Noah Gundersen

With lyrics as spiritually honest as David Bazan, and a voice as clear and haunting as Damien Rice, this is one emerging Seattle musician that you do not want to pass up. He is quickly moving into, if not already in, my top five artists of all time, and he only has one EP and a few live tracks available for purchase.

http://www.myspace.com/noahgundersen

-Josh

The Proposal

When listing the ingredients for a successful romantic comedy, you only need to have the basics—love and a of couple laughs. Which makes us wonder why with so low a standard, The Proposal , directed by Anne Fletcher (27 Dresses), fell so short of the mark. Hollywood has never ceased to amaze us with chemistry between unlikely couples, Princess Leia and Han Solo, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, we have even seen King Kong and Ann Darrow fall in love! So how hard could it be to cause confident, sexy Sandra Bullock, and lovable Ryan Reynolds to fall for each other? Apparently, a little harder than we thought.

Sandra Bullock plays Margaret Tate, a witch-like, chief editor and boss of a successful publishing company in New York City who is about to be deported back to Canada due to a denied Visa. Ryan Reynolds is Andrew Paxton, her hard- working, devoted assistant, who despite loathing his boss, is determined to get a promotion to editor. Just when there seems to be no loop holes for Margaret to keep her job through, salvation comes in the form of her assistant, Andrew, who she blackmails into marrying her so that she can stay in the United States. But an eye for an eye, and Andrew blackmails Margaret in return, agreeing to do it only on the basis that she will make him an editor when the whole ordeal is over. Both getting what they need out of the “business deal”, they bank their futures on each other with the promise of getting “happily divorced” in the end. To prove the legitimacy of their romantic relationship to a very skeptical immigration officer (Dennis O’Hare), they visit Andrew’s family in Alaska.

Up in Alaska’s wilderness their “relationship” is tested by the pressures of family and Margaret’s future in-laws. As a city girl who lost both her parents at age sixteen, the loving family starts out overwhelmingly attentive for Margaret, but eventually they teach her about the importance of family and relationships. However, it feels like Bullock’s character has more chemistry with the Paxton family than with their only son. Most of the family interactions revolve around 90 year-old grandma Annie, played by Betty White, who teaches Margaret what it means to be loved. Between going to a strip club with mom and grandma, altering her wedding dress together, and meeting Andrew’s ex-girlfriend, Margaret seems to fall more in love with the family than Andrew.

Although audiences may understand their initial hostility towards each other, no one expected it to endure to the last five minutes of the film. But even with the unconvincing romance between Bullock and Reynolds, The Proposal still offers many laughs. Anyone who has seen the trailer knows that the film contains some awkward but funny moments like when Bullock and Reynolds run into each other—naked. Or when Bullock’s character tries to feed an adorable puppy to an eagle in return for her cell phone. However, even with its comedic interactions, this film misses the essence of what a good chick flick is all about—falling in love and living happily ever after. Maybe cupid got lost…

Two out of five.

William Fitzsimmons: Live Sessions from Downtown Studio

With his gentle strums and mournful voice, you can just picture William Fitzsimmons playing by lamp light at Downtown Music’s SOHO studio in New York. Titled William Fitzsimmons: Live Sessions from Downtown Studios, his latest EP features seven baleful ballads of lost love and heartfelt melancholy. It is medicine for the lovesick heart.

Each track sings anew of the desire to reclaim, rekindle, and reignite a relationship that has turned to ash. “I Don’t Feel It Anymore”, an acoustic version of the song from his album The Sparrow and the Crow, tells his listener to “hold on because this will hurt more/ than anything has before”. This ode to a romance-lost sets the tone for the remaining six songs. “Goodmorning”, sings of a new beginning—but with someone else, as he promises that “you will find love”. “Maybe Be Alright” mourns the end of a relationship that never even got off the ground, exclaiming that “I am sorry for everything I did/but I’m still that stupid kid”. The only hopeful song on the EP is “After Afterall”, which describes the desire to still love even after relational pain, while remembering marital vows, “for better or worse/sickness and death/till death do us part/afterall”.

However, to mix things up, Fitzsimmons features artist and musical accomplice Rosi Golan on two of the tracks. Once on “If You Would Come Back Home”, also from his The Sparrow and the Crow album, and again on “You Still Hurt Me”. The two have worked together before, and Fitzsimmons is featured on Golan’s alum The Drifter and the Gypsy. Golan deep, whispery voice combined with Fitzsimmons gentle tenor, make for a break-taking musical experience.

This talented artist is the youngest son of two blind, but musically inclined, parents and grew up in steel-country Pennsylvania. Fitzsimmons’ EP reflects the Appalachian musical melancholy of his youth fairly accurately, and is jumpstarting a two month, ten state, five country tour. After playing in the States, he will end up in Germany bring his folk-acoustic style across the Atlantic.

William Fitzsimmons: Live Sessions from Downtown Studios is sure to please fans, even if it does not win over new listeners. The addition of Rosi Golan, and the acoustic versions of several of his songs are musical candy to those who already love him. The EP is a great addition to any music collection, and great for rainy day listening with your morning cup of coffee.

Altogether, the recording has a very intimate-sounding quality, picking up every twang and folk-y strum of the guitar. Despite the almost-gloomy nature of the EP, its musical depth, poeticism of real-life experiences make it worth the $6.93.

Three stars of five.

American Fiction

Well ladies and gents!

I am excited to blog about our latest indie-folk musician, Ethan Cook. He performs under the moniker American Fiction, and is based in Madison, Wisc. His deep, lyrical genius paired with the lonely moan of the harmonica is what catches the listener's attention. He just signed with Branch Records, an indie label based in Panama, Fl. Hopefully we'll get an official interview with him soon. Sound a-likes/influences: Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty

Check American Fiction out:

http://www.myspace.com/americanfictionband

gabs

Horse Feathers

It would be a lie to say that I wasn't nervous interviewing Justin Ringle over the phone. As a big Horse Feathers fan, I probably rambled way too much about how excited I was to see the band perform at the Rathskeller this Thursday than actually listening to what he had to say. But I managed to compose myself long enough to get a few of my questions answered...

Justin Ringle first played solo under the moniker of Horse Feathers, and even though now he plays with a band, the name has stuck around as a symbol of what their music stands for. Horse Feathers', as a band name, Ringle explained, comes from a phrase his grandfather used to say, meaning "nonsense". The phrase conjured up the feeling of antiquity, and music in its rustic form. The sense of appalachian-melancholy that is inspired by their music, is very much sets the mood of their album, House With No Home, with its haunting minor chords and rich string arrangements. The album title comes from the lyrics of one of their songs, and "encapsulates what I was feeling at the time, this feeling of displacement", Ringle tells me, "I was intrigued by the idea of alliteration in the title, but also by the interesting complex of how a 'house' is a physical place, while a 'home' is a feeling and that you can have one without the other".

Although they are a band, they work together untraditionally, in the sense that the band members come and go based on availability. Ringle gently corrected me when I asked him what challenges he faced as the leader of the band. "We aren't your traditional rock band, so I don't like calling myself the "leader", or anything. I play and the band members accompany me." He explains, "But probably the hardest part is keeping the accompanists around. In the past they have come and gone." Ringle is touring with Nathan Crockett (violin, saw, vocals), Catherine O'dell (cello, vocals), Sam Cooper (banjo, mandolin, percussion, violin).
While writing and performing music barely pays the bills, Ringle and his Horse Feathers pioneer on, with a united vision. "I just want to make the best music I can. I'd like to make a living from it, but its not as much about that as it is about the music". Spoken like a true musician. "We really do try to make each performance better than the last".

But for those of you still confused about who Horse Feathers are, and whether or not their show is something you want to attend this Thirsty-Thursday, let me clear some things up. On Thursday evening, Ringle will be joined by most of the "accompanists" who are on the album, at the Rathskeller. Their sound is alternative-folk, and for those dedicated fans of Bon Iver, Bowerbirds and other indie folk bands, this is a show you should not pass up! This will be their fourth time playing in Madison, and the band is anticipating a good performance.

Alexi Murdoch

So unfortunately my interview with him fell through entirely. But just thought I would say that you haven't heard a good song until you have heard Orange Sky. Alexi Murdoch reaches to those of us music listeners with a capacity for the deeper and more melancholy chord progressions and spirits. Okay that sentence was just my attempt at something profound to say as I listen to the steady drumbeat of Orange Sky (which I am listening to right now).

Maybe my path will cross with Alexi once again. But for now I will have to be content with listening to his free streaming on myspace. You do it too.

cheers
gabs


(happy Josh?)

....

this blog is kind of pathetic.....