fête à fête

I've always admired the highly talented Norah Jones. Even if her debut performance in My Blueberry Nights wasn't exactly Oscar-worthy, it's still a great first appearance on celluloid. Seriously, who could turn down a chance to work with Wong Kar Wai? I also loved her collaboration with Q-Tip on "Life is Better" - it's a playful departure from her signature sound.

Working with new musicians, her recent release The Fall heads into angst territory. It's not as warm and fuzzy, with a strong leaning on guitar and less on the piano.

The first song, the catchy "Chasing Pirates," is something we expect of Jones. My favorite of the album is the last track, "Man of the Hour." Her vocals just shine through and the lyrics are so cute. "Even Though" is a sultry piece filled with longing while "Young Blood" is another pretty song to groove to as you work.

To promote the new album, Norah Jones is embarking on a four-month international concert tour this year. For more info on tour dates and other music news, go to www.norahjones.com and www.myspace.com/norahjones.

For editorial consideration, a review album was provided for this review.

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

One of my all-time favorite groups, Pink Martini, recently came out with their fourth album, Splendor in the Grass. With nine original songs and four covers, I'm happy to say it's another strong collection for their fans. If you don't know who this awesome 12-piece orchestra is, you need to run out today and buy all four albums.

There are so many great songs in this release. I adore the French cha-cha "Où est ma tête?" It's très charmant, I tell you. You can't help but smile and sing along with this track. I'm a total romantic so "Over the Valley" is another favorite of mine. As usual, China Forbes did an amazing job on the acoustic reprise of "Ninna nanna."

This album is packed with guest stars. Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols plays the electric guitar on "Splendor in the Grass" and Emilio Delgado, aka "Luis" on Sesame Street, sings the Spanish parts of "Sing." And, to my delight, NPR Justice Correspondent Ari Shapiro's sexy vocals are debuted on the fun and catchy "But Now I'm Back."

These guys are so much fun, you have to catch them live in concert. I've seen them several times and it's always a grand time. For concert tour dates and more info go to: pinkmartini.com

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

All you swing lovers, listen up. After a nine-year break from recording music, the beloved Squirrel Nut Zippers are back with a new album!

Their brand-spankin' live release, "Lost at Sea," is a must-have for any SNZ fanatic. Even if you're not a fan, it will do you some good to get this aural gem. It features all the popular hits from the band, and it's all performed with a fresh and zingy feel. With snazzy vocals from Jim 'Jimbo' Mathus and Katherine Whalen, the highly spirited band will transport you back to a 1920's speakeasy.

Some of my favorites are the charming "Prince Nez," the foot-stomping "Suits Are Picking Up The Bill," and the old-timey "Good Enough For Granddad." And, just in time for Halloween, no one can resist the spooky and fun "Ghost of Stephen Foster" and the ever-dramatic "Hell."

If you can't make it to their live shows, this album is the next best thing. It will turn any joint into the hottest party around. They also plan to release a new album sometime next year, so stay tuned. In the meantime, get your dancing shoes on...the Zippers are back!

www.snzippers.com

Tagged as: entertainment, music

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Indie music lovers take note. I adore the "And I Found This Boy" video by Maia Hirasawa. Her heartfelt vocals and honest lyrics are part of the reason why I'm intrigued with Though, I'm Just Me (Thrive Records), her US album debut.

Credit: Johanna Svennson

She is a great example of just diving into truthful songwriting and jamming out good, classic tunes. She also arranged, produced, and recorded all her music. And she played most of the instruments. What a multi-talented Swedish tour de force.

Some other tracks to check out are: "My New Friend", "Say Goodbye", and "Gothenburg."

www.maiahirasawa.com

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, international, music, music review, song

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Opening for Coldplay is not an easy feat to do, but PT Walkley's debut solo album Mr. Macy Wakes Alone reveals the songwriter's treasure chest of solid storytelling and memorable characters. With 18 tracks, there's an actual storyline from beginning to end.

Listeners are privy to the lives of Audrey Macy, a trust fund kid who poisons her father, and Calvin the Crooner. It's partly whimsical, quirky and folksy, but always engaging. I enjoyed "Audrey Macy,", "Daydreaming," "The Lucky Ones," and "Somebody."

The album debuts today. Check it out at ptwalkley.com, www.myspace.com/ptwalkley or listen here: http://ptwalkley.com/song-book

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

They're back! Inara George and Greg Kurstin, the talented duo behind the bird and the bee, are releasing a brand-spankin' new full length album tomorrow. Titled Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future (Blue Note Records), it's a deeper focus on the psychedelics of the Tropicalia era. It has less bossa nova, but it's more danceable. This album belongs on a '60's TV spy show.

It's easy to see how everyone's in love with their fun and witty music. With an airy mix of Brazilian heat, ’60s pop, electronic beats, the LA-based duo came up with the trippy “What’s In the Middle” and the dreamy “Meteor.”

A few of my favorites are the catchy "My Love," "Love Letter To Japan," "Baby," "Witch," and "You're a Cad." This release includes the popular “Polite Dance Song,” which first appeared on the Please Clap Your Hands EP. It also has the adorable and breathy "Birthday" from One Too Many Hearts.

Video of "Love Letter To Japan":
The Bird & The Bee - Love Letter To Japan

Catch them on TV on NBC’s The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, (click on the link at 38:24) and on February 4 on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!

For more info, go to: www.myspace.com/thebirdandthebee or www.thebirdandthebee.com. I'm going to the SF show on 2/9, hope to see some local fans there!

the bird and the bee tour dates:

Jan 26 — Los Angeles, CA — Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Feb 4 — Los Angeles, CA — Jimmy Kimmel Live
Feb 5 — San Diego, CA — Casbah
Feb 6 — Los Angeles, CA — Natural History Museum
Feb 7 — Santa Barbara, CA — Soho
Feb 9 — San Francisco, CA — Independent
Feb 11 — Portland, OR — Doug Fir
Feb 12 — Seattle, WA — Chop Suey
Mar 3 — Fairfield, CT — Stage One
Mar 4 — Vienna, VA — Barns at Wolf Trap
Mar 5 — Philadelphia, PA — Tin Angel
Mar 7 — New York, NY — Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review, singer, song

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm totally luvin' the Bitter:Sweet Drama album. It's now one of my fave music duos - their "The Mating Game" debut was such a hit. Their sophomoric release is built upon the same snazzy flair with super flirty vocals, dramatic strings, and pure poppy bliss.

It's a James Bond meets Catwoman kinda feel, with dashes of Bjork, Portishead, and Goldfrapp. Put it on your iPod when you feel like channeling Ms. Cheeky Sexy Spywoman. On top of the hits "Trouble" and "The Bomb", I love the songs "Drink You Sober" and "Sugar Mama."

Their music is so popular it's been featured in shows like 'Dirty Sexy Money,' 'The Hills,' and 'Desperate Housewives.'
Listen to a track here: www.quango.com/promo/hills/ or here: www.bittersweetmusic.com

Tagged as: entertainment, music, music review, shopping, TV show

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I was at the Spencer Day show last night, and had a total blast. The talented singer-songwriter is amazing live and has such a big baritone voice to match his heartfelt lyrics. Why this young performer hasn't gotten mega-famous in the mainstream music arena, I have no idea. He's the next big thing in American contemporary music.

He started out with his peppy "A Better Way" and charmed his way through the act with funny numbers like "Poor Marie" (inspired by Sofia Coppola’s "Marie Antoinette"). The audience loved the lively "Ophelia Underwater." I can't think of a better way to spend a chilly SF evening.

Day will be playing through Sunday 12/14 at Hotel Nikko's Rrazz Room. He's planning a third CD release Vagabond in Spring 2009, but in the meantime, check out his site www.spencerday.com or his MySpace page. He also has a lovely video of his hit "Movie of Your Life" on YouTube.

Tagged as: entertainment, music, music review, performance, San Francisco, San Francisco event, song

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The latest Brazilian Girls album, New York City (Verve Forecast), is totally strange and fun. This polyglot trio is full of high dance thrills. From their hit "Good Time" to the echoey "Strangeboy," their music is a an international mix of eclectic lounge, electronica, cabaret, tango, punk, and trance.

I also liked "St. Petersburg," "L'interprete," and "Internacional." Diplo also did a great remix of “Good Time” for the Good Time EP (available on iTunes).

Give it a whirl. I dare you not to shimmy and shake on the dance floor.

I like the cute "Good Time" video:
www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist/mediaplayer.aspx?mid=1996&aid=6401

www.braziliangirls.info

Tagged as: entertainment, international, music, music review, song

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Stella at Well Above Average is doing a CD giveaway on "The Best of Bond...James Bond." Featuring 22 songs from the Bond movies, you can hear the divas belt it out (Shirley Bassey, Gladys Knight, k.d. lang, Sheryl Crow, Nancy Sinatra, Tina Turner and Madonna).

Everyone's psyched on the new Quantum of Solace (releases this weekend!), so every fan needs to listen to this to prepare for Daniel Craig's awesome performance.

Check it out at: http://www.wellaboveaverage.com/2008/11/best-of-bondjames-bond.html

Tagged as: celebrity, Film, Film Stars, gifts, giveaway, movie, music, shopping, singer, soundtrack

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Steven Fiore is a great young artist to watch for. His song "Waiting Up For You" from the Makeshift EP is so pretty. At the risk of sounding sappy, it just tugged at the heart strings. I can't wait for his new full-length album Etiquette to release later this year.

www.myspace.com/stevenfiore

-Tami

Tagged as: entertainment, music, music review, singer, song

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I adore Jay Clifford. He's one of my all-time favorite songwriters. For those who haven't yet discovered him, the hauntingly beautiful voice of Jump (formerly Jump Little Children) has a nice solo album, Driving Blind. While not my favorite (still longing for the old JLC stuff, along with the Rosebud songs), this one has the breathtaking "Diving Bell," easily the prettiest song in this album. The lyric "Finally asleep, she is sold, each breath for a handsome price..." is such a riveting image. Other gems include "Caught in the Rain," "Paralyze," and "Dissolves."

www.myspace.com/jaycliffordmusic

-Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review, singer, song

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Bird and the Bee is just about the most charming thing that has graced the current music scene. Refreshingly retro, the hip LA duo serves up 60s sugar pop, but adds a bit of bossa nova, jazz, and electronica in between the sly lyrics.

Hailed as a modern-day Audrey Hepburn crossed with a breathy angel, singer Inara George seems to eerily channel Astrud Gilberto's soothing vocals while keyboardist Greg Kurstin churns out the dreamy technicolor tunes. The result is a psychedelic confection with all the icing you can handle. A few faves are the sassy "Again & Again," the lovely "I'm a Broken Heart," and the cotton candy tinged "La La La."

The duo has since released two EPs; Please Clap Your Hands features the fabulous “Polite Dance Song” and One Too Many Hearts has a peppy "Birthday" and the romantic "Tonight You Belong to Me." The music makes me wanna jet on a Pan Am flight to Brazil.

www.thebirdandthebee.com



-Tami

Tagged as: entertainment, music, music review, singer, vocals

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Attention all Wong Kar Wai & "My Blueberry Nights" movie fans!!

fête à fête is doing a fun giveaway of the fabulous "My Blueberry Nights" motion picture soundtrack, along with the official movie poster. The music is amazing - it has a great sultry new song ('The Story') written specifically for the movie by Norah Jones, and many other powerhouse tracks from Cat Power, Ry Cooder, Otis Redding, Mavis Staples, Cassandra Wilson, and more.

The first few readers to correctly answer the following question will win either of the prizes mentioned above: Which Wong Kar Wai film featured the music of both Shigeru Umebayashi and Peter Raben?

Send your answer to: feteafeteswag@gmail.com
Alas, this contest is for U.S. readers only, sorry!

Check out the soundtrack here:
http://www.myspace.com/myblueberrynightssoundtrack

For my film review, click here:
http://feteafete.com/blog/film/my_blueberry_nights/

Good luck!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, contest, film, movie, movie soundtrack, music

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Since the launch of Emerson Hart's solo debut Cigarettes & Gasoline, the pop-rock album is still making waves with his stirring lyrics. The former lead singer of Tonic mines his painful past for inspiration and it shows. A couple songs I like are the accoustic "Green Hills Race for California," "Friend to a Stranger," and the title track "Cigarettes and Gasoline." Great lyrics in his work - all Tonic fans need to add this to their collection.

www.emersonhart.com

-Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review, vocals

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Another lush and ethereal release by glam electonica duo Goldfrapp, the fourth release Seventh Tree is quite a departure from the signature synth beats. Nevertheless, Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory show off their music chops by reinventing themselves with slower, sensual, and accoustic melodies.

As they take us through another euphoric adventure, the listener finds him/herself dancing through Alison's dreamily hushed vocals. Dashed with hints of electronica, the mood is upbeat, to the point where you wonder if you should be frolicking through some meadows as you listen to "Caravan Girl." "Happiness" rocks with their tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and the hypnotic "Cologne Cerrone Houdini" is a nice reminder of earlier work in Felt Mountain.

Some fans might dismiss this album as it's clearly not Supernature Part II. But it will grow on you, as this is another brilliant evolution from a group that refuses to conform to commercial pop formulas.

www.goldfrapp.com

-Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review, vocals

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seriously sassy and full of glam, The Puppini Sisters' brand new CD The Rise and Fall of Ruby Woo is pure toe-tapping fun with their famous retro harmonies, pop, and swing. These gorgeous ladies sure know how to put on a show, and what a blast this sophomore release is from Verve Records.

Named after their favorite lipstick, this album includes amazing versions of The Bangles' “Walk Like and Egyptian” and Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love”. The lovely trio (Marcella Puppini, Kate Mullins, and Stephanie O’Brien) also wrote some original tracks as well, including “I Can’t Believe I’m Not A Millionaire” and “Jilted". I just loved their rendition of “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)". I wanted to pop up and jitterbug across my hallway.

Listen to: “Crazy in Love” verve.edgeboss.net/qtime/verve/puppini/ruby_woo/audio/10_crazy_in_love.mov

www.thepuppinisisters.com

See ya on the dance floor,

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My friends have raved about The Kin for a while, and I finally got to listen to their recent album release 'Rise & Fall'. Not only are the Koren brothers (Isaac and Thorry) enticing eye candy, their gorgeous vocals blend rather perfectly within each song. I especially liked the catchy 'Romeo', along with the lovely storytelling behind 'Abraham'. I tend to be drawn towards the non-epic songs, since they really highlight the beautiful songwriting and amazing melodies. In a world filled with overplayed commecial acts, this is an indie group to keep an eye on.

Check out their upcoming tour dates below:

Feb 11 – Club Infinity in Buffalo, NY
Feb 12 – Harper’s Ferry in Boston, MA
Feb 13 – Highline Ballroom in New York, NY
Feb 14 – State Theatre in Falls Church, VA
Feb 15 – The Khyber in Philadelphia, PA
Feb 16 – 8 x 10 Club in Baltimore, MD

www.thekin.com
www.myspace.com/thekin

-Tami

Tagged as: album, concert, music, music review, performance

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you haven't seen Ang Lee's latest masterpiece, "Lust, Caution," the soundtrack should convince you to run to the nearest theatre. Golden Globe-winning composer Alexandre Desplat perfectly captures the essence of the espionage thriller, setting a deliberate and melancholy tone that haunts the viewers over and over.

With the subtle and delicate use of piano, strings and waltzes, Desplat's restrained music essentially plays a supporting role while the actors do most of the storytelling. I love how the strings rise over the piano on the 'The Angel' track, along with the breathtaking "Falling Rain" and "Wong Chia Chi's Theme." It's a really beautiful score to a gorgeous film.

-Tami

Tagged as: Alexandre Desplat, Ang Lee, composer, Lust, Caution, movie, movie soundtrack, music, piano, score, soundtrack, waltz

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Many folks might still be in the dark about the magical wonder that is called Pink Martini, but consider yourself musically enlightened with their recent third release, Hey Eugene! Hailing from Portland, Oregon, this supremely gifted 15-piece 'little orchestra' first wowed the international music scene with their dazzling music in Sympathique, following with their second hit album Hang on Little Tomato.

From the nostalgic "Everywhere" to the lively "Dosvedanya Mio Bombino (Farewell My Bumblebee)," there is literally something for everybody, as lead singer China Forbes also sings in French, Japanese, Brazilian, Spanish and Arabic. One of my favorite tracks is "Tempo Perdido." As Forbes' plaintive voice delivers the sad lyrics, its latin rhythm is accented with upbeat background vocals from a high school gospel choir.

The beautiful Japanese number "Taya Tan" is the perfect medium to channel Forbes' vocal talent. Breathtakingly mysterious and ethereal, her voice expresses the singer's longing desire to be near her lover. It sent shivers up my spine when I listened to this song in a recent live performance. Her singing has cultivated a refined finesse since the first album, and I'm impressed to see her tackle each foreign language with such fluent passion.

Other songs to check out are "Ojala," the light French cabaret number; the pretty melody in "Cante e Dance" will make you feel as if you're on a private beach somewhere, sipping on a fruity cocktail. The album finishes with a sultry "Tea for Two" duet with Forbes and legendary Jimmy Scott, a special treat for jazz lovers.

It's so rare to find timeless music that you'll listen to again and again, but Pink Martini succeeds in this. Bringing a sophisticated mix of cultural elements to their repertoire, their songs carry a universal message of joy and beauty. I highly recommend their concerts, if you're lucky enough to see them in your hometown. It's so fun, you'll be dancing and clapping along with them each and every time.

www.pinkmartini.com

Sample the tracks here: www.pinkmartini.com/hey_eugene/pm_eugene.html

-Tami

Tagged as: album, China Forbes, concert, Hang on Little Tomato, Hey Eugene!, international, languages, music, music review, orchestra, performance, Portland, singing, song, Sympathique, Thomas Lauderdale, vocals

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I love movies. And being a huge fan of foreign films, I naturally had to check out this year's San Francisco International Film Festival selections. With over 100 entries, I really had to narrow it down and choose a couple great entries from Asia that are worth a gander (in my humble opinion of course).

The opening night film, "Perhaps Love," was one of the most highly anticipated musicals from Hong Kong director Peter Chan (My favorite cinematographer Christopher Doyle also worked on this ambitious project, so that's always a BIG plus). With Bollywood choreography, it's sure to entertain even the most skeptical moviegoer. Frankly, I'm just proud of the fact that this is the first HK film to be chosen for this year's festival opening night.

Set in Shanghai and Beijing, the story is your basic doomed love triangle plot, but with the stellar international cast (Takeshi Kaneshiro (so cute), Zhou Xun, Jacky Cheung and Ji Jin-Hee) and the strong vocals of HK pop megastar Jacky Cheung, you can't help but be enthralled by the whole performance.

Already garnering a few awards, this will attract every hopeless romantic out there, and then some. Be forewarned - while many folks will compare this to "Moulin Rouge," this is more of a realistic portrayal of the many facets and emotions of love, especially the complicated, bittersweet and nasty parts (y'all know what I'm talking about).

Another festival favorite, "House of Himiko," is a dramedy by Isshin Inudo. A young Saori (Kou Shibasaki) is forced to come to terms with her past after a handsome Haruhiko (Joe Odagiri) offers her a high-paying job at a seaside gay retirement home.

Run by her dying estranged gay father (Min Tanaka), a former Ginza transvetite bar owner, she quickly falls into the zany lifestyles of the aging queens. Struggling to resolve her abandoment issues with her stoic father and overcoming her homophobia, Saori soon learns to accept and love each resident's eccentric personalities.

With Ruby the pink-haired queen leading the pack, the residents are the gems that shine throughout the entire film. Presented with a quirky comedic touch, it's an interesting look at Japan's aging gay community and how this resilient culture deals with this societal reality.

See you at the theatres!

Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Files Takeshi Kaneshiro Lifestyle Sweet Life Perhaps Love Peter Chan international films San Francisco Zhou Xun HK musical love triangle House of Himiko aging gay population Isshin Inudo SFIFF Jacky Cheung

Tagged as: fashiontribes.com, Film, Film Festival, Film Stars, Hong Kong, International, Japan, Music, San Francisco, Special Events

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)