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Speakerphone Spotlights
Video of the Month
I'm Yours
I love everything about this song and this video. Shot mainly in Hawaii, this video breathes the essence of summer. The mellow steady beat gives this song so much heart. It makes you want to be right there with Mraz and his friends. Hanging out and living it up in a beautiful island paradise. If you haven't seen this video yet, I'm not sure where you have been. It's the perfect video for the close of summer, seeing as it just officially became fall during the end of September. Everything about this video is great and it puts you in a wonderfully relaxed mood.
With his new album, Evolver coming out at the end of the month and performing at the Democratic National Convention, John Legend has and will continue to be a well known name. He performed his song "If You're Out There" to the audience at the DNC, where the theme of the night coincided with the theme of the song; one of hope, change, responsibility and the commitment for a better tomorrow. Democratic Candidate Barack Obama even has a link on his official website to John Legend's website. Legend is an extremely talented artist and is currently riding on this wave of success. Look for his new album due out October 28th.
Album of the Month
Loyalty to Loyalty
Cold War Kids, hailing from Long Beach, CA just released their second album, Loyalty to Loyalty. It listens much like Radiohead and Elvis Perkins with a little bit of soul added in. There is enough variation to keep you listening, but much like Radiohead it does have a specific feel throughout most of the album. Coming off a little darker than their freshman CD, Loyalty to Loyalty produces it's own atmosphere while listening. Give this band a shot if you have never heard them before.
Song of the Month
"Sex on Fire"
"Sex on Fire" by the UK band Kings of Leon, is a gritty and raw anthem. Well, a would be anthem, if you kind of ignore the lyrics. If you listen to the lyrics, you will notice that they are basically about sex, there is no getting around that. But the instrumentation is honestly great. It is very reminiscent of Pearl Jam with a bit of Foo Fighters thrown in, with a heavy bass line and solid drum beat. The song is really fun and overall good so give it a listen.
Matt Lysgaard is a musician from Denmark, shown to us by Maegan's little sister Taylor. He covers several popular American songs varying in genres but keeping mostly in the realm of top radio plays. We chose his cover of "Ironic" by Alanis Morissette because he just did a really great job with it. It was done acoustically which was pretty great and his vocals are almost spot on to the way that Alanis does them, but still managing to keep his own hold on the song. He writes original music as well and if you are looking for something new to listen to, I say give this guy a try. You can find most of the covers up on You Tube by searching his name.
Dust Jacket Project is a blog created by Joel P West that I personally love. This blog was created to go hand in hand with the release of his album, Dust Jacket. The project is basically an exchange of art. You send in an original piece, whether is a photo, drawing, writing piece, etc and then in return you get a digital copy of his album. It doesn't matter if you consider yourself an artist or not, it the beauty behind a piece of artwork that is honest. The main idea behind the blog is to display art that was sent in by different people, which is all displayed anonymously. This is art for the sake of art. It is not to gain fame and fortune. It is to see the honest creation and the beauty behind that. I encourage everyone to go take a look and submit your own piece. I did and the album is pretty awesome, so really, there is no reason you shouldn't do this. Also, read his statement on the project. It makes you look at the production of art in a new way.
DVD Of The Month
Cube
With the five millionth fifth Saw movie in theatres, maybe it's time to look back and watch a mindgame race against the clock that's a little different. Sure, Cube's not particularly recent. But it's still interesting.
Boxed Set Of The Month
The West Wing season 4
The first four seasons are all brilliantly written; Sorkin's scripts have a rhythm unsurpassed. But season 4, the election season, has both Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn and Joshua Malina as Will Bailey. There might not be a "best" season with this show, but it is definitely a favorite. I'd vote for Bartlet.
Book of the Month
The Name of the Wind
Fantasy is an easy genre to write badly. There's such a difficult balance between cliché and trying too hard. So when we say this is an elegant book that captures the reader on the first page, it tells you a lot. Patrick Rothfuss has done with fantasy what few authors of any genre succeed in doing. It's beautiful and the only drawback is the sequel has not yet been published.
[Photos courtesy of Google Images and MySpace.]
Nominations
Each month, bands, readers, and the general public have a chance to nominate their favorites to have the spotlight. We want your nominations for next issue's Speakerphone Spotlight! If you'd like to nominate your favorite artist, video, song, movie, politician, book, food, store - whatever strikes your fancy - email mary@speakerphonemag.com and include "Speakerphone Spotlight" in the subject line!
[Compiled by Mary Wiggins and Brittany Holmgren]
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