Fredstuff.com » marina and the diamonds http://fredstuff.com/blog Hi. I'm Fred. I live in Stockholm, Sweden. I like: Music, TV, Gadgets, Technology and the Webs. I also like to try out new things on the web and when I do I will write about it here. I've been blogging since 2005, mostly in Swedish. This is my first all English blog - Welcome! Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:41:21 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Marina And The Diamonds – Starring Role DEMO http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-starring-role-demo http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-starring-role-demo#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:26:06 +0000 Fred http://fredstuff.com/blog/?p=9670

Click here to view the embedded video.

A new demo from Marina that was posted on YouTube yesterday. I like it — it kind of reminds me of ABBA, don’t know why, don’t care. This is the only info on YouTube: “Demo from my 2nd album, “Electra Heart”. Spread the ?..” (the “?” is supposed to be a heart symbol). Nothing on the Electra Heart blog either, just a bunch of pictures. Now I’m eagerly awaiting PART 3 of three three part video thing, I wonder when it’ll show up. I urged her on Twitter but she’s ignoring me. Haha.

Links:
Official | Last.fm | MySpace | Electra Heart Blog | Discogs

]]> http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-starring-role-demo/feed 0 Marina and the Diamonds – Electra Heart http://fredstuff.com/blog/music-video/marina-and-the-diamonds-electra-heart http://fredstuff.com/blog/music-video/marina-and-the-diamonds-electra-heart#comments Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:58:37 +0000 Fred http://fredstuff.com/blog/?p=7590
OK. Marina has some new stuff that’s hitting the blogs. I refrained from reading anything anyone has to say about Marinas latest work. I’m trying to form my own opinion without diluting it. First off, she has created a form of semi-alter ego called “Electra Heart” who is supposed to embody the American Dream. Blond wig; transformation complete. Second, she made a track (Radioactive) that’s super duper commercial, trancy synths and all. As far as I can tell the Electra Heart story is supposed to be told in three parts but the story so far regarding this character is very vague and also a bit confusing and unclear. Here are the first two — the third will be added here when it’s available.

PART 1: FEAR AND LOATHING

Click here to view the embedded video.


PART 2: RADIOACTIVE

Click here to view the embedded video.


PART 3: THE ACHETYPES

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part 1 is much better than Part 2 and I hope that Part 2 is a one-off in terms of album material. I mean, why go for a über-commercial sound and not making the best of it? It’s clear that she wants to reach a wider audience with this track — but I don’t believe it’s good enough. Radioactive is such a leap in style compared to earlier Marina, it’s simply not a logical step — it’s just a huge unbridled flirt with current mainstream production trends. Now, I DO like trancy synths — but the ones in Radioactive just doesn’t cut it in my ears. If I had been in charge they would have had longer sustain and decay, they are too stabby in this track. Maybe a bit to technical for most people but that’s how I tick and how I listen to music. When I posted Part 1 on my Facebook wall the day the video was released I got just one comment on it. A friend asked: “What is this shit?” My repy was something along the lines of “Something that will hopefully, eventually get better”. So, at this point I’m hoping the upcoming track “Part 3″ will be more like the classic Marina stuff we all like. Better yet, have Max Martin write some tracks; instant hugedom achieved.

Popjustice just did a pretty good interview with Marina where she explains what this new Electra Heart character is all about. Unsurprisingly, also a bit confusing.

UPDATE, October 4: Oh, who am I kidding, Radioactive is a good track — it’s Marina dammit.

UPDATE, December 5: Added the third and final video in the trilogy. I guess I was expecting a bit more from this track — if you can even call it a track. Anyway, this post is now complete!

Links:
Official | Last.fm | MySpace | Electra Heart Blog | Discogs

]]> http://fredstuff.com/blog/music-video/marina-and-the-diamonds-electra-heart/feed 0 Marina And The Diamonds In Stockholm http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-in-stockholm http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-in-stockholm#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:01:58 +0000 Fred http://fredstuff.com/blog/?p=521
Yup. I got an invite to a Marina and the Diamonds showcase from Warner Music Scandinavia. The exclusive gig was yesterday night at a location called Södra Bar in the South side of Stockholm. The place was totally packed and Marina was surprised that many people showed up. She’s traveling around Europe and the States to promote The Family Jewels album together with two guys, one on keyboard and one on (electric) bass. They performed, I don’t remember — five or six tracks including Numb, Hollywood and Obsessions. I knew it was going to be good, and it was. When she left the stage I said “thank you” and she said “thank you” back. Luckily no one else heard since I told her when she passed by, haha.

OK, it’s time to include the mighty WordPress Audio Player in this blog, first track out is Marinas “Hollywood” recorded live on my iPhone last night.

Seems to work just fine, doesn’t it? I love WordPress.

Next up is a video I shot with my trusty Panasonic HD cam. The track is “Numb”.

Click here to view the embedded video.


Jerry, a guy I almost know (Hi Jerry!) shot the track “Obsessions” with his camera.

Click here to view the embedded video.


I took some photos but the lack of a flash on the iPhone made them really weak (I’m sad to say). But, I’m providing audio AND video – not bad, huh?

What about the album then, what do I think about it? Well, I’m not that into it actually. I think the album version of “Hollywood” is, how should I put it — wrong? The video version is better, I think it’s the extra verse in the beginning that ruins it. The tracks on the album are all good, no doubt about that but I don’t understand why she didn’t include the track “Starlight” from her rather large catalog of great songs. I love that track. I still listen to her older, previous stuff, maybe I’m used to her songs being a bit less polished than those on the album, I think she’s better when it’s more raw and not overly produced.

A woman from the record company said Marina will be coming back to Sweden in August playing the Way Out West festival in Gothenburg. Looking forward to it, I’ve never been to WoW — I might go there.

Links:
Official | Last.fm | MySpace | Electra Heart Blog | Discogs

]]> http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-in-stockholm/feed 0 Marina And The Diamonds With Gonzales http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-with-gonzales http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-with-gonzales#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:32:02 +0000 Fred http://fredstuff.com/blog/?p=429 Marina is at it again with yet another good version of the track ‘Hollywood’. This is brand new — only 482 views on YouTube.

Click here to view the embedded video.

From YouTube-info:

Gonzales dreamt up and conducted a full orchestral reworking of Hollywood, inspired by the songs lyrics. Marina & Gonzales came together to record one performance for an Eastern European TV show…this footage has only now been uncovered…

I guess “only now been uncovered” means “shot, edited and uploaded the other day”. I found this video yesterday on some UK newspaper site and I was happy to see she made it available on her YouTube account. Hollywood is released on 1st February 2010 via 679/Atlantic, and taken from Marina’s debut album ‘The Family Jewels’, out on 22nd February 2010. I think I’ve said it before — I can’t wait!

Links:
Official | Last.fm | MySpace | Electra Heart Blog | Discogs

]]> http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-with-gonzales/feed 0 Marina And The Diamonds – Hollywood http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-hollywood http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-hollywood#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:58:01 +0000 Fred http://fredstuff.com/blog/?p=283

Click here to view the embedded video.


This is the new video from Marina released today. Only 6.000 views on YouTube – fresh!

Holy sh!t this is good stuff. I really like the ABBA-esque twist and it’s got that Max Martin ‘lift’ at the end of the chorus pushing it even further (he’s not involved in this). This release makes it even harder to wait for the full debut in February. I love that she incorporated the fact that she’s often mistaken for Shakira and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the lyrics. The video is also pretty smart marketing, opening doors to the U.S. market. Pretty good move, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good*.

YouTube info: The official video for ‘Hollywood’ directed by Kinga Burza. Hollywood is released through 679/Atlantic on 1st February 2010 and is taken from Marina And The Diamonds’ debut album ‘The Family Jewels’ released on 15th February 2010.

Links:
Official | Last.fm | MySpace | Electra Heart Blog | Discogs

]]> http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds-hollywood/feed 0 Marina and the Diamonds http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds http://fredstuff.com/blog/music/marina-and-the-diamonds#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:28:08 +0000 Fred http://fredstuff.com/blog/?p=206 All right. Music is my life and it’s about time I fill this glorious blog with some of the good stuff that’s out there.

Click here to view the embedded video.


marina_and_the_diamondsThe vid above is of the track ‘Mowgli’s Road’ – can you spot the mega obvious Doctor Who homage? Marina & the Diamonds is the stage name of Marina Diamandis, the Wiki page is still a bit thin when it comes to info – no biggie since I’ll let her music do (most of) the talking in this post. Quirky is a state I usually like, quirkiness in music — not so much. A few years ago Swedish radio was flooded with female singer-songwriters who sang like there was something seriously wrong with them. Back then only one of them was able to get away with it as far as I am concerned, Karin Dreijer Andersson of The Knife. Nowadays she’s completely bonkers and wails away with solo project Fever Ray. I can’t stand her current style, not one minute.

Marina on the other hand manages to pull this of while looking absolutely awesome doing it. I have to admit there was a bit of a break-in phase before I was comfortable with her voice but after that it was smooth sailing. ‘Seventeen’, ‘Mowgli’s Road’ and ‘I’m not a Robot’ are damn well soldered into my iPhone by now. Love it! There are more than a handful of great remixes out there too — I always play at lest one of them when I’m out and about playing records. I said I’ll let her music do the talking in this post — better give Marina another chance to do just that through this track, “I Am Not a Robot”;

UPDATE: Track got yanked from Mixcloud so I’m posting the new version of the video instead. Even better!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Her first major label single, a re-recording of Mowgli’s Road, will be issued through 679/Warner Brothers on November 16th 2009 in the US and through Atlantic Records on November 2nd in the UK. Her debut album, Family Jewels is set to be released on February 22, 2010. One day before my birthday — thank you in advance Marina.

Yay! I managed to write another post.

Links:
Official | Last.fm | MySpace | Electra Heart Blog | Discogs

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