The internet is a vast and bewildering wonderland--since it's my job to keep my eyeballs on it all the live long day, I make an effort to excavate a bit of the gold for you. Please enjoy this week's discoveries! And if you already are aware of some items, gush (or rant) away!
It's a Doo-Wop revival, my babies, and this week I'm head over chucks for V.V. Brown's Travelling Into The Light--thereby reinforcing that a few British singer-songwriters and myself are having a mindmeld. See also: Kate Nash's "Do Wah Doo." I came upon V.V. while researching questions for an upcoming SXSW interview and it took me a mere 8 minutes into the investigation to hit the iTunes store. Yay, legal downloading! Quirk, cuteness and confidence also infuse V.V.'s personal style. Don't believe me? Watch these videos for "Leave" and "Crying Blood"
The elder Simpson sister has taken her much-criticized curves and her besties (Ken and Cacee) on an world-wide trip with a purpose. Perhaps as an epiphany after the size FOUR mom jeans incident, this crew is stepping outside the Hollywood bubble to explore what beauty means elsewhere.
I'm completely burnt on reality TV, to be honest--all the rehabbing D-Listers, spider-eating zealots, and the singing, dancing wannabes of the world can go stick it where the sun don't shine, as far as I'm concerned. But I'm willing to back a series that doesn't necessarily have an end game, a cash prize, a major label contract, or the promise of some prestigious title. Jessica Simpson doesn't need anyone's charity--she's a competent pop star who doesn't rely on autotune and keeps up a distinguishable design line that doesn't immediately end up on the clearance racks. I could be way off the mark, or falling for a precise marketing ploy, but this show seems like an exploration. And as a public figure who has expectations of beauty thrust upon her daily, I think Jess is the perfect person to take the lead on this.
Episodes air Monday nights on VH1. For more info, clips and full episodes, visit the official site.
Oh, the times have I bookmarked a site, only to delete it for being stale a week later--I've lost count. I've also cleared my queue of bad-mouthing celebrity gossip sites, no matter how hilarious. It's like a diet for my mind--because, like the body, what you put into it affects what comes out (in your words, actions, and attitude). That said, Tonic.com feels like a healthy dose of media. Focused on "good" news, the site has featured columnists, anti-gossip, and articles that inspire discussion. Need a bit more bait? Read this study about how attitude affects aging.
BOOKS
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into because every one who has recommended this book can boil it down to one word: mindfuck. I'm not one to dive into these types of things because I think I can Figure Shit Out--but I could go for a book that's hard to put down. This novel is literally hard to pick up--meaning not purse compatible but it's not so hefty you could anchor two of them to sink a dead body (a-hem, Stephen King). Physical attributes aside (I don't want any comments about Kindles unless you're willing to give me one, gratis), I'm about 40 pages in, and it's already peculiar. Check out this Wikipedia entry on it--even THAT is lengthy. With all the references to books that don't actually exist and the ghostliness of it, you kid of get the feeling that if you stumble on the right easter egg, you could unlock the key to the universe. Care to join me in this literary lunacy? Pick it up on Amazon.com.
You already know this guy--he's the man your man could smell like. He turns concert tickets into diamonds and he's on a horse. If you're still drawing a big 'ol blank, please kindly join the rest of the pop culture aware world and watch this commercial:
It seems like it's been ages since I fawned over Made of Bricks and a good lot of you scoffed about her singing in an English accent, but the sassy Londoner is back and set to release her sophomore album My Best Friend is You on April 20th. A couple weeks ago she let loose a sexy track "I Just Love You More"--three minutes of innuendo and all the girl does is repeat the same line over and over. It's like someone heard "Pumpkin Soup" and said, "Kate, darling, tell us how you REALLY feel." Listen to it here. Her first single, Do Wah Doo, is more her old route of cutesy confessional storytelling, with a 60's girl group vibe. If Lily Allen has truly quit music (like she claimed here), then Kate just might be enough of a tart to fill her heels.
Track List: 1. You’ll Never Listen 2. Kiss That Girl 3. Don’t You Want To Share The Guilt? 4. I Just Love You More 5. Do Wah Doo 6. Higher Plane 7. I’ve Got A Secret 8. Oh Jay 9. Later On 10. Pickpocket 11. You Were So Far Away 12. I Hate Seagulls
Rpattz sans pale make up and feral Claire (Emilie De Ravin from Lost) get together to be cute, deal with dysfunctional father figures, and sort out life as early twenty-somethings. I back this flick because Pattinson minus Stewart seems like a recipe for refreshing cinema, particularly with the addition of a female lead who has facial expressions. And who knows, maybe fangirls will start lusting after "poetic artsy crap" as opposed to someone who looks at them like a well-garnished slab of steak.
I've probably gushed about this site before, but guess what? I've never done it in a Buzz Guide, so I'm taking my liberties now. Lots of people talk about sites they get lost in--big ol' time sucks. With as much time as I spend on the internet, you'd think I'd personally have a few of these--but no. I have one, and it is Polyvore. It's like paper dolls meets window shopping meets that badass outfit-maker technology Cher had in Clueless. I have an incredibly large walk-in virtual closet, and I can spend HOURS compiling looks. You can clip items from just about any site on the internet, so if you see a smashing peacoat on Fred Flare that you'd love to pair with blue tights and bubble gum pink lipstick... you can do that. In your polyvore life. If your overwhelmed by the options and don't know how to start, may I suggest putting on your favorite song and composing a look to go with it. Go nuts!
I put off reading this one for awhile because it sounded too touchy-feely, and furthermore, I don't have a strong background in any of the titled verbs. It's being made into a movie starring Julia Roberts and is set to hit theaters this year, and I don't like reading books after watching the movie, so I decided to (wo)man up and crack it open. You can read the summary of this anywhere on the internet, I'm going to tell you why this non-fiction travel tale sucked me in: The story basically starts with her sobbing on her bathroom floor, confused because she doesn't want what she THOUGHT she'd want out of life. She bares her soul in facing these obstacles (which includes a nasty divorce) and takes off to travel for a year. She's a real person, and she's really brave. She has insights and insecurities and doubts and she puts that all out on the page, along with her travel adventures. I recommend it, especially for those of you who value nonconformity, or anyone who needs an inspiring tale or two as a nudge toward an intimidating life change. Oh, by the way--the first section will probably make you ravenous. Apologies if you're abstaining from carbs.
BOYS
Christofer Drew
This week's featured boy is one I've actually met and interviewed. Christofer Drew of Never Shout Never has officially won me over. Suffice to say, I'm not sure he'd make this list if I hadn't had a personal interaction with him, because he is all kinds of charming in person. Not to get all new age on you, but he radiates such positive energy. If it's an act, I fell for it. He is a ray of sunshine in a cute hat with multiple musical talents. He's the hippie version Bryce Avary from The Rocket Summer. Go forth and bask in the love... and check out NSN's album What Is Love while you're at it.
The Internet is a big and scary place; since it's my job to sit on it all day, why not share with you the wonderful things that make me happy 'round the world? This week's Buzz Guide from yours truly will cover a variety of things I'm digging. This will certainly include a new snack I'm obsessed with, the most amazing website ever, and a band you've never heard of that rules more than eveyrthing in the world combined. Ready? Buzz Guide ahoy!
This comedic duo was an opener for Motion City Soundtrack when I went to see them at House of Blues on Valentine's Day. I'm usually not a huge supporter of joke-rock, no matter how funny or what great vocal range they have. Tenacious D? No. MC Lars or MC Chris? In small doses, perhaps. Maybe I just couldn't relate. But on Valentine's Day 2010, Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome hit the HOB stage and made me laugh. And well, every time I laugh I fall in love a little bit.
Try and deny this greatness:
Please also check out the song "Pregnant Women Are Smug" on their music page. HILAR.
Oooh, how I love a good psychological thriller! Short synopsis: A psychotic killer vanishes from the insitution for the criminally insane, and U.S. Marshals (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) are called in to find out what happened.
It's based on the 2003 novel by Dennis Lehane, which Mark gives a solid thumbs up to. Watch the trailer here. It hits theaters this Friday (2/19)
I'm not about to be a hypocrite, because I hopped on this bandwagon weeks ago, but if Patrick Stump thought Twitter was encouraging oversharing... well, has anyone introduced him to FormSpring? Before you jump on mine to ask "When did Patrick Stump's hypothetical reactions become a measure of what's good and right in the world?" I'll tell you--I don't know. It just DID.
Gawker calls it the crack cocaine of oversharing. What is its appeal? The ability to ask anonymously? The potential to ask really private or awkward questions? Because I read some people's and... well, from what I've seen there would be nothing wrong with asking those questions via some other social network--or even *gasp* TO THEIR FACE. Is it that getting interviewed makes us feel important? Is it because we can't really motivate ourselves to speak our minds or vent without being prompted? Is it just a trend we're trying on for size, or do you think it can be used in a really effective, revolutionary way? Talk to me, people.
BOOKS
I Don't Care About Your Band: What I Learned From Indie Rockers, Trust Funders, Pornographers, Felons, Faux-Sensitive Hipsters, And Other Guys I've Dated
I haven't read it, but the snap-judger in me was reeled in by the title and the cover art. Jezebel calls it a dating book they can get behind. You're probably too young to have been bored to death by a musician who looks damn good in a promo photo but only recites techical monologues on the phone and makes your face break out because he WONT WASH HIS HAIR. Given the interests of the majority on Buzznet, I can say that I think one day, you'll understand. Arm yourselves.
One of the things I'm loving about Lost's 'flash sideways' this season is rare glimpses of Boone Carlyle. Do I love him enough to watch him on Vampire Diaries? No, because it's a shallow kind of love. And I'm okay with that.
The Internet is a big and scary place; since it's my job to sit on it all day, why not share with you the wonderful things that make me happy 'round the world? This week's Buzz Guide from yours truly will cover one fantastic band, a fantastic video game series, a surreal graphic novel, and some Internet pleasantries I think you should enjoy. Ready? Buzz Guide ahoy!
