, falls in love with her. Rafi shares all her secrets with her therapist Lisa (Meryl Streep). Unbeknownst to Rafi, Lisa happens to be David's mother. And then the comedy ensues.

I love the feel of this movie. I feel like I am walking around with them, rather than watching it on a screen. This movie and not to mention it's soundtrack is fantastic. While it is only PG13 it has somewhat racy parts, so if that's not your cup of tea, I would skip this one.

Prime forces you to laugh out loud in parts, it also makes you aware of your emotions, and puts religion and dating into perspective and makes you contemplate how it would be.

My favorite part of this movie is the ending. It is simple and real. More movies should be this raw. It leaves you with my favorite song from the soundtrack which is "I Wish You Love": by Rachael Yamagata (listen to it here)

I recommend this movie more for the ladies than the men, but I still think a guy could be entertained by this, since it's not exactly a chick flick. I would also check this soundtrack out on ITUNES. Enjoy!

-Caitlin

Joss Stone (The Soul Sessions)

The Soul Sessions is the debut album by English singer Joss Stone. (released in September 2003) It is a collection of cover's from '60s and '70s soul songs.

I like Joss Stone for a couple of reasons. (1) She has a strong voice and (2) Her songs are funky.

I have revisited this album lately and am loving it all over again. It's a fun CD to chill out to. I find myself listening to it when I am in a reserved mood. If you are looking for a few fun songs to put on your IPOD you should check out..

"I've Fallen in Love With You" and "Some Kind of Wonderful" (they are both soulful and funky)

If you like soul music you will dig Joss.

Caitlin

Across the Universe (sountrack not movie)

If you are a Beatles fan (which I am) then you will love this soundtrack. The movie? Maybe not so much. But the music is seriously fabulous. The artists voices are stellar and each song is pretty different than the one before it.

My favorite songs from the soundtrack include..

I Wanna Hold Your Hand by: T.V. Carpio

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite by: Eddie Izzard

Hey Jude by: Joe Anderson and Angela Mounsey

When we went to see this movie, I just kept looking at the people I was with and saying "Wow! This music is awesome! They are all so talented." This is the best Beatles tribute since the I Am Sam soundtrack. Give it a listen.

Caitlin

I am with Caity on this 100%. I love the Beatles, as most do, and this is one of the better cover albums that I have heard. When I first heard the soundtrack I couldn't believe how powerful Evan Rachel Wood's voice was, I mean the girl is tiny, but her voice is big!

Some of my favorites are: Happiness Is A Warm Gun, All My Loving, It Won't Be Long and...ah who am I kidding, I loved the whole thing. Don't believe me? Check out my iPod's most played list here and see how many songs from the soundtrack make an appearance. If you are a Beatles fan, or a fan of Music, do yourself a favor and check this one out.

Eric

The Fratellis - Here We Stand

For those of you who haven't heard of, or heard, The Fratellis you really must check them out. Their new CD Here We Stand is not a bad album at all. Now I can't say that I like it as much as their last album, Costello Music, but it is growing on me after each subsequent listening.

Here We Stand has very much the same British vibe that Costello Music had and it really makes you feel like you were listening to it in a pub. There is just an energy that flows throughout the whole album and you will find yourself going back for another listen as soon as the last track, Milk and Honey, finishes.

My recommendations for song choices on this one are: Milk and Honey, Lupe Brown, Mistress Mabel, and A Heady Tale. So the next time you are on iTunes go ahead and preview this one, you may just find you like it. I do.

Eric

Duffy

I know that I have posted about Duffy on my personal blog. But I can't help doing it. She is fabulous. I love how there is such a different sound to her voice. Most of you have heard Mercy I'm sure. They play it quite a bit on the radio. But the song that I am completely in love with is Warwick Avenue. (click to see videos). Everything about this song touches me. It's real, it's raw, and it feels like something you have been through.

The video is basic, but powerful. It's just a shot of her in the car singing. Some might say that it needed more, but for someone like me who loves simplicity, is was perfect. She is very honest with her singing.

She resembles Angelina Jolie, and she puts off a completely cool vibe. Her pipes are stellar, and she has what I love in a vocalist. A different quality. This entire album is worth the 10 dollars from ITunes. All of the songs are bluesy and soulful and will likely scrounge up some emotions while you listen.

If you like Blues, you will love Duffy and her cd Rockferry.

Caitlin

Weezer (the red album)

Weezer has put out yet another self titled album. (released June 3rd 2008) It has already been nicknamed the "Red Album". The first single is Pork and Beans (click to see video) For any of you YOUTUBE fans, this video is right up your alley. It highlights some of the most popular videos to be seen on YouTube.

Since my husband is a record freak, we bought the "Red Album" on vinyl. I have loved Weezer for years, as has my husband so we buy all of their cd's. This album doesn't dissapoint. Some of it is classic Weezer and some sounds a little different. Probably because the other band members contributed to the writing and vocals.

Check out their song Trouble Maker. Apparently they were going to release this as their first single, but after meeting with their record company, decided to put out Pork and Beans. I love this album. Check out ITUNES to sample the album.

Caitlin