Browsing Tag

Drive

Austin, Music

Love at 20’s “Lips in London” Takes Me on an 80s Synth Night Ride

My favorite genre of music is the one that makes me feel like a Bret Easton Ellis character. The sort of night ride synth that puts you in a romantic nostalgia for a time and place you’ve never been.

Austin’s very own Love at 20 does just that. Love at 20 is the 80s new wave pop child of Mike Groener.

Love at 20 was born out of the ashes from Austin’s legendary electro band Clap! Clap! and Groener’s love for Depeche Mode.

I can’t get their latest album Lips in London out of my mind.

Think Drive soundtrack, but a little less death and destruction.

If you’re a fan of Depeche Mode, The Cure, Erasure and Pet Shop Boys, you’re going to love this.

Here is a collection of my favorite tracks.

You can listen to the entire album here.

Enjoy!

 

“Disappear”

 

“Boxes”

 

“PR”

May 30, 2012 by
Pop Culture

When Ryan Gosling Was Younger

In the process of moving, I found packed away this hair and make-up photo I inherited from a film my former employer produced.

Given to me instead of being throw out, this and other photos sat in my desk at work for a long time. Too touchingly candid to get rid of them myself, they’ve traveled with me, hidden away in piles of papers or books throughout the past few years.

Maybe it’s time to frame this picture. Far cry from his Drive charisma, huh?

What “Hey Girl” do you think he’s thinking of here…?

January 30, 2012 by
20-Something, Film, Hipstercrite Life

Under Your Spell

11:26PM 10/19/11

Watching Drive and writing that post today really got to me. The LA in Drive is the LA in so many movies and was the LA in my head when I lived there, though it’s not the LA that actually exists. I’ve written about this way too many times before, so I will not rehash it too much. Or maybe I will.

There are multiple LAs that exist in film- the glamorous 1920’s LA, the dangerous noir 40’s/50’s LA, the sunny carefree 1960’s LA, the porn/drug-riddled 70’s LA and the beautifully nihilistic 80’s LA. After that, the LA that exists now is the one we all know, but we want the other LAs, you know? The Day-Of-The-Locust-Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit-Chinatown-LA-Confidential-Boogie Nights-Less-Than-Zero all rolled into one LA.

I just can’t stop thinking about her tonight. I can’t stop thinking about all the illusions and the dreams that weren’t real. The holding my breath, waiting for something to happen. The anticipation that anything– good or bad- would reveal itself to me. (more…)

October 20, 2011 by
Film, Hipstercrite Life, Music, Pop Culture

Songs About Los Angeles

Last night I saw the movie Drive starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman and Los Angeles. A lot of buzz has been going around about this simple, yet visually and auditorily delicious film. The Michael Mann-esque qualities, Ryan Gosling’s subtle performance, the 80’s font, and moody electronic music make for a wonderful, nostalgic ride. Besides the ridiculously long shots on Ryan Gosling’s beautiful face, what made this film particularly engaging is the ominous soundtrack composed by Cliff Martinez and featuring music by Kavinsky, Lovefoxxx, Desire, College, Riz Ortolani, and Chromatics.

“Drive” is an appropriate verb for songs reminiscent of Los Angeles. Any song that reminds me of that city, also reminds me of late nights driving through Hollywood towards the beach, the blur of lights in the background, the windows down and the warm wind holding me firmly into the passenger seat. It reminds me of trips through the city to nowhere in particular, (more…)

October 19, 2011 by