Vampire Weekend December 15, 2009

As much as I love Edward, I’m all excited for a vampire of a different kind.  Vampire Weekend will be releasing their much anticipated sophomore album, Contra, January 12, 2010.  Their delightfully different sound usually conjures up images of old fashioned Ivy League boys in preppy outfits, but also makes me think of Dr. No.  James Bond might give Edward a run for his money, but that’s another topic for another post.  Dr. No is set in the Kingston, Jamaica of the 1960’s, which lends itself to the old fashioned, islandy feel of the music.

Vampire Weekends hails from Columbia University, so I got the Ivy League part right, but their influence is more South African than Jamaican.  (I shouldn’t have painted my nails through geography…)  Either way, these boys know how to keep me coming back for more.  Check out their new single Cousins while you wait for the album release;  it’ll put you in the mood.

Bonus question:  Are there any Oxford Commas in this post?

Cinema Italiano December 13, 2009

I have a feeling Kate Hudson is about to blow everyone away in her upcoming film, Nine. We’ve all watched her acting career blossom, but she’s about to add singing and dancing to her resume.  Check out the trailer for the movie along with the first song release, Cinema Italiano by Kate Hudson.  The song is already available on Amazon’s mp3 downloads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmCbbtkRYR8&feature=related

Costume designer Colleen Atwood took on the intimidating task of creating the many costumes for the production.  Pictured here is Kate Hudson’s Swarovski crystal mesh dress for the Cinema Italiano number.

The musical, directed by the Oscar nominated Rob Marshall (Chicago) is scheduled to be released Christmas Day.  Kate holds her own with a star studded cast, including Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Fergie, and Sophia Loren.  The story follows a famous film director (Day-Lewis) as he interacts with the many women in his life.  This film promises elaborate scenery, multiple costume changes, and sweeping musical numbers that will not disappoint.