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The Oklahoman's George Lang

Video of the Day: Daedelus, “Make It So” May 30, 2008 | Comment on this article

Alfred Weisberg-Roberts has been making music throughout the decade, imposing his classical training on electro and often using obscure music from the swing era for drop-in samples. “Make It So,” from the forthcoming Love to Make Music To, is basically one riff, but it’s a killer one festooned with Brian... Read More

Random 10 for May 30, 2008 May 30, 2008 1. Weezer, Pork and Beans.” There are two Weezer modes that Weezer lovers love: “Blue Album” and Pinkerton. “Pork and Beans, from the “Red Album,” is very “Blue.” Given Mr. Cuomo’s antipathy toward Pinkerton, fans of the disc that birthed emo will be waiting a long time for such a foray, but as... Read More

Concert Review: Jamie Lidell at the El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, May 29, 2008 May 30, 2008 The coolest people in the world are the ones who can dress and act like mad fools and still deserve your admiration because they’re abilities, talent and charisma trump any superficial impressions. In a town where cool is valued above all things except money, Jamie Lidell was king for a day. Lidell began... Read More

Random 10 for May 29, 2008 — Late Edition May 29, 2008 Sorry kids — it’s a travel day, and I just got to a connection. I promise an interesting concert review tomorrow, live from an undisclosed remote location. 1. The Ting Tings, “Shut Up and Let Me Go.” While I’m a sucker for Chic-style disco guitar riffs and bratty vocals, the fizz goes out of it pretty... Read More

Video of the Day: RZA, “You Can’t Stop Me Now” May 29, 2008 The last Wu disc offered compelling evidence that all the rest were RZA’s guests, and “You Can’t Stop Me Now,” featuring a stunning video with a new Bobby Digital storyline, seals the deal. Courtesy: Pitchfork. Read More

Music Review: Fleet Foxes S/T (Sub Pop)

May 28, 2008 Rating: 86 Fleet Foxes’ self-titled debut is a monument to the organic rock classicism that Neil Young and The Band helped pioneer: a sensibility steeped in rural folk traditions and strengthened with sophisticated melodies. Singer-guitarist Robin Pecknold... Read More

DVD Review, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”

May 28, 2008 Rating: 51 The styles and attitudes of the mid-‘80s simply overtake some comedies of that era, and if it weren’t for the fact the two young leads in “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” became A-list talent, this teen-dream farce would be little more than a day-glo time capsule. Instead, “Girls” presages the... Read More

Sidney Pollack Dies at 74

May 27, 2008 Sidney Pollack, 1934-2008 For a remembrance of Pollack, see my entry at the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Web page. 1 Show / Hide Archive Comments The following comments are archived from the original publication of this post Chase on May 27, 2008 @ 3:20 pm We've lost some really gifted filmmakers over the... Read More

Video of the Day: Cut Copy, “Hearts on Fire” May 27, 2008 Much like James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, Australia’s Cut Copy derives much of its sound from high-end ’80s electro — “Hearts on Fire” benefits greatly from a Peter Hook-style bass lead. Read More

Random 10 for May 27, 2008 May 27, 2008 1. Portishead, “Machine Gun.” At first, I thought this was obnoxious atonalism, a great big Metal Machine Music finger wagged at their old trip-hop followers. But the melody unfolds beautifully if you give it time. Third is difficult, but it’s worth the effort 2. My Vitriol, “Always Your Way.” 3.... Read More

Guestroom Records Music Chart for May 16-23, 2008

May 27, 2008 1. Islands “Arm’s Way” (Anti) 2. Portishead “Third” (Mercury) 3. Mates of State “Re-Arrange Us” (Barsuk) 4. Flight of the Conchords “Flight of the Conchords” (Sub Pop) 5. Death Cab For Cutie “Narrow Stairs” (Atlantic) 6. The National “A Skin, A Night + The... Read More

Movie Review: “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”

May 27, 2008 Harrison Ford and Cate Blanchett in “Crystal Skull” Rating: 72 “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is Steven Spielberg and George Lucas dumping their bags of tricks into a pile and setting off an explosion of nostalgia and white-knuckle action. It’s not as whip-smart... Read More

Random 10 for May 23, 2008 May 23, 2008 1. Ian Dury & the Blockheads, “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.” The late Ian Dury was truly one of the most beloved characters to come out of the pub rock/punk/new wave era, and for sheer lunacy, I highly recommend the song “Blockheads” as a tonic for clearing out cobwebs and excising... Read More

Video of the Day: American Music Club, “All the Lost Souls Welcome You to San Francisco” May 23, 2008 From The Golden Age, the second disc since Mark Eitzel reconvened American Music Club in 2003 after a decade of solo work. It’s a beautiful low-key pop ballad, complete with a yacht rock-style trumpet riff that offers a nice Steely Dan echo. And to top it off, the video features one of Staticblog’s favorite... Read More

Reading the Tea Leaves on David Cook’s Career

May 23, 2008 David Cook Tulsa’s David Cook entered the competition on a lark and won a dark horse victory Wednesday against a teenage pop singer, and now Cook is an “American Idol.” Now comes the hard part: a lasting career that transcends the victory. Before Cook, only one rock singer built a substantial... Read More

Heaven Knows He’s Miserable Now May 23, 2008 I’ve come to wish Morrissey an unhappy birthday. He’s 49 today, and unlike the good ladies and gentlemen at Idolator, I cannot resist the easy charm of a video album. “How Soon is Now” “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” “Panic” “This Charming Man” “Shoplifters of... Read More

Video of the Day: Shy Child, “Astronaut” May 22, 2008 At first, “Astronaut” just sounds like electro-pulse twaddle, but once the drum-and-keytar duo gets going, the math-rock polyrhythms and arpeggios move melody closer to traditional prog. Courtesy: Pitchfork. Read More

Random 10 for May 22, 2008 May 22, 2008 1. Supergrass, “Diamond Hoo Ha Man.” From the band’s bravura new release, Diamond Hoo Ha, which trades the contemplative tone of Road to Rouen for pure nasty glam. 2. Hot Chip, “Playboy.” 3. The Last Shadow Puppets, “The Age of the Understatement.” 4. John Legend, “Stereo.” 5.... Read More

Video of the Day: Coldplay, “Violet Hill” May 21, 2008 This is probably an alternative official clip, but Coldplay puts together an equally entertaining and disturbing litany of politicians of many persuasions and eras having too much fun for anyone’s comfort. Courtesy: Pitchfork. Read More

Guestroom Records Music Chart, Week of May 9-16

May 21, 2008 1. Death Cab For Cutie “Narrow Stairs” (Atlantic) 2. No Age “Nouns” (Sub Pop) 3. Portishead “Third” (Mercury) 4. El Perro del Mar “From the Valley To the Stars” (The Control Group) 5. Four Tet “Ringer” (Domino) 6. Beirut “Gulag Orkestar” (Ba Da Bing!) 7. Cut Copy... Read More

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Skating Polly - Lost Wonderfuls

Delo Creative produced this video for the title track of Skating Polly's new album, "Lost Wonderfuls," which was produced by Exene Cervenka with engineering by Kliph Scurlock.