The 11 Best Supergroup Duos

Side projects and supergroups always draw amazing attention but usually end-up disappointing greatly.  It's hard for an artist to experiment with a new sound because of the expectations they bring with them.  A few artists manage to exceed expectations usually by throwing a big curve.  If it is too outside the box, it tends to scare listeners away...and if it's too inside the box...it leaves listeners wondering what the point was in the first place?  Billie Joe of Green Day and Norah Jones of pianos team-up today to play a collection of Everly Brother songs.  Which side of the box does this fall In?  Out?  Under? Over?  Ever?

Here are the 11 Best Supergroup Duos:

1. Electronic (Bernard Sumner of New Order & Johnny Marr of The Smiths)
2. She & Him (Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward)
3. Pinback (Zach Smith of Three Mile Pilot & Rob Crow of Heavy Vegetable and Thingy)
4. Felt (Murs & Slug of Atmosphere)
5. Quasi (Sam Coomes of Heatmiser and Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney)
6. Discovery (Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend & Wesley Miles of Ra Ra Riot)
7. Bad Meets Evil (Eminem & Royce Da 5'9")
8. Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
9. Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles)
10. The Evens (Ian McKaye of Fugazi and Amy Farina of The Warmers)
11. WZRD (Kid Cudi & Dot Da Genius)

Buy Billie Joe Armstrong & Norah Jones new album, Foreverly...now!!

The 11 Best Songs By She & Him

There has been considerable uproar over Zach Braff's use of Kickstarter to shoot his new movie.  For some reason every one thinks that Kickstarter should not be for wealthy people and only for hard-working people.  I've seen Kickstarters for many friends and associates.  They make nothing.  One friend was trying to purchase a lunch truck.  He raised $2,400.  He needed $25,000.  Another friend was trying to raise money for his wedding.  He was asking for $40,000.  He got $7,600.  I even had friend trying to fund a short film.  He needed $35,000.  He got...and I'm not making this up...$650.  When our friends use it...they're doing something for themselves and are just looking for our support.  Yes, in theory it should be for the up-and-comers trying to pursue their dream...but that doesn't always work.

On the flipside, when a celebrity uses Kickstarter, they're offering a product that everyone will have the potential to enjoy.  Rob Thomas offered a Veronica Mars movie that no studio would make.  The only way for this to happen was with Kickstarter.  Zach Braff can't get the backing of a studio for his new project, so he's asking the fans to step up and help him get it done.  A lot of people are pointing out that Braff could just pay for it himself.  Sure, but that's possible...but that doesn't work creatively.  For filmmakers to succeed, you need to be beholden to a great source.  They also need to know there's an audience for this pic.  If Braff put up his movie and no one bid...then he knows not to make.  And if people want to give money...let them.  They want to do it...who are we to stop them?  Having the audience involved in the project is a good thing.  That means Braff has to put up something good.

The last one to pay for his own movie so he could have complete control of the outcome...George Lucas and the new Star Wars trilogy.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By She & Him:

1. Don't Look Back (Volume Two)
2. This Is Not A Test (Volume One)
3. Over It Over Again (Volume Two)
4. In The Sun (Volume Two)
5. Sweet Darlin' (Volume One)
6. Thieves (Volume Two)
7. Ridin' In My Car (Volume Two)
8. I Was Made For You (Volume One)
9. Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? (Volume One)
10. Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want (500 Days of Summer)
11. Lotta Love (Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?)

Buy She & Him's new album, Volume 3...now!!

The Unknown: She & Him - Volume II and 1/2

Recently Zooey put up some videos of herself singing covers of Patsy Cline and other various traditional songs by herself to a webcam...although one featured a cameo by Parks & Rec's Jean Ralphio, check them out here and here.  How many singers could do this?  Could Lady Gaga in her undershirt, lack of make-up and a guest spot by a supporting cast from Community not only generate some viral buzz but actually be good?  Zooey not only pulls it off, she's so good unaided by production equipment, she may actually sound better and more authentic than she does when she's been produced by the biggest and best mixing equipment on the planet.  To me that's talent.  That's talent you can't train with a panel of celebrity judges. It's unfair that she may never be taken seriously as a real rock star because of her actress status but if you put her toe-to-toe with the other female singers of today...she's as good as the best of them...and better than most.  It just goes to show, to music labels it's more important to sell their product than to promote a product that may actually be good.  Can we start a movement like Occupy Sony...or Occupy Universal?

Here is She & Him - Volume II and 1/2

1.  Fools Rush In
2.  Oh Boy!
3.  So Long
4.  Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
5.  When I Get To The Border
6.  Lotta Love
7.  I Knew It Would Happen This Way
8.  I Can Hear Music
9.  I Put A Spell On You
10.  Earth
11.  Winnie the Pooh
12.  Shape I'm In

Buy She & Him's new album, A Very She And Him Christmas. (only $5.00)

The Good: Free Music Friday (Levi's Pioneer Sessions)

I haven't bought a pair of Levi's in about 15 years. Nothing against the company...just wear a lot of shorts. So this isn't some shameless whoring out to a big corporation. Not that there's anything wrong with some shameless whoring. I'll be more than happy to take cash from any corporation to hock their product. That said...not sure what this series of music session has to do with Levi's jeans. Are the artists wearing Levi's? Who knows. The collection rocks and that's all that matters.

13 currents artists cover 13 classic artists. And it's a solid selection on both ends. The Kills do a crunchy cover of Velvet Underground. Passion Pit do a minimalist cover of Smashing Pumpkins. Raphael Saadiq nails a cover the Spinners' classic "It's a Shame." The Shins give Squeeze's "Goodbye Girl" a coffee shop make-over. And She & Him ressurect a classic take on Rick Nelson's legendary "Fools Rush In."

These along with The swell Season, Dirty Projectors, and Nas...among others are alll FREEE!

Yes free. Just go to their page. Download. And enjoy.

Have a good weekend.

Check it out now at www.levispioneersessions.com

The 11 Best Songs By Zooey Deschanel

Yesterday, William Shatner turned 79. Now, though many know him as a sci-fi icon, a 80s action star, and smart ass old lawyer...he is actually a trailblazer for something bigger and greater. Shatner was one of the first actors turned pop star. At first it was a novelty for fellow actors of his generation like Telly Savalas and crew member, Leonard Nimoy. But as we went through the 80s into the 90s, it started to become more respectable with Bruce Willis and Eddie Murphy scoring big hits...and Keenu Reeves' Dogstar and Johnny Depp's P getting some indie street cred. But now this decade, actor-turned-pop stars aren't just blip on the sonic radar, they are now full-fledged rock icons. With Jenny Lewis' Rilo Kiley, Scarlett Johansson & Pete Yorn, Jason Schwartzman's Phantom Planet, and Zooey Deschanel's She & Him...becoming a rock star may not be as easy as knowing how to string a bass...you may need some acting chops, too.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Zooey Deschanel:

1. This is Not A Test (She & Him - Volume 1)
2. I Thought I Saw Your Face Today (She & Him - Volume 1)
3. Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want (500 Days of Summer)
4. Why Do You Let Me Stay Here (She & Him - Volume 1)
5. Fabric of My Life (Cotton)
6. Sugar Town (500 Says of Summer)
7. Baby It's Cold Outside (Elf)
8. Sweet Darlin' (She & Him - Volume 1)
9. Never Had Nobody Like You (M. Ward - Hold Time)
10. Yes Man (Yes Man Soundtrack)
11. I Was Made For You (She & Him - Volume 1)

Buy the new album by She & Him, Volume 2, only $4.99 for a limited time.

The 11 Best Albums of 2008 (Part 5)

At the end of the day, my decision on this top 11 came down to one thing...listenability. Which albums held up to repeat listens... Which albums didn't get dated by the 3rd spin... Which albums still sounded fresh a month after the novelty wore off... Which albums I felt confident recommending to friends...

Bon Iver's album became that one album that stood above the others. It's the one album I kept going back to...the one album I could listen to on repeat...the one album that reminded me why I love music so much...

The 11 Best Albums of 2008:

1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (Flume - Daytrotter)
2. Beck - Modern Guilt (only $5.00)
3. Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
4. She and Him - Volume One (Get Free)
5. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line (Dying Is Fine - Daytrotter)
6. Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
7. TV on the Radio - Dear Science (only $5.00)
8. Coldplay - Viva La Vida (only $5.00)
9. Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy
10. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
11. Little Joy - Little Joy