Pop Culture Recommendations – 3rd week of October

New Movie: The Social Network

People have been raving about it over all the social networks, so even if I haven’t seen it yet, I would highly recommend it (and maybe get to finally see it within the week). And even though some of the facts are currently being disputed in this “biopic” on Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, it is still an interesting study on human greed and relative truth

Old (ish) movie: Bandslam

This is the HS Musical/Camp Rock for the hipsters. And this is where I first had a girl crush on Aly Michalka (the Hellcats law student/rocker turned cheerleader)

New album: Come Around Sundown by Kings of Leon

To be handpicked by U2 as the front act for their tour is an honor that young bands only dream of. And in their 2nd album, Kings of Leon prove why they were accorded that honor. Radioactive is constantly on my playlist these days

New discovery: Matthew Perryman Jones

If you like the sound of sensitive singer/songwriters like Damien Rice, William Fitzsimmons, Matt Nathanson and Alexi Murdoch, then this guy is for you

New TV Show:  Blue Bloods

I have an automatic liking for crime procedurals and cop shows, so this was an automatic winner for me. Add to the mix excellent performances by Donnie Wahlberg (yes, even ex-NKOTB can have careers), Bridget Moynahan (the first Mrs. Big!) and Tom Selleck (he will always be Dr. Richard Burke to me) and this tale of a family of law enforcers is a must-see for me

TV Show You Should Be Watching: Cougar Town

It’s on Star World already, so why aren’t you watching? It’s the new, older Friends. Well not exactly, but it does have that feel sometimes. And it’s funny!!!

Fiction Book: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

After writing about Greek demi-gods, Rick turns to Egyptian mythology for his latest book series. Interesting, exciting and relatable for those who have annoying but smart siblings

Non-fiction Book: Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller

I think I have a writer’s crush on Donald Miller. He articulates the God-shaped hole in our hearts in ways that I never thought of before. Imagine using Romeo and Juliet as a metaphor for this! And he writes this is in such a humorous, snarky but deep and thought provoking way. Yes, I crush him

“Some would say formulas are how we interact with God, that going through motions and jumping through hoops are how a person acts out his spirituality. This method of interaction, however, seems odd to me, because if I want to hang out with my friend Tuck, I don’t stomp my foot three times, turn around, and say his name over and over like a mantra, lighting candles and getting myself in a certain mood. I just call him. In this way, formulas presuppose God is more a computer or a circus monkey than an intelligent Being. I realize that sounds harsh, but it is true.”

 

Songs I Can’t Get Out of My Head Lately Vol 1

(Note: This playlist is heavily influenced by the Relevant Magazine podcast)

1. How He Loves by John Mark McMillan – the Relevant gang calls this the “Shout of the Lord” of this new generation. He had me at “If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.”

2.  Passion Play by William Fitzimons – This song just about kills me everytime I listen to it because it reminds me of His stubborn love even when I was hiding and pushing Him away. “I should not have hid where my heart can’t follow”

3. City by Sara Bareilles – No matter how many times I shuffle my Ipod, this song always comes up and haunts me

4. Brand New Day as covered by Aly Michalka – I usually consider Sting covers blasphemous, but this is one of the few I like. Go Hellcats!

5. Take Me Away by Pink Slip (aka Lindsay Lohan’s band on Freaky Friday) – because once upon a time, LL was awesome

6. Your Heart is an Empty Room by Death Cab for Cutie – my love song to myself. “But you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn’t need
Cause you knew you were finally free”

7. Radioactive by Kings of Leon – this song just sticks to my head like glue. He really sounds like a young Bono doesn’t he? Even Bono says so himself

8. Neighborhood #1 by Arcade Fire – Of course it’s not a worship song per se, but when they start wailing “Purify the colours, purify my mind, and spread the ashes of the colours over this heart of mine!”, I am speaking and singing to Him alone

9. Stay (Faraway So Close) by U2 – you always have to have a U2 song that you can’t get out of your head

10. Tracing by John Mayer – still on a John Mayer hangover, despite the hotel trashing rumors. Let’s just stick to the music eh? We already know that most rock stars are douches anyway

11. 15 Step by Radiohead – that drum beat and Thom Yorke’s voice is just so addictive and mesmerizing

12. Monday by Carlo Dall’ Anese e Fabio Castro – heard this song in a Fernando Torres goal compilation video and it’s just such a rousing and beautiful song

 

Eleven Songs That Defined 2009 for Me

In no particular order….

“Breaking” – Anberlin – this song is for all those who broke hearts all over the place. You know who you are. I wish that 2010 will be the year of turning your life around so that no more girls (or boys, to be fair) will cry because of you

You make breaking hearts look so easy
Seems like you’ve done this before
You’ve got breaking hearts all but down
And you’ve done this, you’ve done this before

“Use Somebody” – both the original by Kings of Leon and the cover by Brooke White. This is one of those songs that I wish I could have written

I’ve been roaming around, I was looking down at all I see
Painted faces fill the places I can’t reach
You know that I could use somebody

“Stillness is the Move” – Dirty Projectors – It’s at the top of most critics’ year end lists and 10 seconds into the song, I understood why

after all that we’ve been through
i know we’ll make it after the wait
the question is a truth
there is nothing we can’t do
i’ll see you along the way baby
the stillness is the move

“Live Like We’re Dying” – Kris Allen – Even though Adam has been getting all the attention (and the sales), Kris is still my American Idol

and we’re all staring down the barrel of a gun
so if your life flashed before you
what would you wish you would’ve done

“Heartbreak Warfare” – John Mayer – His newest album was long overdue, and he didn’t disappoint, with songs like this one that was ripped from emo people’s diaries

Drop his name
Push it in and twist the knife again
Watch my face
As I pretend to feel no pain

“Magnificent” – U2 – Need I say more? No matter what album they release, fan or critics favorite or both, I still love. And this song was my favorite from No Line on the Horizon

I was born, I was born to sing for you
I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice from the womb
My first cry, it was a joyful noise

500 Days of Summer Soundtrack – okay, this is cheating of course, but the whole album was just, for lack of a better word, awesome; the perfect musical accompaniment for the perfect 2009 movie. She & Him’s Why Do You Let Me Stay Here stands out

Why don’t you sit right down and make me smile?
You make me feel like I am just a child
Why do you edit?
Just give me credit
I’m just sitting on the shelf

“If You’re Wondering If I Want You To” – Weezer – Geek rock will forever rule! I dare you to not bob your head while listening to this song

So much pain may come my way,
There may come a day when we have nothing left to say!
When the conversation stops,
And we’re facing our defeat.
I’ll be next to you,
And you’ll be right there next to me.

“I And Love And You” – The Avett Brothers – The melody, the voice, the lyrics, are all very simple. But something about the song strikes a chord in me. Maybe because those three words haven’t left my lips in such a long time…

Dumbed down and numbed by time and age
Your dreams to catch the world, the cage
The highway sets the travelers stage
All exits look the same
Three words that became hard to say
I and love and you

“Fireflies” – Owl City – Even my former officemate’s 7 year old daughter was captivated by this song. And I wouldn’t mind having all the toys in the music video too. The perfect song for Insomniacs like me

I’d like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It’s hard to say that I’d rather stay
Awake when I’m asleep
‘Cause everything is never as it seems

All the Songs from Glee – Again, cheating. But it’s hard to choose from among many gems from my favorite new show of 2009. They made uncool songs pleasant to the ears, and some, even more awesome than the original. April seems so far away…

What were your favorite songs from 2009?