Margot & the Nuclear So and So's -- because you don't always want to dance (B+)

Let's be honest. There's a reason that radio stations play Lady Gaga over Morrissey at a rate of about 10,000 to 1. People would rather listen to upbeat, albeit lyrically lacking songs, than be reminded, quite poetically, about how awful their lives are. This is one of the reasons remixes and mashups even exist. Take a song we already like, inject it with a harder bassline and more persistent drum-kick... and we can make it something we love even more.

Sometimes, however, I feel like relaxing a bit... and I wouldn't be surprised if you do too. If you find yourself in this latter sort of mood, give Margot & the Nuclear So and So's a listen. They have been likened to Arcade Fire and The Decemberists... but I think these comparisons are largely flawed.

Unlike Arcade Fire's occasional grandeur, Margot's music sounds extremely stripped down, even where it is relatively complex and layered. Richard Edwards, Margot's lead vocalist, is also much less crass than the Decemberist's Colin Meloy. While Meloy reminds me more of Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum vocally, Edwards is more reminiscent of a mix between Death Cab's Ben Gibbard and Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst (in my opinion).

Here are a couple tracks from the band's 2008 album Not Animal -- which are songs preferred by their record label Epic. The band also released Animal! -- only available on vinyl -- which included the tracks the band preferred.

Enjoy these tunes.

As Tall As Cliffs - Margot & t...

Broadripple Is Burning - Margo...

Sunday Video Round-Up

Here are some live performances by Passion Pit, Ra Ra Riot, Bon Iver, and Arcade Fire worthy of being posted. Somewhat unusual, very awesome. Enjoy.

Once Upon a Time...

If you were born anytime after WWII, odds are you've read/been read Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are at some point in your life. And on October 16, Warner Bros. if giving everyone a chance to revisit their youth. Catherine Keener (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Into the Wild, The Soloist) and Mark Ruffalo (The Last Castle, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Zodiac) will lend their talents to the movie, and relative unknown Max Records will star as Max, the young boy whose imagination provides the basis for the tale.

But the real star power of the movie comes from the strong cast of actors playing the voices of the various Wild Things. Names include a personal favorite of this blogger, Chris Cooper (American Beauty, Breach, Adaptation), as well as James Galdolfini, Forest Whitaker, Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), Catherine O'Hara (Best in Show, A Mighty Wind), and Paul Dano (The Girl Next Door, Little Miss Sunshine). I have a feeling that many of you are like me and will go see this simply because it's tough to say no to a film adaptation of a childhood classic like this. Let's hope it's actually worth seeing. Here's the preview (notice how beautifully "Wake Up" by the Arcade Fire fits with the trailer):