Every morning when I go to a certain coffee house, I have to look at Scarlet Johansson’s face. Unfortunately, she’s not modeling. No, her pretty mug is on the cover of her new album Break-up with indie darling Pete Yorn. Don’t get me wrong. I love her acting chops, but it seems every time I turn around to get a cup of coffee a new actor or celebrity is making a go at music, saying they’ve been doing music all their life suddenly. To be honest, there are a select few that actually should be dabbling in music. There’s a reason why they’re actors or celebrities first and musicians second. Johansson’s attempt at Him & Her’s Zooey Deschanel style doesn’t compare to her acting. The album sounds good enough, but most of that goodness is coming from Yorn. You’d know what I’m talking about if you heard her solo album Anywhere I Lay My Head. I see the same problem with LANDy, fronted by actor Adam Goldberg, who’s music sounds very similar to band mate Aaron Espinoza’s other group Earlimart. It just seems like actors and celebs need too much help in the music department. So, isn’t that a sign they should stick to what they do best? Hint, hint: Lindsay Lohan, Heidi Montag, Paris Hilton. And what about Phantom Planet? Jason Schwartzman got me all hooked and then left the band. It’s dissapointing… But I don’t hate all celeb music. Even though he’s been tagged as a royal Hollywood douche, I like Jared Leto and his brother in 30 Seconds to Mars. I also really like Juliette and the Licks, fronted by Juliette Lewis, in addition to Keanu Reeve’s Dogstar and Ed Westwick’s Filthy Youth. I am also digging the most awesome celeb-music find: Jada Pinket Smith fronting metal band Wicked Wisdom. However, her band like Dogstar and the Licks were on a top ten of worst celeb bands. Sorry guy, but Montag and Lohan are much, much worse. I guess I’m just a picky celeb music consumer. They’re my ears aren’t they?
And now a celebrity Band of the Week that’s a musician first…Julian Casablancas!
I’ve never met a person who hates The Strokes. How can you, with their cool melodies. It seems their commitment to music kept their rich kid background from making too much of an impact. Casablancas is the son of famous modeling agent John Casablanca. Casablanca’s solos project seems to be rooted in the same place at The Strokes melodies, with some added electronic assistance. I love the first single “11th Dimension” off his solo album Phrazes for the Young coming November 3. Look out for the singer in LA to do some live shows. He’s awesome live.
Until next time, don’t be “wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood.” Courtney Love- K
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: 11th dimension, 30 seconds to mars, aaron espinoza, adam goldberg, anywhere i lay my head, break up, celebrities, celebs, coffee, Courtney Love, dogstar, douche, Earlimart, ed westwick, filthy youth, heidi montag, him & her, hollywood, jada pincket smith, jared leto, jason schwartzman, john casablancas, Julian Casablancas, juliette and the licks, juliette lewis, keanu reeves, la, landy, lindsay lohan, paris hilton, pete yorn, phantom planet, phrazes for the young, scarlet johansson, The Strokes, Zooey Deschanel
Awesome blog!
I thought about starting my own blog too but I’m just too lazy so, I guess I‘ll just have to keep checking yours out.
LOL,
Aaron Espinoza mixed 6 years of recordings on which Adam Goldberg plays several instruments as well engineering several of the tracks. Espinoza recorded two recent ones, recorded some overdubs and plays guitar on one track. Read the liner notes.
That is to say he remixed and helped Goldberg compile and overdub the recordings that Goldberg had already produced prior to meeting Esoinoza.