She and Me. Volume One.

For me, the best thing about keeping up to date with music / movie news, is hearing the bits and pieces of something being put together, until it culminates into the final product.  Movie, album, TV show…whatever.

The album She and Him, Volume One is something I’ve been following – and as the release date gets closer and closer, I’m finding more reasons to get excited about it:

Zooey Deschanel has been a favorite actress of mine for a while.  So, when I heard she was making an album I was intrigued.  I knew that unlike other “actress turned singer” albums, this one would be more legitimate, because Zooey actually isa really talented singer (unlike other actresses who have delusions of grandeur) and has some indie credibility.  So ,unlike Lindsay Lohan’s debut album, ‘Speak’ – this is something I’d actually be interested in hearing.

A few months later I heard that the album is actually a collaboration with M. Ward, another musician who I like.  He produced ‘Rabbit Fur Coat’ by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins.  Which, fun fact, is one of my favorite albums.  A go-to album even.  M. Ward is pretty highly regarded in the industry so I was definitely reassured this wouldn’t be some pop-crap-masterpiece. 

Recently, I saw Zooey and Matt on the cover of Under The Radar, one of my favorite magazines.  This album is getting some indie cred already.  I read the article and I see that they’ve covered a Beatles song: I Should Have Known Better, and that the album is heavily influenced by the Beatles. 

Basically, Zooey Deschanel is a mind reader and found out what I would like to hear out of this album, then made it happen.

Now, in my most recent discovery, I see that Jenny Lewis is featuring Zooey as a guest singer on her upcoming album as well – The “bits and pieces” of which I’ll be following closely. 

Very closely. 

Zooey Deschanel, let me buy you a drink sometime.  Seriously. 

Read this post from Stereogum.com for a little more about the album, a tracklist and download.   The album comes out March 18th, 2008, and can be pre-ordered through amazon.  I heard a rumor there will be small tour happening this spring.  It’d be unnatural if NYC wasn’t a part of that tour, so expect another post on this some time in the spring.

Also, unrelated: did you know that an Arrested Development movieis in the works? FTW!

Go-To-Records

Based on the nature of my work lately, I’ve been listening to alot of new music.  Some good, some bad, most of it somewhere in the middle.   Due to this, I havn’t felt like listening to new music unless I have to.   So, during my 2 hour commute to school and work, I’d rather listen to something I’m familiar with.  I find myself listening to the albums that I know like the back of my hand.  I know every word to every song, and I know when to skip over a track and what kind of mood I’ll be in after I listen to it.   When I get a new album from an artist I know I like, I like to listen to it while I’m at home doing something, so I can “absorb it,”  so I rarely listen to new music when I’m driving.

I stick to my go-to-records.  Of course, among these are my Beatles albums.  Anybody who knows me knows I don’t even need to clarify this, but I will never not want to listen to the Beatles.  So, here’s a list of my go-to-records (not including the Beatles) over the past month or so.

• What’s the Story, Morning Glory – Oasis.  This was the first album I ever owned, and it’s still as great to me now as it was then.  Wonderwall.  Champagne Supernova.  Don’t Look Back in Anger.  She’s Electric…all on ONE album.  Insanely brilliant.
• More Adventerous / Under The Blacklight – Rilo Kiley.  These two albums are both great from start to finish.  Between the two I probably listen to Under The Blacklight more, but that’s just because it’s a newer release.   They’re also two albums that I know my friends won’t mind listening to if I’m driving us somewhere. 
• O  – Damien Rice.  This is just the prettiest damn thing.  Lyrically, musically it’s really breathtakingly beautiful.  One of my favorite albums to listen to at night time or on a rainy day and i’m stuck in traffic downtown…
• Run, Devil Run – Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins.  Yes, I realize this now makes three albums on my go-to-list that involve Jenny Lewis (she’s in Rilo Kiley for those playing at home.)  I just really love her intelligent, yet accesible lyrics.  And musically,  there’s so much variation – so between the three albums I’m sure to find one to fit my mood.
• Elevator – Hot Hot Heat.  This album has been on my go-to-list for years.  It’s my favorite by the band, and maybe it’s more of an emotional connection to the album at this point than it is a music one, but none the less I don’t like to not have it in my car. 

 Of course there are a few other albums that are on constant rotatation, but these are the ones that i’ve been listening to lately.  What are yours and why do you think this is?  I also can’t decide if I think the weather has an influence on my go-to-listening habits. I think i’d be more likely to listen to upbeat music over the summer, but I never paid close enough attention to it.  What are your thoughts?  And if you do find yourself in my car often, what are your thoughts on my music selection?  I’ll usually change the CD if I think what i’m listening to is un-listenable for my passenger…unless of course I’m listening to Michael Jackson.  That’s staying on.  Don’t hate.  I love me some MJ.