Google Digital Music Service

Google's Digital Music Service Will Not Replace Pandora or Grooveshark Anytime Soon

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.  Google's new digital music service was created with the intention of being a competitor with iTunes and Amazon Music.  A place where you can purchase music and listen to a vast quantity of uploaded music (i.e., grooveshark).  The music labels however have prevented Google from doing just that. 

Like the Google book reader before it, this venture fails because google is unable to circumvent the legal licensing restrictions.  Sorry google, I might use you to search for everything from concert dates to band biographies, but you will not satisfy my music listening needs.

Matsumoto Shave Ice

Matsumoto Shave Ice - Haleiwa Hawaii

Established February 13, 1951 Matsumoto's Shave Ice is the perfect chilled treat after a morning on the North Shore. Whether you're surfing, sunning, or just enjoying Historic Haleiwa you have to stop by Matsumoto's. Strawberry, lemon, root beer, pineapple, lime, coconut, vanilla, banana, orange, grape, cherry, green apple, lilikoi, li hung mui, watermelon, guava, cotton candy, bubble gum, honeydew, melon, and pina colada. There's a flavor for everyone. 

Matsumoto Website

The Locals - Coppenhagen Street Style

The Locals - The New Copenhagen Street Style
The popular site Copenhagen Street Style has decided to stop publishing new posts. Fortunate for us one of its creators has moved on to a similar project that takes the style off the streets of Europe to you. The Locals is created by Soren Jepsen and it features stylish individuals walking to work, hitting the town, and just living life. Forget about the runway, style has moved to the streets.

2011 Coachella

2011 Coachella - Tickets Now on Sale

The 3 Day Indio, California Music Festival has released its 2011 Lineup. Here are a few of the headliners: Kanye West, Arcade Fire, the Black Keys, Mumford & Sons, the Strokes, Bright Eyes, Interpol, the Chemical Brothers and many more. Coachella takes places from April 15-17 and tickets go on sale on January 21, 2011. Click here to be taken to the Coachella website to purchase your tickets.

Black Dub

Black Dub

It's difficult not to picture a smokey bar stage when you listen to the rough scratchy voice of lead singer Trixie Whitley and the bluesy melodies of guitarist and producer Daniel Lanois. Daniel Lanois is the former producer of U2 and Bob Dylan, and Black Dub is his creative child. Melodic, creative, soulful, the entire album oozes with deep riffs, painful lyrics, with just a side portion of gospel hopefulness. This is blues/soul at its very best. Listen to Slow Baby to hear Lanois featuring his incredible talents and Surely to experience the Janis Joplin - Joss Stone - Trixie Whitley sound. Click below to listen to I Believe in You.

Fame - Directed by Kevin Tancharoen

Fame - Directed by Kevin Tancharoen
This loose remake of the 1980 performing arts classic is directed by Kevin Tancharoen and lead by an ensemble cast of young dancers, singers, and actors. It follows students as they apply to P.A., are accepted or rejected, and through their 4 years of high school. The film does a good job of showing the realities of trying to make it as a performer, while still leaving time for dance scenes and singing. Overall it's enjoyable and fun, but with the exception of Collins Pennie the cast does not make you feel the highs and lows and trials and tribulations of achieving fame.

Norah Jones - Various Artists Featuring Norah Jones

Norah Jones - Various Artists ... Featuring Norah Jones
This album is a collection of songs and singles spanning 9 years. Most of the songs are off other albums in which Norah Jones was featured in a particular song. The Various Artists on this album are an eclectic blend of greatness; including Herbie Hancock, Ryan Adams, Ray Charles, Outkast, Talib Kweli, Foo Fighters, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. While the entire album is good, only a few songs are really great. Listen to Little Lou, Prophet Jack, Ugly John by Belle & Sebastian. And click below to listen to Turn Them by Sean Bones.

Nowhere Boy - A Story of John Lennon

Nowhere Boy - A Story of John Lennon
Nowhere Boy is a 2009 British-Canadian biopic about John Lennon's adolescence, the creation of his first band, The Quarrymen, and its evolution into The Beatles. The film is based on a biography written by Lennon's half-sister Julia Baird. The story examines the impact on his early life and personality of the two dominant females in his childhood – his Aunt Mimi, and his mother, Julia. The film also shows the first meeting of Lennon with future Beatles Paul McCartney and George Harrison. A must for die hard Beatles fans and a netflix rental for everyone else.