The Adevtureland Soundtrack, don't change a thing

So I had the pleasure of seeing Adventureland recently, and though the movie was pretty good (not amazing, but some moments were just fantastic) the music was altogether great. It was like when you see a movie based in the 80's and you secretly hope you hear that one particular song you can't help but sing along to, well every song in Adventureland is that song.

First off, it should be made known that none other than Yo La Tengo scored the original tunes for this nostalgic flick. And a very good job they did. YLT injected the same sweet sentimentality their music is known for into the backgrounds of a Long Island (where I call home) themepark, and it fit like a sequined glove.

Beginning to end, Adventureland is sprinkled with gemstones of 80's audio. From David Bowie's classic 'Modern Love' to The Cure's romantic-eighties-comedy-staple 'Just Like Heaven', and from INXS's bittersweet credit-roller 'Don't Change' to Falco's never-ending 'Amadeus' which only the likes of me and my fellow LI friend found amusing to the max.

For every song you knew instantaneously there was at least one you didn't know but had to google when you got home. Plenty of songs I knew the minute I heard 'em, but others, like Husker Du's 'Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely' surprised me. Sure, Miss Kristen Fingers-in-my-hair-forever Stewart wore a Husker t-shirt, but for the most part you never hear the ones you want.

J's Bummer Songs are quite possibly this years Boner Jams '03, because who didn't leave the theater thinking of the saddest songs they could piece together for whoever might be riding shotgun with them. And come on, who didn't get the urge to put together a bunch of smut too.

ANYWAYS, other great moments included Lou Reed's fantastical 'Satellite of Love', which, for the obvious love song implemented in every movie of this nature, was very welcome. And I nearly died when I heard The Jesus and Mary Chain's-oddly seductive in this case-acoustic cover of 'Taste of Cindy', which I hold very near and dear to my heart, but of course isn't on the official soundtrack.

I reccomend seeing Adventureland if a) you grew up on the kiddy rides there, b) have a thing for good 80's-based music, or c) need a quirky shot of nostalgia.

Music videos don't get any sweeter.

I WANT TO BE APART OF THIS.

You better look out below

The trailer to Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are is pretty heart-wrenching. Whether it's from memories of sitting indian style in a classroom while a teacher read the book to you, or Arcade Fire's emotion crushing dance-a-long 'Wake Up' that scores it. Whatever the reason, it's bound to strike something inside of you that gets you on the verge of tears, even if your not sure why.

Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) is scoring the film, which I'm personally on the fence about. I'm expecting great things, but this sounds like a first for her. If the entire thing was filled with Arcade Fire's Funeral then I'd be happy as bees (a wish of mine since I first bought the album), but rarely do I hear a trailer song actually make it to the final product.

Anyways, Where the Wild Things Are comes out October 16th.

Lookee what I made

(This is just a fan-made video done through inspiration and boredom, if it's infringing on all the things of the world then i'll take it down. Thank you.)

What's going on here?!

My beloved 'Sweet Love for Planet Earth' is in a movie trailer? I don't really know how to react. I'm not really upset with it, there's only a bit of the beginning chime part. So not enough for people to go "Oh what song is this? I need this!" but enough for fans to identify.

Not to mention Victoria Bergsman (of The Concretes and Taken By Trees) cover of 'Sweet Child O' Mine' is played through all Kubricky. What with such a sweet song overlapping gorey rape and murder.

I can't say I'm excited for the movie, but if EITHER of these songs is in it I may shell out the cash just to hear them on the big screen. Wait...what?

'If I Had A Heart' Fever Ray

For whatever reason, I never took the time to get into The Knife. Which is a shame because I have a weird fondness for Swedish bands (The Radio Dept., The Concretes) and judging by the sister half of The Knife's new solo album I'd probably fall for them as well. Karin Dreijer Andersson, or Fever Ray, has proven that she can break off from the family tree and succesfully make hauntingly beautiful, badass music.

Her first single 'If I Had A Heart' is a real soft treat. Blending the sounds of a tribal funeral with a continuous stream of threat and a drum machine. Unlike other songs such as 'When I Grow Up'-where Karin's voice is used to it's sharpest-'If I Had A Heart' demonstrates a more breathy and throbbing chant, demanding "more, give me more, give me more..."

The B-side to this single is more of a surprise treat, taking things to an inevitable next step. It's not surprising to hear a more beat-orientated remix of the dark track, but who would have expected noise geniuses Fuck Buttons to take it there. Luckily it's an absolute success (not that I would expect any less) and proves that you can turn a hypnotizing requiem into what should be this years most danced to song. It starts with a sped-up beat almost reminiscent of 'Bright Tomorrow', Karin's deep-breaths weaving in and out of electronic chimes, then at the 4:44 mark the "calm before the holocaust" that we love in tracks like 'Sweet Love for Planet Earth', 'Bright Tomorrow', and the FB remix of Mogwai's 'Fear Satan' initiates. It's loud, it's static, it's perfect. My only complaint (and it be a small one) is that the ending seems to come out of nowhere, leaving you wishing it would loop for another five minutes. But maybe that's just their genius at work, making you re-listen over and over again.

Fever Ray's self-titled debut album is out now, and the second single will be 'When I Grow Up'.