Something for him and her
By: Michael Mouton
The end of the spring semester is always the worst time to make new friends, because chances are you will lose touch with them over the summer. Everyone is studying, writing papers, preparing final projects or even getting ready to graduate—no one has time to keep in touch (myself included). I find the last day of classes is a little depressing because I know I won’t remember a lot of people I met this semester, not to mention the friends who are graduating, moving away or transferring to another college.
I know this sounds corny, but I hate how finals week is so final. The end of a semester means the end of your class friends, the end of relationships—in a way, the end of an era. After the summer, nothing is ever the same again. Everyone has his last party or an “End of the World” party. It stinks that the end of the semester has to be the end of many good things. Don’t get me wrong, I will be extremely relieved when I don’t have to worry about Spanish homework—until next semester. As a send-off, I decided to leave you guys with what I like to call a soundtrack to modern life, or a great mixed tape to give to someone special.
This week, I am reviewing a compilation called, “His & Hers: Vol. 1.” It is compiled by Amanda Scheer-Demme. Amanda has supervised and consulted music for 30 film and television productions in less than a decade (“Garden State”, “Mean Girls”, “Blow”, “Out of Sight”—just to name a few). Most compilation CDs by this label (Thrive) are usually upbeat and electronic; not this one. It’s not a dance CD by any means, though a few of the artists do fall into that category. It IS a CD that is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon or a small get-together on a Friday night.
“His & Hers” is a collection of 17 tracks from various not-so-well-known artists from many different genres. For dance enthusiasts, the contributing artists of Daft Punk & Goldfrapp make an appearance,
along with a remix of “Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair,” by Nina Simone, done by Jaffa. The Indie scene is well represented by the Sounds, Shout Out Louds and the Dandy Warhols. The biggest name on this album is Oasis with its track, “Stop Crying Your Heart Out.” The Oasis song “Wonderwall” is also on it, though it’s the cool cover version by Ryan Adams. The Stereophonics, Ian Brown, Embrace and a classic track by Luna can also be found on the album. Some new bands make an appearance here as well. Soft Lightes, Heartless Bastards and the Tigers all donate tracks to this compilation.
My personal favorite on this album is a rework of the Phil Collins classic, “Against All Odds,” by The Postal Service. Ben Gibbard’s vocals on the song create a very intense appeal to your emotions. The remake was also featured on the “Wicker Park” soundtrack, which is also a CD filled with a well-produced array of Indie music that I recommend—whether you liked the movie or not.
If you are looking for a CD to help you wind down after an intense night of clubbing, a long day at work or even just something cool to listen to, “His & Hers” is a perfect choice. This CD is going to be
the soundtrack to my summer. I also think it is a good gift to give to a good friend similar to giving a mixed tape. I know my copy is going to a really cute girl who is going to Paris in the fall. All of the
tracks on this album are fun and unique and will wet your appetite for the second volume of this new series. You will surely see me in line for it the day it is released.
Last update: 2007-05-09