'Ramona' : Night Beds

This spring I've kept bumping into a band called Night Beds. At first, the name struck my ears because I saw a band called the Night Beats in March, and you know things go. Anyway, Night Beds are country-ish, a little bit alternative. They don't hit you over the head either way, but what you get is some really reflective, wistful music, lightly arranged and beautifully layered. It feels like more and more bands are occupying space in between genres, and I think it's a great thing. Damn the neat little labels, right?

Night Beds' newest album Country Sleep came out in February. They recorded it in a cabin here in Nashville that used to be Johnny Cash's guest house. How's that for a talking point? Happily, the group is putting roots down in my dear city. Take their music video for "Ramona," shot at Ocean Way Studios (above). And if I can direct you to one more thing, check out their cover of Robyn's "Dancing On My Own" for the A.V. Club's Undercover series. Frontman Winston Yellen could very easily channel some Brandon Flowers with his vocals. And for any Nashville folk, Night beds are going to be at the Mercy Lounge on May 24 with Tristen and Good Buddy.


Night Beds cover Robyn

Five Reasons You Love Your Vinyl

Spinning Brendan Benson's Alternative to Love.

I love writing about things that interest people. Here's my latest from Consequence of Sound where I got a professional opinion on why we love our vinyl records. I'll warn you– it's not just because it's cool.

Read more...

Review: 'Nashville' : 'Why Don't You Love Me'

It's another dark, twisty week on Nashville in the aftermath of last week's loves lost and reclaimed.

We find Juliette bristling the morning after Dante's swift departure. She meets with her security team, a bunch of middle-aged white dudes in suits. Whatever happens, it absolutely cannot get out that she trusted that skeeze and he took off with just about a half million. In the midst of the brooding, assistant Emily says Juliette got a CMA nomination for female vocalist of the year, which is crazy awesome since the CMAs are in November. Special circumstances, I guess! Anyway, snagging the award becomes the singular focus of the country star's life, and she feels it should be Edgehill Records' as well, but Marshall is all we have multiple artists to promote and only so many dollars. Juliette will use her personal (and diminishing) wealth to promote herself. And how will she do that? Bobble heads and booze! That's right, Juliette wants to send bobble heads of herself and little bottles of Dom Perrignon to all the voting CMA members. Assistant Emily brings up how Juliette's about to be out a million and methinks there's going to be a Juliette bankruptcy plot soon. Also, a trip of her own to rehab. Juliette drinks so much in this episode, Druggie Mom's warning her about laying off the mimosas while dress shopping. If that's not a red flag, I don't know what is. Later in the car with Emily on the way to the nomination party, Emily tells her credit card charges show that Dante bought a $17k engagement ring for Realtor lady. Low blow, Dante, low blow. Anyway, at the CMA party, Juliette continues to drink, even to the point where she pisses off Deacon who is trying to have a grown up discussion with Rayna and he splits. And then the moment we all saw coming finally does. Avery steps up and offers to play guitar for her. Somehow, Juliette, who has yet to be in a scene without a bottle so far, avoids what EVERYONE (in my house and my long distance tv-watching buddy WHAT UP LAURA!) thought would be a total train wreck. She holds it together and then winds up off sitting somewhere, still drinking, with Avery who looks confused by the world in which he finds himself. She asks him, "Do you believe in fairytales?" They have a lengthy and intelligent conversation about about the psychological implications of fiction on the expectations of regular folks. Sort of. Not really. Avery gets her back to her car and backs away when she tries to kiss him. When she finally gets home, Druggie Mom tries to attend to her sheer drunkenness. Juliette breaks down, mascara flowing freely, "Why doesn't anybody care??" It's actually a sad moment for her. Juliette just wants:

 

So, after last week's weirdness with Luke from the O.C. and Gunnar, the Bluebird universe continues to exist precariously. Luke tries to gauge whether Gunnar told Scarlett anything. No chance of that because Gunnar doesn't tell anyone anything. Ever. When Gunnar joins the two in the kitchen, Luke says, "We got so drunk I don't know what I was doing."

Sure. Gunnar just sort of eyes him and suggests he leave. Plus, Gunnar's being weird about that song that he lifted from his brother's journal– the same one that's now attracting the attention of producer man. And boy does he get super touchy when Scarlett asks, "Am I witnessing the death of the bromance?" Later, Gunnar gets ready to leave for his recording session  with said producer and he runs into Luke on the front porch who tells him he should tell Scarlett about the song. Gunnar looks murderous. Just then, Scarlett drifts in on a stray balloon that a child released into the sky, and tells them that she got invited to the CMA party. Since Gunnar's going to be recording, Luke offers to go with her. Later at the studio, producer man is stoked about that hot track Gunnar just laid down even though Gunnar doesn't strike him as the type of badass who would be responsible for writing such dark tunes. Gunnar just looks nauseous  especially when faced with the idea of recording more of Jason's songs. Meanwhile at the CMA party, Luke is in full-on schmooze mode, much to Scarlett's chagrin. When she finally gets home, she finds Gunnar on the couch listening to his demo through headphones. She pulls the jack out of the stereo and holds him down on the couch so she can hear. It's different! But then, Scarlett find the journal and realizes what Gunnar's been up to. "It's just a song!" he says, snatching away the journal and walking out of the room. Scarlett wonders why she can't date better-adjusted guys. Oh wait, that's what I was thinking for her.

Me on my couch. 

In the Teddy Conrad political intrigue portion of the show, we find Teddy trying to persuade Maddie to go to the father/daughter dance with him. She'd rather not. At the dance, he speaks some heart felt words to her about how the day she was born was the best day of his life, and how someday she'll understand all this grown up business. She says, "Already do, you're both weird." Preach it, child. Elsewhere in town, Coleman turns down Tandy's offer of an alliance and resigns from the assistant mayor's office. Clearly, Coleman's going to make a move of his own at some point.

If last week you were overcome with a sense of relief when Rayna showed up on Deacon's doorstep to confess her love, don't get too comfortable. At first it's nice. They're all happy in bed the next morning. Rayna's phone blows up with the news that she's been nominated for best female vocalist. Deacon offers to make breakfast. This is basically as good as it gets. Later on, Tandy and Rayna have some girl talk about Deacon and Tandy once again suggests that this should be a fling, like she suggested about Liam. That's a weird thing to say because she acknowledges that she knows it's all or nothing with those two... is that what Rayna wants? And just like that, the doubt starts to creep in on Rayna. But not enough to stop her from sneaking off into a closet to make out a little with Deacon at Soundcheck. They do a lot of mumbling in between sucking face. Pretty sure I heard something about a cabin. She tries to sound boring, talking about how mundane her life is now that she has kids to deal with every other week. He's all "I love your kids!" Funny you should say that... But yes. She tries to bore him away and he tells her he's ready for all the routine stuff. Bring it on. She looks like she might be regretting a few things. Later at the house before Teddy takes Maddie to the dance, he sort of apologizes to Rayna about the whole tabloid mess, which makes us hate him a little less, until she tells him about Deacon (why does she tell him about Deacon??) and he gets way intense about how she might let it slip that Maddie is Deacon's kid. She carries this heavy little conversation to the CMA party where Deacon immediately senses that she's pulling away. Of course, he's freaking out since he just broke up with Vet lady. Anyway, after having a minor freak out, he jumps in Rayna's car and tells her he doesn't even care if she's hiding something. At this point, what could it be? What could it matter? We shall see. They go back to Deacon's and sing. He tells her he wishes they'd gotten back together earlier. Maybe they could have had a family together.

Stray Observations:
+ Really the only thing I have to talk about here is how in the previews for next week, apparently someone will be "driven to kill." Best scenario: Gunnar offs Avery and we get rid of the both of them.

Video: 'Sea of Love' by the National

On its surface, The National's new music video for "Sea of Love" is basically just the group playing the song in a relatively small, unattractive room– pretty standard. That is, until some awesome little kid, in a suit, no less, jumps front and center, and totally upstages the band with his air guitar skills. Earning honorable mentions in the humor department are Matt Berninger bobbing for the hanging microphone and one of the Dessner brothers perched on a ledge in the corner. Take a look.

'New Girl' Gets Auto-Tuned

Apart from recapping Nashville, it's rare that I can find a way to bring the other types of pop culture that I love besides music onto this blog. That's why I'm a little bit giddy about this promo for Fox's New Girl starring Zooey Deschanel. If  The Musically Inclined had a TV section, I'd write with great frequency about how well the show's writers have navigated the will-they-won't-they relationship of roommates Jess Day (Deschanel) and Nick Miller (Jake Johnson). The characters have been circling each other all season, trying to claw their way to a decision on where to take a relationship that can exhibit everything from the worst habits of bickering siblings to the best instincts of good friends... and then there was that kiss. Now I get to blog about it because some dear person at Fox decided to slice together some clips from the show and Auto-Tune the damn thing a la the Gregory Brothers. And it's good– and every bit as satisfying to watch as the whole Nick/Jess wind up. I hope they never get together. Check it out.

Stream 'The Great Gatsby' Soundtrack

I don't remember the last time a movie soundtrack got this much hype, but I suppose when you have Jay-Z, Beyonce, Jack White, Gotye, and a million other people with generally good standing contributing tracks, it's going to be– in the words of Vice President Joe Biden– a big effing deal.

And now you can stream that big deal early via NPR. Of course, what remains to be seen is exactly how well this anachronistic music fits in with Jazz Age East Egg, but the previews have been so fun and exciting, surely we have nothing to worry about.

Review : 'Nashville' : 'Take These Chains from My Heart'

Just wait. 

While watching Nashville this evening, I sat on my couch gradually composing a nice little intro in my head for my recap, something about how the show treats change with relation to its characters. But you know what? That went out the window because ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Details below.

The show opens in a shower in Cincinnati, OH where Dante and Juliette are discussing buying a house together. Presumably after scrubbing behind their ears, they fly back to Nashville where Druggie Mom awaits them at the airport with daffodils and a request to work with Dante again instead of her lame-o new sober companion. Juliette and Dante basically ignore her. Later on at rehearsal, Juliette is lost in Dante's eyes and iPad while Deacon gets huffy about the lack of rehearing going on. Dante butts in, Deacon is like O RLY. "Maybe I just need to be done here," Deacon says threatening to quit. Juliette tells him he's replaceable and Deacon actually does quit. As Deacon exits, Druggie Mom enters, accusing Dante of kissing some random woman on Lower Broadway. Dante ninjas out of it feigning concern for why she's telling lies and apparently stalking him. The house shopping continues since Dante's got some real estate hook ups. They tour another antiseptic house like the one Juliette's already occupying. Fast forward to a show that Juliette and Rayna are doing at the Bridgestone, and Juliette's tracked down the realtor woman to inquire as to her relationship with Dante. "We're just friends!" The woman says because that's the most convincing phrase to use when denying a relationship. Dante had just helped her out of a tight spot once. Fast forward a bit more and Druggie Mom, Juliette, Realtor, and Dante are in Juliette's dressingroom fighting about how Druggie Mom seems like she's on the edge (not of glory, thank you very much) of using again. Dante pulls a baggie of pills from Druggie Mom's stuff and it's all THEY'RE NOT MINE! YOU'RE GOING BACK TO REHAB! If your bullshit radar is buzzing, then you'd be totally justified. Later on, Juliette realizes that there's no way the pills could be her mom's because Druggie Mom is allergic to that flavor of contraband. And just like that, Dante and Realtor slip away on a plane off to wherever with money from Juliette's operating account, never to be seen again. Juliette will never trust again.

Meanwhile in other parts of the city, Rayna takes advantage of a week in Nashville with no kiddos to watch over, to catch up on stuff, namely meeting back up with Liam and Scarlett... not at the same time. That would have made Rayna and Liam's little make out session pretty weird. But yes, Liam and Rayna make out. She says she wants to live in the moment, that she feels free. He's like O RLY. As they kiss, Buckey walks in for no apparent reason. Geeze, Dad. Knock first. Later that day, (or the next maybe?) Tandie and Rayna deliver Lamar back to his mansion, whose interior looks a lot like the Belle Meade plantation (murals in the foyer!), and I would know as I somehow toured that damn thing about five times in 7th grade. "I am neither dead nor doddering," Lamar says as demons far below the Earth dance for joy. On their way out, Rayna tells Tandie about Liam and they talk about how neat-o it is they can be girlfriends. The next time Rayna and Liam are together, they hold hands and he tells her to come away with him to St. Lucia. She is conflicted. Rayna and her conflict bring smoothies by Lamar's place later that night. He's busted out his clipping file of Rayna's career and the two ounces of sentimentality he keeps in a bottle in a safe in the wall next to his heart. "I had a lot of time to think laid up in that bed," he tells her like every wounded/recovering person we've ever seen in a movie. Regardless of the source material, he'd like to start over with Rayna.

Deacon's also trying to start over. He has dinner with Scarlett, Gunnar, and Vet Lady. Scarlett tells him, "Can you keep her because you're happy and she's lovely." Deacon tells Vet Lady he's coming off the road *because he quit because Juliette is a pill* but he doesn't mention that part. At that show that I keep referencing, Rayna and Ian awkwardly run into Deacon and Vet Lady. What's even more awkward is how steamed Deacon gets back stage watching Liam and Rayna get spicy onstage doing one of the "old songs." Deacon abandons Lady Vet to go get water and just doesn't come back. Lady Vet knows what's up. "Do you still have feelings for her?" she asks. "Yeah," he says as the first television character who would choose to tell the truth in this situation. But I'm trying, he insists.

Understandably, Vet Lady needs space. Immediately after, Deacon runs into Rayna who's like, Everything ok? NO, RAYNA. Everything is not ok. He tells her he's never been able to get over her and she's like, I'm going to St. Lucia with Ian. So, call Vet Lady maybe?  Well, that is until she shows up at his door that night. "I love you," she says. "Are you trying to kill me??" He sputters. Ah. Those crazy kids. To the bedroom!

As I am mostly bored with Teddy, I'll blow through this quickly. He's pissed at Peggy. He canceled all Lamar's contracts with the city. Coleman is not stoked. Tandie proposes an alliance with Coleman because Lamar has got to give it up sometime. OR DOES HE.

So, Gunnar's found Jason's journal with some half finished songs. Luke from the O.C. shows up with a freshly booked gig and a motorcycle. Said gig is at Rippy's on Lower Broadway in the middle of the day. The crowd is comprised of women flipping their hair at him and Gunnar in back at the bar. Some random girl gives Luke her number and he reveals himself to be a pig vis-a-vis comment about her boobs. CLASSY, BRO. Gunnar decides that he lacks swagger like Luke has. Luke instructs him in the art of being a douche. This will come into play later. Scarlett meets with Rayna and asks for another chance for Gunnar. Later that night, Gunnar performs at Tootsie's open mic night and tries out Luke's advice by attempting eye contact with the ladies. The song he sings isn't bad... I secretly wish it wasn't from the show. At the bar after the performance, Luke and Gunnar drink and some girl gives Gunnar her number because I guess he has game, or whatever the kids say. A guy approaches and wants to cut the song as a demo. I think he's supposed to be one of those magic people from the music industry who lurk in every bar in Nashville. Luke gets up and OH SNAP Avery's sitting right there. He'd been in the crowd watching Gunnar. He apologizes for prior behavior and Gunnar tells him about Scarlett's record deal. If you've read Harry Potter, you'll remember the part of Voldemort's backstory where he slinked around the dark corners of Europe, a diminished, half dead being after trying to kill baby Harry. That's pretty much Avery at this point. He's a mopey ghost wandering around town with regret and unfinished business. Anyway, the next morning Gunnar gets pissy with Scarlett because she got him the second chance with Rayna and he has zero good sense. Nope. He felt that magic at Tootsie's and now he wants to discover himself as an artist. Who needs a record deal??? That night he and Luke sit weirdly close on the couch as Gunnar confesses the song he sang was Jason's. Feels like bad juju. I chastise myself for making bad jokes in my head about what exactly is about to happen on that couch when Luke makes the misread of the century and tries to kiss Gunnar.

In case you thought this show couldn't try your patience any more for its sheer lack of logic, think again!

I think the writers are just messing with us.

Stray Observations:
+ The local news said that the show closed down an intersection in town to shoot an explosion for the finale, so prepare for even more unrealistic drama.
+ I'm exercising crazy amounts of restraint for not making a Brokeback Mountain joke.
+ Try as they might, Avery will never be a sympathetic character, especially as he plays martyr roadie. Dude should be happy he has a job vaguely related to music.