weltschmerz

For your listening pleasure: two female voices that I can't get enough of.


Regina Spektor
Us

from Soviet Kitsch (2004)

If you like Fiona Apple, you'll dig Regina Spektor and this delightful love song. Even if you hate Fiona Apple, the wonderful chorus will probably lodge itself in your head.

Don't say I didn't warn you; visit insound.


Neko Case
If You Knew

from The Tigers Have Spoken (2004)

Neko Case is of course a member of The New Pornographers, but she also has a splendid solo career. This rollicking track, a plea to an unfaithful lover, is taken from a live album released last year.

Feel the pain at ANTI- Records.

Congratulations to Liverpool FC, champions of Europe.

Un-frikkin'-believable. Shevchenko should have scored in extra-time, and later, in the penalty shootout.

I saw Kingdom Of Heaven (IMDb) at the cinema today. It was surprisingly enjoyable; I'd been expecting the 2.5 hours to drag on a little, but that was not the case. The fight scenes were reminiscent of those in LotR (which also featured Orlando Bloom), particularly the battle of Helm's Deep, and Gladiator (which Ridley Scott also directed).

The film has attracted predictable criticism for depicting the not-so-heavenly actions of some Crusaders, while painting the likes of Saladin in a more positive light. Scott was surely in a no-win situation here though, and overall, I think the film was pretty balanced and non-judgmental. If you care to check on the historical accuracy, which turns out to be quite good, see Wikipedia. The FT has a really excellent comment on – as opposed to a review of – the film.

Time will tell whether it wins any major awards. I'd certainly recommend seeing it; writing as someone who dropped history relatively early on in his school career, the film inspired me to learn more about events that occurred a millennium ago, but which still bear huge relevance today (unfortunately, perhaps).

P.S. In case you didn't know, the quote in the title is by the incomparable Mark Twain.

Mates Of State
Goods (All In Your Head)

from All Day EP (2004)

Mates Of State have been on my "check out" list for a while. The duo have been around performing for a few years, and in fact became husband and wife in 2001. As soon as I heard Goods (All In Your Head), I was hooked on their charming indie-pop. Infectious boy-girl harmonies, keyboard bursts that sound like sunshine through your speakers, pure summery perfection. File with The New Pornographers, Joy Zipper, The Wannadies and Azure Ray.

Hurry over to Download.com and the world will seem like a better place.


Robyn
Be Mine!

from Robyn (2005)

I first heard this track on Fluxblog a couple of months ago. Robyn is a Swedish pop star; her fourth, latest and self-titled album has just been released, on which Be Mine! appears as the lead single. Unrequited love isn't meant to sound this good.

For stabbing strings and an anguished chorus, thank The Selector.

My hayfever is horrendous.

Edit: Thanks for the kind thoughts.

South Africa have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead over the West Indies in their ODI series, after a frankly astonishing victory in Barbados.

There was no doubt as to the Man of the Match: former prison warder Charl Langeveldt delivered a nerveless final over, completing a hat-trick and dismissing the opposition with the penultimate ball of the match. The Windies had looked to be sitting pretty, thanks largely to Gayle's 132. They needed just 4 runs off the last 7 balls, and with 4 wickets in hand, it seemed as though (even) they couldn't lose. But up stepped Langeveldt with a virtuoso performance to silence the Kensington Oval crowd.

For more details, go to Cricinfo.

Who says cricket is boring?

Eisley
Telescope Eyes

from Room Noises (2005)

I stumbled upon Eisley on Yahoo!, of all places. The Texan band, which opened for Coldplay on their 2003 US tour, comprises four home-schooled siblings and their best friend, and has been variously labelled as Christian rock and boxed with Sixpence None The Richer. Be that as it may, Telescope Eyes remains an immediately arresting listen, with its bittersweet female harmonies and off-kilter lyrics.

Find this track, and more, at MySpace.


Stars
Ageless Beauty

from Set Yourself On Fire (2005)

I wrote about Stars and their gorgeous Look Up back in February. Ageless Beauty is a single from their most recent album. It never quite hits the heights of Look Up, despite the urgent beat and Amy Millan's breathy vocals, but it's still worth a listen.

Judge for yourself at Download.com.

It's all over. I spent most of Thursday evening/Friday morning watching the election results broadcasts and refreshing the BBC results page. Sad, I know, but it was strangely addictive and heady.

Glad to see the Greens do alright; they failed to get an MP into Parliament, but won several seats in the local elections.

Congratulations to Liverpool and AC Milan, who'll be meeting in the Champions League final on 25 May in Istanbul. I'm glad the not-so-anonymous benefactor's millions didn't buy Chelsea the trophy, and even more pleased to see the supercilious smile wiped off Mourinho's face. And if it stops Gerrard swapping Liverpool for Chelsea — the lad bleeds red, literally and metaphorically — then good on him, I say.

It was heart-breaking to see PSV go out though. I can't stop raving about (i) Cocu's second goal, a superb volley across Dida executed at full stretch, which sadly turned out to be no more than a consolation, and (ii) Young-Pyo Lee's attacking forays from left-back and unerring ability to cross accurately with both feet. Beckham could learn a few tricks from him.

Tonight also saw the conclusion of The Apprentice (the UK version), won by Tim Campbell. Well done, buddy. There will be a second series, so get your applications in.

It was sweet how Tim kept going on about his mum, which leads nicely on to a reminder: don't forget Mother's Day (the non-UK version) this coming Sunday. And just as importantly, don't forget to vote tomorrow!

Rufus Wainwright
Oh What A World

from Want One (2003)

The Wainwright name is weighty, the bloodline glorious. Rufus is the son of famous 1970s folksters, and his sister Martha is in the business too, having released her eponymous debut recently.

Oh What A World introduced me to his extravagantly lush baroque-pop. The wry, observational lyrics and vocal style remind me of Neil Hannon (a.k.a. The Divine Comedy). But the song truly shines as it builds up to an entrancing climax, blending seamlessly with an orchestral rendition of the theme from Ravel's Bolero.

Wainwright comments, "I included the theme from Ravel's 'Bolero' because it’s circular and incessant, which I think suggests a recurring nightmare. But then the recurring nightmare becomes strangely comforting. With that song, I think I just needed to remind myself that life is still beautiful."

Banish your nightmares, with much thanks to monkeySARS for the download.


The New Pornographers
Twin Cinema

from Twin Cinema (2005)

Canadian indie rockers The New Pornographers are to release their third album on 23 August 2005, and they've been generous enough to post the title track online. 2000's Mass Romantic was rather good, and 2003's Electric Version was really very special, so put a note in your diary, start saving up those pennies and let's hope they keep up their high standards.

Stave off your cravings at Matador Records.