Current musical obsession: Mumford & Sons

If I want to know what bands I really am loving (as if I can't figure it out...), I just look at what spends the most time in my car's CD player. Currently, the album I can't seem to remove from the player is "Sigh No More" by Mumford & Sons. I love a band I can't really pinpoint into a specific genre. I guess it's kind of alterna-folk-bluegrass. Sort of. And they are surprisingly spiritual in their lyrics. And I love that there are so many instruments in the band.

"Thistle and Weeds"


"Awake My Soul"


Live performance of "Little Lion Man" and "Roll Away Your Stone"


Working on getting tickets to see them at the Palladium in Hollywood next month. Hear more of their songs at their myspace page.

I'm also loving the band The XX a lot right now. Maybe I'll post on them, too.

"Breathe Me" by Sia (Live)

I love this song. SO much. But I have never listened to Sia perform live before and she pretty much blew me away.  So without further ado, here's Sia with "Breathe Me" (and ignore the guy yelling...).



Thanks to my pal Steph for posting this on FB so I could obsess over it.

TV: Breaking Bad (Seasons 1 and 2)

Just a quick note as I have just completed seasons one and two of Breaking Bad. Unfortunately, season 3, which has already aired on AMC is not out on DVD yet, and I don't get the channel anyway, so I'll be waiting to see what happens next.

Anyway, I randomly added this show to our netflix queue and Sean and I both got quickly sucked in. As a quick synopsis, Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher, married with a teenage son, and another child on the way. The news comes that he has terminal cancer and Walt turns to a former student, Jesse, to form a partnership to create and sell crystal meth.

The acting is excellent. The subject matter is very tough. But there are very comedic moments, usually at the expense of dumb drug dealer Jesse (Aaron Paul). And these situations where you are laughing so hard you cry are not funny situations in reality. To call Walter White's transformation from the first episode to the end of season two "dramatic" would be a complete understatement. I have no difficulty understanding how Bryan Cranston has won two Emmys for the role, and that the show itself and actor Aaron Paul have also received repeat nominations. If you aren't watching this show, do yourself a favor and get to it! And have tissues handy, both for the laugh-til-you-cry bits, as well as the devastating moments that come quite regularly.

Nick Jonas is Marius in "Les Miserables"

I still can't get over Nick Jonas as Marius in the West End production of Les Miserables, singing my favorite song from the entire show, "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables."  Not trying to sound shocked, but if you have ever heard Nick sing with the Jonas Brothers or his band the Administration, you know he usually sounds like his voice is in the process of changing (don't think of this as hating, because I like his pop voice just fine). But when I heard he'd be playing Marius (and knowing that I have such a major love for Michael Ball on the original Longdon cast recording from the 80s), I just had my doubts.  Anyway, here is a recording of Nick performing the song.



And while I am at it, here is "A Little Fall of Rain."



And "In My Life/A Heart Full of Love."

The End of Lost

I didn't even try to write about Lost this season. It was not only overwhelming, but kind of exhausting and I didn't always get my head wrapped around it in a timely manner.  However, I do think that the series finale, appropriately entitled "The End" deserves a post of its own. 

TV: Party Down, Season 1

I had various reasons for wanting to watch this show. Originally, my main reason was because it is co-created by Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas, and Paul Rudd (who I just love anyway). But the cast is excellent. And it's just funny.

You may not have heard of this show as it appears on the cable channel Starz, but it was available on my Netflix Instant Watch. The plot centers around a group of cater-waiters for a company called Party Down. It's probably safe to say that you would not want this group catering your parties...

The cast (I'm going to relate as many of the cast as I can back to Veronica Mars):

Ken Marino as Ron - AKA Vinnie Van Lowe
I'd call him the lovable loser but he isn't really all that lovable. He thinks he is very smooth and is easily dooped. You more just feels sorry for him.

Adam Scott as Henry - AKA Mr. Rooks
I know Adam Scott from his episode of Veronica Mars and from a few episode stint on Six Feet Under. He was also the huge jerk of a brother on Step-Brothers. But his character Henry is the most "normal" of the group. He is an almost-actor that has resorted to cater-waitering for an income. He is very likable and relate-able. And he is pretty cute to boot.

Lizzy Caplan as Casey
I know Lizzy Caplan from Mean Girls, The Class, and True Blood. Casey and Henry hook up during a job and then there is that awkwardness that follows, but it's rather endearing. I liked Casey for MOST of the season. She might have ticked me off at the end...

Ryan Hansen as Kyle - AKA Dick Casablancas
Kyle is adorable and obnoxious. Kyle isn't as big of a jerk as Dick in VM. He is the really cool guy that likes to party and gets all the ladies. And he is funny.

Jane Lynch as Constance
Does anything need to be said about the ever-brilliant Jane Lynch? Her line delivery is always spot on and her character is a bit ridiculous, which makes her even funnier. Unfortunately for Party Down, Jane left the show to be a part of Glee. Megan Mullaly moved in to the empty space.

Martin Starr as Roman
I loved Martin Starr as über geek Bill in Freaks & Geeks and am always glad to see him in other things. And guess what: he is a big nerd in this one, too (well, that's just what he plays, right?).

I think this cast and how they work together is what makes the show so funny. ALL of the story takes place during catering jobs. There is not outside interaction. Various Veronica Mars alum show up during various episodes (you can definitely look forward to seeing Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring).

Final word: Prepare yourself for crass humor and you are going to love this show. Too bad it doesn't get more press because it is on Starz channel...

Book: A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

Emily gave me a handful of books for Christmas, including A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby. This is the second Hornby book I have read, and you can read my less-than-excited thoughts on High Fidelity here. I enjoyed A Long Way Down more than High Fidelity, and found it thoroughly entertaining, given the subject matter.

Each of four very different characters narrates their own chapters, and are all written in a first person POV with very different writing personalities.  The characters meet on New Year's Eve on the ledge of a building that is commonly used for suicide, all preparing to take their lives for one reason or another.  Some of them actually have pretty valid excuses for wanting to end it all, but for some it seems like their reasoning is immature.  Basically, this group of people manage NOT to kill themselves, and become a strange group of friends. Well, friends isn't really the right word because they don't seem to be able to stand each other.  But they have this one secret in common, so the lean on each other to get through.

I loved how Hornby wrote each person so differently. You've got a washed up TV personality amid a sex scandal whose family has abandoned him.  He is intelligent but irritated easily.  Next up, you have a woman who is dealing with a son that is basically a vegetable and she has never had the opportunity to have a real life.  She is very shy in her story-telling and she puts in **** instead of writing out when other characters swear.  And then you have the American 20-something that is depressed after his band fell apart.  I can tell the author had an American read his chapters to make sure he didn't say anything to English. And, last but not least (well, kind of least because she is ANNOYING), you have a teenage girl who is ready to jump off a building because a boy she likes won't tell her why he doesn't want to see her anymore (at least that is what we think in the beginning).  Her narration is extremely irritating but that is due to her personality being almost unbearable. :)

Given the fact that the whole story revolves around four suicidal people, Nich Hornby is great at finding humor in the situation.  I laughed out loud during my reading of the book and found the story to be refreshingly different from anything else I have read.

My thoughts on 'The Runaways'

[Just realized I should add a SPOILER ALERT!]

Last night I had the opportunity to see an advanced screening of The Runaways, a biopic about the 70s girl rock band.  I have read and heard SO much about the film, including reviews, interviews with the cast and members of the band, and photos and clips from the movie.  At first it didn't exactly appeal to me. I wasn't even born when The Runaways formed and I hadn't heard any of their songs.  I also don't get into the sex, drugs and rock & roll rock star biopics.  However, once clips of the film came out, my interest was piqued, if nothing else I wanted to see these teen actors take on this kind of role.  So click on for my thoughts...

Sam Worthington in 'Details' magazine

In his new interview with Details Magazine, we get a better understanding why we (and James Cameron) see Sam Worthington as both a sex symbol and a man's man.  Sam is one of my top actors right now. I first noticed him in Terminator Salvation, and then, of course, Avatar.  I also went back and watched his film from a few years ago called Somersault where he is sporting a very lovely mullet. I am looking forward to Clash of the Titans.  Basically, I am willing to watch any film he does at this point. But anyway, it's a really interesting interview, and Sam discusses how he was living in his car when he got cast for Avatar.

All that to say, the reason for my post is the pictures.   And here they are in all their glory!! Photos by Norman Jean Roy.

TV: Big Love Season 1

 My sister has been telling me to watch Big Love for ages.  And I finally added it to my Netflix queue after my husband expressed just a semblance of interest.  And we have been sucked in.  I am currently awaiting disc one of season two (today!), so while I wait, here is what I thought of the first season.

I love the idea of representing a modern times, off-the-compound polygamist family.  And the show does a great job of making the people in this family (er... most of them) seem really normal. And likable.  You kind of look at them and start making excuses for their lifestyle and rooting them on. In fact, I have now said to my husband: How is what they are doing illegal? He isn't legally married to any of the wives except Barb. There is no law against sleeping around, having illegitimate kids, paying someone's mortgage (who isn't your spouse).  We decided what they are doing is most likely not illegal but just really looked down upon.

Here are my thoughts on a few of the main characters.

1) Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) - He's a bit of a doofus but he's a good businessman and managed to snag not one, not two, but THREE hot wives.  I would be doing fine if I never had to see his unmentionable parts or tighty-whities again, though.

2) Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) - Barb married Bill before they decided to live the "principle" of polygamy.  In fact, he wasn't moved to leave the LDS church and revert to his roots until SPOILER ALERT Barb got sick with cancer and almost died.  And I guess she agreed.  Barb is the first wife, making her in charge, pretty much, of the other two.  She's my favorite wife of the three.  She is the most obvious as for why Bill ended up with her and like her kids.

3) Nikki (Chloe Sevigny) - Nikki is the long skirt-wearing, braided wife from the compound.  And really she is just obnoxious and manipulative. They ahven't gotten into it much but it has been thrown around that Bill married her because of a business deal with her father Roman, the One True Prophet.  She just sucks but I loved in teh final episode when, for Barb's sake, she SPOILER ALERT put on a normal dress and wore her hair down and makeup. She looked pretty.

4) Margene (Gennifer Goodwin) - Margene is the latest addition to the family and is 23 years old. Needless to say, she is immature and has lots of growing to do. She is the most easily sucked into the outside world, but adorable at the same time. I like her but I don't see it going good places with the way Ben (teenage son of Bill & first wife Barb) checks her out.

This part of this post is SPOILERific so don't read it if you don't want to know.  I'll put it in italics!

For much of the season, Roman (father-in-law to Bill via Nikki) has been manipulating Bill and forcing him to hand over profits from his business.  Bill finally got fed up, got sneaky, and ended up on the elder board so he would find out all of Roman's secrets.  In addition, Bill's sister-in-law sort of poisoned Roman's son Albie (I hate his guts!) and to get back at Bill, exposed their entire family in public as polygamists, something they have managed to hide for 6 years.  End of season 1.

Hopes for Season 2:  They take Roman DOWN. He sucks! More story with Tina Majorino, who plays the friend of Bill & Barb's daughter Sarah (Amanda Seyfried)

Fun side note: Sarah's friend is Tina Majorino and Ben's friend is Kyle Gallner. Kyle and Tina's characters (Cassidy/Beaver and Mac) were dating in Veronica Mars Season 2.

Lost 1x05 - 'The Lighthouse'

I was just telling Emily yesterday why I haven't posted again about this season of Lost.  This is such a smart show.  So smart that, at times, it's over my head.  And I am OK with that but me babbling on about something that makes no sense to me wouldn't make much sense.  But I do have a few things to say about The Lighthouse and then I will direct you elsewhere to other people who "get" this better than I do.

1) Hurley. I love him in this episode. OK, I love him in general, but this episode reminds me of the change in Hurley.  He fully accepts that dead people talk to him and realizes he isn't crazy.  He tells other people straight up that he is talking dead Jacob, knowing that with the wackiness that happens on the island, it isn't as weird as he originally thought. Plus, he's just funny. That was a great scene where he told Dogen that he is a candidate and he can do what he wants.

2) Jack. He's a dad. And he kinda sucks just like his own dad does.  But, in my opinion, not nearly to the same extent.  He's an absentee father but not a total jerk that tells his son he sucks.  In fact, jack realizes in this episode that he does NOT have to be his father.  This season, Jack is reclaiming the part of my heart he held for a few seasons before we got so annoying. Matthew Fox's acting was excellent and I find his candid admission to Hurley of why he came back to be quite touching. And telling.

3) Claire.  Well, she ain't dead and she's after the people who took her baby.  And darnit if she isn't going to chop them to bits with a hatchet when she finds them. Look out Kate.  I thought for a minute she woudn't recognize Jin, but, alas, she seemed like she was bordering on crazy without being so.  Until the reveal of the "squirrel baby" in the crib.  And then we met her BFF, the man formerly known as Locke.  Uh oh. This doesn't bode well for her long term...

I won't get into the lighthouse. I need to let it sink in a little more. But, look, those numbers are assigned to the same name, and as Vozz points out, Kate IS on the wheel in the lighthouse.

What I am looking forward to/hoping for: the Jin/Sun reunion (I am currently thinking that Jin is the Kwon listed in the Cave of Names and that is why Sun didn't go back in time; just a thought), Claire somehow miraculously regaining her sanity (weirder stuff happens on this island), the proverbial s#$% to hit the fan with Sayid, and MOST importantly, discovering how Sawyer and Non-Locke got out of that cave after Sawyer broke the ladder!

Where are our Losties being guided? At least the ones that are "candidates?" I can't wait to find out.

Now go read these guys:
Vozzek's Things I Noticed (and his post on The Substitute)
Pink Ray Gun
Televisionary

Coming soon: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

I read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater a few months ago and am anxiously awaiting the second book in the series, Linger.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

I feel like I am waiting on SO many books to come out in the next year or so. Mainly books that continue certain series I am reading. Are you waiting on any books?

Michael Emerson (LOST) on Jimmy Kimmel Live

"You have no idea what's coming."

I haven't said it lately, but I think Michael Emerson's portrayal of Ben Linus on Lost is PURE brilliance. And while I am loving some of the other actors right now (namely Terry O'Quinn and Josh Holloway), I thienk Emerson is the best actor on the show. I screamed out loud when he FINALLY won the Emmy award for Lost. It was so SO deserved. I would really like to catch him on stage to see him live.

Michael Emerson appeared on Jimmy Kimmel last night and reminded us that he IS not actually an evil mastermind in real life, but just plays one on TV.

Photos: Neil Patrick Harris is "Out"

This set of photos and article came out ages ago, but I just came across them while perusing the new photos of (a very dirty-looking) Ewan McGregor at Out.com, which are also worth a look.  But if you know me at all, you know my love for musicals, Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris (not all at  once, but if Cheno and NPH were to pair up for a duet I might combust!).  So when I happened across these photos of Neil, aka Barney Stinson, again, I thought they definitely deserved to be posted on my humble little blog.  Here you go!

 

Book 3 in The Hunger Games trilogy: Mockingjay

So it was finally announced that the third and final book in The Hunger Games series will be appropriately entitled Mockingjay. I am anxiously awaiting the release of this book as the series is a new favorite of mine. I keep recommending it to everyone I know who reads. So go read it!

The first two books in the series by Suzanne Collins are The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Mockingjay will be released on August 24, 2010 via Scholastic Press.

Lost: "LA X" (Parts 1 & 2)

I'll be honest. I was a little irritated at the Lost episodes last night. Not that they weren't entertaining, and it was SO great to see our Losties again on screen in some new episodes. And I have watched this show religiously for five previous seasons, so I KNOW not to expect answers. I know that.  But for some reason, maybe since it is the beginning of the final season, I was really wanting just one or two little ones.

Lost recap video starring Italian family of amazing actors...

So bad it's good... I found this video over at Jorge Garcia's blog "Dispatches from the Island." Great blog if you are a LOST or Hurley/Hugo fan. Anyway, this is a video of a guy and his Italian extended family reenacting the first five seasons of LOST.

My favorite books of 2009

I was a busy reader this last year, especially during the three months I spent in India. It helped me not to feel so homesick.  So here are some books I read this year that I really loved or that just stuck with me.

 

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
I've been busy reading a lot of Twilight for the last year and a half, but I realized recently that there are some really great young adult books out there. I am a fan of Harry Potter, too, and when a friend recommended The Hunger Games, I gave it a try.  And it sucked me in immediately.  It was The Road meets teen romance meets Gladiator or something.  I can't even explain it and I don't like to tell people the plot before they read it. I went into it completely blind as to what it was about and that made for more of a surprise while reading it.  Catching Fire is the second in the series. The third and final book is due out in August of this year. I. Can't. Wait. Probably my favorite I read this year.

 
 

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
In continuing the theme of young adult series, I picked up The Mortal Instruments when a friend recommended it.  I didn't get into it as quickly. In fact, for the first couple of chapters I thought I was going to quit.  It is a world with angels, demons, vampires, werewolves, and just about anything else you can imagine.  The characters take some time before you like them much, but I was completely sucked into the story and read all three rather large books over the course of a couple of weeks. I was under the impression there were only 3 books, but apparently a fourth is in the works: City of Broken Glass.  Again: can't wait!

Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer
I saw this one in all the English-language bookstores in Mumbai so I picked it up.  It was heavily promoted because it was about a climber attempting to summit Mount Everest back before anyone had ever done it.  It's based on the true story of George Mallory, using his family's stories and his own diaries.  It was a great story, and very tragic. For some reason it stuck with me. Then,  when I went to Darjeeling, I went to the Himalayan Climbing Museum and there were photos of him and some of his gear and things there. It was so random because I had just read the book.  Anyway, I really thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Outcast by Sadie Jones
 I reviewed it here.  The story just broke my heart.  It was a tad slow in parts, but a pretty easy read.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
So apparently I like very sad books.  This one was written by the author of The Kite Runner, so I knew to expect something hard to read.  And while I found The Kite Runner very sad, I sat and cried in multiple different places while reading A Thousand Splendid Suns.  This book focuses on the lives of women in Afghanistan.  It's a hard subject to broach, and one should be warned it isn't an easy story to read. But very well-written and emotive.

1984 by George Orwell
I reviewed it here. I had never read it before and was surprised at how quickly I got into it.

OK, so clearly I didn't get around to reviewing ALL the books I read last year.  But I read a lot! I love to read, but I read a lot even for me this last year.  Maybe 30 or so books? I'll try to keep track of them this year.

Fave Albums of 2009

I had a sudden inspiration during my 6000 mile drive over the last 8 weeks to write up some posts covering things I loved during this last year. I'm starting with my favorite albums of 2009. Well, what I loved during 2009, doesn't mean it was released in 2009... These are in no particular order, but they all got quite the playing time on iPod and iTunes.

Glee Volume I (and Volume II, and the unreleased tracks...)
I don't love EVERY song every sung on this show, but there are more that I love than those that I don't. "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Alone" probably have gotten the most play time, followed by "Taking Chances" and Lea Michele's rendition of "Defying Gravity." Can't WAIT to see what else we get this season, with guest stars such as Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff.

Swoon by Silversun Pickups
I can't stop listening to this album. I have Silversun Pickups' first album Carnavas but it never got much play time on my iTunes.  However, I got Swoon this summer and still can't stop listening to it, six months later.  "Panic Switch" is a good song, but it is really over-played.  The rest of the album is certainly worth a listen. I had to listen through it a few times before I could truly appreciate it. Now I hear they will be touring with Muse.  And they don't come to LA on the tour... Devastated.

Until the Whole World Hears by Casting Crowns
I saw Casting Crowns in concert last fall for the first time. Most people haven't heard of them, unless they listen to Christian music.  Their live performance was inspirational.  Then I got this album later in the fall and I still can't stop listening to it. Current favs: "At Your Feet" and "Blessed Redeemer."

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack by Various Artists
This was a highly anticipated album, not just for me, but for the legions of Twilight fans and people who enjoyed the first installment.  Chris Weitz didn't disappoint by choosing a bunch of indie bands, only a few well known, to be featured on the soundtrack for the film. My fave songs include "Possibility" by Lykke Li, "Hearing Damage" by Thom Yorke and "Slow Life" by Grizzly Bear.

The Resistance by Muse
It felt like ages since Black Holes & Revelations came out, and Muse is one of those bands where I constantly check to see when a new album will be released.  So they finally released The Resistance this year and I was super excited.  They never really disappoint me.  I love their sound. They are becoming more mainstream in the US without changing the music they make.  People are just slowly taking notice.  About time.

Singles by Britney Spears
Yep, I put Britney on this list.  Poor thing is a hot mess, but her Singles album has every one of my favorites from her previous albums, plus some I had never even heard before. They aren't all amazing, but Brit songs can always get me pumped up! They make me want to dance...

In Rainbows by Radiohead
This one came out in early 2008 but I didn't get it till it had been out for a while. And it is really good. My husband loves it, too, so it gets lots of play when we are both home.  Radiohead continues to be odd and interesting and original. I can listen to this album over and over and not get bored with it.

Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend
This one also came out in early 2008. And, again, I was late to the party.  Sean bought this CD and I had heard a couple of songs on the radio.  But it is quirky and catchy and all around fun.  I just got their new album Contra, so when I have decided what I think, I'll have to post about it.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

I finally watched The Plan tonight. I wasn't feeling too interested in watching it, but now that I have, it is like ripping a scab off an old wound, and I plan to re-watch the series from the beginning.  I don't know why I used that description; it's gross.

This movie recycles a lot of scenes from earlier on in the series.  Certain actors didn't even film new footage for the film, but were still prominent in it (such as Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck), and then scenes were built around that footage.  There was also a good deal of completely new story going on, such as interactions between a Cavil and Anders while he was running the resistance cell on Caprica.  Or one of the Simons who has adapted to human life by marrying.  I was also intrigued at the back-story we got with Sharon and her attempt to kill Adama, as well as the beginnings of Leoben's obsession with Thrace.

The straight-to-DVD release of The Plan allowed for some equal-opportunity nudity, but other than that, the film was quite similar to what you would get in any given episode. Not enough Apollo for my tastes, though.  Also could have used a little more Tight.  However, we did get the always amazing line from Gaius: "No more Mr. Nice Gaius!" again.  And plenty of Anders, which was nice. 

All in all, the movie was entertaining, but not a requirement to understand the story.  It was more just an interesting filler than anything else. But enjoyable to watch.  The few times I was lost, I had to ask Sean about what happened way back in Season 1 or 2.  That's when I decided it might be time to crack the BSG DVDs again.  Let you know how that goes.

Battlestar Rhapsody

Ok, so the singing is terrible. Totally does not matter because it is still hilarious. "Adama.... is in command..." Oh, how I miss this show.

Happy 2010!

Oh, and Happy New Year! Many blessings in the new year!

Trailer for Inception

This has certainly piqued my interest, even though I still have no idea what it is really about! Christopher Nolan? Check. Leonardo DiCaprio? Check. Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Check. Mysterious and weird trailer? Check.