Our Initial Reactions

(via gchat, cause that’s how we roll)

Amber: what is happening??

LiLi: i was broken vid

posted

and Stewie is in it

Amber: SHUT UP!

LiLi: NO

I LOVE IT

Amber: OMG!

LiLi: BEST.DAY.EVER

Amber: I am DYING!

LiLi: i have been waiting to watch

so we can together

on gchat

DUH

and then post it

Amber: oop

LiLi: NO

Amber: let me stop it then

LiLi: i was like, STOP

i watched the first like 20 secs

Amber: i am ready whenever you are

LiLi: k

one sec

lemme shut my door

Amber: oh good idea

i shut mine too

this is serious bidness

LiLi: FO REALS

Amber: let’s do this?

LiLi: YES

ready?

Amber: yep

LiLi: k

go

Amber: i am so excited!

LiLi: there he is!

all up close

Amber: hey there marcus

LiLi: Like he is singing to me

Amber: all black and white

gritty

hot

LiLi: oheytherestew

Amber: hey there

LiLi: omg

i am dying already

i lvoe this

Amber: me too

this version

LiLi: and by lvoe i mean LOVE

Amber: gah

i just can’t even function

goosebumps ya’ll

LiLi: srsly

Amber: GOOSEBUMPS

LiLi: i’m getting the quivs

or that

Amber: he looks all emotional

LiLi: and there it is

Amber: it’s making me emotional

LiLi: srsly

Amber: YES!

LiLi: i might have tears

Like tiny ones

pooling

Amber: shut up

me too

LiLi: in the corners of my eyes

maybe

um

she looks gorge

there

i said it

Amber: she really does

the whole simplicity of the video works well with her

LiLi: SHUT UP

Amber: and him

LiLi: it restarted on me

where are you at?

Amber: NO

LiLi: yes

effing school computer

Amber: 2:56

i paused

LiLi: k

one sec

wait

i am looking at her back again

heh

she’s so purty

Amber: hahahahahaha

LiLi: ok

Amber: go?

LiLi: yes!

Amber: i’m sorry

LiLi: OH.MY.GAWD.

Amber: for this song and the emotion

kristen was kind of perfect

i mean is

LiLi: uh…YEAH

Amber: i just can’t

LiLi: srsly

Amber: i love this

LiLi: i.cannot.

Amber: oh

LiLi: i need this again

Amber: that last look

my heart

YES!!

LiLi: srsly

Amber: all day long

LiLi: i am going to start it one more time

and maybe stop staring at Kristen

Amber: oh hell

LiLi: i am going to try and focus on marcus for a min

i know

Amber: damn movie trailer is right after

LiLi: fo reals

uh

look at the sidebar

Amber: damn you msn

LiLi: HELLO

Amber: this is NOT TWILIGHT

LiLi: fo reals

but hey

what are they gonna do

they aren’t stoopid

Amber: oh i know

i don’t blame them

LiLi: okay

watching again

day-um marcus

Amber: i’m already a min in on this bad boy again

LiLi: stop singing to me

Amber: for real

LiLi: i get it

you love me

whatevs

Amber: his eyes are cutting right through me

TO MY SOUL!!

LiLi: BWAHAHAAHAHAHA

oh you

Amber: love me through it

LiLi: i will

i have no choice

i kid

kinda

Amber: 2:25

dear lord

LiLi: k

waiting

Amber: he does this head shake thing

LiLi: im at 1:50

Amber: i just can’t even with marcus

LiLi: gah

marcus

you are a genius

Amber: um

LiLi: in more ways that one

Amber: i like that shirt stew is wearing

i want it

LiLi: srsly

i want her hair

THE HEAD SHAKE

saw it

dammit

Amber: YES!

did you see it??

LiLi: athlete is in here

one sec

i am pausing

Amber: i’m not

but i was at the end

and marcus was giving me that look

that said, you better not pause me!

LiLi: LOL

these damn athletes

and their injuries

don’t they KNOW i have shizz to do

don’t you know this is really pissing some peeps off

confession: i kinda love it

Amber: me too

get over it people

LiLi: fo reals

but i am biased

i love everyone

except jason segal

but that’s a given

Amber: hahahahahahaha!

du

i mean

duh

i posted a tweet

fangirling

i had too

LiLi: srsly

uh

cause we are

Amber’s Final Thoughts

So, I’ve officially watched the video a few hundred times and I got to tell you people, it is brill. I kind of compared it in my mind to the Shadows of the City and, comparitively, this one is just phenomenal. It’s beauty lies in it’s simplicity. Whoa, that was really poingent for me. What I really mean, is the beauty lies in the fact that Marcus appears to be singing directly to me the entire time and he is giving good “eff me” eyes. Yeah. I said it. He is.

But in all seriousness, the black and white and the gritty feel is perfectly suited with this song. And the song? I remember when I fell in love with Marcus back in Dallas and he sang this song on stage and it was just amazing. He’s reworked it a little bit and it’s like the song grew up and became even better. Plus now with this version, I can’t quit listening to people bitch about how we fangirled in Dallas and ruined the video for this song. For the millionth time, I am sorry people. Yes, I am screaming in the background and if you’d have been there, you would have too. SO THERE!

And I have to talk about the fact that Kristen Stewart is in this video. Because it’s kind of like ignoring the elephant in the room if I don’t. People, srsly. Get over it. She is an actress. She is in a movie that has a very rapid fanbase. But that doesn’t mean it should ruin anything she touches. And honestly, look at the style of the video. Stew is PERFECT! She just fits perfectly. If you hate the video just because of her, well, then I feel sorry for you cause you are missing out on something truly fantastic. Had he got a girl off the street you would be singing his praises and talking about how beautiful this video is. I guess I get it in a way. I mean, if Snooki showed up in a video with Sam, I would be irate!

Phew. Rant over. Sorry for that, and if you completely disagree with me, that is fine. That is the beauty of it all. We can have differing opinions and talk and discuss it all out in the comments. Either way, my final word is… I LOVE THIS VIDEO! And duh, I love Marcus and I swear if he doesn’t plan that US tour soon…. ::shakes fist::

LiLi’s Final Answer:

ditto.
to what Amber said.
ALL of it.
i love every second of this vid. AND everyone in it.
i might still be speechless.

but….i have to say this…

to those saying that Marcus is “using” her or the franchise to get ahead or promote his new album, i say, GIVEMEABREAK.

who cares about the whys or hows? can we just enjoy the end product? i mean, i don’t care why she was asked to be in the video. or how it came about. all i know is that it works. for me.

and, let’s just get this out there once and for all. most (notice that i said MOST) of marcus’ fans DID IN FACT find his music because of his connection to Twilight. that’s how i found him. i am not ashamed of that, as i shouldn’t be….but they are two separate things. and i enjoy them both separately. to me, there is no “using” here. an actress was used in this vid because that was the vision either Marcus or the director came up with.  it’s the media and fans who are tagging the Twilight connection to this.  i mean, i don’t see her running through a fucking meadow chasing a goddamn puma or something. i see a gorgeous vid with two gorgeous people doing their thing.

Amber just sent me this gem and naturally we had to dissect it via gchat. Please love us through our inane chatter:

presents

Holly Conlan

Since you are ALL going to see Sam Bradley on his Minor Tour, those of you in the U.S. need to get familiar with another name… Holly Conlan. And let me tell you, you are going to want to get there early to see her because she is pretty much amazeballs. Srsly.

Here is her bio from Shore Fire Media:

Los Angeles native Holly Conlan has carved out a distinct niche in Hollywood’s expansive music community. Her musical journey from a child pawing her father’s grand piano, to classical composition student, to surefooted indie-pop artist has led to the sort of burgeoning career that few independent artists enjoy.

A 2008 release of the Bird EP saw Holly’s first national exposure, with the languid piano and soaring cellos of “Winter” and the upbeat smirk of “OK” appearing in hit shows like One Tree Hill, 90210, Drop Dead Diva, Ghost Whisperer, The Ex List, and Privileged. That Summer, “You Are Goodbye” was awarded the coveted iTunes Single of the Week spot– its heartbreaking lyric and haunting production garnering a slew of new fans. Soon the film world took notice, and Conlan was offered a spot on the soundtrack of Love and Other Impossible Pursuits starring Natalie Portman. Radio play followed in a nod from KCRW (Top Tune – “OK”) and her addition to their 2009 pledge-drive giveaway package.

With the support of LA’s famed Hotel Cafe, Holly has been lucky to share the stage with a number of notable performers including Sara Bareilles, Colbie Caillat, Katy Perry, and Butch Walker. As part of 2008′s Hotel Cafe Tour, she traded sets with the likes of Ingrid Michaelson, Meiko, and Erin McCarley. Plus, her addition of “I’ll be Home for Christmas” to their holiday compilation, Winter Songs, rounded out the Sony/Epic release.

2009 saw the independent release of her newest LP, Fascinator. A culmination of more than a year’s work, the thirteen song offering retains the piano driven spirit of the Bird EP but delves deeper into instrumentation and arrangement, with lyrics that hypnotize. Produced by Al Sgro (Meiko, Gary Jules) and mixed by Darrel Thorp (Beck, Radiohead), Fascinator’s mature realization is proof that Holly Conlan’s journey is far from over.

Here is a taste of Holly AND you can get this song on her website for free!

Not only does Holly have “You and Me” as a free download on her site, you ALSO get a free coupon code for Toms when you sign up for the newsletter. Free music and a deal on shoes? Win-win, my friends.

And really? Sam? You are not fooling anyone. We see what you are doing touring with all these hot babes. And for that we say, kudos Sam. Kudos.

Find Holly all over the interwebs below:

Website
Facebook
Youtube
Myspace
Twitter

AND, if you haven’t bought your tickets yet for the tour, while you are getting the major side-eye from us, you need to go check the tour dates and get on it.

What do y’all think? Tell us in the comments! We love to hear from you!!

————————————————>

A FANTASTIC video from Communion on the Flowerpot Sessions.So many amazing artists featured, including our very own Marcus Foster! I say you should watch the whole thing, but if you are on a time crunch, you can see Marcus at 1:33, 2:32 (quick interview) and 4:41 (Marcus with a turtle, yep).

The sessions will be released on the 30th May, through Communion and Island Records, according to Stay Loose and the end of the video. I said it before and I’ll say it again… be sure to order as soon as it’s available. This compilation sold out before and I have NO doubt in my mind it will sell out again!

If you haven’t been on the site for the Flowerpot Sessions, go now. It is so well done and will make you a very eager beaver for the album. Trust.

are these new? cause they sure are new to us. but, let’s be honest, we miss a lot. i mean, we are #1 fan girls. duh.

And, like the completely normal fangirls we are, we synced our videos and watched the video together. And oh yes, we may or may not have chatted all of our reactions. And yes, I am going to post that chat below. Cause I rule like that!

Where we sync up our YouTube and discuss “important” details

Where we get “Serious Sam” and actually listen

Where Amber jumps the gun way too soon and we discuss buttcheeks

Where LiLi admits to making fun of Amber via Twitter and then we put it ALL out there

Where we decide Sam need an award, and better tags on his videos

Well, if you made it these far, wow. You must really love us and our random conversations! What do you think of the vid? Are you ready to go on ahead and “call it” like me, or do you need more time to dissect it? And what DO those tags mean?

P.S. Sam, since I know you are reading this, I will volunteer to kick your ass play you on Words with Friends. But no cheating and using those English spellings. That’s right! If you agree to write “color” and “gray” like that, we can do this!

COMMUNION BELFAST 12.9.10 / MARCUS FOSTER / Cir…, posted with vodpod

Um… you dead? Cause the first time I watched, I was dead. My favorite Marcus song. A full band. Lots of close ups of the super expressive face. Yep. Dead.

And I kind of love that Marcus apparently blew out the microphones when they recorded this. Amateurs. You gotta be ready for Marcus and that voice. It will shock and awe you baby! Shock. And. Awe.

For all you hardcore Marcus peeps (you know, like Pange) I’m gonna tell you what to watch out for. The line “Beast that feeds off a million dreams.” Right after that, Marcus does this pause. I don’t know how you can completely stop  singing and still have me completely in love. But he does it. Srsly. I watched those few seconds after that line more then should be considered normal.

Here Communion thought they weren’t necessarily giving Marcus enough love cause of some issues with the sound on the video, but I say this. Communion, you just made all of our day!

By the way, be sure and actually visit the blog this video is posted on. There are tons of other amazing videos by killer artists that you will love. #trust

[ LiLi edit-- uh....YES.  There are a ton of vids for your watching enjoyment, i.e. avoiding work.  I mean, if you are into goodness like Mt. Desolation, Pete Roe and The National.  Just sayin.... ]

Download (yes, I said DOWNLOAD, as in you can put it on your iPod and listen FOREVER!) at Fearless Radio!

Unfortunately, real life has been kicking both me and LiLi’s behind lately, and, um, we haven’t gotten to listen yet. We are SO going to, as soon as either of us can stick our heads up out of the water for more then 3.25 seconds and breathe. So, in the mean time we decided you all should listen to it, write a brief summary (500 words or less) on what Bobby said and be sure to include at least 3 quotes that equate awesomeness from the Bobster.

Please and thank you!

Oh, can’t forget this! Best summary gets a superly awesome prize… this VIDEO of Bobby on Fearless!

Wait, I guess I shouldn’t have given you the prize before you did the homework. DAMN!

::sigh::

I know he is off recording an album (with a band no less, SQUEE), and he has a few shows scheduled over across the pond, but man, I may go into withdrawals very soon. I mean, even though I fangirl hardcore at his shows and quite possibly embarass myself every time, I can’t wait to do it again!

Good news for some of you, your withdrawals are ending soon. Are you on the list?

Yeah, me neither. So, let’s pine for Marcus together, and admire his “hobo” ways. Hey! He said it, not me! Okay, I’ve said it before but not today. Not while I’m pining away!

P.S. I really love this song. Like, bunches.

Are you following SoS on Twitter?! Why not?!?!? Do it today, and as soon as I hear that Marcus has added some more dates, I will tell you.

We will get through these hard times. Let’s hold hands and listen to Circle in the Square and dream of short pants and sculpting.

Elizabeth & the Catapult

Source: MySpace.com

If you got out to see Sam on his concert tour this past fall, then you may have already heard (and fell in love with) Elizabeth & the Catapult. I know both LiLi and I did. They are truly an amazing live act to see!

The songs are catchy and fun to sing along with, and if you don’t make Momma’s Boy your official girl anthem, something may be wrong with you. The CD Taller Children has had some prime time in my CD player in my car, and I pretty much got every song memorized. Plus, look at that picture. Is Elizabeth not cute as a button?!?

And it wasn’t just by chance that we choose Elizabeth and the Catapult to be the first band in our new feature, Mix Tape Monday. Today they also released a music video for one of my (and LiLi’s) fave songs on the album, “Race You.”

Watch it and love it, after the jump! (Video autostarts)

From MySpace.com…

The title of Elizabeth and the Catapult’s Verve Forecast debut album Taller Children reflects the unique blend of pop playfulness and grown-up introspection that defines Ziman’s distinctive songwriting. Such memorable originals as “Rainiest Day of Summer,” “Apathy,” “The Hang Up” and “Hit the Wall” embody a vibrant mix of open-hearted wonder, whimsical humor and forthright emotional insight, merging classic pop melodicism with an array of acoustic textures, jazz twists and orchestral flourishes.

The quality of the songs—including a memorable reading of the Leonard Cohen classic “Everybody Knows” —is matched by intimate, effortlessly soulful performances by the Brooklyn trio, which also includes guitarist Pete Lalish and drummer Danny Molad.

Although the bulk of Taller Children was recorded with producer Mike Mogis (noted for his work with the likes of Bright Eyes, M. Ward and Rilo Kiley), several of the album’s performances were drawn from the homespun demos that the band recorded in drummer Molad’s home studio. The resulting album strikes a vital balance between lush sophistication (with such elements as Ziman’s elegant string arrangements) and spare, unadorned simplicity.

The qualities that make Taller Children such a refreshing surprise have already made Elizabeth and the Catapult a beloved favorite on New York’s downtown club scene, where the threesome’s winsome tunes and energetic, surprise-filled live shows have won them a large and devoted local fan base.

Elizabeth’s warmly personal songs reflect the diverse influences of her lifelong pursuit of music. She grew up in New York’s Greenwich Village, just down the street from the Cafe Wha? and the Fat Black Pussycat, where her future heroes Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell got their start.

Elizabeth and the Catapult are on MySpace, Twitter and you can buy their album Taller Children on iTunes and Amazon.

What are Mix Tape Mondays?

We love Sam, Bobby and Marcus as much as all of you, but sometimes we need some other tunes to play in between the Brit Boy awesomeness. Mix Tape Mondays are when LiLi and I will feature some of our fave lesser known (aka indie) groups, music that is definitely worth being on your “mix tape” with the guys! Pretty soon, we will have an entire page dedicated to the groups we feature, but in the mean time we’d love to take your suggestions on artists you think we need to check out. Send any suggestions (as well as a link to their MySpace page or some other page where we can hear some tunes) to LiLi and I at shackofsoul@hotmail.com. Remember, we’d like to keep this peeps that are up and coming, so unsigned or artists signed to Indie labels are preferred.

Take a moment in the comments and let us know what you think of Elizabeth &  the Catapult. Did you see them on the tour, or are you listening for the first time today? What do you think of the video? It’s not unusual for our featured artists to make an appearance on the site, so be sure to say hi!