popwreckoning » mike myers http://popwreckoning.com without music, life would be a mistake. Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:15:36 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Interview with: Matthew Sweet http://popwreckoning.com/2009/11/04/interview-with-matthew-sweet/ http://popwreckoning.com/2009/11/04/interview-with-matthew-sweet/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:06 +0000 Thomas Starks http://popwreckoning.com/?p=18922

Pop rock artist wears many hats. From solo to Sid ‘n’ Susie. Though he is busy touring, PopWreckoning’s Thomas Starks caught up to the artist to talk the tour and his projects:

Thomas Starks, PopWreckoning: Hello Mr. Sweet, thank you so much for taking my call. I know we have a short time so I’ll get right into it. Talk to me a little about this Nov. 6th show at Eddie’s Attic. What’s going on with that?
Matthew Sweet: I’ve known Susanna () since the early 90’s, we had a few friends in common. When I moved here in 93, I just ran into her more and more. I got invited to a charity show with the , and I brought up that I liked her voice, we really wanted to do something. So we played at McCabe’s in LA. I played rock shows many years ago there. She invited , before the “Austin Powers” movies. He was still getting a hold of that character. So we all teamed up and started a small group called . That led to a song called “BBC” on the first movie, and then later we penned “Daddy Wasn’t There” on the “Gold Member” movie. matthew

TS: It’s amazing how those small meetings turn into great projects. So is this a tour for you both then?
MS: Oh it’s not even a tour, it’s just a small thing we are doing.
TS: Does it allow you to let loose a bit though?
MS: A little scary cause it makes you naked, but also very freeing.

TS: Now you recently released Under The Covers 2, a collection of covers from the 1970’s. What process went into picking the songs and artists you covered?
MS: We get asked this the most. In the 60’s we were sort of too young, so in the 70’s we had a lot of fun. We NEVER make a list, we think of things as we go, and try doing them. The things we thought the best we couldn’t leave off, that’s what we chose. It got difficult at one point and we ended up having 10 more available on iTunes, bonus tracks.
TS: Which ones stand out to you as your favorites?
MS: The YES song “I’ve Seen All Good People.” We liked Yes when we were kids. Oh and “Sugar Magnolia,” a sleeper one we really liked at the end.

TS: You were able to work with Susanna Hoffs and on this record. What was it like working with these two?
MS: Well with Susanna, it’s like my sister, I know her so well. Lindsey I had known for quite a while, but not as well. We did a song for a movie all together back in the mid nineties. Then one of Sue’s son’s went to school with Lindsey’s kid, and that rekindled a friendship. At Sue’s B-Day last Jan. we cornered him and asked him to make a record with us. It was chance for us to get him on lead a little more.

TS: You semi-recently produced a group that we’ve become pretty good friends with here at Pop Wreckoning, . What stood out to you about this band to take them into your home studio?
MS: It seems like a while ago now. It actually came out of thing in a publishing meeting with EMI, someone said you should produce a “Harmony Group.” Russell played something off of Myspace, and it was them. They write REALLY amazing stuff. They came out, we did a few demos, then they got Capital wanting to sign them, then Capital got shut down! I think they are now with Verve.

TS: So do you have anyone else on your plate in the near future in terms of production?
MS: Only the Bangles and I’ve started my own solo record. I’m gonna try to keep up a little more, go out a little more. I recorded a song for “Men of a Certain Age” with Ray Romano.

TS: It’s so rare to see a true musical affinity and professional appreciation for one’s colleagues.
MS: For me I was “Mr. Hide Out.” I always felt weird and never made a lot of friends, I’ve been there. Once the era of the 90’s passed, around 2001 or 2002, I got pulled into singing harmonies for Columbia. I never had good success writing with others, I had to assert myself. Now I feel really free and fun, although I still have to hustle. When you have that better time and a good perspective, you find out what you care about, it helps me enjoy people more.

TS: I really admire that perspective, it’s in our transitions that we see what is missing. Good for noticing that. Ok, Mr. Sweet, last question, if you could point our reader towards any artist in hopes of getting them to listen to them, who would it be?
MS: Wow, what would I TELL someone to listen too? As far as groups now, I don’t know them that well, I think of people in a genre of music I wouldn’t normally listen too. Blonde On Blonde then Pet Sounds. There are amazing things outside my orbit. I like freakbeat, garage rock stuff. Also it was in 1979 or 1980 that I started high school. That’s when I started to listen to all kinds of things. I wish I would have done that when I was 11, instead of 19. Plus nowadays it’s the internet that really helps us get what’s out there, the internet is sooo massive.
TS: Well then is it safe to say that you would recommend to “Listen to anything outside of your orbit?”
MS: That’s exactly it. Go find it.
TS: Mr. Sweet, I truly appreciate you taking my call and I’m truly looking forward to seeing you and Susanna live.
MS: Well, thank you. We just love this stuff. Have a great day!

Matthew Sweet: website | myspace

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2009/11/04/interview-with-matthew-sweet/feed/ 1 The Love Guru Giveaway http://popwreckoning.com/2008/06/20/the-love-guru-giveaway/ http://popwreckoning.com/2008/06/20/the-love-guru-giveaway/#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:36:00 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.wordpress.com/?p=2295

Today marks the opening of in theaters nationwide. To celebrate, we’re giving away a Love Guru prize pack including:

-CD of The Love Guru (review)
- A Love Guru poster

Two runners up will receive a Love Guru poster!

To enter:
Email Jessica with the name of the stringed instrument Guru Pitka () plays in “The Joker” video. This contest is now over.

The Love Guru: myspace | watch “The Joker” as performed by Guru Pitka

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2008/06/20/the-love-guru-giveaway/feed/ 2 The Love Guru Soundtrack http://popwreckoning.com/2008/06/16/the-love-guru-soundtrack/ http://popwreckoning.com/2008/06/16/the-love-guru-soundtrack/#comments Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:10:00 +0000 Jessica McGinley http://popwreckoning.wordpress.com/2008/06/16/the-love-guru-soundtrack/

Canadian comedic actor has created another alter-ego, this time he plays Love Guru Pitka who reveals all his wisdom through song. Never lacking authenticity, or maybe he just misses rocking out as Wayne Campbell, Myers himself sings many of the songs on the .

The soundtrack, released by , also features tunes from greats such as George Clinton and Robbie Nevil. The soundtrack offers up cover songs from Myers as well as a remix of late 90′s hit “Brimful of Asha” by Cornershop.

The disc begins with the Indian-influenced instrumental “Morning Meditation,” a relaxing and beautiful song. It seamlessly transitions into Myers’ rendition of “9 to 5,” which comes out a bit goofy given his accent for the role, but is still catchy and dynamic. I dig remixes almost as much as I love cover songs and Norman Cook‘s remix of “Brimful of Asha” is just as catchy and fun as the original as its tempo is increased and sporadically incorporates twinges of ambient Indian music.

Myers duets with Manu Narayan on “More Than Words” before his version of Steve Miller Band‘s “The Joker” makes its appearance, sounding as if it fell right out of a Bollywood with the obvious use of a sitar and twinkling percussion. The most invigorating and dynamic song on the soundtrack comes from Telma Hopkins And Toronto Children’s Concert Choir singing “Lead Me To Your Rock.” Hopkins can belt it out and “Lead Me To Your Rock” is, oddly, the perfect song to precede rapper B.A.S.K.O.‘s “Big Boi.”

soundtrack seems to have a slight case of dissociative identity disorder as tracks by Robbie Nevil and Celine Dion follow, totally out of place. These are followed by the heavily Indian tune “Mere Mitwa Mere Meet Re” by Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi, again something straight out of a Bollywood flick. Though retaining that Indian flavor, George Clinton’s “Guru Vindaloo” is the most solid track on the album with “Mathar” by Danny Saber taking a close second. Both tracks are completely instrumental and nothing short of completely cool.

The soundtrack includes three short bits of dialogue, of which all fall short on a scale of 1 to funny. Hopefully those snippets aren’t the best the movie has to offer, otherwise movie goers will be pretty disappointed. Also falling short is the “Guru Pitka Chant” by Guru Pitka’s Ashram Band. Had Clinton’s and Saber’s tracks been the last, a so-so soundtrack would’ve ended in gusto letting the listener forget the mediocrity that preceded it. Instead, we’re reminded why summer blockbuster rarely maintain steady rotation in the CD player.

The Love Guru soundtrack is available on June 17th via Lakeshore Records and the movie will hit theaters on June 20th.

Tracklisting:
01) Andrew Mendelson – Morning Meditation
02) Mike Myers – 9 To 5
03) Cornershop – Brimful Of Asha (Norman Cook Remix) *
04) Mike Myers – Stop Hitting Yourself (dialog)
05) Mike Myers and Manu Narayan – More Than Words
06) Mike Myers – The Joker
07) Telma Hopkins and Toronto Children’s Concert Choir – Lead Me To Your Rock *
08. B.A.S.K.O. – Big Boi
09) Robbie Nevil – C’est La Vie
10) Celine Dion – I Drove All Night
11) Mike Myers – My Name Is Guru Pitka (dialog)
12) Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd Rafi – Mere Mitwa Mere Meet Re
13) George S. Clinton – Guru Vindaloo *
14) Danny Saber – Mathar *
15) Mike Myers – Guru Lineage (dialog)
16) Guru Pitka’s Ashram Band – Guru Pitka Chant

* recommended listening

The Love Guru: website | myspace | stream “The Joker”
Lakeshore Records: website | myspace

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