Media Monday: Harry Nilsson

"The Point" is an animated movie made in the 70s. But it made a small comeback during the late 80s when I was a young impressionable girl. It's a really great story about a boy named Oblio, who is different then everyone else in his village, and gets banned to the Pointless Forest where he looks for the Point of it all. He ends up meeting several interesting characters in the forest who offer him their perspective on life... and what the point might be. Come to think of it, it seems pretty philosophical for a kid's movie. And it was a little psychedelic too. Haha. Maybe it wasn't exactly a kids' movie. But a good movie nonetheless and a great soundtrack.

So it was here, as a 7 or 8 year old girl, that I was introduced to the music of Harry Nilsson. His folksy voice and catchy tunes really got a hold of me. He died in 1994, and shortly after his death, the movie You've Got Mail featured 2 or 3 of his songs in their soundtrack. Watching the movie in my teens, I was reminded of him again, and came to love his music. He had an amazing vocal range, and he often did his own harmonies, which helps keep them really tight. Some of his albums are a little more... hardcore. I think there was a time he was experimenting with some heavy drugs and his music really turned to crap later in life. So... I usually pick and choose which songs I listen too. This is definitely a situation where buying songs separately, rather than albums would be better (in my opinion).

Sample here (The Puppy Song, Everybody's Talkin, Me and My Arrow)

Media Monday: Nick Drake

I don't remember the first time I heard Nick Drake's haunting voice. Maybe it was watching Serendipity or Garden State. Maybe it was in a mall or in the background of some mod-feeling tech commercial on TV. But somewhere along the way, I took notice. I probably googled the lyrics just to find out his name. His voice had so much depth and character. He draws you in with his melancholy songs in minor key. I got lost in the sound of his smooth smoky voice. It's perfect rainy day stuff... you know what I mean. A few months ago, I found myself watching a documentary about his life, A Skin Too Few. I think it was during the movie that I realized what a tragic life he led, and how it tragically ended. Unfortunately, Nick never got to enjoy his success. It's almost completely posthumous. But that almost adds to the depth of his sad songs. He didn't have time to release much music, but that makes each song more of a gem. Sample here: (Northern Sky, Day is Done, Time has told Me, One of these Things)

Media Monday: Swell Season

Well it's Tuesday again. Must be time for another Media Monday. Haha.

I first heard Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova sing their beautiful song "Falling Slowly" while watching the Oscars a couple of years ago. The song was so haunting I remember stopping whatever I was doing to just listen. And thinking, "Wow, these kids are good." Later that night they won an Academy Award for Best Original Song! Well, I'm pretty sure we added the movie ~ Once ~ to our Netflix que almost immediately. It's a cute movie, but the soundtrack is what's really entertaining. I think they actually made the movie around the soundtrack! Anyway... these days the couple have joined forces with Glen's old band The Frames and the accumulation equals The Swell Season. We saw them in concert last year in Oakland, which was terribly exciting. They are very charming and gifted people. Very down-to-earth. Being partly Irish doesn't hurt either. =0)

You can sample their current CD on their website, but don't miss sampling the soundtrack of Once (Falling Slowly, Lies, When Your Mind's Made Up).
Cheers.

Inauguration of Awesomeness

OK. It's time for my first installment of a little something I like to call

*Media Monday*

I know what you're thinking - "Charity - How can you start something called Media Monday today. It's a Tuesday."

Well, I was gonna start it yesterday, but the epiphany came to me a little late in the day. I usually can only guarantee same-day service on epiphanies if they happen in the morning... and I don't want to wait til next week... because I'm too excited.

Back to the matter at hand.

Media Monday was originally gonna be Music Monday, a place where I took the opportunity to share with you some of my favorite albums or songs, usually by little-known up and coming or indie bands. Mostly because mainstream just gives me a headache and I like to share art - even the musical kind.

But then I thought - I like movies too. What if one Monday, I'm all like "Man, I wish it was called Movie Monday instead of Music Monday, so I could share this awesome flic I just saw."

That is how Media Monday was born. The best of both worlds...

Anyhoo. If you're my FB friend, you've already got this link from me. But I just really heart this music and kinda want to share it with the entire world.

Always been a Zooey Deschanel fan. Have you seen Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy yet? DOH. I'll have to save that for another week. ;)

Anyway... I bring you:

She&Him 

You can sample some somgs here