Leslie Feist is back with her fourth studio album. You can sign up to listen to Metals below, courtesy of listentofeist.com. Entering your email is required.
Hailing from Amherst, Nova Scotia, Feist began her career as a member of Canadian super groupBroken Social Scene. Her breakthrough as a solo artist came in the form of 2004's Let It Die. Then in 2007 Feist released The Reminder which netted the songstress several Juno Awards and four Grammy nominations. After The Reminder's massive success Feist admitted in an interview with Pitchfork that it was difficult to get back into the creative mindset.
"I said I'd stop for a year, which was inconceivable to me and everyone around me. It seemed like so long. But then, after that year, I looked up and I still hadn't gotten my land legs back at all. I needed another year. By then, everyone had calmed and receded back into the wallpaper. I was in a crazy, private, awesome bubble again, and that's when I started to write."
Feist fans will be delighted she broke through those creative roadblocks. Metals is jazzier than its predecessor yet retains Feist's signature silky pop sounds. The first single How Come You Never Go There (below)may not catch on like1234 but the track is infectious and leaves the listener willing to go anywhere with Metals.
Warning! This post and the video below contain Weeds season 7 spoilers.
The blogosphere is buzzing. Not because of product supplied by the Botwin family- but because it may be the end of cable TVs favourite bud bartering bunch.
The final shot of Weeds' seventh season showed Nancy Botwin caught in the cross hairs of a rifle wielded by an unknown assailant. There are many theories floating around about who the mystery gunman is. Most fans are saying it's Peter Scottson's son out for revenge after Nancy indirectly caused his father's death all the way back in season 2.
Showtime hasn't picked up Weeds for an eighth season yet, so season 7's shot heard 'round the tube' may be a pitch perfect series finale. Series creator Jenji Kohan has always said Weeds would probably end with Nancy's death but if there is an eighth season, there are many avenues to explore. Most notably the newly blended family relationship and seeing how sisters Nancy (Mary Louise Parker) and Jill (Jennifer Jason Leigh) adjust to the unconventional arrangement. Parker and Leigh's interactions were the brightest bits from Monday's episode and I'd relish Leigh being added as a main cast member.
If this is the end, Kohan's conclusion was apt. Nancy screwed countless cunning characters over the years and arguably got what was coming to her. Personally I'm hoping this weed is a perennial and will sprout anew next year.
UPDATE: Weeds has been renewed for an eighth season.
Jenji Kohan discusses the season 7 finale and the future of Weeds
When Jane Lynch hosts the Emmy Awards tonight, most critics are betting she will walk away with another golden statuette for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. But will there be any surprises?
There were a few at the Creative Arts ceremony last week. The newly reborn Futurama beat out The Simpsons, South Park and Sponge Bob in the Animated Series category. The episode Futurama won for, where Fry and Co. build a time machine that can only go forward, didn't really warp my speed. There were more deserving Planet Express adventures to choose from this season.
In addition, first time nominee The Deadliest Catch triumphed over the expected winner, Kathy Griffin's D-List diary, in the Outstanding Reality Program category. My Life on the D-List had won twice before and many critics thought Griffin would be awarded a third golden girl, to join "Emily" and "Emmy" as she calls them, as her show was in its final season. Yet dark horse Catch won over D-List and other strong contenders like Hoarders and Mythbusters.
In the Guest Actress in a Comedy category, I was pulling for crazy Cloris Leachman to take home some gold for Raising Hope, although Leachman's Maw Maw seems more like a supporting role. Leachman holds the record for most Emmys won by a female performer with 8, but apparently Emmy voters are gleeks. The Emmy went to Gweneth Paltrow who guested on Glee as Holly Holiday.
Getting back to tonight's festivities, here's the rundown of who the "experts" are predicting will win and who I believe should win.
Stay tuned.
Comedy Series
Will win: Modern Family Should win: Big Bang Theory
Winner: Modern Family
Odds: Modern Family 1/10, Parks & Recreation 16/1, Big Bang Theory 50/1, Glee 50/1, The Office 100/1, 30 Rock 100/1
Big Bang Theory bloopers
Drama Series
Will win: Mad Men Should win: Dexter
Winner: Mad Men
Odds: Mad Men 2/5, Boardwalk Empire 4/1, The Good Wife 33/1, Game of Thrones 50/1, Friday Night Lights 50/1, Dexter 100/1
Dexter season 6 trailer
Comedy Actor
Will win: Steve Carell, The Office Should win: Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory
Winner: Jim Parsons
Odds: Steve Carell1/10, Jim Parsons 25/1, Louis C.K., Louie 100/1, Matt LeBlanc, Episodes 100/1, Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock 100/1, Johnny Galecki, Big Bang Theory 100/1
Drama Actor
Will win: Jon Hamm, Mad Men Should win: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Winner: Kyle Chandler
Odds: Jon Hamm 3/10, Steve Buscemi 11/2, Hugh Laurie, House 33/1, Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights 50/1, Timothy Olyphant, Justified 100/1, Michael C. Hall, Dexter 100/1
Comedy Actress
Will win: Laura Linney, The Big C Should win: Laura Linney
Winner: Melissa McCarth, Mike & Molly
Odds: Laura Linney 8/11, Amy Poehler, Parks & Rec 12/5, Melissa McCarthy 20/1, Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope 20/1, Tina Fey, 30 Rock 50/1, Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie 100/1
Drama Actress
Will win: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife Should win: Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Winner: Julianna Margulies
Odds: Julianna Margulies 2/5, Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men 5/1, Kathy Bates, Harry's Law 20/1, Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights 50/1, Mariska Hargitay 100/1
Comedy Supporting Actor
Will win: Ty Burell, Modern Family Should win: Ty Burell
Winner: Ty Burell
Odds: Ty Burell 2/3, Chris Colfer, Glee 11/2, Ed O'Neil, Modern Family 11/2, Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family 20/1, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family 25/1, Jon Cryer Two & 1/2 Men 50/1
Drama Supp. Actor
Will win: John Slattery, Mad Men Should win: Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Winner: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Odds: Jon Slattery 9/5, Alan Cumming 10/3, Walton Goggins, Justified 11/2, Peter Dinklage 11/2, Josh Charles, The Good Wife 8/1, Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age 50/1
Odds: Jane Lynch 6/5, Betty White, Hot in Cleveland 7/2, Julie Bowen, Modern Family 6/1, Sofia Vegara, Modern Family 15/2, Kristen Wiig 20/1, Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock 100/1
Drama Supp. Actress
Will win: Margo Martindale, Justified Should win: Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Winner: Margo Martindale
Odds: MargoMartindale 4/7, Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife 8/1, Kelly MacDonald, Boardwalk Empire 9/1, Christine Baranski 16/1, Christina Hendricks, Mad Men 20/1, Michelle Forbes, The Killing 20/1
Reality Competition Series
Will win: Amazing Race Should win: Top Chef
Winner: Amazing Race
Odds: Amazing Race 8/5, Top Chef 12/5, Project Runway 13/2, American Idol 8/1, Dancing with the Stars 14/1, So You Think You Can Dance 50/1
Variety Series
Will win: The Daily Show Should win: SNL or Real Time with Bill Maher
Winner: The Daily Show
Odds: The Daily Show 2/11, SNL 20/1, Conan 25/1, Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon 33/1, Real Time 100/1
As summer winds down and the last long weekend speeds by, many will embark on road trips to chase down the fleeting sunshine. Here are fifteen of my favourite road trip/car songs; a soundtrack that is sure to get your pistons firing. I could have included Mercedes Benzby Janis Joplin, Truckin' by Grateful Dead or War's Low Rider but since I included other songs by these oldies-but-goodies in my last couple of posts, I'll omit them.
Happy trails.
