AWmusic

Roger Ebert said in his film review, “Coppola has been criticized in some circles for her use of a contemporary pop overlay — hit songs, incongruous dialogue, jarring intrusions of the Now upon the Then. But no one ever lives as Then; it is always Now. Many characters in historical films seem somehow aware that they are living in the past. Marie seems to think she is a teenager living in the present, which of course she is — and the contemporary pop references invite the audience to share her present with ours.”

You know what I was thinking while I was researching this, why isn’t there a band named Marie Antoinette??? Or maybe I’m saying that because I’m listening to the movie soundtrack, and the music is so thematic that it sounds like one band. Some people don’t like Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette because of the colours, the music and I have heard some complain about Kirsten Dunst being Coppola’s muse. I say never mind all that. I’m not here to argue with the non believers, I am from the Sofia Coppola society. One thing I’ve always loved about her films… her choice in music. It always seemed as if she pictured the scene with the music already on her mind. It is indeed difficult for me to write this without picturing the film, I encourage you to watch the film and pay attention to the music.

I know this album came out in 2006, but a good soundtrack works like an album I think. There’s not a ‘good’ time to listen to it but now, and it’s never out-dated. Funny enough, the Marie Antoinette OST is a complete compilation of 80s music and classical music. I’ll admit that some of these bands I did not know, in fact perhaps being more familiar with the classical music than the modern ones. Regardless, I have grown to really appreciate some of the bands that were unknown to me before. Yes, I’m one of those big nerds that hears songs in a movie then looks them up.

I really like this album because the music, especially the tracks by The Radio Dept (up to 3) have a great sense of nostalgia and colour to them. The tracks paint the pictures in my mind. If you match it with the film, it paints colours of a time lost, like Coppola’s first big studio film The Virgin Suicides. Other tracks, like Bow Wow Wow’s remixed I Want Candy, Aphrodisiac, Fools Rush In and Siouxsie & The Banshees’ Hong Kong Garden, give the aura of decadence and good times. And, I need to mention The Cure’s Ceremony, the grandeur used strategically in a crowning scene.

I treat this soundtrack like an album, a smart and colourful compilation of music that makes me wonder…

The Strokes – What Ever Happened

The Radio Dept – Pulling Our Weight

Windsor For The Derby – The Melody Of A Fallen Tree

The Radio Dept – I Don’t Like It Like This

Full track listing.

Disc One

1. “Hong Kong Garden (With Strings Intro)” – Siouxsie & The Banshees
2. “”Aphrodisiac” – Bow Wow Wow
3. “What Ever Happened” – The Strokes
4. “Pulling Our Weight” – The Radio Dept.
5. “Ceremony” – New Order
6. “Natural’s Not in It” – Gang of Four
7. “I Want Candy (Kevin Shields Remix)” – Bow Wow Wow
8. “Kings of the Wild Frontier” – Adam & The Ants
9. “Concerto in G”[1] – Antonio Vivaldi / Reitzell
10. “The Melody of a Fallen Tree” – Windsor for the Derby
11. “I Don’t Like It Like This” – The Radio Dept.
12. “Plainsong” – The Cure

Disc Two

1. “Intro Versailles” – Reitzell / Beggs
2. “Jynweythek Ylow” – Aphex Twin
3. “Opus 17″ – Dustin O’Halloran
4. “Il Secondo Giorno (Instrumental)” – Air
5. “Keen On Boys” – The Radio Dept.
6. “Opus 23″ – Dustin O’Halloran
7. “Les barricades mystérieuses” – François Couperin / Reitzell
8. “Fools Rush In (Kevin Shields Remix)” – Bow Wow Wow
9. “Avril 14th” – Aphex Twin
10. “K. 213″ – Domenico Scarlatti / Reitzell
11. “Tommib Help Buss” – Squarepusher
12. “Tristes Apprêts, Pâles Flambeaux” – Jean Philippe Rameau / W. Christie[2]
13. “Opus 36″ – Dustin O’Halloran
14. “All Cats Are Grey” – The Cure

It’s official, the line-up for this year’s Coachella festival has been posted. And no, David Bowie isn’t bringing back Ziggy Stardust, despite all the rumors floating around the internet. Coachella will again be taking place at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, CA and the dates have been confirmed for April 17, 18 and 19.

With the economy finding its way deeper into the shit, Paul Tollett (festival founder) announced another plan to bring in the masses. Tickets can be purchased via layaway plans with two methods of payment. Instead of dropping the full $269US for a three-day pass: pay half upfront and the rest April 1, or pay 10% followed by equal installments on March 1 and April 1 without any interest or additional costs. These plans are only available for online purchases and are not included with the $99 single-day admission. Check out the official Coachella website for more information, as well as a list of all the bands’ myspace pages and selected videos on youtube.

And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the bands:

And, a selected playlist.

The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry

Morrissey – Irish Blood English Heart

K’naan – Strugglin

TV On The Radio – Family Tree

My Bloody Valentine – Soon

Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name

Noah and the Whale – Jocasta

Anyway, with my copy of the Pitchfork 500, I’ll be doing more then just providing the list for you. You can find it here.

I guess you’ll get a semi-review though I doubt you’ll get much criticism and more or less choices of certain songs from each perspective band as well as any commentary. This will be part 1 of 9. I expect to do these about once a week so enjoy! I also want to be able to get the chance to discuss older tracks.

In 1977, it was still 11 years until I was born. Bands like the Clash, Sex Pistols were creating their own punk scene overseas and Television and the Talking Heads creating a punk scene in New York oceanside. I think it’s pretty transparent that I have very little about older more historical artists. While I know a lot about David Bowie, Iggy Pop it’s clear I know next to nothing about their music. Even bands like The Clash and the Sex Pistols which are name dropped more then anyone would like, the understanding is generally pretty limited.

I know file sharing isn’t always looked on in the best light but for someone looking to buy the Pitchfork 500 without much music knowledge to begin with, being able to check out these tracks in a viable fashion make reading the Pitchfork 500 that much better.

The Clash features 2 songs from this era and are probably my favorite my band from this time period and arguably my “introduction” to punk rock. The Clash always surprised me because of the references to punk rock that usually come up short when referencing modern punk rock or post-punk. Using a mix of ska and pop sensibilities really drew me into The Clash. I actually am mainly unfamilar with the two tracks included, (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais and The Guns of Brixton (the latter I know more about due to the Arcade Fire’s cover). Still, The Clash is great and arguing which Clash songs to choose from, will end nowhere.

Police & Thieves by The Clash

Sex Pistols, while I dug the occasional song, my opinion has soured on them. From being manufactured to sounding terrible on live performances and almost creating a riot from their hit God Save The Queen and remaining douchebags for the rest of their life. Still from God Save The Queen to Anarchy in the UK are great songs to enjoy, a lot of it isn’t taken seriously nor as important to what was accomplished by other bands in the punk rock scene. (Yeah, I’m going to take flack for this).

The Ramones are probably my second favorite band on this list. It’s pretty easy to like the Ramones with their poppy songs and the use of power chords creating songs that will forever be rock anthems. The song included is Rockaway beach which Pitchfork writers allude to encompassing everything that makes The Ramones, the Ramones. I definitely agree but one choose a variety of Ramones tracks.
California Sun by The Ramones

The Talking Heads are featured 4 times in the “500″ with Pyscho Killer and Memories Can’t Wait in this era. I actually forget how I know about the Talking Heads, maybe I know more about David Byrne more so the the Heads themselves? I know very little about the Talking Heads and I’m thinking one of the first priorities is to get well acquainted.
Psycho Killer by The Talking Heads

The Cure, I know quite a bit about The Cure and how Nancy secretly (it’s no secret now) loves them since its apparently embarrassing to enjoy The Cure’s 1980s New Wave days. I get a little confused on the actual release day of Three Imaginary Boys and the subsequent re-release as Boys Don’t Cry. It all makes sense when Boy Don’t Cry is rather a mere B-side on this album but is a rather simple but powerful track.
Boys Don’t Cry by The Cure

Joy Division… I’ve been a fan since the inclusion of Love Will Tear Us Apart in Donnie Darko especially a lot of their tracks from Unknown Pleasures. Reading about Ian Curtis’ untimely suicide and with the band becoming the influential New Order, is a difficult one to imagine since Joy Division’s potential was unlimited. Joy Division has influenced some of my favorite bands…
Disorder by Joy Division

1979 was Michael Jackson‘s year. With his album Off The Wall, he would light the world on fire (and sometimes himself) and become the person who he is today. I’ll get more into MJ in future features.

There’s a lot I can’t cover due to just taking too long and you should read the book instead as their insight is better. Definitely worth checking out though.