Yes Man - Staring Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel

Pause the music player below before watching

I found inspiration today in the last place I ever thought I would... a Jim Carrey movie on a 4 hour flight from Boston to DFW. Yes Man was the feature film and I made a quick decision on if I wanted to listen to my comfortably pleasant song selections on my MP3 player or did I want to take a chance and spend 2 hours watching a movie that I might not like. Why not I thought, it’s not like I haven't heard the same music a thousand times before. And I am so glad I did.

Yes Man is based on a true story and 2005 book by British humorist Danny Wallace (who has a brief cameo in the film). It’s the story of Carl Allen, played by Jim Carrey, who is stuck and a rut and is going no where with his life. He runs into an old friend, played by John Michael Higgins, who appears to have gone a little nuts with passion and is invited to a seminar about how to change your life by saying "yes" to everything. He goes to the seminar and after much convincing he agrees to go through with the program. The leader also throws in a little scare tactic and tells him that if he lets himself down and says No, that bad things will start happening. When Carl’s first "yes act" leads him to Allison, played by Zooey Deschanel, he puts the plan into motion; Saying Yes= good returns. This movie could be exactly what America needs right now. Yes, this is a common theme but this might be what America needs right now, A little bit of humor, mixed with the want to follow through with your hearts desires... or at least listen to your heart a little and take a chance once in a while.

I probably would have eventually watched this movie, if only to watch Zooey Deschanel. I just LOVE her. She is such a talented actress and this movie lets you in on a little secret if you haven't heard yet.. she can sing. She references in the movie how she loves having only her handful of fans that she can name out in the crowd at her shows. This is such an ironic twist because I hear people talking about her music more and more now a days and I am sure she is selling out venues. Which to me is a little insincere because this movie was like a shameless promotion for her music career. But I really can't blame her for using networking to get her life to where she might really have always wanted it to go. And trust me I am not saying she is not a talented musician. She has a great voice and is worth checking out.

Overall, this movie is the perfect balance to the all time favorite feel good movie. Taking us back to Jim Carrey’s other films with this similar feel like Truman Show or Liar Liar. This movie will probably not be up for an Emmy or make it to any top ten lists but It is def worth a watch and I can guarantee that you will not be completely disappointed.

'We've Got to Find an Easier Way" Brian Bergeron

After many months of planning, funding, and recording, Brian Bergeron has released his first full length album, "We've Got to Find an Easier Way". ‘Let Me In’, the opening track, sets the mood of the album by giving you some insight that you'll be experiencing something new from the singer-songwriter. Which is a feat he has accomplished fairly early in his career , sooner than most singer songwriters trying to imitate John Mayer or Jason Mraz. This first full-length is exploding with talent, culminated from several EPs under his belt that had him searching for this very sound.

Brian has crafted some new songs and dusted off some old tunes to both please old fans, and draw in new ones. And it succeeds with what feels like an effortless transition into the growing up he’s done musically and lyrically. With tinges of alt-country and summoning the likes of Ryan Adams, Wilco and Josh Rouse, Bergeron bounces from tune to tune and fills them with a bittersweet-but-upbeat mood.

'Gracie', which gives us the line that named the album, sounds like it came right out of a Nashville roadside honky-tonk and conjures images of sawdust floors and two-stepping, while managing to keep a sense of pop to it. It may be THE standout of the album, along with "Tell My Story", for those looking for the tune that could really hook you into his work. The uses of warm piano and lap pedal guitars drive the former feeling home, but the earnest lyrics that speak more of hope than loss, pull the listener into toe-tapping right along with the chorus before you even know the lyrics. This is my personal favorite.

Slower songs like 'Missing' and 'Sisters' still deliver a strong hand and rely more on the 'alt' than 'country'. They're peppered in between faster tunes like a well crafted mixtape, and serve to pull the energy down to the appropriate level to catch your breath from the rockers.

‘I Promise You Relief’ is probably the most heartfelt song on the album. Brain’s ability to harmonize with the strong piano melody is perfect. I get chills when the piano breaks in towards to the end and takes over the song.

Brian Bergeron is starting off in the right direction with a strong, solid release, produced by fellow Boston musician Will Dailey. It should be noted that Dailey does a wonderful job producing this album, as well as guide Brian and merge his own suggestions and talent on the CD. It's a solid blast of music from beginning to end, and shows that Dailey has got some talent in a range beyond just creating his own tunes.

What this album, as a whole, provides what seems to be the culmination of several years of ideas and attempts at getting just what one wants of their music. The tunes are well-crafted, catchy when they need to be, pensive when they should be, and all together well-rounded.

Brian’s approach to funding this CD was by asking for sponsorships from fans, family and friends. It’s a practice that has been done before by artists like Jill Sobule…and a great idea, I might add. It allows fans to really be involved in making the product. And with that involvement they will (hopefully) feel more pride for the album and use that pride to market and promote the album for the artist. Done correctly, it could be a win/win solution.

The closer, "The Restless Release", is a perfect bookend to the cd, with what sounds like a cowboy's dust bowl ballad. It seems to come from a time and place that other bands like Two Gallants have drawn inspiration from, but that hasn’t been really tapped into too heavily yet. Ideas like this are what push Bergeron’s music just past the ‘guy with a guitar’ type of sound. Almost as if calling out, the song ends with the line "...and how I hope you'll come back." If future projects are as good as this one are delivered to his listeners, I'm sure he'll have no problem getting that to happen.

Check out more on Brian Bergeron at any of the following:
Official Website
Myspace
Facebook
ILike
Twitter

You Never Say - Lisa Piccirillo

If you have not heard of Lisa Piccirillo, you are missing out. Here is your chance to hear a few of her songs and move her up the charts at Yellow House Media. Lisa was featured on their site a few weeks ago and slowly climbed the charts to #1 with 'You Never Say'. It has now slipped to #2 but really deserves to stay in the #1 spot, so help us get it back there. 'You Never Say' is not only written perfectly for anyone trying to decide which road to go down in their romantic life but her voice mesmerizes you and brings you to near tears with the emotion she projects. Listen and vote here http://tinyurl.com/dmjo65

Lisa will also be the featured artist for a Boston-based radio show/podcast called "women in music" for the week of April 14. Laney Goodman keeps her ear out for the best in women's music...and we are thrilled that Lisa was chosen for her program, which reaches listeners all over the country, and her podcast, which has approximately 10,000 downloads per month! Lisa will also be featured on the homepage next week

Visit Lisa at any of the following links:
Myspace
Facebook
Co-op Sounds