Parenthetical Girls

1. A.R. Rahman feat. M.I.A. – “O…Saya”
It’s really annoying but I have a tendency to point out music (whether good or bad) for various things from commercials to movies. So when I finally watched the Oscar-nominated (and deservingly so too) Slumdog Millionaire on Saturday, the first thing I jumped at was the voice of M.I.A. It’s immediately recognizable, pumped with attitude and unbelievably lovable. “O…Saya” is the perfect song for the movie and A.R. Rahman and M.I.A. make a dynamic team, creating eclectic, fast-paced danceable beats that reflect the fast-paced speed of the film. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, you should definitely watch it and especially take note of the perfect usage of “O…Saya” throughout the movie.

Bonus note: Congrats go out to M.I.A. and her newborn baby boy! Glad that she was able to last through this amazing Grammys performance before giving birth! Read more about it here!

2. Flight of the Conchords – Various Songs (Season 2)
Okay, so anyone else loving the second season of this HBO comedy? It’s way better than the first season, and so far, the songs are making me extremely excited for the upcoming album. With songs about “Sugalumps” and male prostitutes, season 2 is a definite must-see. This season, you’ll also see characters like band manager Murray and stalker fan Mel sing and partake in the musical fantasies (literally, for Mel). For more, new episodes of Flight of the Conchords airs weekly on the Comedy Network. You can also catch them at Massey Hall on April 21-22 – get your tickets now!

3. Cadence Weapon – Separation Anxiety
I downloaded this online album a few weeks ago, not having many expectations as I don’t listen to Cadence Weapon often. But as soon as I started listening, I was hooked on Rollie Pemberton’s remixes. Personally, the highlights of the album are not his remixes though. I remember first listening to Cadence Weapon and Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) cover Chad Vangaalen’s “Mini TVs” live on a podcast and fell in love with it; I’m glad that this was part of Separation Anxiety as it never gets old. Although the Chad Vangaalen version is equally great, the cover breathes new life into the song by pumping it up and adding new beats and dimension. Another stand-out track from Separation Anxiety would be “Bad Graffiti”. Download the album now as part of a pay-what-you-can deal on Cadence Weapon’s website.

4. Parenthetical Girls – “Unmentionables”
There’s something oddly appealing about the Parenthetical Girls. I find myself quite obsessed with “Unmentionables” lately, from last year’s release Entanglements. It’s swooning strings, zany horns and fantastical melody is like a classic Broadway musical coming to life. It’s cute without being cute; it’s strange but unforgettably addictive. It’s almost hard for me to explain my obsession with this band right now but it’s good. Go to their MySpace to listen to more!

Musically,
Melody