Perez thinks it’s awful, but somehow it’s still catchy!

These guys played at the Cutting Room a couple of weeks ago, and they were FABULOUS– good looking, incredibly nice, and musically very talented. The first single off their Skybound album, “Better,” (in the video above) sounds a lot like early Coldplay, but their overall style is more eclectic than that, incorporating Latin influences, etc.

The number “Tell Her Today” was phenomenal live, but somehow doesn’t work in the video. Regardless, if the number of music executives present was any indication, these guys might really make it big. Click here for more info and tour dates.

You MUST see this movie!

Although there are countless books on The Beatles, Read The Beatles is unique in that it is a collection of more than fifty articles, interviews, poems, book excerpts, and album and movie reviews written about the fab four. Rather than providing one perspective on the band and claiming to be THE authority on their career/life story, this book gives you a number of perspectives, including several negative reviews. The book is organized chronologically, spanning the career of The Beatles and then following the individuals post-breakup. It covers all the biggest stories (the rumor that Paul was dead, John’s assassination, the Charlie Manson murders, John’s proclamation that they were more popular than Jesus, Yoko Ono’s involvement with the band, etc.).

Aside from a few essays that I didn’t like because I felt they were trying too hard to glorify The Beatles, it was truly an awesome book and an easy read, so anyone wanting to learn more about the famous band should pick it up.

An oldie but a goodie.

Rolling Stone calls her the first and only female Guitar God. She also got a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Score for her music on the Into the Wild soundtrack. Check out her mean guitar playing skills in the video below, and click here for NYC blog Gothamist’s interview with her.

When my favorite critic for the New York Times, Kelefa Sanneh, recently wrote an article praising the German rock band Tokio Hotel, I decided to check them out. On YouTube I watched their videos for “Monsoon” and “Ready, Set, Go!” which are supposed to be their more popular songs (and some of the only ones they sing in English), and I really wasn’t that crazy about them. The music was a lot darker than I had anticipated- I was expecting more of a pop sound. THEN, I watched some of their videos in German, and it was almost like seeing a different band. They’ve got tons of energy, and seem to have a much more upbeat, pop sound. The band is scheduled to release their first American album in April called Scream, and I’m hoping it features more upbeat songs like “Beitche” (posted below), rather than sticking with the dark, Evanescence-like sound of “Monsoon.” They’ve already sold over 3 million albums in Germany and Austria, as well as other European countries, but they’ve had a hard time appealing to English speaking countries. They do seem like a cool band though, and I hope they figure out a way to successfully cross-over.

Check out one of their more upbeat pop-sounding songs (in German):

You know that commercial for Target that aired during the holiday season with the huge advent calendar? I was WONDERING what the song playing during that commercial was, because it’s awfully catchy, and it turns out it’s this guy, Jim Noir. His music is described as “psychadelic pop electronica” (whatever that means) - it basically sounds like a relaxing electronic blend of the Beach Boys or the Beta Band.

The 411: he’s British, has one album out (Tower of Love), is known for his eccentric dress, and he plays all the instruments on his work. For live shows however, he uses a band. Check him out on his myspace.