11/6/07

Apple iPod - Touch

Artist: CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexi)
Track: "Music is My Hot, Hot Sex"
Record: Self-titled (2006)
Record Label: Sub Pop
About: Cansei de Ser Sexy (lit. "[I'm] tired of being sexy" in Portuguese; better known as CSS) is a Brazilian band from São Paulo. Their songs have an electro-rock/ New Wave sound, and are sung in both English and Portuguese; their lyrics mostly concern pop culture.
CSS formed in September 2003, consisting of a group of friends. Their name was taken from a reported quote by Beyoncé, who allegedly declared that she was "tired of being sexy".
The band first became known through the internet. Their fotolog gained popularity and their songs were frequently downloaded from Trama Virtual's website (a Brazilian website similar to MySpace Music). After this overnight sensation, Trama Virtual invested heavily in the band, inviting a series of Brazilian and British journalists to report on them. Articles were printed in several Brazilian magazines and even British newspapers such as The Guardian, whose reporter was invited to see the band playing just before their signing for the debut, at a club in São Paulo. He predicted that they "could be the biggest band ever to come out of South America".
Suggested CSS Listening: "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from Above"
MySpace: www.myspace.com/canseidesersexy
Website: http://www.csshurts.com/
Purchase Album from Insound

In the News - Apple iPod Touch Commercial

A shiny Apple story ... and a rotten one
MATHEW INGRAM

Globe and Mail Update

E-mail Mathew Ingram | Read Bio | Latest Columns
October 29, 2007 at 6:34 AM EST

Beginning today, Globe and Mail new-media reporter Mathew Ingram writes a Monday-to-Thursday feature on must-see Web hits and the latest news from the online world.

It's a heart-warming tale of what some call "user-generated content:" Nick Haley, an 18-year-old student in Leeds, hears a song with the lyric "my music is where I'd like you to touch," and the first thing he thinks of is how appropriate that line would be for an iPod Touch ad. So what does he do? He makes one and uploads it to YouTube.

Next thing he knows, his cellphone rings - an Apple marketing executive says they're interested in using his ad. Soon he's on a plane to California, where Apple's ad agency essentially recreates his ad in high-definition (the ad started running on U.S. television yesterday).

Did Apple go to all that trouble to create a heart-warming tale of user-generated content? Perhaps. Of course, Apple has also come under fire in the past for running ads that looked a little too much like someone else's work (including the moving silhouette ads, which were very similar to some created by Toronto-based Taxi).

Maybe this time Apple thought it might be better to give credit to the originator.

But Apple doesn't always respond so kindly to helpful suggestions from Apple fans. Just ask Shea O'Gorman: the nine-year-old girl, who loves listening to her iPod, wrote a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs mentioning some of the features she would like added to the device (including the ability to see the lyrics of the songs as they play).

Three months later, she was overjoyed to get a letter back from Apple — until she and her parents read it, and realized that it came from Apple's chief counsel, who told Shea not to send Apple any more such letters and advised her to read the company's legal policy. The girl's parents say she was so upset she threw the letter aside and went to her room.

According to Apple, the letter was a standard form letter that is designed to protect the company from malicious lawsuits launched by inventors who might claim Apple took their ideas. The chief counsel later called Shea O'Gorman to apologize, and the company has reportedly had a meeting to try and respond better to inquiries from children.

mingram@globeandmail.com

11/2/07

Outback Steakhouse - Go Outback

Artist: Of Montreal
Track: Wraith Pinned to the Mist And Other Games (Outback version)
Listen to the Original version
Album: Original song appeared on Sundlandic Twins (2005)
Record Label: Sonic Unyon Records
About Of Montreal: Of Montreal is an American indie pop band formed in Athens, Georgia, fronted by Kevin Barnes. It was among the second wave of groups to emerge from The Elephant 6 Recording Company.
The band was created by Kevin Barnes and named after a failed romance with a woman from Montreal, though the story changes in various interviews. Barnes was the only member of the "group" prior to his relocation to Athens, Georgia. There, he met Derek Almstead, later of the Circulatory System, M Coast, Elf Power etc., and Bryan Poole, who also performs as The Late B.P. Helium. Together, they recorded their first album, Cherry Peel, as well as The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit's Flower and The Bedside Drama: A Petite Tragedy.
Myspace: www.myspace.com/ofmontreal
Website: www.ofmontreal.net
Purchase album from Insound

10/31/07

M&M's - Kaleidoscope

Artist: Iron and Wine
Track: Such Great Heights (cover)
Album: Garden State Soundtrack (2004)
Record Label: Sub Pop Records
About Iron and Wine: Iron & Wine is the stage and recording name of folk rock singer-songwriter Sam Beam. He has released three studio albums, as well as several EPs and singles, and a few download-only releases, including a live album (a recording of his 2005 Bonnaroo performance). Beam was raised in South Carolina before moving to Florida to attend school, but now resides outside of Austin, Texas. The name Iron & Wine was taken from a dietary supplement named "Beef Iron & Wine" that he found in a general store while shooting a film. He enjoyed the name, but decided to drop the "beef"
Suggested Iron and Wine Listening: "Boy With a Coin" and "Resurection Fern" from The Shepherd's Dog (2007)
MySpace: www.myspace.com/ironandwine
Website: www.ironandwine.com
Purchase album from Insound

10/30/07

Volkswagen - Gridlock Bubble Brigade

Artist: Death Cab for Cutie
Track: Your Heart is an Empty Room
Album: Plans (2005)
Record Label: Atlantic Records
About Death Cab for Cutie: Formed in the tiny college town of Bellingham, WA, Death Cab for Cutie started out as a solo project from engineering student and committed indie rocker Ben Gibbard. Having turned a freshly broken heart into nine songs he wasn't embarrassed to share with someone else, he recruited fledgling four-track producer Chris Walla and bassist Nick Harmer. The result was the 1997 cassette, You Can Play These Songs With Chords (finally released on CD in '02, expanded to include various DCFC rarities).
To set the record straight, the band's name comes from a song performed by British jazz/rock/comedy combo the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film.
Suggested Death Cab for Cutie Listening: "Marching Bands of Manhattan" and "Soul Meets Body" from Plans (2005)
MySpace: www.myspace.com/deathcabforcutie
Website: www.deathcabforcutie.com
Purchase album from Insound
Video Coming Soon!

10/29/07

Levi's - Change

Artist: Peter, Bjorn, and John
Track: Up Against the Wall
Album: Writer's Block (2007)
Record Label: Sony Music Canada Inc.
About Peter, Bjorn, and John: Peter Bjorn and John are a Swedish indie rock band, formed in Stockholm in 1999. The current members are Peter Morén on vocals, guitar, and harmonica; Björn Yttling on vocals, bass and keyboards; and John Eriksson on drums, percussion, and vocals.
They are best known for the 2006 single "Young Folks", which featured Victoria Bergsman, formerly of The Concretes, and was a top 20 hit in the UK Singles Chart.
Suggested Peter, Bjorn, and John Listening: "Young Folks" from Writer's Block (2007).
MySpace:www.myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn
Website:www.peterbjornandjohn.com
Purchase album from Insound

10/28/07

In the News - Wilco Explain Volkswagen Ads

Wilco Explain Volkswagen Ads

"We feel okay about VWs. Several of us even drive them." After millions of infuriated Wilco fans around the globe set fire to their copies of Sky Blue Sky and drove their Jettas off cliffs yesterday, Wilco took it upon themselves to explain their recent involvment in a Volkswagen ad campaign.

"With the commercial radio airplay route getting more difficult for many bands," wrote the Chicago sextet on its official website, "we see this as another way to get the music out there."

They continued: "And we feel okay about VWs. Several of us even drive them."

Wilco also clarified remarks made in the Volkswagen press release announcing their licensing deal with the German automobile manufacturer, which claimed this was Wilco's first such licensing deal.

"If you're keeping track, this is not the first time Wilco has licensed a song to or even been involved in a commercial -- most recently a TV spot for Telefonica Mobile in Spain used a Wilco song and some years prior Jeff Tweedy appeared in a campaign for Apple Computer. Wilco have licensed hundreds of songs to television shows and films worldwide... from festival-only indie films to major motion pictures and weekly TV shows."

So, there you have it. Life goes on, people buy cars, dads continue to rock Sky Blue Sky, and Wilco kick off their tour next week. Check out the dates and the complete VW statement after the jump.

As many of you are aware, Volkswagen has recently begun running a series of TV commercials featuring Wilco music.

Why? This is a subject we've discussed internally many times over the years regarding movies, TV shows and even the odd advertisement. With the commercial radio airplay route getting more difficult for many bands (including Wilco); we see this as another way to get the music out there. As with most of the above (with the debatable exception of radio) the band gets paid for this. And we feel okay about VWs. Several of us even drive them.

If you're keeping track, this is not the first time Wilco has licensed a song to or even been involved in a commercial -- most recently a TV spot for Telefonica Mobile in Spain used a Wilco song and some years prior Jeff Tweedy appeared in a campaign for Apple Computer. Wilco have licensed hundreds of songs to television shows and films worldwide... from festival-only indie films to major motion pictures and weekly TV shows.

Thus far the songs in the VW campaign are "The Thanks I Get" (a bonus track from Sky Blue Sky sessions, available for download via the Enhanced CD and via iTunes) and "You are my Face". We expect to have more details re: other songs shortly. The current plan (subject to change, like everything) is for 5 or 6 songs to be used.

That's it. Don't believe everything you read unless you read it here.

HQ

n.p. Kicking Television

Posted on Pitchfork Media by Matthew Solarski in business on Tue: 06-05-07: 10:10 AM CDT
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/43404-wilco-explain-volkswagen-ads