New Release Tuesday 4/1/14

April 1, 2014

MUSIC

Caught a Ghost – Human Nature (+1)
"Blues musicians used to say you caught a ghost if you gave a good performance… like you were possessed," informs Jesse Nolan. The singer-songwriter/producer at the helm of the L.A. trio, which is rounded out by vocalist/percussionist Tessa Thompson (whom you may recognize from "Veronica Mars," "Cold Case" or "Copper") and drummer Stephen Edelstein, is a fan of music from all eras, and Caught a Ghost succeeds in continuing to carve their own niche of electronic soul with their fantastic debut album, Human Nature. Electronic noises snap you to attention before a choir bursts into the chorus of opener "No Sugar in My Coffee." Then, piano keys are tickled and paired with pulsating drumbeats, horns and soaring vocals in "Sleeping At Night." Other standouts include the title track, "Time Go" and "Connected." Make sure to join the band as they celebrate the album's release with a show at Bootleg Bar this Friday, April 4.

Christina Perri – Head or Heart (Atlantic)
The singer-songwriter has such a knack for crafting songs that not only tug but completely yank out your heartstrings, leaving you bleary-eyed and breathless (see: "Jar of Hearts" and "A Thousand Years"). She continues to infuse emotion into every measure of the 13 songs on her sophomore full-length, Head or Heart. First single "Human" is by far the standout ballad, while the more uptempo "Burning Gold," co-written with Kid Harpoon, and "I Don't Wanna Break," co-written with fun.'s Jack Antonoff, are quite infectious. The L.A. transplant (by way of Philadelphia) embarks on a North American tour in support of the album this week, and it stops at the Wiltern on May 17.

Dan Croll – Sweet Disarray (Capitol)
The Liverpool native is testament to the saying that you can never judge a book by its cover. One shouldn't be fooled by his slim build, glasses or sensitive songs, Croll is a rugby fanatic whose career in the sport was thwarted by a broken leg, a former nightclub doorman and he resides above a strip club. Not sure if you would be more surprised at those facts or that the extremely talented singer-songwriter graduated from the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts, has worked with fellow Liverpudlian Sir Paul McCartney and won National Songwriter of the Year from the Musician's Benevolent Fund. His highly anticipated debut album, Sweet Disarray, is finally available today, and there are several folk-meets-electronic gems sprinkled throughout the tracklist of 12, including "In/Out," "Compliment Your Soul," "Can You Hear Me" and the gorgeous "Home." He visits Los Angeles on Friday, April 4, for a set at the El Rey.

Kaiser Chiefs – Education, Education, Education & War (ATO)
Education, Education, Education & War is the Kaiser Chiefs' first effort since founding drummer and chief songwriter Nick Hodgson left the band in 2012. The Leeds-based fivesome (fronted by "The Voice UK" coach Ricky Wilson) unveiled a few of the new songs, like first single "Coming Home" and the explosive "Misery Company," from their fifth studio album at shows last year to high praise. Written in London, Los Angeles and Nashville, the 10 tracks were recorded in Atlanta, Ga., and mixed by Michael Brauer (My Morning Jacket, Coldplay) with producer Ben H. Allen III (Gnarls Barkley, Animal Collective, Deerhunter). A global enterprise that will undoubtedly please Kaiser Chiefs fans the world over.

Also available – Adanowsky's ADA; A.J. Ellis' Bury the Devil; Architecture in Helsinki's Now + 4eva; Austrian Death Machine's Triple Brutal; Band of Skulls' Himalayan; The Body's I Shall Die Here; Chevelle's La Gargola; Chiodos' Devil; Cloud Nothings' Here and Nowhere Else; Fartbarf's Dirty Power; Hank Williams III's Ramblin' Man; Inventions' self-titled; Jamaica's Ventura; Jon Langford & Skull Orchard's Here Be Monsters; Lacuna Coil's Broken Crown Halo; Leon Russell's Life Journey; Mac DeMarco's Salad Days; Manchester Orchestra's Cope; Matt Andersen's Weightless; Maximo Park's Too Much Information; Mike Dillon's Band of Outsiders; Mike Oldfield's Man on the Rocks; Mobb Deep's The Infamous Mobb Deep; Nickel Creek's A Dotted Line; Pattern Is Movement's self-titled; Power Take Off's This is Late; S. Carey's Range of Light; Saintseneca's Dark Arc; The Singles' Look How Fast a Heart Can Break; Smoke DZA's Dream.ZONE.Achieve; Split Single's Fragmented World; Steel Panther's All You Can Eat; Thievery Corporation's Saudade; Timbre Timbre's Hot Dreams; This Is Your Life (Ronnie James Dio tribute); The Used's Imaginary Enemy; White Hinterland's Baby

LITERARY 

Carla's Comfort Foods: Favorite Dishes from Around the World by Carla Hall (Atria)
Regardless of cultural background, two people can find common ground quickly and easily when it comes to a talking about food. From Southern Peach Cobbler and Greek Baklava to German Double-Mustard Potato Salad and Indian Chile, Pea and Coconut Chutney, the "Top Chef" alumna and co-host of "The Chew" guides you in recreating some of her favorite comfort dishes from around the world. In this follow-up to Cooking with Love: Comfort Food That Hugs You, her 2012 cookbook debut, she shares recipes, stories and seasoning tips to transform your average weekday dinner into a scrumptious meal with ease.

Also available – 8 Weeks to SEALFIT by Mark Divine; The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook by America's Test Kitchen Editors; The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison; Flash Boys by Michael Lewis; Frog Music by Emma Donoghue; I've Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins Clark; John Wayne: The Life and Legend by Scott Eyman; The King (The Black Dagger Brotherhood) by J.R. Ward; The Last Pirate by Tony Dokoupil

DVD

Film – The ever-classy news team (played by Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Christina Applegate) returns for more antics in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues; 47 Ronin stars Keanu Reeves as a former slave who joins the group of samurai intent on avenging the murder of their master; John Cusack, Robert De Niro and Crispin Glover in action crime thriller The Bag Man

Music – A MusicCares Tribute to Neil Young

TV – Action: The Complete Series; Broadchurch: Season 1; The Client List: Season 2; Finding Bigfoot: Volume 3; Psych: Season 8

Also available – At Middleton; Emulation; Four Seasons; L'Immortelle; Inspired Guns; Knights of Badassdom; The Pirate Fairy; The War Wagon; When Jews Were Funny

Events for Oct. 3-9, 2013

Get with THE PROGRAM

 

THURSDAY, OCT 3

Director Derek Cianfrance (middle) on the set of
The Place Beyond the Pines (Atsushi Nishijima)

 

FILM

Derek Cianfrance @ Aero Theatre (Santa Monica)
The director/screenwriter discusses his films in between an American Cinematheque double feature of his last two works, The Place Beyond the Pines and Blue Valentine. First up is The Place Beyond the Pines, a crime drama centered around carnival motorcycle stuntman Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling) who turns to bank robbery as a way to provide for his son. Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes also star. 2010's Blue Valentine was Cianfrance's first time working with Gosling, who, along with Michelle Williams, is part of a married couple whose relationship is documented over the course of several years. Both films are fantastic character studies that explore familial relationships in powerful ways.

FRIDAY, OCT. 4

FILM

In Theaters This Week
Adam Scott is a seemingly well-adjusted Adult Child of Divorce in A.C.O.D.; All is Bright stars Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd as Christmas tree salesmen in NYC; "Childrens Hospital"'s Ken Marino stars as a man with a demon living in his intestine in Bad Milo!; The amazing Alfonso Cuarón directs Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as astronauts who, during a routine space walk, are stranded in space in Gravity; Parkland, with Zac Efron, Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton and Jacki Weaver; Runner Runner stars Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake and Gemma Arterton. Also in theaters: Argento's Dracula 3D; Besharam; Concussion; Grace Unplugged; Let the Fire Burn; Linsanity; Nothing Left to Fear; Pulling Strings; Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde; The Summit

FOOD

Thai and Korean Street Market Festival @ Heirloom LA (Eagle Rock)
Heirloom LA and Poketo are throwing an event to celebrate Korean and Thai street food and drink from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m in Heirloom LA's salon garden. Aside from the delicious Kyochon-style chicken wings, grilled Kalbi Beef and Bulgogi Pork, there are Boat Noodle Soup, meatballs, a lettuce wrap station (with Larb, crispy pork and spicy eggplant options) and sweet treats to round out the menu. The evening promises music, movies and a photo booth, too.

SATURDAY, OCT. 5

BOOKS

Nick Offerman @ New Beverly Cinema (Mid-City West)
The "Parks and Recreation" funnyman made his literary debut with Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living this week and celebrates the release with an event where he presents and signs copies of the book. The $31.95 admission fee includes a copy of the book, which offers tales from his childhood, early days in theater and as a carpenter, as well as his courting of wife Megan Mullally. Expect hilarious anecdotes and life lessons concerning "manliness, love, style, religion, woodworking and outdoor recreation."

CULTURE

BEDROCKtoberfest @ Bedrock L.A. (Echo Park)
The studio and rehearsal space hosts its first annual music, magic and beer block party. Musical performers include Wu-Tang Clan mastermind RZA, Liam Finn, Twin Shadow & Wynn and Vanaprasta, while the magic stage features Jon Armstrong, David and Leeman and Rob Zabrecky. The $30 general admission ticket includes one drink ticket ($50 VIP includes food and a hosted bar), and festivities run from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

MUSIC

Way Over Yonder @ Santa Monica Pier (Santa Monica)
The legendary Newport Folk Festival heads west for the first time with two days of musical greatness. Each day features acts on two stages with Neko Case, Brett Dennen, Justin Townes Earle, Calexico, Shovels & Rope and the Eagle Rock Gospel Singers on the Main Stage and Dave Simonett, Jessica Pratt, Neal Casal and Jenny O. on the acoustic Carousel Stage Saturday. Sunday's Main Stage lineup includes Conor Oberst, First Aid Kit, the Felice Brothers, Jonathan Wilson, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down and Joel Rafael, while Hurray for the Riff Raff, Spirit Family Reunion, Aaron Embry and Frank Fairfield are set for the Carousel.

SUNDAY, OCT. 6

FILM

Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton: This Is Stones Throw Records @ Exposition Park (South Los Angeles)
If you're a music lover living in Los Angeles, then you know of Stones Throw and its stable of artists that includes Mayer Hawthorne, Aloe Blacc, Dam-Funk and Madlib among many others. Founded by DJ Peanut Butter Wolf in 1996, the story of the label is being told to the world in a new feature-length documentary from director Jeff Broadway with plenty of concert footage, home video and interviews with the likes of Common, Mike D, Kanye West, Talib Kewli and Flying Lotus. Street Food Cinema screens the film at 7:30 p.m., but come early for DJ sets from PBW and KCRW's Garth Trinidad and food from food trucks that include Hungry Nomad, Romolo's and Bollywood Bites.

TUESDAY, OCT. 8

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside (Liz Devine)

MUSIC

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside @ The Satellite  (Silver Lake) 
Listening to songs like "Party Kids" and "They Told Me" from the Portland, Ore. quartet's latest album, Untamed Beast, that released earlier this year, it's hard to concentrate on anything other than having fun. It's a good thing they're swinging through Los Angeles again, because I'm in need of a good party with their soulful and gritty brand of rock that's anchored by the witty lyrics and powerful vocals of Sallie Ford.

THEATER

"Wait Until Dark" @ Geffen Playhouse (Westwood)
The world premiere of this new adaptation of Frederick Knott's 1966 play and 1967 film (starring Audrey Hepburn) of the same name puts a twist on the classic placing the story in a different time and setting. The production is just as full of chills and thrills, though. Alison Pill, from HBO's "The Newsroom," stars as Susan, alongside a cast that also includes Adam Stein, Mather Zickel, Rod McLachlan, Matt McTighe and Brighid Fleming. Running through Nov. 17.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9

MUSIC

Dan Croll @ Troubadour (West Hollywood)
The Liverpool singer-songwriter made his US debut with the From Nowhere EP earlier this year, and with tracks like his latest single, "In/Out," Croll continues to capture acclaim across the country. As we await his first full-length release, he's touring the states with a stop at the Troubadour this evening. It's impossible not to smile while dancing to his fun songs that run the gamut genre-wise. I can't think of a better way to get through the mid-week slump than this show.