sights and sounds

Forget the big budget super bowl ads and the talking animals from insurance companies, the commercials below feature some of our favourite artists. While some of these songs are less than a minute long and will never see the light of day, you can't help but turn up the volume when they come up. Some may say musicians are selling out by putting their songs in commercials, but I say it's a good way to get some exposure without actually putting your name out there. Yeahh know what I mean!?

Below are the videos if you haven't seen them yet. And downloads for each song, so you can finally play them over and over again and not having to channel surf.


Cat Power
According to Matador records, Chan has no plans of releasing these songs, but with another Covers record coming up this summer, we're praying that she includes at least one of these in there. But for now, were stuck with these snippets.




How Can I Tell You ( Cat Stevens Cover) - Cat Power





Hanging on the Telephone (Nerves Cover) - Cat Power



Explosions in the Sky

Although a Cadillac is not exactly our dream car Explosions in the Sky is our dream band so we're okay that they're just paying the bills, because we get two commercials that we will actually want to turn up the volume. One commercial features "Six Days At The Bottom Of The Ocean" and another "Your Hand In Mine", both songs are from their latest album The Earth Is Not A Dead Cold Place. Don't forget February 20th is when their new album, All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone comes out!







Your Hand In Mine - Explosions in the Sky

Of Montreal
You've all seen Outback Steakhouse's ad with the catchy jingle "Let's go Outback tonight.." You've probably figured out by now that's it's actually Wraith Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games) but Outback's cover version. According to Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes, "We thought it would be totally amusing to hear their take on one of our songs as a jingle." I seriously wouldn't mind Outback playing Of Montreal songs while I'm having one of their famous bloomin onion.





Wraith Pinned To The Mist (and other games) - Of Montreal



Adem Ilhan and Megan Wyler
Separate full versions of this cover song are not available anywhere. If you do find them, email them to us!! Adem Ilhan of the band Four Tet and Megan Wyler sing two different versions of Walk The Line, but in the commercial below, the two are combined. The ad works too, it makes me wanna buy those skinny straight jeans like now!!





Walk The Line (Johnny Cash) - Adem Ilhand and Megan Wyler



-Anne and Charlie

An Evening with The Greatest

It started out as a dream the night before the show, call it a "Moon Pix" moment. I had a dream I was already in the crowd staring at Chan Marshall sing but woke up way too early and the end got cut off. I knew I had to create my own storybook ending.

It was cold and rainy Sunday night in San Francisco, people were coming back home from their Thanksgiving trip, I was making the trek to the famous Fillmore. I had half an hour left before the doors opened, so with my spare change, I decided to hit Safeway and buy Chan a bouquet of flowers. While waiting for the show to start, I kept thinking to myself, "is she going to take them?" and " what if im too shy to give them to her?"

As usual, the great Memphis Rhythm Band started the show by playing a couple of songs, I didn't know if it was the band or the Fillmore sound system, but the acoustics sounded so clear. Then the notes to "The Greatest" started playing and Chan Marshall made her way to the stage with her usual green collared long sleeve and black tank top show attire. As soon as she put down her drink, I reached my hand out and handed her the flowers, this was easier said than done. My heart was running laps in my chest as Chan grabbed the flowers and smiled and shook my hand.

Halfway through the show, she sat on a speaker next to me, and we were literally less than an inch apart. That whole moment was hazy, I couldn't even remember what song she was singing. She takes her hand and pets me in the head before she got up. Yeah, what a moment.

The majority of the songs she played were from "The Greatest", i wish she had played more from "You are Free" though. Chan also sang a couple of songs from her "Covers Record" including Gnarls Barkley's song, Crazy. She sang her heart out even though that was an early show and had another show right after.
The crowd was great too, barely any kids around and it was mostly adults in their late 30's and 40's.

All in all, it was thirty dollars well spent. Minus the interactions with Chan, it was exactly like my dream, colourful and beautiful, and this time, i knew how it ended.


The Cat Power show that was streamed on NPR.org last week is still available for download. It's an okay substitute if you haven't seen her live, although it won't do justice.

Cat Power in Concert NPR.org

The Greatest (Live @ La Cigale Paris) - Cat Power

more photos from the show


-Charlie

Chan Marshall, poppin and lockin it....

Last night on the late show with David Letterman, the beautiful and talented Chan Marhsall a.k.a Cat Power danced the late night show away by performing "Living Proof" a song from her recent album, The Greatest
and just a heads up, tonight, Regina Spektor will be on Conan and Neko Case will be on Letterman.

Cat Power-Lived in Bars




-Charlie Lumanlan