AWmusic

Here’s my playlist for the movie. The soundtrack was pretty good and suited some of the cinematography. I did like the use of “Paper Planes” which was more about hustlin’ like the song says instead of just “getting high” like Pineapple Express used it for. Before I get carried away:
Born Out of The Hustle by Kites in Space
Paper Planes MIA
Blind by Hercules and Love Affair (for the blind singers)
Brother Watching by Shad
How I Made My Millions by Radiohead
Pressed In A Book by The Shins (for the Three Musketeers)
Let Love Be My Only Guide by The Bell

Now onto my review:
Slumdog Millionaire is a film that has its premise given away from the start. It asks a question whether or not Jamal Malik’s run at 20 million rupees on “Who wants to be a millionaire?’ is whether he is smart, if he cheated or if it was destiny. The movie’s plot is simple, Jamal Malik is accused of cheating and he is being questioned about how a “slumdog” could do better then lawyers, doctors and intellects in general.

A thinking man could likely extrapolate that Malik does quite well on the gameshow which serves as the backbone of the movie’s plot. The storyline isn’t the strongest as it can be painfully obvious that it could be one of those movie’s that end ups with the two love interests living “happily ever after and making a lot of babies” (the latter is implied). I’m not the type of person who looks for a movie that has an “aw” storyline (kind of ironic with the name of this site lol).

With that Slumdog Millionaire has been universally praised, why? Everything in between is done incredibly well. Sometimes a movie doesn’t need the greatest storyline to win you over. The movie gave off tense moments despite the outcome almost completely drawn out. Everything from the cinematography and to the direction was top notch. This movie is more proof that it’s not the quality of the story that counts but the quality of the storyteller that makes the world of difference.

Slumdog Millionaire I can see being universally liked by all types since it’s one of those feel good romantic dramas but it extends past that horrid drama with a stylish touch and fearless direction. It was at times light-hearted and funny and save for the last minute stopped being overly-cheesy. I think some of the gripes people have are the weaker storyline and the romance stinking up something great but it really just gives the movie some direction rather then being lost and all over the place.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
It will likely be the top or top 2 movie of the year (waiting on The Wrestler).

The Past and The Pending by The Shins (for Hiro)
I’m Your Villain by Franz Ferdinand (for Sylar/title of Season 3 is “Villains”)
TouchIt_Technologic by Daft Punk (for Micah Sanders)
Cries of The Dead by Chad VanGaalen (for the follow up of who’s dead)
Read My Mind by The Killers (for Matt Parkman)
Morning Bell/Amnesiac by Radiohead (for the wuss Peter Petrelli who can’t remember a goddamn thing)
Electric Feel by MGMT (for Elle Bishop… mmm Kristin Bell)
Muscle’n Flo by Menomena (for Monica Dawson and her muscle memory)
Play Your Part (Pt. 2) by Girl Talk (for Ando and Mohinder playing their part)
Secrets by Oh! Custer (for Claire who ’s secret plagues her, and I can’t find many other songs for her)

Ghost Town Review:

I had the chance to see Ghost Town on opening weekend. Box office success was mild playing 8th. I think for the most part it’s because the storyline isn’t that appealing or original. With a character who develops the 6th sense (same as the movie as the Sixth Sense) he begins seeing ghosts after a near-death experience.

There isn’t much to the storyline other then a seemingly typical/predictable storyline. But all in all it is light hearted and the characters (including ghosts) do progress and show off a real quality about them.

Otherwise it’s just a mildly good movie, that isn’t bad nor great though a 87% RT score probably suggests that more people liked it then not.

My rating is: 3.25 out of 5. Just kind of average but worth your money I guess.

1. No One’s Gonna Love You by Band of Horses
Such a misleading title but have you ever felt the need to say to your lover “no one is ever gonna love you like I do” because that perfectly describes how head over heels you are?

2. I Don’t Love Anyone by Belle & Sebastian
One of my favorite songs and one that makes me feel good about being alone and single.

3. Lover I Don’t Have To Love by The Bright Eyes
This song is dedicated to those who aren’t looking for a relationship but are just looking for flings and not being emotionally tied to someone.

4. First Day of My Life by The Bright Eyes
Arguably one of the best love songs out there.

5. Crown of Love by The Arcade Fire
One of my favorite Arcade Fire tracks. Mainly about the inability to love just one person and usually involving moving on to the next person and the next.

6. Everyday I Love You Less and Less by The Kaiser Chiefs
Sometimes love does wave and this song perfectly describes it an upbeat manner.

7. Song For A Sleeping Girl by the Devics
This song describe the feeling of sleeping next to someone and really the sheer enjoyment of watching someone sleep. It’s one of my favorite love songs.

8. Modern Girls & Old Fashioned Men by The Strokes and Regina Spektor
Needed an excuse to include this awesome song, it’s about love so it fits.

9. What I’m Trying To Say by Stars
Saving you love someone is harder then it looks (when you whole-heartedly mean it).

10. Girl Inform Me by The Shins
This one goes for us guys who don’t really “understand” women and just sometimes need to be told!

11. I’m Leaving You Because I Don’t Love You by Jens Lekman
Pretty self-explanatory.

12. You Were Meant For Me by Jewel
I love this song, not ashamed heh.

13. Strange Powers by The Magnetic Fields
Some people just hypnotize you.

14. Love Astronaut by Murder Mystery
I like the line “I go looking for love but is it looking for me?”.

I actually hated doing this list…not that it was subpar but I think I would’ve felt better doing a review today. Just no writing quality in putting out this list though it’s great for traffic bait.

25. She’s a Rejector by Of Montreal (link)
24. Patty Lee by Les Savy Fav (link)
23. Open Doors by Josh Ritter (link)
22. White Dove by John Vanderslice (link)
21. Handsome Furs Hate This City by The Handsome Furs
20. Weekend Without Makeup by The Long Blondes (link)
19. Meat Market by Everybody Else (link)
18. 1234 by Feist
17. Wolf and Crane by Siberian (link)
16. Walcott by Vampire Weekend
15. Fluorescent Adolescent by The Arctic Monkeys
14. Apartment Story by The National (link)
13. Red Rabbits by The Shins
12. Impossible by The Shout Out Louds
11. Right Moves by Josh Ritter (link)
10. Up On Your Leopard, Upon The End of Your Feral Days by Sunset Rubdown (link)
9. (Antichrist) Television Blues by The Arcade Fire (link)
8. Bunny Ain’t No Kind of Rider by Of Montreal (link)
7. Unless It Kicks by Okkervil River (link)
6. Back in Your Head by Tegan & Sara
5. The Mending of the Gown by Sunset Rubdown
4. Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend
3. Once and Never Again by The Long Blondes (link)
2. Mistaken For Strangers by The National
1. Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe by Okkervil River (link)

I did hate uploading tracks though and the linking stuff (takes forever). I also had to re-upload some tracks after annoying my friend Jack with bandwidth usage. Look out for the rest tomorrow.

50. A Girl in Port by Okkervil River
49. Shirin by Jens Lekman (link)
48. I Know I’ll See You by A Place To Bury Strangers (link)
47. For Science Fiction by Maritime (link)
46. Freak Out by Liars (link)
45. Phantom by Justice (link)
44. Sleep Deprivation by Simian Mobile Disco
43. Take Me To the Ballroom by the Moonbabies
42. Tthhee Ppaarrttyy by Justice (link)
41. Myriad Harbour by The New Pornographers (link)
40. Objects of My Affection by Peter, Bjorn and John
39. Blue Headlights by The Shout Out Louds (link)
38. No I in Threesome by Interpol
37. My Moon, My Man by Feist
36. Kookaburra by John Vanderslice
35. Paper Birds by Siberian (link)
34. Make A Plan To Love Me by the Bright Eyes
33. Philadelphia Grand Jury by the Fiery Furnaces
32. I Believe by Simian Mobile Disco
31. You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb by Spoon
30. I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You by the Black Kids
29. You Can’t Hold the Hand of the Rock and Roll Man by Okkervil River
28. Airship by Siberian (link)
27. Turn On Me by The Shins (link)
26. White Winter Hymnal by the Fleet Foxes (link)

Click->>> For Top Albums of ‘07: #10-1<-----------

#20 Feist – The Reminder
Original Rating: 5/5
This album was on rotation for about two weeks then I just totally forgot about it. I personally didn’t like “The Reminder” as much as her previous effort “Let It Die”. Feist has seen some mainstream success with that iPod commercial but I still love her.
I Feel It All by Feist

#19 BSS Presents Kevin Drew – Spirit If…
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Was this effort a little bit like Broken Social Scene and didn’t really distinguish Kevin Drew as a solo artist? Sure but who cares?! Still a great album and if it’s being compared to BSS you know it’s good. This album usually doesn’t come to mind when thinking of the top albums of 2007 but after going back to it…I have to agree with myself…lol
Gang Bang Suicide by Kevin Drew

#18. Justice – Cross (too lazy to find the cross image)
Original Score: 4.75 out of 5
This album just makes me want to dance. Annoying at times but overall something different than what I would normally listen to. I almost didn’t even bother to try to check out Justice but I’m glad I gave it a chance.
Let There Be Light by Justice

#17 Simian Mobile Disco – Attack Decay Sustain Release
Original Score: Forgot (Should be 4.75 out of 5)
Simian Mobile Disco are basically tied in my book when it comes to the score. The tie-breaker may be that I like SMD a little more as it suits what I look in a electronic bands. To think this liking to SMD started with that Hustler video with girls making out. This album makes me want to dance or go on drugs. Either way I feel like I’d be having a good time putting on this record.
Sleep Deprivation by Simian Mobile Disco

#16 Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Original Score: 4.5 out of 5
To be perfectly honest I barely gave this album ANY time before and after reviewing it. One thing for sure though, it didn’t need any effort to begin liking. It probably doesn’t get any higher on this list for being rather simple and I’d agree that artistically it probably doesn’t have the same quality as those ahead of it. To me anyway this album has one of the better first halves of an album then any other album of 2007. The second half was decent but it’s hard to match up to Don’t Make Me A Target, You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb and Rhthm and Soul.
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb by Spoon

#15 The National – Boxer
Original Score: 4 out of 5
It felt like forever when I originally tried to listen to “Boxer” and had such a tough time and I finally reviewed it after struggling with it for a few months. “Boxer” is definitely a grower and you will have to give a LOT of time I would say before it creeps up on you and reels you in. If you asked me when I did the review the only two songs I liked were “Mistaken For Strangers” and “Start A War” you can probably add most of the album now. If it was the perfect album it wouldn’t be called a “grower” and it takes my 15 spot.
Apartment Story by The National

#14 Josh Ritter – Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Original Rating: 4.25 out of 5
This album was easy to like from the beginning. I seem to have an affinity for folk songs that I never knew I had and despite I find this album rather “simplistic” compared to the other albums on here, it’s overall just great music and something that had more playing time then The National and Spoon and thus the higher ranking.
To The Dogs or Whoever by Josh Ritter

#13 Arctic Monkeys -Favourite Worst Nightmare
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This is another one that I barely recall giving a lot of effort in listening and critiquing (you could probably tell with the sub-par review). I go back to this album once in awhile but I find myself intrigued more by their previous effort “Whatever People Say I am…”. Very solid everywhere and produced one of my favorite songs of the year “Fluorescent Adolescent”.
Fluorescent Adolescent by The Arctic Monkeys

#12 Moonbabies – Moonbabies At the Ballroom
Original Rating: 5 out of 5
I remember listening to this album for a good month straight earlier this year. I sure do love “dream pop”. The Moonbabies probably won’t be on many other lists this year but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check out their album. I just haven’t seen a ton of exposure but from top to bottom this album had me singing along. I actually haven’t seen one entirely bad review for this album…but who knows why? If you have similar tastes as I do then you will like this album.
Take Me To The Ballroom by The Moonbabies
Cocobelle by The Moonbabies

#11 The Shins – Wincing The Night Away
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5
The Shins were already one of my favorite bands before they released Wincing The Night Away. I was a fan of indie rock but I didn’t pursue it like I do now. I’m scared to read my review in March because it is so long ago and I arguably was not the same blogger as I am now. Anyway is this album as good as their previous works? No but this album is solid top to bottom and I’m not complaining. This album I believe really appeases already Shins fans without going “too” mainstream and they have become a very popular band now. I’m having trouble picking a song right now that would be called my favorite…too many to choose from. I feel kind of “iffy” putting this just outside my top 10 (it was originally but Okkervil River booted them out).
Turn On Me by The Shins
Red Rabbits by The Shins

Look Out for #10-#1 either tomorrow or Thursday

*Note: Before totally ripping me and suggesting my taste in music sucks, the Shins are soft type of indie band so if you’re the type to neglect the lighter styles of music, the Shins are not the band for you.

Wincing the Night Away has many addicting songs that get you hooked after awhile. At first I couldn’t get myself to listen to these songs fully but after awhile and currently this album has been playing constantly on my laptop (looking to purchase it soon). Their songs with their softness and downright hypnotic intros that has singing and my head going to the beat. James Mercer’s singing is just incredibly soothing. If you give this album some time you will agree that it’s amazing and it does in fact trump their previous two releases.

Some songs I really liked: Phanton Limb, Red Rabbits, Australia and my favourite Turn On Me.
Overall rating: 4.5/5 -This will be in my ears for the next month!
Here is a stream of Turn On Me Enjoy!