Pick Of The Week: Imperial Teen

It's always fun when long-time favorites make a great new album and I have a chance to introduce them to a new audience. Imperial Teen released their first album a remarkable 16 years ago. Way back in 1996, their quirky pop (with a bite) was a bit rebellious since the music world was obsessed with post-Nirvana Alternative Rock. In retrospect, looking at the success of bands like Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot, they obviously were just ahead of their time. There's nothing not to love about this album, its well-written, cheery, fun, and has enough rock to avoid sugar overload. It's perfect to get us through cold and gloomy February!  

Imperial Teen - Feel The Sound: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

The Big C Starts Production!

It's true, The Big C is back in production already, filming in Stamford, CT is officially underway. And the producers and I are already working on some fun musical treats for Season 3! The first episode is due to air on April 8 on Showtime. If you don't have Showtime, or haven't seen the first couple seasons, get thee to Netflix, you can rent Season 1 there! You can read about the Showtime season premieres on The Huffington Post here.

Pick Of The Week: Craig Finn

I still remember distinctly the first time I saw Craig Finn perform, with his band Lifter Puller, although many lesser shows have blurred in my memory since then. It must have been in 2000, after their record "Fiestas and Fiascos" came out. They played in the dirtiest, diviest club I have ever been to in Los Angeles (not surpassed yet), the wonderful and infamous Al's Bar. The performance was mind-blowing, to say the least, and the gritty atmosphere only enhanced the feeling that we were discovering something truly and incredibly awesome. As I recall it, there wasn't even a stage at Al's, the bands just played in a corner of the bar. Craig Finn has a passionate performance style all his own and stories that will sear your soul. Combined with the indie punk of a Minneapolis band, it was powerful and irresistable. Shortly after that performance, Craig moved to NYC and formed The Hold Steady, and I've seen some mind-blowing performances by that band as well, in much nicer venues. Now its time for his solo release. This album is not for punk fans, or indie rock fans, or alt-country fans, although it has a little of all those genres in it. This album is for Craig Finn fans. Way slower, and vastly stripped down from any of his band projects, his gift for storytelling shines through just like his performance did that night in 2000 from underneath the grime of Al's Bar. It doesn't really sound like most singer-songwriter albums, or any alt-country album, it just sounds like Craig Finn. And that's A-OK in my book. Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

P.S. IF the title of this album is a reference to the motto "Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Can't Lose", written by Peter Berg for the best show ever on television, Friday Night Lights, then Craig Finn moves up from genius to über-genius in my world view.

Have A Pink Martini With FeFe Dobson on Castle tonight!

 

Such a fun episode! No better song than the charming "Lilly" by Pink Martini to start off our dog-themed show. Pink Martini are one of the hardest working indie bands in show biz, they've released six studio albums and have performed endless charming live shows to enchanted audiences during their long tenure together. Lucky you, new fan, they just released a retrospective CD so you can get right to 'the best of' and it includes "Lilly"!

Pink Martini - "Lilly": Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Canadian songstress FeFe Dobson knows how to mix in the dance beats, but she's a rocker at heart, I can tell. She has a still-sizzling hot album out from 2010 with "Watch Me Move" as well as many other gems, she'll get any party started!

FeFe Dobson - "Watch Me Move": Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Her Space Holiday

I have not fallen in love with any 2012 releases yet (except last week's pick, Snow Patrol), so I am pulling another 2011 release that deserves mentioning. Her Space Holiday is a project helmed by the talented Marc Bianchi and this album is significant because he has decided that after 15 years and six full-length albums he's closing this musical chapter. He'll continue creating music (keep an eye out for "The Boys & Girls") but we must sadly say good-bye to the indie-tronic pop with the charming talk-singing style and the broken-hearted lyrics. Maybe he's not broken-hearted enough for Her Space Holiday anymore! So a fond farewell to a musical project that has brought me many many hours of listening pleasure. The most recent album is self-titled, but I'm also going to call out my other two fave HSH albums, 2005's "The Past Presents The Future"and 2003's "The Young Machines". Her Space Holiday - Her Space Holiday: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Her Space Holiday - The Past Presents The Future: Amazon :: iTunes

Her Space Holiday - The Young Machines: Amazon :: iTunes

Pick Of The Week: Snow Patrol

Thank you Snow Patrol for releasing an excellent album in a time that's otherwise a bit slow for new releases. This is the band's sixth release (yes, they had three albums out before most people ever heard of them) and its usually right about now that bands achieving their level of success start to self-destruct and make a crappy album because they've lost touch with reality. I'm pleased to report that none of that applies here. This album is a gem and I'm all the more impressed that they've been able to navigate their success without losing what make their music special. Snow Patrol began recording this album in Joshua Tree, California (remind you of anyone else?) and completed it in various Los Angeles locations. They also had help from pals as varied as Michael Stipe, Lissie, Queens Of The Stone Age guitarist/keyboardist Troy Van Leeuwen and the LA Inner City Mass Gospel Choir. Gary Lightbody wanted to make 'an ambitious record', well, mission accomplished.

Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: William Elliott Whitmore

It's traditional that I spend the last couple weeks of the year sorting through any remaining unfiled piles of CDs in my office so I can start the year with a clean slate and plenty of room for the new releases. So I end up listening to even more music than usual in the countdown to the new year and invariably I find one gem that I missed during the year that absolutely slays me. William Elliott Whitmore's record is it for 2011. It's clarity and passion woke me up as if somebody poured cold water on my spine. His songs are remarkable in how they profoundly and simply address today's issues while putting them in historical context. It feels rural in its soul but with a voice that no intellectual could ignore. He could play equally well to any demographic in any state or city in the U.S., and that is a rare thing. I hope you enjoy, keep an eye on this one for sure. William Elliott Whitmore - Field Songs: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

P.S. New Year's Resolution: one post per week for the next 50 weeks on a recommended album.

Tricia Halloran

Hi! I'm Tricia Halloran, an incurable new music junkie and a music supervisor for Film & TV, currently "The X-Files", "Castle" and "Casual", previously "The Big C", "Fargo" and more. From 1992 to 2007, I hosted "Brave New World" on KCRW, a destination for many emerging artists during the decade when the artists, music, and scene known as 'indie rock' evolved from an underground movement into a popular genre. On this blog, Bravenewworld.net, you can stay in touch with my recommended new music releases, look up music I've placed recently in TV shows, and see what other books, concerts, and places are capturing my attention.

Eighteen "Must Have" Albums Of 2011

I've reviewed, purged, organized, listened, re-listened, re-organized and here is my definitive list of the albums I think you should have heard, and truly should own, that were released in 2011. It was a good year for the veterans - I couldn't cut this list down to a neat top ten because so many of my long-time heroes released great albums this year: Centro-matic, John Doe, J Mascis, Mountain Goats, Thurston Moore, Wilco and the rock chick supergroup of Wild Flag. Then there was also wonderful releases from newer well-loved bands like Bon Iver, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Elbow, I'm From Barcelona, and The Submarines. Despite all that firepower, some newbies on only their first or second album made the list too and all the more impressive for standing out amongst the proven talent: Laura Marling, Memphis, Pete & The Pirates, James Vincent McMorrow. I hope you make some new discoveries here, have some Happy Holidays and a stellar New Year! (the following 18 albums are in ALPHABETICAL order by artist)

Acid House Kings - Music Sounds Better With You: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

The Antlers - Burst Apart: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Bon Iver - Bon Iver: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Centro-matic - Candidate Waltz: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Hysterical: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

John Doe - Keeper: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

I'm From Barcelona - Forever Today: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

J. Mascis - Several Shades Of Why: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Memphis - Here Comes A City: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pete And The Pirates - One Thousand Pictures: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

The Submarines - Love Notes / Letter Bombs: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Wilco - The Whole Love: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Wild Flag - Wild Flag: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Castle is "Super Bon Bon" Tonight!

Judging from the twitter feed, Castle fans are loving the 1996 Soul Coughing flashback! Good excuse to get out this excellent album and return it to rotation. And while you're at it, Mike Doughty has a new album out so you can get on that as well. Soul Coughing - "Super Bon Bon": Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Mike Doughty Site for new album

There were some other worthy records featured in tonight's episodes as well -- when Castle and the boys arrived in Atlantic City you heard just a little bit of Jesse Malin, an artist I've long admired. I highly recommend his album "Glitter In The Gutter" that I pulled that song off of. Especially if you like that East Coast rocker Springsteen/Jersey/Pete Yorn/Ryan Adams sound.

Jesse Malin - "In The Modern World": Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Alexis' party mix featured a band from Cork, Ireland, named Fred in the first party scene. In the last party scene you heard the talented Lyrics Born featuring vocals by Sam Sparro. This remix of the song is available for free at SoundCloud, scoop it up! And don't neglect the excellent album that features the original as well.

Fred - "Trial By Fire": Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Lyrics Born - "Coulda Woulda Shoulda (Party Ben Remix)": FREE DOWNLOAD :: Official Site Lyrics Born - As U Were album: Amazon :: iTunes

J. Mascis Rules Castle

I'm kinda proud of this one, music fans. It's the first TV show placement for this album that came out in March of this year. J. Mascis has been an integral part of my musical life since I was enlightened to the wonderful and mysterious world of indie rock via Dinosaur Jr's seminal 1987 album "Livin All Over Me", drenched in satisfying feedback and anchored by his distinctive emotional voice. Too sum it up, the guy invented indie rock with that album, basically. But like Neil Young, J. Mascis can be louder than anyone or softer and more heartbreaking than most--this solo album "Several Shades Of Why" is quiet and intimately powerful. It features the song "Too Deep" which was perfect for portraying the bittersweet feelings of Beckett, Castle, Alexis and Martha after they endure the bank hostage ordeal. Delve in, I think you'll like it.

J. Mascis "Too Deep": Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Double Pick Of The Week: Thurston Moore, The Antlers

Two recommendations this week to make up for my six weeks off ... both of these came out earlier in the year but are capturing my heart right now. This is a close-up moment for Thurston, both in the nature of the unusally acoustic record and the recent (shocking) announcement that he and his Sonic Youth bandmate and wife of 27 years, Kim Gordon, are splitting up. Naturally I wondered if the album held any clues to the situation. You can decide for yourself, but I would say its pretty laid out there. It's a beautiful listen that shows rare bedfellows: heartbreak and grace. Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

The Antlers album "Burst Apart" is a balm for any bad feelings on any day. Mysterious, dreamy and gorgeous, its got incredible texture and songwriting that knocks me out. Unlike many albums, it actually starts off great and gets even better as it progresses. By the time it winds up with the absolutely stellar song "Put The Dog To Sleep", you know you're listening to a masterpiece. It's all there in the opening line of the song, directed at a partner: "Prove to me I'm not gonna die alone ..." What else do we ask of love, really?

The Antlers - Burst Apart: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

The Big C's "Last Day On Earth"

Oh, those Big C writers. They got us on that one, didn't they? Such a good fake-out. Somebody died in the previous episode, so we TOTALLY WERE NOT EXPECTING SOMEONE ELSE to die in the final episode. Granted, I first found out about this months ago when I first read the script but I'm glad you all can share my pain now. But onwards to happier topics: great music. Retreating in time to the next-to-last episode (that first aired Sep 19, 2011), the song heard right after Lee dies is "Last Day On Earth" by Kate Miller-Heidke. I've been a fan ever since my friend Jeremy H. sent me her music back in 2008. Oh, how I pestered the editors about this song. "It could go in this episode ... maybe this one ... do you think you could find a place for it now?", etc etc. But it was just so appropriate for The Big C that I refused to give up. Finally Editor Dave granted my wish and of course it was PERFECT so I'm glad it never found a home sooner. Kate Miller-Heidke is a real talent, the album is chock-full of lovable songs, more Lily Allen than Katy Perry, in my opinion but you can hear for yourself:

Kate Miller-Heidke - Curiouser: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

And now back to the season finale, a brief appearance of Sissor Sisters "Any Which Way" to liven up the insurance office holiday party, and then Straight No Chaser "Auld Lang Syne" to accompany the stunning ending.

Scissor Sisters - Night Work: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Straight No Chaser - Holiday Spirits: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

That's all for this season folks, I've enjoyed sharing music with you on The Big C and I look forward to Season Three just as much as you all!

Castle Links The Chain Gang Of 1974 and Jen Hirsh

Q: What artist named his band after Ryan Adam's birth year plus a Raveonettes song? A: The Chain Gang of 1974. If OMD is one of your guilty pleasures, like mine, you will be into this band. Despite the band name, the music is not at all 70s-influenced, and doesn't bring to mind jail or a chain gang. It's just good beat-driven fun with an 80's tip! The song "Devil Is A Lady" has a slight industrial feel to it and it was perfect for the nerdy clerks to be playing in the comic book store that Castle & Beckett visit in this episode. The Chain Gang of 1974 - Wayward Fire: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Q: What singer-songwriter appeared on American Idol in 2009 but is still thrilled to be playing the Hotel Cafe on any given night? A: Jen Hirsh. Maybe too much songwriter, not enough pop star to be an Idol? That's ok by me. Her sweet songs are perfect for the romantic in all of us, and perfect for the final Castle scene where Castle & Beckett find an unsettling similarity between two of their suspects and themselves.

Jen Hirsh - Myself In Two: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Wild Flag

If you know me at all, its no mystery what Pick Of The Week would be on September 13. I've worshipped at the altar of Sleater-Kinney since their inception. I hosted Helium in a KCRW live performance in 1995, and played The Minders debut in 1998. Combine key members of these bands into a super-group? Sign me up! It's like they made the Tricia Halloran Dream Team. It's a little bit punk, it's a little bit riot grrl, it's a little East Coast indie, its a lot awesome. Get on board. Wild Flag - Wild Flag: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pajaro Sunrise is "Kinda Fantastic" in The Big C

I'm quite vexed with myself that I did not post this promptly but hopefully it will remind some Big C fans that they meant to track down that irresistible, delicious-sounding song at the end of the episode where Cathy decides that the whole family should go to Italy for Christmas. The song is "Kinda Fantastic". The band, Pajaro Sunrise, is not Italian, but they are from Spain and I just adore them. I can put their albums on anytime and feel instantly soothed. In fact, just looking at the artwork makes me happy! They're just that way and its a good thing to have in your pocket ... especially on Mondays ... Pajaro Sunrise - Done/Undone: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Pete & The Pirates

Oh, what fun I had when I put this album on! It captured my heart immediately. It's got energy and intimacy and great songwriting, three things that don't often come in the same package. Do yourself a favor and don't pass on this one, its a keeper. They're from Reading, England (and yes, the lead singer really is named Pete) and they're on the festival circuit overseas right now. Let's all buy records, show lots of love and maybe they'll come and visit us here in the U.S! Tell a friend! Pete And The Pirates - One Thousand Pictures: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

"Must Have Been Love" for Roxette & The Big C

It was a dream assignment when The Big C writers created an episode with a 1990 high school reunion in it - how fun to visit my favorite musical era and come up with a key hit song! And then more good news, the directors of this episode turned out to be Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck! I first became a fan of theirs when I saw Half Nelson, a film they wrote and directed. Then I caught their film Sugar when it showed at Sundance a couple years ago, and they spoke and took questions afterward. You might have also heard some buzz on their recent film It's Kind Of A Funny Story. They're hot and it's well-deserved! So I was extremely excited to work with them. They do everything as a team, including answer emails, it was so cute! We talked about tons of ideas for the highschool reunion dance scene, and Crowded House was very close to making the cut but in the end everybody liked Roxette the best. Roxette - It Must Have Been Love: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

I love how the closing song works, it was a very serendiptious find as the lyrics reflect exactly what Cathy is going through when she finds Sean missing. Vib Gyor is a band from Leeds, England, they broke up after they released this album (sad!) but you can read about their new project on their official site, see below.

Vib Gyor - Take Cover: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

The Big C Reaches For "Heights Of Diamond"

I've already blogged about how much I love this solo album by Adam Haworth Stephens (of Two Gallants) so I'll just say it was a thrill to land "Heights Of Diamond", one of the best songs on the record, in a closing spot on a Big C episode! Read my earlier blog praising this album here. The episode title is "A Little Death" and it first aired on Showtime on August 22, 2011.

Also in the same episode, local LA favorite Jeremy Little's song "This Time I'll Get It Right" plays during the first scene where Adam meets Poppy (played by indie goddess Parker Posey!)

Adam Haworth Stephens - Heights Of Diamond: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Jeremy Little - This Time I'll Get It Right: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Big C Fans: Just "Breathe Slow"

High expectations, family squabbles, kitchen disasters, odd friends, weird food, The Big C Thansgiving episode does bear a strong resemblance to my childhood Thanksgivings! But we didn't have such good music to wrap up Thanksgivings at my parent's house ... closing out his second Big C episode is Alex Cornish with a message that we all could make use of on holidays and on a daily basis! Alex's music was previously featured in last season's episode where Cathy is seen stashing away future gifts for her son Adam (Who didn't cry at that scene?) and can be found on The Big C soundtrack. The song "Breathe Slow", featured as Cathy's Thanksgiving comes to a somber end, is even more soulful and intimate than the song we featured last season. If you're not a fan yet you will be now! Alex Cornish - Breathe Slow: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

If you're curious about the groovy tune that Andrea and Lee (as well as the turkey) danced to on Thanksgiving Day, that is a soul group from the unlikely site of Iowa City, known as (you do need to take a breath on this one!) The Diplomats Of Solid Sound featuring The Diplomettes.

The Diplomats Of Solid Sound featuring The Diplomettes - If You're Wrong (I Don't Want To Be Right): Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site